US20130324382A1

US20130324382A1 - Multi-function exercise mat with detachable implements and method

Info

Publication number: US20130324382A1
Application number: US13/488,919
Authority: US
Inventors: Daniel Vaughan Wilson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-06-05
Filing date: 2012-06-05
Publication date: 2013-12-05

Abstract

A non-planar exercise mat is disclosed comprising a plurality of detachable handheld implements, each handheld implement serving utilitarian function independently of the mat. Various embodiments of the present invention comprise permanently affixed or detachable cushions for tail-bone support; lumbar support; neck support, and the like. Various embodiments include handles for assisting a user in performing a variety of exercises upon, or optionally using, the mat.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to exercise equipment, and more particularly relates to an elastomeric mat for supporting and assisting a user in performing various exercises.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various types of exercise mats are known in the art to help cushion the body of users exercising on the mats, including yoga and gymnastics. Although the thickness and indentation force deflection (IFD) ratings of these mats vary, each generally comprises an elastomeric foam mattress which, in some embodiments, has a carpet or fiber top-surface for engaging a user's body or pressure points on a user's body.
As users of these mats exercise, sweat from a user's body can make the mats slippery. Sometimes incidental exercise tools do not remain in place when force is exerted on them, such as dumbbells. Pressure points on a user's body in contact with the mat may become painful, including elbows, knees, hips and shoulders, because of the lack of sufficient designating cushioning on the mat for those areas. Users may also find themselves in need of a means of securing themselves, or portions of their bodies, to the mat while performing exercises for increasing core strength, flexibility, and/or strengthening in the upper and lower body muscles, such as sit ups.
The prior art teaches mats lacking in this functionality. The mats in the prior art are designed only to provide a support cushion between the user and a hardened subgrade, and not to provide a cushion with implements that play a role as a tool in the exercises being performed upon the mats themselves.
Thus it would be highly beneficial to provide a exercise mat that increases cushion to specific pressure point and comprises implements to assist a user in targeting certain muscle areas for development, conditioning, and/or physical therapy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for an improved multi-function exercise mat. Beneficially, such an exercise mat would overcome many of the difficulties with prior art by providing a more functional apparatus to consumers.
The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available apparatii and methods. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide an exercise mat for supporting a user during exercise, the mat comprising: a compressible elastomeric foam pad having a non-planar top surface, for enduring compressive forces applied by the user during exercise, the top surface defining a regular repeating pattern of protrusions and indentations; a plurality of implements for detachably engaging the top surface, each implement having a non-planar bottom surface contoured to be reciprocate the top surface of the pad, such that the bottom surface of each implement abuts a portion of the top surface of the pad, the engagement inhibiting lateral movement of the implement across the top surface of the pad.
The repeating pattern of protrusions and indentations, as viewed from a cross-section, may be one of wavy, grooved, sawtooth, curved, castellated, corrugated, sinusoidal, perforated, and washboard-like.
Each detachable implement from the plurality of implements may comprise one of a handle, a hemisphere, a roller, a dome, a cube, a block, a triangular prism, a wedge, a second pad, and a second pad with a rigid base.
One or more of the plurality of detachable implements may further comprise one of a tail bone support cushion, a lumbar support cushion, a knee support cushion, a hand-wrist support cushion; a cushion for assisting with sit-ups; a hip support cushions; a neck support cushion; a dome-shaped balance cushion; a cylindrical roller; and a pad having bumps for massaging the body of the user when the body is moved laterally across the pad.
One or more of the detachable implements may further comprise one or more of a molded polymer handle and one or more adjustable straps for securing portions of the user's body during exercise.
The implement may comprise one or more of: elastomeric foam; an inflatable polymeric bladder; a gel-filled polymer core; elastomeric foam having a polymer core defining a hollow interior recess; elastomeric foam having a solid polymer core; and a durable elastomeric exterior skin.
The exercise mat may further comprise one or more implements detachable affixed to the top surface, the one or more implements from the group consisting of: a hemisphere, a hollow dome, a cube, a block, a triangular wedge, and a roller.
An exercise implement for reducing wrist strain and absorbing impact forces during exercise between the user's hand and a ground surface is also disclosed, the implement comprising: a grasping handle; and an elastomeric body formed to conform to a shape from the group consisting of a dome, a hemisphere, a half-cylinder, a triangular prism, and a block; wherein the exercise performed is one of pushups, yoga, and Pilates.
A bottom surface of the implement may be contoured to reciprocally fit contouring on a top surface on an exercise mat.
In some embodiments, the grasping handle of the implement may be detachable. In other embodiments, the body defines a recess for receiving fingers of a users hand. In still further embodiments, the implement is formed from one or more of silicone gel, elastomeric foam, and a plurality of polymers of varying force indentation deflection (FID) rating.
A cylindrical exercise implement for rolling across a ground surface is disclosed, the implement comprising: a first handle affixed to an elongated cylindrical shaft; a second handle affixed to the elongated cylindrical shaft; wherein the elongated cylindrical shaft spans a distance between the first handle and the second handle, the elongated shaft of sufficient durability to support a user's body weight; and an elastomeric foam cylinder rotatably affixed to the shaft, such that the foam cylinder rotates axially around the shaft, wherein the foam cylinder is able to support a user's weight as it rolls over a surface.
