Patent ID: 8771156
Filing Date: 2014-07-08
Classification: F16B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An inflatable exercise device for promoting balance, comprising: an elastic air bag comprising a semispherical ball-shaped inflatable elastic body having a lower circumferential edge fixed to a flat rigid plate, the rigid plate having a fixed edge radially protruding from and concentric with the lower circumferential edge of the elastic air bag, and an annular flange extending downwards from the fixed edge; a disk-shaped base having a plurality of radially extending fan-shaped boards disposed on a top surface of the base, an annular receiving slot recessed within the top surface of the base adjacent to a peripheral edge thereof, and an annular engaging trough recessed within a bottom surface of the base adjacent to the peripheral edge thereof, wherein the annular flange of the rigid plate is received within the receiving slot of the base; a plurality of restricting pieces made of resilient metal, and spacedly disposed around the peripheral edge of the base, each restricting piece having a flat central portion engaging the peripheral edge of the base, a hook end portion extending from a lower end of the restricting piece and inwardly bent toward the central portion, and a pressing end portion extending from an upper end of the restricting piece and inwardly bent toward the central portion; wherein the hook end portion of each restricting piece is received within the engaging trough of the base, and the pressing end portion of each restricting piece engages an upper surface of the rigid plate when the annular flange of the rigid plate is received within the receiving slot of the base; and a ring-shaped frame having opposing upper and lower flanges defining an annular restricting slot formed at an inner portion thereof for receiving the rigid plate and the peripheral edge of the base when the annular flange of the rigid plate is received within the receiving slot of the base, the frame comprising a plurality of curved frame segments, each frame segment having opposing ends with a connecting portion having a circumferentially extending through hole extending from each end of the frame segment; wherein a threaded locking unit extends through adjacent through holes of each respective pair of adjacent frame segments, and a nut is provided to engage with each locking unit to clamp together the frame segments around the rigid plate and the peripheral edge of the base, such that the upper flange of the frame clamps the pressing end portion of each restricting piece against the upper surface of the rigid plate, and such that the lower flange of the frame clamps the hook end portion of each restricting piece within the engaging trough of the base.