U.S. patent application number 10/628032 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-27 for device for aerobic exercise.
Invention is credited to Lin, William.
Application Number | 20050020418 10/628032 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34080718 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050020418 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin, William |
January 27, 2005 |
Device for aerobic exercise
Abstract
In a device for aerobic exercise, a resilient bladder body has a
bottom wall disposed on a base frame, a curved surrounding wall
connected to the bottom wall so as to define a fluid-receiving
space therebetween, and a surrounding flange extending downwardly
from the curved surrounding wall and disposed to surround the base
frame. The bladder body defines a first axis that passes through a
center of the bottom wall and along which the bottom wall has a
width, and a second axis which passes through the center of the
bottom wall and a top wall portion of the surrounding wall, which
is transverse to the first axis and along which the curved
surrounding wall has a maximum height less than the width of the
bottom wall. The top wall portion has a rigidity greater than that
of the surrounding wall portion and less than that of the bottom
wall.
Inventors: |
Lin, William; (Taichung,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GALLAGHER & LATHROP, A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
601 CALIFORNIA ST
SUITE 1111
SAN FRANCISCO
CA
94108
US
|
Family ID: |
34080718 |
Appl. No.: |
10/628032 |
Filed: |
July 24, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/142 ;
482/110 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 23/0211 20130101;
A63B 2071/027 20130101; A63B 2208/0233 20130101; A63B 2225/62
20130101; A63B 23/0458 20130101; A63B 2023/006 20130101; A63B
2208/0204 20130101; A63B 21/0442 20130101; A63B 21/0552 20130101;
A63B 2208/0252 20130101; A63B 21/0557 20130101; A63B 23/0233
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/142 ;
482/110 |
International
Class: |
A63B 022/04 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A device for aerobic exercise, comprising: a base frame; and a
resilient bladder body mounted on said base frame, said bladder
body having a bottom wall disposed on said base frame and having a
first rim, a curved surrounding wall with a second rim connected to
said first rim of said bottom wall so as to define a
fluid-receiving space, and a surrounding flange extending
downwardly from said second rim of said curved surrounding wall and
disposed to surround said base frame, said curved surrounding wall
having a top wall portion, and a curved surrounding wall portion
connected to said top wall portion and formed with said second rim,
said bladder body defining a first axis that passes through a
center of said bottom wall and along which said bottom wall has a
width, and a second axis which passes through the center of said
bottom wall and said top wall portion of said surrounding wall,
which is transverse to the first axis and along which said curved
surrounding wall has a maximum height less than the width of said
bottom wall, said top wall portion having a rigidity greater than
that of said surrounding wall portion and less than that of said
bottom wall.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said top wall portion
of said surrounding wall has a slightly convex outer surface.
3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said top wall portion
of said surrounding wall has an outer surface formed with a spiral
reinforcing rib.
4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bottom wall has
an outer surface formed with a plurality of treads.
5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said surrounding wall
has an outer surface formed with a plurality of rounded
projections.
6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bottom wall is
generally rectangular in shape and has rounded corners, and the
maximum height is less than a minimum width of said bottom
wall.
7. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality
of fasteners for fastening said surrounding flange to said base
frame.
8. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality
of pull cords, each of which is connected to said base frame at one
end.
9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of said pull
cords is elastic.
10. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said base frame is
provided with a plurality of hooks for connecting with said pull
cords, respectively.
11. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base frame
includes a looped outer frame portion and a plurality of
reinforcing members disposed in and connected to said outer frame
portion, said bottom wall of said bladder body being formed with a
plurality of receiving grooves for receiving said reinforcing
members, respectively.
12. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base frame has a
bottom side with a plurality of anti-slip pads mounted thereon.
13. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base frame has a
top surface formed with a plurality of anti-slip treads.
14. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base frame has a
curved top surface.
15. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said top surface of
said base frame is slightly convex.
16. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base frame has a
substantially planar top surface.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to an exercise device, more
particularly to a device for aerobic exercise.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional rigid board 1 used for
aerobic step exercise.
[0005] Although the above-mentioned conventional step board 1 can
achieve its intended purpose, the operation of the conventional
board 1 is monotonous such that the functionality and effect
thereof are limited.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide
a device suitable for performing different aerobic exercises.
[0007] According to the present invention, there is provided a
device for aerobic exercise, which comprises:
[0008] a base frame; and
[0009] a resilient bladder body mounted on the base frame, the
bladder body having a bottom wall disposed on the base frame and
having a first rim, a curved surrounding wall with a second rim
connected to the first rim of the bottom wall so as to define a
fluid-receiving space, and a surrounding flange extending
downwardly from the second rim of the curved surrounding wall and
disposed to surround the base frame, the curved surrounding wall
having a top wall portion, and a curved surrounding wall portion
connected to the top wall portion and formed with the second rim,
the bladder body defining a first axis that passes through a center
of the bottom wall and along which the bottom wall has a width, and
a second axis which passes through the center of the bottom wall
and the top wall portion of the surrounding wall, which is
transverse to the first axis and along which the curved surrounding
wall has a maximum height less than the width of the bottom wall,
the top wall portion having a rigidity greater than that of the
surrounding wall portion and less than that of the bottom wall.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a conventional board
in a state of use;
[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the first
preferred embodiment of a device for aerobic exercise according to
the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of the first
preferred embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a schematic bottom view of the first preferred
embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of the first preferred
embodiment, taken along line V-V of FIG. 4;
[0016] FIGS. 6 to 13 illustrate a series of exercises that can be
performed using the first preferred embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 14 is a partly exploded perspective view showing the
second preferred embodiment of a device for aerobic exercise
according to the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 15 is a schematic sectional view of the second
preferred embodiment; and
[0019] FIG. 16 is a schematic sectional view of the third preferred
embodiment of a device for aerobic exercise according to the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] Before the present invention is described in greater detail,
it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same
reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, the first preferred embodiment
for a device for aerobic exercise according to the present
invention is shown to include a base frame 20, a resilient bladder
body 10, a plurality of fasteners 30, and a plurality of pull cords
40.
[0022] The base flame 20 is adapted to be disposed on a plane 100
(see FIG. 5). In this embodiment, the base frame 20 includes a
looped outer frame portion 21, which is generally rectangular in
shape and has rounded corners, and a plurality of reinforcing
members 22 disposed in and connected to the outer frame portion 21.
The outer frame portion 21 is provided with a plurality of hooks
23, as best shown in FIG. 2. The base frame 20 has a bottom side
with a plurality of anti-slip pads 24 mounted thereon, as shown in
FIG. 4.
[0023] The bladder body 10, which is mounted on the base frame 20,
has a bottom wall 11 disposed on the base frame 20 and having a
first rim 110 (see FIG. 5), a curved surrounding wall 12 with a
second rim 120 (see FIG. 5) connected to the first rim 110 of the
bottom wall 10 so as to define a fluid-receiving space 14 for
receiving a fluid, such as air or water, and a surrounding flange
13 extending downwardly from the second rim 120 of the curved
surrounding wall 12 and disposed to surround the base frame 20. In
this embodiment, the fluid-receiving space 14 is filled with air.
Moreover, in order to enhance stability of the bladder body 10, the
fluid-receiving space 14 maybe additionally filled with an amount
of liquid or sand (not shown). The curved surrounding wall 12 has a
top wall portion 121, and a curved surrounding wall portion 122
connected to the top wall portion 121 and formed with the second
rim 120. The bladder body 10 defines a first axis (x) that passes
through a center of the bottom wall 11 and along which the bottom
wall 11 has a width (w), and a second axis (y) which passes through
the center of the bottom wall 11 and the top wall portion 121 of
the curved surrounding wall 12, which is transverse to the first
axis (x) and along which the curved surrounding wall 12 has a
maximum height (h) less than the width (w) of the bottom wall 11,
as best shown in FIG. 5.
