Ball and board balance training device

• US 9,387,363 B1
• Filed: 07/26/2013
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BowFlex, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.
• Inventors: Polinsky, Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): Ginsberg, Oren
• Assistant Examiner(s): Urbiel Goldner, Gary D
• Application Number:
  US13/951,580
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 482139-142, 482/148
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 21/4034 for operation by feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4047 Pivoting movement weight pivoting A63B21/0615
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4049 Rotational movement
• 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: 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 2208/0238 with stretched legs, like on a bed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03525 Supports for both feet or both hands performing simultaneously the same movement, e.g. single pedal or single handle A63B21/0724 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0093 for surfing, i.e. without a sail; for skate or snow boarding

Abstract

An exemplary exercise device includes a deck, a track, and a ball. Opposing ends of the deck include foot supports. The track bulges upwardly from the deck to form a dome that receives the ball. With the ball and deck on the floor, a user balances herself on the foot supports and may move along multiple axes as the ball rolls on the floor. The user may (for example) pivot and rock the exercise device (as she balances herself), rolling the ball along the track while alternately touching the ends of the deck to the floor, or the user may twist the exercise device clockwise and/or counterclockwise. The exercise device allows for enhanced strength and cardiac training, in addition to balance training, as the user engages in motions and repetitions that may include rolling the ball in the track and contacting different portions of the deck with the floor.

Claims

1. A balance training exercise device for use on a support surface, the exercise device comprising:

a ball operable to engage the support surface;

a deck including;

a deck upper surface and an opposing deck lower surface;

a deck length extending longitudinally from a deck first end to a deck second end; and

a deck width extending laterally from a deck first side to a deck second side; and

a track extending upwardly from the deck upper surface to form a track valley sized to receive at least a portion of the ball therein, the track valley including a track height extending from a track nadir to a track apex, the track including;

a track length extending longitudinally from a track first end to a track second end; and

a track width extending laterally from a track first side to a track second side, the track length being greater than the track width;

wherein the track height is constant along a majority of the track length between the track first end and the track second end; and

wherein when the deck is placed over the ball with the ball received in the track valley, the exercise device is operable to;

move as the ball moves on the support surface; and

pivot such that the deck first and second ends can alternately contact the support surface as the user balances the deck on the ball.

2. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the exercise device will further laterally pivot such that the deck first and second sides alternately approach the support surface.

3. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein:

the deck first end includes a first foot support, and the deck second end includes a second foot support; and

the first and second foot supports are at least substantially coplanar.

4. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein:

the track extends a track height upwardly from the deck upper surface; and

the track height is no greater than a resting radius of the ball.

5. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the track is at least substantially centered between:

the deck first end and the deck second end; and

the deck first side and the deck second side.

6. The exercise device of claim 1, further including a deck first bumper on a bottom surface of the deck first end, and a deck second bumper on a bottom surface of the deck second end.

7. The exercise device of claim 1, further including a stand for use in climbing onto the exercise device.

8. A method of using the exercise device of claim 1, the method including the steps of:

placing the ball on a floor;

placing the deck over the ball;

placing a first foot on the deck first end; and

placing a second foot on the deck second end while balancing to keep from falling over.

9. The method of claim 8, further including the step of twisting the exercise device in alternately clockwise and counterclockwise directions without the feet of the user contacting the floor.

10. The method of claim 8, further including the steps of, while continuing to balance on the exercise device:

touching the deck first end to the floor;

raising the deck first end from the floor;

rolling the ball along the track from the track first end to the track second end, the track first end being opposite the track second end; and

touching the deck second end to the floor.

11. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the deck and the track are separate pieces secured together.

12. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein:

the ball includes a ball resting radius defining an outer surface shape; and

each of the track first end and the track second end defines a curved shape that closely matches the outer surface shape of the ball.

13. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the track apex extends linearly along the track length between a first portion of the track length adjacent to the track first end and a second portion of the track length adjacent to the track second end.

14. A balance training exercise device for use on a support surface, the exercise device comprising:

a ball operable to engage the support surface; and

a symmetrical deck including;

a deck upper surface opposing a deck lower surface;

a deck length and a deck width, the deck length being greater than the deck width; and

a deck outer perimeter surrounding a symmetrical track, the track;

extending upwardly from the deck upper surface to form a track valley sized to complimentarily receive at least a portion of the ball therein when the track is placed over the ball, the track valley including a track height extending from a track nadir to a track apex;

being centralized between opposing ends and opposing sides of the deck; and

including a track length greater than a track width;

wherein the track height is constant along a majority of the track length; and

wherein when the ball is placed on the support surface and the track is placed over the ball, the exercise device is movable in multiple three-dimensional directions as the ball moves on the support surface.

15. The exercise device of claim 14, further including:

a first foot support and a second foot support at opposing ends thereof; and

a first bumper and a second bumper underneath the first foot support and the second foot support, respectively.

16. The exercise device of claim 14, wherein when the track is fit over the ball, the track extends over the ball:

no less than at least substantially 0.25 of a resting radius of the ball; and

no more than at least substantially 0.5 of the resting radius of the ball.

17. The exercise device of claim 14, wherein:

the ball includes a ball resting radius defining an outer surface shape; and

each of the track first end and the track second end defines a curved shape that closely matches the outer surface shape of the ball.

18. A balance training exercise device for use on a support surface, the exercise device comprising:

a ball operable to engage the support surface;

a domed track including a concave side opposing a convex side, the track including;

a track width extending laterally from a track first side to a track second side;

a track length extending longitudinally from a track first end to a track second end, the track length being greater than the track width; and

a track height extending from a track nadir to a track apex, the track height being no greater than a resting radius of the ball, the track height being constant along a majority of the track length between the track first end and the track second end;

a first foot support and a second foot support longitudinally extending from opposing ends of the domed track, each foot support including at least substantially the same surface area; and

a first sidebar and a second sidebar laterally extending from opposing sides of the domed track;

wherein when the exercise device is positioned with the concave side of the track facing the support surface, the ball is received at least partially in the domed track and rolls against the concave side of the track between the track first end and the track second end.

19. The exercise device of claim 18, wherein:

the first foot support and the second foot support are at least substantially coplanar; and

the track extends upwardly from the first and second foot supports.

20. The exercise device of claim 18, wherein the first and second foot supports have greater surface area than the first and second sidebars.

21. The exercise device of claim 18, wherein:

the ball includes a ball resting radius defining an outer surface shape; and

each of the track first end and the track second end defines a curved shape that closely matches the outer surface shape of the ball.

22. The exercise device of claim 18, wherein the first and second foot supports and the first and second sidebars are at least partially coplanar.