US20220379161A1

US20220379161A1 - Yoga block with integrated mobile device retainer

Info

Publication number: US20220379161A1
Application number: US17/333,840
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald Reardon; Scott Saunders
Original assignee: Manduka LLC
Current assignee: Manduka LLC
Priority date: 2021-05-28
Filing date: 2021-05-28
Publication date: 2022-12-01

Abstract

A yoga block that consists of a body having a plurality of surfaces. At least one surface includes a recess sized and shaped to removably, securely receive a handheld mobile device. The recess includes retention means for engaging the mobile device with the body, the engagement being such that a display of the mobile device can remain accessible for viewing or control. The recess may be configured such that the device does not obtrusively protrude above the general surface in which the recess is formed.

Description

BACKGROUND

The inventive concepts disclosed herein relate to the fields of fitness, exercise, sports, and training equipment, and more particularly to a yoga block assembly for yoga poses, fitness and exercise. Yoga blocks (also referred to as bricks) are known in the art of yoga and have multiple uses. Such blocks are typically used to achieve better form or stability while performing a yoga stance or routine.
Yoga is a popular activity to improve both physical and mental health, as well as to improve flexibility and strength. Yoga blocks are used as props to aid alignment, to support body parts, to facilitate poses. They may also be used as a makeshift seat during meditation to ensure a seated posture with an upright spine. Yoga blocks may be used for other types of exercise beyond yoga. Whatever the purpose, they should be sturdy enough to support a user's full or partial weight in various orientations.
Yoga blocks are typically rectangular with each side a continuous, planar surface. They may be made from a substantially rigid or lightly compressible solid foam, or other relative firm material like wood, cork, or plastic.
In our connected, modern times, users like to keep their mobile communications devices close at hand. In yoga and other fitness classes, it is cumbersome to wear such devices on the person, e.g., on a waistband or armband. They can interfere with range of motion and comfort. Having mobile devices loose during yoga fitness classes or training can pose a safety risk to the user and to the device. Unsecured devices are also at risk of being left behind or stolen. Accordingly, there is a need to manage and secure mobile devices during yoga and fitness activities. There have been attempts to provide yoga blocks that are hollow and have separable portions to provide a closed chamber for storing mobile devices and other items. However, these chambered yoga blocks suffer from various problems. For example, the chambers are not adapted to the size of mobile devices, leaving the device free to bounce around inside the chamber, which might lead to device damage.
Further, many yoga training sessions are now offered virtually through live or downloaded programming. The user may need their mobile device viewable and accessible to watch the programming and control its selection and playback. Other users may need their devices viewable and accessible to receive important alerts, e.g., parents with infants or children may wish to be alert from care providers, and medical and other professional may need access to messaging when on call. Accordingly, there is a need for yoga blocks that secure mobile devices while allowing users to access displays and device controls.