[0024] In this embodiment, the bottom wall 11 is generally
rectangular in shape and has rounded corners so as to complement
the base frame 20. It is noted that the bottom wall 11 can also be
circular or elliptical in shape, or can be square in shape with
rounded corners. In this embodiment, the maximum height (h) is less
than a minimum width (w) of the generally rectangular bottom wall
11. The bottom wall 11 further has an outer surface 1100 formed
with a plurality of treads 111 for enhancing the rigidity of the
bottom wall 11, and a plurality of receiving grooves 112 (only one
is shown in FIG. 5) for receiving the reinforcing members 22,
respectively.
[0025] In this embodiment, the surrounding wall 12 has an outer
surface 1200 formed with a plurality of rounded projections 123.
The top wall portion 121 of the surrounding wall 12 has a slightly
convex outer surface 1212, which is a part of the outer surface
120, formed with a spiral reinforcing rib 1211, as best shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3. Alternatively, the rounded projections 123 on the
top wall portion 121 of the surrounding wall 122 may be formed with
a higher density as compared to those on the surrounding wall
portion 122. As such, the top wall portion 121 has a rigidity
greater than that of the surrounding wall portion 122 but less than
that of the bottom wall 11.
[0026] The fasteners 30 fasten the surrounding flange 13 to the
base frame 20.
[0027] Each of the pull cords 40, which are elastic, has one end
hooked onto a corresponding one of the hooks 23 on the base frame
20, and the other end adapted to be pulled by a user during
exercise.
[0028] Thus, the following exercises can be performed using the
first preferred embodiment of the present invention:
[0029] 1. Referring to FIG. 6, the user can stand on the top wall
portion 121 of the surrounding wall 12 using one foot or both feet
so as to perform balance training. Since the rigidity of the top
wall portion 121 is greater than that of the surrounding wall
portion 122, a slight deformation of the top wall portion 121
occurs so as to result in a substantially a planar surface that
permits the user to stand stably on the top wall portion 121.
[0030] 2. Referring to FIG. 7, the user can perform an aerobic step
exercise.
[0031] 3. Referring to FIG. 8, the user's back can lie on the
bladder body 10 so as to perform abdominal exercise for training of
back and stomach muscles.
[0032] 4. Referring to FIG. 9, the user's waist can lie on the
bladder body 10 during stretching of the user's muscles.
[0033] 5. Referring to FIG. 10, when the user sits on the bladder
body 10 with both hands pulling upwardly the other ends of the pull
cords 40, respectively, training of the forearm muscles can be
attained.
[0034] 6. Referring to FIG. 11, when the user lies on the bladder
body 10 with both feet pushing against the other ends of the pull
cords 40, respectively, training of the leg muscles can be
attained.
[0035] 7. Referring to FIG. 12, when the user lies on the bladder
body 10 with both hands pulling upwardly the other ends of the pull
cords 40, respectively, training of the arm muscles can be
attained.
[0036] 8. Referring to FIG. 13, when the user stands on the bladder
body 10 with both hands grasping the other ends of the pull cords
40, respectively, training of the arm muscles can be similarly
attained.
[0037] FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate the second preferred embodiment
of a device for aerobic exercise according to this invention, which
is a modification of the first preferred embodiment. Unlike the
previous embodiment, the base frame 20' has a curved top surface 25
formed with a plurality of anti-slip treads 251 (see FIG. 15). The
top surface 25 is slightly convex. The bottom side of the base
frame 20' is configured with the reinforcing members 27. The outer
frame 21 has a bottom side with the anti-slip pads 28 mounted
thereon.
[0038] FIG. 16 illustrates the third preferred embodiment of a
device for aerobic exercise according to this invention, which is a
modification of the second preferred embodiment. Unlike the
embodiment of FIG. 15, the base frame 20" has a substantially
planar top surface 25'.
[0039] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *