U.S. patent application number 11/377041 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-21 for balance platform method and apparatus.
Invention is credited to Zachary Michael Cantor.
Application Number | 20060211553 11/377041 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37011096 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060211553 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cantor; Zachary Michael |
September 21, 2006 |
Balance platform method and apparatus
Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention comprises a balance
platform apparatus, including, a balance platform having upper and
lower surfaces, and a freely rotatable ball member. The lower
surface of the balance platform includes a rim member which
projects in a generally perpendicular direction away from the
platform and which encircles an area of the lower surface of the
platform. In use, the balance platform is placed upon the ball
member, and the user tries to balance platform upon the ball
member. During the balancing activity, the rim member tends to
confine movement of the ball member to within the area encircled by
the rim member. In another embodiment of the invention, the ball
member is rotatably supported in a cradle member.
Inventors: |
Cantor; Zachary Michael;
(Santa Cruz, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAWRENCE EDELMAN, ESQ
3 BUFFALO RUN
EAST BRUNSWICK
NJ
08816
US
|
Family ID: |
37011096 |
Appl. No.: |
11/377041 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60662564 |
Mar 16, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/146 ;
482/79 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2022/0033 20130101;
A63B 22/18 20130101; A63B 22/16 20130101; A63B 26/003 20130101;
A63B 21/0004 20130101; A63B 2208/0214 20130101; A63B 2208/0228
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/146 ;
482/079 |
International
Class: |
A63B 23/08 20060101
A63B023/08; A63B 22/16 20060101 A63B022/16 |
Claims
1. A balance platform apparatus, including: a balance platform
having upper and lower surfaces, and a freely rotatable ball
member, where the lower surface of the balance platform includes a
rim member which projects in a generally perpendicular direction
away from the platform and which encircles an area of the lower
surface of the platform, which rim member tends to confine movement
of the ball member to within the area encircled by the rim member
during a balancing activity by a user positioned upon the balance
platform.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, where said rim member includes means
for allowing it to be selectively removable from its attachment to
the lower surface of the balance platform.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, where the area encircled by said rim
member is more than 50% of the lower surface area of the balance
platform.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, where said ball member is formed of a
flexible material.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, where said ball member comprises two
selectively separable ball portions, which when combined form said
ball member.
6. The apparatus of claim 4, where said ball member includes a
means for adjusting one of the flexibility, density or weight of
the ball member.
7. The apparatus of claim 5, where at least one of said ball
portions includes a means for adjusting one of the flexibility,
density or weight of the ball member.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a cradle member for
supporting the ball member at a fixed location thereon with respect
to a support surface, said cradle member including means for
supporting said ball member so as to allow said ball member to
rotate with respect to the cradle member during a balancing
activity by the user.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, where said cradle member includes a
plurality of ball bearings for engaging the ball member so as to
allow the ball member to rotate with respect to the cradle
member.
10. The apparatus of claim 8, where said cradle member includes
means for adjusting the rotatability of the ball member with
respect to the cradle.
11. A balance platform apparatus, including: a balance platform
having upper and lower surfaces, a rotatable ball member, and a
cradle member positioned on a support surface, said cradle member
supporting the ball member at a fixed location thereon, said cradle
member including means for supporting said ball member thereon so
as to allow said ball member to rotate with respect to the cradle
member during a balancing activity by a user positioned upon the
balance platform while the balance platform is position upon the
ball member.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 1, where said cradle member includes a
plurality of ball bearings for engaging the ball member so as to
allow the ball member to rotate with respect to the cradle
member.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, where said cradle member includes
means for adjusting the rotatability of the ball member with
respect to the cradle.
14. The apparatus of claim 11, further including a rim member
attached to and encircling a lower surface of the balance platform,
which rim member projects in a generally perpendicular direction
away from the platform so as to tend to confine movement of the
ball member to within the area encircled by the rim member, during
the balancing activity by the user.
15. The apparatus of claim 11, where said rim member includes means
for allowing it to be selectively removable from its attachment to
the lower surface of the balance platform.
16. The apparatus of claim 11, where the area encircled by said rim
member is more than 50% of the lower surface area of the balance
platform.
17. The apparatus of claim 11, where said ball member is formed of
a flexible material.
18. The apparatus of claim 11, where said ball member comprises two
selectively separable ball portions, which when combined form said
ball member.
