EP0464280A1 - Plateau d'équilibre semi-stable - Google Patents

Plateau d'équilibre semi-stable Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0464280A1
EP0464280A1 EP90307317A EP90307317A EP0464280A1 EP 0464280 A1 EP0464280 A1 EP 0464280A1 EP 90307317 A EP90307317 A EP 90307317A EP 90307317 A EP90307317 A EP 90307317A EP 0464280 A1 EP0464280 A1 EP 0464280A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fulcrum
balance
balance board
semi
projection
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP90307317A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
J.F. Raymond Chouinard
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to EP90307317A priority Critical patent/EP0464280A1/fr
Publication of EP0464280A1 publication Critical patent/EP0464280A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B22/00—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements
    • A63B22/16—Platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis, e.g. axis through the middle of the platform; Balancing drums; Balancing boards or the like
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B2208/00—Characteristics or parameters related to the user or player
    • A63B2208/12—Characteristics or parameters related to the user or player specially adapted for children

Definitions

  • This invention pertains to a novel, improved balancing toy for young children. More particularly, this invention relates to a balancing toy which when stood upon by children, improves their ability to laterally balance.
  • Foot balance boards of various designs have been used as amusement toys.
  • Such boards utilize spherical, hemi-spherical, or at least partially hemi-spherical fulcrums.
  • These fulcrums are either fixed beneath a standing platform or, in the case of spherical fulcrums, are free to move underneath the standing platform.
  • a balance board it is inherently difficult to balance because the board is free to pivot both side-to-side and end-to-end.
  • balancing board fulcrums are spherical or generally hemi-spherical in the prior art, such balance boards require very sophisticated balancing skills from the user. Balancing skill both side-to-side and end-to-end is required simultaneously in order to stay balanced above the fulcrum. Conse quently, a young child initially attempting to develop balancing skills would find this type of balance board difficult, if not impossible, to use. Such toys discourage the child, often to the point that the toy is abandoned. Further, to allow a young child to use this type of balance board could quite conceivably result in injury.
  • Prior art balancing boards confining motion to one vertical plane about the fulcrum that is, to end-to-end motion, have used a linear array of hemi-spherical fulcrums.
  • Use of a linear array of hemi-spherical fulcrums limits the size of each hemi-sphere that may be fitted under the standing platform, so that the height of the fulcrum is limited accordingly.
  • the use of plurality of hemi-spherical fulcrums limits the extent to which a rocking surface may be tailored so as to be suitable for children at a pre-defined stage of development.
  • Kazdan discloses an elongated, rigid, rocking amusement device with a rounded downwardly protuberant center portion and two outwardly extending end portions which form opposed seat areas. Kazdan also teaches the use of a plastic unitary shell construction and a foamed plastic core. Kazdan does not teach the development of a lateral balancing skill. Nor is his device suitable for permitting the user to lay upon the board and manipulate it.
  • Mutius teaches a balancing board with a hemi-spherical shaped lower part and a standing surface provided on its upper flat side.
  • the standing surface may be of any shape such as rectangular, or octangonal.
  • Grafin, Chang '520 and Francke also teach balance boards having platforms providing a standing surface over a hemi-spherical shaped lower part.
  • Gehrke merely illustrates a bowl with a flatened bottom and an outwardly projecting flat rim around the circumference of the bowl such that the bowl may be used as a balancing toy by a child standing on and astride the bowl.
  • Van Zaale discloses a rectangular platform and depending therefrom two linearly arrayed hemi-spherical protrusions. Grafin and England disclose balance boards with free-moving spherical fulcrums. Chang '773 and Daellenbach teach rocking chairs for two or more people having a rocker surface and intergral seats formed from the upper opposed ends of the rocker surface.
  • An apparatus for developing balance in young children comprising a balance board of plastic unitary foam core shell construction having a flat non-slip standing surface mounted on a platform, and, depending therefrom, on the underside a rounded downwardly protuberant symmetric semi-stable rocking surface.
  • the invention is directed to a semi-stable balance board having a generally elongated upper surface overlaying a downward projection from the central area of the underside of the upper surface, the bottom end of said projection serving as a fulcrum, said projection comprising at the end removed from the standing surface a rounded rocking surface which confines motion of the platform about said projection to one vertical plane.
  • the underside of the upper surface of the balance board may be planar at the ends thereof, the under surface smoothly and symmetrically blending inwardly from said opposed ends into a centrally aligned symmetrical downwardly protruding smoothly curved single rocking surface at the lower end of the projection, the rocking surface being generally the width of the upper standing surface and flat across said width.
  • the smoothly and symmetrically blending rocking surface of the balance board may define in section a generally inverted-bell shaped fulcrum having a laterally extending linear pivot surface, said pivot surface providing substantial lateral stability and semi-stable end-to-end stability.
  • the standing surface may have thereon a non-slip matting.
  • the radius of curvature of the lower end of the inverted bell-shaped fulcrum may be varied to regulate the degree of skill required by the user to balance the board.
  • the fulcrum tip may be detachable and can be replaced with a tip having a larger or smaller radius of curvature.
  • This invention also enables a user, such as a child, to lie upon the balance toy, either on the back, side or stomach, to rock end-to-end, while reading or watching T.V., or the like.
  • the balance toy is also useful and entertaining because one toy can be placed cross-wise on another toy and the child can, if inclined, balance in various directions. The skill level of the combined toy is increased.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a top plan view of the standing platform 4 overlaid by rubber mat 6.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a front elevation view of the balancing toy 2 showing standing platform 4 overlaid by rubber mat 6 and depending therefrom rocking surface fulcrum 8.
  • Figure 3 illustrates a section view taken along section line A-A of Figure 2 of standing platform 4 overlaid by rubber mat 6 and depending therefrom rocking surface fulcrum 8.
  • the toy 2 is constructed of a foam core 10 enclosed by a plastic shell 12 which is reinforced by steel rods 14 at each side. While steel rods 14 are shown, it is possible to incorporate strength into the toy 2 by forming reinforcing ribs in the plastic.
  • the semi-stable rocking surface and fulcrum 8 cooperate to provide a pivot axis which confines motion about the fulcrum 8 to one vertical plane, that is, motion is confined to an end-to-end motion.
  • the underside of the rocking surface 4 is smoothly and symmetrically curved, extending from a centrally aligned downwardly protuberant fulcrum point 8 outwards towards opposed ends of the standing platform 4 so as to blend into a lower horizontal surface located on the underside of the generally elongated standing platform.
  • the rocking surface 4 is generally the width of the standing platform and flat across its width.
  • the generally "inverted-bell" shaped fulcrum 8 defines a rocking surface having substantial stability in the lateral plane of motion and having semi-stable stability about the fulcrum in the end-to-end plane of motion.
  • radius of curvature of the fulcrum 8 can be varied to increase or decrease the level of balancing ability required to operate the toy 2.
  • a large radius of curvature is more stable and lowers the skill level required to operate the toy 2.
  • a small radius of curvature increases the required skill level.
  • An embodiment of the invention further comprises a rubber mat 6 on a substantially flat and generally rectangular standing surface 4.
  • the mat 6 can have a series of protrusions 16 thereon to increase traction between the mat 6 and the soles of the shoes of the user.
  • Figures 4 and 5 illustrate respectively in front elevation view alternative designs of toy 2.
  • the radius of curvature of the lower end of the fulcrum 8 is small, which increases the level of skill required to successfully operate the toy 2.
  • Figure 5 illustrates a toy 2 which has a relatively large radius of curvature of the lower end of the fulcrum 8. This version is the easiest to balance of the three versions shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 as a unit, and Figures 4 and 5 separately.
  • Figure 6 illutrates a front elevation view of an alternative design of toy 2 which has a detachable fulcrum tip 18.
  • the tip 18, having a designated curvature can be detached and replaced with a tip 18 (not shown) which has either a larger or smaller radius of curvature in order to adjust the balancing skill level of the toy 2.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Cardiology (AREA)
  • Vascular Medicine (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
EP90307317A 1990-07-04 1990-07-04 Plateau d'équilibre semi-stable Withdrawn EP0464280A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP90307317A EP0464280A1 (fr) 1990-07-04 1990-07-04 Plateau d'équilibre semi-stable

