GB2576549A

GB2576549A - An exercise wedge

Info

Publication number: GB2576549A
Application number: GB1813754.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: O'donovan Simon
Original assignee: Bsb Squat Ltd
Current assignee: Bsb Squat Ltd
Priority date: 2018-08-23
Filing date: 2018-08-23
Publication date: 2020-02-26
Also published as: GB201813754D0; WO2020038734A1

Abstract

An exercise wedge 10 comprises a body section 11 in the shape of a barbell plate 12. Sloped sections 13, 14, and 15 are located on the surface 16 of the barbell plate 12, and each sloped section 13, 14, and 15 extends from the periphery 17 of the barbell plate 12 towards the centre 18 thereof. Each sloped section 13, 14, and 15 has a surface area sufficient to accommodate a user's heel, in use. The gradients of sloped sections 13, 14, and 15 may be 20°, 15° and 25°, respectively. The barbell 12 may be a radial plate 19 having three evenly spaced hand grips 20, 21, 22 located around the periphery 17 and has spoke-like solid areas 23, 24, 25 therebetween, with sloped sections 13, 14, 15 being located on the spoke-like solid areas 23, 24, 25 respectively. The wedge 10 reduces the storage space requirements in a gymnasium. The wedge is used to elevate a user’s heel during a squat exercise.

Description

An exercise wedge

This invention relates to an exercise wedge and, in particular, to an exercise wedge for use in a gymnasium.

By an exercise wedge in this context is meant a wedge-shaped device used for elevating a user’s heel during a squat exercise.

Exercise wedges in various shapes and sizes are available. The simplest version is a wedge made from dense foam material, which is usually sold as a pair, one for each foot.

Wider wedges are designed for standing on with both feet. Thus, the PRIME Squat wedge (PRIME is a trade mark of Prime Fitness USA, of 455 Allegheny Blvd., Franklin, PA 16323, U.S.A.) is a metal wedge suitable for standing on with both feet when doing squats. The wedge is available in six different sizes with inclines of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30°. The degree of incline chosen depends on the user’s size and also his level of fitness.

A problem with the Prime Squat wedge is that it is relatively large and heavy and a set of these wedges will take up valuable storage space in a gymnasium, particularly a home gymnasium.

Various wedges in the form of an adjustable slant board are also available. Thus, the Rehab Angel® slant board (Rehab Angel® is a trade mark of the Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT, Universal House, ERF Way Pochin Way, Middlewich, Cheshire CW10 OQJ, United Kingdom) is used for bilateral decline squatting, rehabilitation exercises, and particularly for knee rehabilitation purposes. The slant board is adjustable to provide decline angles from 0 to 25°. However, the slant board decline angle has to be adjusted for each user and this adjustment can take some time.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of exercise wedges as hereinbefore described.

Thus, the invention provides an exercise wedge device, comprising a body section in the shape of a barbell plate, a sloped section on the surface of the barbell plate, which sloped section extends from the periphery of the barbell plate towards the centre thereof, and which sloped section has a surface area sufficient to accommodate a user’s heel, in use

An advantage of the exercise wedge in accordance with the invention is that, as the sloped section is incorporated into a barbell plate, a separate wedge does not have to be provided for squat exercises. Most gymnasiums will be equipped with barbells and sets of barbell plates. Thus, it is a matter of providing a number of barbell plates with sloped sections incorporated therein. This results in a space saving in the gymnasium.

A further advantage is that, once positioned on the floor the exercise wedge in accordance with the invention will remain in position while the user is doing squats. In practice, the user will use an exercise wedge for each heel.

Preferably, the gradient of the sloped section is in the range of 530°.

An advantage of this feature of the invention is that an exercise wedge can be provided with a sloped section having a gradient which will suit the size of a particular user size and also his level of fitness.

In one embodiment in accordance with the invention, a plurality of sloped sections is located around the periphery of the barbell plate.

An advantage of having a plurality of sloped sections on the exercise wedge is that the exercise wedge will be easy to position on the floor for use.

Preferably, each of the sloped sections has the same gradient.

