WO2025153815A1

WO2025153815A1 - Exercise equipment

Info

Publication number: WO2025153815A1
Application number: PCT/GB2025/050068
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Pierre ADA
Original assignee: Sup'r'setgym Ltd
Current assignee: Sup'r'setgym Ltd
Priority date: 2024-01-18
Filing date: 2025-01-16
Publication date: 2025-07-24
Anticipated expiration: 2026-07-18

Abstract

An article of exercise equipment (1) comprises a compressible pad, the compressible pad being shaped to provide a sloping channel thereacross, a rigid base having the pad connected thereto; and at least one strap arranged to secure the rigid base to a surface (2a). The sloping channel of the pad is arranged to support a top surface of a user's foot (3a) in use. A method of using such an article of exercise equipment (1) is also disclosed.

Description

EXERCISE EQUIPMENT

This invention relates to exercise equipment, and in particular to an exercise aid that may be of particular utility when performing single-leg split squats, or other exercises requiring one foot to be raised off the ground whilst serving to balance the user, and to a method of using such an exercise aid.

When performing single-leg split squats (also referred to as Bulgarian split squats), or similar exercises, users generally raise one leg behind them, with a bent knee - the top (dorsal) surface of the foot of this rearward leg is rested on a surface, such as a bench or low wall, to provide balance whilst working the forward leg. It will be appreciated that the “top” surface of this rearward foot faces downward for the exercise; “top” here refers to the usual orientation when a person is upright.

Padded benches are known, and provide some cushioning for the rearward foot. It is an object of the invention to provide an exercise aid that will better support the rearward foot for such exercises; increasing comfort and/or reducing the risk of the foot slipping during the exercise.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an article of exercise equipment comprising: a compressible pad, the compressible pad being shaped to provide a sloping channel thereacross, the sloping channel being arranged to support a top surface of a user’s foot in use; a rigid base having the pad connected thereto; and at least one strap arranged to secure the rigid base to a surface.

The sloping channel may extend across a full width of the compressible pad. In other embodiments, the sloping channel may be shorter than the pad width - for example starting at one edge of the compressible pad and ending before reaching an opposing edge of the compressible pad.

The sloping channel may have a constant width along its length.

The sloping channel may be symmetrical about a centre line along the base of the channel.

The sloping channel may be located centrally with respect to a width of the pad.

The shape of the sloping channel may be provided by a varying thickness (i.e. height, in its usual orientation) of the pad. The slope angle of the sloping channel may be constant along at least the majority of the length of the channel, and optionally along the entire length of the channel. The sloping channel may have a slope angle in the range from 5° to 20°.

The compressible pad may have a footprint of no more than 800 cm², the compressible pad being shaped to provide a sloping channel thereacross,

The pad may comprise a plurality of raised ribs across a surface of the sloping channel. The ribs may be arranged perpendicularly to the length of the sloping channel, and may provide improved grip for a user’s foot, and/or reinforcement of the channel’s shape.

The compressible pad may comprise an internal support arranged to maintain a shape of the channel under applied pressure. The internal support may limit by how far the pad can be compressed. The internal support may be a part of the pad, a part of the base, or separable from both. The internal support may be at least substantially rigid. The internal support may be made of a rigid plastic.

The pad may comprise a compressible body, e.g. a foam body, surrounding or mounted on the internal support. The body of the compressible pad may be made from a closed-cell foam. The article of exercise equipment may comprise two parallel straps spaced apart along the rigid base. Use of a pair of spaced straps may reduce tilting as compared to a single strap. Each strap may have a width of at least 1.5 cm or 2 cm. The straps may be spaced apart by a distance of at least 5 cm or 6 cm (between strap centre lines). The strap(s) may be substantially flat, for example having a thin rectangular cross-section.

The pad may have an at least substantially square cross-section parallel to the base. The base may also have an at least substantially square cross-section. The sloping channel may extend centrally across the square cross-section. The sloping channel may extend between a first pair of opposing sides of the square, parallel to a second pair of opposing sides of the square.

The sloping channel may extend from a lowermost point in a first edge region of the pad to an uppermost point in a second edge region of the pad, the first and second edge regions being on opposing sides of the pad. In particular, the uppermost point may be at an edge of the pad, so providing smooth access to the upper end of the channel.

The pad may be shaped to provide two or more sloping channels thereacross. The channels may be of differing widths and/or of differing slope angles. Different users, e.g. with different foot sizes, or one user wearing shoes and another barefoot, may find different channel shapes more suitable.

In embodiments with two sloping channels, the two sloping channels may be perpendicular to each other and of differing widths and/or slope angles. The channels may cross. Two differently-shaped channels may therefore be provided in a relatively small pad, whilst retaining strong support of the channel shape. In other embodiments with two (or more) sloping channels, the sloping channels may be parallel to each other, spaced along a width of the pad. Optionally, the slope angles may be reversed, such that one channel has its uppermost point at a first edge of the pad and the second channel has its uppermost point at a second edge of the pad, opposite the first edge of the pad

The article of exercise equipment may further comprise at least one compressible grip element on an underside of the base. The at least one compressible grip element may be arranged to provide friction between the underside of the base and a surface on which the article of exercise equipment is mounted. A slip risk may therefore be reduced.

The pad may be rotatably mounted on the base, and may be arranged to be locked into at least two different positions with respect to the base. The orientation of the channel may therefore be adjusted for a given position of the base. This may allow a user to make use of the article of exercise equipment in a wide variety of different environments, e.g. with limited space next to a bench or other suitable surface to which the article of exercise equipment is attached (“attachment surface”).

In embodiments with an at least substantially rigid internal support for the pad, the internal support and the base may each comprise a cylindrical wall, the cylindrical walls being sized to fit against each other with one surrounding the other. This cooperation of the tubular surfaces may assist in making relative rotation of the pad and base smooth, and reduce or avoid tilt of the base with respect to the pad during rotation. The two cylinders may be co-axial along a rotation axis of the pad and base.

The rotation angle between the locked positions may be 90°. This may allow a user to attach the article of exercise equipment to a bench (for example), with one or more straps extending around the bench surface’s lengthwise axis, and then stand either by a side of the bench or at the end of the bench to perform the exercise - adjustability of pad position allows flexibility in where a user stands with respect to the attachment surface and strap direction.

In embodiments with an internal support, the internal support may be a part of the pad or may have the pad mounted thereon. The base and the internal support may each comprise part of a clip, or connector. In embodiments without an internal support for the channel, the pad may comprise a different rigid component arranged to provide part of a connector instead. The connector may serve to connect the pad to the base.

In embodiments with a pair of cylindrical walls as described above, the clip or connector may be located within the inner cylinder, optionally on the rotation axis.

In some embodiments, the two parts of the clip / connector may be arranged to interact so as to allow relative rotation of the base and the pad. In particular, the connector may be arranged to provide a rotatable connection between the base and pad, such that the pad can be rotated with respect to the base whilst still remaining connected to the base. The connector may also be arranged to allow the pad to lock into each of multiple distinct positions with respect to the base. The connector itself may therefore provide a locking mechanism in some embodiments. Other components of the article of exercise equipment may provide the locking mechanism in additional or alternative embodiments. For example, interlocking formations on the internal support (or other rigid component of the pad) and on the base may be used.

In embodiments with such a clip or connector, the base may comprise a shaped aperture therethrough, the aperture being narrower adjacent the pad than at an underside of the base further from the pad. The aperture may provide an at least substantially tubular passage through the base, the sides of the aperture optionally being stepped to change its width. The pad or internal support may comprise a protrusion extending therefrom, the protrusion being arranged to extend into the shaped passage. The aperture may be arranged to rotatably receive a head of a protrusion therein. The head of the protrusion may be wider than a shaft of the protrusion. The narrowing of the aperture / passage nearer to the pad may be arranged to prevent the head of the protrusion from being removed from the aperture (at least without application of a greater force, or a force in a specific direction, for example) such that the pad can be rotated with respect to the base whilst remaining connected thereto by the interaction of the head with the aperture.

In embodiments with such a protrusion and aperture, the protrusion may be longer than the passage through the base provided by the aperture such that the head of the protrusion extends beyond the aperture when the pad is seated on the base (i.e. when the pad rests on the base, rather than being raised off the base by a spacing allowed by movement of the head within the passage). The head may comprise at least two parts biased away from each other in a direction perpendicular to the length of the aperture such that the head expands laterally on emerging from the aperture. The protrusion can therefore only be moved back into the aperture by applying a force to overcome the biasing apart of the two parts. The head may have an outwardly stepped profile (e.g. with 90° steps providing a flat head surface facing a rim of the aperture) such that the protrusion can only be pushed back into the aperture by laterally compressing the head, or may have a curved or sloped profile to allow forces in other directions to cause compression of the head without bending the structure (e.g. internal support). The clip formed by the interaction of the protrusion and aperture may therefore “lock” the pad to the base, and lateral movement and/or relative rotation may be possible only when the head is laterally compressed and pushed back into the aperture. The aperture through the base may emerge into a recessed portion of the underside of the base such that the head of the protrusion is contained within the recessed portion and does not extend downwardly of the base. As such, the head may not extend below a lowermost part of the base, so allowing the article of exercise equipment to rest flat on a bench or other surface.

In other embodiments, the base may comprise a projection and the pad may comprise an aperture arranged to receive the projection (e.g. in an internal support of the pad, where present, or in another rigid component of the pad), or each may comprise both a projection and an aperture and/or one or more other interlocking features.

In embodiments in which the pad can be rotated with respect to the base, the base may comprise at least one tab or indentation arranged to facilitate grip of the base so as to allow a user to rotate the base with respect to the pad.

Additionally or alternatively, the pad may comprise one or more indentations, and optionally a pair of indentations on opposing sides of the pad, the indentations being arranged to act as hand-holds to allow a user to lift and rotate the pad with respect to the base.

The pad and the base may each have one or more corners, and the base may have a rim extending around its perimeter and defining the corner(s) of the base. The corner(s) of the pad may be arranged to be received within the rim such that relative rotation of the pad and base is prevented unless the pad is raised above the rim of the base. The corners of the pad may be supported / rigidified to prevent sufficient compression of the corners to allow relative rotation without raising of the pad above the rim. Such support may be provided by an internal support which is also arranged to maintain a shape of the channel under applied pressure, or by another component of the pad. In some embodiments, the compressible pad material may be firm enough to prevent rotation due to the corner-rim interaction even without a rigid support.

Additionally or alternatively, the underside of the pad may have at least one projection or indentation, and an upper surface of the base may have at least one corresponding indentation or projection, the corresponding indentation-projection pair(s) being arranged to lock the base and the pad together, preventing relative rotation, when the underside of the pad is in contact with the upper surface of the base. In embodiments in which the pad has a rigid internal support, the rigid internal support may provide the indentation or projection.

The pad may have a footprint (i.e. an area covered by it when resting on a surface in its in-use orientation) at least as large as the footprint of the rigid base, and may be arranged such that the rigid base does not extend beyond the pad in use. A user’s foot and ankle may therefore be shielded from the rigid base by the compressible pad, cushioning any contact in a typical usage position.

The slope angle of the sloping channel, as measured along the length of the channel (relative to a plane of the base - i.e. generally with respect to the horizontal plane in use), may be in the range from 5° to 80°, and optionally in the range from 5° to 45° or from 8° to 25°. The slope angle is typically constant along the length of the channel, although it may vary at the ends of the channel (e.g. providing a curved lip).

The article of exercise equipment may have a footprint of no more than 1600 cm² (e.g. a square of side 40 cm), and optionally no more than 1200 cm² (e.g. a 30 cm by 40 cm rectangle), 800 cm² (e.g. a 20 cm by 40 cm rectangle), or 400 cm² (e.g. a 20cm square). The footprint may be around 225 cm² (e.g. a square of side 15 cm). The article of exercise equipment may have a footprint of no less than 64 cm² (e.g. a square of side 8 cm), and optionally no less than 90 cm² (e.g. a rectangle of sides 9 cm and 10 cm). For example, the footprint may be in the range from 64 cm² to 1600 cm², from 64 cm² to 1200 cm², from 64 cm² to 800 cm², or from 64 cm² to 400 cm², and optionally from 90 cm² to 1600 cm², from 90 cm² to 1200 cm², from 90 cm² to 800 cm², or from 90 cm² to 400 cm²

The footprint may be at least substantially equal to the area of the rigid base (not counting the area of any straps). For example, the base may be 35 cm by 20 cm, or 15 cm by 15 cm. Preferably the article of exercise equipment is small enough to be easily portable, e.g. in a plastic bag or backpack.

The footprint may, for example, be square or rectangular.

The article of exercise equipment may have a maximum height, from an underside of the base to an upper surface of the pad, in the range from 5 cm to 35 cm, and optionally in the range from 8 cm to 20 cm.

The pad may comprise a layer of compressible material, e.g. foam. The compressible material may have a thickness of at least 15 mm, and optionally at least 20 mm. This thickness may be a minimum thickness at least at any point within the channel, and optionally at any point on the outer surface of the pad (i.e. on all surfaces not facing the base / all pad surfaces intended to be exposed in use). This compressible layer may reduce the chance of discomfort or rubbing in use.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of performing single-leg split squats, the method comprising: obtaining an article of exercise equipment as described with respect to the first aspect; securing the article of exercise equipment to an at least substantially horizontal surface using the at least one strap, with the compressible pad uppermost and an end of the sloping channel toward a user; and resting a top surface of the user’s rear foot within the sloping channel, with the user facing away from the article of exercise equipment.

The horizontal surface may be provided by a bench. The user may face away from the bench.

The end of the sloping channel nearest the user may be the upper / higher end of the sloping channel.

The pad may be rotatable with respect to the base. The method may further comprise: releasing a locking mechanism, so allowing the pad to be raised off the base; rotating the pad by an angle with respect to the base; and pushing the pad back onto the base so as to lock the pad into a different position.

The release of the locking mechanism may itself raise the pad off the base, or the pad may be (further) raised off the base after the locking mechanism has been released.

Pushing the pad back onto the base may re-engage the locking mechanism (or engage a different locking mechanism, depending on position and design), or a/the locking mechanism may be engaged after the pad has been pushed back onto the base. It will be appreciated that movement is relative - raising the pad off the base may equivalently be described as raising the base off the pad (noting that orientations are also relative). The pad may be rotated whilst the base is held still, the base may be rotated whilst the pad is held still, or each may be rotated in opposite directions. Similarly, pushing the pad back onto the base may comprise moving the pad towards the base, moving the base towards the pad, or moving both together.

The method may be performed before or after securing the article of exercise equipment to a bench. In some embodiments, the article of exercise equipment may need to be turned upside-down to allow a user to release a connector / locking mechanism between the pad and base, so allowing the relative rotation - in such embodiments, the releasing of the locking mechanism must therefore be performed before the pad is secured to the bench (even if the rotation and the locking back in position is done thereafter). In other embodiments, for example embodiments with indentations in the pad arranged to act as hand-holds - and optionally a corresponding formation in an internal support of the pad, where present - to allow a user to more easily exert a desired force on the pad without access to an underside of the base, the releasing of the connector may be performed even whilst the pad is secured to a bench. Some or all of the method may therefore be performed after securing the article of exercise equipment to a bench, with how much depending on the embodiment.

For example, the locking mechanism may comprise a clip or other connector as described above with respect to the first aspect, comprising a protrusion extending from the pad and an aperture in the base arranged to receive the protrusion. The method may further comprise, optionally before securing the article of exercise equipment to the bench: squeezing the head of the protrusion and pushing the head of the protrusion into the aperture, so raising the pad off the base; rotating the pad by an angle with respect to the base; and pushing the pad onto the base so as to lock the pad into a different position.

The squeezing of the head of the protrusion and pushing the head of the protrusion into the aperture may be done directly - e.g. by a user touching the protrusion, or indirectly - e.g. by a user applying a force to an outside of the pad, such that the force is transferred to the protrusion via the structure of the pad.

The rotation angle (between a first locked position of the pad with respect to the base, and a second locked position of the pad with respect to the base) may be 90°.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following Figures in which:

Figure 1 illustrates an article of exercise equipment in use;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an article of exercise equipment;

Figure 3 provides three photographs showing components of another embodiment of such an article of exercise equipment;

Figure 4 is a photograph showing an underside of the base of an article of exercise equipment;

Figure 5 is an exploded view of the article of exercise equipment shown in Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the article of exercise equipment shown in Figure 2; Figures 7A, 7B, and 7C are close-up cross-sectional view of the clip of the article of exercise equipment shown in Figure 2, in three different configurations;

Figures 8A, 8B, and 8C provide three photographs showing an article of exercise equipment with a base as shown in Figure 4, each photograph showing a different configuration;

Figure 9 is an underneath view of the article of exercise equipment shown in Figure 2;

Figure 10 is a flow-chart illustrating a method of use of articles of exercise equipment;

Figures 11A and 11B show photographs of a further example exercise aid;

Figure 12 shows the exercise aid of Figure 11 in use;

Figure 13 shows a perspective view of an article of exercise equipment similar to that shown in Figure 2, but with channel ribbing and hand-hold indentations;

Figure 14 shows the internal support of the article of exercise equipment of Figure 13;

Figure 15 shows a cross-sectional view of the locking and rotating mechanism of the article of exercise equipment of Figure 13, with the pad located on the base; and

Figure 16 shows cross-sectional view of the locking and rotating mechanism of the article of exercise equipment of Figure 13 with the pad raised with respect to the base to a first height (left-hand image) and a second height greater than the first height (right-hand image).

Figure 1 of the appended drawings illustrates an article of exercise equipment 1, which may be referred to as an exercise aid 1, secured to a bench 2, and a user 3 making use of the exercise aid 1. It will be appreciated that other suitable objects may be used in place of a bench 2 in other implementations. Whilst a continuous, flat, upper surface 2a may generally be preferred for mounting of the exercise aid 1, it will be appreciated that two or more parallel bars, or a grid, (for example) may effectively provide a flat surface 2a for mounting of the exercise aid 1.

Turning back to the embodiment pictured, the exercise aid 1 is secured to an upper surface 2a of the bench 2 by a strap 30 - the strap 30 extends around the bench 2. In the embodiment being described with respect to Figure 1, the strap 30 is provided as a part of the exercise aid 1 and is permanently connected thereto. In other embodiments, the strap 30 may be removable. In additional or alternative embodiments, such as that shown in Figure 2, multiple straps 30 may be provided. The at least one strap 30 extends under and around the bench top 2a, holding the exercise aid 1 in position. The strap 30 comprises a fastener - e.g. a buckle or clip - to allow the strap to be fastened in place, and optionally also comprises an adjustor to allow the strap 30 to be lengthened or shortened as applicable. Any suitable fastener and adjustor known in the art may be used.

In the intended use, a user 3 stands near the bench 2, facing away from the bench 2. The user 3 raises one leg behind the user, and rests the foot 3a of that leg (the user’s rearward foot/leg) on the exercise aid 1, with the dorsal surface of the foot 3a facing an upper surface of the exercise aid 1. Whilst the user 3 pictured is wearing shoes, it will be appreciated that such exercises may also be performed barefoot, or in socks only, or indeed that the exercise aid 1 may be used to accommodate a prosthetic foot or leg. The rearward foot 3a is used to assist the user 3 in maintaining balance whilst performing the exercise, which works the forward leg.

For a single-leg split squat, the user 3 stands in front of the bench 2 (generally around 60 cm in front of the bench for an adult, depending on leg length), facing away from the bench 2, with feet roughly hip-distance apart, shoulders back, and chest and back straight. A selected foot 3a is then lifted and placed on the bench 2 behind the user - and more specifically on the exercise aid 1 on the bench 2, with the top of the foot 3a resting on the exercise aid. The rearward foot 3a is used to stay balanced — the exercise is focused on the front leg. The knee of the front leg is then bent, lowering the user’s body, with the rearward knee and ankle being allowed to bend naturally as the user 3 moves through the downward phase of the exercise. No significant load should generally be taken by the rearward leg when the exercise is properly performed. The user 3 continues lowering until the forward quadriceps is roughly parallel to the ground. The user 3 then rises back to a standing position by pushing through the forward foot, using the quad and gluteal muscles of the forward leg to power the upward phase of the exercise. The legs can then be swapped over to exercise the other leg, following the same process. Whilst Figure 1 shows performance of this exercise as a bodyweight-only exercise, the exercise may also be performed whilst the user 3 holds weights.

A similar exercise aid 1 (with a different shape and number of straps) is shown in Figure 2. The exercise aid 1 comprises a pad 10. The pad 10 forms the uppermost part of the exercise aid 1, and is designed to receive the user’s foot 3a. The pad 10 is compressible, so providing some cushioning of the user’s foot, which may improve comfort as well as grip. The pad 10 is made of, or comprises, a resilient/elastic compressible material such that it can conform to the shape of a user’s foot 3a to at least some extent in use, and then return to its normal shape thereafter.

The pad 10 is shaped to receive a user’s foot 3a, so providing some assistance with balance/stability and/or reducing the chance of the foot 3a slipping. In particular, the shape of the pad 10 includes a channel 12 across the pad 10 from front 10a (side nearest the user 3) to back 10b (side furthest from the user 3). The channel 12 is therefore sized to accommodate a user’s foot, and prevent excessive sideways movement (perpendicular to the length of the channel 12). The channel may therefore have a width of around 10 cm, and optionally a width in the range from 6 cm to 15 cm, and optionally from 8 m to 15 cm or from 8 cm to 12 cm. Differently-sized channels may be provided for adults and for children, or based on shoe size or foot width.

In the embodiment shown, the channel 12 extends between the front and back edges of the pad 10, parallel to the side edges 10c, lOd of the pad (pad side angles and shapes may vary in other embodiments). The foot 3a is arranged to rest within the channel 12 such that the pad 10, and in particular the channel 12, supports a top surface of a user’s foot 3a in use, and keeps the foot located within the channel / reduces slippage. The raised sides of the channel 12 assist in limiting sideways movement of the foot. The channel 12 is centrally-located with respect to the width of the pad 10 (i.e. centrally- located with respect to the sides 10c, lOd) in the embodiment shown.

The upper surface of the pad 10 may therefore have an at least approximately U-shaped profile across at least a portion of its width, so providing the channel 12.

The channel 12 is sloped such that it is higher at the front 10a than at the back 10b; i.e. the pad 10 is thicker at the front 10a than at the back 10b, at least in the region of the channel 12. In the embodiment being described, the pad as a whole is thicker at the front 10a than at the back 10b. In other embodiments, the parts of the pad 10 to either side of the channel 12 may have a constant height from front 10a to back 10b even though the base of the channel varies in height. The slope of the channel 12 may provide a more comfortable angle for the user’s foot 3a as compared to a horizontal support. As shown in Figures 1, 2, 11, and 12, the slope of the channel 12 is typically at a constant angle along the length of the channel 12.

In the typical orientation of the exercise aid 1 intended for use, as described above, the slope of the channel 12 is a downward slope away from the user 3, such that toes of the user’s rearward foot 3a point downwardly, as shown in Figure 12. Some users may however feel more comfortable with a different foot angle - for example with toes pointing upwards - the exercise aid 1 may be rotated such that the thinner edge 10b of the exercise aid 1 is towards the user 3 if desired.

The slope angle of the sloping channel 12, as measured along the length of the channel 12 (relative to a plane of the base - i.e. generally with respect to the horizontal plane in use), in the embodiment being described is at least substantially equal to 10°. In alternative embodiments, the slope angle may be in the range from 5° to 80°, and optionally in the range from 5° to 50°, from 5° to 45°, from 5° to 20°, or from 8° to 20°. It will be appreciated that different angles may better suit different users, for example depending on footwear shape or foot shape.

The channel 12 extends all the way to the front 10a of the pad 10, so providing a smooth support. In the embodiment shown, the channel 12 also extends all the way to the back 10b of the pad 10, although it will be appreciated that in other embodiments the channel 12 may end before the back of the pad 10. A raised portion of the pad 10 behind the channel 12, where present, may reduce the chance of the user’s foot 3a slipping further rearward than intended.

To each side of the channel 12, the pad thickness increases, so providing channel walls. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the pad thickness increases all the way to the side edges of the pad 10c, lOd. By contrast, in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the pad thickness increases to form the channel walls but then decreases again towards the edges of the pad 10c, lOd. It will be appreciated that a wider pad 10 as shown in Figure 1 generally takes more material (so increasing cost and weight/bulk), and may require a larger attachment surface 2a (depending on strap arrangement), but may be more stable and resistant to sliding or rotation due to the larger contact area with the bench 2.

The pad 10 of the embodiment shown in Figure 2 comprises a foam, and more specifically a closed-cell polymeric foam so as to provide a wipe-clean surface and not allow fluids (e.g. sweat, rain, spilled drinks) to soak into the material - this may improve hygiene and appearance, reducing staining over time. In other embodiments, an open-cell foam or other compressible material may be used - in particular when the surface of such a material is porous, a wipe-clean cover 11 for the pad 10 may be provided as shown in the embodiment of Figure 3. In embodiments in which the cover is removable, the cover may be machine-washable. The material of at least an upper surface of the pad 10 (which may be provided by a cover) may be selected to provide provides some friction/grip, optionally in addition to providing a wipe-clean surface. Any suitable material known in the art may be selected.

The exercise aid 1 also includes a base 20, the base 20 being arranged to lie between the pad 10 and the bench (or other surface) 2 in use. The base 20 is rigid and not compressible, so supporting the pad 10. The pad 10 is connected to the base 20. In some embodiments, the pad 10 may be fixedly and permanently connected to the base 20, for example by being stapled or glued to the base 20, or indeed formed on the base 20 by injection moulding or another foam deposition process (or similar). In the embodiment being described, however, the pad 10 is movably connected to the base 20, as described in more detail below.

The base 20 is made of a rigid plastic, and in particular of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), in the embodiments being described; it will be appreciated that any suitable material or combination of materials may be used in other embodiments - for example a different plastic, wood, and/or metal.

An underside of the base 20 is intended to rest on the bench 2 or other suitable surface 2a. In the embodiments shown in Figure 4 and Figure 9, the underside of the base 20 has multiple grip elements 21, which may be made of rubber, thereon to reduce the chance of the exercise aid 1 slipping on the bench 2. The grip elements 21 are elongate in shape in the example pictured, so may be referred to as grip strips 21. In the embodiment shown, the pad 10 and base 20 are at least substantially square in horizontal cross-section (in the plane of the bench surface 2a in use), and one grip strip 21 is arranged in each side region, extending along at least 50%, and preferably at least 70%, of the length of the respective side. Having grip elements 21 at or near each edge of the exercise aid 1 may improve resistance to rotation as compared to embodiments with a more central grip element 21 only. The grip strips 21 may be compressible, and, in use, the strap(s) 30 may compress the grip strips 21 against the surface 2a, increasing friction between the exercise aid 1 and the bench 2. It will be appreciated that any number, shape, and/or design of friction-increasing grip 21 may be used in other embodiments - for example, the entire underside of the rigid base 20 may have a friction-increasing coating applied thereto.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 9, the base 20 comprises four substantially rectangular grip strips 21, with curved corners, each arranged along one side region of the base 20. Each grip strip 21 has a length, L, of 10 cm, a width, W, of 1.5 cm, and semi-circular end regions to provide curved corners, the semi-circular end regions having a radius, R, of 0.8 cm. It will be appreciated that these shapes and dimensions are in no way limiting, and are provided by way of example only.

