Leg assembly for balance beam

• US 6,168,549 B1
• Filed: 09/21/1999
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Russell Brands LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: American Sports International Ltd. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sherlock, Sue M., Sorenson, Bill W., Squibb, Neal C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donnelly, Jerome W.
• Application Number:
  US09/400,245
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 248/345.1, 267/148, 530/9, 531/2, 297/312, 297/452.49, 297/452.48, 482/34, 482/38, 482/41, 482/23
• US Class Current: 482/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0063 Shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 4/00 Balance beams

Abstract

A balance beam utilizing a conventional beam member with pivotally mounted leg members. The leg members are mounted in a clevis secured to the bottom surface of the beam by a pin which extends through aligned bores in the clevis and leg members. The leg members have floor support members, upwardly extending sections rigidly secured to the center of the floor members, and horizontal sections rigidly secured to upwardly extending leg sections. Secured to the horizontal leg sections are removable resilient bumpers that engage the lower surface of the beam. When a gymnast lands on the beam, the weight of gymnast compresses the bumpers moving the beam to a lower horizontal position. The immediate recovery of the bumpers imparts some impetus to the gymnast as the gymnastic routine continues.

Claims

1. A gymnastic device comprising:

an elongated substantially rigid gymnastic body member having upper and lower surfaces,

a support means to hold the body member in an elevated substantially horizontal position, comprising spaced apart leg members extending from a floor support upwardly towards the lower surface of said body member,

the leg members each having a leg section extending horizontally and substantially parallel to the lower surface of said body member,

a bracket member pivotally connecting said leg section to the lower surface of said body member,

a resilient bumper secured to the leg section of said leg member and engaging the lower surface of said body member permitting said body member to move to a slightly lower horizontal position when said body member is impacted by the weight of a gymnast performing thereon.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said body member is a balance beam.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said leg section is supported at one end by a vertical leg section supported at a lower end thereof by a floor engaging member.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the bumper is removably secured to the leg section.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the leg members have an inverted L-shape.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the bumper is secured to the leg section by a lug on the leg section that is received in an aperture in the bumper.

6. A gymnastic device comprising:

an elongated substantially rigid horizontal gymnastic body member having upper and lower surfaces,

a support means to hold the body member in an elevated substantially horizontal position, comprising spaced apart leg members extending from a floor support upwardly towards the lower surface of said body member,

a bracket member pivotally connecting said leg section to the lower surface of said body member,

a resilient bumper operatively positioned between the leg member and the body member to cushion the impact of a gymnast performing on the body member, and

means holding the resilient bumper against longitudinal horizontal movement to permit the resilient bumper to compress in a vertical direction when cushioning the impact of a gymnast performing on the body member.