EXERCISE STEP USING SPIRALLY SHAPED AIR-CUSHIONING LEGS

摘要

Disclosed are embodiments of an exercise step that utilize spirally shaped air-cushioning legs. The direction of the spiral of the air-cushioning legs is alternated around the periphery of the exercise step to eliminate rotational creep. Flow regulators are utilized to control the flow of air from the top of each of the air-cushioning legs into an interior portion of the base of the exercise step. Spokes provide an air flow passage between the air flow regulators and the central air regulator, as well as providing structural support for the base. Rings are also used around the base that inner connect the spokes and provide additional support. Recessed portions of a lower plate of the base are welded to an upper plate during a blow molding process to add additional support to the base of the exercise step.

主权项

1. A method of making an exercise step comprising:
forming a plurality of clockwise air-cushioning legs comprising:
forming a first sidewall having a clockwise spirally shaped bulge that allows said clockwise air-cushioning leg to compress when a user steps onto said exercise step;attaching a first non-slip cover to a bottom portion of said first sidewall to form an airtight seal with said bottom portion of said first sidewall;forming a first attachment plate that is connected to an upper portion of said first sidewall having latches for attaching said clockwise air-cushioning legs to said exercise step;forming a plurality of counterclockwise air-cushioning legs comprising:forming a second sidewall having a counterclockwise spirally shaped bulge that allows said counterclockwise air-cushioning leg to compress when a user steps onto said exercise step;attaching a second non-slip cover to a bottom portion of said second sidewall to form an airtight seal with said bottom portion of said second sidewall;forming a second attachment plate that is connected to an upper portion of said second sidewall having latches for attaching said counterclockwise air-cushioning legs to said exercise step;forming a base comprising:
forming an upper plate from a parison in a blow molding process;forming a lower plate from said parison in said flow molding process comprising:forming a plurality of curved rings in said lower plate that provide circumferential support to said lower plate;
forming a plurality of spokes in said lower plate that inter-connect said plurality of curved rings to provide lateral support to said lower plate,said plurality of spokes also providing a plurality of air flow passages;forming leg attachments in said lower plate that allow said latches on said first attachment plate and said second attachment plate to connect said air-cushioning legs to said lower plate with a substantially airtight seal;placing adjustable flow regulators on a first set of openings in said leg attachments that allow air in said clockwise air-cushioning legs and said counterclockwise air-cushioning legs, that is compressed when said user steps onto said exercise step, to be individually and separately controlled from said clockwise and counterclockwise air cushioning legs through said first set of openings in said leg attachments;placing an air control regulator in said lower plate that is communicatively coupled to said air flow passages that collectively controls air flow from said air flow passages;welding recessed portions of said lower plate to said upper plate to strengthen and form said air passages in said spokes; regulating air flow in said first set of openings and said second opening to control the rate of flow of said compressed air from said clockwise air-cushioning legs and said counterclockwise air-cushioning legs using said adjustable flow regulators and said air control regulator.