Exercise Slider

Abstract

There is provided a slider comprising a first layer forming a first surface of the slider and a second layer forming a second surface of the slider, wherein each of the first surface and the second surface are adapted to slide on at least one type of surface, and at least one of the first surface and second surface is provided with one or more gripping features.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/675,115 filed on May 22, 2018, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The following relates to a sliding apparatus, particularly to a sliding apparatus for exercise.

BACKGROUND

Many exercises require an individual to contact the ground or another surface with a body part such as their hands, feet, arms, or legs. Several such exercises require the individual to move the body part that is in contact with the ground. Such exercises may be facilitated by a slider, wherein the slider allows the individual to slide or drag their body part on the ground with decreased resistance.

The individual places the slider on the ground, then places the body part to be moved on the slider. The slider may slide or glide along the ground with decreased resistance, allowing the individual to move the body part along the ground. The use of the slider allows the individual's body part to maintain contact with and/or exert force on the ground while moving. As such, sliding may provide the individual greater balance, stability, or ease of motion, among other things, over lifting the body part off the ground and placing it in another position.

Commonly used sliders, comprising thin planar members with two appreciably similar surfaces, experience several shortcomings. The individual may use the slider on a variety of surfaces, each with a different coefficient of friction. A slider made from a first material may slide on a soft surface such as a carpet but not on a hard surface such as a hardwood floor; while a slider made from a second material may slide on a hard surface but not on a soft surface. As such, a slider adapted for use one surface may be unsuitable for use on another due to the difficulty in sliding. The individual using the slider can be restricted to where they can use the slider, and may be required to purchase multiple sliders made from different material for use on different surfaces.

The individual performing exercises with the slider may lose grip between the slider and their body part or the ground. Such a loss in grip may be caused by poor balance, sweat, or moisture, and can lead to slipping of the body part or an uncontrolled motion of the slider. As the individual may support a significant portion of their weight with the body part on the slider, such slipping or uncontrolled motion may lead to a fall and/or injury.

It is an object of the following to address at least one of the above-noted disadvantages.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, there is provided a slider comprising: a first layer comprising a first surface of the slider; and a second layer comprising a second surface of the slider; wherein each of the first surface and the second surface are adapted to slide on at least one type of surface; and at least one of the first surface and second surface is provided with one or more gripping features.

In another aspect, the first layer is constructed from a rigid material and the first surface is adapted to slide on a soft surface.

In another aspect, the second layer is constructed from a soft material and the second surface is adapted to slide on a hard surface.

In another aspect, the second layer is provided with one or more gripping features.

In another aspect, the gripping features comprise raised strips of the second layer.

In yet another aspect, there is provided a method of exercising comprising: providing a body part and a slider; placing the slider on the ground; placing the body part on the slider; and sliding the body part on a plane parallel to the ground; wherein the slider comprises: a first layer comprising a first surface of the slider and a second layer comprising a second surface of the slider; wherein each of the first surface and the second surface are adapted to slide on at least one type of surface; and at least one of the first surface and second surface is provided with one or more gripping features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will now be described with reference to the appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slider with gripping features;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the slider shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the slider shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the slider shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view of another example of a slider with gripping features;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the slider shown in FIG. 1 contacting the ground with a first surface; and

FIG. 7 is a side view of the slider shown in FIG. 1 contacting the ground with a second surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To provide an exercise apparatus for sliding a body part along hard and soft surfaces, a slider with two distinct surfaces can be utilized, in which one or more surfaces include gripping features to provide grip between the slider and the body part.

Turning now to the figures, FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a slider 10, which may be used as an exercise slider. The slider 10 comprises at least two layers, in this example a first layer 12 and a second layer 14. The first layer 12 comprises a substantially, and preferably flat first surface 16 of the slider 10, and the second layer 14 comprises a substantially, and preferably flat second surface 18 of the slider 10. Each of the first surface 16 and the second surface 18 are adapted to slide on at least one type of surface, as described in greater detail below. In this example, the slider 10 is shaped as a circle, however it should be appreciated that the slider 10 may have any other shape, for example a square, a triangle, a hexagon, an octagon, or an irregular polygon.

