Exercise Device and Method of Use
An exercise device that utilizes a compression resistant means placed between two similarly sized exercise plates that can be hand held and compressed in a variety of exercises. The invention includes methods of exercising in which the exercise device is compressed and utilized in various ways.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/008,225 filed on Jun. 5, 2014 which is incorporated herein by reference. Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/008,225 filed on Jun. 5, 2014 is hereby claimed.
REFERENCE TO “MIRCOFICHE APPENDIX”Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multifunction portable exercise and fitness device that works with the user's muscular force and balance in a manner to compress opposing exercise plates of the device and a method of undertaking exercises and uses of the device.
2. General Background of the Invention
Portable exercise devices are varied and well known, and the present invention provides and promotes physical health, stamina, balance exercises and muscle exercises by utilizing at least two springs, or other compression resistance mechanism, attached between two opposing exercise plates which are designed to exercise the user's muscles when the user works to overcome the device's compression resistance in a balanced application of force. A wide variety of exercise equipment is available for focusing on muscle toning, cardiovascular workouts, strengthening and muscle development. The present invention involves a portable, easy to use device that can be used in a variety of ways by the user applying force in opposition to the resisting mechanical force generated by the exercise device in order to, amongst other purposes, exercise one's muscles, increase efficiency in one's exercise, and improve a user's method of exercise by working to ensure controlled and uniformed compressive force on the device.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is generally comprised of two similar sized exercise plates, that are preferably sized to be hand held, and preferably in a brick rectangular shape, made of rubber, dense foam, plastic or wood material. In one embodiment, the top sides of the plates have a concave curved surface shaped to fit between the user's opposing thighs, or between the user's hands and/or bottom of the feet of the user. The size and shape of the exercise plates are designed in one embodiment to provide a stable surface when the device is placed on the floor or wall and held and controlled by the user. In this manner, the device can be used with one exercise plate placed against a flat firm surface whereby the user applies force to the opposing exercise plate to result in compression of the device against the flat surface such as in a push-up exercise.
The exercise plates do not have to be exclusively brick shaped or rectangular. The plates can be in various shapes and sizes such as a ball or shaped in a cylindrical or tubular structure. The invention can also have the concave cure on top side and the bottom sides of plates for a dumbbell type shape for easier gripping by hand.
The device has at least two compression resistance means, such as a compression spring or telescopic compression rod, fixed between the pair of opposing plates which are attached to the inner sides of the pair of exercise plates in a manner that the plates inner surface move toward each other in a uniform fashion when uniform force is applied to the outer sides of the plates toward the springs. The plates are parallel to each other's horizontal planes. The springs or other resistance means have equal compressive force tolerances such that when the plates are compressed together in a generally uniform manner, the two plates compress toward each other and remain parallel to each other when the user applies consistent uniform force across the entire plate's top surface.
The device is designed to receive compression force on the outer sides of the plates, so the spring or other resistance means becomes shorter as the compressive forces are applied as the two plates are brought closer together. The plates and compression resistant means are designed to have equal strength springs on the edge of the plates so that upon compression by the user, the exercise plates can move and torque multiple lateral and horizontal planes causing the plates to move outside of a parallel arrangement and the plates can wobble with respect to each other by which the user can gauge whether compressive forces are being applied equally across the surface of the plate. When inconsistent force is applied across to the top surface of the plate, the plates will not compress parallel to each other evenly and uniformly. The multiple springs design challenges the user to find and use the appropriate balance and control when applying the compressive forces to smoothly compress the device without wobble of the plates during compression. When the user squeezes the exercise plates together between the legs or by arms and hand in a push-up type exercise, the user must concentrate on applying even, consistent and level force across the surface on the exercise plates, compressing the device in a uniform manner to limit plate wobbling along the parallel planes of the plates with respect to each other. With 4 springs, the exercise plates will have more tendencies to move with wobbling non-uniform plate movements and deflections if uniform and consistent pressure is not applied to the top surface during compression. Each of the springs will compress independently but consistently in movement if the user applies equal consistent downward force across the top of the plates. The plates will compress together with the distance between the plates reducing equally between all sides of the plate as compressive forces applied.
There are many variations of methods of exercise using the invention such as foot press exercise in which the user stands with the ball of user's foot on the top surface of the plate of the invention with the heel planted or lifted and the user's other foot flat on the floor. The user presses down with his foot and leg muscles to compress the invention using the compressive force to tighten the user's abdominal muscles. The user can place the arch of the user's foot on the top surface of the plate and repeat the sequence allowing user's toes to curl forward over the front edge, and the back heel to curl over the back of the edge like the foot of a bird on a perch compressing in a uniformly easy manner. Additional foot presses exercise can be undertaken where user's heel provides the contact on the top of the plate and compressive force is exerted on the device. Other exercises include placing the invention on the floor and the user bending over compressing the device with the palm of the user's hand while standing. The user can place the device on a flat surface such as a floor and use the device in a push-up type manner exercise. The device of the invention can be used to exercise the leg and thighs by placing the device between the user's thighs and compressing the legs together. By holding the device in front of the user's chest and squeezing the device, the user can work toward the midline of the body to promote balance and alignment of the body. The device is sized and shaped to limit stress to the user's hip joints which can occur with larger and wider exercise devices by the device having a size that fits between user's thighs without the user needing to have a wide spread between the thighs while utilizing the device. The device also has the ability to be used as a foot corrector and stabilizer by use of various standing and pressing exercise methods, including one in which the user stands on one or a pair of the devices to work on standing balance. Other known exercise methods include lying on one's side on top of the device or multiple devices and using the device as a push-up aid. These methods are not the exclusive methods but the device can be used in numerous different ways as guided by the needs of the user.
