Patent Publication Number: US-2007099761-A1

Title: Exercise device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application is closely related to and claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/732,182 filed Nov. 1, 2005. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates, in general, to an exercise device and, more, particularly, the present invention relates to an exercise device for use with carpet slides for recreational use.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      There are various recreational devices available commercially which will enable a person to slide on certain type of surfaces for recreational use. These devices generally require either a hill, rollers/wheels or at least a slippery surface, such as, snow or ice in order to enable these prior art devices to work effectively.  
      Recently there has been made available a recreational device for use indoors on carpeted floors. These carpet slides for recreational use enable the user to slide on such carpeted floors. One problem with such carpet slides is a difficulty for a skater to stop quickly when going at a relatively fast speed.  
      Thus, it would be advantageous if there were some device which would enable such skater to stop quickly and even more advantageous if such device could be incorporated into a exercise regimen.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Thus, the present invention provides an exercise apparatus for use with carpet slides for recreational use. The exercise apparatus comprises a stop block having a predetermined shape, a front end and a back end and constructed of a predetermined material, the predetermined shape of the stop block includes a substantially flat bottom surface and a tapered upper surface and a means disposed on the bottom surface of the stop block for gripping a carpet and preventing the stop block from moving when contacted by a carpet slide and thereby stopping a skater on such carpet slides.  
      An alternate embodiment of the invention provides an exercise apparatus for recreational use. The exercise apparatus comprises a carpet slide, such carpet slide includes a first member having a predetermined shape and a predetermined size, such first member formed from a flexible sheet of material having an upper surface and a bottom surface. There is at least one strap like member, such at least one strap like member having a first end and a second end. A first means is disposed along the upper surface of the first member adjacent a first outer edge portion thereof between a front portion of the first member and a back portion of the first member for engaging a first end of the at least one strap like member. A second means is disposed along the upper surface adjacent a substantially radially opposed second outer edge portion thereof between the front portion of the first member and the back portion of the first member for engaging a second end of the at least one strap like member. Such exercise apparatus further includes at least one stop block having a predetermined shape, a front end and a back end and constructed of a predetermined material. The predetermined shape of the stop block includes a substantially flat bottom surface and a tapered upper surface. There is a means disposed on the bottom surface of the stop block for gripping a carpet and preventing the stop block from moving when contacted by the carpet slide and thereby stopping a skater on the carpet slide.  
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
      It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide an exercise apparatus for use with carpeted slides.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a exercise apparatus that will stop a recreational skater from skating past a predetermined area.  
      Still another object of the present invention is to provide an exercise apparatus which can be removably attached to carpeting so as stop such skater.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide an exercise apparatus which has teeth on an underside for engaging a carpet.  
      Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an exercise apparatus which the stop block has ridges disposed on the tapered side to assist in stopping.  
      In addition to the numerous objects and advantages of the present invention which have been described with some degree of particularity above, it should be both noted and understood that a number of other important objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such detailed description is taken in conjunction with the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view of the tapered surface of the exercise apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of the bottom surface of the exercise apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  is a partial perspective enlarged view of the gripping teeth on the bottom surface of the exercise apparatus shown in  FIG. 2 .  
       FIG. 4  is side view of a skater with carpet slides contacting such exercise apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1-3 .  
       FIG. 5  is front view of a skater with carpet slides contacting such exercise apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1-3 .  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective top view of the carpet slide with securing straps shown according to an embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of the carpet slide shown in  FIG. 6  taken across the line VII-VII.  
       FIG. 8  is bottom view of the carpet slide shown in  FIG. 6  illustrating the arcuate saw tooth ribs on the forward toe portion of the slide for providing walking or running traction. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
      Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention, it should be noted that for the sake of clarity in understanding the invention, identical components with identical functions have been designated with identical reference numerals throughout the drawing Figures.  
      Illustrated in the drawing figures is an exercise apparatus, generally designated  10 , for use with carpet slides for recreational use.  
      Thus, the present invention in one embodiment provides an exercise apparatus  10  for use with carpet slides for recreational use. The exercise apparatus  10  comprises a stop block  2  having a predetermined shape, a front end  4  and a back end  6  and constructed of a predetermined material. The predetermined shape of the stop block includes a substantially flat bottom surface  8  and a tapered upper surface  12  and a means, generally designated  20 , disposed on the bottom surface of the stop block  2  for gripping a carpet and preventing the stop block  2  from moving when contacted by a carpet slide and thereby stopping a skater on such carpet slides.  