SUMMARY

The inventive concepts disclosed herein address the foregoing and other needs by providing for a mobile device to be secured to a yoga block so that at least the device's display and user interface controls are available to users, without the device being mounted obtrusively to the block so as to interfere with the function and use of the block.
In certain embodiments the inventive concept is directed to a yoga block that consists of a body having a plurality of surfaces. At least one surface includes a recess sized and shaped to removably, securely receive a handheld mobile device. The recess includes retention means for engaging the mobile device with the block's body, the engagement being such that a display of the mobile device can remain accessible for viewing or control. The recess may be configured such that the device does not obtrusively protrude above the general surface in which the recess is formed.
In certain embodiments, the inventive concepts provide special retention elements that help removably but fixedly retain the device during conditions of normal use. The retention system may be customized to fit a particular size device, or it may be adapted to retain a range of device sizes. In some embodiments, retention elements are disposed along some or all the periphery of a recess to help engage and secure the mobile device to the block.
In certain embodiments, the yoga block includes The yoga block of claim 1 where a recess that is configured so that a selected mobile device is disposed flush with the general surface or is below the general surface.
In certain embodiments, the yoga block has a maximum length of 24 cm. In certain embodiments, the yoga block has a maximum width of 16 cm. In certain embodiments, the yoga block has a length of from 20 to 24 cm and a width of 14 to 18 cm. In certain embodiments, the yoga block's recess has a length of from 15 to 18 cm and a width from 8 to 10 cm and a depth of from 1 to 2 cm. In certain embodiments, the block has a rectangular shape, and the recess is disposed on a longest and widest side of the body.
In certain embodiments, The yoga block's recess has a generally rectangular shape. In certain embodiments, the yoga block's recess is defined by three peripheral walls, including two side walls and a back wall, the recess being free of a peripheral wall on a side opposite a back wall to facilitate a sliding placement of the mobile device into the recess.
In certain embodiments, the yoga block includes a plurality of retention elements that are spaced apart and disposed along at least one of the peripheral walls, the retention elements comprising resiliently compressible, deflectable, or displaceable elements for engaging one or more sides of a mobile device. In certain embodiments, the yoga block's retention elements are disposed along opposite long-side peripheral walls of the recess. In certain embodiments, there are at least four retention elements along each long-side peripheral wall. In certain embodiments, the retention elements comprise finger structures projecting from the base of the wall or walls. In certain embodiments, the fingers include terminal ends oriented orthogonally or transverse to the fingers. In certain embodiments, the retention elements are formed integral with the body of the block. In certain embodiments, the retention elements are molded with the portion of the block body from which they project. In certain embodiments, the portion of the block body and the fingers are molded from the same kind of material.
In certain embodiments, the yoga block's body is formed in whole or part of a molded polymer foam material having a durometer of 50 to 70 ASKER C.
In certain embodiments, the yoga block includes retention means adapted to secure a range of mobile device sizes. In certain embodiments, the retention means are compressible or displaceable fingers disposed along the base of one or more peripheral walls of the recess.
In certain embodiments, the yoga block includes two or more layers of material with differing material properties, a first layer defining the recess for the mobile device.
In certain embodiments, the yoga block's mobile device retention means are disposed in a bottom surface of the recess.
In certain embodiments, the yoga block further includes a transparent cover that overlies the mobile device when it is disposed in the recess.
In certain embodiments, the yoga block further includes an adjustable prop for propping up the mobile device from a surface of the block.
These and other embodiments are described in more detail in the following detailed descriptions and the figures.
The following is a description of various inventive lines under the inventive concepts. The appended claims, as originally filed in this document, or as subsequently amended, are hereby incorporated into this Summary section as if written directly in. The foregoing is not intended to be an exhaustive list of embodiments and features of the inventive subject matter. Persons skilled in the art are capable of appreciating other embodiments and features from the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The appended figures show embodiments according to the inventive subject matter, unless noted as showing prior art.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a yoga block with a recess for receiving a mobile device.

FIG. 2 shows the yoga block of FIG. 1 with a mobile device partially secured into the recess.

