Patent Publication Number: US-2021162293-A1

Title: Exercise game kit and method

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure generally relates to exercise activities and, more particularly, to card-based exercise activities. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A common issue with working out is maintaining motivation both to go to the gym and to continue a workout. To help with this, many people turn to personal trainers or classes to receive directed workouts. Moreover, introducing variation into a workout can help avoid boredom and increase the challenge presented. Accordingly, ways to increase the variation and fun individuals experience when working out are helpful to maintain a consistent workout regimen. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with a first aspect, a method for directing exercise activities for a plurality of participants is described that includes arranging a deck of cards face down in an array, where the face of each of the cards has exercise indicia thereon including an exercise and a number of repetitions. The deck of cards includes cards having a predetermined number of different exercises and is composed of pairs of cards having matching indicia. The method further includes directing a first participant to flip over first and second cards in the array. When the first and second cards have matching indicia, the method includes directing the participants other than the first participant to perform the exercise in the identified number of repetitions shown on the face of the two cards and removing the first and second cards from the array. When the first and second cards have mismatched indicia, the method includes directing the first participant to cast a token having a first side and a second side, directing the first participant to perform the exercise in the identified number of repetitions of the first card in response to the cast token showing the first side and directing the first participant to perform the exercise in the identified number of repetitions of the second card in response to the cast token showing the second side, and replacing the first and second cards face down in the array. 
     In some forms, the method can include, when the first and second cards have mismatched indicia, directing the participants other than the first participant to perform the exercise in the identified number of repetitions of the first card in response to the cast token showing the second side and directing the participants other than the first participant to perform the exercise in the identified number of repetitions of the second card in response to the cast token showing the first side. 
     In some forms, the method can include directing each of the participants to be the first participant in turn until all of the cards are removed from the array. In further forms, the method can include determining a winner corresponding to a participant having matched the most cards and/or, when all of the cards are removed from the array, directing each of the participants to perform a final exercise in a number of repetitions determined by subtracting a number of removed cards from the array for each participant from a predetermined number. Optionally, the final exercise can be determined by selecting a final exercise card from a second deck of cards, where each card in the second deck of cards has a face with final exercise indicia thereon including an exercise and a beginning number of repetitions. 
     In accordance with a second aspect, a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon is described, where the instructions are configured to cause a computing device to perform operations corresponding to one or more of the above methods. 
     In accordance with a second aspect, a game kit for directing exercise activities is described that includes a deck of cards, where each of the cards has a face with exercise indicia thereon including an exercise and an exercise number, and a two sided token. The deck of cards includes cards having a predetermined number of different exercises and being composed of pairs of cards having matching indicia. 
     According to some forms, the exercise indicia can include an exercise group type. In further forms, the exercise group type can include a particular body part and/or a workout goal. 
     According to some forms, the exercise number can include a number of repetitions. In further forms, the exercise number can include a number of sets and/or a weight. 
     According to some forms, the exercise number can include a plurality of different numbers providing a plurality of levels of difficulty and/or the kit can include a final exercise deck of cards, where each of the cards in the final exercise deck has a face with indicia thereon including an exercise and a number of repetitions. The exercises of the cards in the final exercise deck are different than the exercises of the cards in the deck. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above needs are at least partially met through provision of the embodiments described in the following detailed description, particularly when studied in conjunction with the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example exercise game kit including a deck of cards, a final exercise deck of cards, and a token in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of a back face of an example card of the deck of cards of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of a front face of a first example card of the deck of cards of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a front face of a second example card of the deck of cards of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a front face of a first example card of the final exercise deck of cards of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic view of a game setup using the exercise game kit of  FIG. 1  in accordance with various embodiments; and 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart of an exercise game in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagrammatic view of an example computing device in accordance with various embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A exercise game kit and method is described herein that directs a group of participants to perform a variety of exercises based on how the game plays out. With each turn, a participant can receive or avoid an exercise, while other participants may also receive an exercise. The game kit includes a deck of cards with matched pairs having the same exercise and number of repetitions. With this configuration, participants are tasked with finding the matched pairs, either by luck or memory. The resulting game session advantageously provides a comprehensive workout, which can be tailored as desired, while also providing fun and challenging group gameplay. 
     Details of an example game kit  100  are shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . The kit  100  includes a deck  102  of cards  104  and a token  106 . The token  106  can be any object with first and second sides  108 ,  110 , so that the token  106  can be utilized to select between first and second options. For example, the token  106  can be coin, so that a user can flip the coin when needed and the first face  108  can display a “1” or other first option and the second face  110  can display a “2” or other second option. Alternatively, the token  106  can be a die having two face options or other suitable members. 
