US20190054348A1 - Balance training device - Google Patents
Balance training device Download PDFInfo
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- US20190054348A1 US20190054348A1 US16/079,069 US201716079069A US2019054348A1 US 20190054348 A1 US20190054348 A1 US 20190054348A1 US 201716079069 A US201716079069 A US 201716079069A US 2019054348 A1 US2019054348 A1 US 2019054348A1
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- training device
- balance training
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Images
Classifications
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Definitions
- the present disclosure relates generally to physical fitness and personal training and more specifically to devices and systems for balance training.
- the present disclosure generally provides a balance training device.
- the balance training device provides a range of angular instability to improve a user's balance.
- the balance training device is expandable to vary the degree of instability as desired.
- the balance training device may include a plurality of foot supports that move relative to one another to vary the foot stance and/or angular tipping of the device. Additionally or alternatively, a user may select from a variety of balance pads providing differing degrees of curvature.
- the balance training device may include a sensing device that allows a user to measure their balance and track their balance ability and improvement over time. The sensing device may be received within a compartment during use and/or storage of the balance training device.
- Embodiments of the present disclosure may include a balance training device.
- the balance training device may include a rail including a longitudinal length, a plurality of foot supports slidably connected to the rail, an adjustment mechanism associated with each foot support and the rail to selectively lock each foot support in a plurality of positions along the length of the rail, and at least one balance pad connected to the rail and including a convex bottom surface to provide a degree of angular instability.
- the rail may include opposing first and second side ends and opposing front and rear longitudinal edges.
- the longitudinal length of the rail may be defined between the opposing first and second side ends.
- the rail may include a width defined between the opposing front and rear longitudinal edges and transverse to the longitudinal length.
- Embodiments of the present disclosure may include a balance training device.
- the balance training device may include an elongate rail including a longitudinal length, a plurality of foots supports coupled to the rail and configured to slide at least partially along the length of the rail, and a base engaging a support surface.
- the base may include an adjustable height dimension configured to provide increasing levels of balance difficulty.
- Embodiments of the present disclosure may include a method of expanding a balance board.
- the method may include slidably coupling a plurality of foot supports along a longitudinal length of a rail member, positioning the plurality of foots supports in a first position to provide a first degree of balance instability, and sliding the plurality of foots supports along the longitudinal length of the rail to a second position.
- the second position may provide a second degree of balance instability.
- FIG. 1 is a top isometric view of a balance training device in a collapsed configuration.
- FIG. 2 is a top isometric view of the balance training device of FIG. 1 in an expanded configuration.
- FIG. 3 is a bottom isometric view of the balance training device of FIG. 1 in a collapsed configuration.
- FIG. 4 is a bottom isometric view of the balance training device of FIG. 1 in an expanded configuration.
- FIG. 5 is a top exploded view of the balance training device of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 6 is a bottom exploded view of the balance training device of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the balance training device of FIG. 1 taken along line 7 - 7 of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the balance training device of FIG. 1 taken along line 8 - 8 of FIG. 2 .
- FIG. 9 is an elevation view of the balance training device of FIG. 1 including one balance pad.
- FIG. 10 is an elevation view of the balance training device of FIG. 1 including two balance pads.
- FIG. 11 is an elevation view of the balance training device of FIG. 1 including three balance pads.
- FIG. 12 is a top isometric view of an additional balance training device in a collapsed configuration.
- FIG. 13 is a top isometric view of the balance training device of FIG. 12 in an expanded configuration.
- FIG. 14 is an exploded view of the balance training device of FIG. 12 .
- FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the balance training device of FIG. 12 taken along line 15 - 15 of FIG. 12 .
- FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the balance training device of FIG. 12 taken along line 16 - 16 of FIG. 13 .
- FIG. 17 is an elevation view of the balance training device of FIG. 12 including one balance pad.
- FIG. 18 is an elevation view of the balance training device of FIG. 12 including two balance pads.
- FIG. 19 is an elevation view of the balance training device of FIG. 12 including three balance pads.
- FIG. 20 is a top isometric view of an additional balance training device in a collapsed configuration.
- FIG. 21 is a top isometric view of the balance training device of FIG. 20 in an expanded configuration.
- FIG. 22 is a bottom isometric view of the balance training device of FIG. 20 in a collapsed configuration.
- FIGS. 1-11 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a balance training device 100 including at least one adjustment mechanism 102 operable to provide a variable degree of angular instability to the balance training device 100 .
- the adjustment mechanism(s) 102 may permit the balance training device 100 to selectively expand or collapse to provide a desired functional characteristic.
- the expandable nature of the balance training device 100 may allow a user to customize the size and/or function of the balance training device 100 .
- the balance training device 100 which may be referred to as a balance board, may be selectively expanded or collapsed to provide a varied foot placement, a varying dimensional size, or the like, as more fully explained in detail below.
- a more collapsed version may allow for varying amount of angular tipping to provide more instability compared to a more expanded version due at least in part to a narrower foot stance, increased angular tipping, etc. Additionally or alternatively, a more collapsed version may allow for easier transport (e.g., within a bag or case) and may permit a user to perform both one-footed and two-footed balance exercises.
- the balance training device 100 may be expanded or collapsed to adjust the balance training device 100 to a particular body size (e.g., child vs. adult).
- an embodiment of the balance training device 100 may include an elongated rail 104 to which a plurality of foot supports 106 may be slidably connected.
- the rail 104 which may be referred to as a rail member, may include a top surface 108 (see FIG. 5 ), a bottom surface 110 (see FIG. 6 ), opposing first and second side ends 112 , 114 , and opposing front and rear longitudinal edges 116 , 118 .
- the rail 104 may be shaped quadrilaterally and may include a longitudinal length L and a transverse width W.
- the longitudinal length L of the rail 104 is defined between its first and second side ends 112 , 114 .
- the transverse width W of the rail 104 is defined between its front and rear longitudinal edges 116 , 118 .
- the length L of the rail 104 may be greater than its width W such that the rail 104 may be considered rectangular.
- Rails of other shapes may be suitable, including those where the front and rear longitudinal edges 116 , 118 are at least partially non-linear.
- the rail 104 may include a thickness T that is substantially less than its length L or its width W such that the rail 104 may be considered to have a thin profile.
- the size and shape of the rail 104 may provide, in combination with the foot supports 106 , a desired aesthetic and/or functional characteristic of the balance training device 100 .
- the rail 104 may include a track 130 defined in its top surface 108 .
- the track 130 is formed along at least a portion of the length L of the rail 104 (e.g., the entirety of the length L) between the first and second side ends 112 , 114 .
- the track 130 may include a depth less than the thickness T of the rail 104 such that the rail 104 is substantially U-shaped in cross section.
- the cross-section of the rail 104 may be closed-shaped to define a cavity 132 therein for at least the purposes explained below.
- each of the front and rear longitudinal edges 116 , 118 may be curvilinear along the thickness T of the rail 104 to facilitate attachment of the foot supports 106 to the rail 104 , as explained more fully hereafter.
- each of the front and rear longitudinal edges 116 , 118 may include a contoured, such as curved or angled, outer surface 134 operable to couple the foot supports 106 to the rail 104 .
- the rail 104 may include a plurality of end caps 160 , such as a pair of end caps 160 . As illustrated, each end cap 160 is positioned adjacent an end (e.g., one of the first and second side ends 112 , 114 ) of the rail 104 . In some embodiments, each end cap 160 may close the associated end of the rail 104 , such as the cavity 132 . Each end cap 160 may be sized and shaped to complement the cross-sectional shape of the rail 104 . For instance, each end cap 160 may be substantially U-shaped in cross section and may be sized to sit substantially flush with the bottom surface 110 and the front and rear longitudinal edges 116 , 118 of the rail 104 (see FIGS.
- the rail 104 may include a ridge 164 , in this example formed on the end cap 160 , extending above the bottom of the track 130 of the rail 104 .
- each ridge 164 may engage an associated adjustment mechanism 102 to facilitate locking of the adjustment mechanisms 102 in defined positions.
- the ridge 164 may be formed elsewhere on the rail 104 , such as not part of the end cap 160 , anywhere within the track 130 of the rail, or the like.
- the ridge 164 is described as part of the end cap 160 hereinafter.
- the balance training device 100 in some embodiments may include first and second foot supports 136 , 138 slidably connected to the rail 104 at least partially along the length L of the rail 104 .
- each of the first and second foot supports 136 , 138 may include a support plate 140 and a plurality of elongated retaining members 142 operable to couple each foot support 106 to the rail 104 , as explained below.
- Each support plate 140 may include an upper surface 144 (see FIG. 5 ) and an underside 146 (see FIG. 6 ) collectively defining a length L FS and a transverse width W FS of the foot support 106 (see FIG. 5 ).
- the length L FS and the width W FS of the support plate 140 may extend along the length L and the width W of the rail 104 , respectively.
- the support plate 140 may be elongate such that one of the length L FS and the width W FS is greater than the other of the length L FS and the width W FS .
- the width W FS of the support plate 140 may be greater than its length L FS , though the reverse may be true in other embodiments.
- the length L FS and the width W FS of the support plate 140 may be dimensioned to match (or approximately match) the size of a user's foot or shoe.
- the length L FS of the support plate 140 may be in the range of approximately 4 inches to approximately 12 inches, and the width W FS of the support plate 140 may be in the range of approximately 8 inches to approximately 20 inches.
- the upper surface 144 of each foot support 106 may provide a gripping surface to limit slipping of a user's hand and/or feet when placed on the balance training device 100 .
- a pad may be secured (e.g., adhered) to the upper surface 144 of the support plate 140 to provide a desired look, feel, gripping feature, or cushioning characteristic.
- the upper surface 144 is substantially planar and may include any number of cross-sectional shapes, including round or elliptical (see FIGS.
- the foot supports 106 may be sized and shaped to complement one another.
- the first and second foot supports 136 , 138 may be sized and shaped such that when the foot supports 106 are positioned adjacent each other, a generally uninterrupted and continuous periphery of the balance training device 100 is defined.
- the underside 146 of each support plate 140 may include a cellular structure 148 to simultaneously decrease weight and provide increased rigidity of the support plate 140 .
- each retaining member 142 may be connected to the underside 146 of each support plate 140 , such as through fasteners, adhesive, heat or sonic welding, corresponding engagement features, or the like.
- each retaining member 142 may be an elongate member including an engagement surface 150 .
- the engagement surface 150 may be shaped to complement the contoured outer surfaces 134 of the front and rear longitudinal edges 116 , 118 .
- the retaining members 142 are coupled to the underside 146 of each support plate 140 in a substantially parallel relationship. As explained below, the engagement surfaces 150 of opposing retaining members 142 may face one another to facilitate attachment of each foot support 106 to the rail 104 .
- the retaining members 142 may be spaced apart along the width W FS of each foot support 106 to receive the rail 104 therebetween.
- the width W of the rail 104 may be captured substantially between the retaining members 142 (e.g., between the engagement surfaces 150 of opposing retaining members 142 ) to slidably couple each foot support 106 to the rail 104 .
- the retaining members 142 attached to the underside 146 of each support plate 140 form a channel 152 extending at least partially along the length L FS of each foot support 106 (see FIGS. 3 and 4 ).
- the rail 104 may be slidably received within the channel 152 to secure each foot support 106 to the rail 104 .
- the channel 152 formed by the retaining members 142 e.g., the engagement surfaces 150 of the retaining members 142
- slidably receives the rail 104 with the front and rear longitudinal edges 116 , 118 of the rail 104 mating with the engagement surfaces 150 of the retaining members 142 .
- the matching contoured shapes of the engagement surfaces 150 of the retaining members 142 substantially capture the rail 104 to retain the rail 104 within the channel 152 and allow the rail 104 to slide along the channel 152 .
- each foot support 106 may slide along at least a portion of the length L of the rail 104 to, for example, expand and collapse the balance training device 100 , as detailed more fully below.
- two long retaining members 142 are shown attached to the underside 146 of each support plate 140 , each foot support 106 may include a series of shorter, parallel positioned retaining members 142 without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
- the adjustment mechanisms 102 to selectively position each foot support 106 in a plurality of positions along the length L of the rail 104 may be associated with the rail 104 and the foot supports 106 .
- the adjustment mechanisms 102 may form a releasable connection structure between the rail 104 and the foot supports 106 to selectively lock the balance training device 100 in at least a collapsed configuration (see FIGS. 1 and 3 ) and an expanded configuration (see FIGS. 2 and 4 ).
- the first and second foot supports 136 , 138 may be positioned adjacent each other, such as in an abutting relationship.
- the first and second foot supports 136 , 138 may be positioned in a horizontally-spaced relationship with each other along the length L of the rail 104 such that a gap G is defined between the first and second foot supports 136 , 138 .
- the adjustment mechanisms 102 may be operable to position the first and second foot supports 136 , 138 relative to each other to vary the gap G therebetween.
- each adjustment mechanism 102 may include a latch member 162 associated with one of the end caps 160 and one of the foot supports 106 .
- each latch member 162 may engage (e.g., be connected to) the underside 146 of the support plates 140 .
- each latch member 162 may be attached to the underside 146 of the support plates 140 , such as through mechanical fasteners.
- each latch member 162 may be attached to an associated support plate 140 in a manner that allows movement of at least a portion of the latch member 162 towards or away from the underside 146 of the support plates 162 , as explained below.
- each latch member 162 may include a plurality of engagement structures 166 , such as slots, defining the positions in which the foot supports 106 may be selectively locked.
- each of the engagement structures 166 may engage the ridge 164 , which limits translational movement of the foot supports 106 along the length L of the rail 104 .
- the latch members 162 may take the form of a leaf spring connected to the underside 146 of the support plates 140 .
- each latch member 162 may be attached to the underside 146 of the support plates 140 substantially along the midline of the latch member 162 , such as through mechanical fasteners, in a manner that allows the engagement structures 166 to disengage the ridge 164 .
- the latch members 162 may be connected to the support plates 140 in a manner to facilitate movement of a portion of each latch member 162 away from the end cap 160 and towards the underside 146 of the support plate 140 to disengage the engagement structures 166 from the ridge 164 , as detailed more fully below.
- each latch member 162 may include opposing first and second portions 168 , 170 .
- the first portion 168 may be operable to position each foot support 106 in a first position, such as a collapsed position
- the second portion 170 may be operable to position each foot support 106 in a second position, such as an expanded position.
- the first and second portions 168 , 170 may include first and second engagement structures 172 , 174 , respectively, which in some embodiments may be substantially identical in form and function. As may be seen in FIGS.
- each of the first and second engagement structures 172 , 174 may include a groove 176 defined by opposing ridges 178 extending from the latch member 162 .
- the groove 176 may be sized for receipt of at least a portion of the ridge 164 to engage the latch member 162 and the rail 104 together and limit translational movement of the foot supports 106 along the length L of the rail 104 to define the selectable positions of the foot supports 106 .
- one of the opposing ridges 178 may define a ramp 180 on each of the first and second portions 168 , 170 of the latch member 162 to facilitate automatic receipt of the end cap 160 within the groove 176 of an associated engagement structure 166 , as detailed below.
- each of the first and second portions 168 , 170 may include a grip portion 182 for engagement by a user to release the first and second engagement structures 172 , 174 and permit the foot supports 106 to slide along the rail 104 (see FIGS. 3 and 4 ).
- a user may actuate the adjustment mechanisms 102 to convert the balance training device 100 between expanded and collapsed positions to provide a desired functional characteristic.
- a user may depress the grip portion 182 of the first portion 168 of the latch member 162 to decouple the first engagement structures 172 of the adjustment mechanisms 102 .
- the first portion 168 of the latch member 162 may resiliently bend to permit sufficient disengagement of the ridge 164 from the groove 176 of each first engagement structure 172 .
- the user may then slide the associated foot support 106 outwardly along the length L of the rail 104 until the second engagement structure 174 locks the foot support 106 in place.
- the first engagement structure 172 of the latch member 162 may line up with the ridge 164 when the foot support 106 is in an inner or collapsed position
- the second engagement structure 174 of the latch member 162 may line up with the ridge 164 when the foot support 106 is in an outer or expanded position.
- the ramp 180 of the second portion 170 of the latch member 162 may cause the second portion 170 to resiliently bend towards the support plates 140 as the user pulls the foot supports 106 outwardly.
- the latch member 162 may automatically bias the second portion 170 towards the end cap 160 to seat the ridge 164 within the groove 176 of the second engagement structure 174 .
- Collapsing the balance training device 100 may be accomplished in substantially reverse order from that described above.
- a user may depress the grip portion 182 of the second portion 170 of the latch member 162 to decouple the second engagement structure 174 of the adjustment mechanisms 102 .
- the second portion 170 of the latch member 162 resiliently bends to sufficiently remove the end cap 160 from the groove 176 of the second engagement structure 174 .
- the user may then slide each foot support 106 inwardly along the length L of the rail 104 until the first engagement structure 172 locks each foot support 106 in place, such as through at least partial receipt of the end cap 160 within the groove 176 of the first engagement structure 172 .
- the angled nature of the ramp 180 of the first portion 168 of the latch member 162 may cause the first portion 168 to resiliently bend as the user pushes the foots supports inwardly.
- the latch member 162 automatically biases the first portion 168 towards the end cap 160 to seat the ridge 164 within the groove 176 of the first engagement structure 172 .
- a user may place one foot on each of the foot supports 106 to perform two-footed balance training exercises. Additionally or alternatively, the user may place one foot across the first and second foot supports 136 , 138 to perform one-footed balance training exercises.
- each foot support 106 may slide along the length L of the rail 104 between about 60 mm and about 100 mm (e.g., about 80 mm) between expanded and collapsed positions, though the balance training device 100 may support more or less movement depending on the size and shape of the rail 104 , the foot supports 106 , and the adjustment mechanisms 102 . Because each foot support 106 includes an adjustment mechanism 102 , the foot supports 106 may be positioned along the rail 104 independently from one another to customize the balance characteristics of the balance training device 100 .
- first and second foots supports 136 , 138 may be positioned in a first position along the rail while the other of the first and second foot supports 136 , 138 may be positioned in a second position along the rail.
- first and second positions may be equivalent such that both the first and second foot supports 136 , 138 are in the same position relative to the center of the rail 104 to provide symmetrical placement of the first and second foot supports 136 , 138 along the rail 104 .
- first and second positions may be different such that the first and second foot supports 136 , 138 are in different positions relative to the center of the rail 104 to provide asymmetrical placement of the first and second foot supports 136 , 138 along the rail 104 .
- the balance training device 100 may include a base 190 configured to provide increasing levels of balance difficulty by, for example, adjusting a height dimension of the rail 104 above a support surface.
- the balance training device 100 may include at least one balance pad 192 connected to the rail 104 (e.g., to the bottom surface 110 of the rail 104 ) to provide a desired height and/or a desired angular instability of the balance training device 100 .
- the balance training device 100 may include a plurality of balance pads 192 , each of the balance pads 192 including a convex bottom surface 194 to provide a degree of angular instability (see FIG. 6 ). As illustrated in FIGS.
- the balance pads 192 may be connected together serially or sequentially, such as in a vertically stacked, or layered, configuration, to create a balance pad stack 196 of varying height.
- the serial or sequential connection means allows the balance pads 192 to be easily and/or quickly connected together to provide a desired level of balance difficulty.
- the convex bottom surfaces 194 of each successively-connected balance pad 192 may decrease in radius.
- increasing the height of the balance pad stack 196 by adding additional balance pads 192 thereto may provide increasing balance difficulty by increasing the angle through which the balance training device 100 may be tilted during balance training exercises. In this manner, users may add or change balance pads 192 as their ability improves.
- the plurality of balance pads 192 may include a first balance pad 198 having a first bottom surface radius R 1 , a second balance pad 200 having a second bottom surface radius R 2 , a third balance pad 202 having a third bottom surface radius R 3 , and so on.
- the first bottom surface radius R 1 may be greater than the second bottom surface radius R 2
- the second bottom surface radius R 2 may be greater than the third bottom surface radius R 3 , and so on.
- the first bottom surface radius R 1 may be between about 600 mm and about 900 mm (e.g., about 770 mm)
- the second bottom surface radius R 2 may be between about 400 mm and about 600 mm (e.g., about 480 mm)
- the third bottom surface radius R 3 may be between about 100 mm and about 400 mm (e.g., about 270 mm).
- the decreasing bottom surface radii of the first, second, and third balance pads 198 , 200 , 202 may provide increasing levels of balance difficulty by increasing the ability of the balance training device 100 to tilt.
- each of the first, second, and third balance pads 198 , 200 , 202 may be dish-shaped having a generally circular cross-section, though other cross-sections are contemplated including polygonal and elliptical, for instance.
- the balance pads 192 may be layered together in a set order to create the balance pad stack 196 .
- the second balance pad 200 may connect (e.g., exclusively) to the first balance pad 198
- the third balance pad 202 may connect (e.g., exclusively) to the second balance pad 200
- the second and third balance pads 200 , 202 may include a plurality of posts 204 sized and shaped to be releasably secured within a plurality of recesses 206 formed in the bottom surfaces 194 of the first and second balance pads 198 , 200 , respectively.
- the engagement between the posts 204 and the recesses 206 may define a detent structure (e.g., ribs and grooves, etc.) or may create an interference fit between the elements, such as an enlarged post 204 at least partially compressed within a smaller recess 206 .
- the balance training device 100 may include a connection plate 208 connected to the bottom surface 110 of the rail 104 .
- the first balance pad 198 may connect (e.g., exclusively) to the connection plate 208 in any suitable manner.
- the connection plate 208 may include a circumferential rib 210 extending annularly outward from the connection plate 208 .
- the first balance pad 198 may include an undercut defining a circumferential groove 212 in which the circumferential rib 210 of the connection plate 208 is received (see FIG. 5 ).
- the first balance pad 198 may be releasably secured to the connection plate 208 , though it is contemplated that the connection may be permanent in nature.
- the connection plate 208 may be rotatably mounted to the bottom surface 110 of the rail 104 . In such embodiments, the connection plate 208 may rotate about a shaft (e.g., a shaft 214 defined on a fastener 216 ) to allow a user to perform rotational movements while laterally balancing on the balance training device 100 .
- the balance pads 192 may provide increasing ranges of motion of the balance training device 100 due at least in part to the increasing height of the balance pad stack 196 .
- the first balance pad 198 may allow the balance training device 100 to tilt along its length L a first tilting angle ⁇ 1 .
- Adding the second balance pad 200 to the balance pad stack 196 may increase the tilting ability of the balance training device 100 by allowing the balance training device 100 to tilt along its length L a second tilting angle ⁇ 2 (see FIG. 10 ), the second tilting angle ⁇ 2 being greater than the first tilting angle ⁇ 1 .
- each of the first, second, and third tilting angles ⁇ 1 , ⁇ 2 , ⁇ 3 may be defined by the angle through which the balance training device 100 may be tilted until one of the foot supports 106 contacts a support surface.
- the magnitude of each of the first, second, and third tilting angles ⁇ 1 , ⁇ 2 , ⁇ 3 may depend on whether the foot supports 106 are in an expanded or collapsed position. For example, when the balance training device 100 is in a collapsed configuration, each of the first, second, and third tilting angles ⁇ 1 , ⁇ 2 , ⁇ 3 may be greater compared to the angles created when the balance training device 100 is in an expanded configuration.
- the balance training device 100 may include a sensing device 230 to track a user's balancing movements.
- the sensing device 230 which may be a smartphone, a tablet, or any other sensing mechanism, may include a plurality of sensors, such as a gyroscope or an accelerometer, operable to track movement of the balance training device 100 .
- the sensors may detect the movement and provide feedback to a user.
- the sensing device 230 may include a display 232 to provide real-time feedback to a user during a workout.
- any suitable device having the proper components and software may be used, including a device having a microprocessor, memory, and a gyroscope/accelerometer or other suitable sensing means.
- the sensing device 230 may be received within the track 130 formed within the top surface 108 of the rail 104 .
- the track 130 may be sized and shaped to permit the foot supports 106 to slide along the rail 104 without contacting the sensing device 230 .
- the depth of the track 130 may be sufficient to permit the sensing device 230 to be positioned substantially between the rail 104 and the foot supports 106 (see FIG. 8 ).
- the sensing device 230 may be substantially concealed from view when the balance training device 100 is in a collapsed configuration (see FIGS. 1 and 7 ).
- the rail 104 may include means to hold the sensing device 230 in place.
- a mounting pad 234 which may be formed from silicone rubber and may be sticky or include a gripping feature, may be positioned on top of the rail 104 within the track 130 . During use, the mounting pad 234 may limit lateral movement of the sensing device 230 within the track 130 relative to the rail 104 .
- the balance training device 100 may include other features providing a desired aesthetic and/or functional characteristic.
- the balance training device 100 may include at least one bumper 236 connected to the underside 146 of at least one of the first and second foot supports 136 , 138 , such as through an interference fit.
- the bumper(s) 236 may be a cylindrical member having a substantially circular cross-section, though other cross-section shapes are contemplated including polygonal and elliptical, among others.
- the bumper(s) 236 may taper in cross-sectional size with distance away from the underside 146 of the first and second foot supports 136 , 138 to provide a desired functional and/or aesthetic effect, such as progressive damping.
- the bumper(s) 236 may be compressible to cushion impacts between the balance training device 100 and a support surface (e.g., the ground) while performing balance training exercises.
- the bumper(s) 236 may be formed from compressible material, such as rubber, or may take the form of a compressible spring.
- the bumper(s) 236 may be releasably secured to many locations of the cellular structure 148 to customize the balance characteristics of the balance training device 100 .
- the bumper(s) 236 may be operable to limit the angular instability of the balance training device 100 , such as for recovery patients.
- the bumper(s) 236 may add noticeable weight that must be overcome during balancing movements.
- the bumper(s) 236 may be attached symmetrically or asymmetrically to the underside 146 of the foot supports 106 to provide symmetrical or asymmetrical balance training, respectively.
- a material having fluid-like characteristics may be positioned within the cavity 132 of the rail 104 . This material shifts its mass as the rail changes positions, and creates an irregular effect to the balance training, making it more challenging, for instance.
- Suitable materials may include fine particle solids, water, or other liquids.
- FIGS. 12-19 illustrate an additional embodiment of a balance training device 500 .
- the balance training device 500 is expandable to vary the degree of instability it provides.
- the balance training device 500 is similar to the balance training device 100 and its associated description above and thus, in certain instances, descriptions of like features will not be discussed when they would be apparent to those with skill in the art in light of the description above and in view of FIGS. 12-19 .
- like structure is represented with appropriately incremented reference numbers.
- the balance training device 500 may include a plurality of foot supports 506 (e.g., first and second foot supports 536 , 538 ) slidably connected to a rail 504 at least partially along the length L of the rail 504 .
- first and second foot supports 536 , 538 are similar to the first and second foot supports 136 , 138 discussed above.
- each foot support 506 may include an aperture 250 for engagement with a portion of an associated adjustment mechanism 502 , as explained below.
- the balance training device 500 may include an adjustment mechanism 502 associated with the rail 504 and each of the foot supports 506 to selectively position each foot support 506 between a plurality of positions.
- each adjustment mechanism 502 includes a ridge 564 , which may be formed on an end cap 560 , and a latch member 562 attached to the ridge 564 .
- the ridge 564 is shown and described hereinafter as part of the end cap 560 , though it is contemplated that the ridge 564 may be formed elsewhere on the rail 504 .
- each latch member 562 may extend from the end cap 560 within a track 530 of the rail 504 (see FIGS. 15 and 16 ).
- each latch member 562 may include a plurality of engagement structures 566 defining the positions in which the first and second foot supports 536 , 538 may be selectively locked.
- each of the engagement structures 566 may engage a portion of the foot supports 506 to define the positions thereof.
- each latch member 562 may include first and second portions 568 , 570 defining first and second engagement structures 572 , 574 , respectively, thereon.
- each of the first and second engagement structures 572 , 574 may be a button 252 sized and shaped to be received at least partially within the aperture 250 of the foot supports 506 to limit translational movement of the foot supports 506 along the length L of the rail 504 .
- the buttons 252 of the first and second engagement structures 572 , 574 may be accessible from the upper surface 544 of each foot support 506 .
- the buttons 252 may be depressed by a user to decoupled the first and second engagement structures 572 , 574 from the foot supports 506 , as explained below.
- the buttons 252 may be sized and shaped to move within the track 530 of the rail 504 to decouple the first and second engagement structures 572 , 574 from the foot supports 506 .
- each button 252 may be depressed about 4 mm to about 6 mm into the track 530 of the rail 504 to disengage the button 252 from the foot support 506 .
- the buttons 252 may be substantially identical in size and shape.
- each button 252 may be small enough such that a user's foot does not depress the buttons 252 during use.
- the buttons 252 may be large enough such that a user may depress each button 252 using the user's thumb.
- the balance training device 500 may include a plurality of balance pads 592 connected to the rail 504 for at least the same purposes described above.
- the plurality of balance pads 592 may include a first balance pad 598 having a first bottom surface radius R 1 , a second balance pad 600 having a second bottom surface radius R 2 , a third balance pad 602 having a third bottom surface radius R 3 , and so on.
- the balance pad stack 596 may be connected to the rail 504 via a connection plate 608 similar to the connection plate 208 discussed above.
- the first balance pad 598 may connect (e.g., exclusively) to the connection plate 608
- the second balance pad 600 may connect (e.g., exclusively) to the first balance pad 598
- the third balance pad 602 may connect (e.g., exclusively) to the second balance pad 600 , and so on.
- each of the first, second, and third balance pads 598 , 600 , 602 may include an undercut defining a circumferential groove 612 .
- at least the first and second balance pads 598 , 600 may include a circumferential rib 610 extending annularly outward from the pads 598 , 600 . In this manner, each rib 610 may be received within the groove 612 of a successively-attached balance pad 592 to connect the first, second, and third balance pads 598 , 600 , 602 together.
- connection plate 608 may include a similar circumferential rib 610 extending annularly outward from the connection plate 608 to be received within the circumferential groove 612 of the first balance pad 598 to connect the balance pad stack 596 to the rail 504 .
- Operation of the balance training device 500 is similar to that of the balance training device 100 above.
- a user may depress the button 252 of the first portion 568 of the latch member 562 to decouple the first engagement structure 572 of the adjustment mechanism 502 .
- the first portion 568 of the latch member 562 may resiliently bend to permit sufficient removal of the button 252 from the aperture 250 defined in the foot supports 506 .
- each foot support 506 may then slide each foot support 506 outwardly along the length L of the rail 504 until the second engagement structure 574 locks the foots supports in place, such as through at least partial receipt of the button 252 of the second portion 570 of the latch member 562 within the aperture 250 defined in the foot supports 506 .
- the button 252 of the first portion 568 of the latch member 562 may line up with the aperture 250 in the foot support 506 when the foot support 506 is in an inner or collapsed position
- the button 252 of the second portion 570 of the latch member 562 may line up with the aperture 250 in the foot support 506 when the foot support 506 is in an outer or expanded position.
- the first and second portions 568 , 570 of the latch member 562 may be biased towards the underside 546 of each foot support 506 such that the buttons 252 of the first and second portions 568 , 570 seat automatically within the aperture 250 of the foot supports 506 once in alignment.
- each button 252 may be chamfered along its top edge to at least partially guide the buttons 252 into the aperture 250 .
- Collapsing the balance training device 500 may be accomplished in substantially reverse order from that described above.
- a user may depress the button 252 of the second portion 570 of the latch member 562 to decouple the second engagement structure 574 of the adjustment mechanism 502 .
- the second portion 570 of the latch member 562 may resiliently bend to permit sufficient removal of the button 252 from the aperture 250 defined in the foot supports 506 .
- the user may then slide each foot support 506 inwardly along the length L of the rail 504 until the first engagement structure 572 locks the foot support 506 in place, such as through at least partial receipt of the button 252 of the first portion 568 of the latch member 562 within the aperture 250 defined in the foot supports 506 .
- the adjustment device may be configured such that the foot supports 506 move between any number of positions by, for example, providing additional engagement structures 566 (e.g., buttons 252 ).
- the balance pad stack 596 may provide a base 590 of the balance training device 500 , the base 590 configured to provide increasing levels of balance difficulty by, for example, allowing the balance training device 500 to tilt an increasing degree.
- the first balance pad 598 may allow the balance training device 500 to tilt along its length L a first tilting angle ⁇ 1 (see FIG. 17 ).
- Adding the second balance pad 600 to the balance pad stack 596 may increase the tilting ability of the balance training device 500 by allowing the balance training device 500 to tilt along its length L a second tilting angle ⁇ 2 (see FIG. 18 ), the second tilting angle ⁇ 2 being greater than the first tilting angle ⁇ 1 .
- adding the third balance pad 602 to the balance pad stack 596 may increase the tilting ability of the balance training device 500 by allowing the balance training device 500 to tilt along its length L a third tilting angle ⁇ 3 (see FIG. 19 ), the third tilting angle ⁇ 3 being greater than the second tilting angle ⁇ 2 .
- the balance training device 500 may be similar to the balance training device 100 discussed above.
- the balance training device 100 or 500 may be formed from a variety of materials and means.
- the rail 104 or 504 , the foot supports 106 or 506 , the balance pads 192 or 592 , and each component of the adjustment mechanisms 102 or 502 , among others, may be formed from metal, plastic, or any other suitable material with sufficient strength.
- the rail 104 or 504 may be extruded from metal or another thermoformable material.
- Metals may include aluminum, steel, titanium, or any other suitable metal, alloy, or composite.
- Plastics may include a thermoplastic material (self-reinforced or fiber reinforced), nylon, LDPE, ABS, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polystyrene, PVC, polyamide, and/or PTFE, among others, and may be formed or molded in any suitable manner, such as by plug molding, blow molding, injection molding, extrusion, or the like.
- at least some of the components of the balance training device 100 or 500 e.g., the foot supports 106 or 506 , the balance pads 192 or 592 , among others
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Abstract
Description
- This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/298,163 filed 22 Feb. 2016 and entitled “Balance Training Device,” which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety.
- The present disclosure relates generally to physical fitness and personal training and more specifically to devices and systems for balance training.
- Various devices and systems exist to perform a variety of fitness and balance training exercises. These devices and systems, however, do not provide sufficient selective control by the user, user feedback, and/or user tracking.
- It is therefore desirable to provide an improved balance training device that addresses at least in part the above described problems and/or which more generally offers improvements or an alternative to existing arrangements.
- The present disclosure generally provides a balance training device. The balance training device provides a range of angular instability to improve a user's balance. The balance training device is expandable to vary the degree of instability as desired. For example, the balance training device may include a plurality of foot supports that move relative to one another to vary the foot stance and/or angular tipping of the device. Additionally or alternatively, a user may select from a variety of balance pads providing differing degrees of curvature. In some embodiments, the balance training device may include a sensing device that allows a user to measure their balance and track their balance ability and improvement over time. The sensing device may be received within a compartment during use and/or storage of the balance training device.
- Embodiments of the present disclosure may include a balance training device. The balance training device may include a rail including a longitudinal length, a plurality of foot supports slidably connected to the rail, an adjustment mechanism associated with each foot support and the rail to selectively lock each foot support in a plurality of positions along the length of the rail, and at least one balance pad connected to the rail and including a convex bottom surface to provide a degree of angular instability. The rail may include opposing first and second side ends and opposing front and rear longitudinal edges. The longitudinal length of the rail may be defined between the opposing first and second side ends. The rail may include a width defined between the opposing front and rear longitudinal edges and transverse to the longitudinal length.
- Embodiments of the present disclosure may include a balance training device. The balance training device may include an elongate rail including a longitudinal length, a plurality of foots supports coupled to the rail and configured to slide at least partially along the length of the rail, and a base engaging a support surface. The base may include an adjustable height dimension configured to provide increasing levels of balance difficulty.
- Embodiments of the present disclosure may include a method of expanding a balance board. The method may include slidably coupling a plurality of foot supports along a longitudinal length of a rail member, positioning the plurality of foots supports in a first position to provide a first degree of balance instability, and sliding the plurality of foots supports along the longitudinal length of the rail to a second position. The second position may provide a second degree of balance instability.
- Additional embodiments and features are set forth in part in the description that follows, and will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the specification and drawings or may be learned by the practice of the disclosed subject matter. A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present disclosure may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the drawings, which forms a part of this disclosure.
- One of skill in the art will understand that each of the various aspects and features of the disclosure may advantageously be used separately in some instances, or in combination with other aspects and features of the disclosure in other instances. Accordingly, while the disclosure is presented in terms of embodiments, it should be appreciated that individual aspects of any embodiment can be claimed separately or in combination with aspects and features of that embodiment or any other embodiment. The present disclosure of certain embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the claimed invention or its applications or uses. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural and/or logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
- The present disclosure is set forth in various levels of detail in this application and no limitation as to the scope of the claimed subject matter is intended by either the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements, components, or the like in this summary. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the disclosure or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. Moreover, for the purposes of clarity, detailed descriptions of certain features will not be discussed when they would be apparent to those with skill in the art so as not to obscure the description of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the claimed subject matter is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments or arrangements illustrated herein, and the scope of the present disclosure is defined only by the appended claims.
- The description will be more fully understood with reference to the following figures in which components may not be drawn to scale, which are presented as various embodiments of the exercise machine described herein and should not be construed as a complete depiction of the scope of the exercise machine.
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FIG. 1 is a top isometric view of a balance training device in a collapsed configuration. -
FIG. 2 is a top isometric view of the balance training device ofFIG. 1 in an expanded configuration. -
FIG. 3 is a bottom isometric view of the balance training device ofFIG. 1 in a collapsed configuration. -
FIG. 4 is a bottom isometric view of the balance training device ofFIG. 1 in an expanded configuration. -
FIG. 5 is a top exploded view of the balance training device ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 6 is a bottom exploded view of the balance training device ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the balance training device ofFIG. 1 taken along line 7-7 ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the balance training device ofFIG. 1 taken along line 8-8 ofFIG. 2 . -
FIG. 9 is an elevation view of the balance training device ofFIG. 1 including one balance pad. -
FIG. 10 is an elevation view of the balance training device ofFIG. 1 including two balance pads. -
FIG. 11 is an elevation view of the balance training device ofFIG. 1 including three balance pads. -
FIG. 12 is a top isometric view of an additional balance training device in a collapsed configuration. -
FIG. 13 is a top isometric view of the balance training device ofFIG. 12 in an expanded configuration. -
FIG. 14 is an exploded view of the balance training device ofFIG. 12 . -
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the balance training device ofFIG. 12 taken along line 15-15 ofFIG. 12 . -
FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the balance training device ofFIG. 12 taken along line 16-16 ofFIG. 13 . -
FIG. 17 is an elevation view of the balance training device ofFIG. 12 including one balance pad. -
FIG. 18 is an elevation view of the balance training device ofFIG. 12 including two balance pads. -
FIG. 19 is an elevation view of the balance training device ofFIG. 12 including three balance pads. -
FIG. 20 is a top isometric view of an additional balance training device in a collapsed configuration. -
FIG. 21 is a top isometric view of the balance training device ofFIG. 20 in an expanded configuration. -
FIG. 22 is a bottom isometric view of the balance training device ofFIG. 20 in a collapsed configuration. -
FIGS. 1-11 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of abalance training device 100 including at least oneadjustment mechanism 102 operable to provide a variable degree of angular instability to thebalance training device 100. As detailed below, the adjustment mechanism(s) 102 may permit thebalance training device 100 to selectively expand or collapse to provide a desired functional characteristic. For example, as provided herein, the expandable nature of thebalance training device 100 may allow a user to customize the size and/or function of thebalance training device 100. In one embodiment, thebalance training device 100, which may be referred to as a balance board, may be selectively expanded or collapsed to provide a varied foot placement, a varying dimensional size, or the like, as more fully explained in detail below. Additionally, a more collapsed version may allow for varying amount of angular tipping to provide more instability compared to a more expanded version due at least in part to a narrower foot stance, increased angular tipping, etc. Additionally or alternatively, a more collapsed version may allow for easier transport (e.g., within a bag or case) and may permit a user to perform both one-footed and two-footed balance exercises. In some embodiments, thebalance training device 100 may be expanded or collapsed to adjust thebalance training device 100 to a particular body size (e.g., child vs. adult). - Referring to
FIGS. 1-4 , an embodiment of thebalance training device 100 may include anelongated rail 104 to which a plurality of foot supports 106 may be slidably connected. As may be seen inFIGS. 5 and 6 , therail 104, which may be referred to as a rail member, may include a top surface 108 (seeFIG. 5 ), a bottom surface 110 (seeFIG. 6 ), opposing first and second side ends 112, 114, and opposing front and rearlongitudinal edges 116, 118. Therail 104 may be shaped quadrilaterally and may include a longitudinal length L and a transverse width W. As shown, the longitudinal length L of therail 104 is defined between its first and second side ends 112, 114. In such embodiments, the transverse width W of therail 104 is defined between its front and rearlongitudinal edges 116, 118. In some embodiments, the length L of therail 104 may be greater than its width W such that therail 104 may be considered rectangular. Rails of other shapes may be suitable, including those where the front and rearlongitudinal edges 116, 118 are at least partially non-linear. In one embodiment, therail 104 may include a thickness T that is substantially less than its length L or its width W such that therail 104 may be considered to have a thin profile. - As explained in more detail below, the size and shape of the
rail 104 may provide, in combination with the foot supports 106, a desired aesthetic and/or functional characteristic of thebalance training device 100. For example, therail 104 may include atrack 130 defined in itstop surface 108. As shown, thetrack 130 is formed along at least a portion of the length L of the rail 104 (e.g., the entirety of the length L) between the first and second side ends 112, 114. Thetrack 130 may include a depth less than the thickness T of therail 104 such that therail 104 is substantially U-shaped in cross section. In some embodiments, the cross-section of therail 104 may be closed-shaped to define acavity 132 therein for at least the purposes explained below. Referring toFIGS. 5 and 6 , each of the front and rearlongitudinal edges 116, 118 may be curvilinear along the thickness T of therail 104 to facilitate attachment of the foot supports 106 to therail 104, as explained more fully hereafter. For example, each of the front and rearlongitudinal edges 116, 118 may include a contoured, such as curved or angled,outer surface 134 operable to couple the foot supports 106 to therail 104. - With continued reference to
FIGS. 5 and 6 , therail 104 may include a plurality ofend caps 160, such as a pair ofend caps 160. As illustrated, eachend cap 160 is positioned adjacent an end (e.g., one of the first and second side ends 112, 114) of therail 104. In some embodiments, eachend cap 160 may close the associated end of therail 104, such as thecavity 132. Eachend cap 160 may be sized and shaped to complement the cross-sectional shape of therail 104. For instance, eachend cap 160 may be substantially U-shaped in cross section and may be sized to sit substantially flush with thebottom surface 110 and the front and rearlongitudinal edges 116, 118 of the rail 104 (seeFIGS. 3 and 4 ). As seen inFIGS. 7 and 8 , therail 104 may include aridge 164, in this example formed on theend cap 160, extending above the bottom of thetrack 130 of therail 104. As described hereinafter, eachridge 164 may engage an associatedadjustment mechanism 102 to facilitate locking of theadjustment mechanisms 102 in defined positions. Though shown and described as part of theend cap 160, theridge 164 may be formed elsewhere on therail 104, such as not part of theend cap 160, anywhere within thetrack 130 of the rail, or the like. For purposes of illustration only, theridge 164 is described as part of theend cap 160 hereinafter. - With continued reference to
FIGS. 5 and 6 , thebalance training device 100 in some embodiments may include first and second foot supports 136, 138 slidably connected to therail 104 at least partially along the length L of therail 104. As shown, each of the first and second foot supports 136, 138 may include asupport plate 140 and a plurality of elongated retainingmembers 142 operable to couple eachfoot support 106 to therail 104, as explained below. Eachsupport plate 140 may include an upper surface 144 (seeFIG. 5 ) and an underside 146 (seeFIG. 6 ) collectively defining a length LFS and a transverse width WFS of the foot support 106 (seeFIG. 5 ). In some embodiments, the length LFS and the width WFS of thesupport plate 140 may extend along the length L and the width W of therail 104, respectively. Thesupport plate 140 may be elongate such that one of the length LFS and the width WFS is greater than the other of the length LFS and the width WFS. For example, in the embodiment ofFIG. 12 , the width WFS of thesupport plate 140 may be greater than its length LFS, though the reverse may be true in other embodiments. In some embodiments, the length LFS and the width WFS of thesupport plate 140 may be dimensioned to match (or approximately match) the size of a user's foot or shoe. For example, the length LFS of thesupport plate 140 may be in the range of approximately 4 inches to approximately 12 inches, and the width WFS of thesupport plate 140 may be in the range of approximately 8 inches to approximately 20 inches. Theupper surface 144 of eachfoot support 106 may provide a gripping surface to limit slipping of a user's hand and/or feet when placed on thebalance training device 100. In some embodiments, a pad may be secured (e.g., adhered) to theupper surface 144 of thesupport plate 140 to provide a desired look, feel, gripping feature, or cushioning characteristic. As shown, theupper surface 144 is substantially planar and may include any number of cross-sectional shapes, including round or elliptical (seeFIGS. 1 and 12 ), semi-circular (seeFIG. 20 ), ovate, square, rectangular, polygonal, or the like. In some embodiments, the foot supports 106 may be sized and shaped to complement one another. For example, in the embodiment shown inFIG. 20-22 , the first and second foot supports 136, 138 may be sized and shaped such that when the foot supports 106 are positioned adjacent each other, a generally uninterrupted and continuous periphery of thebalance training device 100 is defined. As best seen inFIGS. 3, 4, and 6 , the underside 146 of eachsupport plate 140 may include a cellular structure 148 to simultaneously decrease weight and provide increased rigidity of thesupport plate 140. - To secure each
foot support 106 to therail 104, a plurality of retainingmembers 142 may be connected to the underside 146 of eachsupport plate 140, such as through fasteners, adhesive, heat or sonic welding, corresponding engagement features, or the like. As illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6 , each retainingmember 142 may be an elongate member including anengagement surface 150. Theengagement surface 150 may be shaped to complement the contouredouter surfaces 134 of the front and rearlongitudinal edges 116, 118. The retainingmembers 142 are coupled to the underside 146 of eachsupport plate 140 in a substantially parallel relationship. As explained below, the engagement surfaces 150 of opposing retainingmembers 142 may face one another to facilitate attachment of eachfoot support 106 to therail 104. For example, as illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4 , the retainingmembers 142 may be spaced apart along the width WFS of eachfoot support 106 to receive therail 104 therebetween. In some embodiments, the width W of therail 104 may be captured substantially between the retaining members 142 (e.g., between the engagement surfaces 150 of opposing retaining members 142) to slidably couple eachfoot support 106 to therail 104. In this manner, the retainingmembers 142 attached to the underside 146 of eachsupport plate 140 form achannel 152 extending at least partially along the length LFS of each foot support 106 (seeFIGS. 3 and 4 ). - As illustrated, at least a portion of the
rail 104 may be slidably received within thechannel 152 to secure eachfoot support 106 to therail 104. Thechannel 152 formed by the retaining members 142 (e.g., the engagement surfaces 150 of the retaining members 142) slidably receives therail 104, with the front and rearlongitudinal edges 116, 118 of therail 104 mating with the engagement surfaces 150 of the retainingmembers 142. For example, the matching contoured shapes of the engagement surfaces 150 of the retainingmembers 142 substantially capture therail 104 to retain therail 104 within thechannel 152 and allow therail 104 to slide along thechannel 152. Additionally or alternatively, the matching contoured shapes of theouter surfaces 134 of the rail and the engagement surfaces 150 of the retainingmembers 142 maintain alignment between eachfoot support 106 and therail 104 to at least limit binding and facilitate smooth motion of therail 104 along thechannel 152. In this manner, eachfoot support 106 may slide along at least a portion of the length L of therail 104 to, for example, expand and collapse thebalance training device 100, as detailed more fully below. Though two long retainingmembers 142 are shown attached to the underside 146 of eachsupport plate 140, eachfoot support 106 may include a series of shorter, parallel positioned retainingmembers 142 without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. - Referring now to
FIGS. 3 and 4 , theadjustment mechanisms 102 to selectively position eachfoot support 106 in a plurality of positions along the length L of therail 104 may be associated with therail 104 and the foot supports 106. For example, theadjustment mechanisms 102 may form a releasable connection structure between therail 104 and the foot supports 106 to selectively lock thebalance training device 100 in at least a collapsed configuration (seeFIGS. 1 and 3 ) and an expanded configuration (seeFIGS. 2 and 4 ). In the collapsed configuration, the first and second foot supports 136, 138 may be positioned adjacent each other, such as in an abutting relationship. In the expanded configuration, the first and second foot supports 136, 138 may be positioned in a horizontally-spaced relationship with each other along the length L of therail 104 such that a gap G is defined between the first and second foot supports 136, 138. As explained below, theadjustment mechanisms 102 may be operable to position the first and second foot supports 136, 138 relative to each other to vary the gap G therebetween. - With reference to
FIGS. 3-8 , eachadjustment mechanism 102 may include alatch member 162 associated with one of the end caps 160 and one of the foot supports 106. As shown inFIGS. 3, 4, and 6 , eachlatch member 162 may engage (e.g., be connected to) the underside 146 of thesupport plates 140. For example, eachlatch member 162 may be attached to the underside 146 of thesupport plates 140, such as through mechanical fasteners. In some embodiments, eachlatch member 162 may be attached to an associatedsupport plate 140 in a manner that allows movement of at least a portion of thelatch member 162 towards or away from the underside 146 of thesupport plates 162, as explained below. As illustrated, eachlatch member 162 may include a plurality ofengagement structures 166, such as slots, defining the positions in which the foot supports 106 may be selectively locked. In such embodiments, each of theengagement structures 166 may engage theridge 164, which limits translational movement of the foot supports 106 along the length L of therail 104. In some embodiments, thelatch members 162 may take the form of a leaf spring connected to the underside 146 of thesupport plates 140. In such embodiments, eachlatch member 162 may be attached to the underside 146 of thesupport plates 140 substantially along the midline of thelatch member 162, such as through mechanical fasteners, in a manner that allows theengagement structures 166 to disengage theridge 164. For example, thelatch members 162 may be connected to thesupport plates 140 in a manner to facilitate movement of a portion of eachlatch member 162 away from theend cap 160 and towards the underside 146 of thesupport plate 140 to disengage theengagement structures 166 from theridge 164, as detailed more fully below. - With reference to
FIGS. 5 and 6 , eachlatch member 162 may include opposing first andsecond portions first portion 168 may be operable to position eachfoot support 106 in a first position, such as a collapsed position, and thesecond portion 170 may be operable to position eachfoot support 106 in a second position, such as an expanded position. For example, the first andsecond portions second engagement structures FIGS. 7 and 8 , each of the first andsecond engagement structures groove 176 defined by opposingridges 178 extending from thelatch member 162. In such embodiments, thegroove 176 may be sized for receipt of at least a portion of theridge 164 to engage thelatch member 162 and therail 104 together and limit translational movement of the foot supports 106 along the length L of therail 104 to define the selectable positions of the foot supports 106. - With continued reference to
FIGS. 7 and 8 , one of the opposing ridges 178 (e.g., an inner ridge) may define aramp 180 on each of the first andsecond portions latch member 162 to facilitate automatic receipt of theend cap 160 within thegroove 176 of an associatedengagement structure 166, as detailed below. In some embodiments, each of the first andsecond portions grip portion 182 for engagement by a user to release the first andsecond engagement structures FIGS. 3 and 4 ). - Referring to
FIGS. 1-4, 7, and 8 , a user may actuate theadjustment mechanisms 102 to convert thebalance training device 100 between expanded and collapsed positions to provide a desired functional characteristic. To expand thebalance training device 100, a user may depress thegrip portion 182 of thefirst portion 168 of thelatch member 162 to decouple thefirst engagement structures 172 of theadjustment mechanisms 102. For example, thefirst portion 168 of thelatch member 162 may resiliently bend to permit sufficient disengagement of theridge 164 from thegroove 176 of eachfirst engagement structure 172. Once theridge 164 disengages the first engagement structure 172 (e.g., the inner ridge of the first engagement structure 172), the user may then slide the associatedfoot support 106 outwardly along the length L of therail 104 until thesecond engagement structure 174 locks thefoot support 106 in place. In this manner, thefirst engagement structure 172 of thelatch member 162 may line up with theridge 164 when thefoot support 106 is in an inner or collapsed position, and thesecond engagement structure 174 of thelatch member 162 may line up with theridge 164 when thefoot support 106 is in an outer or expanded position. To facilitate engagement of theridge 164 with thesecond engagement structure 174, theramp 180 of thesecond portion 170 of thelatch member 162 may cause thesecond portion 170 to resiliently bend towards thesupport plates 140 as the user pulls the foot supports 106 outwardly. Once theridge 164 clears the inner ridge of thesecond engagement structure 174, thelatch member 162 may automatically bias thesecond portion 170 towards theend cap 160 to seat theridge 164 within thegroove 176 of thesecond engagement structure 174. When thebalance training device 100 is in an expanded configuration, a user may perform a variety of balance training exercises, such as placing one foot on each of the foot supports 106 to perform two-footed balance training exercises. - Collapsing the
balance training device 100 may be accomplished in substantially reverse order from that described above. To collapse thebalance training device 100, a user may depress thegrip portion 182 of thesecond portion 170 of thelatch member 162 to decouple thesecond engagement structure 174 of theadjustment mechanisms 102. In such embodiments, thesecond portion 170 of thelatch member 162 resiliently bends to sufficiently remove theend cap 160 from thegroove 176 of thesecond engagement structure 174. Once theend cap 160 clears the second engagement structure 174 (e.g., the inner ridge of the second engagement structure 174), the user may then slide eachfoot support 106 inwardly along the length L of therail 104 until thefirst engagement structure 172 locks eachfoot support 106 in place, such as through at least partial receipt of theend cap 160 within thegroove 176 of thefirst engagement structure 172. Similar to the description above, the angled nature of theramp 180 of thefirst portion 168 of thelatch member 162 may cause thefirst portion 168 to resiliently bend as the user pushes the foots supports inwardly. Once theridge 164 clears the inner ridge of thefirst engagement structure 172, thelatch member 162 automatically biases thefirst portion 168 towards theend cap 160 to seat theridge 164 within thegroove 176 of thefirst engagement structure 172. When thebalance training device 100 is in a collapsed configuration, a user may place one foot on each of the foot supports 106 to perform two-footed balance training exercises. Additionally or alternatively, the user may place one foot across the first and second foot supports 136, 138 to perform one-footed balance training exercises. - Though shown and described as moving between two positions, the adjustment device may be configured such that the foot supports 106 move between any number of positions by, for example, providing
additional engagement structures 166. In some embodiments, eachfoot support 106 may slide along the length L of therail 104 between about 60 mm and about 100 mm (e.g., about 80 mm) between expanded and collapsed positions, though thebalance training device 100 may support more or less movement depending on the size and shape of therail 104, the foot supports 106, and theadjustment mechanisms 102. Because eachfoot support 106 includes anadjustment mechanism 102, the foot supports 106 may be positioned along therail 104 independently from one another to customize the balance characteristics of thebalance training device 100. For example, one of the first and second foots supports 136, 138 may be positioned in a first position along the rail while the other of the first and second foot supports 136, 138 may be positioned in a second position along the rail. In some embodiments, the first and second positions may be equivalent such that both the first and second foot supports 136, 138 are in the same position relative to the center of therail 104 to provide symmetrical placement of the first and second foot supports 136, 138 along therail 104. However, it is contemplated that the first and second positions may be different such that the first and second foot supports 136, 138 are in different positions relative to the center of therail 104 to provide asymmetrical placement of the first and second foot supports 136, 138 along therail 104. - Referring now to
FIGS. 1-11 , thebalance training device 100 may include a base 190 configured to provide increasing levels of balance difficulty by, for example, adjusting a height dimension of therail 104 above a support surface. For example, thebalance training device 100 may include at least onebalance pad 192 connected to the rail 104 (e.g., to thebottom surface 110 of the rail 104) to provide a desired height and/or a desired angular instability of thebalance training device 100. In some embodiments, thebalance training device 100 may include a plurality ofbalance pads 192, each of thebalance pads 192 including aconvex bottom surface 194 to provide a degree of angular instability (seeFIG. 6 ). As illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6 , thebalance pads 192 may be connected together serially or sequentially, such as in a vertically stacked, or layered, configuration, to create abalance pad stack 196 of varying height. As explained below, the serial or sequential connection means allows thebalance pads 192 to be easily and/or quickly connected together to provide a desired level of balance difficulty. For example without limitation, the convex bottom surfaces 194 of each successively-connectedbalance pad 192 may decrease in radius. Additionally or alternatively, increasing the height of thebalance pad stack 196 by addingadditional balance pads 192 thereto may provide increasing balance difficulty by increasing the angle through which thebalance training device 100 may be tilted during balance training exercises. In this manner, users may add or changebalance pads 192 as their ability improves. - As shown in
FIGS. 9-11 , the plurality ofbalance pads 192 may include afirst balance pad 198 having a first bottom surface radius R1, asecond balance pad 200 having a second bottom surface radius R2, athird balance pad 202 having a third bottom surface radius R3, and so on. In such embodiments, the first bottom surface radius R1 may be greater than the second bottom surface radius R2, the second bottom surface radius R2 may be greater than the third bottom surface radius R3, and so on. For instance, the first bottom surface radius R1 may be between about 600 mm and about 900 mm (e.g., about 770 mm), the second bottom surface radius R2 may be between about 400 mm and about 600 mm (e.g., about 480 mm), and the third bottom surface radius R3 may be between about 100 mm and about 400 mm (e.g., about 270 mm). In such embodiments, the decreasing bottom surface radii of the first, second, andthird balance pads balance training device 100 to tilt. As shown, each of the first, second, andthird balance pads - Referring to
FIGS. 5 and 6 , thebalance pads 192 may be layered together in a set order to create thebalance pad stack 196. For instance, in one embodiment, thesecond balance pad 200 may connect (e.g., exclusively) to thefirst balance pad 198, thethird balance pad 202 may connect (e.g., exclusively) to thesecond balance pad 200, and so on. In such embodiments, the second andthird balance pads posts 204 sized and shaped to be releasably secured within a plurality ofrecesses 206 formed in the bottom surfaces 194 of the first andsecond balance pads posts 204 and therecesses 206 may define a detent structure (e.g., ribs and grooves, etc.) or may create an interference fit between the elements, such as anenlarged post 204 at least partially compressed within asmaller recess 206. To connect thebalance pads 192 to therail 104, thebalance training device 100 may include aconnection plate 208 connected to thebottom surface 110 of therail 104. In such embodiments, thefirst balance pad 198 may connect (e.g., exclusively) to theconnection plate 208 in any suitable manner. For example without limitation, theconnection plate 208 may include acircumferential rib 210 extending annularly outward from theconnection plate 208. To connect thefirst balance pad 198 to theconnection plate 208, thefirst balance pad 198 may include an undercut defining acircumferential groove 212 in which thecircumferential rib 210 of theconnection plate 208 is received (seeFIG. 5 ). In some embodiments, thefirst balance pad 198 may be releasably secured to theconnection plate 208, though it is contemplated that the connection may be permanent in nature. In some embodiments, theconnection plate 208 may be rotatably mounted to thebottom surface 110 of therail 104. In such embodiments, theconnection plate 208 may rotate about a shaft (e.g., ashaft 214 defined on a fastener 216) to allow a user to perform rotational movements while laterally balancing on thebalance training device 100. - Referring back to
FIGS. 9-11 , thebalance pads 192 may provide increasing ranges of motion of thebalance training device 100 due at least in part to the increasing height of thebalance pad stack 196. For instance, with reference toFIG. 9 , thefirst balance pad 198 may allow thebalance training device 100 to tilt along its length L a first tilting angle φ1. Adding thesecond balance pad 200 to thebalance pad stack 196 may increase the tilting ability of thebalance training device 100 by allowing thebalance training device 100 to tilt along its length L a second tilting angle φ2 (seeFIG. 10 ), the second tilting angle φ2 being greater than the first tilting angle φ1. Similarly, adding thethird balance pad 202 to thebalance pad stack 196 may increase the tilting ability of thebalance training device 100 by allowing thebalance training device 100 to tilt along its length L a third tilting angle φ3 (seeFIG. 11 ), the third tilting angle φ3 being greater than the second tilting angle φ2. As illustrated, each of the first, second, and third tilting angles φ1, φ2, φ3 may be defined by the angle through which thebalance training device 100 may be tilted until one of the foot supports 106 contacts a support surface. In such embodiments, the magnitude of each of the first, second, and third tilting angles φ1, φ2, φ3 may depend on whether the foot supports 106 are in an expanded or collapsed position. For example, when thebalance training device 100 is in a collapsed configuration, each of the first, second, and third tilting angles φ1, φ2, φ3 may be greater compared to the angles created when thebalance training device 100 is in an expanded configuration. - With reference to
FIG. 2 , thebalance training device 100 may include asensing device 230 to track a user's balancing movements. Thesensing device 230, which may be a smartphone, a tablet, or any other sensing mechanism, may include a plurality of sensors, such as a gyroscope or an accelerometer, operable to track movement of thebalance training device 100. For example, as thebalance training device 100 tilts or rotates, the sensors may detect the movement and provide feedback to a user. In some embodiments, thesensing device 230 may include adisplay 232 to provide real-time feedback to a user during a workout. Though the figures show a smartphone being used as thesensing device 230, any suitable device having the proper components and software may be used, including a device having a microprocessor, memory, and a gyroscope/accelerometer or other suitable sensing means. - As shown in
FIGS. 2, 7, and 8 , thesensing device 230 may be received within thetrack 130 formed within thetop surface 108 of therail 104. In such embodiments, thetrack 130 may be sized and shaped to permit the foot supports 106 to slide along therail 104 without contacting thesensing device 230. For example, the depth of thetrack 130 may be sufficient to permit thesensing device 230 to be positioned substantially between therail 104 and the foot supports 106 (seeFIG. 8 ). In this manner, thesensing device 230 may be substantially concealed from view when thebalance training device 100 is in a collapsed configuration (seeFIGS. 1 and 7 ). Referring toFIGS. 5 and 6 , therail 104 may include means to hold thesensing device 230 in place. For example, a mountingpad 234, which may be formed from silicone rubber and may be sticky or include a gripping feature, may be positioned on top of therail 104 within thetrack 130. During use, the mountingpad 234 may limit lateral movement of thesensing device 230 within thetrack 130 relative to therail 104. - In some embodiments, the
balance training device 100 may include other features providing a desired aesthetic and/or functional characteristic. For example, as shown inFIGS. 20-22 , thebalance training device 100 may include at least onebumper 236 connected to the underside 146 of at least one of the first and second foot supports 136, 138, such as through an interference fit. The bumper(s) 236 may be a cylindrical member having a substantially circular cross-section, though other cross-section shapes are contemplated including polygonal and elliptical, among others. In some embodiments, the bumper(s) 236 may taper in cross-sectional size with distance away from the underside 146 of the first and second foot supports 136, 138 to provide a desired functional and/or aesthetic effect, such as progressive damping. The bumper(s) 236 may be compressible to cushion impacts between thebalance training device 100 and a support surface (e.g., the ground) while performing balance training exercises. For example, the bumper(s) 236 may be formed from compressible material, such as rubber, or may take the form of a compressible spring. The bumper(s) 236 may be releasably secured to many locations of the cellular structure 148 to customize the balance characteristics of thebalance training device 100. For example, the bumper(s) 236 may be operable to limit the angular instability of thebalance training device 100, such as for recovery patients. In some embodiments, the bumper(s) 236 may add noticeable weight that must be overcome during balancing movements. The bumper(s) 236 may be attached symmetrically or asymmetrically to the underside 146 of the foot supports 106 to provide symmetrical or asymmetrical balance training, respectively. - In some embodiments, a material having fluid-like characteristics may be positioned within the
cavity 132 of therail 104. This material shifts its mass as the rail changes positions, and creates an irregular effect to the balance training, making it more challenging, for instance. Suitable materials may include fine particle solids, water, or other liquids. -
FIGS. 12-19 illustrate an additional embodiment of abalance training device 500. Like thebalance training device 100 discussed above, thebalance training device 500 is expandable to vary the degree of instability it provides. In general, thebalance training device 500 is similar to thebalance training device 100 and its associated description above and thus, in certain instances, descriptions of like features will not be discussed when they would be apparent to those with skill in the art in light of the description above and in view ofFIGS. 12-19 . For ease of reference, like structure is represented with appropriately incremented reference numbers. - Referring to
FIGS. 12 and 13 , similar to thebalance training device 100 discussed above, thebalance training device 500 may include a plurality of foot supports 506 (e.g., first and second foot supports 536, 538) slidably connected to arail 504 at least partially along the length L of therail 504. In general, the first and second foot supports 536, 538 are similar to the first and second foot supports 136, 138 discussed above. However, as shown inFIG. 14 , eachfoot support 506 may include anaperture 250 for engagement with a portion of an associatedadjustment mechanism 502, as explained below. - Referring to
FIGS. 14-16 , thebalance training device 500 may include anadjustment mechanism 502 associated with therail 504 and each of the foot supports 506 to selectively position eachfoot support 506 between a plurality of positions. In the embodiments ofFIGS. 14-16 , eachadjustment mechanism 502 includes a ridge 564, which may be formed on anend cap 560, and alatch member 562 attached to the ridge 564. For purposes of convenience, the ridge 564 is shown and described hereinafter as part of theend cap 560, though it is contemplated that the ridge 564 may be formed elsewhere on therail 504. When theend cap 560 is connected to an end of therail 504, at least a portion of thelatch member 562 may extend from theend cap 560 within atrack 530 of the rail 504 (seeFIGS. 15 and 16 ). As illustrated, eachlatch member 562 may include a plurality ofengagement structures 566 defining the positions in which the first and second foot supports 536, 538 may be selectively locked. As detailed below, each of theengagement structures 566 may engage a portion of the foot supports 506 to define the positions thereof. - With continued reference to