The article of exercise equipment 1 of the embodiment being described has a footprint (excluding any straps, as discussed below) defined by the shape of the base 20. The edges of the base and pad 20, 10 are aligned in this embodiment, such that the footprint of the base 20 is the same as the footprint of the pad 10. The footprint is square in this embodiment, although it will be appreciated that differently- shaped footprints may be used in different embodiments, and that the pad 10 and base 20 footprints may not be the same in other embodiments (e.g. with the base 20 extending beyond the pad 10, and/or the pad 10 overhanging the base 20, along one or more edges).

In the embodiment being described, the base 20 and pad 10 each have a square shape, with side lengths of 150 mm. The base 20 therefore has a footprint of 225 cm². In other embodiments, the base size and/or shape may differ from the pad size or shape, and may be smaller or larger than the dimensions of the specific example shown. A minimum pad width perpendicular to the length of the channel 12 may be around 8 cm, to allow space for the width of a user’s foot and channel walls on either side of the user’s foot.

In various embodiments, the base 20 may have a footprint (i.e. flat area covered by the base of the pad) of no more than 1600 cm², 1200 cm², 800 cm², or 400 cm². The article of exercise equipment may have a footprint of no less than 64 cm², and optionally no less than 90 cm². For example, the footprint area may be in the range from 64 cm² to 1600 cm², and optionally from 64 cm², to 400 cm². For example, the base may be 35 cm by 20 cm, or 15 cm by 15 cm. The article of exercise equipment 1 may have a maximum height, from an underside of the base 20 to an upper surface of the pad 10, in the range from 5 cm to 35 cm, and optionally in the range from 8 cm to 20 cm, in various embodiments. This maximum height may generally occur along the channel walls. The channel walls may have a minimum height (measured from a base of the channel 12) of at least 3 cm, and optionally of at least 5 cm, to provide support for a user’s foot.

In the embodiment being described, the base 20 and pad 10 together have a maximum height of around 8 cm, that maximum height being at the top of each channel wall at the front of the pad 10 (the channel 12 being provided as the curved dip between the symmetrical walls).

In the embodiment being described, the minimum height of the exercise aid 1 across the front edge 10a of the pad 10 is 63 mm (at the base of the channel 12) and the minimum height across the back edge 10b of the pad 10 is 44 mm (at the base of the channel 12). In other embodiments the channel 12 may not extend all the way to the back of the pad 10 - for example, a wall may block off the channel 12 or a rear portion of the pad 10 may be flat. In alternative embodiments, the minimum height at the front of the channel 12 may be lower (e.g. 30 mm) - it will be appreciated that the minimum height should still include the depth of the base 20, and a sufficient depth of pad 10 to cushion and shield a user’s foot from the rigid base.

In the embodiment being described, the maximum height across the front edge of the pad is 82 mm and the maximum height across the back edge of the pad is 65 mm. The channel walls therefore decrease in height from front to back as the channel base slopes downwards, so maintaining a more constant channel depth than if the walls remained at the same height. In other embodiments, the channel walls may instead have a constant height from the base 20. In still other embodiments, the height of the channel walls may decrease more steeply than the slope of the channel; less channel depth may be required for securely holding the user’s toes as compared to the user’s ankle and heel, so the decrease in channel depth as the channel 12 slopes downwards may be acceptable, and may allow a smaller and lighter apparatus 1 to perform well. In an alternative embodiment, the channel walls may be raised by around 2 cm whilst keeping other dimensions the same, providing a maximum height of around 10 cm, to provide more security for a user’s foot.

In various embodiments, the minimum height across the back edge of the pad may be at least 20- 25 mm (at the base of the channel 12, if the channel extends to the back), and the maximum height across the back edge of the pad (generally at the top of the channel walls) may be at least 50-55 mm. In various embodiments, the minimum height across the back edge of the pad may be in the range from 20 to 80 mm (at the base of the channel 12), and the maximum height across the back edge of the pad (generally at the top of the channel walls) may be in the range from 50 mm to 200 mm.

In various embodiments, the minimum height across the front edge of the pad may be at least 40- 45 mm (at the base of the channel 12), and the maximum height across the front edge of the pad (generally at the top of the channel walls) may be at least 70-80 mm. In various embodiments, the minimum height across the front edge of the pad may be in the range from 40 to 100 mm (at the base of the channel 12), and the maximum height across the front edge of the pad (generally at the top of the channel walls) may be in the range from 70 mm to 200 mm.

Preferably the article of exercise equipment is small enough to be easily portable. In the embodiments pictured, the edges of the pad 10 are smoothly curved - this may be of particular importance for the front lip of the channel 12, providing a smooth surface rather than a sharp edge for contact with a user’s ankle or top of foot, so reducing the likelihood of rubbing. This front lip 10a of the pad 10 is curved with a 20 mm radius of curvature in the example shown, and a radius of curvature in the range from 10 mm to 30 mm, for example, may be used in other embodiments. The curvature is the same for the rear edge 10b of the pad 10 in the example shown. Although it will be appreciated that rubbing at this rear edge may be less of a risk given the intended usage, this smooth curvature and padding of both edges 10a, 10b may provide greater flexibility in how the exercise aid 1 can be comfortably used.

The upright edges / tops of the channel walls are also curved in the example being described (with a tighter radius of curvature of around 10 mm here). As for the back lip of the pad 10, it will be appreciated that rubbing here is less of a risk given the intended usage, but different users may use the exercise aid 1 in different ways, and the smoothly curved surface may still improve comfort.

The base 20 of the embodiments being described with respect to Figures 2 to 9 also includes two slots 22 extending horizontally therethrough. Each slot 22 is shorter than it is wide and is arranged to receive a strap 30. In these embodiments, the exercise aid 1 has two straps 30 - one extends through each slot 22 in the base 20. In the embodiments being described, the straps 30 are rigidly connected to the base 20 within the slots 22, for example by a screw or pin passing therethrough, such that the pad 10 cannot slide with respect to the straps 30. In other embodiments, the strap(s) 30 may be arranged to slide through the slots 22. In other embodiments, only a single strap 30 may be provided, and a single slot 22 may be provided through the base 20 accordingly, optionally arranged centrally with respect to a width of the base.

In still other embodiments (for example in embodiments in which the pad 10 is not arranged to rotate with respect to the base 20, as described below), straps 30 (and corresponding slots 22) may be provided in different orientations - for example, a first strap 30 may be provided parallel to the length of the channel 12, and a second strap may be provided perpendicular to the length of the channel, as shown in Figure 12. In such embodiments, only one strap 30 may be intended to be used at once, which strap 30 is used being selected based on a user’s desired position with respect to a bench 2.

The straps 30 are arranged to be used to secure the rigid base 20, and thereby also the pad 10 connected thereto, to a surface 2a. The straps 30 are made of nylon in the embodiment being described, although any suitable material known in the art may be used in other embodiments. In the embodiments being described, flat straps 30 are used, so as to provide a larger grip area on the bench 2. As shown in Figure 5, each strap 30 has a substantially flat shape, with a narrow rectangular cross-section providing a flat contact surface for the base 20 and for the bench 2. In addition, using a plurality of spaced straps 30 as shown in Figure 2, as opposed to a single, central, strap 30 as shown in Figure 1, may be preferred to decrease rotation (in the plane of the bench surface 2a) and/or tilt (i.e. rotation out of the plane of the bench surface 2a) of the exercise aid 1.

In the embodiment being described, each strap 30 has a width of around 25 mm (optionally in the range from 15 mm to 30 mm) and the slot 22 is slightly wider than the strap 30 (e.g. by 2-5 mm) to allow for some adjustment and ease of movement. The slots 22 of the embodiment shown are located with their nearest edges spaced from each other by about 40 mm - a distance from the centre line of one strap 30 to that of the other strap 30 in use may therefore be around 70 mm, with 40 mm of that spacing being solid material of the base 20. In other embodiments, the spacing may differ - optionally being wider. For example, a distance between centrelines of the slots 22, and therefore at least approximately of the straps 30, may be at least 80 mm - 100 mm, and optionally may be 105 mm. Tightening the strap(s) 30 may compress one or more grip elements 21 against the surface 2a. The grip elements 21 and strap 30 choices may therefore improve grip of the exercise aid 1 on the bench 2.

One or more buckles or clips (not shown) may be provided for each strap 30 to allow the straps to be tightened and held in position. Any suitable clip or buckle known in the art may be used.

In various embodiments, an internal support 40, 50 is provided to support the channel 12, limiting its deformation under pressure. This internal support 40, 50 may be provided as a part 50 of the pad 10 in some embodiments, and as a part 40 of the base 20 in other embodiments. In still further embodiments, the internal support 40, 50 may be easily and reversibly separable from both the pad 10 and the base 20. The internal support 40, 50 is more rigid than a material used for the compressible body 15 of the pad 10. The internal support 40, 50 may be hollow to make the exercise aid 1 lighter whilst still supporting the channel 12 in the pad 10. In general, the internal support 40, 50 is surrounded by the pad 10 (at least on all sides of the internal support not covered by the base 20 in use) such that the more rigid internal support 40, 50 is cushioned from all angles.