     Each card  104  in the deck  102  is directed to a particular exercise with an associated predetermined exercise value. Example cards  104  are shown in  FIGS. 2 to 4 . An example back  112  for the cards  104  is shown in  FIG. 2  that includes a graphic, pattern, and/or alphanumeric content, including a company logo, for example. A front face  114  of each the cards  104 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , can have indicia  116  printed or otherwise disposed thereon that includes an exercise title  118 , an illustration or graphic  120  representing the exercise, and an exercise number  122 . The illustration or graphic  120  can be an illustration showing a person or cartoon performing the exercise, a photo of a model performing the exercise, or the like. In some versions, one or more of the cards  104  can be a wild card  105  ( FIG. 6 ) that can be used, as described below, to match any of the other cards  104  in the deck. 
     If desired, the exercise number  122  can include tiered values, such as an easy value  122   a , an intermediate value  122   b , and a hard value  122   c  corresponding to different difficulty or experience levels. Of course, rather than 3 tiered values, it will be understood that two tiered values or more than three tiered values can be utilized, as desired. The tiered values allow people having a wide variety of experience and stamina to participate in the game together by selecting the appropriate difficulty for each person. Further, while a repetition number  122   d  for the exercise number  122  is suitable for many exercises, the exercise number  122  can also include a number of sets  122   e  in addition to a number of repetitions  122   d  that a participant has to perform and/or a weight value  122   f  for a participant to perform the exercise with, e.g., a kettlebell weight, a medicine ball weight, a barbell weight, loaded bar weight, etc. In these forms, the difficulty levels can include tiered sets and/or repetitions, as well as tiered weight values. In alternative versions, the kit  100  can include one or more decks  102  having specific difficulty levels. In one example, the kit  100  can be provided with a single deck having an associated difficulty, such as easy, intermediate, or hard, and participants can select a plurality of kits  100  to obtain multiple levels of difficulty. In another example, the kit  100  can be provided with two, three, or more decks having different difficulties with respect to one another. 
     In some versions, the indicia  116  can further include an exercise group type  124 , which allows participants to tailor a game to work on particular workout aspects, such as exercises directed to particular body parts, e.g., arms, legs, core, back, etc., or exercises directed to workout goals, e.g., strength, conditioning, endurance, speed, etc. Decks  102  can be provided where all of the cards  104  are directed to a particular body part workout or workout goal, combinations thereof, or mixed. In other versions, the deck  102  can be directed to a particular exercise and the cards can have varying numbers of repetitions  122   d , sets  122   e , and/or weights  122   f  corresponding to the particular exercise. 
     In the illustrated example of  FIG. 3 , the indicia  116  is directed to a deadlift, which is shown in the exercise title  118 . The illustration  120  shows a person in a squatting position prior to lifting the weight. Further, the exercise number  122  includes an easy value  122   a  that includes three sets  122   e  of five repetitions  122   d  at 30 pounds  122   f , an intermediate value  122   b  that includes three sets  122   e  of five repetitions  122   d  at 60 pounds  122   f , and a hard value  122   c  that includes three sets  122   e  of five repetitions  122   d  at 100 pounds  122   f . Other versions could vary the number of sets  122   e  and/or repetitions  122   d  in addition to or in alternative to the weight  122   f . The indicia  116  further includes an exercise group type  124  of arm, leg, core, strength exercises. 
     In the illustrated example of  FIG. 4 , the indicia  116  is directed to a push-up, which is shown in the exercise title  118 . The illustration  120  shows a person in a raised position performing a push-up. Further, the exercise number  122  includes an easy value  122   a  of  15  push-ups  122   d , an intermediate value  122   b  of  30  push-ups  122   d , and a hard value  122   c  of  45  push-ups  122   d . The indicia  116  further includes an exercise group type  124  of arm exercises. 
     In one form, the game kit  100  can further include a final exercise deck  130  of cards  132 . Each card  132  in the final exercise deck  130  is directed to a particular “hard” exercise with an associated predetermined exercise number. An example card  132  is shown in  FIG. 5 . A front face  134  of the card  132  can have indicia  136  printed or otherwise disposed thereon that includes an exercise title  138 , an illustration or graphic  140  representing the exercise, and an exercise number  142 . The illustration or graphic  140  can be an animation showing a person or cartoon performing the exercise, a photo of a model performing the exercise, or the like. The exercise number  142  can have a similar form to the above-described exercise number  122 . In any case, the exercise number  142  includes a repetition number  142   d  that provides a benchmark from which participants can reduce, as described in more detail below. In an alternative version, the participants can utilize the regular deck  102  to select a final exercise, such as by the selection of one of the cards  104  from the deck  102  after shuffling. 
