U.S. patent application number 13/373078 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-09 for balancing exerciser.
The applicant listed for this patent is Paul Chen. Invention is credited to Paul Chen.
Application Number | 20130116100 13/373078 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48224067 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130116100 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Paul |
May 9, 2013 |
Balancing exerciser
Abstract
A balancing exerciser includes an immovable base having a socket
opening for pivotally engaging with a universal joint device which
has a shank, a plate is located above the base for supporting a
user and includes a hole for engaging with the shank, and a knob
engaged with the shank of the universal joint device and engaged
with the plate for securing the plate to the shank of the universal
joint device and for attempting to maintain the plate in a
horizontal position or status and for allowing the user to conduct
the balancing exercises or operations. The shank of the universal
joint device is selected from a threaded shank for engaging with
the threaded hole of the plate and for adjusting the plate toward
and away from the base.
Inventors: |
Chen; Paul; (Richmond,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Chen; Paul |
Richmond |
|
CA |
|
|
Family ID: |
48224067 |
Appl. No.: |
13/373078 |
Filed: |
November 3, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/146 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 26/003 20130101;
A63B 2210/50 20130101; A63B 22/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/146 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/16 20060101
A63B022/16 |
Claims
1. A balancing exerciser comprising: an immovable base including a
socket opening formed therein, a universal joint device pivotally
received and engaged in said socket opening of said base and
pivotable and tiltable relative to said base, said universal joint
device including a shank extended outwardly therefrom, a plate
located above said base for supporting a user thereon, said plate
including a hole formed therein for receiving and engaging with
said shank of said universal joint device, and a knob attached to
said shank of said universal joint device for rotating said shank
and said universal joint device relative to said plate, and for
adjusting said plate up and down relative to said base with said
shank of said universal joint device.
2. The balancing exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
shank of said universal joint device is a threaded shank, and said
hole of said plate is a threaded hole for threading and engaging
with said threaded shank of said universal joint device and for
adjusting said plate toward and away from said base with said
threaded shank of said universal joint device.
3. The balancing exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
universal joint device includes a locking pin engaged between said
knob and said shank.
4. The balancing exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
socket opening of said base is a semi-spherical socket opening, and
said universal joint device is spherical for engaging with said
semi-spherical socket opening of said base.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a balancing exerciser, and
more particularly to a balancing exerciser including an improved
and simplified structure that may be easily and quickly
manufactured with a reduced manufacturing procedure and cost and
that may be easily transported or carried with the user and that
may be easily operated by the user.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Typical balancing exercisers comprise a disk or plate or
foot support for supporting a user thereon, and for attempting to
maintain the disk or plate or foot support in a horizontal position
or status, or for allowing the user to conduct the balancing
exercises or operations.
[0005] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,586 to Tuthill et al.
discloses one of the typical disk balancing exercisers comprising a
disk or plate or foot support with threaded hole in its center for
threading or engaging with the threaded bolt or screw which
includes a hemispherical shoe attached to the bottom portion
thereof for pivotally engaging with a supporting surface or ground
and for allowing the typical disk balancing exercisers to be
operated to maintain the foot support in a horizontal position or
status, and for conducting the balancing exercises or
operations.
[0006] However, the threaded bolt or screw and the foot support may
be inclined or tilted a lot relative to the supporting surface or
ground, and the users, particularly the elders and the children may
feel afraid and may not use or operate the typical disk balancing
exercisers.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,180 to Boomer, U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,871
to Giovanni, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,636 to Chen disclose other
typical mechanical surfboard simulators for training users in the
operation or sport of surfing or balancing exercisers or operations
and/or for conducting the balancing exercises or operations.
[0008] However, the typical mechanical surfboard simulators include
a rather complicated structure that may not be easily manufactured
and assembled by the manufacturing workers and that may not be
easily carried and transported by the users and that may not be
easily operated outdoors.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 7,635,325 to Chiang et al. discloses a further
typical interactive training device comprising an operation unit
including an immovable base, a movable plate, and a supporting
member disposed between the immovable base and the movable
plate.
[0010] However, the tilting operation or the inclination of the
movable plate is limited by the supporting member that may not be
easily twisted or inclined or tilted relative to the supporting
surface or ground, and the movable plate may not freely pivoted or
rotated relative to the immovable base to conduct the balancing
exercises or operations.
[0011] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional balancing
exercisers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a balancing exerciser including an improved and simplified
structure that may be easily and quickly manufactured with a
reduced manufacturing procedure and cost and that may be easily
transported or carried with the user and that may be easily
operated by the user.
