Patents by Inventor David C. Pratson

David C. Pratson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9242143
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus includes a substantially flat, rigid platform for supporting a user during exercise. An inflatable tubular support having an upper portion with a first radial outside diameter, and a lower portion with a second radial outside diameter that is greater than the first radial outside diameter, is coupled to the platform by a fastener. The tubular support defines a central opening that communicates between the platform and a support surface. The platform includes a venting structure for releasing air from the central opening during use. The inflatable support includes an intermediate portion between the upper portion and the lower portion of the tubular support, the intermediate portion including a support feature to restrain the intermediate portion from radial expansion induced by an air pressure internal to the integral inflatable support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: iStep Global, LLC
    Inventors: John Cole, David C. Pratson, Tien Le, Axel Mnich, Jeff Harlan
  • Publication number: 20140302974
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus includes a substantially flat, rigid platform for supporting a user during exercise. An inflatable tubular support having an upper portion with a first radial outside diameter, and a lower portion with a second radial outside diameter that is greater than the first radial outside diameter, is coupled to the platform by a fastener. The tubular support defines a central opening that communicates between the platform and a support surface. The platform includes a venting structure for releasing air from the central opening during use. The inflatable support includes an intermediate portion between the upper portion and the lower portion of the tubular support, the intermediate portion including a support feature to restrain the intermediate portion from radial expansion induced by an air pressure internal to the integral inflatable support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: iStep Global, LLC
    Inventors: John Cole, David C. Pratson, Tien Le, Axel Mnich, Jeff Harlan
  • Patent number: 8753252
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus includes a substantially flat, rigid platform for supporting a user during exercise. An inflatable tubular support having an upper portion with a first radial outside diameter, and a lower portion with a second radial outside diameter that is greater than the first radial outside diameter, is coupled to the platform by a fastener. The tubular support defines a central opening that communicates between the platform and a support surface. The platform includes a venting structure for releasing air from the central opening during use. The inflatable support includes an intermediate portion between the upper portion and the lower portion of the tubular support, the intermediate portion including a support feature to restrain the intermediate portion from radial expansion induced by an air pressure internal to the integral inflatable support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: iStep Global, LLC
    Inventors: John Cole, David C. Pratson, Tien Le, Axel Mnich, Jeff Harlan
  • Patent number: 8632440
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus includes a substantially flat, rigid platform for supporting a person's weight. A first inflatable tubular support includes a fastener for clamping the platform to a top surface of the first tubular support. A second inflatable tubular support includes a fastener for fastening a top surface of the second inflatable tubular support to a bottom surface of the first inflatable tubular support. The first inflatable tubular support is inflatable to a first inflation pressure and the second inflatable tubular support is inflatable to a second inflation pressure separately and independently from the first inflation pressure to effect a vertical instability and a horizontal instability of the rigid platform relative to a support surface under the second tubular support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: iStep Global, LLC
    Inventors: David C. Pratson, Tien Le, John Cole, Irene Elisa Mnich
  • Publication number: 20130260971
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus includes a substantially flat, rigid platform for supporting a user during exercise. An inflatable tubular support having an upper portion with a first radial outside diameter, and a lower portion with a second radial outside diameter that is greater than the first radial outside diameter, is coupled to the platform by a fastener. The tubular support defines a central opening that communicates between the platform and a support surface. The platform includes a venting structure for releasing air from the central opening during use. The inflatable support includes an intermediate portion between the upper portion and the lower portion of the tubular support, the intermediate portion including a support feature to restrain the intermediate portion from radial expansion induced by an air pressure internal to the integral inflatable support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: John Cole, David C. Pratson, Tien Le, Axel Mnich, Jeff Harlan
  • Patent number: 8460161
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus includes a substantially flat, rigid platform for supporting a user during exercise. An inflatable tubular support having an upper portion with a first radial outside diameter, and a lower portion with a second radial outside diameter that is greater than the first radial outside diameter, is coupled to the platform by a fastener. The tubular support defines a central opening that communicates between the platform and a support surface. The platform includes a venting structure for releasing air from the central opening during use. The inflatable support includes an intermediate portion between the upper portion and the lower portion of the tubular support, the intermediate portion including a support feature to restrain the intermediate portion from radial expansion induced by an air pressure internal to the integral inflatable support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: iStep Global, LLC
    Inventors: John Cole, David C. Pratson, Tien Le, Jeff Harlan, Irene Elisa Mnich
  • Publication number: 20110111935
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus includes a substantially flat, rigid platform for supporting a user during exercise. An inflatable tubular support having an upper portion with a first radial outside diameter, and a lower portion with a second radial outside diameter that is greater than the first radial outside diameter, is coupled to the platform by a fastener. The tubular support defines a central opening that communicates between the platform and a support surface. The platform includes a venting structure for releasing air from the central opening during use. The inflatable support includes an intermediate portion between the upper portion and the lower portion of the tubular support, the intermediate portion including a support feature to restrain the intermediate portion from radial expansion induced by an air pressure internal to the integral inflatable support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: ISTEP GLOBAL, LLC
    Inventors: John Cole, David C. Pratson, Tien Le, Jeff Harlan, Axel Mnich, Irene Elisa Mnich
  • Patent number: 7722506
    Abstract: An exercise for step aerobics, games, and proprioceptive input training. The device features a rigid platform supported by a resilient inflated tubular sidewall. The sidewall may be of a single tube or a plurality of tubular members engaged on top of each other. Inflation pressure of said sidewall provides an adjustment of the resilience thereby adjusting instability of the platform in the horizontal and vertical directions. Instability in the vertical direction provides a cushioning to users in a step aerobics exercise while instability in both direction provides a manner for a user moving or exercising on the platform to obtain proprioceptive input training.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: iStep Global, LLC
    Inventors: David C. Pratson, Axel Mnich, Tien Le, John Cole
  • Publication number: 20100087300
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus includes a substantially flat, rigid platform for supporting a person's weight. A first inflatable tubular support includes a fastener for clamping the platform to a top surface of the first tubular support. A second inflatable tubular support includes a fastener for fastening a top surface of the second inflatable tubular support to a bottom surface of the first inflatable tubular support. The first inflatable tubular support is inflatable to a first inflation pressure and the second inflatable tubular support is inflatable to a second inflation pressure separately and independently from the first inflation pressure to effect a vertical instability and a horizontal instability of the rigid platform relative to a support surface under the second tubular support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: ISTEP GLOBAL, LLC
    Inventors: David C. Pratson, Tien Le, John Cole, Irene Elisa Mnich
  • Publication number: 20080220944
    Abstract: An exercise for step aerobics, games, and proprioceptive input training. The device features a rigid platform supported by a resilient inflated tubular sidewall. The sidewall may be of a single tube or a plurality of tubular members engaged on top of each other. Inflation pressure of said sidewall provides an adjustment of the resilience thereby adjusting instability of the platform in the horizontal and vertical directions. Instability in the vertical direction provides a cushioning to users in a step aerobics exercise while instability in both direction provides a manner for a user moving or exercising on the platform to obtain proprioceptive input training.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: David C. Pratson, Axel Mnich, Tien Le, John Cole
  • Patent number: 5455969
    Abstract: An apparatus for protecting a user's knee or other joint which comprises two generally semi-cylindrical rigid members each having semi-hemispherical overlapping portions and hingedly connected to allow a movement of the joint. Additional features of the protector include a replaceable inner pad, easily releasable and reusable hinges which provide the only attachment means for inner padding of the protector, replaceable outer attachment strips which may be made of varying materials which provide different adhesion properties, slightly elastic straps, and an attachment clip which adjustably attaches to one end of a strap and securely and releaseably attaches to a buckle located on a side edge of the rigid semi-cylindrical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Knee-Pro Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Pratson, Charles B. Knox