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» Obscure
Patent of the Week |
Yoga support system and method [
HTML ]
US Patent No. 6,766,536 - Issued July 27, 2004
Obscure Patent of the Week - August 2, 2004
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Depending upon your view of the world, this invention may not be as
obscure as some of the others residing in the Museum of Obscure
Patents. Being an electrical engineer who specialized in computers I
realize my thought patterns are a bit linear, so perhaps this one
will only seem obscure to me. Nevertheless, as I was reviewing this
patent claim 2 jumped out at me as being particularly odd. Claim 2
essentially claims a glove comprising a glove
as part of a yoga support system that includes a pair of the gloves and
a pair of yoga slippers. What a nice feedback loop! I
sense that the claim is supposed to be for a yoga support system,
which appears to be a kit claim, and that the first definition of a
glove, which seems to mirror claim 1, is redundant. I also wonder why
the examiner didn't issue a restriction
requirement. The glove of claim 1 could seemingly be used
for any purpose, the yoga support system also seems to be capable of
use separate from the method of performing yoga in claims 3 through 8.
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» Patent
Abstract |
A yoga support system includes a pair of yoga gloves and a pair of
yoga slippers. Yoga gloves cover the hands of a yoga practitioner and
include anti-skid material on parts of the gloves to enable a yoga
practitioner to attain and maintain postures that involve pressing on
a floor or wall. In particular, the yoga gloves may include anti-skid
portions covering an outer part (further from the midline of the
hand) of the yoga practitioner's thumb. The yoga slippers include an
anti-skid sole, as well as anti-skid side portions on their sides.
The slippers allow a yoga practitioner to maintain contact with the
floor with the feet flat on the floor, or with the feet pronated or
supinated. Other parts of the yoga gloves and yoga slippers are
uncovered fabric, which may be a light, breathable and stretchable material.
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» Guts
of the Invention |
From the Summary of the Invention:
According to an aspect of the invention, a glove includes a fabric
portion having a fabric exterior surface throughout; and an anti-skid
portion having an anti-skid exterior surface throughout. The fabric
portion is connected to the anti-skid portion. The fabric portion
includes a dorsal part. The anti-skid portion includes an outer thumb
part.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method of performing
yoga includes the steps of placing a pair of gloves on respective
hands of a yoga practitioner, wherein the gloves each includes a
glove anti-skid portion; and having the yoga practitioner assume a
yoga position. The having includes placing the glove anti-skid
surfaces in contact with a rigid surface.
A yoga support system includes a pair of yoga gloves and a pair of
yoga slippers. The yoga gloves and the yoga slippers are configured
for use simultaneously by a yoga practitioner to prevent slipping by
the yoga practitioner. Each of the gloves includes a glove fabric
portion; and a glove anti-skid portion connected to the glove fabric
portion. The glove fabric portion is connected to the glove anti-skid
portion. Each of the yoga slippers includes a slipper fabric portion
having a slipper fabric exterior surface throughout; and a slipper
anti-skid portion with a slipper anti-skid exterior surface
throughout. The slipper anti-skid portion is connected to the slipper
fabric portion. The slipper anti-skid portion includes a sole part,
and a pair of side parts overlying both sides of the foot of a user.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the
invention comprises the features hereinafter fully described and
particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and
the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative
embodiments of the invention. These embodiments are indicative,
however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of
the invention may be employed. Other objects, advantages and novel
features of the invention will become apparent from the following
detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction
with the drawings.
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