19. The apparatus of claim 17, where said ball member includes a
means for adjusting one of the flexibility, density or weight of
the ball member.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, where at least one of said ball
portions includes a means for adjusting one of the flexibility,
density or weight of the ball member.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This nonprovisional U.S. patent application claims priority
of U.S. Ser. No. 60/662,564, filed Mar. 16, 2005, entitled "Balance
Platform Method and Apparatus". The entire disclosure of this
patent application is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates in general to a balancing
device, as well as a method of use for amusement, recreation and/or
exercise. The particular invention relates to the balancing device
itself, which enables a wide variety of manipulations and feats to
be performed, in a free style manner, by a user while standing,
sitting or otherwise positioned upon it and maintaining ones
balance.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] Balancing platforms may be utilized for recreational
purposes; teaching people balancing, proper edging and banking
techniques; and/or body weight equilibrium techniques relating to
many sports activities. Many competitive athletes, particularly
surfers, snowboarders and skateboarders, utilize balancing
platforms to improve their balancing, edging, banking and/or
steering anticipation skills. These board sports require that
participants dedicate many hours of practice to improve the
athlete's balancing skills. Therefore, balancing platforms are in
public demand because they allow a person to improve balance, are
enjoyable to use and may be sufficiently small for home use and
accessibility.
[0006] Balancing platform devices of various types and kinds have
been known in the art. Typically, such devices include a roller
serving as a fulcrum, and a foot engageable balance board resting
on top of the roller. However, substantially all such prior known
roller board devices, typically employed for amusement and/or
exercise, are limited in their use and movement. They are primarily
used for rolling or balancing, and their movement is limited to
sideways rolling of the board relative to the roller, and/or a
teeter-totter rocking motion. Therefore, these devices are somewhat
limited in their use by virtue of their design. It would be highly
desirable to have a balancing device which would allow much more
freedom of movement, and thereby provide greater amusement and/or
exercise and/or training value.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a balancing platform that is enjoyable to utilize.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
balancing platform that is inexpensive to manufacturer.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
balancing platform that can be utilized indoors or outdoors.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
balancing platform that can assist in improving a person's
balancing, turning, banking, edging and other athletic skills.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
balancing platform that is useful to perform a wide variety of
movement and manipulations so as to achieve many different
free-style feats for amusement, recreation, training and/or
exercise.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
balancing platform that freely allows, without any readjustment or
manipulation, rocking, rolling and rotating movements, including
360 degree rotations.
[0013] Briefly, one embodiment of the present invention comprises a
balance platform apparatus, including, a balance platform having
upper and lower surfaces, and a freely rotatable ball member. The
lower surface of the balance platform includes a rim member which
projects in a generally perpendicular direction away from the
platform and which encircles an area of the lower surface of the
platform, which rim member tends to confine movement of the ball
member to within the area encircled by the rim member during a
balancing activity by a user positioned upon the balance
platform.
[0014] Another embodiment of a balance platform apparatus in
accordance with the present invention comprises, a balance platform
having upper and lower surfaces, a rotatable ball member, and a
cradle member positioned on a support surface. The cradle member
supports the ball member at a fixed location thereon. The cradle
member including means for supporting the ball member thereon so as
to allow the ball member to rotate with respect to the cradle
member during a balancing activity by a user positioned upon the
balance platform while the balance platform is position upon the
ball member.
[0015] An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a
balancing platform which is enjoyable to utilize.
[0016] Another advantage of the present invention is that it
provides a balancing platform which is inexpensive to
manufacturer.
[0017] Another advantage of the present invention is that it
provides a balancing platform which can be utilized indoors or
outdoors.
[0018] Another advantage of the present invention is that it
provides a balancing platform which can assist an athlete in
improving the athlete's balancing, turning, banking, edging and
other athletic skills.
[0019] These and other objects and advantages of the present
invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill
in the art after having read the following detailed description of
the preferred embodiments that are illustrated in the various
drawing figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and
constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments and
details of the invention, and, together with the general
description given above and the detailed description given below,
serve to explain the features of the invention.
[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a balancing board of the
present invention shown ready for use by a participant, the balance
platform apparatus including a stiff platform/board which is
balanced by the user thereof upon a freely moving ball;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a balancing board of the
present invention which is similar to FIG. 1, and further includes
a rim member which encircles an area of the lower surface of the
balancing board;
[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates the ball member of FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0024] FIG. 4 illustrates the balance platform of FIG. 2 used with
a ball member mounted in a cradle member; and
[0025] FIG. 5 illustrates details of the cradle member of FIG.