     It will be readily understood how the card formats described herein can be utilized for any type of desired exercise. For example, the exercises can include one or more of the following: air squat, front squat, overhead squat, shoulder press, push press, push jerk, deadlift, medicine ball clean, sumo deadlift high pull, thruster, wall ball, pull up, burpee, jump rope, push up, overhead press, row, handstand push, sit up, plank, back hyperextension, rope climb, bench press, clean jerk, running, snatch, back squat, squat jerk, split jerk, barbell row, ring muscle up, bar muscle up, ring handstand push up, handstand walk, double unders, box jumps, or kettlebell swing. It will be understood, however, that the above list is merely for illustration and that any other exercises are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     An exercise game  150  for a plurality of participants utilizing the above-described exercise deck  102  and, optionally, the final exercise deck  130 , is shown in  FIG. 6  and a method  200  of playing the game  150  is shown in  FIG. 7 . In first and second steps  202 ,  204 , the cards  104  are shuffled and then laid front face  114  down in an array  152 . After the participants determine an order of play, in a third step  206 , the first participant turns over a first card  154  and a second card  156 , which can be any cards  104  in the array  152 . 
     If the indicia  116  of the first and second cards  154 ,  156  match, in a fourth step  208 , the first participant performs no exercise and the participants other than the first participant performs the identified exercise  118  according to the shown exercise number  122 . In a fifth step  210 , the first participant then removes the matched first and second cards  154 ,  156  from the array  152  leaving the associated gaps in the array  152 , i.e., no other cards  104  are moved or arranged. If the indicia  116  of the first and second cards  154 ,  156  do not match, in a sixth step  212 , the first participant flips or tosses the token  106  and, in a seventh step  214 , performs the identified exercise  118  according to the shown exercise number  122  of the first card  154  if the first side  108  of the token  106  is shown and performs the identified exercise  118  according to the shown exercise number  122  of the second card  156  if the second side  110  of the token  106  is shown. If desired, in an optional eighth step  216 , the participants other than the first participant perform the identified exercise  118  according to the shown exercise number  122  of the first or second cards  154 ,  156  not performed by the first participant. Thereafter, in a ninth step  218 , the first and second cards  154 ,  156  are flipped face down in the same spots in the array  152 . Play then passes to a second participant who performs the same steps. Play continues until all of the cards  104  are removed from the array  152  as a result of being matched by one of the participants. In a tenth step  220 , a winner of the game  150  is declared as the participant with the most matches. In an alternative version, the first participant&#39;s turn can keep going in response to matching the first and second cards  154 ,  156 , allowing the first participant to two over at least two additional cards  104 . 
     In another version, one or more wild cards  105  can be included in the deck  102  and disposed within the array  152 . In one form, if a participant flips over the wild card  105 , the participant can select one of the cards  104  in the deck  104  to make the other participants to perform the exercise shown. This will allow the participant to select a difficult exercise for the other participants or an exercise that the other participants particularly dislike. In this instance, the wild card  105 , as well as, the selected card  104  are removed from the array  152 . When the matching card  104  for the selected card  104  is uncovered, the matching card  104  can simply be removed from the array and the active participant can select another card  104 . In another form, if a participant flips over the wild card  105 , either as the first or second card  154 ,  156 , the wild card  105  will automatically match the other of the first or second cards  154 ,  156  and the participant performs no exercise, while the other participants perform the identified exercise  118  according to the shown exercise number  122  of the other of the first or second cards  154 ,  156 . In this instance, the wild card  105  is removed from the array  152  and the other of the first or second cards  154 ,  156  can either be replaced in the array or removed. If the card is removed, when the matching card  104  for the removed card  104  is uncovered, the matching card  104  can simply be removed from the array and the active participant can select another card  104 . 
     The value and risk of the game  150  can be increased by a final, difficult exercise that is performed after all the cards  104  are matched and a winner is declared. With this form, in an eleventh step  222 , the participants select the final exercise. As discussed above, the final exercise has a predetermined number of repetitions. The game method  200  utilizes this value in a twelfth step  224 , allowing each participant to subtract the number of matches or number of matched cards  104  they acquired during the game  150  from the predetermined number of repetitions of the final exercise. Accordingly, playing well in the game allows a participant to reduce the burden imposed by the final exercise. Finally, in a thirteenth step  226 , all participants perform the final exercise according to their own number of repetitions. 
     In one example, the final exercise can be a burpee ladder with 20 repetitions. Each participant decreases the benchmark repetition number of 20 by subtracting the number of matches they acquired during the game  150 , e.g., a player with 4 matches begins the burpee ladder at 16. 
     Rather than selecting the final exercise as a group or choosing one participant to select the final exercise, the final exercise can be determined by selection of one of the cards  132  from the final exercise deck  130 . The winner, or one of the other participants at random, can select the final exercise card  132 , for example, at the beginning or end of the game  150 . The exercises on the final exercise cards  132  can be more difficult and different than the exercises in the above-described deck  102 . 
