Patent Publication Number: US-2013231218-A1

Title: Multi-purpose step board

Description:
SUMMARY 
     The present invention relates to a multipurpose step board comprising a body part, the upper surface of which forms an essentially planar support surface for performing a variety of exercise movements by supporting oneself on it. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the prior art are known numerous exercise devices. One simple but effective exercise device is a step board, which can be used for stepping exercise and, for example, for training the arm extensor muscles by leaning on the surface of the step board by one&#39;s palms and on the floor by one&#39;s legs and performing vertical body lifting movements supported by the arms. 
     This type of step board is functional as such, but relatively limited with respect to training possibilities. The aim of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a training device which can be used in the same way as a step board, but which allows efficient utilisation of different additional training devices in connection with it, and which training device is easy to store at home and also relatively easy to carry along. 
     SUMMARY 
     To achieve this aim, the step board according to the invention is characterised in that the device comprises wing parts arranged in connection with the body part, which can be placed on two opposite sides of the body part, supported against the floor surface, which wing parts can be locked in place with respect to the body part or are formed as an integral part of the body part, and which wing parts form lower level support surfaces. 
     The wing parts are provided with fastening means to which can be connected different additional training devices, such as rubber bands, springs or other resistance means which give additional boost, for example, to normal step board training where one steps back and forth onto and off the board. When using the training device according to the invention, one places oneself, for example, with legs wide apart over the body part in such a way that the legs are on the wing parts, in which case the weight of one&#39;s body prevents the wings from rising up off the floor surface when an upwards acting load is exerted on the resistance means connected to the fastening means. 
     The training device according to the invention is preferably made essentially into the shape of a box in such a way that the wing parts are hingedly connected to the body part and can be turned between a using position supported against the floor surface and a storage position making the body part essentially into a closed box. It is thus easy to make the training device, for example, the shape and size of a suitcase, in which case it is relatively easy to carry along, for example, in a car. It may also be used as a storage space for the additional training devices, in which case they are also easily transferred from one place to another. To facilitate transfer, the training device may also be equipped with wheels and pulling or carrying means in a similar manner as a normal suitcase. The training device may conceivably also be implemented as a backpack, in which case one could carry it on one&#39;s back on shoulder straps. The training device may in addition act, for example, as an auxiliary chair or table. 
     According to the invention, the body part may also be implemented as a collapsible solution, in which case it is, when collapsed, preferably arranged to form a flat package together with the wing parts, which is easy to store, for example, under a bed. In a collapsible solution, the wing parts and/or the body part may be comprised of plate-like elements hinged or articulated to each other. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is described in greater detail in the following, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a diagrammatic perspective view of one embodiment of the step board according to the invention, 
         FIG. 2  shows a top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , and 
         FIG. 3  shows a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 4  shows a diagrammatic side view of another embodiment of the step board according to the invention in collapsed form, 
         FIG. 5  shows a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4  in partially erected form, 
         FIG. 6  shows a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4  in its erected using position, and 
         FIG. 7  shows a top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1 to 3  show diagrammatic views in principle of the training device according to the invention, which can be used especially for step board type training. The training device comprises a body part  5 , the upper surface  5   a  of which is made essentially planar and acts as a support surface on which one can step or sit or lie, or on which one can lean, for example, when exercising the arm extensor muscles. In the embodiment shown, wing parts  2  are connected by hinged joints  3  to the body part, the said wing parts being supported against the floor. The training device can be used, for example, by placing oneself with legs wide apart over the body part in such a way that one&#39;s feet are on the wing parts, and stepping onto the upper surface  5   a  and returning onto the lower support surface alternately from both sides, while at the same time gripping with one&#39;s hands the resistance means, e.g. rubber bands or springs, connected to the fastening means to boost the training intensity compared with normal step board training, where typically only the weight of one&#39;s body is used. The weight of one&#39;s body prevents the training device from rising off the floor level during such training. The wing parts are locked in place with respect to the body part  5  with locking means  4 , thus preventing their upward movement when a load is exerted on the ends of the wing parts with resistance means connected to the fastening means  1 . 
       FIGS. 4 to 7  show an alternative implementation of the step board, where  10  the wing parts  2  are joined together with an intermediate part  2 ′ into an elongated base construction. On the base construction is positioned a body part which, in the embodiment shown, is comprised of folding side supports  5 ′ and a planar part forming the upper surface  5   a . The side supports  5 ′ may be, for example, plate-like or tubular parts. The step board can be folded into a flat package, as shown in  FIG. 4 , and erected through the intermediate position shown in  FIG. 5  to the using position according to  FIG. 6 . Erection into the using position may be carried out, for example, by lifting the planar part forming the upper surface  5   a  of the step board upwards from under it, whereby the folding side supports  5 ′ fold out and are locked into an upright position. 
     Alternatively, the wing parts may be connected in a pull-out manner to the lower part of the body part, for example, by means of sliding guide bars. The pull-out wing parts may be connected to the lower part of the body part rotatable around the vertical axis, allowing the wing parts to be pulled out in different angular positions with respect to the body part. 
     The training device may conceivably also be implemented as a uniform integral construction, where the wing parts provided fixedly on the sides of the body part are out all the time. However, from the point of view of transportation and storage, this solution takes up more space and is thus a slightly less advantageous alternative. 
     The width of the wing parts preferably corresponds essentially to the width of the body part or is less than that, in which case they will not protrude from the body part when the training device is folded in its storage position. 
     The upper surface of the training device according to the invention may also be made partly curved, in which case it can also be used for training the back, chest and stomach muscles, among others.