Patent Publication Number: US-11389691-B2

Title: Exercise platform

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The various embodiments disclosed herein relate to exercise equipment. In particular, the various embodiments disclosed herein relate to exercise platforms. More particularly, the various embodiments disclosed herein relate to exercise platforms for use with exercise bands. 
     BACKGROUND 
     As people increasingly take an interest in their health, they continue to seek out various exercise and training routines. One type of exercise or training routine involves the use of one or more elastic bands to supply a source of resistance as an individual performs an exercise movement. That is, during the exercise movement, the elastic bands are stretched, thereby imparting resistive tension to the body part that is being exercised. In some cases, the elastic bands may apply a significant amount of tension. During these exercises, some portion of the elastic band is required to be anchored, or fixed in position, so that the resistive force of the elastic band may be realized. 
     For example, in the case of arm curls, an elongated bar that is connected to the elastic band may be utilized. However, the elastic band must be secured or fixed at some point, while the portions of the elastic band that are attached to the elongated bar is able to be stretched away from this fixed point to allow the resistive force or tension to be transferred to the elongated bar and to the user&#39;s arms during the arm curl exercise. 
     When the elastic band comprises a closed loop, a user places their feet on a mid-section of the loop, so as to use their weight retain the elastic band in place. As a result, the two free, terminal ends of the loop are attached to the curl bar. Thus, as the curl bar is moved upward and downward to perform the “arm curl” exercise, tension is formed in each of the two terminal ends of the loop that are attached to the bar, so as to create resistance on the user&#39;s arms. 
     The amount of force that is developed in the elastic band is significant, given that it must be to be a physical challenge to the user of the curl bar in order to have a physiological impact in the user&#39;s muscles. Accordingly, this significant tension generated in the elastic band is imparted into the feet of the user who is standing on the band, which may result trauma or injury to relatively soft tissue (muscle, tendon, ligaments) of the user&#39;s feet, or at the very least makes the user&#39;s feet uncomfortable over the course of time in which the arm curl exercise is performed. Thus, this comfortability may lead to a premature cessation of their workout routine, which is unwanted. 
     Therefore, it would be desirable to have a suitable exercise platform for a user to stand on who desires to perform elastic band exercises that requires some portion of an elastic band to be fixed in position, so as to avoid potential trauma, injury or uncomfortableness of performing exercises using exercise bands. It would also be desirable to have a suitable exercise platform that reduces the coefficient of friction between the exercise band and the platform itself, so as to extend the life of the exercise band, while preventing injury to the user. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is one aspect to provide an exercise platform that includes a body having a first surface opposite a second surface; a first channel disposed in the second surface; and a second channel disposed in the second surface that intersects the first channel. 
     It is another aspect to provide an exercise kit including one or more exercise platforms having a body having a first surface opposite a second surface; a first channel disposed in the second surface; and a second channel disposed in the second surface that intersects the first channel; and one or more exercise bands. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exercise platform in accordance with the concepts of the various embodiments disclosed herein; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one side of the exercise platform in accordance with the concepts of the various embodiments disclosed herein; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a user standing on the exercise platform holding an exercise bar that is attached to an exercise band in accordance with the concepts of the various embodiments disclosed herein; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the exercise platform in accordance with the concepts of the various embodiments disclosed herein; and 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the exercise platform including a retaining device to attach multiple exercise platforms together in accordance with the concepts of the various embodiments disclosed therein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments of an exercise platform  10  that is configured for use with an exercise band  20  are set forth in the FIGS. The exercise platform  10  includes a pair of channels or grooves  30  and  40  that intersect each other. The channels  30  and  40  are configured to receive therein a portion of the exercise band  20 . Given the recessed configuration of the channels  30  and  40 , they serve to capture therein the width dimension of the exercise band  20 . 
     Specifically, the exercise platform  10  comprises a body  100  having a surface  110  for a user to stand on or to place their body weight or some portion thereof on, and a surface  120  configured to be positioned proximate to a floor or other support surface. In some embodiments, the surfaces  110  and  120  may be opposed. The body  100  may have any suitable cross-sectional thickness or shape. In some embodiments, the body  100  may be substantially rectilinear, but is not required, as the body  100  may be rectilinear, curvilinear or a combination thereof. 