At least one of the first surface 16 and the second surface 18 is provided with one or more gripping features. In this example, the second surface 18 is provided with gripping features 20, as described in greater detail below.

The first surface 16 of the slider 10 is illustrated in FIG. 2. In this example, the first layer 12 comprises the first surface 16. The first layer 12 may be constructed from plastic, wood, metal, or any other rigid material, and may be provided with a beveled or rounded edge. The first surface 16 is flat and smooth, or otherwise adapted to slide over a soft surface such as a carpet, rug, or cloth with little resistance between the soft surface and the first surface 16 due to friction.

The second surface 18 of the slider 10 is illustrated in FIG. 3. In this example, the second layer 14 comprises the second surface 18, provided with gripping features 20 as described in greater detail below. The second layer 14 may be constructed from foam, natural or synthetic fabric, or any other suitable soft material. The second surface 18 is suitable for sliding over a hard surface such as a hardwood, tile, or linoleum floor with little resistance between the hard surface and the second surface 18 due to friction.

The slider 10 may be assembled by separately constructing the first layer 12 and the second layer 14, then attaching the first layer 12 to the second layer 14. In one example, the first layer 12 and the second layer 14 are separately molded, then the first layer 12 is attached to the second layer 14 with adhesive, hook and loop fasteners, or any other type of fastener.

In this example, the first surface 16 is adapted to slide on a soft surface, and the second surface 18 has been adapted to slide on a hard surface. The first surface 16 and the second surface 18 may be adapted to slide on any different types of surfaces. It should be appreciated that adapting the first surface 16 to slide on a first type of surface and adapting the second surface 18 to slide on a second type of surface allows the slider 10 to be used on a larger range of surfaces. In this example, the second layer 14 has a smaller diameter than the first layer 12.

FIG. 4 provides a front view of the slider 10 with gripping features 20. The gripping features 20 comprise raised features, depressed features, or any other texture on the first surface 16 and/or the second surface 18. The gripping features 20 may be constructed from the same material as the first layer 12 and/or the second layer 14, or the gripping features may be constructed from a different material.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the gripping features 20 are raised strips of the second layer 14, extending outward from the flat part of the second surface 18. The gripping features 20 are constructed from the same foam, fabric, or other soft material comprising the second layer 14. The first surface 16 is not provided with gripping features and is appreciably flat. The first surface 16 may be polished or smoothed to decrease friction with a soft surface.

FIG. 5 provides a side view of another example of a slider 10 with gripping features 20. In this example, the gripping features 20 are recessed strips of the second layer, depressed into the flat part of the second surface 18. The gripping features 20 are voids in the foam, fabric, or other soft material comprising the second layer 14. The first surface 16 is not provided with gripping features and is appreciably flat. The first surface 16 may be polished or smoothed to decrease friction with a soft surface.

An individual using the slider 10, for example to perform an exercise, may place the slider 10 on a surface. FIG. 6 illustrates the slider 10 of FIG. 4 oriented with the first surface 16 contacting a ground 24, however it is understood the slider 10 may be placed against a wall, bench, or any other surface. The individual may place a body part such as a hand, foot, arm, leg, knee, or elbow (not shown) on the second surface 18 of the slider 10 such that the body part and the ground 24 contact opposite surfaces of the slider 10. The individual may use the body part on the slider 10 to support part of their weight. The individual may slide the body part on the slider 10 along the ground 24, as described in greater detail below.

In this example, the first surface 16 is adapted to slide over a soft ground such as a carpet, rug, or cloth with little resistance from friction, as previously discussed. As such, if the ground 24 is covered by a carpet, rug, cloth, or other soft material, the individual using the slider 10 preferentially orients the slider 10 with the first surface 16 contacting the ground 24 to slide the body part along the ground 24.

The body part may be placed on the second surface 18 such that it engages one or more of the gripping features 20. The gripping features may be raised, depressed, or otherwise textured to provide the second surface 18 with one or more faces having a vertical component. In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the gripping features 20 are raised strips. The individual slides the slider 10 by exerting a horizontal force with the body part against the vertical component of the gripping features 20, for example by moving the body part on a plane parallel to the ground 24. As the body part exerts horizontal force against the gripping features 20, instead of only relying on friction between the body part and the second surface 18 to prevent relative motion of the body part and the second surface 18, the gripping features 20 thus resist the body part slipping off the slider 10 when the individual slides the body part along the ground.

