Motorized apparatus and method for dynamic balancing exercise
First Claim
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1. A balance board exercise apparatus comprising, in combination:
- an elongated board having a supporting frame;
a sub-frame underneath the frame;
a wheel assembly having a shaft non-rotatably secured within the sub-frame to provide a fulcrum for supporting the board from the ground at its longitudinal center, the board having a pair of footpads on its upper surface on respective sides of the fulcrum;
a parallel pair of drive wheels rotatably supported upon the shaft and equipped with rack gears on their mutually facing sides;
a differential pinion case mounted upon the shaft and drivingly engaging the rack gears for differentially driving the wheels;
a hub motor co-operatively mounted between the shaft and the differential pinion case; and
control means including a switching control unit, a single-axis wheel supported on the ground, and a linkage from the single-axis wheel to the control unit which is responsive to movements of the elongated board relative to ground to activate the hub motor.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for achieving dynamic balance exercise by using an elongated board that is tiltable in a longitudinal direction and energized by a set of motor-driven wheels which are connected to oppose the tilting action. A front to back (pitching) and side to side twisting (yawing) of the board is accomplished concurrently with the longitudinal tilting (rolling) movement to balance the exercise experience and improve the subjects fore-and-aft balance.
139 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A balance board exercise apparatus comprising, in combination:
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an elongated board having a supporting frame; a sub-frame underneath the frame; a wheel assembly having a shaft non-rotatably secured within the sub-frame to provide a fulcrum for supporting the board from the ground at its longitudinal center, the board having a pair of footpads on its upper surface on respective sides of the fulcrum; a parallel pair of drive wheels rotatably supported upon the shaft and equipped with rack gears on their mutually facing sides; a differential pinion case mounted upon the shaft and drivingly engaging the rack gears for differentially driving the wheels; a hub motor co-operatively mounted between the shaft and the differential pinion case; and control means including a switching control unit, a single-axis wheel supported on the ground, and a linkage from the single-axis wheel to the control unit which is responsive to movements of the elongated board relative to ground to activate the hub motor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An exercise apparatus for an individual person to achieve dynamic balance exercise by moving their center of gravity, the apparatus comprising, in combination:
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(a) an elongated rigid balance board having a generally flat upper surface with a separate foot-supporting area at each end; (b) a generally rectangular frame arranged in generally parallel relation to the board and having separate compression springs at each of its respective four corners, each spring being in supporting engagement underneath the balance board; (c) a wheel assembly for supporting the balance board above the ground near its longitudinal center to provide a fulcrum for allowing it to tilt in a longitudinal direction, the wheel assembly including a parallel pair of coaxial wheels on an axle extending laterally to the length of the frame in a supporting relation to respective sides of the frame; (d) a differential drive mechanism positioned between the two wheels in driving engagement with each of the wheels; (e) an electric hub motor carried by the frame in engagement with the differential drive mechanism and selectively operable in response to a longitudinal tilting of the board when the person'"'"'s center of gravity has been moved longitudinally of the board to then drive the wheel assembly along the ground lengthwise of the balance board in generally the same direction that the person'"'"'s center of gravity has been moved; and (f) a pair of braking members carried on each respective side of the frame for selectively engaging either the front or back of a selected one of the wheels, thus responding to a movement of the person'"'"'s center of gravity in a direction perpendicular to the length of the board for creating a yawing movement of the board in addition to its longitudinal movement. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A dynamic balance exercise apparatus comprising, in combination:
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a balance board; a parallel pair of coaxial wheels providing a fulcrum for supporting the board; a differential drive mechanism drivingly engaging the wheels; an electric motor supported from the board and drivingly coupled to the differential drive mechanism; a separate brake associated with each wheel; and control means responsive to the angular position of the board for actuating the electric motor and for concurrently actuating a selected one of the brakes. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. The method for a person to achieve dynamic balance exercise, comprising the steps of:
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selecting a balance board; placing a parallel pair of wheels underneath the board to provide a fulcrum for supporting the board; standing on the board in a position which is statically unbalanced both along an axis parallel to the wheels and along an axis perpendicular thereto; and then utilizing an independent source of energy to apply a differential drive action to both wheels while at the same time braking the action of one of the wheels so that the board then moves along a curved path. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. The method of operating an exercise apparatus, comprising the steps of:
- supporting a user on an exercise apparatus;
the exercise apparatus comprising a parallel pair of wheels having a common axis of rotation, wherein the wheels include rack gears on mutually facing inner sides; differentially driving the wheels, wherein a hub motor and a pinion gear provide a differential driving action; and concurrently braking one of the wheels.
- supporting a user on an exercise apparatus;
Specification