An exterior surface of the foam cylinder may be contoured to reciprocally fit contouring on a contoured top surface on an exercise mat as the implement rolls across the exercise mat.
The foam cylinder, first handle, and second handle may all be detachable from the elongated cylindrical shaft. The shaft may be telescopic such that the first handle and second handle may be adjustably extended laterally relative to the foam cylinder.
An exercise implement for cushioning a body of a user performing sit-ups is also disclosed, the implement comprising: a compressible polymeric pad for supporting a user's tailbone region and lower-back, the pad having a top surface, a left sidewall, and a right sidewall; and one or more of the following: one or more straps affixed to the one or more of the left sidewall and the right sidewall, the straps for securing the user's body to the implement; and a plurality of molded polymeric handles affixed to the implement.
A bottom surface of the exercise implement may be contoured to reciprocally fit contouring on a top surface on an exercise mat.
The exercise implement may further comprise raised cushions for supporting rear lumbar and front gluteus regions of a user's body, wherein the cushions provide massaging effect during exercise.
A non-inflated elastic foam exercise dome is also disclosed comprising one of: a convex body; a rigid polymer base affixed to a bottom surface of the convex body, wherein a width of the polymer base exceeds a maximum width of the convex body; one or more handles affixed to a top surface of the base, the handles disposed laterally to the convex body.
A bottom surface of the exercise dome may be contoured to reciprocally fit contouring on a top surface on an exercise mat.
An elastomeric massage implement for supporting and massing a user's back while performing sit-ups is disclosed comprising: one or more of: a generally planar polymeric pad of having a top surface and a polymeric wedge having a top surface; and a series of upwardly protruding foam bumps for massaging and supporting a user's body; wherein a surface area of the top surface of the exercise implement is less than 7 square feet.
A bottom surface of the massage implement may be contoured to reciprocally fit contouring on a top surface on an exercise mat.
These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a multifunction exercise mat and bottom perspective view of a detachable implement in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a top perspective view of a detachable handle in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a top perspective view of a detachable dome-shaped handle in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2C is a top perspective view of a detachable parallelette in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2D is a top perspective view of a second detachable handle in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2E is a side perspective view of a roller in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a method of gripping a dome-shaped detachable handle in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a multifunction special purpose cushion implement in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a multifunction detachable special purpose cushion implement in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6A is a top perspective view of a multifunction special purpose cushion implement in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view a detachable dome with molded handles in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a section of a multifunction exercise mat 100 and bottom perspective view of a detachable implement in accordance with the present invention. The exercise mat 100 comprises a pad 102, a washboard top surface 104, an implement 106, and a bottom surface 108.
The pad 102 comprises is a soft but durable exercise/yoga pad to provide extra body support during exercises such as Pilates, yoga, push-ups, sit-ups and the like. The object of the present invention is to facilitate the optional use of a series of novel small-to-medium size movable-detachable implements 106 which themselves comprise soft compressible foam implements for supporting the tail bone, gluteus region, lumbar region, upper back, wrists, hips, legs, arms, head and neck. These implements 106 stay in place on the pad 102 by interlocking a contoured bottom surface 108 with a reciprocally contoured top surface 104. These surface 104, 108 may comprise bumps and dimples, washboard-like surfaces, or any other regularly repeating pattern or protrusions and indentations, including a series of small polymer pins insertable into a system of bores or holes on a grid covering a surface 104, 108.
The pad 102, plus the complimentary detachable implements, not only provides comfort and support during exercises but some also enables the body to be raised sufficiently high off the ground as to increase the range of motion of the body of a user during exercises, as well as to make exercises such as long leg and back raises more bearable. In addition to all this some pads have a distinctive massaging effect when the body rolls over them during exercise. Many pads have their own novel design/use as further described below.
FIG. 2A is a top perspective view of a detachable handle 200 in accordance with the present invention. The handle 200 comprises a bottom surface 108, a handle 202 and an oblong bumper 204.
The handle 202 comprises an elongated semi-rigid tube, staff, pipe, dowel, or the like. The handle 200, formed by all of its components 108, 202, 204, may comprise one integrated piece formed during manufacture. The handle 202 may also be formed, in other embodiments, separately from the bumpers 204. The handle 202 may comprise a more rigid, harder components than the bumpers 204.
In the shown embodiment, the handle 200 comprises bumpers 204 at both ends of the handle 200 for preventing the hands from slipping off the handle 200.
The handle 200 may be formed from elastomeric or polymeric materials, as well as wood, metal alloys, or with other materials known to those of skill in the art.
FIG. 2B is a top perspective view of a detachable dome-shaped handle 210 in accordance with the present invention. The detachable handle 210 comprises a dome 212, a base 202, and a detachable secondary handle and flexible strap 214.
The dome 212 comprises a hemisphere affixed to the bottom surface 108 with a recessed cylindrical member whose diameter does not exceed that of the dome 212. The dome 212 serves as a handle or pivot point for a user in contact with the mat 100.
The detachable secondary handle and flexible strap 214 which is rotatably affixed to the base 218 for optional positioning over the dome as a secondary handle.
