Patent Publication Number: US-11027170-B2

Title: Multi-planar rotational platform and suspension exercise device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to exercise devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a multi-planar rotational platform and suspension device enabling improvement of balance and strength. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The physical benefits of compact rotational exercise and therapy devices designed for individual use in the home or office are well known. In general, the structure and function of most rotational exercise and therapy devices involve platforms having either horizontal rotation about an axis or a vertical rotation about an axis. Many such rotational exercise and therapy devices have a platform that rotates horizontally and not vertically or a platform that provides vertical rotation from side to side but does not provide for horizontal rotation. In addition, in some cases, the platform must be stopped in its rotation and then started again in the opposite direction. This does not allow the operator to achieve maximum therapy or strength or balance for the selected joint musculature. 
     Some of the rotational exercise and therapy devices require motorization. However, such motorized mechanisms make the device very expensive to own and operate. Such devices can also be mechanically complicated with many parts which could require frequent repair or mandate numerous adjustments. It could require skilled maintenance and would be unaffordable for many people requiring therapy or desiring to increase their strength or balance and wishing to have a versatile low-cost exercise device. 
     Many of such rotational exercise and therapy devices permit a near unlimited range of motion, which can present a safety hazard, particularly when the operator is initially mounting the device or if the operator is merely beginning to use the device and has not developed his or her balance and strength to an appropriate level. 
     Moreover, many of the preexisting rotational exercise and therapy devices are freely rotating or provide such rotation, such as by means of a motor or the like, and do not provide any resistive forces. The lack of resistive forces limits the ability of the operator to strengthen the desired muscles and joints. 
     Accordingly, there is a continuing need for an improved rotational exercise and therapy device which will be inexpensive to manufacture, responds to changes in the operator&#39;s center of gravity, and also allows for selective resistance to free movement while also being safe to use. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention resides in a multi-planar rotational platform and suspension exercise and therapy device. The exercise device generally comprises a base body comprising a base plate and a generally circular wall extending upwardly from the base plate to define an interior cavity of the base body. A plurality of spaced apart roller assemblies are disposed within the interior cavity of the base body. 
     A motion platform assembly is partially disposable within the interior cavity of the base body. The motion platform assembly comprises a generally convex dome at a lower portion thereof and a support platform at an upper surface thereof. The dome extends into the interior cavity of the base body so as to contact the plurality of spaced apart roller assemblies and permit the motion platform assembly to tilt or rotate as force is applied to the support platform. 
     Typically, there are at least three spaced apart roller assemblies that are disposed within the base body. The roller assemblies each comprise a roller at least partially disposed within a roller housing so as to freely rotate therein. 
     A lip extends from the motion platform assembly that limits the range of motion of the motion platform, such as contacting a rim of the wall of the base body as the motion platform assembly is tilted or rotated sufficiently to bring the lip into contact with the rim of the wall. The rim of the wall may be comprised of a sound dampening material. Alternatively, or additionally, a cover may be attached to the rim comprised of a sound dampening material. 
     At least one elastic cord may extend between the base body and the motion platform assembly. A first elastic cord attachment bracket is disposed on an outer surface of the wall of the base body for removably receiving a first end of the elastic cord. A second elastic cord attachment bracket is associated with the motion platform assembly for removably receiving a second end of the elastic cord. The at least one elastic cord provides resistance to the tilting or rotation of the motion platform assembly relative to the base body. 
     A hand rail may be associated with the base body for the user to safely grasp during operation of the device. 
     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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental perspective view of an individual utilizing an exercise device embodying the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of an exercise device embodying the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view illustrating various components of the exercise device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an exercise device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a roller housing used in connection with the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial perspective view of an elastic cord attachment bracket of a base body of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is an elastic cord attachment bracket of a motion platform assembly; and 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of a base body of the exercise device of the present invention having a hand rail associated therewith in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in the accompanying drawings, for purposes of illustration, the present invention resides in an exercise device, generally referred to by the reference number  10 . The exercise device  10  of the present invention is designed to provide increased safety during the mounting onto the device  10 , while exercising, and dismounting from the device  10 . Moreover, as will be more fully explained herein, the exercise device of the present invention provides resistive forces to strengthen the desired muscles and joints of the user while also increasing safety of the use of the device. The exercise device  10  of the present invention also provides other related advantages which will become apparent from the following detailed description. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , an exercise device  10  embodying the present invention is shown being utilized by a user  2 . In accordance with the present invention, as the user shifts his or her weight while on the exercise device  10 , such as shifting the weight from one foot to another foot  4 , a portion of the exercise device  10  pivots or tilts with respect to the other portion thereof, which serves to increase the user&#39;s balance and strength as the user operates the device. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the exercise device  10  of the present invention can also be used in manners other than standing on the exercise device  10 . For example, the user may be able to perform exercises while having his or her hands on top of the device  10  while his or her feet are on a supporting floor surface, having the user&#39;s feet  4  on an upper portion of the device  10  as a portion of the user&#39;s body is on the supporting floor surface, etc. 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 2-4 , the exercise device  10  of the present invention is generally comprised of a base body  12  having a base plate  14 . The base plate  14  is typically planar so as to be placed on a supporting surface, such as a floor or the like. A wall  16  extends upwardly from the base plate  14  so as to define an interior cavity  18  of the base body  12 . The wall  16  may be circular in shape, as illustrated. The wall  16  is typically at least several inches in height so as to provide a needed depth of the interior cavity  18 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a plurality of roller assemblies  20  are disposed within the interior cavity  18  of the base body  12 . Preferably, there are at least three spaced apart roller assemblies  20  which are disposed within the base body  12 . The roller assemblies  20  are comprised of a roller  22  disposed within a roller housing  24  in such a manner that the roller  22  can freely rotate within the roller housing  24 . Typically, the roller  22  is generally spherical in shape so as to roll and rotate in many different directions and along different axes so as not to limit the movement imparted by the user  2  when utilizing the exercise device  10 . 
     The roller housing  24  may be formed integrally with the base body  12 , or attached thereto, such as by providing mating apertures between the roller housing  24  and base body  12  so as to removably attach the roller housing  24  to the base body  12 . Preferably, the roller housings  24  are generally equidistant from one another. As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the roller housing  24  is comprised of a wall  26  which defines interior cavities  28  and  30  into which the roller  22  can be inserted. It will be seen that interior cavity  28  is configured so as to direct the rolling ball  22  at an inwardly facing angle to the central axis of the base body  12 . This configuration and positioning is much more effective than having the rollers  22  positioned within a generally vertical cavity. It is contemplated by the present invention that at least a portion of interior cavity  28  and/or  30  be filled with a cushioning and/or noise dampening material. Such could be, for example, a foam fill material or the like. 
     With reference again to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a motion platform assembly is at least partially disposable within the interior cavity  18  of the base body  12 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The motion platform assembly  32  comprises a generally convex dome  34  at a lower portion thereof and a support platform  36  at an upper surface thereof. As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , the dome  34  extends into the interior cavity  18  of the base body  12  so as to contact the rollers  22  of the roller assemblies  20 . As force is supplied to the support platform  36  the motion platform assembly will tilt or rotate as the outer surface of the dome  34  causes the rollers  22  to rotate and spin. Preferably, the outer surface of the dome  34  is generally smooth so as not to inhibit rotation of the rollers  22  as force is applied thereto. 
     The support platform  36  is attached to the dome  34  so as to present a generally planar support surface for the user. The upper surface of the support platform  36  may include a grip material  38  or have indentations, scores or other textured surface so as to create grip  38 . The support platform  36  may be attached to the dome  34  in a variety of manners. In the illustrated embodiment, the support platform  36  is attached to the dome  34  by attaching the support platform  36  to a plurality of ribs  40  which are disposed within the interior of the dome  34 , such as for providing strength and support to the dome as well as the support platform  36 . This may be done by means of inserting fasteners through the support platform  36  and into tubular receptacles  42  associated with the ribs  40 . It will be understood, however, that the support platform  36  could also be attached to an outer circumference of the dome  34  or by other means. 
     A lip  44  extends outwardly from the motion platform assembly  32  around a circumference thereof. The lip  44  serves to limit the tilting or rotation range of movement of the motion platform assembly  32 . This may be, for example, by means of the lip  44  coming into contact with an upper edge of the wall  16  of the base body  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, the lip  44  includes a downwardly directed shoulder  46  defining a circumferential ring or groove  48 . The upper edge of the wall  16  will come into contact with the circular groove or ring  48 , and the shoulder  46  will prevent further motion of the support platform  36  as it comes into contact with the wall  16  of the base body  12 . 
     In order to reduce noise, vibration or other forces created by the impact between the lip  44  of the motion platform assembly  32  and the wall  16  of the base  12 , at least a portion of the wall  16  may be comprised of a sound dampening and/or vibration dampening material. Alternatively, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a cover  50  may be attached to the upper rim of the wall  16  that is comprised of a sound dampening material or cushion material or the like to serve these purposes. Furthermore, vibration and/or sound dampening material  52 , such as a foam fill, may at least partially fill the interior cavity of the dome  34  to further lessen such vibrational and sound forces. Such fill material  52  can also serve to strengthen the structure of the motion platform assembly  32 . 
