Patent Publication Number: US-2022212084-A1

Title: Personal yoga equipment storage system and method

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a nonprovisional application based on a provisional application No. 62/956,308, filed on Jan. 1, 2020. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Yoga, as we know it today, began over 5,000 years ago in Northern India. Many types of yoga developed over the years. Although there are many types of yoga, the individual practice of yoga requires equipment. Typical equipment includes a yoga mat, a yoga block and some form of strap. 
     A person interested in attending yoga classes typically brings a personal yoga mat, typically rolled and carried by the person attending classes. What is needed is a better system and method to carry typical equipment in an elegant and efficient manner. 
     SUMMARY 
     A system and method for personal yoga equipment storage includes a yoga mat folded by a first length, at least a first width, and accordion folded; a first yoga block configured to enclose a first part of the accordion-folded yoga mat; a second yoga block configured to enclose a second part of the accordion-folded yoga mat; and a strap configured to wrap the enclosed accordion-folded yoga mat by surrounding a perimeter of the first and second yoga blocks and conceal the accordion-folded yoga mat. 
     In one or more embodiments, the strap includes at least one buckle, the at least one buckle on a side of the first or second yoga block. 
     In one or more embodiments, the first yoga block and the second yoga block include a first plastic injection-molded outer sleeve coupled to the first yoga block; and a second plastic injection-molded outer sleeve coupled to the second yoga block, wherein each of the first plastic injection-molded outer sleeve and the second plastic injection-molded outer sleeves include a plurality of magnets embedded therein; a first polyurethane foam outer cap coupled to the first plastic injection-molded outer sleeve; and a second polyurethane foam outer cap coupled to the second plastic injection-molded outer sleeve, wherein each of the first and second polyurethane foam outer caps identify a location of the plurality of magnets. 
     In one or more embodiments, the first yoga block and the second yoga block are comprised of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). 
     In one or more embodiments, the first and second polyurethane foam outer caps are comprised of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). 
     In one or more embodiments, the strap further includes at least one thermoplastic polyurethane strip configured to prevent the sliding of the at least one buckle past a predetermined area of the strap. 
     In one or more embodiments, the strap further comprises: at least one metal plate configured to correspond to at least one of the pluralities of magnets embedded on the first plastic injection-molded outer sleeve and the second plastic injection-molded outer sleeve. 
     In one or more embodiments, the at least one metal plate is comprised of steel. 
     In one or more embodiments, the strap further includes a double D-shaped ring at a first end of the strap to enable a second end of the strap to secure a combination of the first yoga block and the second yoga block and the accordion-folded yoga mat. 
     Another embodiment is directed to a method for storing personal yoga equipment, the method including folding a yoga mat lengthwise at least once to reduce a width of the yoga mat; accordion-folding the reduced-width yoga mat; enclosing a first part of the accordion-folded yoga mat with a first yoga block; enclosing a second part of the accordion-folded yoga mat with a second yoga block; and surrounding a perimeter of the first and second yoga blocks with a strap configured to wrap and conceal the enclosed accordion-folded yoga mat. 
     In one or more embodiments of the method, the strap further at least one buckle, the at least one buckle disposed on a side of the first or second yoga block. 
     In one or more embodiments, the first yoga block and the second yoga block include a first plastic injection-molded outer sleeve coupled to the first yoga block; and a second plastic injection-molded outer sleeve coupled to the second yoga block, wherein each of the first plastic injection-molded outer sleeve and the second plastic injection-molded outer sleeves include a plurality of magnets embedded therein; and a first polyurethane foam outer cap coupled to the first plastic injection-molded outer sleeve; and a second polyurethane foam outer cap coupled to the second plastic injection-molded outer sleeve, wherein each of the first and second polyurethane foam outer caps identify a location of the plurality of magnets. 
     In one or more embodiments of the method, the first yoga block and the second yoga block are comprised of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). 
     In one or more embodiments, the first and second polyurethane foam outer caps are comprised of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). 
     In one or more embodiment of the method, the strap further includes at least one thermoplastic polyurethane strip configured to prevent the sliding of the at least one buckle past a predetermined area of the strap. 
     In one or more embodiments, the strap further includes at least one metal plate configured to correspond to at least one of the pluralities of magnets embedded on the first plastic injection-molded outer sleeve and the second plastic injection-molded outer sleeve. 
     In one or more embodiments of the method, the at least one metal plate is comprised of steel. 
     In one or more embodiments of the method, the strap further includes a double D-shaped ring at a first end of the strap to enable a second end of the strap to secure a combination of the first yoga block and the second yoga block and the accordion-folded yoga mat. 
     In one or more embodiments of the method, the at least one metal plate is disposed near the double D-shaped ring to enable a magnetic coupling of the at least one metal plate with one or more of the pluralities of magnets embedded on the first plastic injection-molded outer sleeve and the second plastic injection-molded outer sleeve. 
     The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a yoga equipment storage system in accordance with one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 2A  is an exploded view of the yoga equipment storage system in accordance with one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 2B  is an exploded view of the yoga equipment storage system without a strap illustrating a yoga mat and yoga blocks in accordance with one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 3A  is perspective view of a double-D link attachment to a strap and a side portion of the yoga equipment storage system in accordance with one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 3B  is an exploded view of the double-D link attachment to a strap and a side portion of the yoga equipment storage system in accordance with one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  is an environmental view of the yoga mat of the yoga equipment storage system in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a folded yoga mat for insertion into the yoga equipment storage system. 