     In another version, the exercise game  150  can be provided in electronic format so that participants can operate the game  150  using a suitable computing device. In these forms, the method shown in  FIG. 7  can be implemented by participants interacting with a software algorithm operating on a computing device  300  as shown in  FIG. 8 , such as a mobile phone, tablet, E-reader, and so forth. The computing device  300  can include one or more graphical user interfaces (GUIs) providing display actions provided by application software operating on the computing device  300  to allow participants to perform the actions set forth in the method shown in  FIG. 7 . The computing device  300  can be configured as commonly understood to include a user input  302 , such as a touch screen, keypad, switch device, voice command software, or the like, a memory  304 , a power source  306 , which can be replaceable or rechargeable as desired, a display  308 , and a processing device  310  controlling the operation thereof. 
     The term processing devices, as utilized herein, refers broadly to any microcontroller, computer, or processor-based device with processor, memory, and programmable input/output peripherals, which is generally designed to govern the operation of other components and devices. It is further understood to include common accompanying accessory devices, including memory, transceivers for communication with other components and devices, etc. These architectural options are well known and understood in the art and require no further description here. The processing devices disclosed herein may be configured (for example, by using corresponding programming stored in a memory as will be well understood by those skilled in the art) to carry out one or more of the steps, actions, and/or functions described herein. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the client device  300  can include an action module  312  stored in the memory  304  as a set of instructions executable by the processing device  310 . The action module  312  is configured to receive inputs from the user input  302  of the device  300  to identify game selection events and control the application of the selection events. If desired, the functionality of the action module  312  can be implemented as an action module application programming interface (API)  314  stored in the memory  304  that can include any content that may be suitable for the techniques of the current disclosure, which various applications executing on servers and/or client devices can invoke. For example, the API  314  may perform a corresponding action to the array of cards  152  upon selection of individual ones of the cards  104  by a participant in response to a detected event of the computing device  300  detected by the action module  312 . The action module  312  can invoke the API  314  when necessary, without external communications. In other versions, one or more steps of the methods/algorithms can have cloud-based processing and/or storage with a remote processing system including an action module, configured as described with the above form, stored in a memory as a set of instructions executable by a processing device. 
     The application software described herein can be available for purchase and/or download from any website, online store, or vendor over any suitable communication network, such as the internet, radio, Bluetooth, etc. Alternatively, a user can download the application onto a personal computer and transfer the application to the computing device  300 . When operation is desired, the user runs the application on the computing device  300  by a suitable selection through the user input  302 . 
     The following additional considerations apply to the foregoing discussion. Throughout this specification, plural instances may implement components, operations, or structures described as a single instance. Although individual operations of one or more methods are illustrated and described as separate operations, one or more of the individual operations may be performed concurrently, and nothing requires that the operations be performed in the order illustrated. Structures and functionality presented as separate components in example configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single component may be implemented as separate components. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements fall within the scope of the subject matter herein. 
     Certain embodiments are described herein as including logic or a number of components, modules, or mechanisms. Modules may constitute either software modules (e.g., code embodied on a machine-readable medium or in a transmission signal) or hardware modules. A hardware module is tangible unit capable of performing certain operations and may be configured or arranged in a certain manner. In example embodiments, one or more computer systems (e.g., a standalone, client or server computer system) or one or more hardware modules of a computer system (e.g., a processor or a group of processors) may be configured by software (e.g., an application or application portion) as a hardware module that operates to perform certain operations as described herein. 
     Unless specifically stated otherwise, discussions herein using words such as “processing,” “computing,” “calculating,” “determining,” “presenting,” “displaying,” or the like may refer to actions or processes of a machine (e.g., a computer) that manipulates or transforms data represented as physical (e.g., electronic, magnetic, or optical) quantities within one or more memories (e.g., volatile memory, non-volatile memory, or a combination thereof), registers, or other machine components that receive, store, transmit, or display information. 
     Any desired number of cards  104  can be provided in the deck  102 . For example, the deck  102  can have thirty cards  104  representing fifteen matched pairs (or fewer if wild cards  105  are used). Of course, other numbers of cards  104  could be used, such as between ten cards up to fifty cards or more. 
     So configured, the game kit  100  and game  150  provides fun motivation and group exercise through the use of memorization to remember where matches are as cards  104  are flipped or luck to happen upon matches. 
     It will be appreciated that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments. The same reference numbers may be used to describe like or similar parts. Further, while several examples have been disclosed herein, any features from any examples may be combined with or replaced by other features from other examples. Moreover, while several examples have been disclosed herein, changes may be made to the disclosed examples within departing from the scope of the claims. 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept.