Apparatus for providing support when performing plank training exercises and methods of manufacturing and using same

Abstract

An exercise apparatus/device, and methods of making and manufacturing same, for performing a plank exercise is provided. The apparatus/device includes a first support member that operates to rest against the chest/body of a user, and a second support member that is attached to, and extends away from, the first support member and rests on a surface, such as a floor, mat, etc. The first support member and/or the second support member may be ergonomically designed by having features including, but not limited to, one or more contours or shapes that operate to receive one or more portions of the body of the user, such as the arms, chest, chin/neck, etc. Since an individual, who has not developed proper form and strength, performing the plank exercise can lead to serious injuries, the apparatus/device operates to permit the user to perform the plank exercise more easily and safely.

1 . An exercise apparatus for performing one or more plank exercises, the apparatus comprising:
 a first support member having at least a first surface, a first side and a second side, the at least first surface of the first support member extending between the first and second sides for a predetermined length; and   at least one second support member having a first and second end, the first end of the at least one second support member being attached or connected to the first support member, the at least one second support member extending at least one of substantially transversely and substantially perpendicularly away from the first support member and the second end of the at least one second support member operating to at least one of rest on, contact and communicate with at least a surface for performing one or more plank exercises, thereby providing vertical support to the exercise apparatus, wherein   the first support member and the at least one second support member are sized and shaped such that exercise apparatus operates as a device for performing the one or more plank exercises.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
 the exercise apparatus operates to receive an upper portion of a body of a user on the first support member and to permit the user to place at least one of one or more hands, one or more elbows and one or more forearms of the user on at least the surface for the performing one or more plank exercises;   one or more upper arms of the user: (i) are substantially transverse, or substantially perpendicular, to at least the surface for performing the one or more plank exercises; and (ii) extend from respective sides of the exercise apparatus to permit the user to perform the one or more plank exercises; and   the exercise apparatus operates to remove at least a portion of the weight of the body of the user from at least one of one or more hands, one or more arms and one or more clavicles and/or shoulders of the user, thereby reducing or removing stress from at least one of the one or more hands, the one or more arms and the one or more clavicles and/or shoulders of the body.   
     
     
         3 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of:
 the first support member further comprises: (i) a third side and a fourth side on opposite sides of the first support member, the third and fourth sides extending between the first and second sides; and (ii) one or more contours or indentations for receiving one or more portions of the body of the user of the exercise apparatus; and   the one or more contours or indentations of the first support member include at least one of:
 at least one clavicle/shoulder and/or arm contour or indentation disposed on, and in communication with, at least one of the first side and the second side of the first support member, the at least one clavicle/shoulder and/or arm contour or indentation operating to receive at least one of a portion of at least one clavicle and/or shoulder and a portion of at least one arm of the user; 
 two clavicle/shoulder and/or arm contours or indentations, the first clavicle/shoulder and/or arm contour or indentation being disposed on, and in communication with, the first side of the first support member and the second clavicle/shoulder and/or arm contour or indentation being disposed on, and in communication with, the second side of the first support member, the two clavicle/shoulder and/or arm contours or indentations operating to each receive at least one of at least one clavicle and/or shoulder and at least one arm of the user; 
 one or more pectoral muscle and/or breast contours or indentations disposed on, and in communication with, the third side of the first support member, the one or more pectoral muscle and/or breast contours or indentations operating to receive at least one of a portion of at least one pectoral muscle and a portion of at least one breast of the user; 
 at least one chest and/or upper body contour or indentation disposed on, and in communication with, the at least first surface of the first support member, the at least one chest and/or upper body contour or indentation operating to receive at least one of a portion of a chest, a portion of an upper body and a portion of the upper portion of the user; and 
 at least one neck and/or chin contour or indentation disposed on, and in communication, the fourth side of the first support member, the at least one neck and/or chin contour or indentation operating to receive at least one of a portion of a neck and a portion of a chin of the user. 
   