FIGS. 14-16 , eachlatch member 562 may include first andsecond portions aperture 250 of the foot supports 506 to limit translational movement of the foot supports 506 along the length L of therail 504. With reference toFIGS. 12 and 13 , the buttons 252 of the first and second engagement structures 572, 574 may be accessible from theupper surface 544 of eachfoot support 506. In such embodiments, the buttons 252 may be depressed by a user to decoupled the first and second engagement structures 572, 574 from the foot supports 506, as explained below. In some embodiments, the buttons 252 may be sized and shaped to move within thetrack 530 of therail 504 to decouple the first and second engagement structures 572, 574 from the foot supports 506. For example, in one embodiment, each button 252 may be depressed about 4 mm to about 6 mm into thetrack 530 of therail 504 to disengage the button 252 from thefoot support 506. As shown, the buttons 252 may be substantially identical in size and shape. In particular, each button 252 may be small enough such that a user's foot does not depress the buttons 252 during use. The buttons 252, however, may be large enough such that a user may depress each button 252 using the user's thumb. - Referring now to
FIGS. 14 and 17-19 , thebalance training device 500 may include a plurality ofbalance pads 592 connected to therail 504 for at least the same purposes described above. As shown inFIGS. 17-19 , the plurality ofbalance pads 592 may include afirst balance pad 598 having a first bottom surface radius R1, asecond balance pad 600 having a second bottom surface radius R2, athird balance pad 602 having a third bottom surface radius R3, and so on. Like the first, second, andthird balance pads third balance pads FIGS. 17-19 may be connected together serially or sequentially, such as in a stacked or layered configuration, to form abalance pad stack 596. Referring toFIG. 14 , thebalance pad stack 596 may be connected to therail 504 via aconnection plate 608 similar to theconnection plate 208 discussed above. In such embodiments, thefirst balance pad 598 may connect (e.g., exclusively) to theconnection plate 608, thesecond balance pad 600 may connect (e.g., exclusively) to thefirst balance pad 598, thethird balance pad 602 may connect (e.g., exclusively) to thesecond balance pad 600, and so on. To connect thebalance pads 592 together, each of the first, second, andthird balance pads circumferential groove 612. In such embodiments, at least the first andsecond balance pads circumferential rib 610 extending annularly outward from thepads rib 610 may be received within thegroove 612 of a successively-attachedbalance pad 592 to connect the first, second, andthird balance pads connection plate 608 may include a similarcircumferential rib 610 extending annularly outward from theconnection plate 608 to be received within thecircumferential groove 612 of thefirst balance pad 598 to connect thebalance pad stack 596 to therail 504. - Operation of the
balance training device 500 is similar to that of thebalance training device 100 above. To expand thebalance training device 500, a user may depress the button 252 of thefirst portion 568 of thelatch member 562 to decouple the first engagement structure 572 of theadjustment mechanism 502. For example, thefirst portion 568 of thelatch member 562 may resiliently bend to permit sufficient removal of the button 252 from theaperture 250 defined in the foot supports 506. Once the button 252 of thefirst portion 568 of thelatch member 562 is removed from theaperture 250 defined in eachfoot support 506, the user may then slide eachfoot support 506 outwardly along the length L of therail 504 until the second engagement structure 574 locks the foots supports in place, such as through at least partial receipt of the button 252 of thesecond portion 570 of thelatch member 562 within theaperture 250 defined in the foot supports 506. In this manner, the button 252 of thefirst portion 568 of thelatch member 562 may line up with theaperture 250 in thefoot support 506 when thefoot support 506 is in an inner or collapsed position, and the button 252 of thesecond portion 570 of thelatch member 562 may line up with theaperture 250 in thefoot support 506 when thefoot support 506 is in an outer or expanded position. In some embodiments, the first andsecond portions latch member 562 may be biased towards the underside 546 of eachfoot support 506 such that the buttons 252 of the first andsecond portions aperture 250 of the foot supports 506 once in alignment. Additionally or alternatively, to facilitate engagement of the buttons 252 within theaperture 250 defined in the foot supports 506, in some embodiments each button 252 may be chamfered along its top edge to at least partially guide the buttons 252 into theaperture 250. - Collapsing the
balance training device 500 may be accomplished in substantially reverse order from that described above. To collapse thebalance training device 500, a user may depress the button 252 of thesecond portion 570 of thelatch member 562 to decouple the second engagement structure 574 of theadjustment mechanism 502. For instance, thesecond portion 570 of thelatch member 562 may resiliently bend to permit sufficient removal of the button 252 from theaperture 250 defined in the foot supports 506. Once the button 252 of thesecond portion 570 of thelatch member 562 is removed from theaperture 250, the user may then slide eachfoot support 506 inwardly along the length L of therail 504 until the first engagement structure 572 locks thefoot support 506 in place, such as through at least partial receipt of the button 252 of thefirst portion 568 of thelatch member 562 within theaperture 250 defined in the foot supports 506. Though shown and described as moving between two positions, the adjustment device may be configured such that the foot supports 506 move between any number of positions by, for example, providing additional engagement structures 566 (e.g., buttons 252). - Referring to
FIGS. 17-19 , thebalance pad stack 596 may provide a base 590 of thebalance training device 500, the base 590 configured to provide increasing levels of balance difficulty by, for example, allowing thebalance training device 500 to tilt an increasing degree. For example without limitation, similar to the description above regarding thebalance training device 100, thefirst balance pad 598 may allow thebalance training device 500 to tilt along its length L a first tilting angle φ1 (seeFIG. 17 ). Adding thesecond balance pad 600 to thebalance pad stack 596 may increase the tilting ability of thebalance training device 500 by allowing thebalance training device 500 to tilt along its length L a second tilting angle φ2 (seeFIG. 18 ), the second tilting angle φ2 being greater than the first tilting angle φ1. Similarly, adding thethird balance pad 602 to thebalance pad stack 596 may increase the tilting ability of thebalance training device 500 by allowing thebalance training device 500 to tilt along its length L a third tilting angle φ3 (seeFIG. 19 ), the third tilting angle φ3 being greater than the second tilting angle φ2. In all other aspects, thebalance training device 500 may be similar to thebalance training device 100 discussed above. - The
balance training device rail balance pads adjustment mechanisms rail balance training device 100 or 500 (e.g., the foot supports 106 or 506, thebalance pads - All relative and directional references (including: upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, side, above, below, front, middle, back, vertical, horizontal, and so forth) are given by way of example to aid the reader's understanding of the particular embodiments described herein. They should not be read to be requirements or limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use unless specifically set forth in the claims. Connection references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, joined, and the like) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a connection of elements and relative movement between elements. As such, connection references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each other, unless specifically set forth in the claims.
- Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the presently disclosed embodiments teach by way of example and not by limitation. Therefore, the matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings should be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. The following claims are intended to cover all generic and specific features described herein, as well as all statements of the scope of the present method and system, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall there between.
Claims (34)
Priority Applications (1)
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US16/079,069 US20190054348A1 (en) | 2016-02-22 | 2017-02-16 | Balance training device |
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US201662298163P | 2016-02-22 | 2016-02-22 | |
US16/079,069 US20190054348A1 (en) | 2016-02-22 | 2017-02-16 | Balance training device |
PCT/US2017/018088 WO2017146980A1 (en) | 2016-02-22 | 2017-02-16 | Balance training device |
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US20190054348A1 true US20190054348A1 (en) | 2019-02-21 |
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US (1) | US20190054348A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP3419724A4 (en) |
CN (1) | CN108883330A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2017146980A1 (en) |
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US20190174923A1 (en) * | 2016-08-05 | 2019-06-13 | Leonardo Osti | Dynamic postural device |
US20200016454A1 (en) * | 2016-09-23 | 2020-01-16 | Leonardo Osti | Device for postural education |
US11383128B2 (en) * | 2018-04-16 | 2022-07-12 | DRG Engineering | Wobble board |
WO2023281397A1 (en) * | 2021-07-05 | 2023-01-12 | Zlatin Guy | Exercise device |
USD1012563S1 (en) * | 2021-12-16 | 2024-01-30 | Enanef Limited | Pillow support |
CN117797445A (en) * | 2024-02-29 | 2024-04-02 | 中国空气动力研究与发展中心低速空气动力研究所 | Body gesture determination training platform used before wind tunnel parachuting training and using method thereof |
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JP6784469B1 (en) * | 2019-05-20 | 2020-11-11 | 史 東 | Balance training equipment for improving motor function |
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Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20190174923A1 (en) * | 2016-08-05 | 2019-06-13 | Leonardo Osti | Dynamic postural device |
US11484123B2 (en) * | 2016-08-05 | 2022-11-01 | Leonardo Osti | Dynamic postural device |
US20200016454A1 (en) * | 2016-09-23 | 2020-01-16 | Leonardo Osti | Device for postural education |
US10894180B2 (en) * | 2016-09-23 | 2021-01-19 | Leonardo Osti | Device for postural education |
US11383128B2 (en) * | 2018-04-16 | 2022-07-12 | DRG Engineering | Wobble board |
WO2023281397A1 (en) * | 2021-07-05 | 2023-01-12 | Zlatin Guy | Exercise device |
USD1012563S1 (en) * | 2021-12-16 | 2024-01-30 | Enanef Limited | Pillow support |
CN117797445A (en) * | 2024-02-29 | 2024-04-02 | 中国空气动力研究与发展中心低速空气动力研究所 | Body gesture determination training platform used before wind tunnel parachuting training and using method thereof |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2017146980A1 (en) | 2017-08-31 |
CN108883330A (en) | 2018-11-23 |
EP3419724A4 (en) | 2019-12-04 |
EP3419724A1 (en) | 2019-01-02 |
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