Patent Publication Number: US-11027165-B2

Title: Athletic tire training device and methods

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/209,071, filed Jul. 13, 2016 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to an athletic tire or exercise device and methods of use. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Functional training includes fitness exercises that train muscles to work together and prepare them for daily tasks by simulating common movements that might be done at home, work, or in sports. Functional fitness exercises can also emphasize core stability. 
     One functional fitness exercise is tire training. Tire training includes deadlifts, tire walks, tire flips, etc. 
     Disadvantages of tire workouts include that the tires can be dirty, hard to manage in that they roll away, and difficult to neatly store especially in a gym environment. Improvements are desirable. 
     SUMMARY 
     An athletic tire training device is provided that improves the prior art. 
     In general, an athletic tire training device includes a compressible body having a planar or flat surfaced top, a planar or flat surfaced base, a surrounding wall extending between the top and base, and an interior wall extending between the top and base. The surrounding wall has an exterior surface with a plurality of flat sides. The interior wall surrounds an open interior volume. The body has a weight of at least 20 lbs. 
     The body can have a height between the top and base of at least 12 inches and a width across the surrounding wall of at least 24 inches. The interior volume can have a width of at least 9 inches. 
     The training device can further include at least one handle. 
     The at least one handle can be on at least one of the sides. 
     The at least one handle can be on the flat surfaced top. 
     The plurality of flat sides can include at least five sides; at least six sides; at least seven sides; and at least eight or more sides. 
     Each of the flat sides can have a width of at least 6 inches. 
     At least two or more of the sides may include a first handle adjacent to the top and a second handle adjacent to the base. 
     In embodiments that have a first handle adjacent to the top and second handle adjacent to the base, some implementations may include each of the first handle and second handle being generally parallel to the top and base. 
     In some embodiments, alternate sides include the first handle and second handle, and alternate sides are handle-free. 
     The top may have at least two top handles. 
     The top handles can be oriented such that an axis in alignment along each of the handles does not intersect the open interior volume. 
     The top handles can be generally parallel to two of the sides. 
     In some implementations, the top has at least four handles. 
     In implementations that have at least four handles, the at least four handles can include a first pair of generally parallel handles with the open interior volume therebetween and a second pair of generally parallel handles with the open interior volume therebetween. 
     In some embodiments, the base is handle-free. 
     In some implementations, the interior wall can include a plurality of flat interior sides. 
     The flat interior sides can be equal in number to a number of flat sides of the surrounding wall. 
     The training device may further include a cover member covering the body. 
     The cover member can be a vinyl cover secured by a zipper or other fastener device. 
     In implementations that include a cover member, the at least one handle is secured to an exterior of the cover member. 
     In some embodiments, the body consists essentially of a single material. 
     The body can be made of a compressible material, and consist essential of polyurethane foam blend. 
     The body may comprise foam. 
     The body may consist essentially of foam. 
     The body can have a weight of at least 25 lbs. 
     The body can have a weight of not greater than 300 lbs. 
     The top and base can have a radial length between the surrounding wall and the interior volume of at least 6 inches. 
     In another aspect, a method of using an athletic tire training device includes grasping a compressible body having a flat surfaced top, flat surfaced base, a surrounding wall extending between the top and base, and an interior wall extending between the top and base. The method includes moving the body from a position resting on either the top or base to a position resting on a flat side that forms part of the surrounding wall. The body will weigh at least 20 lbs. 
     The step of grasping can include grasping a pair of spaced handles projecting from the surrounding wall. 
     The step of moving the body can include moving the body from either the top or base to a position resting on the other of the top or base. 
     After the step of moving the body from either the top or base to a position resting on the other of the top or base, the method can include again moving the body to an original position of either the top or base. 
     The method can further include positioning the body to rest on the top and jumping onto the base, the base being handle-free. 
     The interior wall can surround an open interior volume, and the method may further include a step of standing in the interior volume and lifting the body. 
     The step of standing in the interior volume and lifting the body can include grasping handles projecting from the top of the body. 
     The step of grasping handles projecting from the top of the body may include grasping handles spaced apart by the interior volume and that each has an axis in alignment along each of the handles that does not intersect the open interior volume. 
