Patent Publication Number: US-8974355-B2

Title: Board exercise device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is an exercise device. More specifically, the present invention is a board exercise device. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     There are many different types of exercise equipment. Some equipment is designed to be utilized in a health club or a gym and some equipment is designed to be utilized at home. Many types of equipment can only provide a cardio or a muscle building workout. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an exercise device. More specifically, the present invention is a board exercise device. 
     The board exercise device includes a pair of planar boards having a top surfacing with a perimeter and an outer edge, a plurality of built-in attachment bars coupled to the perimeter of the pair of planar boards, the built-in attachment bars each include an attachment aperture and a stem portion and one or more banded exercise devices coupled to the built-in attachment bars and allow a user to grasp the one or more banded exercise devices and perform an exercise. The pair of handles coupled to a top of the outer edge of the pair of planar boards are grasped by the user to transport the board exercise device when the board exercise device is in a folded position and a slide board placed over the top surfacing of the pair of planar boards, the slide board includes a top surfacing, a bottom surfacing and a pair of ends. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a board exercise device that allows a user to utilize a plurality of one or more banded exercise devices. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a board exercise device that includes a sliding board to perform cardiovascular sliding type of exercises. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a board exercise device that includes a pair of handles to easily grasp and transport the board exercise device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments, but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like references denote similar elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded top perspective view of a board exercise device, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a top perspective view of a bottom of a board exercise device, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a top perspective view of a board exercise device in a folded position, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a side perspective view of sliding adjustment of a board exercise device in a folded position, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
     Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the illustrative embodiments. 
     Various operations will be described as multiple discrete operations, in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the present invention however, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations need not be performed in the order of presentation. 
     The phrase “in one embodiment” is used repeatedly. The phrase generally does not refer to the same embodiment, however, it may. The terms “comprising”, “having” and “including” are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded top perspective view of a board exercise device  100 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     The board exercise device  100  includes a pair of planar boards  110 , a plurality of built-in attachment bars  120 , one or more banded exercise devices  130 , a storage slot  140 , a sliding adjustment  150 , a pair of handles  160  and a slide board  170 . The pair of planar boards  110  has a top surfacing  112  with a perimeter  114  and an outer edge  116 . The pair of planar boards  110  can be folded out flat and can be utilized by a user in a standing position, a sitting position, a kneeling position or any other suitable position.  FIG. 1  illustrates the pair of planar boards  110  folded out flat. The top surfacing  112  is slip-resistant and flat and made of rubber or other suitable material. The pair of planar boards  110  can be made of any suitable type of board such as a wood board, a plastic board or other suitable type of material. The built-in attachment bars  120  are recessed within a plurality of attachment apertures  122  and include a stem portion  124  extended across the attachment apertures  122 . The built-in attachment bars  120  are disposed on the perimeter  114  of the top surface  112  of the pair of planar boards  110 . The one or more banded exercise devices  130  are coupled to the built-in attachment bars  120  and allow the user to grasp the one or more banded exercise devices  130  and perform a desired exercise with the one or more banded exercise devices  130 . The one or more banded exercise devices  130  can be coupled to the built-in attachment bars  120  with any suitable coupling device such as a hook (not shown), a clip (not shown) or other suitable fastener. Other banded exercise devices  130  include a banded belted loop  134 , a banded exercise hook  136  to accommodate a barbell or a dumbbell (not shown) or other suitable banded and non-banded exercise device. A user can utilize a board exercise device  100  in a standing position doing a bicep curl with a banded handle  132 , although the user can utilize any one or more banded exercise devices  130  or other suitable devices in combination with the board exercise device  100 . The storage slot  140  can be disposed on one or more locations of the board exercise device  100 . The storage slot  140  can be utilized to contain a barbell plate  141  or other suitable exercise item. The sliding adjustment  150  includes a sliding button  152  that keeps the board exercise device  100  flat. Additional details are provided in  FIG. 4  regarding the sliding adjustment  150 . 