         FIG. 6  is another perspective view of a partially-folded yoga mat for insertion into the yoga equipment storage system. 
         FIG. 7  is view of an unfolded-folded yoga mat for insertion into the yoga equipment storage system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a system and method for personal yoga equipment storage  100  includes a yoga mat  110  folded by a first length, at least a first width, and accordion folded. 
       FIG. 1  further shows a first yoga block  120  configured to enclose a first part of the accordion-folded yoga mat  110 ; a second yoga block  130  configured to enclose a second part of the accordion-folded yoga mat  110 ; and a strap  140  configured to wrap the enclosed accordion-folded yoga mat by surrounding a perimeter of the first and second yoga blocks  120  and  130  and conceal the accordion-folded yoga mat  110 . Also shown is a buckle system  310 , further described below. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2A , an exploded view of the yoga equipment system is illustrated showing the strap  140  with at least one buckle  210 , the at least one buckle on a side of the first or second yoga block  120  or  130 . In  FIG. 2A , yoga equipment system blocks  150  are shown separated from the strap  140  to illustrate one or more embodiments in which the strap  140  further includes at least one thermoplastic polyurethane strip  270  configured to prevent the sliding of the at least one buckle  210  past a predetermined area of the strap  140 . In one embodiment, the thermoplastic polyurethane (TPA) strip  270  includes at least three strips to more securely prevent the sliding of the buckle  210 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2B , in one or more embodiments, the first yoga block  120  and the second yoga block  130  can include a first plastic injection-molded outer sleeve  220  coupled to the first yoga block  120 . Further, a second plastic injection-molded outer sleeve  230  can be coupled to the second yoga block  130 . In other embodiments, one or more embodiments, each of the first plastic injection-molded outer sleeve  220  and the second plastic injection-molded outer sleeve  230  can include a plurality of magnets  240  embedded therein. In some embodiments, only one sleeve can include a plurality of magnets as shown in sleeve  220 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3A , in one or more embodiments, the strap  140  further includes a double D-shaped ring  310  at a first end of the strap  140  to enable a second end of the strap  140  to secure a combination of the first yoga block  120  and the second yoga block  130  and the accordion-folded yoga mat  110 .  FIG. 3A  illustrates a perspective view of a strap  140  coupled to a double-D-ring  310  and a side of yoga block  120  is shown including a first plastic injection-molded outer sleeve  220  and a first polyurethane foam outer cap  250  coupled to the first plastic injection-molded outer sleeve  220 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3B , an exploded view of the double-D link attachment to a strap and a side portion of the yoga equipment storage system in accordance with one or more embodiments is shown, illustrating an embodiment with plurality of magnets  240  configured to be four magnets of sufficient strength to magnetically couple the strap  140  to yoga blocks  120  and  130  via metal plate  280 . 
     In one embodiment, the first polyurethane foam outer cap  250  coupled to the first plastic injection-molded outer sleeve  220 . 
     Similarly, a second polyurethane foam outer cap can be coupled to the second plastic injection-molded outer sleeve  230 . In one embodiment, either or both the first second polyurethane foam outer cap  250  or the second polyurethane foam outer cap identify a location of the plurality of magnets  240 . 
     In one or more embodiments, the first yoga block  120  and the second yoga block  130  include ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). Similarly, in one or more embodiments, the first and second polyurethane foam outer caps  250  and  260 , respectively include ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). 
     As shown in  FIG. 3B , in one or more embodiments, the strap  140  includes at least one metal plate  280  configured to correspond to at least one of the pluralities of magnets  240  embedded on the first plastic injection-molded outer sleeve  220  and/or the second plastic injection-molded outer sleeve  230 . 
     In one or more embodiments, the at least one metal plate  280  is comprised of steel. In other embodiments, the metal plate  280  can be a combination of steel and other metals, such as iron or a to provide sufficient magnetic strength when coupled to the plurality of magnets  240 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4-7 , the accordion-folded yoga mat is illustrated outside of the yoga equipment system blocks  150 . 
     In one or more embodiments, the yoga mat  110  is a standard sized mat of 68 inches, and in other embodiments, the mat  110  can be 72, 74 or 84 inches. In one or more embodiments, the yoga mat  110  is 24 inches wide, and in other embodiments, the yoga mat is 30 or 36 inches wide, in accordance with system requirements. 
     In one or more embodiments, the thickness of yoga mat  110  is a function of the width and length so that yoga mat  110  can fit into the yoga blocks  120 ,  130  and be a compact, efficient system. Thus, in some embodiments, yoga mat  110  can be sized to be 1/16-inch thick, ⅛-inch thick or ¼-inch thick. 
     In one or more embodiments, yoga mat  110  is made from latex, natural rubber, and/or vinyl. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of a folded yoga mat for insertion into the yoga equipment storage system. As shown, the folds enable different combinations of heights.  FIG. 6  is another perspective view of a partially-folded yoga mat for insertion into the yoga equipment storage system, illustrating that the yoga mat can be tri-folded lengthwise.  FIG. 7  is view of an unfolded-folded yoga mat for insertion into the yoga equipment storage system, illustrating the multiple folds that are possible with the yoga mat  110 . 
     While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.