     In some embodiments the body  100  may be bounded by opposed edges  150 A and  150 B and edges  160 A and  160 B. It should be appreciated that the edges  160 A and  160 B may each include respective recesses  200 A and  200 B. In some cases, the recesses  200 A-B may be curved, so as to be concave or convex. 
     Disposed on surface  120  of the body are the channels  30  and  40 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , whereby the channel  30  extends along the longitudinal axis of the body  100 , and the channel  40  extends at a substantially right angle to the longitudinal axis of the body  100 . However, it should be appreciated that the channels  30  and  40  may be arranged at other angles other than right angles. As previously discussed, channels  30  and  40  intersect each other so as to divide each of the channels  30  and  40  into sections. As such, channel  30  is defined by a channel section  30 A and a channel section  30 B, while channel  40  is defined by a channel section  40 A and a channel section  40 B. In addition, the intersecting channels  30  and  40  form a plurality of legs  300  that are configured to be placed onto a support surface, such as a floor. Thus, in some embodiments, the channels  30  and  40  may be the same length or may be different lengths, where one channel is longer than the other. It should also be appreciated that in some embodiments, the channel  30  is centered between the edges  160 A and  160 B of the exercise platform  10 . In addition, in some embodiments, the channel  40  is centered between the edges  150 A and  150 B of the platform  10 . However, one or more of the channels  30  and  40  may be arranged so that they are not centered relative to the respective edges  160 A-B and  150 A-B of the platform  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , both channels  30  and  40  may be arranged so that they are centered relative to the respective edges  160 A-B and  150 A-B of the platform  10 . 
     The channel sections  30 A-B include a channel cap surface  300  that is bounded laterally by opposed walls  310  formed by the legs  300 . In addition, the channel sections  40 A-B include a channel cap surface  320  that is bounded laterally by opposed walls  330  formed by legs  300 . Thus, the channels  30  and  40  form a recessed cross configuration  350  within the surface  120 . Accordingly, when the legs  300  are placed on the floor or other support surface the recessed cross configuration  350  is separated or spaced from the floor by a gap, and the ends of each channel  30  and  40  that are proximate to the edges  150 A-B and  160 A-B are open (i.e. openings  360  between the legs  300  formed on each edge  150 A-B and  160 A-B; it should be appreciated that these openings may include a curved or radiused edge to reduce the friction generated with the exercise band  20  that is in contact therewith). The channels  30  and  40  have a width and depth dimension that is able to accommodate the width and depth dimension of the elastic band  20 . Meaning that the channels  30  and  40  are capable of receiving the elastic band  20  therein. The channels  30  and  40  are configured to have a width dimension that is greater than or equal to the width dimension of the exercise band. 
     Accordingly, when the body  100  is placed so that the legs  300  are placed in contact with a support surface, such as a floor, a gap is created between the floor and the channel cap surface  300 , the channel cap surface  320 , and the floor. Through these gaps, the body of the exercise band  20  is received depending on whether channels  30  or  40  are being used, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The ends  21  and  22  of the exercise band  20  are then attached to an pieces of exercise equipment to which the exercise band  20  applies resistance. For example, the ends  21  and  22  of the exercise band  20  may be attached to an exercise bar  23 , such as that used for arm curls by a user. In some embodiments, the exercise bar  23  may be received through loops formed by the closed exercise band  20  at its ends  21  and  22 . 
     It should be appreciated that in other embodiments, the body  100  of the exercise platform  10  may include one or more apertures disposed therethrough and/or other structures to facilitate the use of the elastic bands for exercising. Such structures and apertures may be provided to enable one or more elastic bands to be attached thereto, or to allow other peripheral structures or items to be attached to the body  100  of the exercise platform  10  to enable other exercises to be performed by the user of the platform  10 . 
     It should be appreciated that the body  100  may be formed of any suitable material, including but not limited to plastic, wood, metal, or other material, such as polymeric material. In some embodiments, the body  100  may be formed from polyethylene, including ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) polyethylene. It should be appreciated that the use of UHMW polyethylene provides a low coefficient of friction relative to the exercise band  20  that in in contact therewith. This low friction coefficient, also reduces the noise that is generated between the exercise band  20  and the platform  10  when the exercise band  20  is stretched. Thus, as the exercise band  20  moves or slides over the surfaces of the body  100 , including the corners of the openings  360  of the channel  30 ,  40  gaps, the wear on the exercise band  20  is reduced. That is, the potential for fraying or wear of the exercise band  20  is reduced, while the operating life of the exercise band  20  is extended. This also reduces the risk of the exercise band failing and snapping, which could result in a significant injury to the user of the platform  10 . 
     In some embodiments, the surface  110  may be configured with recesses to receive at least a portion of the dimension and shape of the legs  300  of a second exercise platform  10  so that multiple exercise platforms  10  may be stacked one on top of another. 
     It should be appreciated that one or more exercise platforms  10 , the exercise band  20 , and various other accessories, including the retention device, may be provided as a kit in any combination. Alternatively, the exercise platform  10 , the exercise band  20  and the retention device may be provided separately in any combination. 
     Alternatively, the exercise platform  10  may include a retaining device  111 , such as a clip on one or more of its edges  150  and  160  to allow multiple platforms  10  to be attached thereto. Accordingly, the channels  30  and  40  may be extended in length as multiple platforms are used together. As such, the surface area of the surface  110  of the platform  10  may be increased, thereby allowing for various exercises to be performed, as well as allowing the user to have a wider stance for their feet. As previously discussed, multiple platforms  10  may be stacked, thus increasing the vertical distance the user is from the floor and reducing the slack in the exercise band  20  and increasing its resistance. In some embodiments, a platform  20  may be used for each foot of a user. 
     Additionally, the exercise band  20  may comprise any suitable elastic band, such as that formed as a closed loop (having no ends) or as a single segment having terminal ends, which is resilient and capable of imparting a resistive force to the user when the exercise band is stretched. In some cases, the exercise band  20  may be configured to have a flat profile, or flat opposed surfaces, however the exercise band  20  may take on any suitable shape, including a curvilinear shape, a rectilinear shape and combinations thereof. 
     In yet another embodiment, the platform  10  may be configured to include one or more additional channels  400  that extend at a substantially right angle to the longitudinal channel  30 . However, it should be appreciated that the channels  400  and channel  30  may be arranged at other angles than right angles. These additional one or more channels  400  are arranged in some embodiments so that they are spaced apart from each other relative to edges  150 A and  150 B of the platform  10 . In some embodiments, the one or more channels  400  may be utilized in addition to one or more of channel  30  and channel  40 . For example, in some embodiments, the platform  10  may include the longitudinal channel  30  and one or more of the channels  400 , whereby these channels  400  are positioned anywhere between the edges  150 A and  1508  of the platform  10 . In further embodiments, one or more of the channels  400  may be provided exclusive of both channel  30  and channel  40 . 
     For example, in the case of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , 2 channels, designated as  400 A and  400 B, are disposed on either side of the channel  40 . Thus, the channels  400 A and  400 B form respective channel segment pairs  400 A′ and  400 A″ and channel segment pairs  400 B′ and  400 B″ that are positioned on either side of the longitudinal channel  30 . As such, these channels  400 A and  400 B are configured, to receive respective exercise bands  20  therein. In some embodiments, the exercise band(s)  20  may be used with suitable handgrips or other exercise devices. For example, when a user of the platform  10  is standing thereon, the user may utilize the bands that are positioned within each of the channels  400 A and  400 B independently or together as they desire. 
     Therefore, it can be seen that the objects of the various embodiments disclosed herein have been satisfied by the structure and its method for use presented above. While in accordance with the Patent Statutes, only the best mode and preferred embodiments have been presented and described in detail, with it being understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are not limited thereto or thereby. Accordingly, for an appreciation of the true scope and breadth of the embodiments, reference should be made to the following claims.