Sports sled

Abstract

A sled for performing a core strengthening exercise routine has a load bearing body having a bottom configured to slide on a ground surface by being pushed or pulled by a person performing the exercise routine, a front end having wall portions for receiving the person's hands, knees or feet, a rear end having wall portions for receiving the person's feet, and a middle region having a raised portion separating a first ramp portion from a second ramp portion. Each of the first and second ramp portions has a forward facing ramp surface and a rearward facing ramp surface. A first open recess is between the wall portions at the front end and the forward facing ramp surface. A second open recess is between the wall portions at the rear end and the rearward facing ramp surface.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a sports sled, and in particular to a sports sled for use in improving core strength of a person. BACKGROUND

[0002] Sports sleds are known and have been used to enhance the strength and endurance of athletes participating in a range of sports from sprinting to endurance and body contact sports.

[0003] Normally, these known sports sleds are designed and constructed with a specific exercise routine in mind and thus they enable an athlete to develop only certain muscles in localized areas of the body, normally the legs, arms or shoulders.

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sports sled that can be utilized by a person to perform a number of different exercise routines that can stimulate muscle tissue development in and around the core of the person's body, or at least to provide a useful alternative to known sports sleds. SUMMARY

[0005] According to the present invention, there is provided a sports sled for performing a core strengthening exercise routine, the sports sled comprising a load bearing body having a bottom configured to slide on a ground surface by being pushed or pulled by a person performing the exercise routine, a front end having a wall portion for receiving a hand, knee or foot of the person, a rear end having a wall portion for receiving a foot of the person, an intermediate zone between the front end and the rear end and having a raised portion separating a first ramp portion at a first side of the intermediate zone from a second ramp portion at a second side of the intermediate zone, wherein each of the first and second ramp portions has a forward facing ramp surface and a rearward facing ramp surface, and wherein a first open recess is located between the wall portion at the front end and the forward facing ramp surface, and a second open recess is located between the wall portion at the rear end and the rearward facing ramp surface.

[0006] Preferably, the wall portion at the front end comprises a pair of wall portions.

[0007] Also preferably, the wall portion at the rear end comprises a single continuous wall.

[0008] In a preferred form, the rearward facing ramp surface is steeper than the forward facing ramp surface.

[0009] The intermediate zone preferably has a rear surface having two openings separated by a wall section, the openings having interconnected internal passages.

[0010] The front end preferably has a front surface having two openings separated by a wall section, the openings having interconnected internal passages.

[0011] In another preferred form, the motion sled further comprises an elastically stretchable cord that forms a loop around a wall section of the rear surface or front surface after the elastically stretchable cord is fed into one of the openings and then exits from the other opening, and the elastically stretchable cord has free ends that are connected together around an external anchor point.

[0012] The motion sled can further comprise a pair of foot straps attached to the rear-facing ramp surface.

[0013] The motion sled can further comprise an opening in one or each of the rear-facing ramp surfaces for inserting a desired weight into the opening or each opening to increase the load carried by the load bearing body.

[0014] There has thus been outlined quite broadly the more important features of the application in order that the detailed description thereof that follows can be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art can be better appreciated.

[0015] Additional features of the application will be described hereinafter. It should be appreciated that the concept upon which the application is based can be readily employed as the basis for other structures, assemblies, process steps and system configurations for achieving the purposes of the application. It is therefore important that the broad description of the broad aspects of the application described hereinbefore be viewed as including such equivalent features as can be essential to the spirit and scope of the application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a motion sled according to a preferred embodiment of the present application.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a top view of the motion sled shown in FIG. 1.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the motion sled shown in FIG. 1.

[0019] Figure 4 is a side view of the motion sled shown in FIG. 1.

[0020] Figure 5 is a front view of the motion sled shown in FIG. 1.

[0021] Figure 6 is a rear view of the motion sled shown in FIG. 1.

[0022] Figure 7 is a view of a person kneeling behind and bending over the motion sled of FIG. 1 with his forearms resting on the forward-facing ramp surface and his hands grasping the front end of the motion sled, ready to push the motion sled forward in the first core strengthening movement of the first exercise routine.

[0023] Figure 8Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a snow scooter according to the present application. Figure 7 Fig. 2 is a view of a person having fully extended his body after him in Fig. 1 has pushed the snow scooter to an intermediate position, so that he lies flat and faces downwards, his torso is raised from the ground surface, and his arms are extended, with his hands still gripping the front end, ready for a second core strengthening movement in a first exercise routine, in which the person uses his core strength to pull the snow scooter backwards to again assume the kneeling and bent position shown in Fig. 1. Figure 7 Fig. 3 is a view of a person having bent his body after him in Fig. 2 has fully extended his body to an intermediate position, so that he lies flat and faces downwards, his torso is raised from the ground surface, and his arms are extended, with his hands firmly placed on the ground surface, ready for a second core strengthening movement in a second exercise routine, in which the person uses his core strength to push the snow scooter forwards to again assume the kneeling and bent position shown in Fig. 1.

[0024] Figure 9 Fig. 4 is a view of a person kneeling on the front of the snow scooter in Fig. 1 and bending towards the front of the snow scooter, with his feet on the rear end and his knees on the front end of the snow scooter, and with his hands on the sides of the snow scooter, ready to stretch his body forwards in a first core strengthening movement in a second exercise routine.

[0025] Figure 10 Fig. 5 is a view of a person having fully extended his body after him in Fig. 4 has pushed the snow scooter to an intermediate position, so that he lies flat and faces downwards, his torso is raised from the ground surface, and his arms are extended, with his hands firmly placed on the ground surface, ready for a second core strengthening movement in a second exercise routine, in which the person uses his core strength to pull the snow scooter backwards to again assume the kneeling and bent position shown in Fig. 1. Figure 9 Fig. 6 is a view of a person having bent his body after him in Fig. 5 has fully extended his body to an intermediate position, so that he lies flat and faces downwards, his torso is raised from the ground surface, and his arms are extended, with his hands firmly placed on the ground surface, ready for a second core strengthening movement in a second exercise routine, in which the person uses his core strength to push the snow scooter forwards to again assume the kneeling and bent position shown in Fig. 1. Figure 9

[0026] Figure 11 Fig. 7 is a view of a person crouching on the rear end of the snow scooter in Fig. 1 and bending away from the rear end of the snow scooter, with his feet on the rear end of the snow scooter and his arms extended, with his hands firmly placed on the ground surface, ready to push the snow scooter backwards in a first core strengthening movement in a third exercise routine.

[0027] Figure 12 Fig. 8 is a view of a person having fully extended his body after him in Fig. 7 has pushed the snow scooter to an intermediate position, so that he lies flat and faces downwards, his torso is raised from the ground surface, and his arms are extended, with his hands still firmly placed on the ground surface, ready for a second core strengthening movement in a third exercise routine, in which the person uses his core strength to pull the snow scooter forwards to again assume the crouching and bent position shown in Fig. 1. Figure 11 Fig. 9 is a view of a person having bent his body after him in Fig. 8 has fully extended his body to an intermediate position, so that he lies flat and faces downwards, his torso is raised from the ground surface, and his arms are extended, with his hands still firmly placed on the ground surface, ready for a second core strengthening movement in a third exercise routine, in which the person uses his core strength to push the snow scooter backwards to again assume the crouching and bent position shown in Fig. 1. Figure 11

[0028] Fig. 10 is a view of a person with the underside of his feet pressing against the rearward facing ramp surface of the snow scooter in Fig. 1, positioned by a bent knee and an upright torso raised from the ground surface, and his arms extended, with his hands firmly placed on the ground surface, ready to push the snow scooter forwards in a first core strengthening movement in a fourth exercise routine.

[0029] ​​FIG. 14 is a view of the person shown in FIG. 13 after having fully extended his torso forward to push the sled to a neutral position so that he is spread out prone and facing down with his torso raised from the ground surface and his arms spread out with his hands still firmly placed on the ground surface ready for a second core strengthening movement of a fourth exercise routine in which the person uses his core strength to pull the sled back to again assume the bent knee position shown in FIG. 13.

[0030] FIG. 15 is a partial view of a person with his bottom side feet pressed against the forward facing ramp surface of the body of the sled of FIG. 1 having the same starting torso position shown in FIG. 13 and with added load provided by connecting the body of the sled to an elastic stretchable line anchored to an anchor point in preparation for pushing the sled forward in a first core strengthening movement of a fifth exercise routine.

[0031] FIG. 16 is a partial view of the person shown in FIG. 15 after having fully extended his torso forward to push the body of the sled to a forward position having the same torso position shown in FIG. 14 in preparation for releasing the pressure of his extended leg without lifting his feet from the forward facing ramp surface so that the stretched line can be retracted causing the body of the sled to slide back toward the person so that the person can repeat the exercise routine.

[0032] Figure 17 FIG. 15 is a partial view of a person with his bottom side feet pressed against the forward facing ramp surface of the body of the sled of FIG. 1 having the same starting torso position shown in FIG. 13 and with added load provided by connecting the body of the sled to an elastic stretchable line anchored to an anchor point in preparation for pushing the sled forward in a first core strengthening movement of a fifth exercise routine. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] FIG. 1 through Figure 17 The sled 10 shown in FIGS. 1 through 16 includes a load bearing body 12 having a bottom 14, a front end 16, a rear end 18, and a middle region 20 between the front end 16 and the rear end 18.

[0034] The bottom 14 is configured to slide on a ground surface by being pushed or pulled by a person 22 performing an exercise routine. The surface of the bottom 14 has a degree of frictional engagement or resistance with the ground surface appropriate for the type of exercise routine to be performed. The load of the load bearing body 12 includes the weight of the body 12 and the degree of frictional engagement or resistance with the ground surface.

[0035] The front end 16 has a pair of walls, each wall including wall portions 24, 26 for receiving a hand, knee, or foot of the person 22. In an alternative embodiment, the front end has a single continuous wall and the wall portions spaced apart therefrom are adapted to be received by a hand, knee, or foot of the person 22.

[0036] The rear end 18 has a single continuous wall 28 and the wall portions spaced apart therefrom are adapted to be received by a foot of the person 22. In an alternative embodiment, the rear end has a pair of walls, each wall including wall portions for receiving a foot of the person 22.

[0037] The intermediate region 20 has a raised portion 30 separating a first ramp portion 32 at a first side of the intermediate region from a second ramp portion 34 at a second side of the intermediate region.

[0038] The ramp portions 32, 34 are identical in shape, size, and orientation, and each has a forward-facing ramp surface 36 and a rear-facing ramp surface 38. In this embodiment, the rear-facing ramp surfaces 38 are steeper than the forward-facing ramp surfaces 36, and thus the rear-facing ramp surfaces 38 are ideally used as surfaces against which the underside of a person's foot can be pressed in order to propel the snow sled 10 in the core strengthening movements of the exercise routines. Although less steep, the forward-facing ramp surfaces 36 can also be used for this purpose, but in the manner to be described later with reference to Figures 15 and 16. In this embodiment, each of the forward-facing ramp surfaces 36 is at an angle of about 20° to the horizontal, but can have any suitable angle for the type of exercise routine to be performed, such as an angle of between about 10° and about 35° to the horizontal. In this embodiment, each of the rear-facing ramp surfaces 38 is at an angle of about 60° to the horizontal, but can have any suitable angle for the type of exercise routine to be performed, such as an angle of between about 35° and about 90° to the horizontal.

[0039] In this embodiment, the ramp portions 32, 34 are permanently fixed to the remainder of the body 12, such as by being integrally formed therewith during formation of the entire body 12 or by being attached thereto by screws, adhesive, or other permanent fastening means.

[0040] In an alternative embodiment, the ramp portions 32, 34 are removably connected to the remainder of the body 12 by any suitable clamping or sliding mechanism, or by a combination of such mechanisms, or by any other suitable means that will allow different sizes, shapes, and orientations of ramp portions to be used for the type of exercise routine to be performed.

[0041] The snow sled 10 can be utilized by the person 22 to perform a number of different exercise routines that can stimulate the development of muscle tissue in and around the core of the person's body.

[0042] Each of the wall portions 24, 26 at the front end 16 is a portion of a first open recess 40, 42 that can also accommodate the hands, knees, or feet of a person 22. Each first open recess 40, 42 is located between its wall portion 24, 26 and its adjacent forward-facing ramp surface 36, and includes a bottom surface 43.

[0043] The wall 28 at the rear end 18 is part of a second open recess 44 that can also accommodate the foot of a person 22. The second open recess 44 is formed between the wall 28 and its adjacent rearward-facing sloping surface 38. The second open recess 44 includes a bottom surface 46 for accommodating the toes or heel of the foot.

[0044] In this specific instance, the rearward-facing ramp surface 38 has no objects attached thereto, but in an alternative specific instance, a pair of foot straps are attached to the rearward-facing ramp surface to accommodate the feet of a person 22 passing through it.

[0045] In another specific example, the rearward-facing ramp surface 38 includes an opening for inserting the desired weight into the body 12 to increase the load.

[0046] The raised portion 30 of the intermediate region 20 slopes forward and downward from a higher point 50 near the rear end 18 to the front end 16 via two consecutive angles. The first upper surface 52 of the raised portion 30 has an angle that is not as steep as the second lower surface 54 of the raised portion 30. The raised portion 30 also slopes backward and downward from the higher point 50 to form a rear surface 56.

[0047] In this specific example, the rear surface 56 has two openings 58, 60 separated by the wall section 61. The openings 58, 60 have interconnected internal channels, allowing a resilient stretchable band, rope, tether, or other such line to be fed into one of the openings and then exit the other, thereby forming a loop of line around the wall section 61, the free ends of which are then tied or otherwise connected together around an external anchor point.

[0048] In this specific example, similar openings 62, 64 are provided in the front surface 66 at the front end 16 of the body 12, which have interconnecting internal channels and wall sections 65 for engaging similar elastic stretchable lines and for connecting the lines to external anchor points.

[0049] In other specific instances, openings 58 and 60 and openings 62 and 64 do not exist, or there is only one pair of openings.

[0050] Reference Figures 7 to 17 Describe the use of the sports sled 10.

[0051] like Figure 7As shown, person 22 kneels behind and bends above bobsled 10. Their forearms are placed on their respective forward-facing ramp surfaces 36, and their hands grip the respective wall portions 24, 26 at the front end 16 of bobsled 10. The person is preparing to propel bobsled 10 forward during the first core strengthening movement of the first exercise routine.

[0052] Figure 8 exhibit Figure 7 The person 22 has fully extended their body forward to push the bobsleigh 10 to the middle position. The person lies supine and face down, their torso raised off the ground, and their arms outstretched, with their hands still gripping the wall sections 24 and 26 of the bobsleigh 10. The person prepares for the second core-strengthening movement of the first exercise routine, in which the person (with their hands still gripping the wall sections 24 and 26) uses their core strength to pull the bobsleigh backward to re-emerge. Figure 7 The kneeling and bending positions shown in the image.

[0053] like Figure 9 As shown, person 22 kneels on the front of bobsleigh 10 and bends towards the front of bobsleigh 10. The toes of the person's feet are in the open recess 44 and pressed against the wall 28 at the rear end 18, and the knees are placed in the open recesses 40, 42 at the front end 16 of bobsleigh 10. The person's arms are outstretched, with the hands firmly placed on the ground. The person is preparing to extend their body forward during the first core strengthening movement of the second exercise routine.

[0054] Figure 10 exhibit Figure 9 The person 22, having fully extended their body to the center position after moving away from the bobsleigh 10, lies supine and face down, their torso raised off the ground, and their arms outstretched with their hands firmly resting on the ground. The person prepares for the second core-strengthening movement of the second exercise routine, in which the person (with their hands still in the open recesses 40, 42 but currently pressed against the walls 24, 26) uses their core strength to propel the bobsleigh 10 forward to re-emerge. Figure 9 The kneeling and bending positions shown in the image.

[0055] The above reference Figure 9 and Figure 10 The described second movement routine causes the person 22 to move forward gradually with each repetition of the routine. However, variations of the second movement routine allow the person to remain in a stationary position by ensuring that their hands are still firmly placed on the ground, thereby causing the lower body to propel the sled 10 backward and forward in a repetitive manner.

[0056] like Figure 11As shown, a person 22 crouches on the rear end of the bobsleigh 10 and bends away from the rear end 18 of the bobsleigh 10. The toes of their feet are in an open recess 44, and the soles of their shoes press against the rearward-facing ramp surface 38 at the rear end 18 of the bobsleigh 10. Their arms are outstretched, with their hands firmly resting on the ground. The person is preparing to push the bobsleigh 10 backward during the first core strengthening movement of the third exercise routine.

[0057] Figure 12 exhibit Figure 11 The person 22 has fully extended their body backward to push the sled 10 to the middle position. The person lies flat and face down, their torso raised off the ground, and their arms outstretched, with their hands still firmly placed on the ground. The person prepares for the second core-strengthening movement of the third exercise routine, in which the person (with their toes still in the open recess 44 but currently pressed against the wall 28) uses their core strength to pull the sled 10 forward to present the position again. Figure 11 The crouching and bending positions shown in the image.

[0058] As shown in Figure 13, the heel of the person 22 is in the open recess 44, and the sole of the foot is pressed against the rearward-facing slope surface 38 at the rear end 18 of the bobsleigh 10. The person is positioned by bending the knees and straightening the torso, which is raised from the ground, and with the arms outstretched, the hands resting firmly on the ground. The person is ready to propel the bobsleigh 10 forward in the first core strengthening movement of the fourth movement routine.

[0059] Figure 14 shows the person 22 in Figure 13 after fully extending their body forward to push the sled 10 to the middle position. The person is lying flat and facing upward, with their torso raised off the ground and their arms outstretched, with their hands still firmly placed on the ground. The person is preparing for the second core strengthening movement of the fourth exercise routine, in which the person (with their heels still in the open recess 44 but currently pressed against the wall 28) uses their core strength to pull the sled 10 backward to re-arrange the bent-knee position shown in Figure 13.

[0060] As shown in Figure 15, the person 22 positions their heels within open recesses 40 and 42, with the soles of their shoes pressing against the forward-facing ramp surface 36 at the front end 16 of the main body 12 of the sled 10. Alternatively, the person may assume the same starting body position as shown in Figure 13, where the knees are bent and the torso is raised from the ground with arms outstretched and hands firmly placed on the ground, or may assume another similar starting body position.

[0061] A stretchable elastic cord 70 passes through openings 62 and 64 and loops around a wall section 61 in the front surface 66 of the body 12, with the free ends of the cord 70 connected together around an external anchor point 72. Increased load is provided by connecting the body 12 of the sled 10 to the stretchable elastic cord 70 anchored at opposite ends to the anchor point 72. The person 22 prepares to propel the body of the sled 10 forward during the first core-strengthening movement of the fifth movement routine, thus stretching the cord 70 elastically.

[0062] Figure 16 shows the person 22 in Figure 15 after fully extending their body forward to push the main body 12 of the sled 10 to the forward position. The person can release the pressure of their extended legs without lifting their feet off the slope surface 36 facing forward, which will allow the stretched line 70 to retract, so that the main body of the sled 10 slides back toward the person so that the person can again assume the same or similar starting body position for repeating the exercise routine.

