Balancing device

• US 7,344,488 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BOSU Fitness, LLC
• Original Assignee: BOSU Fitness, LLC
• Inventors: Cotter, James E. E., Weck, David
• Primary Examiner(s): DONNELLY, JEROME W
• Application Number:
  US10/286,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20030054927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,965 Days
• Field of Search: 482/148, 482/140, 482/132, 482/142, 482121-130, 482/23, 482/31, 482/146, 482/147, 482/77, 297/452.41, 565/53, 565/4, 570/6
• US Class Current: 482/147
• 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 2208/0233 in 90/90 position, like on a chair
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/62 Inflatable
• 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 balancing device has a base and an inflatable flexible portion wherein the center of the inflatable portion is higher than the edges. The device is used by placing the base on the floor and standing and moving on the bladder.

Claims

1. A device for physical therapy, conditioning, or training comprising:

a base having an outside edge, a center upper surface and a bottom surface, the outside edge having at least three points defining a plane wherein the center is spaced axially above and inwardly from said plane, and

an inflatable, flexible bladder anchored to the base and having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface of the bladder opposes the upper surface of the base.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the inflatable flexible bladder is manufactured by a rotational molding process.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the inflatable flexible bladder is composed of polyvinylchloride (PVC).

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the base is substantially concave.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the center is axially above the plane at a distance of 0.5″

.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the bottom surface of the bladder is planar.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the base maintains an axial distance above said plane such that the center of the base will remain in a position that is axially above the plane in the presence of a downward force caused by inflating the bladder.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the bottom surface of the base is structured to provide at least three points of contact with a floor, and wherein said center is spaced axially above said floor.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the bladder further comprises a bladder hole extending through the bottom surface of the bladder and connecting a chamber of the bladder to atmosphere.

10. The device of claim 9 further comprising a plug for closing the bladder hole.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the plug is removable.

12. The device of claim 9 wherein the portion of the bottom surface of the bladder that corresponds with the bladder hole extends downwardly into the base hole.

13. The device of claim 1 further comprising a handle affixed to the base.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the handle is affixed to the base by being integrally formed therein.

15. The device of claim 13 further comprising two handles affixed to opposite sides of the base.