Patent Publication Number: US-2022233915-A1

Title: Exercise device for incline push-ups

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a Continuation-in-part of the U.S. Design Patent Application No. 29767696, filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office on 25 Jan. 2021, entitled “EXERCISE BOARD FOR PUSH-UPS”, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to the field of exercise equipment. In particular, the present disclosure relates to an exercise device for incline push-ups which can be mounted on an edge of a worktop. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The benefits of push-ups for upper body development are well-known. Push-ups are one of the best exercises for strengthening body muscles, especially the triceps, pectorals, and deltoids. Unlike weight training, push-ups can be done without a fitness coach and with less stress on body joints. 
     During push-up exercises, a user usually places hands directly underneath shoulders. Moreover, elbows are disposed at an almost right angle with upper arms disposed substantially parallel with the ground. As a result, a mass load displacement can be harsh for some users with weakened wrists, elbows, and joints, or for those users who have, for example, shoulder, arm, collarbone injuries. All of this can ultimately make the push-up exercises counterproductive and, at the same time, discourage the user from doing push-ups with a proper technique. 
     Another problem with doing such traditional push-ups is that they do not necessarily strengthen all the muscles in the user upper body. Since these push-ups are usually performed at the same angle, only a portion of the muscles in the user upper body are activated to raise and lower the user body during the push-up exercises. 
     In contrast, incline push-ups (e.g., those done by using a bench) work the user upper body but with less stress on shoulders, arms, and wrists than the traditional push-ups. This is because the incline push-ups allow for user legs to support a greater percentage of the user body weight. Therefore, the incline push-ups can be a great alternative for those users who struggle with upper-body injuries or joint problems. 
     However, the existing exercise devices for incline push-ups are often cumbersome, not easy to use, as well as do not always provide a reduced load on the upper body muscles. All of this may make such exercise devices unsuitable, for example, for beginners or anyone with a shoulder or other arm injury. 
     SUMMARY 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     It is an objective of the present disclosure to provide a technical solution that allows a user to do incline push-ups in a comfortable and efficient (in terms of the load exerted on upper body muscles) manner. 
     The objective above is achieved by the features of the independent claim in the appended claims. Further embodiments and examples are apparent from the dependent claims, the detailed description, and the accompanying drawings. 
     According to an embodiment, an exercise device for incline push-ups is provided. The device comprises a board and a support structure. The board has a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface is configured to receive at least one hand of a user. The support structure is attached to the bottom surface of the board. The support structure is configured to be engaged with an edge of a worktop (e.g., tabletop, countertop, etc.). The support structure is further configured, when engaged with the edge of the worktop, to support the board at an acute angle to the worktop. The exercise device thus configured allows the user to comfortably do incline push-up exercises with less resistance without having to get down on the floor either in the prone position or in the traditional push-up position. The exercise device may be particularly suitable for those users who are in a recovery phase after a surgery or after an injury (e.g., a shoulder injury). 
     In an additional embodiment, the support structure has a through groove that is shaped to match the edge of the worktop . The through groove runs relative to the board such that the board is at the acute angle to the worktop when the support structure is engaged with the edge of the worktop by means of the through groove. By using this configuration of the support structure, it is possible to provide the strong engagement or grip between the board and the edge of the worktop. 
     In an additional embodiment, the support structure comprises a first support bracket and a second support bracket. In this embodiment, the first support bracket and the second support bracket are shaped such that, when attached adjacent to each other on the bottom surface of the board, the first support bracket and the second support bracket form the through groove. This configuration of the support structure simplifies mounting and unmounting of the exercise device to and from the edge of the worktop, as well as makes the exercise device easy to transport (when the exercise device is in the unmounted state). 
     In an additional embodiment, the through groove has an inner surface at least partly coated with a rubber material. By using the rubber material, it is possible to improve the engagement between the exercise device and the edge of the worktop even more. 
     In an additional embodiment, the board has at least one recess made on the bottom surface, and the support structure comprises at least one folding bracket configured to be in a folded state and an unfolded state. In this embodiment, the at least one folding bracket is attached to the bottom surface of the board such that the at least one folding bracket is hidden in the recess in the folded state. Moreover, the at least one folding bracket comprises a clamping element configured to be engaged with the edge of the worktop when the at least one folding bracket is in the unfolded state. By using this configuration of the support structure, it is possible to provide the strong engagement or grip between the board and the edge of the worktop. 
     In an additional embodiment, each of the at least one folding bracket has a surface portion which is in contact with the edge of the worktop when the clamping element is engaged with the edge of the worktop. In this embodiment, the surface portion is at least partly coated with a rubber material. By using the rubber material, it is possible to improve the engagement between the exercise device and the edge of the worktop even more. 
     In an additional embodiment, the acute angle ranges from about 30 to about 70 degrees. Thus, the exercise device may allow the user to do the incline push-up exercises at different angles, thereby efficiently changing a mass load distribution, if required. The angle itself may be changed by replacing the support structure with another support structure providing a different inclined position for the board. 
     In an additional embodiment, the top surface of the board is coated with a foam cushion. The foam cushion eases pressure on the user hands, thereby preventing blister and callus development. 
     In an additional embodiment, the top surface of the board comprises a hand position marking. The hand position marking may guide the user on how to properly place his/her hands on the board, thereby leading to the correct execution of incline push-ups. The hand position marking may be especially useful for those new to the incline push-up exercises. 
     In an additional embodiment, the top surface of the board comprises at least two hand position markings each corresponding to a different hand position. In this embodiment, each of the at least two hand position markings is color-coded. The color-coded hand position markings may guide the user on how to place his/her hands on the board to work upper body muscles of interest (e.g., the pectorals). Again, the color-coded hand position markings may be especially useful for those new to the incline push-up exercises. 
     In an additional embodiment, the exercise device further comprises at least one sensor integrated in the board and a display installed on the top surface of the board. The at least one sensor is configured to collect push-up related information. The display is connected to the at least one sensor and configured to output the push-up related information to the user. By using the push-up related information, the user may monitor how he/she does the incline push-up exercises. 
     In an additional embodiment, the push-up related information comprises at least one of the following: a heart rate of the user during the incline push-up exercises, a number of incline push-ups done, calories burned during the incline push-up exercises, and a pace of incline push-ups. By analyzing these parameters, the user may understand whether he/she needs to make any change in his/her incline push-up exercises. 
     In an additional embodiment, the exercise device further comprises a processing unit installed in the board and connected to the at least one sensor. The processing unit is configured to generate a plan for everyday incline push-up exercises based on the push-up related information from the at least one sensor. By using such a plan, the user may efficiently develop his/her upper body muscles. 
     In an additional embodiment, each of the board and the support structure is made of wood or plastic. By using these materials, it is possible to simplify the device manufacture. 
     Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent upon reading the following detailed description and reviewing the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure is explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIGS. 1A-1C  show different views of an exercise device for incline push-ups in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment, namely: a front perspective view ( FIG. 1A ), a side view ( FIG. 1B ), and a bottom perspective view ( FIG. 1C ); 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the exercise device of  FIGS. 1A-1C  in engagement with an edge of a worktop; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  show a bottom perspective view of an exercise device for incline push-ups in an unfolded state ( FIG. 3A ) and a folded state ( FIG. 3B ) in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the exercise device of  FIGS. 3A and 3B  in engagement with an edge of a worktop; and 
         FIG. 5  schematically shows how a user may do incline push-ups by using a cabinet. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Various embodiments of the present disclosure are further described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure may be embodied in many other forms and should not be construed as limited to any certain structure or function discussed in the following description. In contrast, these embodiments are provided to make the description of the present disclosure detailed and complete. 
     According to the detailed description, it will be apparent to the ones skilled in the art that the scope of the present disclosure encompasses any embodiment thereof, which is disclosed herein, irrespective of whether this embodiment is implemented independently or in concert with any other embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the apparatus disclosed herein may be implemented in practice using any numbers of the embodiments provided herein. Furthermore, it should be understood that any embodiment of the present disclosure may be implemented using one or more of the elements presented in the appended claims. 
     The word “exemplary” is used herein in the meaning of “used as an illustration”. Unless otherwise stated, any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” should not be construed as preferable or having an advantage over other embodiments. 
     Any positioning terminology, such as “left”, “right”, “top”, “bottom”, “above”, “under”, etc., may be used herein for convenience to describe one element&#39;s or feature&#39;s relationship to one or more other elements or features in accordance with the figures. It should be apparent that the positioning terminology is intended to encompass different orientations of the structure and device disclosed herein, in addition to the orientation(s) depicted in the figures. As an example, if one imaginatively rotates the apparatus in the figures 90 degrees clockwise, elements or features described as “top” and “bottom” relative to other elements or features would then be oriented, respectively, “right” and “left” relative to the other elements or features. Therefore, the positioning terminology used herein should not be construed as any limitation of the present disclosure. 