     In another aspect, an athletic tire training device is provided. The athletic tire training device includes a compressible body having a flat surfaced top, flat surfaced base, and a surrounding wall extending between the top and base. The surrounding wall has an exterior surface with a plurality of flat sides. The body has a height between the top and base of at least 12 inches and a width across the surrounding wall of at least 24 inches. There is at least one handle secured to the body. The body has a weight of at least 20 lbs. 
     The athletic tire training device may further include a cover member covering the body. 
     The at least one handle can be secured to the exterior of the cover member. 
     The compressible body may consist essentially of a single material. 
     The single material can include foam. 
     The body can comprise foam. 
     The body can have an open center with a size of at least 9 inches. 
     A variety of additional inventive aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The inventive aspects can relate to individual features and to combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the embodiments disclosed herein are based. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute a part of the description, illustrate several aspects of the present disclosure. A brief description of the drawings is as follows: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of an athletic tire training device constructed in accordance with principles of this disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a right side view of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a left side view of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view through the device of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIGS. 9-18  are perspective views of the device of  FIG. 1  being used in various training exercises. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-8  depict an athletic tire training device at  20 . The training device  20  is usable for functional training and other forms of exercise. Examples of training exercises are depicted in  FIGS. 9-18 , described further below. 
     The training device  20  includes a body  22 . In general, the body  22  is compressible. The term “compressible”, it is meant that there will be deformation (either elastic or inelastic) of the body  22  responsive to normal human force, such as 1 pound or more of pressure. The body  22  is not made from a hard material, such as concrete, a hard plastic, or other materials that do not easily compress. The body  22  is generally soft, but dense enough, to generally support the weight of one or more humans weighing no greater than 1000 pounds. 
     In general, the body  22  is made from a material, such as foam. The body  22  can comprise foam. In some embodiments, the body  22  consists essentially of a single material, such as foam, polyurethane foam, or rebond polyurethane blended particles. The foam material can include the following properties: rebond polyurethane blend of post-industrial and post-consumer polyurethane scrap and other post-industrial fillers having a density of 6-12.0 lbs/ft 3 . For example, in constructions with a total weight of greater than 25 lbs, it is convenient to use the foam having a density of about 12.0 lbs/ft 3 , while in constructions with a total weight of 25 lbs or less, foams having a density of 6.0 lbs/ft 3  are convenient. 
     The body  22  will have a weight that is large enough to provide a suitable challenge to a human for functional training exercises. In many cases, the body  22  will have a weight of at least 20 pounds, for example at least 25 pounds. The body  22  can have a weight greater than 30 pounds, for example such as at least 50 pounds, at least 90 pounds, at least 130 pounds, at least 175 pounds, at least 200 pounds, and not greater than 300 pounds. 
     The body  22  has a planar or flat surfaced top  24 . The flat surfaced top  24  is planar in that it has no projections, other than handles (as described further below) extending therefrom. The planar or flat top  24  provides advantages in that it can be conveniently stacked or stored adjacent to other training devices  20  in a neat and orderly way. 
     The body  22  includes a base  26 . In the embodiment shown, the base  26  is planar or flat. As such, the base  26  is free of protrusions or projections extending therefrom. In preferred implementations, the base  26  is also handle-free. Having a handle-free base  26  is useful for certain training exercises, such as box jumping ( FIGS. 11 and 12 ) and forms of side jumping ( FIGS. 15-18 ). Although in the embodiment shown, the base  26  is handle-free, in other embodiments, the base  26  could have handles. Being handle-free, however, is preferred as it leads to advantages. 
     When both the top  24  and base  26  are flat, a plurality of the training devices  20  can be stacked, one on top of another in a stable and convenient manner. If the top  24  and base  26  were not flat, stacking the training devices  20  could create a less stable stack and could take up more room. 
     In accordance with principles of this disclosure, the body  22  includes a surrounding wall  28 . The surrounding wall  28  generally extends between the top  24  and the base  26 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 1, 6, and 7 , there can be optional rounded or beveled corners or intersections between the surrounding wall  28  and the top  24  at surface  30  and between the surrounding wall  28  and base  26  at surface  32 . These rounded or beveled surfaces  30 ,  32  can be helpful in preventing injuries due to sharpness at these intersections. Many embodiments are possible. 