     
     
         4 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of:
 at least one of a depth of the at least one clavicle/shoulder and/or arm contours or indentations and a depth of the two clavicle/shoulder and/or arm contours or indentations is at least one of: about zero inches to about 5 inches; about zero inches to about 5 inches at the deepest location thereof; and about zero inches to about 5 inches where the depth defines a radius thereof;   at least one of a length of the first side of the first support member and a length of the second side of the first support member is at least one of: about 1 inch to about 19 inches; about 1 inch to about 20 inches; about zero inches to about 19 inches, and about zero inches to about 20 inches;   at least one of a length of the third side of the first support member and a length of the fourth side of the first support member is at least one of: about 3 inches to about 19 inches; and about 3 inches to about 36 inches;   at least one of a length, a width, a thickness and a depth of the at least one second support member is at least one of: about 3 inches to about 19 inches; and about 3 inches to about 36 inches;   a depth of the at least one neck and/or chin contour or indentation is at least one of: about zero inches to about 4 inches at the deepest location thereof; and about zero inches to about 2 inches at the deepest location thereof;   a depth of the one or more pectoral muscle and/or breast contours or indentations is at least one of: about zero inches to about 4 inches at the deepest location thereof; and about zero inches to about 2 inches at the deepest location thereof;   at least one of a height of the at least one second support member and a length of the at least one second support member is about 4 inches to about 25 inches;   at least one of a height of the chest and/or upper body contour or indentation of the first support member and a depth of the chest and/or upper body contour or indentation of the first support member is at least one of: about zero inches to about 2 inches; and about zero inches to about 4 inches; and   a height of the exercise apparatus is about 4 inches to about 25 inches.   
     
     
         5 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a cushion disposed on, or as part of, the at least first surface of the first support member and operating to receive at least one of a portion of the upper portion of the user and a portion of the chest of the user thereon, wherein at least one of the cushion, the first support member and the at least one second support member comprise at least one of: clear plastic, polyurethane polymer, foam, polymer foam, balsa wood, wood, rubber, cork, a soft material, a material that operates to be inflated with air, textile material, polymer, thermoplastic polyurethane polymer, cloth fabric, vinyl, leather, suede, synthetics, a substantially resilient material, and a hard or rigid material. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of:
 the first support member further comprises a second surface on the opposite side of the at least first surface such that the at least first surface and the second surface are facing away from each other, the second surface being attached to the first end of the at least one second support member such that the at least one second support member extends away therefrom; and   the at least one second support member at least one of slopes and tapers inwardly from the first end of the at least one second support member to a predetermined location along at least one of the length and the height of the at least one second support member and then at least one of slopes and tapers outwardly from the predetermined location to the second end of the at least one second support member.   
     
     
         7 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of:
 the exercise apparatus further comprises a base element connected or attached to the second end of the at least one second support member, the base element being sized and shaped such that the base element operates to add horizontal support or stability to the exercise apparatus;   the at least one second support member further comprises the base element connected or attached to the second end of the at least one second support member, the base element being sized and shaped such that the base element operates to add horizontal support or stability to the exercise apparatus and/or extends or increases at least one of the length, the width, the height and the diameter of the at least one second support member;   at least one of a length, a width, a height and a diameter of the base element is at least one of: about 3 inches to about 36 inches; and   at least one of a combined height of the at least one second support member and the base element and a combined length of the at least one second support member and the base element is about 4 inches to about 25 inches.   
     
     
         8 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the base element at least one of: (i) extends radially in all directions from the second end of the at least one second support member to add the horizontal support or stability; (ii) extends away in one or more directions for one or more predetermined distances from the second end of the at least one second support member to add the horizontal support or stability; and (iii) is sized and shaped to be at least one of: a circle, a square, a rectangle, a semi-circle, and an oval. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one second support member comprises at least one of: (i) one support member; (ii) two or more support members; and (iii) three support members. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first end of the at least one second support member includes a surface attached to the first support member, at least one of the surface of the at least one second support member and the first end of the at least one second support member having substantially the same, or the same, shape or surface area as the at least first surface of the first support member such that the at least one second support member includes the one or more contours or indentations and the second support member and the one or more contours or indentations of the second support member extend substantially transversely, or substantially perpendicularly away, from the first support member for a predetermined distance. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a cushion disposed on, or as part of, the at least first surface of the first support member and operating to receive at least one of a portion of the upper portion of the user and a portion of the chest of the user thereon, wherein at least one of:
 at least one of the cushion, the first support member and the at least one second support member comprising at least one of: clear plastic, polyurethane polymer, foam, polymer foam, balsa wood, wood, rubber, cork, a soft material, a material that operates to be inflated with air, textile material, polymer, thermoplastic polyurethane polymer, cloth fabric, vinyl, leather, suede, synthetics, substantially resilient material, and a hard or rigid material;   the first support member further comprises a second surface on the opposite side of the at least first surface such that the at least first surface and the second surface are facing away from each other, the second surface being attached to or connected to the at least one second support member such that the at least one second support member extends away therefrom; and   at least one of the first support member, the cushion and the at least one second support member are integral.   
     
