US20070020597A1

US20070020597A1 - Exercise card system

Info

Publication number: US20070020597A1
Application number: US11/187,170
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-07-21
Filing date: 2005-07-21
Publication date: 2007-01-25

Abstract

An exercise system and method are provided. The system comprises a set of exercise cards. The set of exercise cards includes a plurality of exercise cards each having an exercise indicated thereon. The exercise cards also include a repetition number indicating a number of times a user needs to repeat the exercise indicated on the exercise card.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to cards, and more particularly to an exercise card system.
2. Description of Related Art
Currently, many individuals are concerned with health and exercise. A large number of people are members of gyms or own and utilize home exercise equipment—both of which may be expensive to maintain. For example, in order for an individual to have a unique exercise regiment, the individual may need to employ a personal trainer; which is extremely expensive. Alternatively, the individual may have more than one piece of home exercise equipment.
Additionally, individuals who are members of a gym may find it difficult and time consuming to have to travel to the gym on a regular basis. Oftentimes, the individual ends up not going because they cannot find the time or do not have the energy to go to the gym.
When traveling, a traveler may want to maintain their exercise regiment. This often requires the traveler to pay an extra fee in order to utilize a hotel health center. Besides the added cost, the hotel health center is an unfamiliar environment, in which the traveler may not feel comfortable using.
Therefore, there is a need for an exercise card system and method using the exercise card system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a system and method for providing and utilizing an exercise card set. The exercise card set includes a plurality of exercise cards each having an exercise indicated thereon. Each exercise card also includes a repetition number indicating a number of times a user needs to repeat the exercise indicated on the exercise card. In further embodiments, the exercise cards may also comprise a graphical representation of the exercise.
The exercise card set may further comprise one or more explanation cards. These explanation cards explain a proper method for executing a particular exercise. The explanation may be in text form, graphics, or a combination of both.
The exercise cards and the explanation cards may be manufactured in a plurality of ways. For example, the cards may be printed on a sheet and die cut. The cards may comprise any shape or size, and are generally the same shape and size throughout the set.
An exemplary method of utilizing the exercise card set comprises shuffling the exercise cards and selecting one exercise card at a time. A user then performs an exercise indicated on the exercise card for a number of repetitions also indicated on the exercise card. When the correct number of repetitions is completed, the user then selects a next exercise card from the set and performs the indicated exercise for the indicated number of repetitions. This continues until all the exercise cards have been selected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 are exemplary explanation cards;
FIG. 2A-2D are exemplary exercise cards;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method for using the exercise cards; and
FIG. 4 is an exemplary exercise card container.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention provide an exemplary exercise system utilizing a set of exercise cards. Because the exercise cards are of a portable size, the exercise card system may be practiced anywhere and may be taken with a user when traveling.
Referring now to FIG. 1, four exemplary explanation cards 100 from the exercise card set are shown. Each explanation card comprises a front side 102 having instructions and a back side 104. The back side 104 may comprise a graphic, text, or any other design desired by the manufacturer.
The front side 102 of each explanation card 100 includes instructions for a specific exercise. For example, the front side 102 a provides instructions for performing an abdominal crunch, while the front side 102 c provides instructions for performing squats. The instructions may be provided in text, graphics, or a combination of both text and graphics.
Although four exemplary explanation cards 100 are shown in FIG. 1, any number of explanation cards 100 may be provided in the exercise card set. Furthermore, any type of exercise may be provided by the exercise card set; thus the explanation cards 100 may comprise instructions for any type of exercise and are not limited by those exercises shown and described in FIG. 1.
Furthermore, the explanation cards 100 are for reference. The explanation cards 100 may not be utilized each time a user utilizes the exercise card set. For example, if the user already knows how to perform the exercises in the exercise card set, then the explanation cards 100 may be discarded, removed, or set aside from the remaining cards of exercise card set.
Referring now to FIG. 2A-2D, a series of exercise cards are shown. In FIG. 2A, a series of abdominal crunch exercise cards 200 a are provided. The exemplary series includes twelve abdominal crunch exercise cards 200 a. Each abdominal crunch exercise card 200 a comprises a title 202 a of the exercise to be performed, graphical representation 204 a of the exercise to be performed, and a repetition number 206 a. The repetition number 206 a provides a number of repetitions of the exercise to be performed for a particular exercise card 200 a. For example, if the exercise card 200 a having a repetition number 206 a of two is selected, then a user will perform two repetitions of the exercise—in this case, two abdominal crunches.
FIG. 2B shows a series of knee to chest exercise cards 200 b. Each knee to chest exercise card 200 b also comprises a title 202 b, graphical representation 204 b of the exercise, and a repetition number 206 b. Similarly, FIG. 2C provides a series of squat exercise cards 200 c and FIG. 2D provides a series of push-up exercise cards 200 d.
It should be noted that the title 202, graphical representation 204, and repetition number 206 may be located anywhere on the exercise card 200, and may be on different sides of the exercise card 200. For example, a graphic representation 204 may be on one side of the exercise card 200 while the title 202 and the repetition number 206 may be on an opposite side of the exercise card 200. Any combination of the title 202, graphical representation 204, and repetition number 206 on the sides of the exercise card 200 is within the scope of various embodiments of the present invention.
