Balance training device

A balance training device includes at least one supporting base and at least one plank member. The supporting base includes a plank connecting portion formed with a plank coupling groove that opens upwardly. The plank coupling groove includes a first groove section and a second groove section that intersects the first groove section. The plank member includes a plate portion and a rib structure disposed on a bottom face of the plate portion. The rib structure removably engages the plank coupling groove of the supporting base. The rib structure includes a first rib part to engage the first groove section and a second rib part to engage the second groove section.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese application no. 098219507, filed on Oct. 22, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a balance training device, more particularly to a balance training device for playing a treading balancing game.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 4, a conventional balance training device is shown to include a wedge-shaped base1formed with a slot11, a connecting block5that has an upright plate portion51retained in the slot11and a cylindrical post52extending from a top side of the upright plate portion51, and a plank3formed with three spaced apart post tubes32. When the post52is inserted into a middle one of the post tubes32, the plank3may turn relative to the base1in a seesaw manner.

As shown inFIG. 3, when the post52is inserted into a rightmost one of the post tubes32, the plank3may be used as a sloping walkway.

As shown inFIG. 4, a rectangular base7having two slots71, and two cylindrical posts72are needed for connecting two planks3to form a longer sloping walkway.

Because a different base7is needed when it is desired to connect two planks3to form a longer walkway, the conventional balance training device includes a large number of discrete components that result in higher costs. Moreover, connections among the components of the conventional balance training device lack variety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a balance training device that has a relatively simple construction and that offers a variety of assembly options when forming walkways.

According to the present invention, there is provided a balance training device that includes at least one supporting base and at least one plank member. The supporting base includes a plank connecting portion formed with a plank coupling groove that opens upwardly. The plank coupling groove includes a first groove section and a second groove section that intersects the first groove section. The plank member includes a plate portion and a rib structure disposed on a bottom face of the plate portion. The rib structure removably engages the plank coupling groove of the supporting base. The rib structure includes a first rib part to engage the first groove section and a second rib part to engage the second groove section.

According to this invention, a balance training device that has a relatively simple construction and that offers a variety of assembly options when forming walkways is obtained.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS. 5 and 6, the preferred embodiment of a balance training device according to the present invention is shown to include a supporting base6and a plank member2. The supporting base6has a plank connecting portion62formed with a plank coupling groove65that opens upwardly. The plank coupling groove65includes a first groove section651and parallel second groove sections652that intersect the first groove section651. In this embodiment, the plank connecting portion62is formed with a plurality of projecting parts620arranged in a two-dimensional array that includes a plurality of rows and columns. There are six projecting parts620arranged in three rows and two columns in this embodiment. The first groove section651is defined by the projecting parts620in an adjacent pair of the columns. Each second groove section652is defined by the projecting parts620in an adjacent pair of the rows. In addition, each of the projecting parts620has an inclined inner surface that confronts the first groove section651. The inclined inner surfaces of the projecting parts620configure the first groove section651to diverge upwardly. In other words, the first groove section651is a substantially V-shaped groove section.

The plank member2has a plate portion21and a rib structure disposed on a bottom face of the plate portion21. The rib structure removably engages the plank coupling groove65and includes a first rib part to engage the first groove section651and a second rib part to engage the second groove sections652. In this embodiment, the rib structure includes parallel first ribs24that serve as the first rib part and parallel second ribs23that serve as the second rib part. The first ribs24extend along a transverse direction, whereas the second ribs23extend along a longitudinal direction. The first ribs24cooperate with the second ribs23to form a grid that defines a plurality of grid spaces25to receive removably the projecting parts620.

In this embodiment, the plate portion21of the plank member2has a pair of transverse edges connected respectively to an endmost pair of the first ribs24, and a pair of longitudinal edges connected respectively to an endmost pair of the second ribs23.

