Balance board

A balancing board is disclosed with a base and an elongated deck including a top surface; longitudinal and central lateral axes; and a bottom surface, which includes at the central lateral axis a center post mounting mechanism. The base's bottom side rests on a support surface. The base's top side has a top surface and is rotatable with respect to the bottom side at a rotational bearing. A center post is fixed at its bottom end to and extends upwards from the base's top surface, and has at its top end a pair of roller posts extending laterally and horizontally from the center post at opposing sides. Each roller post rotationally mounts a roller, extended downwardly from the roller post, below the center post's top end. The center post mounting mechanism engages with and aligns each roller with the central lateral axis on opposing sides of the longitudinal axis.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to fitness equipment, and more particularly to an advanced tri-plane, multi-directional balancing board adapted to require a user to control all aspects of his balance through not only the traditional pitch, tilt, and yaw movements, but also by unpredictable perturbation of the user through the balance board's slip mechanism, which safely and efficaciously trains the user's balance; coordination; proprioceptive awareness; ankle, knee, and core strength; and ligament and tendon strength and flexibility.

BACKGROUND

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present device is a balancing board for use by a user on a horizontal support surface. The balancing board comprises an elongated deck having a top surface, a bottom surface, a longitudinal axis, and a central lateral axis. In the preferred embodiment, the top surface of the elongated deck further includes a non-slip texture. The bottom surface includes at the central lateral axis a center post mounting mechanism. The preferred embodiment of the elongated deck also includes two handle indentations in the bottom surface thereof at opposing ends thereof.

The balancing board further comprises a base having a bottom side and a top side. The bottom side has a bottom surface adapted for resting on the horizontal support surface. In the preferred embodiment, the bottom surface of the bottom side further includes at least one high-traction foot for frictionally engaging the support surface. The top side has a top surface. The top side is rotatable with respect to the bottom side at a rotational bearing. In the preferred embodiment, the base further comprises a bottom plate having the bottom side, and a top plate having the top side. In this embodiment, the rotational bearing is fixed between the bottom plate and the top plate and allows for the top plate to rotate with respect to the bottom plate.

The balancing board further comprises a resilient center post fixed at a bottom end thereof to the top surface of the base and extending upwardly therefrom. The center post is adapted to flex in any direction in plan view if the weight of the user on the balance board is sufficient to overcome the resiliency of the center post. The center post has at a top end a pair of roller posts, each extending laterally and horizontally therefrom at opposing sides thereof. In the preferred embodiment, the pair of roller posts are integrally formed from a single metal rod that traverses a roller post aperture, which extends laterally through the center post proximate the top end thereof.

A pair of cylindrical rollers is each rotationally mounted on one of the roller posts and extends downwardly therefrom lower than the top end of the center post. The center post mounting mechanism of the elongated deck engages with the rollers, such that each roller is aligned with the central lateral axis of the elongated deck on opposing sides of the longitudinal axis of the elongated deck. Each roller post further preferably includes a roller stop proximate a distal end of the roller post to maintain the roller on the roller post. Preferably, the center post mounting mechanism includes a pair of U-bolts, each fixed with the elongated deck at the bottom surface thereof. Each of the U-bolts straddles the central lateral axis of the elongated deck on opposing sides of the longitudinal axis and on opposing sides of the center post. Further, each U-bolt captures one of the rollers between itself and the elongated deck.

Also preferably, the balancing board further comprises a pair of tilt brakes each fixed with the top surface of the base and having a disengaged position that does not inhibit flexing of the center post or yaw or roll of the elongated deck, and an engaged position that inhibits flexing of the center post and yaw and roll of the elongated deck. In this configuration, each tilt brake ideally includes an elongated member pivotally fixed with a hinge at a lower end thereof with the top surface of the base and at an upper end with an elongated deck engagement surface.

In use, the bottom surface of the elongated deck contacts the center post and is captured thereon with the center post mounting mechanism, such that the elongated deck is free to move within a predefined small range in a lateral plane and in a forward/backward plane, as well as in the directions of roll, pitch, and yaw.

The present invention facilitates an exercise program requiring a user to control all aspects of his balance through not only the traditional pitch, tilt, and yaw movements, but also by unpredictable perturbation of the user through the invention's slip mechanism. The slip mechanism safely and efficaciously trains the user's balance; coordination; and proprioceptive awareness. It also benefits ankle, knee, and core strength and ligament and tendon strength and flexibility. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1-4illustrate a balancing board10for use by a user20on a horizontal support surface15(such as a floor or ground surface). The balancing board10comprises an elongated deck30having a top surface39, a bottom surface31, a longitudinal axis L1, and a central lateral axis L2. The elongated deck30may be made from Baltic birch wood or any other material with similar mechanical properties. In the preferred embodiment, the top surface39of the elongated deck30further includes a non-slip texture140(FIGS. 1-3). The non-slip texture140may be included on the top surface39of the elongated deck30through application of skateboard grip tape such as that produced by Mob Grip®, or any other mechanically similar material. The bottom surface31includes at the central lateral axis L2a center post mounting mechanism40(FIG. 2). In the preferred embodiment, the elongated deck30also includes two handle indentations200(FIG. 2) in the bottom surface31thereof at opposing ends35(FIG. 2) thereof.

