Plyometric Exercise Apparatus

Abstract

A plyometric exercise device and associated method is disclosed. The device comprises a polyhedron with a plurality of side surfaces. At least two exercise platforms are mounted to a respective two side surfaces of the polyhedron, each of the side surfaces having a respective, opposing, parallel base surface of the polyhedron. The polyhedron is configured such that each of the side surfaces is at a different height above and parallel to a floor when its opposite base surface is set on the floor. A method of exercising using the device includes setting any one of the base surfaces on the floor and exercising on the exercise platform opposing the base surface at the corresponding height, and setting one of the other base surfaces on the floor and exercising on the exercise platform opposing the base surface on the opposing height.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/563,995, filed Nov. 28, 2011, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/603,419, filed Feb. 27, 2012, which are both hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure generally pertains to exercise devices, and more particularly, to plyometric exercise devices. Some example exercises devices may be used by individuals participating in sports conditioning or fitness exercises.

SUMMARY

In a first embodiment, a plyometric exercise device includes a polyhedron with a plurality of side surfaces. At least two exercise platforms are mounted to a respective, adjacent two side surfaces of the polyhedron. Each of the two side surfaces has a respective, opposing base surface of the polyhedron, and the polyhedron is configured such that each of the two side surfaces will be at a different height above and parallel to a floor when its opposite base surface is set on the floor.

In a further detailed embodiment, the plyometric exercise device has at least three exercise platforms mounted to a respective three side surfaces of the polyhedron, each of the three side surfaces having a respective, opposing, parallel base surface of the polyhedron. The polyhedron is configured such that each of the three side surfaces will be at a different height above and parallel to a floor when its opposite base surface is set on the floor.

A method of exercising associated with the plyometric exercise device disclosed includes setting a first one of the base surfaces on the floor and exercising on a first exercise platform opposing the first base surface at a first height; rotating or flipping the device, and setting a second one of the base surfaces on the floor and exercising on a second exercise platform opposing the second base surface at a second height.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope. The disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows an example of the prior art;

FIG. 2 shows a first exemplary plyometric exercise device from a perspective view;

FIG. 3 shows a first exemplary plyometric exercise device at a first setting;

FIG. 4 shows a first exemplary plyometric exercise device at a second setting;

FIG. 5 shows a first exemplary plyometric exercise device at a third setting;

FIG. 6 shows a second exemplary plyometric exercise device from a perspective view;

FIG. 7 shows a third exemplary plyometric exercise device from a perspective view; and

FIG. 8 shows a fourth exemplary plyometric exercise device from a perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be used, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the Figures, may be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and make part of this disclosure.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a prior art plyometric exercise device 100, having a single platform and base, and a single platform height. Device 100 has a base parallel to the platform, which, as shown, is slightly larger than the exercise platform, causing each of the side panels of the frame to be identical trapezoids. The trapezoids are not capable of forming a support base with an opposite, parallel surface to the floor. Thus, prior art device 100 has a fixed height.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an exemplary plyometric exercise device 200. This perspective shows the polyhedron frame 210 of the device 200. In this embodiment, frame 210 defines a rectangular prism, and may be constructed from metal square tubing welded at right angles. Three adjacent platforms 202, 204, and 206 cover the sides of the prism, and the underside of each platform is seen through the frame 210. Each platform 202, 204, 206 is adjacent to both of the other platforms. Platforms 202, 204, and 206 may be attached to the frame by any secure attachment means, such as with screws 220a, 220b. Platforms 202, 204, and 206 may be made of metal, plastic, rubber, or wood.

In this embodiment, the support bases to each of the platforms 202, 204, 206 are left open, i.e. do not have a corresponding platform. Frame 210 contains three dimensions including a length, a height, and a width- each of which may be set perpendicular to the floor, by rotating the device 200, and used as a height for exercise device 200. There are four parallel identical frame legs which together forms the vertical support for each of the three heights, and for simplicity, the four identical support legs are referred to as a single leg. Frame 210 has three selectable heights, defined by leg 212, leg 214, and leg 216. Because the frame 210 is covered by a platform, the height of the platform includes the frame leg and the thickness of the platform 202, 204, or 206. Platform 202 is supported by frame leg 212 at a height of 212a. Platform 204 is supported by frame leg 214 at a height of 214a. Platform 206 is supported by frame leg 216 at a platform height of 216a. As an example, three heights 212a, 214a, and 216a provided by frame legs and platform may be 9 inches, 12 inches and 15 inches. However, these three measurements may vary.

FIG. 3 is a view of plyometric exercise device 200 flipped or rotated so platform 202 is parallel to the floor, functioning as the usable exercise surface 202a, at a height defined by edge 212a. Edge 212a is formed along frame leg 212 where platforms 204 and 206 meet. So that the platforms create a flush surface over frame 210, some exercise surfaces include the edge of an adjacent platform, while other exercise surfaces include only one platform. For example, exercise surface 206a comprises a single platform 206, while exercise surface 204a comprises a platform 204 as well as the edge of platform 206; and exercise surface 202a includes platform 202, as well as the edge 214a and 212a. A resilient cover 240, such as a texturized or rubberized sheet, may be applied over each platform 202, 204, and 206, providing friction as well as durability to the platform surface.

The user may choose from three predetermined heights per plyometric device 200 to perform plyometric exercises. In some embodiments, the user may choose from two predetermined heights per plyometric box 200. The platform height is selected by flipping and/or rotating device 200 so the frame leg 212, 214 or 216 corresponding to the desired platform height is perpendicular to the floor. Plyometric exercise device 200 may be used as a step surface for plyometric exercises, or for any purpose requiring a stable flat platform.

FIG. 4 shows plyometric exercise device 200 rotated so platform surface 204 is parallel to the floor, functioning as the usable exercise surface, at a height defined by edge 214a. Edge 214a is formed along frame leg 214 where exercise platforms 202 and 206 meet. FIG. 5 shows plyometric exercise device 200 rotated so platform surface 206 is parallel to the floor, functioning as the usable exercise surface, at a height defined by edge 216a. Edge 216a is formed along frame leg 216 where exercise platforms 202 and 204 meet.

In a further exemplary embodiment of device 600 shown in FIG. 6, all six sides of frame 610 is covered by an exercise platform; i.e., the opposing faces to each exercise platform 602, 604, and 606 have a corresponding exercise platform, identical in size and exercise height. Each corresponding exercise platform 603 (not shown), 605, and 607, respectively may comprise either the exercise surface, or its support base. In this embodiment, the height of the platform includes the length of the frame leg, as well as the thickness of both of the corresponding platforms covering the frame 610. Because the platforms cover over the frame 610, in order to create a flush box some platforms must extend past the frame 610, and some exercise surfaces contain the edge of another platform, while other platforms cover the entire exercise surface. For example, platform 606 comprises the entire exercise surface 606a, while platform 604 includes the edges of platforms 606 and 607 to comprise its exercise surface 604a; and platform 602 includes the edges of platforms 604, 605, 606, and 607 to comprise its exercise surface 602a. In the orientation shown in FIG. 6, exercise platform 602 is the currently in-use exercise surface 602a with a height 612a. A resilient cover 640, such as a texturized or rubberized sheet, may be applied over each platform, providing friction as well as durability to the platform surface.

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of plyometric device 700, including support frame 710, exercise platform 702, and exercise platform 704. In this embodiment, the support base opposite each platform is left open. Frame 710 includes a plurality of feet 730 on the base opposing each platform 702, 704, and 706 (not shown). Feet 730 are distributed symmetrically on frame 710 at support points, for example at each frame junction of a perpendicular support (i.e, frame leg 712, 714, 716). Feet 730 may be rubber or another non-slip material to provide a gripping force, and may also act as shock absorbers when device 700 is used for plyometric exercise. Feet 730 may also be formed from other known materials.

FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment of plyometric device 800. In this embodiment, platform surface, 802 and 804 are recessed into frame 810. Recessing the platforms 802 and 804 into frame 810, instead of covering over frame 810, allows each platform to lie flush with the frame, and avoids multiple configurations of some exercise surfaces being comprised of a single platform, and other exercise surfaces having the edge of another platform comprising the exercise surface. Frame 810 determines the height of each platform, and the thickness of the platform does not add additional height to the exercise surface.

While example embodiments have been set forth above for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the above precise embodiments and that changes may be made without departing from the express scope of the following claims. For example, it is within the scope of the disclosure to form the plyometric device from molded plastic components, or even as a single molded plastic or resin component. Likewise, it is to be understood that it is not necessary to meet any or all of the stated advantages or objects disclosed herein to fall within the scope of the disclosure, since inherent and/or unforeseen advantages may exist even though they may not have been explicitly discussed herein.

Claims

1. A plyometric exercise device comprising:

a polyhedron with a plurality of side surfaces; and

at least two exercise platforms mounted to a respective two side surfaces of the polyhedron, each of the two side surfaces having a respective, opposing base surface of the polyhedron;

the polyhedron being configured such that each of the two side surfaces will be at a different height above and parallel to a floor when its opposite base surface is set on the floor.

2. The plyometric exercise device of claim 1, further comprising a resilient cover mounted over each exercise platform.

3. The plyometric exercise device of claim 1, wherein the polyhedron is assembled from a plurality of corner beams.

4. The plyometric exercise device of claim 3, wherein each exercise platform is recessed within the plurality of corner beams.

5. The plyometric exercise device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of corner beams are square or circular.

6. The plyometric exercise device of claim 1 wherein the respective, opposing base surfaces are parallel to the exercise platforms.

7. The plyometric exercise device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of feet attached to the respective, opposing base surfaces.

8. The plyometric exercise device of claim 1, wherein the exercise platforms are positioned adjacent to each other.

9. The plyometric exercise device of claim 1, wherein the polyhedron is a six-sided polyhedron.

10. The plyometric exercise device of claim 9, comprising three of the exercise platforms and three of the respective, opposing base surfaces.

11. The plyometric exercise device of claim 10, wherein a first one of the exercise platforms is spaced from its respective opposing base surface at distance of about 9 inches, a second one of the exercise platforms is spaced from its respective opposing base surface at a distance of about 12 inches, and a third one of the exercise platforms is spaces from its respective opposing base surface at a distance of about 15 inches.

12. The plyometric exercise device of claim 1, wherein the two different heights provided by the two side surfaces are taken from a group consisting of about 9 inches, about 12 inches and about 15 inches.

13. The plyometric exercise device of claim 1, comprising:

at least three exercise platforms mounted to a respective three side surfaces of the polyhedron, each of the three side surfaces having an opposing, parallel base surface of the polyhedron;

the polyhedron being configured such that each of the three side surfaces will be at a different height above and parallel to a floor when its opposite base surface is set on the floor

14. The plyometric exercise device of claim 13, wherein the three different heights provided by the three side surfaces are about 9 inches, about 12 inches and about 15 inches.

15. A method of exercising comprising the steps of:

providing the plyometric exercise device that includes a polyhedron with a plurality of side surfaces and at least two exercise platforms mounted to a respective two side surfaces of the polyhedron, where each of the two side surfaces have a respective, opposing base surface of the polyhedron, and where the polyhedron is configured such that each of the two side surfaces will be at a different height above and parallel to a floor when its opposite base surface is set on the floor;

setting a first one of the base surfaces on the floor and exercising on a first exercise platform opposing the first base surface at a first height; and

setting a second one of the base surfaces on the floor and exercising on a second exercise platform opposing the second base surface at a second height that is different than the first height.

16. The method of exercising of claim 15 wherein:

the plyometric exercise device includes a third exercise platform mounted to a third side surface and a third base surface opposing the third side surface; and

the method further comprises setting the third base surface on the floor and exercising on a third exercise platform opposing the third base surface at a third height that is different than the first and second heights.