FIG. 2C is a top perspective view of a detachable parallelette 220 in accordance with the present invention. The parallelette 220 comprises two cubes 222 a-b (both having a bottom surface 108), and a handle 202.
The cubes 222 a-b are formed from a flexible elastomeric material in the shown embodiment. The detachable parrallelette 220 may serve as dumbbell with weighted cubes 222 a-b.
The shown detachable parallelette 220 comprises an implement with twin cubes 222 a-b. Other embodiments may alternatively comprise spheres, cylinders, or other geometric-shaped objects. The shown parallelette 220 may also serve as a handle for push ups, and the like.
FIG. 2D is a top perspective view of a second detachable handle 230 in accordance with the present invention. The detachable handle 230 comprises a block 232 and a handle 202.
In the block 232 comprises a triangular block in the shown embodiment, but may comprise other block-type geometric shapes in other embodiments, and is fabricated as one integrated piece with the handle 202.
FIG. 2E is a side perspective view of a roller 240 in accordance with the present invention. The roller 240 comprises a dowel 242 and a roller 244. In some embodiments, the roller 244 is contoured as the bottom surface 108 to reciprocate the countouring of the top surface 104 as the roller 242 is rolled across the pad 102.
The roller 240 comprises an ergonomic polymer exercise roller 244 designed with a rigid handle bar, or dowel 242, running through the roller 244 for grasping in order to do exercises such as push-ups with one hand on each side of the central pad holding on the bar. The roller 240 may optionally function as an exercise abdominal roller with a rotatable rigid handle on each side of a cylindrical exercise roll. The dowel 242 may optionally include handle affixed laterally. The dowel 242 may also comprises a series of retractable telescoping cylinders.
FIG. 3 illustrates a method 300 of gripping a dome-shaped detachable handle in accordance with the present invention. In the shown embodiment, a method 300 of gripping the dome-shaped handle 210 is demonstrated.
The purpose of the handle 210 is to reduce stress on the wrists/hands of a user. The handle 210 absorbs body weight and motion much better than regular push-up stand models which are rigid and do bounce when force is suddenly applied to them.
FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a multifunction detachable cushion implement 400 in accordance with the present invention. The detachable implement 400 comprises a pad 102 with a rigid base, a top surface 104, cushions 402 a-b, a strap 404, a handle 406, and a buttocks support area 408.
The detachable cushion implement 400 comprises ergonomically shaped pad 102 used for sit-ups/crunches. The cushions 402 supports not only tailbone area, but also the lumbar, back and glutes. The cushions 402 also raise the body off the ground up to six inches to give a user increased comfort and wider range of motion (e.g. a body arc—slightly hyper-extended—instead of flat when extended) while doing sit-ups. The detachable cushion implement 400 also makes leg raises and back raises more challenging, as just holding a body still in place works abdominal muscles isometrically.
The detachable cushion implement 400 may comprise a plurality of handles 406 molded into the pad 102 with rigid base to allow a user to grasp and pull up a body for easier modified crunches/sit-ups, as well as the option of an adjustable body belt/strap 404 attached to the pad 102 with a rigid base to help keep the waist anchored and legs from lifting up during exercise, which the body is especially prone to do when using weights while while doing the sit-ups.
The pad 102 with a rigid base in the shown embodiment is two feet wide, but the pad's 102 rigid base dimensions may vary from less than a foot in width and/or length to more than sux feet in width and/or length.
The pad 102 may also comprise additional optional buttocks-support area 408 near the center of the pad 102 for engaging each side of spine as it comes down. Other cushions 402 on the pad 102 may serve to secure a user's glutes/buttocks in place while exercising (since force against lumbar will naturally push body forward) as well as for engaging each side of the user's spine as it comes down. A user's glutes can be slightly wedged in between these two front and back support cushions
FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a multifunction exercise mat 500 in accordance with the present invention. The mat 500 comprises a pad 102 having a plurality of apertures 502, a cushion 402, and a plurality of domes 212 having pins 502 having pins 504. The pins 504 are detachably inserted into the apertures on the pad 102.
The ergonomic polymer exercise massage pad 102, when combined with the detachable domes 212, has a top surface with a series of protruding foam bumps or ridges that act to massage and support the body of a user when moved against such during sit-up and yoga-like exercises; an also be in a wedge shape of a top surface of a series of polymer protruding bumps that act to massage and support the body when moved against such as during sit-up and yoga-like exercises.
FIG. 6A is a top perspective view of a detachable cushion implement 600 in accordance with the present invention. In the shown embodiment, the domes 212 are permanently affixed to the pad 102, and the pad 102 comprises pins 504 such that the pad 102 may be detachably affixed to a mat 500. The bottom surface, in some embodiments, may be contoured to reciprocate and conform to the top surface of the mat 500. In other embodiments, the bottom surface is planar for use on the floor or a subgrade.
The term “block” for the purposes of this invention consists of any bulky three-dimensional object comprising flat faceted surfaces.
FIG. 7 is a top perspective view a detachable implement 700 with molded handles 406 in accordance with the present invention. The detachable implement 700 comprises a dome 212, a base member 702, handles 406, and pins 504.
The handles 406 are designed to be used for balance and strength exercises.
The implement 700 is designed to be used for balance and strength exercises. The implement 700 may be used on the mat 500, with the optional pins 504 insertable into the apertures 502, or used as an independent device.
Cushions on any of the shown mats, pads or implements may be used to cushion portions of a user's body, including the hand-wrist portion, which is the portion of the user's body comprising both the hand and the wrist.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An exercise mat for supporting a user during exercise, the mat comprising:

a compressible elastomeric foam pad having a non-planar top surface, for enduring compressive forces applied by the user during exercise, the top surface defining a regular repeating pattern of protrusions and indentations;

a plurality of implements for detachably engaging the top surface, each implement having a non-planar bottom surface contoured to be reciprocate the top surface of the pad, such that the bottom surface of each implement abuts a portion of the top surface of the pad, the engagement inhibiting lateral movement of the implement across the top surface of the pad.

2. The exercise mat of claim 1, wherein the repeating pattern of protrusions and indentations, as viewed from a cross-section, is one of wavy, grooved, sawtooth, curved, castellated, corrugated, sinusoidal, perforated, and washboard-like.

3. The exercise mat of claim 1, wherein each detachable implement from the plurality of implements comprises one of a handle, a hemisphere, a roller, a dome, a cube, a block, a triangular prism, a wedge, a second pad, and a second pad with a rigid base.

4. The multi-function exercise mat of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of detachable implements further comprise one of a tail bone support cushion, a lumbar support cushion, a knee support cushion, a hand-wrist support cushion; a cushion for assisting with sit-ups; a hip support cushions; a neck support cushion; a dome-shaped balance cushion; a cylindrical roller; and a pad having bumps for massaging the body of the user when the body is moved laterally across the pad.

5. The multi-function exercise mat of claim 1, wherein one or more of the detachable implements further comprises one or more of a molded polymer handle and one or more adjustable straps for securing portions of the user's body during exercise.

6. The multi-function exercise implement of claim 1, wherein the implement comprises one or more of: elastomeric foam; an inflatable polymeric bladder; a gel-filled polymer core; elastomeric foam having a polymer core defining a hollow interior recess; elastomeric foam having a solid polymer core; and a durable elastomeric exterior skin.

7. The exercise mat of claim 1, further comprising one or more implements detachable affixed to the top surface, the one or more implements from the group consisting of: a hemisphere, a hollow dome, a cube, a block, a triangular wedge, and a roller.

8. An exercise implement for reducing wrist strain and absorbing impact forces during exercise between the user's hand and a ground surface, the implement comprising:

a grasping handle; and

an elastomeric body formed to conform to a shape from the group consisting of a dome, a hemisphere, a half-cylinder, a triangular prism, and a block;

wherein the exercise performed is one of pushups, yoga, and Pilates.

9. The exercise implement of claim 8, wherein a bottom surface of the implement is contoured to reciprocally fit contouring on a top surface on an exercise mat.

10. The exercise implement of claim 8, wherein the grasping handle of the implement is detachable.

11. The exercise implement of claim 8 wherein the body defines a recess for receiving fingers of a users hand.

12. The exercise implement of claim 8, wherein the exercise is formed from one or more of silicone gel, elastomeric foam, and a plurality of polymers of varying force indentation deflection (FID) rating.

13. A cylindrical exercise implement for rolling across a ground surface, the implement comprising:

a first handle affixed to an elongated cylindrical shaft;

a second handle affixed to the elongated cylindrical shaft; wherein the elongated cylindrical shaft spans a distance between the first handle and the second handle, the elongated shaft of sufficient durability to support a user's body weight; and

an elastomeric foam cylinder rotatably affixed to the shaft, such that the foam cylinder rotates axially around the shaft, wherein the foam cylinder is able to support a user's weight as it rolls over a surface.

14. The exercise implement of claim 13, wherein an exterior surface of the foam cylinder is contoured to reciprocally fit contouring on a contoured top surface on an exercise mat as the implement rolls across the exercise mat.

15. The exercise implement of claim 13, wherein the foam cylinder, first handle, and second handle are all detachable from the elongated cylindrical shaft.

16. The exercise implement of claim 13, wherein the shaft is telescopic such that the first handle and second handle may be adjustably extended laterally relative to the foam cylinder.

17. An exercise implement for cushioning a body of a user performing sit-ups, the implement comprising:

a compressible polymeric pad for supporting a user's tailbone region and lower-back, the pad having a top surface, a left sidewall, and a right sidewall;

and one or more of the following:

one or more straps affixed to the one or more of the left sidewall and the right sidewall, the straps for securing the user's body to the implement;

and a plurality of molded polymeric handles affixed to the implement.

18. The exercise implement of claim 17, wherein a bottom surface of the exercise implement is contoured to reciprocally fit contouring on a top surface on an exercise mat.

19. The exercise implement of claim 17, further comprising raised cushions for supporting rear lumbar and front gluteus regions of a user's body, wherein the cushions provide massaging effect during exercise.

20. A non-inflated elastic foam exercise dome comprising one of:

a convex body;

a rigid polymer base affixed to a bottom surface of the convex body, wherein a width of the polymer base exceeds a maximum width of the convex body;

one or more handles affixed to a top surface of the base, the handles disposed laterally to the convex body.

21. The exercise implement of claim 20, wherein a bottom surface of the exercise dome is contoured to reciprocally fit contouring on a top surface on an exercise mat.

22. An elastomeric massage implement for supporting and massing a user's back while performing sit-ups comprising:

one or more of: a generally planar polymeric pad of having a top surface and a polymeric wedge having a top surface; and

a series of upwardly protruding foam bumps for massaging and supporting a user's body;

wherein a surface area of the top surface of the exercise implement is less than 7 square feet.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein a bottom surface of the massage implement is contoured to reciprocally fit contouring on a top surface on an exercise mat.