In embodiments such as that shown in Figure 3, the internal support 40 may be provided as part of the base 20, and may be integrally formed with, or rigidly connected to, the base 20. The pad 10 comprises a compressible body 15, optionally with an associated cover 11, which may be mounted onto the internal support 40 and thereby onto the base 20. The pad 10 may additionally be connected to the base 20 in other ways - e.g. with any suitable adhesive. In embodiments in which the chosen materials are suitable - for example where the base 20 and internal support 40 are both made of solid (non-porous) ABS and the compressible body 15 of the pad 10 is made of a polymeric foam - the compressible body 15 of the pad 10 may be formed on the internal support 40 (and optionally also on other parts of the base 20), for example by over-moulding. This may result in the foam being chemically bonded to the support 40 (and optionally also to other parts of the base 20).

In the embodiment of Figure 3, the foam 15 formed for the pad 10 is an open-cell, porous, foam, and a cover 11 is provided to ensure a hygienic, wipe-clean, outer layer. The cover 11 may be textured, or made of a suitable material, to provide grip. If a closed-cell foam is used in such embodiments, no cover 11 may be deemed necessary. However, it will be appreciated that covers could be provided even when the surface of the compressible body 15 is already wipe-clean and providing sufficient grip (due to texture and/or material type). Users may be offered a choice between a range of covers with different aesthetics.

In embodiments such as that described with respect to Figure 3, the internal support 40 is rigidly mounted on the base 20, and the pad 10 is fixedly mounted on the internal support 40 and/or on the base 20. As such, whilst the pad 10 can be deformed with respect to the base 20 due to its compressibility, relative rotation between the pad 10 and base 20, or lifting of the pad 10 away from the base 20, is not possible without breaking the exercise aid 1. In such embodiments, perpendicular straps may be provided to allow the exercise aid 1 to be mounted on a bench 2 in two different orientations. In other embodiments, the pad 10 is arranged to be rotatable with respect to the base 20. In such embodiments with an internal support 50, the internal support 50 should not be rigidly mounted to the base 20, nor an integral part thereof, or it would either prevent the pad 10 from rotating or fail to support the pad 10 once the pad 10 had been rotated. In embodiments with a rotatable pad and without an internal support 50 that is arranged to support the channel 12 (e.g. where a foam of the pad 10 is dense enough not to need an internal support to maintain channel shape), the pad 10 may comprise a rigid internal component which, whilst not supporting the shape of the channel 12, facilitates a rotatable mounting between the pad 10 and the base 20, and in particular facilitates locking of the pad 10 into two or more different set positions with respect to the base 20.

In some embodiments with a rotatable pad 10 and an internal support 50, such as that shown in Figures 4 to 8, the internal support 50 is provided as a part of the pad 10. The pad 10 comprises a resiliently compressible body 15 (optionally made of foam) resting on, or surrounding, the internal support 50. The internal support 50 may therefore move with the resiliently compressible body 15 of the pad 10, so maintaining support for the channel 12 at all angles of rotation with respect to the base 20.

In the embodiment shown, the internal support 50 has a horizontal cross-sectional shape of a 10 cm by 10 cm square (dimensions may differ in other embodiments). The material used for the support 50 (in the embodiments being described, ABS) was found to be sufficiently strong to allow the internal support 50 to be hollow / box-like, so reducing material requirements and weight. A wall-thickness for the internal support 50 of around 2 mm was found to provide sufficient strength in the embodiments being described. The “box” 50 has a sloped and curved upper surface, as shown in Figure 5. The curve provides and supports a U-shape for the channel 12 of the pad 10. The slope angle of the support 50, along the channel length, is selected to match the channel slope angle, and is 10° in the embodiment shown (although this may differ in other embodiments). The pad 10 of this embodiment comprises the internal support 50 and a layer of compressible material covering the internal support 50 - the internal support 50 therefore at least partially defines the shape of the pad.

In various embodiments, the internal support 50 may extend further downwardly than the layer of compressible material 15 forming a body of the pad 10, optionally by at least 2 mm, 5 mm, 8 mm, or 10 mm. This lip or rim of the internal support 50 may be used to lock the pad 10 into place on the base 20, locking it against rotational movement as described in more detail below.

In the embodiment being described, the layer of compressible material 15 has a thickness in the range from 10 mm to 30mm, and more specifically is equal to or around 23 mm, with a total pad thickness of around 25 mm including the wall thickness of the hollow ABS support 50. The pad 10 is therefore hollow in this embodiment. In other embodiments, a dense foam may be used to form most of, if not all of, the pad 10, the foam optionally having a density which decreases / porosity which increases towards its outer surfaces. A medium to high density foam may be used for the compressible material 15, optionally with a cover 11 as described above.

In embodiments in which the pad 10 is intended to rotate with respect to the base, it will be appreciated that some level of rotational symmetry of the pad 10 and base 20 - or at least of the interacting portions thereof - is generally desirable to allow the pad 10 to be firmly seated on the base 20 in at least two different positions. In the embodiment being described, the pad 10 and base 20 are each at least substantially square in horizontal cross-section (albeit with curved corners in the examples pictured), so providing four possible seated positions of the pad 10 with respect to the base 20. Circular, triangular, rectangular, hexagonal, or octagonal pads and bases 10, 20 may be provided in other embodiments, for example.

A circular pad 10 and base 20 may allow for continuous angular adjustment of the channel position.

A square pad 10 and base 20 may allow a user to choose whether to stand on the left or right of the bench 2, or at the narrow end of the bench 2, without having to detach and reattach the strap(s) 30 (or use different straps 30a, 30b) so as to allow for a 90° position change, for example. The channel 12 may therefore be oriented parallel to, or perpendicular to, the bench’s length, for the same strap position.

It will be appreciated that rotational symmetry of the interacting parts of the pad 10 and base 20 is what facilitates the relative movement and/or the locking into multiple different relative positions - for example, an octagonal pad 10 may be mounted on a circular base 20, or on a square base with a circular or annular indentation or protrusion, provided that the internal support 50 of the octagonal pad 10 (or other rigid part, in embodiments without a channel support) provides a circular or annular protrusion or indentation rotatably coupled to its corresponding part on the base 20. The interacting parts together provide a connector (which holds the pad 10 and the base 20 together whilst allowing relative rotational movement when desired) and a locking mechanism (to secure the pad 10 to the base 20 in at least two different desired positions).

Figures 6 to 8 illustrate one embodiment of such a connector 52, 23. In this embodiment, the internal support 50 is a part of the pad 10, and the internal support 50 has a protrusion 52 extending downwardly therefrom. The rigid base 20 has an aperture or passage 23 extending vertically therethrough, the aperture 23 being arranged to receive the protrusion 52.

The aperture 23 is substantially cylindrical in shape. The aperture 23 is shaped such that it has a narrower portion nearer the pad 10, and a wider portion towards a distal side of the base 20 from the pad 10 (the underside of the base, in the usual orientation in use). In the embodiment shown, the narrower portion of the aperture 23 is provided by an inwardly-stepped neck 25 in an upper region of the aperture 23.

The protrusion 52 is elongate in shape and comprises a shaft 53 and a head 54. The head 54 is wider than the shaft 53, and arranged to fit slidingly and rotatingly within the passage 23. The head 54 is wider than the neck 25 of the aperture (at least in a first configuration), such that the neck 25 retains the protrusion 52 within the aperture 23. The pad 10 can therefore be raised and lowered with respect to the base 20, with the head 54 sliding vertically within the aperture 23 - whilst the base 20 and pad 10 remain coupled together. The extent of relative vertical movement may be governed by the lengths of the aperture 23 and protrusion 52, and may generally be around 0.5 cm to 5 cm, and optionally from 0.8 cm to 3 cm, and further optionally around 1 cm (for example being in the range from 9 mm to 15 mm). In the embodiment being described, the maximum extent of vertical movement is limited to 13 mm.

In the embodiment being described, the protrusion 52 comprises two co-extending parts 52a, 52b. The two co-extending parts 52a, 52b may be biased away from each other. For example, the two coextending parts 52a, 52b may be connected together in a fixed spaced “natural” position and biased towards that position, such that a restoring force is provided should the two parts 52a, 52b be pushed closer together. The two parts 52a, 52b each make up an equal part of the shaft 53 and of the head 54. The biasing between the two parts 52a, 52b allows an effective width of the protrusion 52 to be reduced by pressing the parts 52a, b together, and allows the protrusion 52 to expand back towards, or to, a natural (relaxed) width when that pressure is released. For assembly of the exercise aid 1, the two parts of the head 54 may be pushed together so as to squeeze past the neck 25 of the aperture (a second, narrower, configuration of the protrusion), inserting the protrusion into the aperture 23. The protrusion 52 may then expand once the head 54 has passed the neck 25 of the aperture (optionally to an intermediate, third, configuration), so holding the protrusion 52 within the aperture 23 and preventing its removal (at least without use of a tool to compress the head 54 whilst it is within the aperture). This is illustrated in Figures 7A and 7B. In other embodiments, a larger number of co-extending parts may be used, or just a single vertically-extending part, optionally with one or more lateral outwardly -biased chocks arranged to slide out of a side of the protrusion when pressure is released, may be provided.

Figure 7A shows the protrusion 52 above the aperture 23, prior to insertion of the protrusion into the aperture. The head 54 of the protrusion 52 has sloped surfaces 54b facing towards the aperture 23, the sloped surfaces 54b providing widening of the head 54 - the head 54 is narrower in its lowermost region than further up. This shaping of the head 54 facilitates insertion into the aperture 23. The interaction of the sloped surfaces 54b with an upper lip of the aperture 23 causes the head 54 to be compressed as the pad 10 is moved towards the base 20, allowing the head 54 to fit into the aperture 23.

After the head 54 has passed the neck 25 of the aperture 23, moving into a wider portion of the aperture as shown in Figure 7B, some of the pressure on the head 54 is released and the head can expand back towards its relaxed position, with the walls of the passage 23 preventing full relaxation (due to a limitation of the CAD model used, the head 54 is shown in its fully-relaxed position on Figure 7B, so clipping the sides of the aperture 23; it will be appreciated that the head 54 actually assumes an intermediate position / width between its fully-relaxed position and its most compressed position - when passing through the neck 25 - when in the position shown in Figure 7B). As opposed to the downwardly- facing sloped surfaces 54b, the head has a flat, stepped, surface 54c facing upwardly; this locks in position against the narrowing of the neck 25 - which is also stepped rather than sloped - so locking the protrusion 54 within the aperture 23 when the pad 10 is lifted away from the base 20. In some embodiments, this connection of the inner support 50, and thereby of the pad 10, to the base 20, may be intended to be permanent. In general, the exercise aid 1 may be intended to be sold in this configuration, with the pad 10 mounted on the base 20. In the embodiment shown, applying a force to compress the head 54 within the aperture 23 would be difficult if not impossible (at least without specialised tools) - whilst the head 54 is shaped to be pushed into the aperture 23, past the neck 25, easily, it therefore cannot be easily withdrawn the same way.

Once the head 54 is within the aperture 23, the protrusion 52 can rotate within the aperture 23. The protrusion 52 may expand to contact the inner walls of the aperture 23, at least in the region of the head 54. An outer perimeter of the protrusion 52 - and in particular of the head 54, may be curved to facilitate smooth relative rotation.

The pad 10 can be pushed towards the base 20, so pushing the protrusion 52 further into the aperture 23. In the embodiment being described, the protrusion 52 is longer than the aperture 23 such that at least a head 54 of the protrusion (and, in the embodiment shown, just the head of the protrusion) extends out of the aperture 23 when the pad 10 is firmly seated on the base 20, as shown in Figure 7C. When the pressure on the head 54 of the protrusion 52 is released (as it emerges from the aperture 23, and is no longer compressed thereby), the protrusion 52 expands, optionally to its fully-relaxed position.

In the embodiment being described, the head 54 has a stepped shape 54c where it joins the shaft

53 (the protrusion 52 being outwardly stepped in cross-section where the shaft 53 meets the head 54), so forming a flat lip which rests against a rim of the aperture 23 / a part of the underside of the base 20 surrounding the aperture 23 once the head 54 has expanded. This expansion of the head 54 therefore locks the pad 10 into the position seated on the base 20, preventing relative vertical movement. The same step/lip 54c therefore serves both to prevent the protrusion from being removed from the aperture in the raised position (keeping the pad 10 and base 20 linked), by interaction with the neck 25, and to lock the pad 10 firmly to the base 20 in the lowered position.

The two biased parts 52a, 52b of the protrusion 52 may be compressed laterally / pushed together against the biasing force so as to push the head 54 back into the aperture 23 when relative vertical movement is desired. This interaction may therefore prevent accidental raising of the pad 10 relative to the base 20 once the pad 10 has been properly seated on the base 20. In the embodiment shown, the head

54 comprises a portion arranged to facilitate grip of the two parts 52a, 52b of the protrusion 52 for compression, so as to facilitate reinsertion of the head 54 into the aperture 23. In particular, each part 52a, b of the protrusion 52 comprises a ridged grip portion 54a in a lowermost region of the head 54, with outwardly-directed ridges to improve a user’s grip. A compressible grip coating (e.g. rubber or similar) may be provided in addition to, or instead of, a textured surface for grip in other embodiments.

In the embodiment being described, the underside of the base 20 has a recessed portion 24 around the aperture 23. The recessed portion 24 is arranged to accommodate the head 54 of the protrusion 52, such that the head 54 does not extend beyond a lowermost portion of the base 20. In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, a lowest tip of the protrusion 52 is level with the compressible grip portions 21 of the base 20. In other embodiments, a lowest tip of the protrusion 52 may not extend beyond the rigid portion of the base 20.

Figure 8 illustrates the rotation process in figure sections A to C. Starting from a configuration in which the pad 10 is firmly seated on the base 20, the exercise aid 1 may be turned upside-down as compared to its usual in-use orientation, so as to provide easy access to an underside of the base 20. As shown in Figure 8A, a user can then squeeze the two parts 52a, 52b of the head 54 of the protrusion 52 together and push the head 54 into the aperture 23 in the base 20, so vertically separating the pad 10 and base 20 by a relatively small distance. The base 20 can then be rotated with respect to the pad 10 as shown in Figure 8B.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 8, the underside of the base 20 comprises a recessed portion 24 around the aperture, and, as best seen in Figure 4, two protrusions or grips 26 extend from the base within the recessed portion 24. These protrusions, or tabs, 26 do not extend beyond a lowermost part of the base 20, so allowing the base 20 to sit flat on a surface 2a. The protrusions 26 have a height of at least 0.5 cm, and optionally of from 0.8 cm to 2 cm, to facilitate grip by a user’s fingers. The user may grip the base 20 using the grips 26 so as to rotate it relative to the pad 10 and/or so as to lift it with respect to the pad once the head 54 of the protrusion 52 is in the aperture 23. It will be appreciated that, whilst a user could grip the base 20 by its edges, the base 20 might be wider than a typical handspan, so making more central grips 26 more convenient. Grips 26 may not be provided in some embodiments (e.g. that shown in Figure 9, in which the recessed region 24 around the aperture 23 is smooth and only large enough to accommodate the protrusion head 54), or a different form of grip may be provided, optionally extending laterally from an outer edge of the base 20 rather than extending vertically. Alternatively, grips 26 may be provided in the form of indentations (e.g. finger-holds) into the base, rather than as protrusions from the base 20.

In addition to preventing accidental relative vertical movement once the pad 10 has been seated on the base 20, it is generally also desirable to lock the pad 10 into a set angular position with respect to the base 20 in use. In some embodiments, the clip 23, 52 itself may provide a rotational lock in the third configuration (Figure 7C), for example with the head 54 of the protrusion 52 being received in an indentation, or between chocks, within the recessed portion 24 of the base 20, and/or with one or more lateral protrusions from the shaft 53 engaging with one or more indentations on an inner surface of the aperture 23 (or vice versa) when the protrusion 52 expands/relaxes into the third configuration (the perimeter/outer surface of the shaft 53 may contact the inner surface of the aperture 23 in the third configuration). However, it may be desirable for the clip 52, 23 not to experience significant bending forces, so a separate (alternative or additional) locking mechanism may be engaged to hold the rotatable pad 10 in each of the set positions.

In some embodiments, the internal support 50, or another relatively rigid component of the pad 10, may provide one or more indentations or protrusions each arranged to interact with a corresponding protrusion or indentation of the base 20. These interlocking formations may have a height less than that of the protrusion 52 of the clip, and more specifically less than the vertical separation between the pad 10 and base 20 when the head 54 of the protrusion 52 is inserted into the aperture 23, just below the neck 25, such that the pad 10 can rotate freely when pushed vertically away from the base 20 by that distance. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figures 2, 5, and 6, the internal support 50 is square in horizontal cross-section / in cross-section parallel to the plane of the base 20, with a downwardly- extending lower rim. The base 20 comprises a square channel or indentation of matching dimensions, arranged to receive the lower rim of the internal support 50. The protrusion 52 extends further than the downwardly-extending lower rim of the internal support 50 and the square channel or indentation in the base 20 has a lesser depth than that of the aperture / passageway 23; as such, the rim of the internal support 50 can be lifted out of its indentation in the base 20 whilst the pad 10 is still coupled to the base 20. For example, the rim may extend by around 5 mm beyond the body 15 of the pad, and the indentation in the base 20 may have a depth of at least 5 mm, to receive the rim. More generally, the rim or protrusion may have an extent of around or under half of the full vertical allowed relative movement between the pad 10 and the base 20, and the indentation may have a depth at least equal to the rim height. When the pad 10 is in the raised position with respect to the base 20, with the protrusion head 54 just below the neck 25 of the aperture 23 as shown in Figure 7B, the rim of the internal support 50 is above the indentation in the base 20, but when the pad 10 is pushed further towards the base 20, the rim of the internal support slots into the channel in the base 20, locking the internal support 50 - and thereby the pad 10 - in a set rotational position. When the head 54 of the protrusion 52 emerges from the underside of the base 20 and expands, the pad 10 is therefore locked into that position.

In rotating embodiments with a base 20 like that shown in Figure 3, having an upwardly-directed outer rim of the base 20, however, the locking mechanism for the rotational position may be provided by corners of the pad 10 and base 20. It will be appreciated that having interlocking features at or near edges of the pad 10 may provide stronger resistance to rotation for a given material than interlocking features near the rotation axis provided by the clip 52, 23. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the pad 10 and base 20 are both square in (cross-sectional) shape, with four 90° corners. The base 20 has an upwardly-extending outer rim at or near its perimeter. When the pad 10 is firmly seated on the base 20, the corners of the pad 10 are received within the rim of the base 20. Whilst the pad 10 is compressible, the corners may be sufficiently supported by the internal support 50 which also supports the channel 12 (or optionally by another rigid component of the pad in other embodiments) that they cannot compress enough to rotate out of the corners of the base’s rim. In rotatable embodiments using such a base 20, the height of the base’s rim may be selected to be less than the vertical separation between the pad 10 and base 20 when the head 54 of the protrusion 52 is inserted into the aperture 23, such that the pad 10 can rotate freely when pushed vertically away from the base 20 by that distance. In some embodiments, the rim of the base 20 may be received within a correspondingly-shaped groove in the pad 10 (optionally in the internal support 50), or the pad 10 may have a downwardly-extending rim arranged to surround and engage corners of the base 20, or to fit within a correspondingly-shaped groove in the base 20.

It will be appreciated that any suitable locking mechanism known in the art may be used in other embodiments - for example one or more sliding bars or clips may be used. In the embodiments being described, an implementation requiring minimal individual moving parts is selected for simplicity and durability.

Figure 10 illustrates methods 100 of various embodiments, the methods 100 comprising using an exercise aid 1 as described above to perform single-leg split squats. The method 100 comprises obtaining 102 an article of exercise equipment 1 as described above; in particular comprising a shaped compressible pad 10 with a sloping channel 12 in its upper surface (“upper” being in the standard orientation for use), a rigid base 20 connected to the pad 10, and one or more straps 30 arranged to be used to attach the article / exercise aid 1 to a surface.

The method 100 then comprises securing 104 the exercise aid 1 to a bench 2, or other suitable object having an at least substantially flat upper surface 2a, using the strap(s) 30, with the compressible pad 10 uppermost and an end, usually the higher end, of the sloping channel 12 toward/nearest a user 3. The user 3 may or may not be the person who secures the exercise aid 1 in place. The method 100 then comprises resting 106 a top surface of the user’s rear foot 3a within the sloping channel 12 of the pad, with the user 3 facing away from the bench 2 / away from the exercise aid 1.

In embodiments in which the pad 10 is rotatable with respect to the base 20, the method 100 may further comprise (before securing 104 the exercise aid 1 to the surface 2a) rotating 108 the pad 10 with respect to the base 20, and securing 109 the pad 10 in a desired position. In various embodiments, a clip or connector 52, 23 may need to be released 107 so as to allow relative rotation of the pad 10 and base 20. The method 100 may therefore comprise releasing 107 a locking mechanism arranged to hold the pad 10 in a first position with respect to the base 20, rotating 108 the pad 10 with respect to the base 20, and securing 109 the pad in a second position with respect to the base 20, the second position being different from the first position, e.g. by a rotation angle of 90°. The axis of the rotation may be defined by the clip or connector 52, 23, and may be a central vertical axis of the pad 10 and/or base 20. For example, in embodiments with a connector, or clip, 52, 23 as described above, the article of exercise equipment 1 may comprise a protrusion 52 extending from the pad 10 and an aperture 23 in the base 10 arranged to receive the protrusion 52. The method 100 may further comprise, before securing 104 the article of exercise equipment 1 to the bench 2 (or other suitable object) squeezing 107 a head 54 of the protrusion 52 (so compressing/narrowing it) and pushing the head of the protrusion 52 into the aperture 23, so raising the pad 10 off the base 20. The pad 10 is raised off the base 20 in the course of releasing the clip 52 in this embodiment.

The pad 10 is located above the base 20 in the normal orientation for use, but it will be appreciated that the step 107 of pushing the protrusion 52 into the aperture 23 may be performed in any orientation, and indeed may be easiest with the exercise aid 1 upside-down as compared to its use position. This “raising” of the pad 10 off the base 20 should therefore be understood to mean separation along the axis of the protrusion 52 and of the aperture/passage 23, whatever the current orientation of the exercise aid 1. This movement of the pad 10 relative to the base 20 releases a locking mechanism holding the pad 10 in a first position with respect to the base - the locking mechanism is or comprises (i) seating of the corners of the pad 10 within corners of a rim of the base 20 and/or (ii) seating of a rim of the inner support 50 within a channel in the base 20 in the embodiments shown, but it will be appreciated that many different locking mechanism designs may be used in alternative or additional embodiments.

The method 100 further comprises rotating 108 the pad 10 by an angle with respect to the base 20, once the locking mechanism has been released 107. In embodiments such as that shown, the shape of the pad 10 aligns with that of the base 20 in only four set positions, each a 90° rotation angle away from the next. A user can therefore clearly see what positions will be “allowed” for locking the pad 10 to the base 20. In additional or alternative embodiments, one or more markers (e.g. visual markers such as arrows or dots, and/or tactile markers such as ridges or bumps) may be provided on the pad 10 and base 20, and alignment of the markers may indicate allowed positions. The angle of rotation through which the pad 10 is rotated may therefore be defined by the available set positions. In various embodiments, a rotatable pad 10 may have two, three, four, five, or six set positions.

Once the pad 10 has been aligned with the base 20 in its desired new, second, position, the method 100 further comprises pushing 109 the pad 10 back onto the base 20 so as to lock the pad into a different position. In the embodiment described above, firmly seating 109 the pad 10 on the base 20 automatically locks the pad 10 into its new position (the inner support rim slides into the square channel of the base 20, and the head 54 expands automatically on emerging from the aperture 23). In other embodiments, one or more catches or other active locking mechanisms may be used, and a user may lock the pad 10 in place accordingly.

A further example exercise aid 1 is shown in Figure 11, with Figures 11A and 11B providing slightly different perspective views of the same exercise aid 1. The pad 10 of this embodiment 1 is fixedly mounted on the base 20 and cannot rotate with respect to the base 20. As such, two straps 30a, 30b arranged perpendicular to each other are provided to allow different attachment orientations on a bench surface 2a. The slope angle, 0, of the channel 12 is 10° in this example. The exercise aid 1 has a length, L, parallel to the bench surface 2a in use and parallel to the side of the channel 12, of 320 mm, a maximum height, H, perpendicular to the bench surface 2a in use, of 110 mm, and a width, W, of 170 mm. The pad 10 is generally wedge-shaped, and longer than it is wide, with a U-shaped channel 12 in the upper surface.

Figure 12 shows the exercise aid 1 of Figure 11 in use, with a user’s foot 3a resting within the channel 12 of the pad 10.

Figures 13 to 15 illustrate a similar but different embodiment - the following description focuses on the differences of this exercise aid 1; features not described in detail may be assumed to be the same as for the embodiment of Figure 2.

Figure 13 shows an outer view of the exercise aid 1. The channel 12 of the pad 10 has a ribbed surface - a plurality of ribs 13 are shown across the surface of the channel 12. The ribs 13 are oriented across the channel 12 and protrude upwardly from its surface, providing at least one of grip and reinforcement. The ribs 13 may be made of the same material as the rest of the body of the pad 10, or may be made of a denser foam, for example.

Two indentations 17 are also visible in Figure 13 - these indentations 17 are a matched pair on opposing sides of the pad 10, located on the sides of the pad 10 with the channel walls, rather than the ends of the channel. These indentations 17 comprise a cut-away/missing part of the body of the pad 10, exposing part of the internal support 50, and of the base 20. The indentations 17 are substantially cuboid in shape, and arranged to act as hand-holds. The user can therefore firmly grip the pad 10 by the internal support 50. In other implementations, a thinner layer of pad material, or a cover, may cover the internal support and/or base such that they are not visibly exposed whilst still retaining the same functionality.

Figure 14 shows the internal support 50 and base 20 without the pad body. Force exerted by the user onto the internal support 50 is transferred to the protrusion/locking mechanism, so releasing the locking mechanism by forcing the two parts 52a, 52b of the protrusion 52 to bend towards each other- the pad 10 can be lifted and rotated with respect to the base 20 without taking the exercise aid 1 off a bench or other surface.