     Furthermore, although the numerative terminology, such as “first”, “second”, etc., may be used herein to describe various embodiments, elements or features, these embodiments, elements or features should not be limited by this numerative terminology. This numerative terminology is used herein only to distinguish one embodiment, element or feature from another embodiment, element or feature. For example, a first embodiment discussed herein could be called a second embodiment, and vice versa, without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure. 
     The exemplary embodiments disclosed herein provide a technical solution that allows mitigating or even eliminating the drawbacks of the prior art which are mentioned in the description part “Background”. In particular, the technical solution disclosed herein relates to an exercise device for incline push-ups that allows a user to do incline push-up exercises in a comfortable and efficient (in terms of the load exerted on upper body muscles) manner. More specifically, the exercise device comprises a push-up board removably attached to an edge of a worktop by using a support structure. When engaged with the edge of the worktop, the support structure is configured to support the board at an acute angle to the worktop. The exercise device thus configured may be particularly suitable for users who are in a recovery phase after a surgery or after an injury (e.g., a shoulder injury). 
     As used in the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, a worktop may relate to a firm, flat, horizontal surface of a cabinet, counter, cooking table, etc. Given this, the worktop may be also referred to as a tabletop, countertop, benchtop, etc. It is also implied herein that the worktop has an overhanging edge on at least one side. Such an overhanging edge may have a different profile, such, for example, as a chamfer profile, a double chamfer profile, rounded profile, square profile, thumbnail profile, bullnose profile, cove profile, ogee profile, or any combination thereof. 
       FIGS. 1A-1C  show different views of an exercise device  100  for incline push-ups in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment. More specifically,  FIG. 1A  shows a front perspective view of the exercise device  100 ,  FIG. 1B  shows a side view of the exercise device  100 , and  FIG. 1C  shows a bottom perspective view of the exercise device  100 . As shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C , the exercise device  100  comprises a board  102  and a support structure comprising a first (upper) support bracket  104  and a second (lower) support bracket  106 . The board  102 , the first support bracket  104  and the second support bracket  106  may be made of wood or plastic. Preferably, the board  102  may be 20-30 inches long, 8-10 inches wide, and  1 - 2  inches thick. Each of the first support bracket  104  and the second support bracket  106  may be implemented as a profiled bar having a length similar to that of the board  102 . 
     Referring back to  FIGS. 1A-1C , the board  102  has a top surface  108  and a bottom surface  110 . The top surface  108  of the board  102  is intended for receiving one or both user hands (i.e., a user places his/her one or both hands on the top surface  108 , depending on whether he/she wants to do incline push-ups with one or both hands) and may be coated with a foam cushion or any other suitable material that eases pressure on the user hands. As shown in  FIG. 1A , the top surface  108  may additionally comprise hand position markings. In particular, there are two hand position markings formed on the top surface  108 , with one represented by a pair of palm contours  112 - 1 - 112 - 2  and another represented by a pair of palm contours  114 - 1 - 114 - 2 . The palm contours  112 - 1 - 112 - 2  correspond to the incline push-up exercise at which user hands are placed directly underneath user shoulders. The palm contours  114 - 1 - 114 - 2  correspond to the so-called diamond incline push-ups at which user index fingers and thumbs are positioned such that they are in touch, forming a diamond shape. Each of these two hand position markings may be used to develop certain upper body muscles (e.g., the diamond incline push-ups may activate chest muscles like the pectoralis major, shoulder muscles like the anterior deltoid). It would be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to the hand position markings shown in  FIG. 1A ; in some other embodiments, any other hand position markings may be formed on the top surface  108  of the board  102 . Moreover, in case of many (more than two) hand position markings, they may be color-coded so that the user can easily and quickly determine which of them to use at the moment (in this case, color coding information corresponding to different upper body muscles or, in other words, different incline push-up types may be additionally indicated, for example, in one corner of the top surface  108 ). 