     
         12 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first end of the at least one second support member is attached to the first support member along a perimeter of the first support member such that the at least one second support member has a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side, the first side of the at least one second support member extending substantially transversely or substantially perpendicularly away from the first side of the first support member, the second side of the at least one second support member extending substantially transversely or substantially perpendicularly away from the second side of the first support member, the third side of the at least second support member at least one of being sloped and tapering away from the third side of the first support member, and the fourth side of the at least second support member at least one of being sloped and tapering away from the fourth side of the first support member. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a cushion disposed on, or as part of, the at least first surface of the first support member and operating to receive at least one of a portion of the upper portion of the user and a portion of the chest of the user thereon, wherein at least one of:
 at least one of the cushion, the first support member and the at least one second support member comprising at least one of: clear plastic, polyurethane polymer, foam, polymer foam, balsa wood, wood, rubber, cork, a soft material, a material that operates to be inflated with air, textile material, polymer, thermoplastic polyurethane polymer, cloth fabric, vinyl, leather, suede, synthetics, substantially resilient material, and a hard or rigid material; and   at least one of the first support member, the cushion and the at least one second support member are integral.   
     
     
         14 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first end of the at least one second support member is attached to or connected to the first support member along a perimeter of the first support member such that the at least one second support member has a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side, the first side of the at least one second support member at least one of being sloped and tapering away from the first side of the first support member, the second side of the at least one second support member at least one of being sloped and tapering away from the second side of the first support member, the third side of the at least second support member at least one of being sloped and tapering away from the third side of the first support member, and the fourth side of the at least second support member at least one of being sloped and tapering away from the fourth side of the first support member. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of:
 (i) the first support member and the at least one second support member are integral;   (ii) the first support member includes a cushion disposed thereon, or as part of the at least first surface of the first support member, the cushion operating to receive at least one of a portion of the upper portion of the user and a portion of the chest of the user thereon;   (iii) at least one of the first support member, the cushion and the at least one second support member comprise at least one of: clear plastic, polyurethane polymer, foam, polymer foam, balsa wood, wood, rubber, cork, a soft material, a material that operates to be inflated with air, textile material, polymer, thermoplastic polyurethane polymer, cloth fabric, vinyl, leather, suede, synthetics, substantially resilient material, and a hard or rigid material;   (iv) the first and second sides of the at least one second support member at least one of: include at least one of the clavicle/shoulder and/or arm contours or indentations; and each include one of the two clavicle/shoulder and/or arm contours or indentations;   (v) at least one of the at least one clavicle/shoulder and/or arm contours or indentations and the two clavicle/shoulder and/or arm contours or indentations extend from the first support member along at least one of the length and the height of the at least one second support member to the second end of the at least one second support member;   (vi) at least one of the at least one clavicle/shoulder and/or arm contours or indentations and the two clavicle/shoulder and/or arm contours or indentations extend from the first support member along at least one of the length and the height of the at least one second support member for a predetermined distance;   (vii) at least one of the one or more pectoral muscle and/or breast contours or indentations and the at least one neck and/or chin contour or indentation extend from the first support member along at least one of the length and the height of the at least one second support member for a predetermined distance;   (viii) at least one of the width and the depth of the at least one of the one or more pectoral muscle and/or breast contours or indentations and the at least one neck and/or chin contour or indentation decreases as the at least one of the one or more pectoral muscle and/or breast contours or indentations and the at least one neck and/or chin contour or indentation extend away from the first support member;   (ix) at least one of the first support member, the cushion and the at least one second support member are integral; and   (x) the first support member further comprises a second surface on the opposite side of the at least first surface such that the at least first surface and the second surface are facing away from each other, the second surface being attached to or connected to the at least one second support member such that the at least one second support member extends away therefrom.   
     
     
         16 . A method of performing one or more plank exercises, comprising:
 placing at least one of a portion of a chest and a portion of an upper body of a user on a first support member of an exercise apparatus, the first support member having at least a first surface, a first side and a second side, the at least first surface of the first support member extending between the first and second sides a predetermined length, and the first support member being connected to or attached to a first end of at least one second support member, the at least one second support member extending at least one of substantially transversely and substantially perpendicularly away from the first support member;   placing a second end of the at least one second support member of the exercise apparatus on a surface or a floor for performing the one or more plank exercises such that at least one of the at least one second support member provides vertical support to the exercise apparatus; and   placing at least one of one or more hands, one or more elbows and one or more forearms of the user on the surface or the floor for performing the one or more plank exercises, wherein   the first support member and the at least one second support member are sized and shaped such that the exercise apparatus operates as a device for performing the one or more plank exercises.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising at least one of:
 arranging one or more upper arms of the user substantially transversely, or substantially perpendicularly, to the surface or the floor for performing one or more plank exercises such that the one or more upper arms of the user extend from respective side(s) of the exercise apparatus to permit the user to perform the one or more plank exercises; and   operating the plank exercise apparatus to remove at least a portion of the weight of the body of the user from at least one of the one or more hands, one or more arms and one or more clavicles/shoulders of the user, thereby reducing or removing stress from at least one of the one or more hands, the one or more arms and the one or more clavicles/shoulders of the body.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of:
 the first support member further comprises: (i) a third side and a fourth side on opposite sides of the first support member, the third and fourth sides extending between the first and second sides; and (ii) one or more contours or indentations for receiving one or more portions of a body of a user of the exercise apparatus;   the one or more contours or indentations of the first support member include at least one of:
 at least one clavicle/shoulder and/or arm contour or indentation disposed on, and in communication with, at least one of the first side and the second side of the first support member, the at least one clavicle/shoulder and/or arm contour or indentation operating to receive at least one of a portion of at least one clavicle and/or shoulder and a portion of at least one arm of the user; 
 two clavicle/shoulder and/or arm contours or indentations, the first clavicle/shoulder and/or arm contour or indentation being disposed on, and in communication with, the first side of the first support member and the second clavicle/shoulder and/or arm contour or indentation being disposed on, and in communication with, the second side of the first support member, the two clavicle/shoulder and/or arm contours or indentations operating to each receive a portion of at least one of at least one clavicle and/or shoulder and a portion of at least one arm of the user; 
 one or more pectoral muscle and/or breast contours or indentations disposed on, and in communication with, the third side of the first support member, the one or more pectoral muscle and/or breast contours or indentations operating to receive at least one of a portion of at least one pectoral muscle and a portion of at least one breast of the user; 
 at least one chest and/or upper body contour or indentation disposed on, and in communication with, the at least first surface of the first support member, the at least one chest and/or upper body contour or indentation operating to receive at least one of a portion of a chest, a portion of an upper body and a portion of the upper portion of the user; and 
 at least one neck and/or chin contour or indentation disposed on, and in communication, the fourth side of the first support member, the at least one neck and/or chin contour or indentation operating to receive at least one of a portion of a neck and a portion of a chin of the user; 
   at least one of a depth of the at least one clavicle/shoulder and/or arm contours or indentations and a depth of the two clavicle/shoulder and/or arm contours or indentations is at least one of: about zero inches to about 5 inches; about zero inches to about 5 inches at the deepest location thereof; and about zero inches to about 5 inches where the depth defines a radius thereof;   at least one of a length of the first side of the first support member and a length of the second side of the first support member is at least one of: about 1 inch to about 19 inches; about 1 inch to about 20 inches; about zero inches to about 19 inches, and about zero inches to about 20 inches;   at least one of a length of the third side of the first support member and a length of the fourth side of the first support member is at least one of: about 3 inches to about 19 inches; and   about 3 inches to about 36 inches;   at least one of a length, a width, a thickness and a depth of the at least one second support member is at least one of: about 3 inches to about 19 inches; and about 3 inches to about 36 inches;   a depth of the at least one neck and/or chin contour or indentation is at least one of: about zero inches to about 4 inches at the deepest location thereof; and about zero inches to about 2 inches at the deepest location thereof;   a depth of the one or more pectoral muscle and/or breast contours or indentations is at least one of: about zero inches to about 4 inches at the deepest location thereof; and about zero inches to about 2 inches at the deepest location thereof;   at least one of a height of the at least one second support member and a length of the at least one second support member is about 4 inches to about 25 inches;   at least one of a height of the chest and/or upper body contour or indentation of the first support member and a depth of the chest and/or upper body contour or indentation of the first support member is at least one of: about zero inches to about 2 inches; and about zero inches to about 4 inches;   a height of the exercise apparatus is about 4 inches to about 25 inches.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of:
 the method further comprises disposing a cushion on, or integrating or forming a cushion into, the at least first surface of the first support member between the first support member and at least one of the upper portion of the body of the user and the chest of the body of the user, wherein at least one of the cushion, the first support member and at least the second support member comprise at least one of: clear plastic, polyurethane polymer, foam, polymer foam, balsa wood, wood, rubber, cork, a soft material, a material that operates to be inflated with air, textile material, polymer, thermoplastic polyurethane polymer, cloth fabric, vinyl, leather, suede, synthetics, substantially resilient material, and a hard or rigid material;   the method further comprises providing a base element connected or attached to the second end of the at least one second support member, the base element being sized and shaped such that the base element operates to add horizontal support or stability to the exercise apparatus;   the method further comprises providing the base element as a component of the at least one second support member by connecting or attaching the base element to the second end of the at least one second support member, the base element being sized and shaped such that the base element operates to add horizontal support or stability to the exercise apparatus and/or extends or increases at least one of the length, the width, the height and the diameter of the at least one second support member;   at least one of a length, a width, a height and a diameter of the base element is at least one of: about 3 inches to about 36 inches; and   at least one of a combined height of the at least one second support member and the base element and a combined length of the at least one second support member and the base element is about 4 inches to about 25 inches.   
     
     
         20 . A method of manufacturing an exercise apparatus for performing one or more plank exercises, comprising:
 forming a first support member having at least a first surface, a first side and a second side, the at least first surface of the first support member extending between the first and second sides for a predetermined length by sizing and shaping the first support member to receive, or accommodate, at least an upper portion, a back or a chest of at least one of a mold of a manikin, an anatomical model of a human body and a mold of a human model;   forming at least one second support member having a first end and a second end by attaching the first end of the at least one second support member to the first support member and sizing and shaping the at least one second support member based on the at least one of the mold of the manikin, the anatomical model of the human body and the mold of the human model such that the at least one second support member extends at least one of substantially transversely and substantially perpendicularly away for a predetermined distance from the first support member and the second end of the at least one second support member operates to rest on at least a surface for performing one or more plank exercises, thereby providing vertical support to the exercise apparatus, the predetermined distance that the at least one second support member extends being selected such that at least one of: (i) at least one of one or more hands, one or more elbows and one or more forearms of the at least one of the manikin, the anatomical model of the human body and the mold of the human model operate to rest on the surface for performing the one or more plank exercises; and (ii) the exercise apparatus operates to permit a user to place at least one of one or more hands, one or more elbows and one or more forearms of the user on at least the surface for the performing one or more plank exercises; and   forming one or more contours or indentations on the first support member and the at least one second support member of the plank exercise apparatus, based on one or more contours of at least one portion of the at least one of the manikin, the anatomical model of the human body and the mold of the human model such that: (i) the one or more contours or indentations of the plank exercise apparatus operate to receive at least one corresponding portion of a body of a user of the plank exercise apparatus, the portion including at least one of: a back, an upper portion of a body, a side, a shoulder, a clavicle, a neck, a chin, an arm, a chest, a breast and a pectoral muscle of the user; and (ii) the first support member and the at least one second support member are sized and shaped such that exercise apparatus operates as an apparatus for performing the one or more plank exercises.