Abstract:
A balance training device is a platform for standing upon that allows inserts with pads to be adjusted and inserted to provide varying degrees of instability. The upper surface of an insert, or pedestal, may include multiple protuberances positioned at or near the periphery of the upper surface and a comparatively lower region between the protuberances and at or near the center of the upper surface. The platform, or base unit, may be configured to support two or more inserts simultaneously, and the inserts may be of differing height or have different numbers of protuberances. A method of balance training includes removably connecting a pedestal to the base unit and standing upon an upper surface of the pedestal. Use of the balance training device may provide improved training safety for participants in group performance activities such as cheerleading.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/517,995 filed on Apr. 29, 2011. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is in the field of athletic training devices, particularly balance training devices. 
     In addition to its benefits for overall health and injury prevention, ability to balance is essential to many athletic endeavors. Some activities, such as gymnastics and cheerleading, additionally require participants to maintain balance at a significant elevation above the ground or floor. Loss of balance during such activities is of course particularly hazardous. Cheerleading and other group performance activities may also include the complication that a participant must balance on the relatively irregular surface of a human hand (or pair of hands), shoulder, or other body part (such as an arm, leg, or back). To reduce the hazards associated with training and performance of elevated maneuvers in group performance activities, a training aid providing practice balancing on a relatively unstable surface at a reduced elevation would be desirable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The problems described above are substantially solved by a portable device and a method allowing users to practice various strength and balance exercises. The portable device is an apparatus for standing upon using one or both feet. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises a platform with keyholes which accept a variety of inserts with different functions. On top of each insert, as well as the high point of the platform, is a pad of varying shape to provide instability. 
     In an embodiment, an apparatus for balance training of a user includes a pedestal dimensioned to underlie a portion of, but less than the entirety of, a foot of the user. An upper surface of the pedestal includes multiple protuberances positioned at or near the periphery of the upper surface and a comparatively lower region between the protuberances and at or near the center of the upper surface. In a further embodiment the upper surface of the pedestal may include four protuberances. Alternatively, the upper surface may include two protuberances. In a preferred embodiment, a height of the pedestal when in use is sufficient to prevent portions of the user&#39;s foot not in contact with the pedestal from contacting any surface underlying the pedestal. The pedestal may also be referred to herein as an “insert.” 
     The pedestal may include an upper portion having the upper surface described above and a lower portion supporting the upper portion during use. In an embodiment, the upper portion is formed from a material providing compressibility perceptible to the user. The upper portion may also be referred to herein as a “pad.” 
     The apparatus for balance training may also include a portable base unit dimensioned to underlie an entirety of the foot of the user. The base unit may also be referred to herein as a “platform.” In an embodiment, the lower portion of the pedestal is integral to the base unit. In an alternative embodiment, the lower portion of the pedestal is configured to removably connect to the base unit. 
     In an embodiment with the lower portion of the pedestal configured to removably connect to the base unit, the base unit may include a slot formed in an upper surface, and the lower portion of the pedestal may include a peg dimensioned to fit into the slot. Such a slot may also be referred to herein as a “keyhole,” and the peg may also be referred to as a “post.” The slot may have a varying width along its length, and the peg on the pedestal may be dimensioned to fit into one or more substantially fixed positions along the length of the slot. In an embodiment, the peg and slot described above may further be dimensioned to allow the pedestal to rotate about a substantially fixed position along the length of the slot. 
     In addition to a base unit and pedestal, an embodiment of the apparatus may include one or more additional pedestals configured to removably connect to the base unit. The base unit may be configured to support two or more pedestals simultaneously. The two or more pedestals supported by the base unit may be of different heights, and the upper surfaces of the pedestals may include different numbers of protuberances. 
     In addition to the apparatus described above, a method of balance training is contemplated herein. In an embodiment, the method includes removably connecting a pedestal to a base unit and standing upon an upper surface of the pedestal. The pedestal is dimensioned to underlie a portion of, but less than the entirety of, a foot of the user. An upper surface of the pedestal includes multiple protuberances positioned at or near the periphery of the upper surface and a comparatively lower region between the protuberances and near the center of the upper surface. The base unit is dimensioned to underlie an entirety of the foot of the user. 
     The method may further include adjusting a position of the pedestal in connection with the base unit. In addition, the method may include removably connecting different pedestals to the base unit to provide varying degrees of instability. 
     Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from consideration of the drawings and the ensuing description of preferred embodiments of the invention. A person skilled in the art will realize that other embodiments of the invention are possible and that the details of the invention can be modified in a number of respects, all without departing from the inventive concept. Thus, the following drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features of the invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the platform of an embodiment of the training apparatus; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the large insert of an embodiment of the training apparatus; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of the large insert of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the rotating insert of an embodiment of the training apparatus; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of the rotating insert of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of the medium insert of an embodiment of the training apparatus; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom perspective view of the medium insert of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a top perspective view of the small insert of an embodiment of the training apparatus; 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom perspective view of the small insert of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the platform of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the medium insert of  FIG. 7  and the large insert of  FIG. 3  in place; and 
         FIG. 12  is an exploded view of the embodiment of  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the embodiment of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , there is shown a one piece platform  13  with a pad  14  attached to the top. There is a keyhole  15  in the platform  13  where a variety of inserts as shown in  FIG. 3  through  FIG. 10  can be arranged. There are also cutouts  16  and  17  at the base of the platform  13  to use as lifting points. 
     In more detail, still referring to the present embodiment of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the top of the platform  13  is sufficiently wide and long to stand on, such as about five inches wide and ten inches long. The bottom of the platform  13  is sufficiently wide and long to provide stability for the platform  13  when standing on, such as about eight inches wide and fourteen inches long. The height of the platform  13  is sufficiently tall to provide a step up off the ground, such as about nine inches high. The pad  14  is sufficiently wide and long to stand on, such as about three to four inches wide and three to four inches long and is about one inch tall. The keyhole  15  is about one inch deep, six to ten inches long, and of a shape that allows a variety of inserts, such as those of  FIG. 3  through  FIG. 10 , to fit precisely. 
     The construction details of the present embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , are that the platform  13  may be made of high-strength plastic or any other sufficiently rigid and strong material, such as wood, metal and the like. Further, the pad  14  may be made of a rubber like material to yield slightly to the weight of a person standing upon it. The platform, inserts, and pads described throughout this disclosure may be made using any suitable techniques for shaping of these materials into the shapes described herein. For embodiments using plastic or rubberlike materials, for example, the apparatus and its parts may be manufactured by molding techniques known in the art, such as silicon molding or injection molding. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , there is shown a large insert  18  having a lower portion  20  with an upper portion, or pad,  21  attached to the top. Pad  21  is similar to pad  14  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . There are posts  19  at the bottom that fit into a number of positions in the keyhole  15  in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . In this embodiment there are also dimples  22  on each of the four sides to use as finger grips to remove the large insert  18  from the platform  13  in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . 
     In more detail, still referring to the present embodiment of  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the large insert  18  is about three to four inches wide and three to four inches long and about two to three inches tall, which includes the posts  19  that are about one inch tall. The pad  21  is of a size and shape to precisely fit onto the lower portion  20  of the large insert  18  and is about one inch tall. In this embodiment, pad  21  includes four bumps, or protuberances,  211  in its upper surface. Between bumps  211  is a comparatively lower region  212 . The unevenness of the upper surface of pad  21  may to some degree simulate for a user of the apparatus the feel of balancing on the palm of a human hand. Together, the lower portion  20  and the pad  21 , when inserted in the keyhole  15  of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , are sufficiently tall enough to be level with the pad  14  in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  and provide a level surface on which to stand. 
     The construction details of the present embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , are that the large insert  18  may be made of high-strength plastic or any other sufficiently rigid and strong material such as wood, metal and the like. Further, the pad  21  may be made of a rubber like material to yield slightly to the weight of a person standing upon it. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , there is shown a rotating insert  23  having a lower portion  231  with a pad  25  attached to the top. In this embodiment, pad  25  is similar to pad  21  of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . There is round post  24  at the bottom that fits into a number of positions in the keyhole  15  in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . There are also dimples  26  on each of the four sides to use as finger grips to remove the rotating insert  23  from the platform  13  in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . 
     In more detail, still referring to the present embodiment of  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the lower portion  231  of rotating insert  23  is about three to four inches wide and three to four inches long and about two to three inches tall, which includes the round post  24  that is about one inch tall. The pad  25  is of a size and shape to precisely fit onto the lower portion  231  of the rotating insert  23  and is about one inch tall. Together, the lower portion  231  and the pad  25 , when inserted in the keyhole  15  of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , are sufficiently tall enough to be level with the pad  14  in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  and provide a level surface on which to stand. 
