US 12,318,656 B2Granted

Kinetic discipline and body positioning apparatus

OwnerKathleen Conklininventor

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Abstract

A multi-dimensional body positioning apparatus that can be used in the practice of pilates, yoga, tai chi, and other intelligent movement disciplines, including exercise, rehabilitation, training, physical and mental conditioning, habituation, injury prevention and recovery; in medical protocols for minimizing cascade of disabilities and maximizing muscular and neurological recovery from paralysis, congenital disorders, and auto immune illnesses; and overall healing. The body positioning apparatus includes raised portions that are plateaus that relate to the topology of the human body, which provide visual and tactile references, so the user can properly align the body during exercise or use of the apparatus. By providing these plateaus, the exercise routine can be optimized. For instance, a user can us the apparatus supervised while monitoring proper technique.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A body positioning apparatus made of a material sized and shaped to support at least one user body comprising a mat comprised of (a) an outer surface upon which at least part of the user body is supported, (b) a discrete head landmark comprised of an upraised head landmark plateau and configured to position a head of a user relative thereto, (c) a pair of spaced apart discrete shoulder landmarks each comprised of an upraised shoulder landmark plateau and configured to position a pair of shoulders of the user relative thereto, (d) a pair of spaced apart discrete hand landmarks each comprised of an upraised hand landmark plateau and configured to position a pair of hands of the user relative thereto;

(e) a discrete foot landmark comprised of an upraised foot landmark plateau and configured to position a pair of feet of the user relative thereto, and (f) a discrete pelvis landmark arrangement comprising discrete first, second and third pelvis landmarks respectively comprised of upraised first, second and third pelvis landmark plateaus and configured to position a pelvis of the user relative thereto;
wherein the first and second pelvis landmarks are generally parallel to each other and spaced apart from one another in the widthwise direction;
wherein the first and second pelvis landmarks are each elongate and oriented with a respective lengthwise extent thereof extending in a lengthwise direction relative to the mat;
wherein the third pelvis landmark is disposed interjacent the first and second pelvis landmarks;
wherein the third pelvis landmark is elongate and oriented with a lengthwise extent thereof extending in the widthwise direction of the mat from one of the first and second pelvis landmarks to the other one of the first and second pelvis landmarks;
wherein the pair of hand landmarks are elongate, parallel, and configured to position a corresponding one of a pair of hands of a user on the outer surface of the mat adjacent a respective one of the hand landmarks;
and
wherein the foot landmark is elongate and configured to position a pair of feet of the user body on the outer surface of the mat with the foot landmark disposed between the feet of the user during use of the body positioning apparatus.

5 more elements

A body positioning apparatus made of a material sized and shaped to support at least one user body comprising a mat comprised of (a) an outer surface upon which at least part of the user body is supported, and (b) a discrete head landmark comprised of an upraised head landmark plateau and configured to position a head of a user relative thereto, (c) a pair of spaced apart discrete shoulder landmarks each comprised of an upraised shoulder landmark plateau and configured to position a pair of shoulders of the user relative thereto, (d) a pair of spaced apart discrete hand landmarks each comprised of an upraised hand landmark plateau and configured to position a pair of hands of the user relative thereto;

(e) a discrete foot landmark comprised of an upraised foot landmark plateau and configured to position a pair of feet of the user relative thereto, and (f) a discrete pelvis landmark comprised of an upraised pelvis landmark plateau and configured to position a pelvis of the user relative thereto;
wherein the pair of hand landmarks are elongate, parallel, and configured to position a corresponding one of a pair of hands of a user on the outer surface of the mat adjacent a respective one of the hand landmarks;
and
wherein the foot landmark is elongate and configured to position a pair of feet of the user body on the outer surface of the mat with the foot landmark disposed between the feet of the user during use of the body positioning apparatus.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/732,968Filed 2 Jan 2020 · us provisional application
Priority: 3 Jan 2019
Published: US 2020/0215378 A19 Jul 2020
Granted: 3 Jun 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

A63B 21/4037
Specific exercise interfaces: exercise mats for personal use, with or without hand-grips or foot-grips, e.g. for Yoga or supine floor exercises
A63B 22/0285
With movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills: physical characteristics of the belt, e.g. material, surface, indicia
A63B 2071/0655
Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills: tactile feedback
A63B 2208/0242
Posture: lying down