The balancing board10further comprises a base50(FIGS. 1-2, 4) having a bottom side52(FIGS. 1, 2-3) and a top side58(FIGS. 1-3). The base50may be constructed from polyethylene, polypropylene, or any other mechanically similar material or combination of materials. The bottom side52has a bottom surface51(FIGS. 2-3) adapted for resting on the horizontal support surface15. In the preferred embodiment, the bottom surface51of the bottom side52further includes at least one high-traction foot100(FIG. 2-3) for frictionally engaging the support surface15. The top side58has a top surface59(FIGS. 2-4). The top side58is rotatable with respect to the bottom side52at a rotational bearing60(FIGS. 2-3). The rotational bearing60may be a ball bearing or any other sort of bearing or pivot that allows the top side58and bottom side52to mutually spin. In the preferred embodiment, the base50further comprises a bottom plate53(FIGS. 2-3) having the bottom side52, and a top plate57(FIGS. 2-3) having the top side58. In this embodiment, the rotational bearing60is fixed between the bottom plate53and the top plate57and allows for the top plate57to rotate with respect to the bottom plate53.

The balancing board10further comprises a resilient center post70(FIGS. 1-4) fixed at a bottom end72(FIGS. 2-4) thereof to the top surface59of the base50and extending upwardly therefrom. The center post70may be constructed from polyurethane or any other mechanically similar material that is resilient. The center post70has at a top end78(FIGS. 2-4) a pair of roller posts80(FIGS. 2-3), each extending laterally and horizontally therefrom at opposing sides75(FIG. 4) thereof. The roller posts80may be constructed from steel or any other mechanically similar material. In the preferred embodiment, the pair of roller posts80are integrally formed from a single metal rod110(FIG. 3) that traverses a roller post aperture120(FIG. 3), which extends laterally through the center post70proximate the top end78thereof. In practice, the metal rod110may be manufactured from any material of sufficient strength to and possessing all the other mechanical characteristics necessary to maintain the structural integrity and full function of the balancing board10.

A pair of cylindrical rollers90(FIGS. 2-4) is each rotationally mounted on one of the roller posts80and extends downwardly therefrom lower than the top end78of the center post70. The center post mounting mechanism40of the elongated deck30engages with the rollers90, such that each roller90is aligned with the central lateral axis L2of the elongated deck30on opposing sides of the longitudinal axis L1of the elongated deck30. Each roller post80further preferably includes a roller stop130(FIGS. 2-3) proximate a distal end85(FIGS. 2-4) of the roller post80to maintain the roller90on the roller post80. Preferably, the center post mounting mechanism40includes a pair of U-bolts45(FIGS. 2-4), each fixed with the elongated deck30at the bottom surface31thereof. Each of the U-bolts45straddles the central lateral axis L2of the elongated deck30on opposing sides of the longitudinal axis L1and on opposing sides of the center post70. Further, each U-bolt45captures one of the rollers90between itself and the elongated deck30.

Also preferably, the balancing board10further comprises a pair of tilt brakes150(FIG. 4) each fixed with the top surface59of the base50and having a disengaged position160(FIG. 4) that does not inhibit flexing of the center post70or yaw or roll of the elongated deck30, and an engaged position170(FIG. 4) that inhibits flexing of the center post and yaw and roll of the elongated deck30. In this configuration, each tilt brake150ideally includes an elongated member155(FIG. 4) pivotally fixed with a hinge180(FIG. 4) at a lower end152(FIG. 4) thereof with the top surface59of the base50and at an upper end158(FIG. 4) with an elongated deck engagement surface190(FIG. 4).

In use, the bottom surface31of the elongated deck30contacts the center post70and is captured thereon with the center post mounting mechanism40, such that the elongated deck30is free to move with a predetermined range, such as one to three centimeters, in a lateral plane and in a forward/backward plane, as well as in the directions of roll, pitch, and yaw. The center post70flexes (FIG. 5) when the weight of the user20on the elongated deck30fails to maintain his balance substantially directly above the center post70, and snaps back to a central upright position when the user20shifts his weight to again be balanced substantially directly above the center post70. With the tilt brakes150engages the user20does not have to contend with the center post70being resilient as the brakes hold the elongated deck above the center post70to prevent the center post70from flexing. Further, the tilt brakes150prevent the user from having to contend with the tendency of the elongated board30to move in roll or yaw directions.