     The construction details of the present embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , are that the rotating insert  23  may be made of high-strength plastic or any other sufficiently rigid and strong material such as wood, metal and the like. Further, the pad  25  may be made of a rubber like material to yield slightly to the weight of a person standing upon it. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , there is shown a medium insert  27  having a lower portion  271  with a pad  29  attached to the top. In this embodiment, pad  29  is similar to pad  21  of  FIGS. 3-4  or pad  25  of  FIGS. 5-6 , but includes two bumps or protuberances  291  rather than four, with a comparatively lower region  292  between bumps  291 . There is a post  28  at the bottom that fits into a number of positions in the keyhole  15  in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . There are also dimples  30  on each of the four sides to use as finger grips to remove the medium insert  27  from the platform  13  in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . 
     In more detail, still referring to the present embodiment of  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , the lower portion  271  of medium insert  27  is about three to four inches wide and one to two inches long and about two to three inches tall, which includes the post  28  that is about 1 inch tall. The pad  29  is of a size and shape to precisely fit onto the lower portion  271  of medium insert  18  and is about 1 inch tall. Together, the lower portion  271  and the pad  29 , when inserted in the keyhole  15  of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , are sufficiently tall enough to be level with the pad  14  in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  and provide a level surface on which to stand. 
     The construction details of the present embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , are that the medium insert  27  may be made of high-strength plastic or any other sufficiently rigid and strong material such as wood, metal and the like. Further, the pad  29  may be made of a rubber like material to yield slightly to the weight of a person standing upon it. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , there is shown a small insert  31  having a lower portion  311  with a pad  33  attached to the top. In this embodiment, pad  33  is similar to pad  29  of  FIGS. 7 and 8 . There is a post  32  at the bottom that fits into a number of positions in the keyhole  15  in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . There are also dimples  34  on each of the four sides to use as finger grips to remove the small insert  31  from the platform  13  in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . 
     In more detail, still referring to the present embodiment of  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , the lower portion  311  of the small insert  31  is about three to four inches wide and one to two inches long and about two inches tall, which includes the post  32  that is about one inch tall. The pad  33  is of a size and shape to precisely fit onto the small insert  31  and is about one inch tall. Together, the lower portion  311  and the pad  33 , when inserted in the keyhole  15  of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , are shorter than the pad  14  in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  and provide an unlevel surface on which to stand. 
     The construction details of the present embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , are that the small insert  31  may be made of high-strength plastic or any other sufficiently rigid and strong material such as wood, metal and the like. Further, the pad  33  may be made of a rubber like material to yield slightly to the weight of a person standing upon it. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12 , with  FIG. 12  being an exploded view of  FIG. 11 , there is shown the platform  13  of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  with the large insert  18  of  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  and the medium insert  27  of  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  in one possible configuration. 
     Many variations of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art. For example, inserts or pedestals such as inserts  18 ,  23 ,  27 , and  31  shown in the figures could be formed as a single piece rather than with separate upper and lower portions. Some variations call for platform  13  being different shapes and styles including different permanent high and low points, a surface with only keyholes  15  for inserts  18 ,  23 ,  27 ,  31  and non-flat bottom surfaces to allow instability. Other variations call for platform  13  to be formed from two or more parts to vary height and ease portability. Other variations include the entire device moving, shaking or raising and lowering by mechanical and electrical means. Other variations include larger and smaller versions, with varying densities of materials and shapes for the pads  14 ,  21 ,  25 ,  29 ,  33 . Still other variations include additional inserts of varying size and shape for different balancing objectives. Other variations include different adjustment methods, sliding or rotating inserts and shapes of the keyholes  15 . Other variations call for LED or other forms of lights, pressure point sensors, digital displays, audio speakers, microphones with voice recognition, data entry points, pliable and or traction material on the bottom surface and straps or connections to attach the device to ones feet. 
     Although the present embodiment is shown to include certain features, the applicants specifically contemplate that any feature disclosed herein may be used together or in combination with any other feature on any embodiment of the invention. It is also contemplated that any feature may be specifically excluded from any embodiment of the invention. 
     While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.