Balancing board

• US 4,505,477 A
• Filed: 07/07/1983
• Issued: 03/19/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Willmanning Investments Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Willmanning Investments Pty Limited
• Inventors: Wilkinson, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/511,437
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 272/146, 272/114, 280/87.04 R, 280/87.04 A
• US Class Current: 482/146
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/16 Platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis , e.g. axis through the middle of the platform; Balancing drums; Balancing boards or the like exercising apparatus with cantilevered support elements pivoting about an axis A63B22/0056; other exercising apparatus for improving balance A63B26/003
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/01 Skateboards A63C17/02 - A63C17/28 take precedence; rolling devices on skis A63C5/035
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/08 single-wheel type with single axis
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 11/00 See-saws

Abstract

A balancing board includes a platform to which a pair of parallel tracks are mounted to the lower surface. The tracks each include two parallel rods mounted so that they rotate freely about their axes. A set of wheels are mounted to a common shaft. The wheels are separated so that they roll along the tracks and between the pairs of rods. The wheels are biased toward the center of the tracks by springs or by ramps, or both. Two biasing springs, positioned on either side of the shaft and connected between the shaft and the platform, can be used. Biasing ramps at the far ends of the tracks can be used to bias or redirect the wheels toward the center of the tracks. A depression at the center of each track acts as a detent to tend to center the wheel assembly during use.

Claims

1. A balancing board comprising:

a substantially planar member having upper and lower surfaces, the user standing on said upper surface;

a set of tracks located on the lower surface of the substantially planar member, each said track comprising two rods rotatably mounted to the lower surface of said planar member at a distance away from said lower surface, each said track including a wheel-engaging running surface;

a set of wheels adapted to run along said running surfaces and between said two rods; and

means for biasing said set of wheels towards a central position substantially midway along the length of the planar member.

2. The balancing board of claim 1 wherein:

said set of wheels includes two wheels and a center shaft coupling one said wheel at each shaft end; and

said biasing means includes first and second springs having inner and outer ends, said inner ends connected to said shaft and said outer ends mounted to said lower surface on either side of said shaft.

3. The balancing board of claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises a ramp located at each end of said running surfaces sloped to urge said set of wheels towards said central position.

4. The balancing board of claim 3 wherein said ramps and running surfaces are integrally formed of a resilient material with a step located between the running surfaces and associated ramps.

5. The balancing board of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 further comprising a slot at said central position of each of the running surfaces which tends to center said set of wheels when said board is in use.