     The pair of handles  160  can be built-into a top  117  of the outer edge  116  of the pair of planar boards  110 , although the pair of handles  160  can be coupled at any suitable portion of the outer edge  116  of the pair of planar boards  110 . The pair of handles  160  includes a plurality of ergonomic ridges  162  that accommodate a user&#39;s hand while the user is grasping the pair of handles  160 . The pair of handles  160  can be grasped by a user to transport the board exercise device  100  when the board exercise device  100  is in a folded position. The board exercise device  100  includes a slide board  170 . The slide board  170  includes a top surfacing  172 , a bottom surfacing  174  and a pair of ends  176 . The slide board  170  can be placed over the top surfacing  112  of the pair of planar boards  110 . The slide board  170  is made of a hard, smooth and transparent plastic or PLEXIGLAS® and allows a user to slide along the slide board  170 . The top surfacing  172  of the slide board  170  has a plurality of apertures  180  that can receive and secure one or more banded exercise devices  130  to allow a user to utilize the one or more banded exercise devices  130 . The top surfacing  172  of the slide board  170  can be slid on by a user as part of an exercise that is typically a cardiovascular type of exercise such as sliding back and forth across the top surfacing  172 . The bottom surfacing  174  of the slide board  170  prevents the slide board  170  from coming off of the top surfacing  112  of the pair of planar boards  110 . A raised stop  190  is disposed on each of the pair of ends  176  of the slide board  170  to prevent a user from sliding off of the top surfacing  172  of the slide board  170  without injuring the user. The raised stop  190  can be made of foam rubber or other suitable material. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a bottom perspective view of a board exercise device  100 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     The board exercise device  100  includes a plurality of slip-resistant pads  195  disposed on a bottom surfacing  118  of the board exercise device  100 . The slip-resistant pads  195  prevent the board exercise device  100  from slipping or moving on a surface that the board exercise device  100  is placed on while in use. The slip-resistant pads  195  have a generally circular shape  196  but can be any suitable shape and be disposed anywhere along the bottom surfacing  118  of the board exercise device  100 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a top perspective view of a board exercise device  100  in a folded position, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     The board exercise device  100  includes one or more hinges  197 . The one or more hinges  197  are attached to the pair of planar boards  110  to allow the pair of planar boards  110  to fold-up. The one or more hinges  197  are made of stainless steel or other suitable material. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a side perspective view of a sliding adjustment  150  of a board exercise device  100  in a folded position, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     The sliding adjustment  150  includes a sliding button  152  and an extendable bolt  154 . The sliding button  152  can be disposed along a side  111  of the pair of planar boards  110  or be disposed on any other suitable portion of the pair of planar boards  110 . The sliding button  152  can be slid in a horizontal direction within a track  156 . The extendable bolt  154  can be attached to the sliding button  152  and moves with the sliding button  152  as the sliding button  152  is moved within the track  156 . The extendable bolt  154  can be extended into a single receiving aperture  158  that receives the extendable bolt  154  as the sliding button  152  is moved within the track  156  thereby securing the board exercise device  100  in a flat position. The further the extendable bolt  154  is extended into the single receiving aperture  158 , the greater the board exercise device  100  is secured in a flat position. 
     The board exercise device can be manufactured through a process known as rotational molding. There will be two boards. One for the home consumer and the other will be a commercial model. Rotational molds are significantly cheaper than other types of molds. Very little material is wasted using the manufacturing process, and excess material can often be reused, making it a very economically and environmentally friendly manufacturing process. Rotational molding offers design advantages over other molding processes. With proper design, parts assembled from several pieces can be molded as one part, reducing fabrication costs. 
     The process also has inherent design strengths, such as consistent wall thickness and strong outside corners that are virtually stress free. For additional strength, reinforcing ribs can be designed into the board exercise device. Along with being designed into the board exercise device, the reinforcing ribs can be added to the mold. Another advantage lies in the molds themselves. Since the molds require less tooling, they can be manufactured and put into production much more quickly than other molding processes. Rotational molding is also the desired process for short runs and rush deliveries. The molds can be swapped quickly or different colors can be used without purging the mold. With other processes, purging may be required to swap colors. 
     The board exercise device is a piece of training equipment that can be utilized for regular exercise and training, injury prevention and rehabilitation. The board exercise device can be utilized in gyms, at home, rehabilitation centers, sports league training centers and/or any other place where exercises can be performed. The board exercise device allows users to perform various cardio and strength training exercises to improve overall health, fitness, injury prevention and improve and accelerate the process of muscle rehabilitation. These exercises can be performed on the board exercise device without using any other type of equipment and can be utilized in an approximate nine foot by five foot area. The use of resistance bands instead of heavy metal or iron weights makes it safer for the users and utilization by a user age range from five years of age and up. Most weight training exercises can be performed on the board exercise device. The board exercise device is made up of two approximately three foot and five inch by three foot coated wood or plastic boards attached together to allow the board exercise device to be folded together for easy storage and transport. On the top coated wood or plastic board there is an approximately quarter inch rubber mat glued and/or nailed down in order to make a training surface softer and safer. The user will then step on the top rubber surface of the unfolded board exercise device and perform a desired exercise. If the user would like to utilize the slide board function, they can place the hard, smooth and transparent plastic or PLEXIGLAS® and non-stick shoe cover on top of the board exercise device and perform a slide board exercise. The PLEXIGLAS® has non-slip material attached to its bottom that holds the PLEXIGLAS® and the non-stick shoe cover on top of the board exercise device. 
     The board exercise device can be utilized to perform a variation of cardio and strength exercises and routines. The board exercise device allows a user to perform any suitable exercise using every suitable single body muscle. Results can be easily achieved using the sliding board for lower body strength, cardio exercise and stability and balance training. Arms, back, shoulders and abs are easy to be worked out when using the one or more banded exercise devices. Total body exercises are also another way to utilize the board exercise device when lower and upper body muscles work together in strength and cardio movements incrementing coordination, balance and focus, adding a psychological use for the board exercise device. The board exercise device is made up of two coated wood or plastic boards hinged together so they can fold together in order to easily store away and carry around the board exercise device. The board exercise device has two handles attached to make handling the board exercise device easier. 
     While the present invention has been related in terms of the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described. The present invention can be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention.