Exercise Systems, Exercise Devices and Exercise Methods

Abstract

An exercise device includes a first platform configured to receive a portion of the human body. The exercise device includes a second platform configured to move over a substrate. A pivot device secures the first and second platforms together wherein the pivot device allows for a pivot action between the first and second platforms.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exercise device comprising:
 a first platform configured to receive a portion of the human body;   a second platform configured to move over the substrate; and   a pivot device securing the first and second platforms together, the pivot device allowing for a pivot action between the first and second platforms.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the pivot action comprises at least two different pivot axes and wherein at least one of the first and second platforms can rotate about the two different pivot axes relative to the other platform. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the pivot action comprises any pivot axis oriented in any direction in a single plane and wherein at least one of the first and second platforms can rotate about the any pivot axis relative to the other platform. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise device of  claim 3  wherein the pivot action further comprises a perpendicular pivot axis oriented perpendicularly to the single plane and wherein the at least one of the first and second platforms can rotate about the perpendicular pivot axis relative to the other platform. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first and second platforms are spaced from each other; 
 the pivot device allows for at least one of the first and second platforms to move back and forth through the space; and 
 at each point in the space where the at least one platform moves, the pivot device further allows for a pivot action that comprises any pivot axis in three dimensional space wherein the central point of the three dimensional axes is defined by each point of movement in the space by the at least one platform. 
 
     
     
         6 . The exercise device of  claim 1  further comprising at least one dampening device between the first and second platforms. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the pivot action comprises at least two pivot axes, and wherein each one of the two pivot axes can be oriented in any direction in a respective single plane, and wherein the two respective single planes are perpendicular to each other, and wherein at least one of the first and second platforms can rotate about the at least two pivot axes relative to the other platform. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the pivot device comprises at least one ball and socket joint that provides at least a portion of the pivot action. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the second platform comprises at least one ball and socket joint that provides at least a portion of the capacity of the second platform to move over the substrate. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the capacity of the second platform to move over the substrate is provided by at least one bearing device, the bearing device lacking any moving parts. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein pivot device comprises a ball joint, the ball joint comprising a spherical bearing rotatable in a socket and a stem extending from the spherical bearing, the socket is secured to one of the first and second platforms and the stem is secured to the other of the platforms. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein pivot device comprises:
 at least two ball joints, each ball joint comprising a spherical bearing rotatable in a socket, one socket is secured to the first platform and the other socket is secured to the second platform; and 
 a single stem extends between the respective spherical bearings. 
 
     
     
         13 . The exercise device of  claim 12  further comprising a dampening device over the single stem. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein pivot device comprises:
 at least two ball joints, each ball joint comprising a spherical bearing rotatable in a socket, one socket is secured to the first platform and the other socket is secured to the second platform; and 
 a dampening device extending between the respective spherical bearings. 
 
     
     
         15 . An exercise system comprising:
 a first platform configured to receive a portion of the human body and configured to move over a substrate;   a second platform pivotally secured to the first platform and configured to move over a substrate; and   an anchor configured to be gripped with hands.   
     
     
         16 . The exercise system of  claim 15  wherein the anchor comprises a net. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise system of  claim 15  wherein the substrate comprises markings configured as a game. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise system of  claim 17  wherein the substrate is electrically coupled to a computer. 
     
     
         19 . The exercise system of  claim 15  wherein the anchor comprises a trapeze. 
     
     
         20 . An exercise method comprising:
 sitting on a first exercise device configured to move over a substrate;   supporting at least one hand on a second exercise device configured to move over the substrate; and   moving the second exercise device over the substrate.   
     
     
         21 . The exercise method of  claim 20  further comprising supporting the other hand on a third exercise device configured to move over the substrate.