The plank member2and the supporting base6may be assembled as shown inFIG. 6. One of the first ribs24engages the first groove section651of the plank coupling groove65, whereas a pair of the second ribs23engage the second groove sections652(seeFIG. 5) of the plank coupling groove65. The grid spaces25receive removably the projecting parts620. The plank member2may turn relative to the supporting base6in a seesaw manner at this time.

As shown inFIG. 7, the preferred embodiment may also be assembled to form a sloping walkway. To form the sloping walkway, the endmost first rib24of the plank member2engages the first groove section651of the plank coupling groove65. At the same time, a pair of the second ribs23engage left parts of the second groove sections652of the plank coupling groove65. In this arrangement, the right end of the plank member2is propped up by the supporting base6to form the sloping walkway.

As shown inFIG. 8, the preferred embodiment may also be assembled to form a longer sloping walkway. It is noted that the first groove section651of the plank coupling groove65is a substantially V-shaped groove section having a largest width greater than twice a thickness of the rib structure. Therefore, the endmost first ribs24of two plank members2may simultaneously engage the first groove section651of the plank coupling groove65to form the longer sloping walkway.

Referring toFIGS. 5,6and9, the balance training device of the preferred embodiment further includes a hoop10. The supporting base6further has a rectangular lower base portion61connected to the plank connecting portion62. The lower base portion61has opposite first lateral sides, each formed with a hoop engaging groove632to engage removably and selectively a part of the hoop10. In the arrangement ofFIG. 9, one of the plank members2is extended through the hoop10and engages the supporting base6after a part of the hoop10has engaged the hoop engaging groove632. Therefore, aside from forming the longer sloping walkway shown inFIG. 8, inclusion of the hoop10provides greater amusement in view of the need to pass through the hoop10when traversing the balance training device.

Referring toFIGS. 5,6and10, each of the first lateral sides of the lower base portion61of the supporting base6is further formed with a first coupling element63. The lower base portion61of the supporting base6further has opposite second lateral sides, each formed with a second coupling element64that complements the first coupling element63. Accordingly, two supporting bases6may be coupled removably together so as to be pivotable relative to each other through engagement between the first coupling element63of one of the supporting bases6and the second coupling element64of the other one of the supporting bases6. In this embodiment, the first coupling element63is a vertically extending female coupling element formed with a coupling groove631that is defined by an arcuate wall subtending an angle of about 240 degrees, and the second coupling element64is a vertically extending male coupling element.

Referring toFIGS. 11 to 13, the preferred embodiment further includes a coupling base9to couple removably the supporting base6to a top side of the plate portion21of the plank member2. The lower base portion61of the supporting base6is hollow and has a surrounding wall610and a cross-plate66disposed to extend in the surrounding wall610. Preferably, the lower base portion61has a pair of the cross-plates66. Each cross-plate66has at least one surface661formed with a protrusion662. Preferably, both surfaces661of the cross-plate66have three protrusions662. The locations of the protrusions662on the two surfaces661correspond to each other.

The coupling base9includes a base plate91to be disposed on top of the plate portion21of the plank member2, and a plate clamping portion92that extends upwardly from the base plate91and that is extendible into the surrounding wall610to clamp removably the cross-plate66. Preferably, the coupling base9includes a pair of the plate clamping portions92to clamp removably and respectively the cross-plates66. Each plate clamping portion92includes a pair of clamping plates921. At least one of the clamping plates921has an inner plate surface formed with a recess922to engage a corresponding protrusion662. Preferably, the inner plate surface of each clamping plate921is formed with the recess922to engage a middle protrusion662on a confronting surface661of the corresponding cross-plate66.

The coupling base9also includes a coupling post94extending downwardly from the base plate91. The plate portion21of the plank member2is formed with a post hole211at each end thereof for selective engagement with the coupling post94.

As shown inFIG. 13, a first one of the plank members2is supported by a first one of the supporting bases6at one end and engages the coupling base9at the other end. The coupling base9couples the first one of the plank members2and a second one of the supporting bases6. The second one of the supporting bases6supports one end of a second one of the plank members2. In this manner, another form of a sloping walkway can be obtained.