For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed descriptions, read in conjunction with the following drawings:
Certain exemplary embodiments are described in showing the drawings to provide an overall understanding of the principles of the structure, function, manufacture and use of the devices and methods disclosed herein. One or more examples of the embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will understand the devices and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which are non-limiting exemplary embodiments and that the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims.
In
The concave surface 13 and 14 are shaped in size to comfortably fit within an exercise user's inner thighs for compression exercises or to be held in the hands of the user in compression exercises or to be used by a user in foot compression exercises as shown in
Attached between plates 11 and 12 are compression resistant mechanisms such as springs or springs surrounding companion rods 15, 16 and 17 which are affixed to the bottom surface of plate 11 and bottom surface of plate 12. In
The compression resistant devices are affixed to plates 11 and 12 in any reasonably known manner such as glue, bolt, spring clips attached with nails or screw or with the end of the springs themselves screwed into the inner surface of plate 11 and the inner surface of plate 12. In one embodiment as shown in
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It is contemplated that the exercise plates can be made of dense foam covered with fabric, plastic or other material that can suitably placed between compression means and/or engaged by the user. The strength and the positioning of the compression resistant means is fixed and can be interchangeable based on the amount of force desirable to compress the device and the method of exercise by the user. The strength of the springs can alter the stability of the exercise plates and the user might cause a certain amount of wobble in plates during the exercise if proper balance and uniform forces are not properly applied.
Claims
1. A first plate and second plate with each first plate and second plate having a top side and bottom side and a front edge and back edge wherein at least two compression resistant means are affixed between the first plate and second plate in which the top ends of the compression resistance means are attached to the bottom side of the first plate and the bottom ends of the compression resistance means are attached to the bottom side of the second plate and the compression means are sized and affixed in manner that the plates' horizontal planes are parallel to each other.
2. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein two compression resistant means are affixed along the longitudinal midline of the first and second plates.
3. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the first and second plates have a concave shape on the first plate's top side and on the second plate's top side to provide for positioning of the device between a user's legs and wherein the plates are sized and shaped to be hand held.
4. The exercise device of claim 1 in which the first and second plates are attached to the compression resistance means in manner that provides for movement of the first and second plates toward each other with the plates horizontal planes remaining parallel when compression force is applied to the plates and the compression resistance means fully compresses at application of compressive force of 25 to 50 pounds of pressure.
5. The exercise device of claim 1 in which the compression resistant means are positioned and attached to the first plate and second plate in a manner by which the compression resistant means are evenly compressed when a user applies consistent and equal compressive force to the outer sides of the first plate and second plate.
6. The exercise device of claim 1 in which the compression resistant means are sized, positioned and attached to the first and second plates in a manner by which each compression resistant means compresses independently of each other such that compressive forces targeted more along the front edge of the first plate will compress one of the compression resistant means in a greater manner than the other compression resistant means causing the first plate to compress in an uneven manner toward the second plate in a manner that moves the plates away from parallel horizontal planes.
7. The exercise device of claim 1 in which the first and second plates are attached to the compression resistance means in such a manner that when compression force is applied with consistent and equal compressive force to the top sides of the first plate and second plate, the compression resistant means are evenly and equally compressed.
8. The exercise device of claim 1 in which the compression resistant means are at least two springs and each spring encircles a companion rod and the second plate has at least two rod receiving receptacle voids with the voids' opening on the bottom side the second plate and the rod receiving receptacle voids are sized and shape to smoothly receive the companion rod as the first plate and second plate move toward each upon compression causing the rod to move into the rod receiving receptacle void.
9. The exercise device of claim 1 in which the plates have four corners and one compression resistant means is located at each of the four corners of the plates in manner that the first plate and second plate can compress in an uneven manner in several different planes as the plates move toward each other if as force is applied along the top surfaces the plates.
10. A method of using the apparatus of claim 1 to perform exercises by applying compressive force to the top side of the first plate and to the top side of the second plate.
11. A method of using the apparatus of claim 1 to perform push up exercises with the second plate resting against the stable surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 3, 2015
Publication Date: Dec 10, 2015
Inventors: Brooke Siler Essapen (New York, NY), Kathryn Ross-Nash (Allendale, NJ)
Application Number: 14/729,354