[0013] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided a balancing exerciser comprising an immovable base
including a socket opening formed therein, a universal joint device
pivotally received and engaged in the socket opening of the base
and pivotable and tiltable relative to the base, the universal
joint device including a shank extended outwardly therefrom, a
plate located above the base for supporting a user thereon, the
plate including a hole formed therein for receiving and engaging
with the shank of the universal joint device, and a knob threaded
or engaged with or secured to the shank of the universal joint
device for rotating the shank and the universal joint device
relative to the plate, and for adjusting the plate up and down
relative to the base with the shank of the universal joint
device.
[0014] The shank of the universal joint device is selected from a
threaded shank, and the hole of the plate is a threaded hole for
threading and engaging with the threaded shank of the universal
joint device and for adjusting the plate relative to the base or
for moving or adjusting the plate toward and away from the base to
different height or spacing distance with the threaded shank of the
universal joint device.
[0015] The universal joint device may further include a locking pin
engaged between the knob and the shank of the universal joint
device for allowing the universal joint device to be pivoted or
rotated relative to the plate with the knob and for adjusting the
plate toward or away from the base and for adjusting the spacing
distance between the plate and the base.
[0016] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed
description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a balancing exerciser in
accordance with the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the balancing exerciser;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the balancing exerciser,
taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;
[0020] FIGS. 4, 5 are cross sectional views similar to FIG. 3,
illustrating the operation of the balancing exerciser;
[0021] FIGS. 6, 7, 8 9 are plan schematic views illustrating the
operation of the balancing exerciser.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-3, a
balancing exerciser in accordance with the present invention
comprises an immovable base 10 for engaging with or for being
supported on a supporting surface or ground, a movable or tiltable
foot support or plate 20 disposed or located above the immovable
base 10 for supporting a user 8 thereon (FIGS. 6-9), and a
supporting member or universal joint device 30 disposed between the
immovable base 10 and the movable or tiltable foot support or plate
20 for pivotally or rotatably attaching or mounting or securing or
supporting the movable or tiltable foot support or plate 20 on the
immovable base 10.
[0023] The immovable base 10 includes a socket opening 11, such as
a semi-spherical socket opening 11 formed therein for pivotally or
rotatably receiving or engaging with the spherical universal joint
device 30 and for allowing the universal joint device 30 to be
pivoted or rotated relative to the immovable base 10. The universal
joint device 30 includes a threaded stem or shank 31 extended
outwardly therefrom. The movable or tiltable foot support or plate
20 includes a threaded or screw hole 21 formed therein for
threading or engaging with the threaded shank 31 of the universal
joint device 30 and for attaching or mounting or securing the plate
20 to the base 10 and for allowing the plate 20 to be pivoted or
rotated relative to the base 10.
[0024] The plate 20 may further include a cavity or space or
compartment 22 formed therein and communicative with the screw hole
21 of the plate 20 for receiving or engaging with a lock nut or
knob 32 which may be attached or mounted to the threaded shank 31
of the universal joint device 30 and the plate 20 for rotating the
threaded shank 31 of the universal joint device 30 relative to the
plate 20 and for adjusting or securing or retaining the plate 20 to
the universal joint device 30 at different height or spacing
distance. A locking pin 33 may further be provided and selectively
attached or mounted or secured or engaged between the knob 32 and
the threaded shank 31 of the universal joint device 30 for allowing
the universal joint device 30 to be pivoted or rotated relative to
the plate 20 with the knob 32 and for adjusting the plate 20
relative to or toward or away from the base 10. In operation, as
shown in FIGS. 6-9, the user 8 may be supported on the foot support
or plate 20 and may attempt to maintain the foot support or plate
20 in a horizontal position or status for allowing the user 8 to
conduct the balancing exercises or operations. As shown in FIGS.
4-5, the threaded shank 31 of the universal joint device 30 may be
pivoted or rotated relative to the plate 20 with the knob 32 for
adjusting the plate 20 relative to or toward or away from the base
10 or for adjusting the height or the spacing distance between the
plate 20 and the base 10, and for adjusting the tiltness or the
inclination of the plate 20 relative to the base 10.
[0025] Accordingly, the balancing exerciser in accordance with the
present invention includes an improved and simplified structure
that may be easily and quickly manufactured with a reduced
manufacturing procedure and that may be easily transported or
carried with the user and cost and that may be easily operated by
the user.
[0026] Although this invention has been described with a certain
degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present
disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous
changes in the detailed construction and the combination and
arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
* * * * *