The exemplary embodiments of exercise cards 200 in FIG. 2A-2D comprise twelve exercise cards in each series. Alternative embodiments, however, may comprise more or less exercise cards 200 in each series. Furthermore, each series may differ in the number of exercise cards. For example, the squat exercise card 200 c series may comprise fifteen cards while the push-up exercise card 200 d series may comprise ten cards.
Additionally, the repetition number 206 of the exercise cards 200 may vary. For example, an exercise series may only comprise seven exercise cards, but the repetitions for the exercise cards may start at five repetitions and increase to eleven repetitions. In a further embodiment, the repetition number 206 may be repeated. For example, the exercise card series may include six exercise cards 200 whereby two of the exercise cards 200 have a repetition number 206 of six, two of the exercise cards 200 have a repetition number 206 of eight, and two of the exercise cards 200 have a repetition number 206 of ten. Any combination of a number of exercise cards 200 in a series and repetition number 206 usage is within the scope of exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
Furthermore, while the exercise cards 200 each show two graphics in their graphical representation 204 of the exercise, alternative embodiments may show any number of graphics in their graphical representation 204 necessary to convey the exercise or no graphics at all. Thus, for example, if an exercise comprises three steps in order to complete a repetition, then the graphical representation 204 may comprise three graphics—one for each step of the exercise.
The size and shape of the explanation cards 100 and exercise cards 200 are uniform within the exercise card set, however, the exercise card set, itself, may comprise any size or shape. Thus, while the explanation cards 100 and exercise cards 200 are shown with a wider top portion than a bottom portion, the explanation cards 100 and exercise cards 200 may be, for example, rectangular, round, or any other shape.
The exemplary explanation cards 100 and exercise cards may be made of any material. For example, the explanation cards 100 may be made of a heavy cardstock paper or plastic material. In a further embodiment, the explanation cards 100 may be laminated to provide extra durability.
In one embodiment, the manufacturing of the explanation cards 100 and exercise cards 200 may be performed by printing the cards 100 and 200 onto a flat sheet of material (e.g., paper, plastic) and die cutting the cards 100 and 200. For example, the printed sheet of material may appear like that shown in FIG. 2A-2D. In order to create a two-sided exercise card 200, the flat sheet of material may be imprinted on both sides prior to die-cutting. Alternatively, the exercise card 200 may be made from a combination of two single-sided cards coupled together. Any process for manufacturing cards may be utilized to create embodiments of the present invention.
Referring now to FIG. 3, a flowchart 300 of an exemplary method for utilizing the exercise cards 200 (FIG. 2) is shown. In step 302, a user shuffles a deck of exercise cards 200. Because the deck of exercise cards 200 comprises a plurality of different exercises, shuffling the exercise cards 200 will inter-mix the exercises and provide a different exercise regiment/experience each time the user utilizes the exercise cards 200.
In yet further embodiments, different decks of exercise cards 200 may be mixed. For example, some or all exercise cards 200 from a deck of cardiovascular exercise cards (e.g., jumping jack exercise cards, etc.) may be mixed with some or all exercise cards 200 from a deck of upper body strengthening exercise cards (e.g., push-up exercise cards, etc.). The user can take exercise cards 200 from any number of decks of exercise cards 200 and shuffle the exercise cards 200.
Next, the user draws a top card on the deck in step 304. The user may have the deck face up, whereby the title 202, graphical representation 204, and repetition 206 are visible to the user. Alternatively, the user may have the deck faced down, thus not knowing what the next exercise card 200 in the deck is until it is turned over.
The user then performs the exercise on the drawn exercise card 200 in step 306. Thus, for example, if the user draws the exercise card 200 for abdominal crunch having a repetition number 206 of ten, then the user must perform ten abdominal crunches.
After performing the exercise and if there is a next card in the deck in step 308, then the user draws the next exercise card 200 from the deck (returning to step 304) and performs the exercise on the next exercise card 200 (step 306). This process continues until the user completes the entire deck of shuffled exercise cards 200.
In a further embodiment, the system of the present invention may be practiced on a digital medium. For example, the exercise cards may be presented to a user via a computing device such as through a display of a laptop.
Referring now to FIG. 4, an exemplary exercise card container 400 is shown. The exercise card container 400 is shaped in approximately the same shape as the exercise cards 200 and the explanation cards 100. The cards 100 and 200 may be housed inside a card compartment 402.
According to one embodiment, the exercise card container 400 comprises a flip lid 404. The flip lid 404 provides access to the cards 100 and 200 in the card compartment 402. Alternative embodiments may comprise a different access mechanism. For example, a fully removable lid may be utilized to cover the card compartment 402.
The exercise card container 400 may also comprise a small compartment 406 for holding small items such as vitamins or medication. In one embodiment, the small compartment 406 is located above the card compartment 404. Alternative embodiments may locate the small compartment 406 elsewhere on the exercise card container 400, or may not provide a small compartment 406. Access to the small compartment 406 of FIG. 4 may be through a lid at a top of the exercise card container 400.
The present invention has been described above with reference to exemplary embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made and other embodiments can be used without departing from the broader scope of the invention. Therefore, these and other variations upon the exemplary embodiment are intended to be covered by the present invention.

