Abstract:
A formed tubular frame which has a pair of generally U-shaped members joined at an acute angle such that a lower of the members engages the skating or support surface while the upper member extends forwardly and upwardly to define a handle for the user. The U-shaped members define an open area in which a user can stand and manipulate their legs for skating or otherwise moving while placing their center of gravity well within the supporting frame to provide lateral and fore and aft support and allow the user to place weight on the device as necessary to assist in stabilizing their balance.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a balance stabilization device and particularly one which is useful as a training aid for skaters.  
           [0002]    Skating, including inline skating, roller skating, and ice skating, has become an increasingly popular sport with both young and old alike. Nonetheless, beginning skaters, until the balance and skills are mastered, are unfortunately somewhat prone to falling, which can be both injurious, embarrassing, and does not instill confidence in furthering their skating abilities. Younger skaters, particularly when ice skating, can be somewhat fearful of falling on the ice and injuring themselves. Although there has been many proposed paraphernalia for assisting in the training of skating, many skating aids have employed frames with multiple sections of tubing having numerous coupling joints; do not nest for stacking multiple units in an ice arena, for example; do not properly protect the user by placing the user&#39;s center of gravity well within the support framework of the device or, in some cases, have relatively sharp edges and projections which could actually cause injury in the event the user accidentally fell.  
           [0003]    Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved balance stabilizing device which can be used for assisting beginning skaters and, if equipped with rollers, also employed by elderly or infirm persons to assist them in mobility.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The system of the present invention satisfies this need by providing a formed tubular frame which has a pair of generally U-shaped members joined at an acute angle at the rear of the device such that a lower of the members engages the skating or support surface while the upper member extends forwardly and upwardly to define a handle for the user. The U-shaped members define an unobstructed open area in which a user can stand and manipulate their legs for skating or otherwise moving while placing their center of gravity well within the supporting frame to provide lateral and fore and aft support while also allowing the user to place weight on the device as necessary to assist in stabilizing their balance.  
           [0005]    In one embodiment of the invention, each leg of the lower generally U-shaped frame member preferably includes a raised section facing the rear of the device to receive a supporting brace extending between the raised section of the lower member and the handle to provide rigidity to the structure. In a preferred embodiment also, the handle includes a comfortable resilient grip for use in supporting the user. With such construction, a practically joint-free, smoothly curved tubular frame is provided which can be employed for assistance in learning ice skating, or, when equipped with rollers for assisting in inline or roller skating and/or assisting the mobility of infirm or elderly persons.  
           [0006]    The device is nestable such that at a facility, such as an ice skating rink, a plurality of the devices can be stored in a minimum storage area and easily singulated for use by individuals, for example, renting such a device. Another advantage of this design is that the upper member slopes forward and upward, allowing users of various heights to grip the handle in various locations.  
           [0007]    These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description thereof together with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stability assistant device embodying the present invention, shown in use as an ice skating aid;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a right side elevational view of a plurality of the devices, shown stacked in a nested position for storage;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the device;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of yet another embodiment of the device;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view of yet a further embodiment of the device;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the reinforcing member for each side of the device, as seen in FIGS.  1 - 3 ;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged view of an alternative embodiment of the reinforcing member;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 10 is yet another alternative embodiment of the reinforcing member;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 11 is a right side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the stability device which includes rollers;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 12 is a right side perspective view of another embodiment of the device; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along section line XIII-XIII of FIG. 12. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0021]    Referring initially to FIG. 1, there is shown a balance stabilizing device  10  embodying the present invention, which is used by an individual  12  for assistance in learning to ice skate. Device  10  comprises an integral tubular framework  14  which includes a lower, generally U-shaped member  16  and an upper, generally U-shaped member  18  which is integrally attached to the lower member  16 , forming an upwardly inclined acute angle α, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, which is from about 40° to about 50° and, in the preferred embodiment, 47°. The lower and upper members 16 and 18 define the integral tubular frame  14 , which is made of formed steel, such as a 1″ OD 16-gauge zinc-plated steel tubes which may be suitably powder coated with polyurethane to withstand the harsh environment of an ice skating rink, for example, in the embodiment shown in FIGS.  1 - 7 .  
         [0022]    In one embodiment of the invention, the upper member  18  is joined to the lower member  16  by at least one and perhaps two telescopic connections  15 ,  17  (FIG. 1) to allow the members to be separated into sections for shipment. When assembled and in use, the weight of an individual leaning on the device provides forces which maintain the junction, although in some embodiments it may be desirable to extend a locking fastener between the telescopic tube sections. The telescopic connections  15  and  17  can be conventionally formed by compressing the ends of one of the members, such that its outer diameter fits within the end of the other member. They can subsequently also be locked together by swaging or using a fastener.  
         [0023]    The lower member  16  includes, as viewed in FIG. 1, a left side runner  20  and a forwardly converging right side runner  22  integrally joined by a center forwardly projecting section  24 . The lower surfaces of members  20 ,  22  and  24  define runners which contact the ice surface. Runners  20  and  22  are each interrupted by inverted V-shaped raised sections  25  and  26 , respectively, which extend upwardly from the horizontal contact surface at an angle β of from about 210° to 230° and preferably 216°. Runners  20  and  22  converge at the center section at an angle δ of approximately 45, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3.  
         [0024]    The raised sections  25 ,  26  provide a gap in runners  20  and  22  of about 11 inches and provide an inclined rear wall  27 ,  29  on runners  20 ,  22 , respectively, for attaching a reinforcing member  30  on each side of the device to provide additional strength for the upper handle defining member  18  with respect to the lower member  16  as weight is placed on the handle  35  consisting of the upper forward extension of upper member  18 . Additionally, raised sections  25 ,  26  reduce the contact area with the ice and, therefore, make the device slide more easily.  
         [0025]    The overall length L 1  of the lower runners, as seen in FIG. 2, is, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, 36 inches, while the height H is approximately 32 inches for use by smaller individuals. The dimensions can be somewhat varied if larger models are desired for adults. The relatively large open footprint area of the device is best seen in FIG. 3 and has a width W 1  of about 31 inches and a depth D corresponding to L 1  of 36 inches, thereby providing a significantly open area into which a skater can step, as seen in FIG. 1, with the skater&#39;s center of gravity CG (FIG. 1) being positioned well between runners  20 ,  22  of the lower member  16  and arms  31  and  33  of the upper member  18 . The handle  35  is defined by integral upper member  18  with arms  31  and  33  joined at a center section  34 . The handle  35  defined by the upper forward end of upper member  18  is covered with a PVC coating  36 , which is applied in a dip process and which provides a secure but comfortable grip for the user. The PVC grip  36  extends sufficiently along the handle  35  to allow individuals of different sizes to use the device.  
         [0026]    Each of the support members  30  are preferably made of injection molded polypropylene (or nylon) having a width W 2  (FIG. 2) of about 5 inches and an I-beam shaped cross section with a center thickness of about 0.2″, terminating on angled ends which conform to the angle α between the lower member  16  and upper member  18  of the device  10 . The supports  30  include coupling members  40  at each end which can, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 8, comprise a plurality of alternately staggered opposed arcuate open claws  41  and  43  to snap-fit over the tubular members  16  and  18 . Thus, on the left side of the device  10 , member  30  snap-fits between inclined section  27  of runner  20  and the inclined leg  31  of upper member  18 , while the right side member  30  similarly engages the upper inclined section  29  of runner  22  and the inclined leg  33  of upper member  18 . Reinforcing members  30  provide significant rigidity against vertical compression forces applied by an individual using the device, and the device can withstand compression forces of at least up to 250 pounds on handle  35 .  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4 illustrates how three such identical devices  10 ,  10 ′, and  10 ″ can be nested for storage in a facility, such as an ice skating rink, where the rink owners may want to purchase a plurality of such devices for rental or sale to individuals. The nesting feature also allows them to be stacked for transport on a cart.  
         [0028]    Reinforcing member  30  can take on the form shown in FIGS.  1 - 3  and  8  or can comprise, as seen in FIG. 9, a member  130  which can also be injection molded and have semicylindrical sockets  131  (shown in phantom in FIG. 9) which surround and circumscribe approximately half of each of the tubular frame sections  29  and  33 . In this embodiment, a pair of spaced apertures  134  are formed in each end of the support  130  to receive polymeric wire ties  132 , which can be employed to secure the support member  130  to the frame member sections. Rawhide string could also be employed in place of ties  132 . Also, the supports could be riveted to the tubular frames from inside the frame (i.e. above the lower frame and below the upper frame). In such an embodiment, the inverted V-shaped section may not be necessary, and the supports are extended to a straight lower frame as in the embodiment now described in connection with another embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.  
         [0029]    In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 10, a reinforcing member  230  can be injection molded of polypropylene or nylon to integrally surround tubular sections  29  and  33  once the device  10  has been assembled and for such purpose define a circumferential collar  233  at upper and lower ends which couple and lock support member  230  to the tubular framework of the device. In this embodiment, either the junction of collar  233  to tubular frame section  33  is sufficiently loose to allow assembly and disassembly of the frames  16 ,  18  or frames  16  and  18  are permanently secured to one another during manufacturing. The support member  230  can also be joined to itself or the frame with traditional fasteners.  
         [0030]    FIGS.  5 - 7  show alternative embodiments of the overall shape of the upper frame member  18  of devices, such as device  110 ,  210 , and  310 , which otherwise are identical to the first embodiment shown in FIGS.  1 - 4 . The device in FIG. 5 has a somewhat more rounded junction  134  for the handle  135 , while the device shown in FIG. 6 is somewhat wider, defining a substantially flat center section  234  providing a more forward gripping surface for use of the device still, however, with relatively rounded corners  238  and  239 . Finally, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, section  334  of handle  335  is more narrowly acutely shaped to define a narrower entrance angle for smaller individuals. In each of these embodiments, the dimensions of the base forming frame member  16  are substantially the same as that of lower frame section  16 , shown in the first embodiment, as are the overall dimensions of the device and the structure of the reinforcing members coupling the upper and lower frame members. The shape of the base can, however, be changed to match the shape of the upper frame member.  
         [0031]    In each of the embodiments, the materials employed are substantially the same. It being understood, however, that larger sizes can be made for use by heavy adults. The diameter of the steel tubing can be increased as necessary, and the overall dimensions of the device scaled up to provide an adult size version of the balance stabilizing device.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 11 shows yet another embodiment of the invention in which a device  410 , having substantially the same structure as that of FIGS.  1 - 3 , is shown with the lower frame member  416  equipped with an individual or a pair of forward rollers  460  and rearward rollers  450  such that the lower frame  416  is movably supported on three or four spaced-apart rollers  450  and  460  which can be conventionally mounted to the tubular member  416 . Rollers  450  and  460  can be 360° swivel-type casters having a diameter of about 4 inches to allow the device to be used by individuals learning to inline skate or roller skate on smooth surfaces. In some embodiments, it may be desirable to have front and rear caster pairs  450 ,  460 , respectively, be removable such that the device can be used in the winter months or otherwise for use on an ice surface or when the casters are installed for use on dry hard surfaces. If the device is to be used by elderly or infirm persons for assistance in mobility typically the rearward rollers  450  would not be employed, such that the rearward end of runner  422  and the corresponding left side runner would directly engage the support surface. The tubing for all of the above described embodiments is preferably bent into the shapes shown using a CNC tube bender, which is a commercially available machine.  
         [0033]    Although the balance stabilizing device of the preferred embodiment of the invention was made of a tubular steel frame  14 , it may be desirable in some embodiments to enlarge the frame structure somewhat and blow mold it of polypropylene or other suitable polymeric material such that the device remains relatively lightweight and strong. FIGS. 12 and 13 show such an embodiment in a device  510  which includes a lower generally U-shaped frame  516  and an integral upper U-shaped frame  518  with an integral bridge support  530  on each side. The overall shape of device  510 , however, is substantially the same as in the earlier embodiments.  
         [0034]    It will become apparent to those skilled in the art these various other modifications to the preferred embodiment of the invention as described herein can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.