4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] As shown in FIG. 1, the balance platform apparatus of the
invention includes a stiff platform/board 2 which is balanced by a
user thereof upon a freely moving ball 4 placed on a support
surface 6 such as a floor inside a house or building or the ground
outside. Such apparatus is particularly useful for development of
muscular coordination, balance and amusement; namely for practicing
the motions of surfing. The platform/board is large enough for a
person to stand on an upper surface 5 of the platform/board 2 with
both feet. In the illustrated embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, the
platform/board 2 is approximately 48'' in length, 18'' in width,
and 5'' thick and generally shaped like a surfboard, but other
sizes and shapes are equally possible.
[0027] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, platform/board 2 is
made of wood and fiberglass with a soft and squishy rubber bottom
surface 3 so as to provide a good surface friction with the ball.
It is noted that other materials can be used for the construction
of the platform 2 and its friction enhanced bottom 3. A friction
enhanced upper surface 5 may also be provided.
[0028] In one embodiment of the invention, in order to introduce
variability in the balance platform apparatus, the size, weight,
and/or density of the ball 4 can be adjusted, for example by
configuring the ball 4 so that it comes apart (such as by being
unscrewed, so that two halves, as illustrated in FIG. 3 by the
separation line 8, can be separated). After separation of ball 4
into two halves, a small spherical weight (one of a variety of
balls varying in density, e.g., 4 kg, 6 kg, 8 kg) can be placed
securely within the middle of the balance ball 4 for achieving a
variance of resistance, density, and/or weight of the ball 4.
Alternatively, the platform can be sold with a variety of different
balls, or in another embodiment of the invention some other
technique can be used to provide a single ball that has a technique
that allows its size/weight/density to be varied.
[0029] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the
bottom 3 of platform 2 preferably has a circumferentially applied
rim 10 (as shown by the bold border about platform 2 in FIG. 2)
which projects downwardly, i.e., toward surface 6, so as to proved
a safety barrier mounted thereon which will tend to limit free
movement between the ball 4 and platform 2, in an attempt to
provide a safety stop before the platform rolls off of ball 4. For
example, rim 10 can be mounted to the bottom surface 3 of platform
2 along the outer edge thereof. Alternatively, less than the full
area of surface 3 can be bounded by rim 10.
[0030] In a "kit" form of the present invention, the platform 2
could come with various sizes of rims 10, various sizes of
platforms 2, as well as plurality of balls 4 each having a
different resistance, density, and/or weight characteristic.
[0031] In a further embodiment of the invention, the rim 10 is
provided so it can be easily removed from platform 2, for example
by unscrewing four screws 12 equally spaced about the length of rim
10 (only the position 12 of one such screw being shown in FIG. 2),
or alternatively, the rim 10 can be permanently secured to the
bottom 3 of the platform 2. In use, the balance ball 4, which can
be of any desired weight and density, is placed under the
platform/board 2, as shown in FIG. 2, so that the platform/board is
able to move freely upon the ball.
[0032] In still a further embodiment of the invention as shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5, the ball 4 can be held in a cradle 14 in a manner so
that it contacts a plurality of ball-bearings 16 mounted in cradle
14, which ball bearings 16 allow the ball 4 to rotate freely with
respect to the bottom surface 3 of platform 2 as it would as if it
were rolling about on the floor 6 (as shown and described in the
above-noted embodiments), however, ball 4 is now constrained by the
cradle 14 so as to not move with respect to the support/floor 6. It
is noted that in a further alternative embodiment, the cradle 14
could have something which would provide a similar function to the
ball bearings 16.
[0033] In accordance with a further aspect of this embodiment of
the invention, the cradle 14 can have a knob 16 which can be used
adjust the resistance exerted on the ball, so that the ball can
move at different speeds within the cradle; hence, providing
adjustment and variation in levels of difficulty. Means for
adjusting the sliding friction of bail bearings is known by those
of ordinary skill in this technology. The arrangement of FIG. 4
will provide the same effects and benefits as is provided by the
previously mentioned embodiments.
[0034] In use in any of the above-described embodiments, the
platform/board of the invention can be spun and rocked in all
directions as the ball moves about underneath the platform/board
while a user balances upon it. The user can be in a prone, sitting,
kneeling or standing position during use. As the user gets better
at using the device, a safety rim allowing a greater amount of
movement can be used, the safety rim can be completely removed
and/or the adjustment knob 18 can be adjusted, so as to provide
various levels of skill and enjoyment for the user.
[0035] Although the present invention has been described in terms
of the presently preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that
such disclosure is not to be interpreted as limiting. Various
alternations and modifications will no doubt become apparent to
those skilled in the art after reading the above disclosure.
Accordingly, it is intended that the appended claims (as well as
equivalents thereof) be interpreted as covering all alterations and
modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of the
invention.
* * * * *