FIG. 3 shows a right side, elevational view of the block of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the block of FIG. 2 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Representative embodiments according to the inventive concepts are shown in the Figures, wherein the same or generally similar features share common reference numerals.
As an overview, the inventive concepts are directed to a yoga block that consists of a body having a plurality of surfaces. At least one surface includes a recess sized and shaped to removably, securely receive a handheld mobile device. The recess includes retention means for engaging the mobile device with the body, the engagement being such that a display of the mobile device can remain accessible for viewing or control. The recess may be configured such that the device does not obtrusively protrude above the general surface in which the recess is formed.
FIGS. 1 to 4 show an exemplary yoga block or brick assembly 10 according to the inventive concepts. Although a rectangular block with six generally planar sides is depicted (one such side has a recess formed therein but is it is still a generally planar side given its shallow depth). The block may have other shapes that support some or all the functions of a yoga block. For example, the block could have other polygonal forms of more or less than six sides, e.g., triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, etc. It could have one or more sides with non-planar or rectilinear surfaces, e.g., sides that are concave of convex in whole or part. For purposes of illustrating the inventive concepts, the following discussion will use the rectangular block that is illustrated as a representative example for illustrating the principles of the inventive concepts.
The yoga block assembly 10 is a body that has a plurality of surfaces, which may also be referred to as sides. The body has a top surface 12 and an opposing bottom surface 14, which are the longest and widest surfaces. There is a front surface 16 and an opposing back surface 18. And there is a left surface 20 and an opposing right surface 22 (which can also be considered end surfaces or sides). Each indicated pair of opposing surfaces are shown to be parallel. In other possible embodiments, one of the paired surfaces could be inclined relative to the other. Except for the recessed surface 12, all other surfaces are generally planar, continuous surfaces, in the illustrated embodiment.
At least one surface in block 10 includes a recess 24 sized and shaped and otherwise configured to removably, securely receive a handheld mobile device, e.g., a mobile phone. In the Figures, the recess is disposed in top surface 12. The recess is therefore a sunken portion of that surface and in the body of the block.
The recess includes retention means for engaging the mobile device with the block's body. Preferably, the engagement is such that a display of the mobile device can remain accessible so that a user can view the display and access its user-interface controls and features. Ideally, the recess is configured such that the device does not obtrusively protrude above the general surface in which the recess is formed, namely perimetrical surface portion 13. In other words, the level of the mobile device when placed in the recess does not substantially interfere with the intended functions of the block. A suitable level would be one where the recess is configured so that a selected mobile device is disposed flush with the general surface or is below the general surface. The recess can be designed to receive a mobile device of selected dimensions or it can be adaptable to receive mobile devices within a range of dimensions.
In certain embodiments, the yoga block has a maximum length of 25 cm. In certain embodiments, the yoga block has a maximum width of 16 cm. In certain embodiments, the yoga block of claim 1 wherein the yoga block has a length of from 20 to 24 cm and a width of 12 to 16 cm.
In certain embodiments, the yoga block the recess 24 has a length of from 15 cm to 18 cm and a width from 8 cm to 10 cm and a depth of from 1 to 2 cm. While the recess may be disposed in any one or more of the surfaces of the block, in the embodiment shown, it is disposed on a longest and widest side of the body. The recess can have varying shapes, but in keeping with the shape of conventional mobile phones, which are a representative mobile device, the recess has a generally rectangular shape that is longer than wide and of thin depth. FIGS. 2-4 show a mobile device 26 disposed in recess 24
The recess 24 has one or more side walls 28 a, 30 a, 32 a that align with the sides 28 b, 30 b, and 32 b of mobile device 26. The recess has a bottom wall 33 a that aligns with the back 33 b of the mobile device. The side walls rise from the bottom wall to the perimetrical portion 13 of top surface 12.
A display side 34 of the mobile device faces outward of the recess so that it is viewable and accessible. As seen, mobile device 26 sits slightly below or generally flush with perimetrical portion 13 of top surface 12.
In the embodiment shown, the recess is defined by three peripheral walls 28 a, 30 a, 32 a and bottom surface 33 a. Optionally, as shown, there is no wall opposite peripheral wall 32 a. Leaving that opposite side or any other side open facilitates a sliding placement of the mobile device into the recess, as seen in FIGS. 2-4 . In other embodiments, the opposite side of wall 32 a could include a peripheral wall, forming a four-sided recess. Instead of a slide-in fit, the mobile device could be dropped into the recess.
The mobile device can be engaged to the block using any of various kinds of retention means. One possibility is for the mobile device to snugly press fit into the recess. In such case, the device is held in place by the side walls' compressive forces or frictional engagement. In other embodiments, the retention means could be magnetic elements disposed in the recess and/or device that allow for magnetic retention. In yet other cases, the retention could be by means of mechanical clamps disposed in or on the block, straps, complementary hook and loop (e.g., Velcro™) fasteners, adhesive backings, etc. A transparent covering could also be used over the recess to hold the device in place, i.e., a pocket, sleeve or pouch like arrangement is formed in the block for securing the device to the block.
In the embodiment shown, the retention means are based on use of a plurality of resilient elements 34 that are part of the peripheral side walls 28 a and 30 a of the recess. (In other words, the peripheral walls are not necessarily a continuous, uninterrupted surface but can have breaks, undulations, or other be interruptions while still generally defining a sidewall surface for abutting a side of a mobile device.)
