Balance training apparatus

• US 7,300,392 B1
• Filed: 10/14/2005
• Issued: 11/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arthur G. Bentley
• Original Assignee: Kevin P. Curran
• Inventors: Curran, Kevin P.
• Primary Examiner(s): BAKER, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US11/251,313
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 482/34, 482146-147, 482 79- 80
• US Class Current: 482/146
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0033 Lower limbs performing together the same movement, e.g. on a single support element
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0004 Exercising devices moving as a whole during exercise bar bells or dumb bells A63B21/072; on wheels A63B22/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/18 with elements, i.e. platforms, having a circulating, nutating or rotating movement, generated by oscillating movement of the user, e.g. platforms wobbling on a centrally arranged spherical supporthoop exercising apparatus A63B19/00; eccentric weights put into orbital motion by nutating movement of the user A63B21/0608; pots rotating or rocking by moving the whole body A63G23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 26/003 for improving balance or equilibrium balance beams A63B4/00; apparatus for rope dancing A63B7/08; balancing drums, balancing boards or the like A63B22/16

Abstract

A board for balance training has an upper footstep surface, lower bearing surface and a progressive series of concentric, cylindrical sub-frames depending from the lower surface which enclose progressively smaller framed-in areas of the bearing surface within progressively smaller framed-in crown-cavities defined by each. This progressive series ranges extremes of a major in size to minor, with none, one or more intermediates. All at least but the major sub-frame are selectively removable from the board for clearing way for progressively larger framed-in crown-cavities. Any of the sub-frames permit a training ball to roll freely sandwiched between the board and ground unless stopped against any portion of that sub-frame. Selectively utilizing a minor sub-frame over, conversely, exclusion thereof in favor of any of the progressively larger sub-frames, progressively changes the level of difficulty for trainees standing on the upper footstep surface.

Claims

1. A balance board adapted for balance training on top of a spherical rolling fulcrum, comprising:

an upper footstep surface and a lower bearing surface; and

a progressive series of hoop sub-frames adapted for depending from the bearing surface with respect to a common center of geometry and enclosing progressively smaller framed-in areas of the bearing surface, respectively, within progressively smaller framed-in crown-cavities thereby defined, respectively, ranging between extremes of a major sub-frame and a minor sub-frame;

wherein the framed-in area of the bearing surface by the major sub-frame is either flat or domed;

wherein at least all but the major sub-frame are selectively removable from the platform for clearing way for the progressively smaller framed-in crown-cavities; and

whereby selectively utilizing the minor sub-frame over, conversely, exclusion thereof in favor of any of the progressively larger sub-frames, with all relatively smaller sub-frames excluded as well, progressively changes the level of difficulty for trainees standing on the upper footstep surface with the spherical rolling fulcrum crowned by the balance board within the selected sub-frame;

said sub-frames being adapted to permit said spherical rolling fulcrum to roll freely sandwiched between said balance board and a ground surface unless stopped against any portion of any sub-frame.

2. The balance board of claim 1 wherein:

the minor sub-frame is sized for adaptation to grip portions of the spherical rolling fulcrum and thus stop rolling relative the minor framed-in area of the bearing surface, whereby limiting the balance board'"'"'s movement relative the ground surface to teetering and twirling.

3. A combination balance board and spherical rolling fulcrum comprising a balance board according to claim 2, wherein:

said spherical rolling fulcrum is inflatable to selective inflation pressures such that selecting a selected inflation pressure for the spherical rolling fulcrum enhances the frictional grip of the minor sub-frame on the spherical rolling fulcrum.

4. The balance board of claim 2 wherein:

the major sub-frame is sized for adaptation to the spherical rolling fulcrum such that utilizing the major sub-frame in favor of excluding the progressively smaller sub-frames frees relative rolling between the spherical rolling fulcrum and major framed-in area of the bearing surface until stopped by abutment against the major sub-frame, and thereby allows balance board movement relative the ground surface to include translation as well as teetering and twirling.

5. The balance board of claim 1 further comprising:

spaced cantilevered shoulders projecting oppositely beyond not only the minor sub-frame but also the major sub-frame, such that the upper footstep surfaces thereof comprise grip areas adapted to encourage trainees to adopt a preferred stance on the platform with feet standing on the grip areas and straddling said center of geometry of the sub-frames.

6. The balance board of claim 5 wherein:

each shoulder extends in a plane generally between spaced parallel sides and a transverse end, and further comprises a pair of spaced diagonal edges, each originating in one or the other parallel sides and terminating in the transverse end in order to eliminate sharp corners between the sides and transverse end whereby trainees more safely ground out the balance board on such diagonal edges than if there were sharp corners.

7. A balance board adapted for balance training on top of a spherical rolling fulcrum, comprising:

an upper footstep surface;

a lower surface provided with a recessed major sub-frame defining a major crown-cavity that exposes a major framed-in area of a bearing surface, which is either flat or domed; and

a minor sub-frame comprising a removable insert adapted for depending from the bearing surface within the major sub-frame and enclosing a progressively smaller framed-in area of the bearing surface within a progressively smaller framed-in crown-cavity thereby defined;

whereby selectively utilizing the minor sub-frame over, conversely, exclusion thereof progressively changes the level of difficulty for trainees standing on the upper footstep surface with the spherical rolling fulcrum crowned by the balance board platform within the selected sub-frame;

said sub-frames being adapted to permit said spherical rolling fulcrum to roll freely sandwiched between said balance board and a ground surface unless stopped against any portion of any sub-frame.

8. The balance board of claim 7 wherein:

the minor sub-frame is sized for adaptation to grip portions of the spherical rolling fulcrum and thus stop rolling relative the minor framed-in area of the bearing surface, whereby limiting the balance board'"'"'s movement relative the ground surface to teetering and twirling.

9. A combination balance board and spherical rolling fulcrum comprising a balance board according to claim 8, wherein:

said spherical rolling fulcrum is inflatable to selective inflation pressures such that selecting a selected inflation pressure for the spherical rolling fulcrum enhances the frictional grip of the minor sub-frame on the spherical rolling fulcrum.

10. The balance board of claim 8 wherein:

the major sub-frame is sized for adaptation to the spherical rolling fulcrum such that utilizing the major sub-frame in favor of excluding the minor sub-frame frees relative rolling between the spherical rolling fulcrum and major framed-in area of the bearing surface until stopped by abutment against the major sub-frame, and thereby allows balance board movement relative the ground surface to include translation as well as teetering and twirling.

11. The balance board of claim 7 further comprising:

spaced cantilevered shoulders projecting oppositely beyond not only the minor sub-frame but also the major sub-frame, such that the upper footstep surfaces thereof comprise grip areas adapted to encourage trainees to adopt a preferred stance on the platform with feet standing on the grip areas and straddling central axes of the sub-frames.

12. The balance board of claim 11 wherein:

each shoulder extends in a plane generally between spaced parallel sides and a transverse end, and further comprises a pair of spaced diagonal edges, each originating in one or the other parallel sides and terminating in the transverse end in order to eliminate sharp corners between the sides and transverse end whereby trainees more safely ground out the balance board on such diagonal edges than if there were sharp corners.