     The surrounding wall  28  has an exterior surface  34 . The exterior surface  34  includes a plurality of planar or flat sides  36 . The planar or flat sides  36  lead to advantages. For example, conventional tires, when used in functional training, do not have flat sides and are round and can roll away. The flat sides  36  lead to stability and do not roll away when being used or in training. In addition, the flat sides  36  allow for stable storage in a gym, when not in use. Again, if the sides were not flat, but round, the storage would not be as stable or convenient as the roundness could lead to the devices rolling away when stored on their sides. The flatness of the sides  36  also allows for stability when used during training, such as during flipping exercises, as illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
     The training device  20  can be many different shapes including rectangular, having 4 sides, or any shape of a regular or irregular polygon. For example, there can be at least 5 flat sides  36 ; at least 6 flat sides  36 ; at least 7 flat sides  36 ; or at least 8 flat sides  36 . There can be more than 8 flat sides  36 . In the particular embodiment illustrated in the drawings, there are 8 flat sides  36 . Each of the flat sides  36  is generally the same length, forming a regular octagon shape. Other embodiments can be irregular in shape. 
     In many embodiments, the flat sides  36  have a width  38  ( FIG. 6 ) of at least 6 inches. The width  38  can be typically 10-20 inches. The width  38  will generally not exceed 30 inches. Convenient widths  38  will be about 10-11 inches, or about 14-15 inches, or about 16-17 inches, or about 19-20 inches in various embodiments. In the embodiment shown, each of the flat sides  36  has the same width  38 . It is envisioned that in other embodiments, there could be intermediate flat sides with longer or shorter widths  38 . 
     The body  22  has a height  40  ( FIG. 2 ) between the top  24  and base  26 . The height  40  can vary, but generally will be at least 12 inches. In many situations, the height  40  will be between 15-20 inches, and generally not greater than 40 inches. 
     Still in reference to  FIG. 2 , the body  22  will have a width  42  across the surrounding wall  28 , that is a greatest width  42  across the body  22  of generally at least 24 inches. In many embodiments, the width  42  will be 25-55 inches, and generally not greater than 65 inches. Convenient widths  42  include: 27-30 inches; 35-38 inches; 43-46 inches; and 49-52 inches in various embodiments. 
     In accordance with principles of this disclosure, the body  22  includes an interior wall  44 . The interior wall  44  extends between the top  24  and the base  26 . The interior wall  44  surrounds an open interior volume  46 . Having the open interior volume  46  leads to advantages in that the training device  20  can be used in training exercises that allow a person to stand within the open interior volume  46 . See, for example,  FIGS. 13 and 14 . In addition, exercises can include jumping into and out of the interior volume  46 , such as shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 . Many embodiments are possible, and it is contemplated that in other embodiments, the body  22  would not have an interior wall  44  or open interior volume  46 , but can be solid. In those embodiments, the training device  20  could be used for exercises such as flipping ( FIGS. 9 and 10 ) or box jumping ( FIGS. 11 and 12 ) but not exercises that require the person to stand in the open interior volume  46 . 
     The interior volume  46  has a largest width  48  ( FIG. 6 ) across it that is preferably large enough to accommodate a normal sized human to stand there within. In many embodiments, the width  48  is at least 9 inches. The width  48  can typically be about 10-30 inches and will generally not be greater than 40 inches. Convenient widths  48  include: 11-12 inches; 17-18 inches; 21-22 inches; and 25-26 inches in various embodiments. Many variations are possible. 
     The interior wall  44  need not be any particular shape. The interior wall  44  can be rounded or polygon shape. In the particular embodiment shown, the interior wall  44  includes a plurality of sides  50 , which can be planar or flat. The interior sides  50  can include any number of sides, but in the embodiment shown, the number of interior sides  50  is equal to the number of sides  36  of the surrounding wall  28 . In this embodiment, there are 8 interior sides  50 . 
     The top  24  and base  26  will generally have a same radial length  52  ( FIG. 7 ) between the surrounding wall  28  and the interior wall  44 . The radial length  52  will generally be at least 6 inches, generally 7-15 inches, and typically not greater than 25 inches. It is convenient when the radial length  52  is long enough to support the feet of a normal sized human for training exercises such as box jumping ( FIGS. 11-12 ). Convenient radial lengths  52  include: 8-10 inches; and 11-13 inches in various embodiments. 