Claims

1. An exercise system embodied by an exercise card set, comprising:

a plurality of exercise cards, each exercise card comprising,

an exercise title of an exercise, and

a repetition number of the exercise.

2. The exercise system of claim 1 wherein each exercise card further comprises a graphical representation of the exercise.

3. The exercise system of claim 1 further comprising at least one explanation card including instructions for performing one of the exercises of the exercise card set.

4. The exercise system of claim 3 wherein the at least one explanation card further comprises a graphic representation of the exercise.

5. The exercise system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of exercise cards are made of paper.

6. The exercise system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of exercise cards are made of plastic.

7. The exercise system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of exercise cards are laminated.

8. The exercise system of claim 1 wherein the exercise card set may be housed in a card container when not in use.

9. The exercise system of claim 8 wherein the card container further comprises a compartment for holding medication or vitamins.

10. A method for utilizing an exercise card set, comprising:

selecting a first exercise card from the exercise card set;

performing an exercise indicated on the first exercise card for a number of repetitions indicated on the first exercise card;

selecting a next exercise card from the exercise card set and performing the exercise for the number of repetitions indicated; and

continue with selecting a next card and performing the exercise for the number of repetitions indicated until there are no more next cards.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising shuffling the exercise cards of the exercise card set.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising mixing exercise cards from more than one exercise card sets.

13. A method for providing an exercise system embodied by a set of exercise cards, comprising:

providing a plurality of exercise cards, each exercise card comprising an exercise title of an exercise and a repetition number of the exercise.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein each exercise card further comprises a graphical representation of the exercise.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing at least one explanation card including instructions for performing one of the exercises of the exercise card set.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the at least one explanation card further comprises a graphic representation of the exercise.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing a card container for holding the exercise card set when not in user.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the card container further comprises a small compartment for holding medication or vitamins.