Collapsible exercise hurdle, collapsible exercise hurdle and mat system, and methods of use thereof

Abstract

A collapsible exercise hurdle, an exercise mat compatible with the exercise hurdle, and a method of collapsing the exercise hurdle are disclosed. In one embodiment, the exercise hurdle can include a first hurdle panel, a second hurdle panel, and a hurdle spacer. The first hurdle panel can be coupled to the second hurdle panel. The first hurdle panel can comprise a first panel frame. The second hurdle panel can comprise a second panel frame. The exercise hurdle can have an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration. The first panel frame and the second panel frame can be twisted into overlapping coiled rings when the exercise hurdle is in the collapsed configuration.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An exercise hurdle, comprising:
 a first hurdle panel comprising a first panel frame;   a second hurdle panel comprising a second panel frame, wherein the second hurdle panel is coupled to the first hurdle panel; and   a hurdle spacer coupled to the second hurdle panel,
 wherein the exercise hurdle has an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration, 
 wherein the first panel frame and the second panel frame are twisted into overlapping coiled rings when the exercise hurdle is in the collapsed configuration, and 
 wherein the first hurdle panel further comprises a first fabric sleeve and the first panel frame is within the first fabric sleeve, and wherein the second hurdle panel further comprises a second fabric sleeve and the second panel frame is within the second fabric sleeve. 
   
     
     
         2 . The exercise hurdle of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first panel frame and the second panel frame has a frame width-to-thickness ratio of between about 2.0 to 3.0. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise hurdle of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first fabric sleeve and the second fabric sleeve comprises nylon. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise hurdle of  claim 1 , wherein the first hurdle panel is coupled to the second hurdle panel by stitches connecting the first fabric sleeve and the second fabric sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise hurdle of  claim 1 , wherein the first hurdle panel further comprises a first mesh panel portion and the second hurdle panel further comprises a second mesh panel portion. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise hurdle of  claim 1 , wherein the hurdle spacer comprises a first fastener component and the first hurdle panel comprises a second fastener component complementary to the first fastener component. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise hurdle of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first panel frame and the second panel frame is made of an elongate strip of metal formed into a closed-loop. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise hurdle of  claim 1 , wherein the hurdle spacer comprises a magnet. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise hurdle of  claim 1 , wherein the first panel frame and the second panel frame are twisted into at least three coiled rings when the exercise hurdle is in the collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise hurdle of  claim 1 , wherein the exercise hurdle is self-expandable from the collapsed configuration into the expanded configuration. 
     
     
         11 . An exercise system, comprising:
 an exercise hurdle, comprising:
 a first hurdle panel comprising a first panel frame, 
 a second hurdle panel comprising a second panel frame, wherein the second hurdle panel is coupled to the first hurdle panel, and 
 a hurdle spacer comprising a magnet, wherein the hurdle spacer is coupled to the second hurdle panel, wherein the exercise hurdle has an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration, wherein the first panel frame and the second panel frame are twisted into overlapping coiled rings when the exercise hurdle is in the collapsed configuration; and 
   an exercise mat comprising a plurality of metallic placement markers affixed to the exercise mat,
 wherein the magnet of the hurdle spacer is configured to releasably couple to at least one of the plurality of metallic placement markers. 
   
     
     
         12 . The exercise system of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first panel frame and the second panel frame has a frame width-to-thickness ratio of between about 2.0 to 3.0. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise system of  claim 11 , wherein the first hurdle panel further comprises a first fabric sleeve and the first panel frame is within the first fabric sleeve, and wherein the second hurdle panel further comprises a second fabric sleeve and the second panel frame is within the second fabric sleeve. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise system of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first fabric sleeve and the second fabric sleeve comprises nylon. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise system of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first panel frame and the second panel frame is made of an elongate strip of metal formed into a closed-loop. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of metallic placement markers are affixed to the exercise mat via adhesives. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise system of  claim 11 , wherein the exercise mat comprises thermoplastic rubber, nitrile butadiene rubber, polyvinyl chloride, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . A method of collapsing a hurdle comprising:
 aligning a first hurdle panel of the hurdle with a second hurdle panel of the hurdle such that a first panel frame of the first hurdle panel overlaps a second panel frame of the second hurdle panel, wherein the first hurdle panel is coupled to the second hurdle panel;   twisting a first overlapped set of corners of the first hurdle panel and the second hurdle panel in a first rotational direction; and   simultaneously holding steady or twisting a second overlapped set of corners of the first hurdle panel and the second hurdle panel in a second rotational direction,
 wherein the second overlapped set of corners is substantially diagonal to the first overlapped set of corners, and 
 wherein the first panel frame and the second panel frame are collapsible into a plurality of overlapping coiled rings. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising bringing the first overlapped set of corners toward the second overlapped set of corners to collapse the first panel frame and the second panel frame into the plurality of overlapping coiled rings. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising detaching a hurdle spacer coupled to the second hurdle panel from the first hurdle panel prior to aligning the first hurdle panel with the second hurdle panel.