     The training device  20  preferably has at least one handle  54 . The at least one handle  54  can be extending from at least one of the sides  36  or from the top  24 . The handle  54  can be used in training exercises, as depicted in  FIGS. 9, 13, and 14 . 
     Many embodiments and arrangements of handles  54  are possible. In the embodiment shown, at least two or more of the sides  36  includes handle  54 . In preferred embodiments, at least 2 or more of the sides  36  include a first handle  56  adjacent to the top  24  and a second handle  58  adjacent to the base  26 . 
     The first handle  56  and second handle  58  can be arranged to result in convenient training exercises. For example, in the embodiment shown, the first handle  56  and second handle  58  are generally parallel to each other and to a plane containing the top  24  and the base  26 . In other words, an axis  60  running longitudinally along a length of the handle  56  and an axis  62  running longitudinally about the length of the handle  58  (see  FIG. 2 ) will be parallel to a plane containing the top  24  and a plane containing the base  26 . The orientation of these handles  56 ,  58  are helpful in performing the functional training, such as the flipping exercise of  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
     In addition, the location of the first handle  56  adjacent to but spaced from the top  24  and the location of the second handle  58  adjacent to but spaced from the base  26  allows for various forms of flip training. For example, in  FIG. 9 , a deeper squat can be used by the person due to the lower location of the second handle  58 . Once the training device  20  is flipped, so that it is now resting on the top  24 , the flip can again be done by grasping the first handle  56 , which will be the handle that is lowest and closer to the ground or floor and allow for the deeper squat. If shallower squats are desired, the handle  56 ,  58  that is higher from the ground can be grasped. The varied locations of the handles  56 ,  58  allow for variation in training. 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 1-7 , in the particular embodiment illustrated, it is convenient for having alternate sides  36  to have the first and second handles  56 ,  58  while other alternate sides are handle-free. For example, in  FIG. 6 , sides  64  include handles  56 ,  58 . 
     Sides  66  are handle-free. As can be seen, every other side  36  is either handled (sides  64 ) or handle-free (sides  66 ). 
     The at least 1 handle  54  can further include the top  24  having at least 2 top handles  70 . The top handles  70  are oriented as extending from the top  24  to allow a training exercise in which the device  20  is grasped along the top handles  20  with a person standing in the interior volume  46  (see  FIG. 13 ). Such an exercise includes the top handles  20  as being on the top  20  with the interior volume  46  therebetween. 
     In the embodiment illustrated, the top handles  70  include at least 4 top handles  70 , illustrated as a first pair of top handles  72  with the open interior volume  46  therebetween and a second pair  74  of top handles with the open volume  46  therebetween. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , the top handles  70  are generally centered between the surrounding wall  28  and the interior wall  44 , but variations are possible. 
     Still in reference to  FIG. 6 , in the arrangement shown, the top handles  70  are oriented such that a longitudinal axis  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82  in alignment along each of the handles  70  does not intercept the open interior volume  46 . As illustrated, the first pair of top handles  72  have axes  76 ,  78  that are generally parallel to each other and parallel to two of the sides  36 . The second pair of top handles  74  have axes  80 ,  82  that are parallel to each other and generally parallel to two of the sides  36 . While many variations are possible, in the one shown, the axes  76 ,  78  are generally perpendicular to the axes  80 ,  82 . This arrangement is convenient in that it allows for a person using the device to be oriented in various angles within the interior volume  46  and perform the lifting and carrying exercises of  FIGS. 13 and 14 . 
     In accordance with principles of this disclosure, the training device  20  includes a cover member  86 . The cover member  86  covers the body  22  and allows for removal from the body  22  for cleaning or replacement purposes. The cover  86  can be selectively secured to and removed from the body  22  through the use of a fastener arrangement  88 . The fastener arrangement  88  can be any type of convenient fastener arrangement, such as a zipper, a hook and loop fastener, snaps, buttons, clasps, ties, etc. The fastener arrangement  88  extends around an outer periphery of the training device  20  less than a full 360°, such as 315-350°. The cover member  86  can also have an inside fastener arrangement  91  ( FIGS. 11 and 12 ), such as a zipper, along the interior wall  44  to help facilitate placement and removal of the cover member  86  relative to the body  22 . In preferred arrangements, the inside fastener arrangement  91  along the interior wall  44  extends a full 360°. As can be seen in  FIGS. 11  and  12 , the fastener arrangement  88  and the inside fastener arrangement  91  can be adjacent to a same end, in this case base  26 . This arrangement allows for convenient placing of the cover member  86  over the body  22 . Other embodiments are possible. 