      The tapered upper surface portion  12  extends from a high back end  6  to a low front end  4  wherein such stop block  2  is substantially in a form of a wedge.  
      The means  20  disposed on the bottom surface  8  for preventing the stop block  2  from moving when contacted by a carpet slide includes a plurality of carpet gripping teeth  14  that extend downwardly from the bottom surface  8  of the stop block  2 . The plurality of gripping teeth  14  are disposed at a predetermined angle from the vertical. The predetermined angle being away from the front end  4  the stop block  2  such that the stop block  2  will grip a carpet and thereby prevent the stop block  2  from moving when the stop block  2  is contacted by a skater using carpet slides.  
      The predetermined material for forming such stop block  2  is selected from rubber, plastic, wood, metal and combinations thereof. It is presently preferred that such material is rubber.  
      It is also presently preferred that the tapered upper surface  12  of such stop block  2  further include a plurality of ridges  16  that are formed thereon. The plurality of ridges  16  aid in stopping such skater using carpet slides.  
      An alternate embodiment of the invention provides an exercise apparatus  30  for recreational use. The exercise apparatus  30  comprises a carpet slide, generally designated  40 . Such carpet slide  40  includes a first member  42  having a predetermined shape and a predetermined size, such first member  42  formed from a flexible sheet of material having an upper surface  44  and a bottom surface  46 . There is at least one strap like member, such at least one strap like member having a first end and a second end for securing the carpet slide  40  to the user&#39;s foot. In  FIG. 6  the apparatus includes a two piece strap showing a first strap  48  and a second strap  49  according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Also in the preferred embodiment there is a hook and loop type material applied to the ends of the two straps  48 ,  49  for securing the strap segments A first means, generally designated  50 , is disposed along the upper surface  44  of the first member  42  adjacent a first outer edge portion thereof between a front portion of the first member  42  and a back portion of the first member  42  for engaging a first end of the first strap  48 . A second means, generally designated  60 , is disposed along the upper surface adjacent a substantially radially opposed second outer edge portion thereof between the front portion of the first member  42  and the back portion of the first member  42  for engaging a second end if there is only one strap like member or as shown in  FIG. 6  for engaging a first end of such second strap  49 . Such exercise apparatus  30  further includes at least one stop block  2  having a predetermined shape, a front end  4  and a back end  6  and constructed of a predetermined material. The predetermined shape of the stop block  2  includes a substantially flat bottom surface  8  and a tapered upper surface  12 . There is a means  20  disposed on the bottom surface  8  of the stop block  2  for gripping a carpet and preventing the stop block  2  from moving when contacted by the carpet slide  40  and thereby stopping a skater on the carpet slide.  40 .  
      It is presently preferred that there be a plurality of stop blocks  2  in such exercise apparatus  30  and that such means  20  for gripping a carpet includes a plurality of carpet gripping teeth  14  extending downwardly from the bottom surface  8  of the stop block  2 . Further, it is preferred that such plurality of gripping teeth  14  are disposed at a predetermined angle from vertical.  
      The predetermined material for forming such stop block  2  is selected from rubber, plastic, wood, metal or combinations thereof. It is presently preferred that such predetermined material is rubber.  
      The predetermined shape of such first member  42  includes an upturned perimeter edge which is evident in the cross sectional view,  FIG. 7 . Further the predetermined shape of the first member  42  further includes the bottom surface  46  being convex in a direction disposed transverse to a length of the first member  42 .  
      Such carpet slide  40  further includes a non slip surface material  45  disposed on the upper surface of the first member  42 . It is presently preferred that such non-slip material is a foam pad. It is also presently preferred that such first member is formed from plastic and that such plastic is polyethylene.  
      The bottom surface  46  of the first member  42  closely adjacent the front portion thereof includes a predetermined plurality of saw tooth ridges  56  formed therein for providing walking and running traction on a surface. Such plurality of saw tooth ridges  56  are formed facing toward a rearward heel portion of the bottom surface  46 .  
      While a presently preferred embodiment and alternate embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, it should be understood that various other adaptations and/or modifications of the invention can be made by those persons who are particularly skilled in the art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.