Figure 15 shows a cross-sectional perspective view of a central portion of the exercise aid 1, with the pad 10 in position on the base 20. The design of the connector 52, 23 described for the embodiment of Figurer 15 is generally as for the embodiment of Figure 6 - a protrusion 52 extending downwardly from the internal support 50 and being engagingly received in a passage 23 of the rigid base 20. However, more interacting parts of the internal support 50 and the base 20 are provided in the embodiment of Figure 15 than in the embodiment of Figure 6. In particular, two pair of interacting walls (27, 57), (28, 58) are provided, as described below. In addition, the head 54 has a different shape, to facilitate lifting of the pad 10 with respect to the base 20 without a user needing to make direct contact with the protrusion 52. In particular, the upper surfaces of the head 54 are sloped or curved rather than being flat, such that lifting the pad 10 with respect to the base 20 - optionally by gripping the pad using the hand-holds 17 provided in this embodiment - tends to force the two co-extending parts 52a, 52b towards each other, so allowing the head 54 to fit within the channel 23, and therefore to allow the lifting of the pad. The bending of these co-extending parts 52a, 52b when such a force is applied can be seen in Figure 16, with the left-hand image showing the head 54 about to enter into the channel 23, and the right-hand image showing the head 54 in its highest available position with respect to the base 20, with further vertical movement being blocked by the narrower neck 25 of the channel 23. In some implementations, the head 54 may be too large to fit through the neck 25 at all. In other implementations, a direct inward force on the co-extending parts 52a, 52b of the protrusion, or a much stronger vertical force, may be required to allow the head 54 to be pulled through the neck (so decoupling the pad 10 and base 10) - this may not be intended to be done in use, but may be done e.g. for repair.

Turning now to the pairs of interacting walls, firstly, the internal support 50 and the base 20 each comprise a cylindrical wall 57, 27. The cylindrical / tubular wall 57 extends downwardly from the internal support 50, and engages with an upwardly-extending tubular wall 27 of the base 20 - the cylindrical walls 27, 57 are sized to fit rotatingly against each other, with one surrounding the other. The cylindrical wall 57 of the internal support 50 surrounds the cylindrical wall 27 of the base 20 in the example shown, although this could be reversed in other embodiments. The heights of the walls 27, 57 are selected to be greater than a maximum distance by which the base 20 and internal support 20 / pad 10 can be moved apart, such that smooth contact is retained between the walls when the pad 10 is lifted away from the base 20 for rotation. The interaction of these walls 27, 57 may therefore ensure smooth rotation and prevent tilt. Frictional contact between the walls 27, 57 may mean that force is needed for the relative rotation rather than one rotating freely with respect to the other when released - this may assist in avoiding accidental mis-alignments between rotating the pad 10 with respect to the base 20 and securing them in place / re-engaging the locking mechanism.

Secondly, the internal support 50 and the base 20 each comprise a square -tubular wall 58, 28, which may be described as a locking wall as described below. The locking wall 58 of the inner support 50 extends downwardly from the internal support 50, and engages with an upwardly-extending locking wall 28 of the base 20 - the walls 28, 58 are sized to fit against each other, with one surrounding the other, such that relative rotation of the pad 10 and base 20 is not possible when one is within the other - the walls 28, 58 therefore assist in locking the pad 10 and base 20 into a selected relative rotational position in use (and in particular, into any one of four rotational positions each at 90° from the last - different shapes may be used where a different number of rotational positions is desired). The locking wall 58 of the internal support 50 surrounds the locking wall 28 of the base 20 in the example shown, although this could be reversed in other embodiments. The heights of the walls 28, 58 are selected to be less than a maximum distance by which the base 20 and internal support 20 / pad 10 can be moved apart, such that the locking walls separate / no longer interact when the pad 10 is lifted away from the base 20 for rotation. In various alternative implementations, either or neither of the two pairs of interacting walls (27, 57), (28, 58) may be provided.

In the embodiment shown, the cylindrical walls 57, 27 are located outside of the locking walls 58, 28. In other implementations, the locking walls 58, 28 may be wider and the cylindrical walls 57, 27 may be located within the locking walls 58, 28.

It will be appreciated that the embodiments described in detail herein are provided by way of example only, and are not limiting on the scope of the disclosure. The skilled person will appreciate that many different implementations are possible without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An article of exercise equipment comprising: a compressible pad, the compressible pad being shaped to provide a sloping channel thereacross, the sloping channel being arranged to support a top surface of a user’s foot in use; a rigid base having the pad connected thereto; and at least one strap arranged to secure the rigid base to a surface.

2. The article of exercise equipment of Claim 1, wherein the compressible pad comprises an internal support arranged to maintain a shape of the channel under applied pressure, and wherein optionally the internal support is made of a rigid plastic.

3. The article of exercise equipment of Claim 2, wherein the pad comprises a foam body surrounding the internal support, and wherein optionally the body of the compressible pad is made from a closed-cell foam.

4. The article of exercise equipment of any preceding claim, comprising two parallel straps spaced apart along the rigid base, and wherein optionally each strap has a width of at least 1.5 cm and the straps are spaced apart by a distance of at least 6 cm.

5. The article of exercise equipment of any preceding claim, wherein the pad has an at least substantially square cross-section parallel to the base, and wherein the base also has an at least substantially square cross-section.

6. The article of exercise equipment of Claim 5, wherein the sloping channel extends across the square cross-section centrally, extending between a first pair of opposing sides of the square, parallel to the second pair of opposing sides of the square.

7. The article of exercise equipment of any preceding claim, wherein the sloping channel extends from a lowermost point in a first edge region of the pad to an uppermost point in a second edge region of the pad, the first and second edge regions being on opposing sides of the pad.

8. The article of exercise equipment of any preceding claim, wherein the pad is shaped to provide two sloping channels thereacross, the two sloping channels being perpendicular to each other and of differing widths.

9. The article of exercise equipment of any preceding claim, further comprising at least one compressible grip element on an underside of the base, the at least one compressible grip element being arranged to provide friction between the underside of the base and a surface on which the article of exercise equipment is mounted.

10. The article of exercise equipment of any preceding claim, wherein the pad is rotatably mounted on the base and arranged to be locked into at least two different positions with respect to the base.

11. The article of exercise equipment of Claim 10, as it depends on Claim 2 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the internal support and the base each comprise a cylindrical wall, the cylindrical walls being sized to fit against each other with one surrounding the other.

12. The article of exercise equipment of Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein the rotation angle between the locked positions is 90°.

13. The article of exercise equipment of any of Claims 10 to 12, wherein the base and the pad each comprise part of a connector, the two parts being arranged to interact so as to allow (i) the relative rotation of the base and the pad, and (ii) the locking into position of the pad with respect to the base.

14. The article of exercise equipment of Claim 13, wherein the base comprises a shaped aperture therethrough, the aperture being narrower adjacent the pad and being arranged to rotatably receive a head of a protrusion from the internal support therein.

15. The article of exercise equipment of Claim 14, wherein the protrusion is longer than the aperture such that the head extends beyond the aperture when the pad is seated on the base, and wherein the head optionally comprises at least two parts biased away from each other in a direction perpendicular to the length of the aperture such that the head expands laterally on emerging from the aperture.

16. The article of exercise equipment of Claim 15, wherein the aperture through the base emerges into a recessed portion of the underside of the base such that the head of the protrusion is contained within the recessed portion and does not extend downwardly of the base.

17. The article of exercise equipment of any of Claims 10 to 16, wherein the base comprises at least one tab or indentation arranged to facilitate grip of the base so as to rotate the base with respect to the pad.

18. The article of exercise equipment of any of Claims 10 to 17, wherein at least one of the following applies:

(i) the pad and the base each have one or more corners, and the base has a rim extending around its perimeter and defining the corners of the base, the corners of the pad being arranged to be received within the rim and being supported by an inner support of the pad such that relative rotation of the pad and base is prevented unless the pad is raised above the rim of the base; and

(ii) the underside of the pad has at least one projection or indentation, and an upper surface of the base has a corresponding indentation or projection, the corresponding indentation-projection pair being arranged to lock the base and the pad together, preventing relative rotation, when the underside of the pad is in contact with the upper surface of the base.

19. The article of exercise equipment of any of Claims 10 to 18, wherein the pad comprises a pair of indentations on opposing sides of the pad, the indentations being arranged to act as hand-holds to allow a user to lift and rotate the pad with respect to the base.

20. The article of exercise equipment of any preceding claim, wherein the pad comprises a plurality of raised ribs across a surface of the sloping channel.

21. The article of exercise equipment of any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the following applies:

(i) the pad has a footprint at least as large as the footprint of the rigid base, and is arranged such that the rigid base does not extend beyond the pad in use; and

(ii) the article of exercise equipment has a footprint of no more than 1600 cm², and optionally no more than 800 cm² or 400 cm².

22. The article of exercise equipment of any preceding claim, wherein the slope angle of the sloping channel, along the length of the channel, is in the range from 5° to 80°, and optionally in the range from 5° to 45°, and further optionally in the range from 5° to 20°.

23. The article of exercise equipment of any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the following applies:

(i) the article of exercise equipment has a maximum height, from an underside (ii) the pad comprises a layer of compressible material, the layer of compressible material having a thickness of at least 15 mm.

24. A method of performing single-leg split squats, comprising: obtaining an article of exercise equipment in accordance with any preceding claim; securing the article of exercise equipment to an at least substantially horizontal surface using the at least one strap, with the compressible pad uppermost and an end of the sloping channel toward a user; and resting a top surface of the user’s rear foot within the sloping channel, with the user facing away from the article of exercise equipment.

25. The method of Claim 24, wherein the article of exercise equipment is as claimed in Claim 16, and the method further comprises: releasing a locking mechanism, so allowing the pad to be raised off the base; rotating the pad by 90° with respect to the base; and pushing the pad onto the base so as to lock the pad into a different position.