     The cover member  86  is preferably made from a durable material that is easily cleanable. For example, the cover member  86  can be vinyl or other type of material that is easily cleanable and durable. The fastener arrangement  88  can be covered with a flap or strip of the cover material, and can be a flap tightly covering the fastener arrangement  88  or it can be securable to a remaining portion of the cover member  86  with, for example, a hook and loop fastener arrangement or other types of fastener arrangements. In  FIGS. 9-18 , the fastener arrangement  88  is covered with a removable flap or strip  89  to cover and protect an underlying zipper. The flap or strip  89  helps enhances the aesthetic appearance of the training device  20 , while also reinforcing the zipper by not exposing it to the elements. The at least one handle  54 , including handles  56 ,  58  on the sides  64  and handles  70  on the top  24  are preferably secured to the exterior of the cover member  86 . It is contemplated that the cover member  86  can include handles  54  in different orientations, in case it is desired to change out the type of training exercises done, which might require handles in a different orientation. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 7 , in preferred embodiments, the base  26  is handle-free. Having the base  26  be handle-free allows the base  26  to be free of obstructions to allow for box jumping ( FIGS. 11 and 12 ) without interference between a person&#39;s foot and a handle. 
     Reference is now made to the examples of use of the training device  20  shown in  FIGS. 9-18 . 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  show a flipping exercise. In  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the person  90  will squat down and select any two handles or slid their hands under the device  20  until a comfortable and firm grip is developed.  FIG. 9  illustrates the person  90  grasping the second handles  58  that are adjacent to the base  26 . The person  90  keeps her shoulders back, chest up, and back flat and drives up from the heels to use their legs to lift the body  22  on its side  36 . The body  22  is let go and then pushed over ( FIG. 10 ) to land on the opposite top  24  or base  26  from where it started. In  FIG. 9 , the body  22  was initially on the base  26  and is flipped to then rest on the top  24 . This exercise can be continued for a desired number of repetitions. 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate a box jump or a plyo jump. The body  22  is placed on its top  24  such that the handle-free base  26  is facing upward. The person  90  squats down, takes arms back to use forward momentum, and jumps up and forward to land onto the base  26  of the body  22  on both feet with knees slightly bent ( FIG. 12 ). The person  90  dismounts by stepping backwards, and this can be continued for a desired number of repetitions or for a predetermined amount of time. 
       FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate a farmer&#39;s carry exercise. The training device  20  is started with the base  26  on the ground and the top  24  facing upwardly. The person  90  steps into the interior volume  46 , squats down, and firmly grasps one of the top handles  70  on each side. That is, the person  90  will grasp either the first pair  72  or the second pair  74 . Keeping shoulders back, chest up, back flat, and arms nearly straight, the person  90  uses legs to lift the body  22  until suspended. See  FIG. 14 . The person  90  will then walk forward while carrying the body  22  for a predetermined number of steps, distance, or time. The person  90  will stop with the weight on her heels, slowly bend her knees, and lower the body  22  back to the floor. This is continued for a desired number of repetitions or for a predetermined amount of time. 
       FIGS. 15-18  illustrate a hop-in-and-over exercise (e.g., side jumps). In  FIG. 15 , the person  90  stands to one side of the body  22 , places her palms flat on the front middle edge of the body  22  and then jumps with feet together into the open interior volume  46  ( FIG. 16 ). The person  90  then pauses and jumps again with both feet the opposite side of the body  22  ( FIGS. 17 and 18 ). This process is repeated by jumping back to the side that the person  90  started on in  FIG. 15 . This can be continued for a desired number of repetitions or for a predetermined amount of time. 
     The above incorporates example principles. Many embodiments can be made using these principles.