US20050170939A1

US20050170939A1 - Yoga balance trainer

Info

Publication number: US20050170939A1
Application number: US10/767,492
Authority: US
Inventors: Danny Lin
Original assignee: Asia Regent Ltd
Current assignee: Asia Regent Ltd
Priority date: 2004-01-29
Filing date: 2004-01-29
Publication date: 2005-08-04

Abstract

A yoga balance trainer includes a main frame and a seat assembly. The main frame includes opposite bottom and top boards, and a spring unit connected between the bottom and top boards so as to permit movement of the top board relative to the bottom board. The seat assembly includes a supporting leg frame secured to the top board, and a seat secured to the supporting leg frame. When the user sits on the seat assembly and moves to and fro, the top board moves relative to the bottom board.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an exerciser, more particularly to a yoga balance trainer.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are various kinds of exercising equipment available in the market today, such as running machines, stationary bikes, rowing machines, etc. However, exercisers that can provide balance training and soft exercises at the same time are very rare. Furthermore, the operations of the aforementioned exercising equipment are monotonous such that the functionality of the exercising equipment and the effect of the exercises are limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a yoga balance trainer that can provide balance training and soft exercises at the same time and that permits multiple forms of exercise.
According to this invention, a yoga balance trainer comprises a main frame and a seat assembly. The main frame includes a bottom board, a top board opposite to the bottom board, and a spring unit connected between the bottom and top boards so as to permit movement of the top board relative to the bottom board. The seat assembly is mounted on the top board, and includes a supporting leg frame secured to the top board, and a seat secured to the supporting leg frame. When the user sits on the seat assembly and moves to and fro, the top board moves relative to the bottom board.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 is a partly exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a yoga balance trainer according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment in an assembled state;
FIG. 3 is a partly sectional view of the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a schematic bottom view of the preferred embodiment; and
FIGS. 5 to 11 illustrate a series of exercises that can be performed using the preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the preferred embodiment of a yoga balance trainer according to the present invention is shown to comprise a main frame 10, a seat assembly 20, a base support 30, and an auxiliary holding unit 40.
The main frame 10 includes a rectangular hard bottom board 11, a rectangular hard top board 12 opposite to the bottom board 11, and a spring unit 13 connected between the bottom and top boards 11, 12. In other embodiments, the bottom and top boards 11, 12 can be circular, oval or have other geometric shapes. The spring unit 13, as shown in FIG. 3, includes a plurality of spring members 131, and a plurality of sponge bodies 132 inserted among the spring members 131. The design of the spring unit 13 permits flexible movement of the top board 12 relative to the bottom board 11.
The seat assembly 20 is mounted on the top board 12 of the main frame 10, and includes an inverted-V supporting leg frame 21, a seat 22, a foot support frame 23, and a handle unit. The supporting leg frame 21 is secured to the top board 12 of the main frame 10, and includes a top connecting bar 210, a pair of parallel front support legs 212, and a pair of parallel rear support legs 211 opposite to the front support legs 212. The front support legs 212 extend upwardly and rearwardly from the top board 12, and have opposite top and bottom ends 2121, 2122 (see FIG. 2). The bottom ends 2122 of the front support legs 212 are connected to the top board 12 proximate to a front end 122 of the top board 12. The rear support legs 211 extend upwardly and frontwardly from the top board 12, and have opposite top and bottom ends 2111, 2112 (see FIG. 2). A pair of screws 213 pass through the bottom ends 2112 of the rear support legs 211, and engage the top board 12 so as to secure the rear support legs 211 on the top board 12 of the main frame 10 proximate to a rear end 121 of the top board 12. The top connecting bar 210 is connected to the top ends 2121, 2111 of the front and rear support legs 212, 211.
The seat 22 is secured to the top connecting bar 210 of the supporting leg frame 21.
The foot support frame 23 is connected to the supporting leg frame 21 for supporting the feet of a user during exercise, and includes a connecting plate 231 and a foot support 232. The connecting plate 231 is connected between the front support legs 212 on the top board 12. The foot support 232 is connected to and extends upwardly and forwardly from the connecting plate 231, and is disposed between the front support legs 212. Three screws 233 pass through the connecting plate 231 and the front support legs 212, and engage the top board 12 so as to secure the front support legs 212 and the foot support frame 23 on the top board 12 of the main frame 10.
The handle unit is connected to a top portion of the supporting leg frame 21, and includes two handle members 24 disposed at two opposite sides of the seat 22.
The base support 30 is connected to the main frame 10, and includes four spaced-apart positioning tubes 31 and four first fastening units. The positioning tubes 31 are screwed to a bottom surface of the bottom board 11, as best shown in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, each of the first fastening units is formed as a loop fastener 32 (see FIG. 1) welded to a top surface of a respective one of the positioning tubes 31.
The auxiliary holding unit 40 is connected to the base support 30, and includes four holding members 41. Each of the holding members 41 can be made of a resilient and retractable material, or a woven strap which is not resilient but has an adjustable length. Each holding member 41 has a holding end provided with a handgrip 43, and a connecting end opposite to the handgrip 43 and provided with a second fastening unit. In this embodiment, the second fastening unit is a hook fastener 42 that engages detachably the loop fastener 32 on a respective one of the positioning tubes 31 of the base support 30 so as to retain respectively the holding members 41 on the positioning tubes 31.
After assembly, the top board 12 is supported by the spring unit 13, as best shown in FIG. 3. Under normal circumstances, the top board 12 is substantially parallel to the bottom board 11.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the user sits on the seat 22 of the seat assembly 20 with his feet disposed on the foot support 232 and his hands gripping the handles 24. The auxiliary holding unit 40 is not required in this exercise. Because the spring unit 13 is connected between the bottom and top boards 11, 12, the user can proceed with the exercise by moving his body to and fro so that the top board 12 swings reciprocatingly with different inclination angles relative to the bottom board 11. As such, the user's body can be moved to any desired angle and in any direction. The purposes of training for self-balancing and exercising the muscles of the waist, stomach, legs, and other body parts of the user can therefore be achieved.
Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, in this exercise, two holding members 41 (only one is visible) are fastened respectively to two of the positioning tubes 31 (only one is visible) of the base support 30 disposed in front of the user. Then, the user sits on the seat 22 of the seat assembly 20 with both hands grasping the respective handgrips 43 of the holding members 41 and with his feet disposed on the foot support 232. The user begins the exercise by moving his body and simultaneously pulling the holding members 41 to effect training of the muscles of the user's forearms. Furthermore, through the movements of the user's body to different inclination angles relative to the bottom board 11, balance training and health fitness can be achieved.
Referring to FIG. 9, in this exercise, the holding members 41 (see FIG. 7) are removed, and the user sits on the seat 22 of the seat assembly 20 with his feet supported on the foot support 232 but without holding the handles 24. Then, the user's body is moved to and fro, inclining at different angles and in different directions, thereby achieving the purpose of training the muscles of the waist, stomach, legs, and other body parts of the user.
Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the holding members 41 (see FIG. 7) are not required in this exercise. The user similarly sits on the seat 22 of the seat assembly 20 with both hands gripping the handles 24 and with his feet supported on the foot support 232. Through a continuous, reciprocal movement of the user's body to left and right sides of the top board 12, and through the resilient movements of the main frame 10, balance training and exercising of the muscles of the waist, stomach, legs, and other body parts of the user can be achieved.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A yoga balance trainer comprising:

a main frame including a bottom board, a top board opposite to said bottom board, and a spring unit connected between said bottom and top boards so as to permit movement of said top board relative to said bottom board; and

a seat assembly mounted on said top board, said seat assembly including a supporting leg frame secured to said top board, and a seat secured to said supporting leg frame,

whereby when the user sits on said seat assembly and moves to and fro, said top board moves relative to said bottom board.

2. The yoga balance trainer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said supporting leg frame includes a pair of front support legs connected to said top board proximate to a front end of said top board, and a pair of rear support legs opposite to said front support legs and connected to said top board proximate to a rear end of said top board.

3. The yoga balance trainer as claimed in claim 2, wherein said supporting leg frame further includes a top connecting bar, said front support legs extending upwardly and rearwardly from said top board, said rear support legs extending upwardly and frontwardly from said top board, said top connecting bar being connected to top ends of said front and rear support legs, said seat being disposed on said top connecting bar.

4. The yoga balance trainer as claimed in claim 3, wherein said seat assembly further includes a foot support frame connected to said supporting leg frame.

5. The yoga balance trainer as claimed in claim 4, wherein said foot support frame includes a connecting plate connected between said front support legs on said top board, and a foot support connected to said connecting plate and extending upwardly and forwardly from said connecting plate.

6. The yoga balance trainer as claimed in claim 2, wherein said seat assembly further includes a handle unit connected to a top portion of said supporting leg frame.

7. The yoga balance trainer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a base support connected to said main frame, and an auxiliary holding unit connected to said base support, said base support including a plurality of spaced-apart positioning tubes connected to said bottom board, said auxiliary holding unit including a plurality of holding members which are flexible and which are fastened detachably and respectively to said positioning tubes.

8. The yoga balance trainer as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of said positioning tubes is provided with a first fastening unit, each of said holding members having a connecting end provided with a second fastening unit for connection to said first fastening unit.

9. The yoga balance trainer as claimed in claim 8, wherein one of said first and second fastening units is a hook fastener, and the other one of said first and second fastening units is a loop fastener.