The gripping features 20 may also define channels to collect or remove sweat, water, or other moisture that collects on the second surface 18. The sweat, water, or other moisture may collect between the gripping features 20, such that a body part on the second surface 18 still contacts the raised gripping features 20 when the flat portion of the second surface 18 is partially or entirely covered by liquid. Such contact between the body part and the gripping features 20 may reduce the likelihood of hydroplaning, and thus slipping of the body part, when the second surface 18 is covered with sweat, water, or other moisture.

FIG. 7 illustrates the slider 10 oriented with the second surface 18 contacting the ground 24. The individual may place a body part such as a hand, foot, arm, leg, knee, or elbow (not shown) on the first surface 16 of the slider 10 such that the body part and the ground 24 contact opposite surfaces of the slider 10.

In this example, the second surface 18 is adapted to slide over a hard floor such as a hardwood, tile, or linoleum floor with little resistance from friction, as previously discussed. As such, if the ground 24 is hard, the individual using the slider 10 preferentially orients the slider 10 with the second surface 18 contacting the ground 24 to slide the body part along the ground 24.

The gripping features 20 are adapted to allow the second surface 18 to slide along the ground 24 without a great increase in friction compared to an appreciably flat surface constructed of second layer 14. The gripping features 20 may be short and/or compressible such that the flat part of the second surface 18 contacts the ground 24 when a body part is on slider 10, or the gripping features 20 may be smooth enough such that the gripping features 20 slide on the ground 24 with little resistance from friction. The gripping features 20 may alternatively be adapted to provide increased traction if the slider 10 is used on a wet or otherwise slippery surface.

The example of the slider 10 described herein comprises a first layer 12 and a second layer 14. It should be appreciated that one or more layers may also be provided between the first layer 12 and the second layer 14, for example to provide padding. It should also be appreciated that first layer 12 and/or second layer 14 may be divided into sections made of the same or different materials, wherein the sections lie on the same plane.

The terms “top”, “bottom”, “front”, and “side” are used herein. It will be understood that the use of such terms is purely for the purpose of facilitating the description of the embodiments described herein. These terms are not intended to limit the orientation or placement of the described elements or structures.

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the examples described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the examples described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the examples described herein. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the examples described herein.

It will be appreciated that the examples and corresponding diagrams used herein are for illustrative purposes only. Different configurations and terminology can be used without departing from the principles expressed herein. For instance, components and modules can be added, deleted, modified, or arranged with differing connections without departing from these principles.

Although the above principles have been described with reference to certain specific examples, various modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art as outlined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A slider comprising:

a first layer comprising a first surface of the slider; and

a second layer comprising a second surface of the slider; wherein each of the first surface and the second surface are adapted to slide on at least one type of surface; and at least one of the first surface and second surface is provided with one or more gripping features.

2. The slider of claim 1, wherein the first layer is constructed from a rigid material.

3. The slider of claim 2, wherein the first surface is adapted to slide on a soft surface.

4. The slider of claim 3, wherein the second surface is constructed from a soft material.

5. The slider of claim 4, wherein the second surface is adapted to slide on a hard surface.

6. The slider of claim 5, wherein the second surface is provided with the one or more gripping features.

7. The slider of claim 6, wherein the one or more gripping features comprises one or more raised strips.

8. The slider of claim 6, wherein the one or more gripping features comprises one or more depressions in the second surface.

9. A method of exercising comprising:

providing a body part and a slider;

placing the slider on the ground;

placing the body part on the slider; and

sliding the body part on a plane parallel to the ground; wherein the slider comprises: a first layer comprising a first surface of the slider and a second layer comprising a second surface of the slider;

wherein each of the first surface and the second surface are adapted to slide on at least one type of surface; and at least one of the first surface and second surface is provided with one or more gripping features.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first layer is constructed from a rigid material.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first surface is adapted to slide on a soft surface.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second surface is constructed from a soft material.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second surface is adapted to slide on a hard surface.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second surface is provided with the one or more gripping features.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more gripping features comprise one or more raised strips.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more gripping features comprises one or more depressions in the second surface.