The elements 34 compress or displace against the sides 28 b and 30 b of the mobile device to provide a sufficient retentive force on the device so that it does not fall or slide from the recess in any orientation of the block. Although the retention elements are shown along two peripheral side walls, they could be disposed along more or fewer sides to create a compressive or frictional engagement.
In the embodiment shown, there are eleven retention elements 34 closely spaced along each of the long-sided, opposing sidewalls 28 a and 30 a. They are evenly spaced apart along the sidewalls. In other embodiments, a single retention element could be used along a sidewall, e.g., a convex bulge in a central area of the sidewall. So any number of retention elements could be used to create a compressive or frictional engagement, i.e., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or more.
In the embodiment shown, the retention elements consist of resiliently bendable finger structures projecting from the base area of one or more sidewalls. In this example, they angle slightly away from the open end of the recess to facilitate a slidable entry of the mobile device into the recess, as seen best in FIG. 4 . There is a range of deformation, displacement, or deflection possible for the fingers 34 so that they can accommodate a range of device sizes.
The fingers 34 include offset portion 36 with terminal ends 38 oriented orthogonally or transverse to the body 34 a of the fingers. The offset portion and terminal end in each finger create first and second ledge or flange areas that help engage and capture the top edge of the mobile device for better retention across a range of mobile device dimensions that cause varying deflection of the fingers 34.
In addition, to fingers that protrude from the peripheral walls, other configurations of structures could alternatively be used. For example, the structures could be ball like or other shaped nodules that are resiliently compressible or deflectable.
Advantageously, the retention elements in many embodiments could be formed integrally formed with the body of the block. For example, they could be patterns in a mold that is used in a single or multiple step molding process. They therefore could be part of a monolithic block structure or a monolithic part of a component of a block, e.g., a top layer.
The block body and the retention elements, e.g., fingers 36 may be molded or die cut from the same kind of material or different materials. In some embodiments, it may be desirable to have the recess and the retention elements made of material that is more compressively resilient than the bulk of the body of the block, which needs to be relatively firmer. For instance, one or more layers 44 of the block forming surface 12 could be made of molded or die cut polymer foam (e.g., injection molded EVA) and the main body 46 of the block could be a molded or die cut polymer foam (e.g., EVA). The layer 44 in which the recess and retention elements are disposed could have a durometer of 50 to 70 ASKER C. The main body of the block 46 could have a durometer of 50 to 70 ASKER C. The block could optionally have other surface layers, e.g., one or more layers 48 having material properties different from the main body of the block, e.g., layers that are more compressively resilient, textured or grippy, antimicrobial, etc., for intended functional effects.
The yoga block recess 24 optionally could include an adjustable prop for propping up the mobile device from a surface of the block, e.g. from the recess 24.
The yoga block assembly 10 would typically be constructed of a weight-bearing, shape-sustaining materials. The yoga block could be made from closed-cell EVA foam or similar lightweight, dense, and supportive substances or materials including, but not limited to, bamboo, cork, wood, impact resilient plastics, and/or composites. The materials listed herein are examples only and are in no way intended to be limiting. The exterior of yoga block may further be made decorative, so long as the exterior finish is sufficiently durable to withstand the normal rigors imposed by a user during yoga and like activities.
One suitable example of a yoga block is 23 cm long, 15.25 cm wide and 10 cm high. However dimensions ranging from 10 cm to 46 cm long, 10 cm to 65 cm wide, and 5 cm to 15.25 cm high are contemplated within the scope of the inventive concepts.
Persons skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications and variations are possible in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts and actions which have been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the inventive subject matter, and that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit and scope of the teachings and claims contained therein.
Any patent and non-patent literature cited herein is hereby incorporated by references in its entirety for all purposes.
As used herein, “and/or” means “and” or “or”, as well as “and” and “or.” Moreover, any and all patent and non-patent literature cited herein is hereby incorporated by references in its entirety for all purposes.
The principles described above in connection with any particular example can be combined with the principles described in connection with any one or more of the other examples. Accordingly, this detailed description shall not be construed in a limiting sense, and following a review of this disclosure, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the wide variety of systems that can be devised using the various concepts described herein. Moreover, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein can be adapted to various configurations without departing from the disclosed principles.
The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the disclosed innovations. Various modifications to those embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. Thus, the claimed inventions are not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular, such as by use of the article “a” or “an” is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more”.
All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various embodiments described throughout the disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are intended to be encompassed by the features described and claimed herein. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed as “a means plus function” claim under US patent law, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or “step for”.
The inventors reserve all rights to the subject matter disclosed herein, including the right to claim all that comes within the scope and spirit of the following claims:

Claims

1. A yoga block, comprising:

a body having a plurality of surfaces, at least one surface including a recess sized and shaped to removably, securely receive a handheld mobile device, the recess including retention means for engaging the mobile device with the body, the engagement being such that a display of the mobile device can remain accessible for viewing or control, the recess being configured such that the device does not obtrusively protrude above the general surface in which the recess is formed.

2. The yoga block of claim 1 where in the recess is configured so that a selected mobile device is disposed flush with the general surface or is below the general surface.

3. The yoga block of claim 1 wherein the block has a maximum length of 24 cm.

4. The yoga block of claim 3 wherein the block has a maximum width of 16 cm.

5. The yoga block of claim 1 wherein the yoga block has a length of from 20 to 24 cm and a width of 14 to 18 cm.

6. The yoga block of claim 5 wherein the recess has a length of from 15 to 18 cm and a width from 8 to 10 cm and a depth of from 1 to 2 cm

7. The yoga block of claim 3 wherein the block has a rectangular shape and the recess is disposed on a longest and widest side of the body.

8. The yoga block of claim 3 wherein the recess has a generally rectangular shape.

9. The yoga block of claim 1 wherein the recess is defined by three peripheral walls, including two side walls and a back wall, the recess being free of a peripheral wall on a side opposite a back wall to facilitate a sliding placement of the mobile device into the recess.

10. The yoga block of claim 9 wherein a plurality of retention elements are spaced apart and disposed along at least one of the peripheral walls, the retention elements comprising resiliently compressible, deflectable, or displaceable elements for engaging one or more sides of a mobile device.

11. The yoga block of claim 10 wherein the retention elements are disposed along opposite long-side peripheral walls of the recess.

12. The yoga block of claim 11 wherein there are at least 4 elements along each long-side peripheral wall.

13. The yoga block of claim 11 wherein the retention elements comprise finger structures projecting from the base of the wall or walls.

14. The yoga block of claim 13 wherein the fingers include terminal ends oriented orthogonally or transverse to the fingers.

15. The yoga block of claim 10 wherein the retention elements are formed integral with the body of the block.

16. The yoga block of claim 15 wherein the retention elements are molded with the portion of the block body from which they project.

17. The yoga block of claim 16 wherein the portion of the block body and the fingers are molded from the same kind of material.

18. The yoga block of claim 6 wherein the body comprises a molded polymer foam material having a durometer of 50 to 70 ASKER C.

19. The yoga block claim of claim 1 wherein the block includes retention means adapted to secure a range of mobile device sizes.

20. The yoga block of claim 19 wherein the retention means comprise compressible or displaceable fingers disposed along the base of one or more peripheral walls of the recess.

21. The yoga block of claim 1 wherein the block has two or more layers of material with differing material properties, a first layer defining the recess for the mobile device.

22. The yoga block of claim 1 wherein mobile device retention means are disposed in a bottom surface of the recess.

23. The yoga block of claim 1 further comprising a transparent cover that overlies the mobile device when it is disposed in the recess.

24. The yoga block of claim 1 wherein the block further comprises an adjustable prop for propping up the mobile device from a surface of the block.