     As also follows from  FIGS. 1A-1C , the first support bracket  104  and the second support bracket  106  are shaped to form a through groove  116  when they are attached adjacent to each other on the bottom surface  110  of the board  102 . More specifically, each of the first support bracket  104  and the second support bracket  106  has a cross-section in the form of a right triangle (see  FIG. 1B ), and the second support bracket  106  has a protruding section  118  that may be considered as a continuation of the bottom leg of the right triangle. The first support bracket  104  and the second support bracket  106  are attached to the bottom surface  110  of the board  102  such that the board  102  “rests on” the adjacent hypotenuses of both right triangles in the side view of  FIG. 1B ; in this arrangement of the first support bracket  104  and the second support bracket  106 , only the protruding section  118  is under the first support bracket  104 . Preferably, the protruding section  118  has such a length that the projection of the first support bracket  104  on a horizontal axis in the side view of  FIG. 18  is only partly “blocked” by the projecting section  118 . In general, the arrangement and configuration of the first support bracket  104  and the second support bracket  106  should be selected such that the through groove  116  formed by them corresponds to the shape of an edge of a worktop (not shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C ) which is to be engaged with the exercise device  100 . The through groove  116  may be additionally coated (fully or partly) with a layer  120  of rubber material to improve the engagement between the exercise device  100  and the worktop edge. Furthermore, to reduce material consumption and total device dimensions in the unmounted state, the first support bracket  104  may be made with a truncated top, as viewed from the side view of  FIG. 18  (in which the dashed line implies the initial top truncated by a plane extending, for example, along a surface  122 ). 
     It should be noted that the shape of the through groove  116  and the inclination angle of the board  102  relative to the edge of the worktop may be changed by replacing the removable support brackets  104  and  106  with any other support brackets selected depending on the profile of the edge of the worktop to be used for the incline push-up exercises. The first support bracket  104  and the second support bracket  106  are suitable for forming the square groove  116  corresponding to the square or bullnose edge of the worktop. For example, if it is required to engage the exercise device  100  with any other edge profile (e.g., the ogee profile), the user may replace the support brackets  104  and  106  with those forming, when attached adjacent to each other on the bottom surface  110 , an ogee groove rather than the square groove  116 . Thus, the configurations of the support brackets  104  and  106  are not limited to those shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C . 
     In some other embodiments, instead of its division into the support brackets  104  and  106 , the support structure may be implemented as an integral member removably attached to the bottom surface  110  of the board  102 . In this case, the support structure may also be shaped differently depending on the edge of the worktop to be used for the incline push-up exercises. 
     Preferably, irrespective of whether the support structure is implemented as two individual support brackets (like the support brackets  104  and  106 ) or an integral member, there is a possibility for the user to change the angle at which the through groove (e.g., the through groove  116 ) runs to the board  102  within the range from about 30 to about 70 degrees by simply replacing the support structure with a new one. 
       FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the exercise device  100  in engagement with a cabinet  200 , i.e., an edge  202  of its worktop. As follows from  FIG. 2 , the edge  202  of the worktop may be an overhanging square edge on the front side of the cabinet  200 . 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  show a bottom perspective view of an exercise device  300  for incline push-ups in an unfolded state ( FIG. 3A ) and a folded state ( FIG. 3B ) in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment. As shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the exercise device  300  comprises a board  302  and a support structure configured to be engaged with an edge of a worktop (not shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B ). The support structure comprises a first folding bracket  304  and a second folding bracket  306 , each of which may be implemented as a wooden, metal or plastic hinged bracket. The board  302  has a top surface (not shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B ) for receiving one or more user hands and a bottom surface  308 . The board  302  may have the same dimensions as the board  102  and may be made of wood or plastic as well. Similar to the top surface  108 , the top surface of the board  302  may be provided with one or more hand position markings, and/or coated with a foam cushion or any other suitable material that eases pressure on the user hands. The bottom surface  308  of the board  302  has a first recess  310  and a second recess  312 . Each of the first and second folding brackets  304  and  306  is configured to be in the folded state and the unfolded state. The folding brackets  304  and  306  are attached to the bottom surface  308  of the board  302  such that they are hidden in the recesses  310  and  312 , respectively, in the folded state (see  FIG. 3B ). It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the number of the folding brackets (and, correspondingly, the number of the recesses) which are shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . In one other embodiment, there may be a single folding bracket which is configured, when unfolded, to securely support the board  302  in the inclined position; correspondingly, the bottom surface  308  of the board  302  may have a single recess in which such a single folding bracket may be hidden in the folded position. 