An advantage of this aspect of the invention is that the sloped sections on a pair of matching barbell plates can have the same gradient, with the barbell plates being identified by their weight. Further pairs of barbell plates, matched by their particular weight, can have a set of sloped sections with a different gradient relative to those on the first pair of plates.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the plurality of sloped sections has a range of gradients.

An advantage of this aspect of the invention is that one pair of exercise wedges, matched by the weight of the barbell plates, can be used where different gradients of the slope sections are required. This cuts down on the number of exercise wedges required for a particular gymnasium.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the barbell plate is a solid bumper plate.

By a bumper plate in this context is meant a solid barbell plate, with an orifice at the centre thereof for receiving a bar.

An advantage of this aspect of the invention is that the incorporation of a sloped section into a bumper plate is straightforward.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the barbell plate is a radial plate having a plurality of evenly spaced hand grips located around the periphery of the plate, with spoke-like solid areas therebetween.

An advantage of this aspect of the invention is that the exercise wedge in the shape of a radial plate is easy to position on the floor due to the hand grips.

Preferably a sloped section is located on each spoke-like solid area.

An advantage of locating a sloped section on each spoke-like solid area is that the exercise wedge can be more easily designed to provide even weight distribution of the radial plate, which is important for its primary use as a barbell plate.

The invention will be further illustrated by the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view from above and to one side of an embodiment of an exercise wedge in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view from above of the exercise wedge of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line III - III of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is illustrated generally at 10, an exercise wedge in accordance with the invention. The exercise wedge 10 comprises a body section 11 in the shape of a barbell plate 12. Sloped sectionsl3, 14, and 15 are located on surface 16 of the barbell plate 12, and each sloped section 13, 14, and 15 extends from the periphery 17 of the barbell plate 12 towards the centre 18 thereof. Each sloped section 13, 14, and 15 has a surface area sufficient to accommodate a user’s heel, in use.

The gradients of sloped sections 13, 14, 15 are 20°, 15° and 25°, respectively.

The barbell 12 is a radial plate 19 having three evenly spaced hand grips 20, 21, 22 located around the periphery 17 and has spoke-like solid areas 23, 24, 25 therebetween, with sloped sections 13, 14, 15 being located on the spoke-like solid areas 23, 24, 25, respectively.

The radial plate 19 has an orifice 26 at the centre 18 thereof for receiving a bar (not shown). The radial plate 19 is made of cast iron with a rubber coating on the surface thereof.

Referring to Fig. 2, the exercise wedge 10 is illustrated in a plan view from above. Orifice 26 has a stainless steel lining 27. A circumferential shoulder section 28 surrounds orifice 26.

Referring to Fig. 3 a cross-section on line III-ΠΙ of Fig. 2 is illustrated. Slopped section 13 can be seen and has a gradient of 20°.

The circumferential shoulder section 28 is proud of edge 29 Of the stainless steel lining 27.

Claims

Claims: -

1. An exercise wedge device, comprising a body section in the shape of a barbell plate, a sloped section on the surface of the barbell plate, which sloped section extends from the periphery of the barbell plate towards the centre thereof, and which sloped section has a surface area sufficient to accommodate a user’s heel, in use.

2. An exercise wedge device according to Claim 1, wherein the gradient of the sloped section is in the range of 5-30°.

3. An exercise wedge device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of sloped sections is located around the edge of the barbell plate.

4. An exercise wedge device according to Claim 3, wherein each of the sloped sections has the same gradient.

5. An exercise wedge device according to Claim 3, wherein the plurality of sloped sections has a range of gradients.

6. An exercise wedge device according to any preceding claim, wherein the barbell plate is a solid bumper plate.

7. An exercise wedge device according to any one of Claims 1-5, wherein the barbell plate is a radial plate having a plurality of evenly spaced hand grips located around the periphery thereof, with spoke-like solid areas therebetween.

8. An exercise wedge device according to Claim 7, wherein a sloped section is located on each spoke-like solid area.

9. An exercise wedge device according to Claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to and

5 as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.