U.S. patent application number 12/531517 was filed with the patent office on 2010-04-22 for floor pad for vaulting exercises.
This patent application is currently assigned to PE-REDSKABER A/S. Invention is credited to Asger Gregersen.
Application Number | 20100099507 12/531517 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39472897 |
Filed Date | 2010-04-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100099507 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gregersen; Asger |
April 22, 2010 |
FLOOR PAD FOR VAULTING EXERCISES
Abstract
The present invention concerns a floor pad of the type used
while performing gymnastic exercises on a large floor area, for
example 12 times 12 metres, where the floor pad covers this area.
The floor pad is made up of at least one air-filled element and
preferably of a plurality of air-filled elements, where the
air-filled elements are fixed to each other by fixing means, e.g.
by overlapping flanges with Velcro bands. By such a solution is
i.a. achieved the advantage that a floor pad may readily and
effortlessly be taken apart and emptied of air after use and then
be folded and placed in boxes or packages. Another advantage of the
floor pad according to the invention is that the space requirements
are reduced by about 86% compared with prior art solutions. A
further advantage is that the weight of the individual elements is
not so great either.
Inventors: |
Gregersen; Asger; (Aabenraa,
DK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROBERTS MLOTKOWSKI SAFRAN & COLE, P.C.;Intellectual Property Department
P.O. Box 10064
MCLEAN
VA
22102-8064
US
|
Assignee: |
PE-REDSKABER A/S
Gram
DK
|
Family ID: |
39472897 |
Appl. No.: |
12/531517 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
March 14, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/DK08/00104 |
371 Date: |
September 16, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
472/92 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63C 19/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
472/92 |
International
Class: |
A63J 3/00 20060101
A63J003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 16, 2007 |
DK |
PA 2007 00401 |
Claims
1. A floor pad of the type used while performing gymnastic
exercises on a large floor area, for example 12 times 12 metres,
where the floor pad covers this area, wherein the floor pad is made
up of at least one air-filled element and preferably of a plurality
of air-filled elements, where the air-filled elements are fixed to
each other by fixing means, e.g. by overlapping flanges with Velcro
bands.
2. Floor pad according to claim 1, wherein the floor pad is made up
of square sections.
3. Floor pad according to claim 1, wherein the floor pad is made up
of rectangular sections.
4. Floor pad according to claim 1, wherein the floor pad has
adjustable hardness, where the hardness is adjusted by regulating
the air pressure in the floor pad.
5. Floor pad according to claim 1, wherein air is continuously
supplied to the floor pad.
6. Floor pad according to claim 1, wherein the floor pad is filled
with air, and that the air pressure is regulated prior to using the
floor pad.
7. Floor pad according to claim 1, wherein the floor pad consists
of a plurality of joined elements which together from a larger
floor pad, where the individual elements are coupled together with
connecting elements so that air may be supplied to the entire floor
pad via a single or via a plurality of air supply points.
8. Floor pad according to claim 1, wherein the floor pad is covered
by an top mat, e.g. a felt mat or a foam mat.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention concerns a floor pad of the type used
while performing gymnastic exercises on a large floor area, for
example 12 times 12 metres, where the floor pad covers this
area.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
[0002] It is commonly known to use floor pads for vaulting
exercises on a large floor area in connection with gymnastic
exercises, such a floor pad may e.g. cover an area with a size Of
12.times.12 metres or 14.times.14 metres. Such floor pads or mats
may be manufactured in various ways, but they are often made of a
foam product with resilient properties or alternatively with
integrated spring elements in the pad. The purpose of the floor pad
or mat is to provide a more comfortable base for gymnastic
exercises and the like. However, it is still a requirement that too
much power, and thereby energy, is not absorbed in the floor
pad.
[0003] In order to achieve the desired properties in the prior art
products, they end up with becoming bulky when not in use and also
rather heavy to arrange on the floor when they are to be used or to
be packed away after use.
[0004] It is the object of the invention to indicate a floor pad of
the type which is intended for use on a large area, where the
hardness is adjustable and adapted to the actual need, and where
the floor pad is relatively light and may be stored without
requiring much space.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0005] As mentioned in the introduction, the invention concerns a
floor pad of the type used while performing gymnastic exercises on
a large floor area, where the floor pad is made up of at least one
air-filled element and preferably of a plurality of air-filled
elements, where the air-filled elements are fixed to each other by
fixing means, e.g. by overlapping flanges with Velcro bands.
[0006] By such a solution is i.a. achieved the advantage that a
floor pad may readily and effortlessly be taken apart and emptied
of air after use and then folded and placed in boxes or packages. A
storage space like the volume of the floor pad itself is thus not
required. For example, a traditional floor pad measuring
12.times.12 m and having a thickness of 7.5 cm, takes up at least
10.8 cubic metres if stacked tightly. By a solution according to
the invention, such an air-filled floor pad with the same size may
be stored in less than 1.5 cubic metres, counting on the thickness
of the airless floor pad to be about 1 cm, corresponding to a
reduction of about 86%. A further advantage is that the weight of
the individual elements is not so great either.
[0007] A floor pad according to the invention may advantageously be
made up of square sections or of rectangular sections or lengths.
These elements are fixed to each other and in assembled state, they
constitute one large floor pad. By separation and disassembling,
the individual elements may readily be separated and handled
individually. The staff may thus handle the elements in a far
easier way.
[0008] A quite obvious advantage of a floor pad according to the
invention is that the floor pad has adjustable hardness, where the
hardness is adjusted by regulating the air pressure in the floor
pad. The floor pad may thus be adapted to the actual situation in
which it is to be used. It is thus possible to adjust the hardness
of the floor pad concurrently with various types of gymnastic
exercises.
[0009] In one variant of the invention, air is supplied
continuously to the floor pad by one or more air blowers, where the
power of these is regulated as a function of the desired air
pressure, which is monitored and corrected continuously.
[0010] In another variant, the floor pad is filled with air and the
air pressure is regulated prior to using the floor pad.
Alternatively, this variant may also be connected to an air blower
or an air compressor so that hardness of the floor pad may be
regulated rapidly and easily by changing needs.
[0011] Regulation of the hardness of a floor pad according to the
invention is effected in the best and easiest way if the floor pad,
which consists of a plurality of joined elements together forming a
larger floor pad, is designed so that the individual elements are
coupled together with connecting elements so that air may be
supplied to the entire floor pad via a single or via a plurality of
air supply points. Thus is enabled a rapid and precise regulation
of filled air.
[0012] A floor pad according to the invention may advantageously be
covered by an top mat, e.g. a felt mat, a carpet or a foam mat,
during use. Hereby is achieved improved distribution of the load on
the floor pad as well as possibility of adapting the nature of the
surface to the specific conditions required.
SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0013] The invention is described in more detail with reference to
the drawing, wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a floor pad with elements in lengths and with
felt mats;
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a design of a floor pad in cross-section;
[0016] FIG. 3 shows a floor pad with elements in sections and with
felt mats.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] In FIG. 1 is seen a floor pad 1 which is composed of nine
elongated air-filled lengths 2 with a thickness of 7.5 cm which are
secured to each other by not shown overlap with Velcro bands, where
eight felt lengths 3 with a thickness of 3.5 cm, also secured to
each other, are placed upon the air-filled lengths 2. By the shown
design is achieved a floor pad 1 with appropriate hardness and with
good distribution of the load on the air-filled elements 2.
[0018] In FIG. 2 appears a cross-section/detail of the floor pad 1
shown in FIG. 1. Again, the air-filled elements 2 are seen at the
bottom with a top mat 3 provided upon the elements 2.
[0019] Finally, in FIG. 3 appears a variant of a floor pad 1
wherein the air-filled elements are constituted by rectangular
sections 4 which are fixed to each other, and where lengths of top
mats 3 are laid upon the former.
[0020] Such air-filled floor pads can be produced with various
thicknesses, and often thicknesses of 7.5 cm and 15 cm are used,
but other thicknesses may of course be produced as well without any
problems.
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