[0063] like Figure 17 As shown, the person 22 presses the heels of their feet against the rear-facing ramp surface 38 at the rear end 18 of the main body 12 of the sled 10. In addition, the person may assume the same starting body position as shown in Figure 13, i.e., with the knees bent and the torso upright and raised from the ground, with the arms outstretched and the hands firmly placed on the ground, or may assume some other similar starting body position.

[0064] The elastic, stretchable line 70 passes through openings 58 and 60 and loops around the wall section 65 in the rear surface 56 of the body 12, with the free ends of the line 70 connected together around the external anchor point 72 to increase load. The person 22 is prepared to push the body of the sled 10 forward during the first core strengthening movement of the sixth motion routine, and thus elastically stretches the line 70.

[0065] When the main body 12 of the bobsleigh 10 has been pushed to the forward position, the person can release the pressure on their extended legs without lifting their feet off the slope surface 38 facing backward. This will allow the stretched line 70 to retract, so that the main body of the bobsleigh 10 slides back toward the person so that the person can again assume the same or similar starting body position for repeating the exercise routine.

[0066] Those skilled in the art will also find it obvious that various modifications can be made to the design and construction details of the above-described specific examples of the sport sled without departing from the scope or range of the present invention.

[0067] For example, when it is not desired to move by sliding the bottom of the sled on the ground surface, the bottom 14 of the sled may have the additional ability to temporarily engage several wheels (such as omnidirectional wheels) with the desired level of frictional resistance.

[0068] References to any prior disclosure (or information derived therefrom) or to any known matter in this specification shall not be construed as, and should not be construed as, an endorsement or license or any form of implication of, any prior disclosure (or information derived therefrom) or known matter that formed part of the general common knowledge in the field of study relating to this specification prior to the filing date of this patent application.

Claims

1. A bobsleigh for performing a core strengthening exercise routine, the bobsleigh comprising a load-bearing body having: a bottom configured to slide on a ground surface by being pushed or pulled by a person performing the exercise routine; a front end having a wall portion for receiving the person's hands, knees, or feet; a rear end having a wall portion for receiving the person's feet; and a middle section between the front end and the rear end having a raised portion separating a first ramp portion at a first side of the middle section from a second ramp portion at a second side of the middle section, wherein each of the first ramp portion and the second ramp portion has a forward-facing ramp surface and a rearward-facing ramp surface, and wherein a first open recess is located between the wall portion at the front end and the forward-facing ramp surface, and a second open recess is located between the wall portion at the rear end and the rearward-facing ramp surface.

2. The sport sled of claim 1, wherein the wall portion at the front end comprises a pair of wall portions.

3. The sport sled of claim 1, wherein the wall portion at the rear end comprises a single continuous wall.

4. The sled of claim 1, wherein the rearward-facing slope surface is steeper than the forward-facing slope surface.

5. The sled of claim 1, wherein the middle section has a rear surface having two openings separated by a wall section, the openings having interconnected internal channels.

6. The sport sled of claim 1, wherein the front end has a front surface having two openings separated by a wall segment, the openings having interconnected internal channels.

7. The sport sled of claim 5, further comprising a resilient stretchable line that forms a loop around the wall section of the rear surface of the intermediate region after being fed into one of the openings and then exiting from the other opening, and the resilient stretchable line having free ends connected together around an external anchor point.

8. The sport sled of claim 6, further comprising a resilient stretchable line that forms a loop around the wall section of the front surface of the front end after being fed into one of the openings and then exiting from the other opening, and the resilient stretchable line having free ends connected together around an external anchor point.

9. The sport sled of claim 1, further comprising a pair of foot straps attached to the rearward-facing slope surface.

10. The sport sled of claim 1, further comprising an opening in one or each of the rearward-facing slope surfaces for inserting a desired weight into the opening or each opening to increase the load on the load-bearing body.

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