US 12,239,876 B2
Folding mat for relieving sciatic and coccyx pressure when exercising and meditating
James Smallwood, Boonville, MO (US); and Mitsuko Yokoyama, Ibaraki (JP)
Filed by James Smallwood, Boonville, MO (US); and Mitsuko Yokoyama, Ibaraki (JP)
Filed on May 16, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/745,801.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/189,202, filed on May 16, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0362622 A1, Nov. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. A63B 21/00 (2006.01)
CPC A63B 21/4037 (2015.10) [A63B 2210/50 (2013.01); A63B 2225/093 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A foldable exercise device comprising:
a segmented folding mat comprising: a first end section, a second end section, and a plurality of middle sections;
wherein a plurality of said sections, including at least a partial plurality of said middle sections, of the mat are configured to be folded together to form a stacked cushion;
at least two transversely spaced apart longitudinal relief cuts traversing two adjacent sections of the plurality of middle sections and forming at least one selectable relief segment;
wherein when the mat is folded to form the cushion, the at least one relief segment is configured to be selectably extended outward from the cushion to leave at least one gap or relief cutout within the structure of the cushion, such that when the user is positioned upon the cushion above an underlying gap or relief cutout, the user's weight is shifted to reduce pressure on the coccyx and/or reduce impingement upon the sciatic nerves.