     In use, a user may position a portion of his or her body or his or her entire body upon the support platform  36  of the motion platform assembly  32  which has the dome  34  thereof disposed within the interior cavity  18  of the base body  12 . As the user  2  shifts his or her weight, this causes forces to be applied to the support platform  36 , causing the motion platform assembly  32  to pivot, tilt and/or rotate as the smooth outer surface of the dome  34  contacts the rollers  22  of the roller assemblies  20 . The user increases his or her balance and/or strength by attempting to control the degree of movement of the motion platform assembly  32  and/or maintaining his or her balance on the support platform  36  as the motion platform assembly  32  is moved or to prevent such movement. It will be understood that the user  2  can move the motion support platform assembly  32  along horizontal directions, rotate the motion platform assembly, or tilt or pivot the motion platform assembly  32  with respect to the base body  12 . Such pivotal or tilting motion can be restricted as the outer circumferential lip  44  contacts an upper rim of the wall  16  or the cover  50  attached thereto. This provides a degree of safety as opposed to a limitless range of motion between the base body  12  and motion platform assembly  32 . 
     With reference again to  FIG. 2 , one or more elastic cords  54  may extend between the base body  12  and the motion platform assembly  32 . The elastic cord  54  may be comprised of a tubular or solid material capable of stretching under tension force. These may be comprised of, for example, elastic material, bungie cords, or the like. Such elastic cords  54  provide resistance to the tilting or rotation motion of the motion platform assembly  32  relative to the base body  12 . When the one or more elastic cords  54  are attached between the base body  12  and the motion platform assembly  32 , they create resistance to the multi-dimensional motions of sliding, tilting and rotation of the motion platform assembly  32  relative to the base  12 . The resistance of these motions of the motion platform assembly  32  requires that a sufficient enough load be placed upon the support platform  36  to move the motion platform assembly  32 , and more particularly the dome  34  relative to the roller assemblies  20 . 
     This creates a safer, quasi-stable support platform  36  when minimum load is placed upon the support platform  36 , such as when mounting and dismounting from the motion platform assembly  32 . Single or multiple elastic cords  54  can be attached between the base body  12  and the motion platform assembly  32  to increase or decrease the resistance. Different lengths of elastic cords  54  may also be selected to achieve this purpose, or the type of material of the elastic cord  54  can be altered by using different elastic cords  54  to also increase or decrease the resistive forces. The resistance of the elastic cords or bands  54  can be overcome by a load or force applied by the user&#39;s feet, hands, or other body surfaces, which reacts to minute motion platform assembly  32  via reaction, resulting in the user applying additional force or load to rotate, tilt, slide, or other cause other motion or movement of the motion platform assembly  32  relative to the base body  12 , thus providing resistance and increasing the user&#39;s muscular and/or skeletal strength. Removal of the all elastic cords  54  immediately creates a less stable motion platform assembly  32 , requiring advance skill and attention to load or force applied to the motion platform assembly  32  by the user. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 7 , the base body  12  includes an attachment bracket  56  for attaching a portion, typically an end, of the elastic cord  54  thereto. An end of the elastic cord may be enlarged in size, such as by forming a knot at an end thereof, so as to be held within the attachment bracket  56 . For example, in the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the enlarged end may be larger than the diameter of the aperture  58 , with a length of the band extending through aperture  60  and then extending to the elastic cord attachment bracket  62  of the motion platform assembly. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary elastic cord attachment bracket  62  which is integrally formed with or attached to the motion platform assembly  32 . As illustrated, the bracket  62  is attached to an outer edge of lip  44 . The bracket  62  may be comprised of a block  64  defining a passageway  66  surrounding an interior to the block  64  of a sufficiently large size so as to receive a length of the elastic cord  54  therein, but prevent an enlarged end of the elastic cord from passing therethrough. It will be appreciated that other configurations of such attachment brackets  56  and  62  could be utilized to achieve the purposes of the invention. 
     Preferably, there are a plurality of such attachment or locking brackets  56  and  62  in spaced relation along the base body  12  and the motion platform assembly  32  so that one or more elastic cords  54  can be attached therebetween and provide stability and resistance to motion. As illustrated, there are three pairs of attachment brackets  56  and  62  which are generally equidistantly separated from one another to permit up to three elastic cords  54  to extend between the base body  12  and the motion platform assembly  32 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 9 , the present invention contemplates the incorporation of a handrail  68  that the user can grasp onto for stability and support when utilizing the exercise device  10 . A handrail  68  is disposed several feet above the base body  12 , such as between the waistline and chest of the user so that the user can easily grasp with at least one hand the handrail  68  to assist the user in maintaining his or her balance and moving the motion platform assembly  32  relative to the base body  12 . Preferably, the handrail  68  is generally arcuate in configuration so as to provide space between the handrail  68  and the user and not impede the user&#39;s movements. One or more vertical tubes  70  are attached to or have formed at a lower end thereof base tubes  72  which are insertable into a “V-extension” which is attached to or otherwise associated with the base body  12 , such as being attached to the base plate  14 , as illustrated. It is contemplated that the handrail  68 , and associated tubular structure, can be removably attached to the exercise device  10  as desired. Alternatively, it will be understood that the handrail  68  can be of a permanent attachment. The handrail  68  may be adjustable both in vertical height and/or extension towards or outward from the base body  12 , such as by providing telescoping connections between the tubular segments  70 - 74 . 
     Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.