     As also shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the first and second folding brackets  304  and  306  comprise movable clamping elements  314  and  316 , respectively. The clamping elements  314  and  316  are configured to be engaged with the edge of the worktop when the first and second folding brackets are in the unfolded state. As can be seen in  FIG. 3A , each of the clamping elements  314  and  316  has an L-like shape. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the L-shape of the clamping elements  314  and  316 . Similar to the through groove  116 , the clamping elements  314  and  316  may be shaped to match different worktop edge profiles. 
     In one embodiment, each of the first and second folding brackets  304  and  306  may have a layer  318  of rubber material at least partly covering that surface portion which is in contact with the edge of the worktop when the corresponding clamping element is engaged with the edge of the worktop. For example, the layer  318  of rubber material may be formed as one or more rubber strips. 
       FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the exercise device  300  in engagement with a cabinet, i.e., an edge  400  of its worktop. The edge  400  of the worktop may be an overhanging square edge on the front side of the cabinet. 
     In some other embodiments, the exercise device  100  or  300  may further comprise one or more sensors integrated in the board  102  or  302  and a display installed on the top surface  108  of the board  102  or the top surface of the board  302 . The sensor(s) may be configured to collect push-up related information, such as a heart rate of the user during the incline push-up exercises, a number of incline push-ups done, calories burned during the incline push-up exercises, a pace of incline push-ups, or any combination thereof. The display may be connected to the sensor(s) and configured to output the push-up related information to the user. 
     In some other embodiments, the exercise device  100  or  300  may further comprise a processing unit installed in the board  102  or  302  and connected to the sensor(s). The processing unit may be configured to generate a plan for everyday incline push-up exercises based on the push-up related information from the sensor(s). This plan may be then outputted by the display or wirelessly transmitted by the processing unit to a user device (e.g., a mobile station, a mobile terminal, a mobile subscriber unit, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a cordless phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless communication device, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, etc.). The processing unit may comprise a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory may store processor-executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the above-described operations. 
     The processor may be implemented as a CPU, general-purpose processor, single-purpose processor, microcontroller, microprocessor, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field programmable gate array (FPGA), digital signal processor (DSP), complex programmable logic device, etc. It should be also noted that the processor may be implemented as any combination of one or more of the aforesaid. As an example, the processor may be a combination of two or more microprocessors. 
     The memory may be implemented as a classical nonvolatile or volatile memory used in the modern electronic computing machines. As an example, the nonvolatile memory may include Read-Only Memory (ROM), ferroelectric Random-Access Memory (RAM), Programmable ROM (PROM), Electrically Erasable PROM (EEPROM), solid state drive (SSD), flash memory, magnetic disk storage (such as hard drives and magnetic tapes), optical disc storage (such as CD, DVD and Blu-ray discs), etc. As for the volatile memory, examples thereof include Dynamic RAM, Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), Double Data Rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), Static RAM, etc. 
     The processor-executable instructions stored in the memory may be configured as a computer-executable program code which causes the processor to perform the aspects of the present disclosure. The computer-executable program code for carrying out operations or steps for the aspects of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, such as Java, C++, or the like. In some examples, the computer-executable program code may be in the form of a high-level language or in a pre-compiled form and be generated by an interpreter (also pre-stored in the memory) on the fly. 
       FIG. 5  schematically shows how a user  500  may do incline push-ups by using a cabinet  502 . At first, the user  500  attaches an exercise device  504  to a front worktop edge  506  of the cabinet  502 . The exercise device  504  may be implemented as the exercise device  100  or  300 . 
     In case of using the exercise device  100 , it may be attached to the edge  506  of the cabinet  502  by inserting the edge  506  in the through groove  116 . In case of using the exercise device  300 , it may be attached to the edge  506  of the cabinet  502  by bringing the folding brackets  304  and  306  in the unfolded state and engaging the clamping elements  314  and  316  with the edge  506 . Then, the user  500  may place her hands on the board  102  or  302  (e.g., according to a certain hand position marking, if available) and start doing the incline push-ups. 
     Although the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein, it should be noted that any various changes and modifications could be made in the embodiments of the present disclosure, without departing from the scope of legal protection which is defined by the appended claims. In the appended claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements, steps or operations, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.