Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
PHYSICAL TRAINING ACCESSORY AND USE THEREOF
TECHNICAL FIELD
The technical field generally relates to physical training accessories, and
use thereof for
training.
BACKGROUND
The field of physical training has gained considerable attention and
recognition over the
last decades, such that numerous exercises exist and may be recommended for a
specific
individual having customized needs. Already existing exercises are sometimes
revisited
with variants or adapted to trends that allow physically training different
parts of the body
more efficiently. There is therefore a need for physical training accessories
which can
serve multiple purposes and allow an individual to perform a wide variety of
such
exercises.
With the advent of numerical technologies, it is now possible to easily access
a wide
variety of content pertaining to physical training. For example, DVDs of
physical training
programs may be bought in stores, or physical training content may be found on
the
internet through web sites, including video sharing sites, blogs, etc. It
therefore became
easier to practice physical training at home. There is thus a need for
physical training
accessories which can serve multiple purposes and therefore allow saving on
space and
costs.
Hence, in light of the aforementioned, there is a need for a physical training
accessory
which, by virtue of its design and components, would be able to overcome or at
least
minimize some of the aforementioned prior art problems.
SUMMARY
It is therefore an aim of the present invention to address at least one of the
above
mentioned issues.
According to a general aspect, there is provided a physical training
accessory, comprising:
a base;
a plurality of wheels mounted to a bottom surface of the base;
a docking element mounted to a top surface of the base; and
1
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-03-31
a top head removably mounted to the docking element and having a removed
configuration and a docked configuration,
wherein, in the removed configuration, the top head is removed from the
docking
element to expose a cavity formed at least in part by the docking element, the
cavity
comprising a bottom wall providing a flat platform for receiving a limb of a
user other than
a hand of the user, and a side wall, the base being configured to translate
upon movement
of the limb received in the cavity; and
wherein, in the docked configuration, the top head is mounted to the docking
element by insertion into the cavity and is configured for grabbing by the
user, the top
head having a docking surface that is shaped to contact and engage the side
wall of the
cavity upon connection of the top head with the docking element, the base
being
configured to translate upon translation of the top head by the user grabbing
the top head.
According to another general aspect, there is provided a use of a physical
training
accessory such as described herein for physical training.
According to another general aspect, there is provided a kit for assembling a
physical
training accessory, comprising:
a base;
a plurality of wheels mountable to a bottom surface of the base;
a docking element mountable to a top surface of the base; and
a top head removably mountable to the docking element and having a removed
configuration and a docked configuration,
wherein, in the removed configuration, the top head is removed from the
docking
element to expose a cavity formed at least in part by the docking element, the
cavity
comprising a bottom wall providing a flat platform for receiving a limb of a
user other than
a hand of the user, and a side wall, the base being configured to translate
upon movement
of the limb received in the cavity; and
wherein, in the docked configuration, the top head is mounted to the docking
element by insertion into the cavity and is configured for grabbing by the
user, the top
head having a docking surface that is complementary shaped with the side wall
of the
cavity to contact and engage the side wall of the cavity upon connection of
the top head
with the docking element, the base being configured to translate upon
translation of the
top head by the user grabbing the top head.
2
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-03-31
The objects, advantages and other features of the present invention will
become more
apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of its
optional
embodiments, which is given for illustrative purposes only, with reference to
the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a limb actuable physical training accessory
according to
an embodiment;
Figure 2a is a perspective view of a base according to an embodiment;
Figure 2b is a top view of the base shown in Figure 2a;
Figure 2c is front elevation view of the base shown in Figure 2a;
Figure 3a is top view of a supporting element according to an embodiment;
Figure 3b is a cross-section view of the supporting element shown in Figure
3a;
Figure 4a is a perspective view of a docking element according to an
embodiment;
Figure 4b is a top view of the docking element shown in Figure 4a;
Figure 4c is a cross-section view of a portion of the docking element shown in
Figure 4a;
Figure 4d is a front elevation view of the docking element shown in Figure 4a;
Figure 5a is a perspective view of a top head according to an embodiment;
Figure 5b is a front elevation view of a top head removably mounted to a
docking element,
according to an embodiment;
Figure 6a is a perspective view of a limb actuable physical training accessory
in use,
according to an embodiment;
Figure 6b is a perspective view of the limb actuable physical training
accessory shown in
Figure 6a in use;
3
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-01
Figure 6c is a perspective view of the limb actuable physical training
accessory shown in
Figure 6a in use;
Figure 6d is a perspective view of a limb actuable physical training accessory
in use,
according to another embodiment; and
Figure 6e is a perspective view of the limb actuable physical training
accessory shown in
Figure 6d in use.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the following description, the same numerical references refer to similar
elements.
Furthermore, for sake of simplicity and clarity, namely so as to not unduly
burden the
figures with several reference numbers, not all figures contain references to
all the
components and features described herein and references to some components and
features may be found in only one figure, and components and features
illustrated in other
figures can be easily inferred therefrom. The embodiments, geometrical
configurations,
materials mentioned and/or dimensions shown in the figures are optional, and
are
provided for illustrative purposes only.
In addition, although the optional embodiments described herein and as
illustrated in the
accompanying drawings comprises various components, and although they may
consist
of certain geometrical configurations as explained and illustrated herein, not
all of these
components and geometries are essential and thus should not be taken in their
restrictive
sense, i.e. should not be taken as to limit the scope of the present
disclosure. It is to be
understood that other suitable components and cooperations thereinbetween, as
well as
other suitable geometrical configurations may be used for the limb actuable
physical
training accessory, as briefly explained and as can be easily inferred
herefrom, without
departing from the scope of the disclosure.
Referring to Figure 1, broadly described, the invention relates to a limb
actuable physical
training accessory 20 (also herein referred to as "physical training accessory
20") that
comprises a base 30 and a docking element 40 mounted to a top surface 58 of
the base
30.
It will be readily understood that the term "physical training" is non-
restrictive and is
intended to refer to exercising resulting from moving the accessory described
herein. The
4
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-01
expression "physical training" can therefore be replaced with terms known to
be equivalent
by a person skilled in the art. Besides, the term "user" is used herein to
describe a male
or female, child or adult, without limitation as to his age or gender. The
masculine gender
is used throughout to simplify the description.
Referring to Figures 2a-c, the base 30 can vary in shape and thickness,
provided the top
surface 58 features a sufficiently large area for the docking element 40 to be
mounted
thereto, and provided the docking element 40 mounted thereto is sufficiently
large for
receiving a limb, as described below. In the embodiment shown in Figures 2a-c,
the base
30 is disc-shaped. In other embodiments, the base 30 can be a rectangular
prism. In one
embodiment, the base 30 can feature apertures or cavities. The base 30 can be
made of
wood, metal, plastic, rubber, or any other material or combinations thereof
having
properties enabling sustaining a weight common to a human being.
Referring to Figures 4a-d, in one embodiment, the docking element 40 can be a
circular
band-shaped element. In a further embodiment, the docking element 40 can
feature a
bottom wall. This latter embodiment can be advantageous when the base 30
features a
cavity towards its center point such that the docking element 40 extends
beyond the
bottom surface 56 of the base 30, in that the docking element 40 can provide a
platform
for receiving a limb other than a hand, as will be discussed in more details
below. The
docking element can be made of metal, plastic, wood or other materials or
polymers
suitable or combinations thereof for allowing docking of the top head
described below. In
one embodiment, the docking element 40 can be mounted to a rather flat base
30,
provided the docking element 40 is thick or rigid enough not to deform or
deviate
substantially when there is actuation of a top head as described below mounted
thereon,
or a limb received therein. In another embodiment, the base 30 can feature a
protrusion
or a supporting element 32, as shown in Figures 1, 2a-c and 3a-b. The
supporting element
32 can be an empty disc-shaped element providing at least one wall for
mounting the
docking element 40. The supporting element 32 can vary in shape, size,
thickness and
diameter, provided the docking element 40 can be mounted to the base 30. It
follows that
the supporting element 32 and the docking element 40 can be a sole piece
mounted to
the base 30, and to which the top head described below can be removably
mounted.
5
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-01
Referring to Figures 1, 4 and 5, the physical training accessory 20 further
comprises a top
head 50 removably mounted to the docking element 40 and being configured for
grabbing,
and a plurality of wheels 60 mounted to the base 30.
Referring to Figures 1 and 5, the top head 50 can vary in shape provided the
top head 50
can be mounted to the docking element 40 and is configured for grabbing.
Referring to
Figure 5, the top head 50 can feature a docking surface 46 for docking the
docking element
40. In one embodiment, the docking surface 46 and the docking element 40 can
be
connected by fasteners, hooks, clips or other devices of the like. Preferably,
the docking
surface 46 and the docking element 40 can be connected by means that allow
easily
mounting the docking surface 46 to the docking element 40, and easily removing
the
docking surface 46 from the docking element 40. In one embodiment, the docking
surface
46 and the docking element 40 can feature tread or teeth configured to
complement each
other and allow removably docking the top head 50 in the docking element 40.
In another
embodiment, the top head 50, or the docking surface 46, and the docking
element 40 can
be deformable, such that the top head 50 can be removably mounted to the
docking
element 40 by applying an external pressure to the top head 50. Referring to
Figures 4a-
d and 5b, in a particular embodiment, the docking surface 46, and the docking
element 40
can have conical shapes configured in such a manner that, upon shoving the
docking
surface 46, down the docking element 40, at least one of the two of said
components can
deform, thereby provoking a tension allowing to hold the components in place.
In further
embodiments, the top head 50 or the docking element 40 can feature prongs for
maintaining their assembly in place. Such embodiments advantageously
facilitate the
removal of the top head 50 from the docking element 40 and allow a user not to
carry
around tools for disassembling the top head 50 and the docking element 40.
Referring to Figures 5a-b, the top head 50 can feature a contact surface 48. A
physical
trainer or user can grab the contact surface 48 for translating the physical
training
accessory 20, as explained below, and therefore physically train. The contact
surface 48
and the docking surface 46 can or can not be made of the same materials. The
contact
surface 48 and the docking surface 46 can therefore be mounted to each other
and
thereby constitute the top head 50, or can be formed as a sole piece through
molding,
carving, etc. The top head 50, and more specifically the contact surface 48
and/or the
docking surface 46, can therefore be made of rubber, plastics, or other
materials or
polymers having properties enabling proper support of an individual grabbing
the physical
6
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-01
training accessory 20 through the top head 50. In some embodiments, the
contact surface
48 can be made of or coated with anti-adhesive material preventing a user from
losing grip
and potentially hurting himself in doing so. In one embodiment, the contact
surface 48 can
be made of or coated with wear-resistant materials. In one embodiment, the
contact
surface 48 can be a half-sphere allowing a user to firmly grab the top head 50
without
having to meticulously align his hands with the top head 50, and therefore the
physical
training accessory 20 as a whole, while training. In other embodiments (not
shown), the
contact surface 48 can feature grooves or recesses further allowing the hand
grabbing the
contact surface 48 to firmly stay in place while actuating the physical
training accessory
20. The top head 50 and/or the contact surface 48 can have different shapes
that can
emphasize the contribution of given muscles while physically training with the
physical
training accessory 20 as described below. The contact surface 48 can be
configured for
grabbing by more than one hand, from one or more individual. The contact
surface 48 can
further feature a soft wall or edge extending along its outer periphery, and
this soft wall or
edge can sit on the base 30 and/or the supporting element 32. Such an
embodiment allows
a user to comfortably position his fingers on the top head 50.
Since the top head 50 is removably mounted to the docking element 40, a user
can replace
the top head 50 separately, which can be advantageous in the event that
repeated
grabbing of the top head 50 can damage the top head 50 through shearing or
scratching,
for example. Replacing the top head 50 separately therefore allows the user to
save on
materials, and thus costs. Besides, replacing the top head 50 separately
allows the user
to easily adapt to changing trends in the field of physical training, as was
pointed out
earlier. Therefore, it will be readily understood that a variety of such top
heads 50 having
different shapes can be alternatively used for a given physical training
accessory 20.
Moreover, since the top head 50 is removable from the docking element 40, a
user can
advantageously wash the top head 50 separately. Repeated grabbing of the top
head 50
can get the top head 50 dirty, and the user can therefore easily carry the top
head 50 for
washing with a dishwasher or cloth washer, for example, without having to
carry the
physical training accessory 20 as a whole.
Referring to Figure 1 and 2a-c, in one embodiment, the plurality of wheels 60
can vary in
shape, size, and material, provided the plurality of wheels 60 allow
translation of the
physical training accessory 20. The ease with which the wheels 60 can roll can
vary and
therefore provide a range of difficulties for physical training. The wheels 60
can be
7
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-01
attached at a plurality of locations on the base 30. In another embodiment,
the wheels 60
can be collectively attached to a single location of the base, such as for
example and
without being !imitative, through a rod, plate or element of the like. In one
embodiment,
the wheels 60 can be mounted to the bottom surface 56 of the base 30. The
wheels 60
can be mounted to the base 30 by connecting elements 62. In particular
embodiments,
the connecting elements 62 can be bolts, rivets, or other elements of the
like. In other
embodiments, the wheels 60 can be mounted to the base 30 by welding, through
the use
of glue, or by other means known in the field. The wheels 60 can further
feature brakes
for blocking translation at will. In an alternative embodiment, the wheels 60
can be
mounted to the lateral surface 54 of the base 30. In another alternative
embodiment, the
wheels 60 can be mounted to the top surface 58 of the base 30.
In one embodiment, not shown in the figures, the top end of the connecting
elements 62
used for mounting the wheels 60 to the base 30, such as for example bolts, can
be capped
with protective material that can advantageously protect a user from
scratching his limbs
or hands onto the connecting elements 52. The protective material can be
located on the
top end of the connecting elements 52 protruding from the top surface 58 of
base 30,
individually, or can cover a portion or the whole of the top surface 58 of the
base. The
protective material can be, for example and without being limitative, rubber,
foam, plastics,
fabrics, or other material can protect the user from protruding connecting
elements 62. In
one embodiment, the top end of the connecting elements 62 protruding from the
top
surface 58 of base 30 can be configured and designed to feature smooth edges
or shapes
that advantageously can prevent a user from scratching his limbs or hands onto
the
connecting elements 52, in conjunction or not with said protective material.
Referring to Figures 6d-e, the docking element 40 is configured for receiving
a limb other
than a hand when the top head 50 is removed therefrom, and the base 30 is
configured
to translate upon translation of the top head 50 mounted to the docking
element 40, or
upon movement of the limb received in the docking element 40.
When the top head 50 is removed from the docking element 40, a cavity
resulting from the
configuration of the docking element 40 and/or the base 30, in conjunction or
not with the
supporting element 32, is created and thereby defines an area wherein a limb
other than
a hand can be received. In the embodiment shown in Figures 6d-e, a foot is
inserted in
the docking element 40. In other embodiments, not shown, other limbs can be
inserted
8
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-01
therein, such as for example and without being limitative, knees, feet,
shoulders and legs.
It will otherwise be understood that the docking element 40 can be configured
for receiving
artificial limbs for the physical training of physically challenged
individuals. The docking
element 40 can thus be further configured to match the shape of a given
artificial limb.
Because the top head 50 can be removed from the docking element 40, a given
physical
training accessory 20 can be used both for exercising arms upon grabbing the
top head
50, and for exercising other body parts upon placing a limb other than a hand
in the
docking element 40. When the top head 50 is mounted to the docking element 40,
a user
can grab and translate the top head 50, and consequently translate the docking
element
40 and the whole physical training accessory 20. When the top head 50 is
removed from
the docking element 40, a user can position a limb other than a hand in the
docking
element 40 and translate the physical training accessory 20. A plurality of
physical training
accessories 20 can therefore be used for coordinated movements allowing
physical
training. As shown in Figures 6a-e, the physical training accessories 20 can
be used for
physical training upon series of translations through various paths. For
example, a physical
training accessory 20 for which the top head 50 is mounted to the docking
element 40 can
be moved away from and towards the medial axis of the body of an individual,
or above
his head. A physical training accessory 20 for which the top head 50 is
removed from the
docking element 40 can be moved, using a limb other than a hand, away from the
medial
-- axis of the body of an individual, or towards his core. In the event that
the wheels 60
include brakes, physical training accessories 20 can serve as fix platforms
onto which an
individual can stand and further move his body in conjunction with the
actuation of one or
more other physical training accessories 20.
Moreover, it will be readily understood that the components of a physical
training
__ accessory 20 such as described above can be provided as a set or kit. Such
a set includes
the base 30, with or without the supporting element 32. The set further
includes the
docking element 40, which can or can not be preassembled with the base 30, and
the top
head 50 removably mountable onto the docking element 40 and being configured
for
grabbing. The top head 50 can or can not be mounted to the docking element 40
in the
kit. The top head 50 can also be provided as two connectable parts being the
docking
surface 46 and the contact surface 48. The kit also includes a plurality of
wheels 60, which
can or can not be preassembled with the base.
9
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-01
Of course, numerous modifications could be made to the above-described
embodiments
without departing from the scope of the invention. It is appreciated that
features of one of
the above described embodiments can be combined with the other embodiments or
alternative thereof.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-01
