Portable, adjustable exercise step/bench

Claim 2

An exercise device for use in aerobic step climbing routines/programs comprising a rigid base, said base consisting of an integral one piece unit including a horizontal platform having opposite ends and intermediate sides with a downwardly and outwardly extending apron extending from each of said ends and sides, a corner where each of said ends is joined to its adjacent side, said apron being disposed at an elevation and plan view angle from greater than 0° to less than 90° with respect to said platform, a leg mounted to said base at each of said corners, each of said legs being movable from an active position to a stored condition, each of said legs being disposed against said apron at said angle and extending downwardly beyond said apron when said leg is in said active position, and each of said legs being mounted against said base within the periphery of said apron when said leg is in said stored condition.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein each of said legs is adjustable in its length.

Claim 4

The device of claim 2 wherein each of said legs comprises an inner tube telescopically mounted within an outer tube, and incremental locking means connecting said inner tube to said outer tube to control the effective length of said leg.

Claim 5

The device of claim 2 including a foot on each of said legs made from a non-slip material.

Claim 6

The device of claim 4 including a non-skid surface on said platform.

Claim 7

The device of claim 2 wherein each of said legs is hinged to said base to be movable to and from said active position and said stored condition.

Claim 8

The device of claim 6 wherein each of said legs is rotatable over a range of 110°.

Claim 9

The device of claim 7 including mounting means on the under surface of said platform for maintaining each of said legs in its stored condition when each of said legs is hinged from its active position in contact with said apron to its stored condition in contact with the under surface of said platform.

Claim 10

The device of claim 2 wherein said apron is integral and extends completely around the periphery of said platform to form a continuous apron having four rounded corners, a guide mounted at each of said corners, and each of said legs being disposed in a respective one of said guides.

Claim 11

The device of claim 9 wherein each of said legs is adjustably mounted in its respective guide.

Claim 12

The device of claim 10 wherein each of said guides is integral with said apron, a plurality of spaced holes located in each of said guides, and each of said legs having a spring pin disposed for selective engagement in a respective one of said holes in its guide to control the amount that each of said legs extends below said apron.

Claim 13

The device of claim 11 including said base having mounting means for holding said legs in said stored condition.

Claim 14

The device of claim 12 wherein said mounting means are mounted to said apron.

Claim 15

An exercise device for use in aerobic step climbing routines/programs comprising a base, said base consisting of a horizontal platform having opposite ends and intermediate sides with a downwardly and outwardly extending apron extending from each of said ends and sides, a corner where each of said ends is joined to its adjacent side, said apron being disposed at an elevation and plan view angle from greater than 0° to less than 90° with respect to said platform, a leg mounted to said base at each of said corners, each of said legs being movable from an active position to a stored condition, each of said legs being disposed against said apron at said angle and extending downwardly beyond said apron when said leg is in said active position, each of said legs being mounted against said base within the periphery of said apron when said leg is in said stored condition, each of said legs being adjustable in its length, said apron being integral and extending completely around the periphery of said platform to form a continuous apron having four rounded corners, a guide mounted at each of said corners, each of said legs being disposed in a respective one of said guides, each of said legs being adjustably mounted in its respective guide, each of said guides being integral with said apron, a plurality of spaced holes located in each of said guides, each of said legs having a spring pin disposed for selective engagement in a respective one of said holes in its guide to control the amount that each of said legs extends below said apron, a foot on each of said legs, said foot being made of a non-skid material, said base having mounting means for holding said legs in said stored condition, said mounting means being mounted to said apron, said legs including two sets of legs, one set of said legs being longer than the other set of said legs, and one of said sets of legs being held by said mounting means when the other of said sets of legs is in the active position.

Claim 16

An exercise device for use in aerobic step climbing routines/programs comprising a base, said base consisting of a horizontal platform having opposite ends and intermediate sides with a downwardly and outwardly extending apron extending from each of said ends and sides, a corner where each of said ends is joined to its adjacent side, said apron being disposed at an elevation and plan view angle from greater than 0° to less than 90° with respect to said platform, a leg mounted to said base at each of said corners, each of said legs being movable from an active position to a stored condition, each of said legs being disposed against said apron at said angle and extending downwardly beyond said apron when said leg is in said active position, each of said legs being mounted against said base within the periphery of said apron when said leg is in said stored condition, each of said legs being adjustable in its length, said apron being integral and extending completely around the periphery of said platform to form a continuous apron having four rounded corners, a guide mounted at each of said corners, each of said legs being disposed in a respective one of said guides, each of said legs being adjustably mounted in its respective guide, each of said guides being integral with said apron, a plurality of spaced holes located in each of said guides, each of said legs having a spring pin disposed for selective engagement in a respective one of said holes in its guide to control the amount that each of said legs extends below said apron, a foot on each of said legs, said foot being made of a non-skid material, said base having mounting means for holding said legs in said stored condition, said mounting means being mounted to said apron, said legs including two sets of legs, one set of said legs being longer than the other set of said legs, and one of said sets of legs being held by said mounting means when the other of said sets of legs is in the active position.

Claim 17

The device of claim 14 wherein said device is dimensioned to dispose said platform selectively at a plurality of heights in the range of 4 to 14 inches.

Claim 18

The device of claim 15 wherein said elevation angle is between 10° and 30°, and said platform being free of above surface obstructions.

Claim 19

The device of claim 11 including a foot on each of said legs integral with its leg.

Claim 20

The device of claim 1 including a steady post detachably mounted in a vertical position to said platform.

Claim 21

The device of claim 1 including handle means on said base to facilitate the carrying of said device.

Claim 22

The device of claim 19 wherein said handle means comprises a slot in said apron.

Claim 23

An exercise device for use in aerobic step climbing routines/programs comprising a base, said base consisting of a horizontal platform having opposite ends and intermediate sides with a downwardly and outwardly extending apron extending from each of said ends and sides, a corner where each of said ends is joined to its adjacent side, said apron being disposed at an elevation and plan view angle from greater than 0° to less than 90° with respect to said platform, a leg mounted to said base at each of said corners, each of said legs being movable from an active position to a stored condition, each of said legs being disposed against said apron at said angle and extending downwardly beyond said apron when said leg is in said active position, each of said legs being mounted against said base within the periphery of said apron when said leg is in said stored condition, said legs comprising two sets of legs, one set of said legs being longer than the other set of said legs, and mounting means for mounting one of said sets of legs to or in said base while the other of said sets of legs is in said active position.

Claim 24

An exercise device for use in aerobic step climbing routines/programs comprising a base, said base consisting of a horizontal platform having opposite ends and intermediate sides with a downwardly and outwardly extending apron extending from each of said ends and sides, a corner where each of said ends is joined to its adjacent side, said apron being disposed at an elevation and plan view angle from greater than 0° to less than 90° with respect to said platform, a leg mounted to said base at each of said corners, each of said legs being movable from an active position to a stored condition, each of said legs being disposed against said apron at said angle and extending downwardly beyond said apron when said leg is in said active position, each of said legs being mounted against said base within the periphery of said apron when said leg is in said stored condition, said legs comprising two sets of legs, one set of said legs being longer than the other set of said legs, and mounting means for mounting one of said sets of legs to or in said base while the other of said sets of legs is in said active position.

Claim 25

The device of claim 21 including a pouch and one of said sets of legs being located in said pouch with said pouch mounted within the periphery of said apron.

Claim 26

The device of claim 1 including a pouch, and said legs being disposed in said pouch with said pouch mounted within the periphery of said apron when said legs are in said stored condition.

Claim 27

The device of claim 1 including at least one indentation in an exposed surface of said base for holding an advertising insert.

Claim 28

The device of claim 1 wherein said elevation angle comprises a first angle with respect to an end of said base and a second angle with respect to said intermediate side, and each of said first and second second angle being between 10° and 30°.

Claim 29

The device of claim 25 wherein each of said first and second second angle is about 20°, and said plan view angle being about 45°.

Claim 30

An exercise device for use in aerobic step climbing routines/programs comprising a base, said base consisting of a horizontal platform having an unbroken generally planar upper surface and having opposite ends with straight parallel upper edges and intermediate sides with straight parallel upper edges, said upper edges of said platform being rounded, said upper surface being unobstructed and free of any vertically extending members whereby said upper surface functions as a user support surface and a user may easily step onto and off of said upper surface, a plurality of downwardly disposed extensions connected to said platform at a plurality of spaced locations said extensions comprising fixed support members having remote ends disposed remote from said upper surface whereby said platform is elevated to a first height stabilized by said extensions when said remote ends of said extensions are placed directly on a flat planar support surface, and at least two legs, each of said legs being secured to said base remote from its other leg, each of said legs being of a length longer than the length of said extensions, each of said legs being hinged to said base to be movable to and from an active position and a stored condition, each of said legs being in said active position when said leg is pivoted away from said base whereby said legs extend beyond said remote ends of said extensions to elevate said platform to a second height hinged than said first height, each of said legs being in said stored condition when said no further from said platform than said remote ends of said extensions when said extensions are in direct contact with said flat planar support surface whereby said extensions support and elevate said platform when said legs are in their stored condition, and said spaced extensions having a plurality of open areas therebetween.

Claim 31

An exercise device for use in aerobic step climbing routines/programs comprising a base, said base consisting of a horizontal platform having an unbroken generally planar upper surface and having opposite ends with straight parallel upper edges and intermediate sides with straight parallel upper edges, said upper edges of said platform being rounded, said upper surface being unobstructed and free of any vertically extending members whereby said upper surface functions as a user support surface and a user may easily step onto and off of said upper surface, a plurality of downwardly disposed extensions connected to said platform at a plurality of spaced locations said extensions comprising fixed support members having remote ends disposed remote from said upper surface whereby said platform is elevated to a first height stabilized by said extensions when said remote ends of said extensions are placed directly on a flat planar support surface, and at least two legs, each of said legs being secured to said base remote from its other leg, each of said legs being of a length longer than the length of said extensions, each of said legs being hinged to said base to be movable to and from an active position and a stored condition, each of said legs being in said active position when said leg is pivoted away from said base whereby said legs extend beyond said remote ends of said extensions to elevate said platform to a second height hinged than said first height, each of said legs being in said stored condition when said no further from said platform than said remote ends of said extensions when said extensions are in direct contact with said flat planar support surface whereby said extensions support and elevate said platform when said legs are in their stored condition, and said spaced extensions having a plurality of open areas therebetween.

Claim 32

The device of claim 27 wherein said legs are secured to said base by mounting brackets.

Claim 33

The device of claim 28 wherein said platform has an upper surface, and a non-slip material being on said upper surface.

Claim 34

The device of claim 27 wherein said extensions comprise four spaced extensions.

Claim 35

The device of claim 27 wherein each of said legs has a remote end remote from said base, and said remote end of each of said legs extending outwardly beyond the periphery of said base when said legs are in their active position.

Claim 36

The device of claim 31 wherein each of said remote ends of said legs is spaced from the underside of said platform when said legs are in said stored condition.

Claim 37

The device of claim 32 wherein each of said legs is movable in said open areas between said extension.

Claim 38

The device of claim 33 wherein said platform has rounded corners, and each of said legs extending outwardly away from said platform at an angle greater than 90° when said legs are in said active position.

Claim 39

The device of claim 34 wherein said upper surface of said platform has an advertising indentation at one of its corners.