Stability Platform

Abstract

An improved exercise device comprises a rigid platform and a plurality of flexible elements attached to the bottom side of the platform in such a way as to render the platform able to move freely in the lateral direction, while not able to tilt. The platform is of sufficient strength to support the weight of a person, as well as the weight of any exercise implements the person may be using. The exercise device thus enables the user to exercise on a slightly unstable surface, which is beneficial to the user's stabilizer muscles and sense of balance. Since the exercise device provides only a mildly unstable surface, it is safe to use as a physical therapy aid for seniors or people recovering from injuries or surgery.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of PCT App. No. PCT/US12/59305, filed Oct. 9, 2012, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/545,392, filed Oct. 10, 2011, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to exercise equipment, particularly to exercise equipment intended to improve the user's balance and stability.

BACKGROUND

Many studies have been done about the benefits of performing physical exercises such as squats on an unstable surface. The effort of keeping one's balance on an unstable surface engages the stabilizer muscles of the spine and legs, thus resulting in greater muscular exertion. Furthermore, training on an unstable surface improves one's balance, which is especially important for seniors, who are vulnerable to falls, as well as for people recovering from injuries or surgery.

There are many stability board designs on the market. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,983 to Weck discloses a device comprising a rigid circular platform on top, supported by an inflatable half-sphere. Such a device provides an unstable surface for exercise or physical therapy. Other designs incorporate toroidal instability elements, or inflatable unstable legs. Another design, called a “balance board”, involves a hard cylindrical element on the underside of a rigid platform.

However, while all of these designs are helpful in improving the user's balance or stability, they are not safe for a beginner, a person with balance trouble, or a senior. Due to their substantial instability, they greatly increase the user's risk of falling. However, it is seniors and people with balance trouble who need such a device the most, as improving their balance will help them in their daily life.

One of the problems with balance boards of those designs is that they can tilt greatly and have very little lateral movement. Even the designs that are claimed to have lateral movement tend to tilt on the vertical plane instead. Many people have trouble maintaining their balance on a board that is tilting (i.e. whose angle with respect to the ground changes), while having no problems with a board that only moves laterally without tilting.

Some devices address that problem, but they are not unstable enough. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,131,934 to Dadbeh discloses a board comprising multiple hemispherical depressions, into which flexible balls are placed. Since there are multiple flexible balls supporting the board, it does not tilt as much as the device in Weck, rendering it safer for a beginner or a patient with balance problems to use. However, since half of each ball is contained within the hemispherical depression in the board, the board's lateral motion is very limited. In some embodiments, the other half of the ball is also contained within another hemispherical depression in the bottom half of the board, making it even less likely to have any lateral movement. Such a design would only tilt, and not very much. In other words, this device is not unstable enough. Furthermore, the balls in Dadbeh are not held securely on the board, and thus are vulnerable to being lost.

A need therefore exists for a safer unstable exercise surface that can only move laterally but does not tilt, rock, or see-saw.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an exercising device that can be utilized for aerobics, weight training, or other forms of exercise, and that can provide a surface that can only move in the lateral direction while remaining parallel to the ground, while not tilting, rocking, or see-sawing. This is called shear motion—true lateral motion, as opposed to the vertical tilting that others are calling lateral motion.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for physical therapy that can be utilized for balance training or recovery from injuries or surgery, and that is safe for an elderly user or a user with balance problems.

This and further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art in connection with the drawings and the descriptions set forth below.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an exercising device comprising a rigid platform of sufficient size and strength so as to enable the user to exercise on it, and a plurality of flexible elements attached to the bottom of the rigid platform and supporting the weight of the platform and the user, where the flexible elements can provide lateral motion of the platform without allowing the platform to tilt to any appreciable amount. The instability of the invention can be calibrated to precise levels, enabling several models of the device to be provided, each with a different instability level. This enables a physical therapist or personal trainer to select the correct level of instability for their patient or client's needs, and to upgrade the patient or client to a higher level of instability as their balance improves. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the instability level can be adjusted, thus enabling a physical therapist or personal trainer to calibrate the level of instability to their patient or client's needs.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flexible elements are small inflatable spheres, arranged in an array on the bottom of the rigid platform, and attached to the rigid platform. The instability of the platform can be varied, depending on the number, size, and inflation pressure of the spheres and the exact location of their placement. The spheres may have inflation valves that are accessible to the user, thus enabling their inflation pressure to be adjusted, thus making the range of motion in the lateral direction greater or smaller. In an alternate embodiment, the interiors of at least two of the spheres may be connected together, enabling the user to adjust their inflation pressure simultaneously.

Other embodiments may comprise different shapes of inflatable elements, such as ovoids, cylinders, toroidal shapes, or other shapes that will be apparent to a person skilled in the art; each shape has to be such as to allow sufficient lateral motion to the board without appreciable amounts of vertical motion.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the flexible elements are short half-tubes, arranged in an array on the bottom of the rigid platform with the cut sides attached to the rigid platform. The instability of the platform can be varied, depending on the diameter, length, wall thickness, and elasticity of the half-tubes and their number and placement. In one embodiment of the present invention, the user may be able to add or remove half-tubes, thus changing the instability of the device. In another embodiment of the present invention, several models of the device may be offered, with different instability levels.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the flexible elements are pairs of crossed half-rings, arranged in an array on the bottom of the rigid platform with the cut ends of the half-rings attached to the rigid platform. The instability of the platform can be varied, depending on the diameter, thickness, and elasticity of the half-rings and their number and placement. In one embodiment of the present invention, the user may be able to add or remove half-rings, thus changing the instability of the device. In another embodiment of the present invention, several models of the device may be offered, with different instability levels.

Other shapes of flexible elements may also be used, as long as the array of flexible elements is disposed on the bottom of the rigid platform and is capable of rendering the platform unstable to a similar degree of instability as the embodiments described above.

While in the preferred embodiment, the flexible elements are located at the corners of the bottom of the rigid platform, they may also be arranged in any other pattern. One alternative embodiment is a rectangular grid on the bottom of the rigid platform. Another alternative embodiment comprises a plurality of flexible elements arranged around the perimeter of the rigid platform, with no flexible elements elsewhere on the rigid platform. Other patterns are also possible. The user may also be able to add or remove flexible elements or change their pattern in order to change the instability level of the device.

The rigid platform may be a single piece of material, or it may be able to be folded or taken apart for easy transportation. In the preferred embodiment, the top surface of the rigid platform is rough so that the user does not slip while exercising.

LIST OF FIGURES

With the above and additional objects and advantages in view, as will hereinafter appear, this invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described by way of example, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of several embodiments of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the device, comprising a rigid board and inflatable spheres;

FIG. 1A shows a view of one of the inflatable spheres in the preferred embodiment of the device;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the device, comprising a rigid board and flexible half-tubes;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the device, comprising a rigid board and interwoven rubber tubes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-3 show several preferred embodiments of an exercise device in accordance with the present invention. Each exercise device has a base 100 to which an array of flexible elements is attached. The flexible elements may be attached permanently or removably. In some embodiments, the flexible elements are attached removably so that their placement, type, and number can be modified by the user.

FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the exercise device, where the flexible elements are inflatable spheres. The inflatable spheres 150 are attached to the underside of the board 100 close to its corners. In the preferred embodiment, the inflatable spheres 150 each comprise a flange 160 attached to the sphere; they are then attached to the board by being deflated, inserted through a hole in the board, and re-inflated. This ensures a secure attachment of the sphere to the board, in such a way that it cannot fall out. FIG. 1A shows one inflatable sphere in isolation. The flange 160 holds the sphere 150 in place on one side of the board, and the inflated sphere holds itself in place on the other side. In the preferred embodiment, four spheres are used; however, any other number may also be used. The board 100 may be made of wood, plastic, metal, or any other material that is strong enough to enable a user, even an overweight user holding heavy exercise implements, to stand on top of it. The top of the board is preferably rough to prevent slipping.

The spheres are preferably made of PVC, but may be made of any other flexible material that does not stretch too much while in use. In the preferred embodiment, the spheres are approximately 2.5 inches in diameter when molded. Their preferred working range while inflated is 3-4 inches, but the possible range is 2.5-8 inches.

The advantage of this design is that the board can move freely in the lateral direction (“rolling” on the spheres in a shear motion), but it cannot move more than a particular distance (since the spheres are attached to the board), and since there are several spheres, the board does not tilt to any appreciable degree. In the preferred embodiment, the board can move about 3″ in either direction laterally; depending on the size of the spheres and their level of inflation, it is possible to have greater or lesser amounts of lateral movement.

Other embodiments (not shown) may comprise flexible inflatable elements of other shapes. For example, the inflatable elements may be ovoid or cylindrical.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the exercise device, where the flexible elements are elastic half-tubes. The half-tubes 300 are attached to the underside of the board 100 by any attachment means familiar to a person skilled in the art. The wall thickness, length, and elasticity of the half-tubes determine the instability of the device. This design has the advantage of not requiring inflatable elements, therefore being safer and more durable.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the exercise device, where the flexible elements are interwoven elastic tubes. The elastic tubes 400 are equal or nearly equal in length to the edge of the board to which they are parallel, and are attached to the board in a manner that would render the attachment secure. The wall thickness, diameter, and elasticity of the tubes determine the instability of the device. This design has the advantage of being easy to manufacture and more durable than individually attached elastic members such as the ones shown in FIGS. 1-2.

Flexible elements of other shapes may also be used in the exercise device, as long as the flexible elements provide similar amounts of flexibility and instability to the ones described above, specifically enabling lateral movement while limiting tilting movement.

The flexible elements in the above embodiments are made of vinyl, rubber, or other flexible materials. However, the invention is not limited to those materials. Elements such as metal springs may also be used to provide lateral instability.

While the invention has been described herein with reference to certain preferred embodiments, those embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and not to limit the scope of the invention. Additional embodiments thereof will be obvious to those skilled in the art having the benefit of this detailed description. Further modifications are also possible in alternative embodiments without departing from the inventive concept.

Accordingly, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that still further changes and modifications in the actual concepts described herein can readily be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed inventions as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. An exercise device, comprising:

a rigid platform, said rigid platform having a top side and a bottom side;

a plurality of flexible elements attached to the bottom side of the rigid platform, said flexible elements being of such flexibility and strength as to allow the rigid platform to be unstable in the lateral direction when a user of said exercise device stands on said exercise device.

2. The exercise device of claim 1, where the flexible elements are elastic spheres.

3. The exercise device of claim 1, where each flexible element comprises:

an inflatable elastic sphere;

a flange permanently attached to the inflatable elastic sphere in such a way that the flange comprises a narrow part and a wide part, the narrow part being closer to the sphere than the wide part, the narrow part being smaller in diameter than the diameter of the sphere;

where the board comprises at least one hole, the hole being larger in diameter than the narrow part of the flange and smaller in diameter than the wide part of the flange;

where each flexible element is attached to the board by being inserted through the hole and then inflated.

4. The exercise device of claim 1, where the flexible elements are arranged in a rectangular grid on the bottom side of the rigid platform.

5. The exercise device of claim 1, where the flexible elements are located around the perimeter of the bottom side of the rigid platform.

6. The exercise device of claim 1, where the rigid platform has at least three corners, and where the flexible elements are located close to the corners of the rigid platform.

7. The exercise device of claim 1, where the flexible elements are removably attached to the bottom side of the rigid platform.

8. The exercise device of claim 1, where the flexible elements are non-removably attached to the bottom side of the rigid platform.

9. The exercise device of claim 1, where the flexibility of the flexible elements can be adjusted by the user.

10. The exercise device of claim 1, where the flexible elements are inflatable.

11. The exercise device of claim 10, where the flexible elements are one of the following group: spheres, toroids, ovoids, cylinders.

12. The exercise device of claim 1, where the flexible elements are made of an elastic material.

13. The exercise device of claim 1, where the flexible elements are made of metal.

14. The exercise device of claim 10, where the air pressure in the inflatable flexible elements can be adjusted by the user.

15. The exercise device of claim 1, where the flexible elements are made of an elastic skin filled with a foam material.

16. The exercise device of claim 1, where the flexible elements are made of an elastic skin filled with a gel material.

17. The exercise device of claim 1, where the flexible elements are elastic half-rings attached at the ends to the bottom side of the rigid platform.

18. The exercise device of claim 1, where the flexible elements are elastic half-tubes attached at the linear edges to the bottom side of the rigid platform.

19. The exercise device of claim 1, where the flexible elements are elastic linear members approximately equal in length to one of the edges of the board, interwoven with each other.

20. The exercise device of claim 1, where the rigid platform may be folded when not in use.