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP90307317A EP0464280A1 (fr) 1990-07-04 1990-07-04 Plateau d'équilibre semi-stable

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0464280A1 true EP0464280A1 (fr) 1992-01-08

Family

ID=8205480

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP90307317A Withdrawn EP0464280A1 (fr) 1990-07-04 1990-07-04 Plateau d'équilibre semi-stable

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0464280A1 (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2275426A (en) * 1993-02-24 1994-08-31 Chen Yueh Fan Exercise board
US7357767B2 (en) 2005-07-28 2008-04-15 Elysia Tsai Adjustable balance board with freely moveable sphere fulcrum
WO2013028677A1 (fr) * 2011-08-22 2013-02-28 Td Innovations, Llc Plateforme instable
EP3231487A1 (fr) 2016-04-14 2017-10-18 Yves Auderset Dispositif d'exercice physique, utilisation d'un tel dispositif d'exercice physique et procédé d'exercice physique
US11161013B2 (en) 2019-05-17 2021-11-02 Slaq Tec Llc Balance training device
USD973156S1 (en) 2020-07-17 2022-12-20 James E. KLOPMAN Balance training device

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2173180A1 (fr) * 1972-02-23 1973-10-05 Brandt Bv M
FR2177449A1 (fr) * 1971-12-21 1973-11-09 Landry Philippe
FR2209295A5 (fr) * 1972-12-06 1974-06-28 Courchay Maurice
US3967820A (en) * 1975-11-24 1976-07-06 Harper James T Ambulatory rocking device
FR2502492A1 (fr) * 1981-03-27 1982-10-01 Mainguy Bernard Appareil pour reeducation proprioceptive du genou et de la cheville
DE3508705A1 (de) * 1984-03-19 1985-09-19 Dagmar Dr. med. 7900 Ulm Berg Trainingsgeraet zur betaetigung der wadenmuskulatur und damit zur steigerung des venoesen abflusses in den unteren extremitaeten

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2177449A1 (fr) * 1971-12-21 1973-11-09 Landry Philippe
FR2173180A1 (fr) * 1972-02-23 1973-10-05 Brandt Bv M
FR2209295A5 (fr) * 1972-12-06 1974-06-28 Courchay Maurice
US3967820A (en) * 1975-11-24 1976-07-06 Harper James T Ambulatory rocking device
FR2502492A1 (fr) * 1981-03-27 1982-10-01 Mainguy Bernard Appareil pour reeducation proprioceptive du genou et de la cheville
DE3508705A1 (de) * 1984-03-19 1985-09-19 Dagmar Dr. med. 7900 Ulm Berg Trainingsgeraet zur betaetigung der wadenmuskulatur und damit zur steigerung des venoesen abflusses in den unteren extremitaeten

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2275426A (en) * 1993-02-24 1994-08-31 Chen Yueh Fan Exercise board
US7357767B2 (en) 2005-07-28 2008-04-15 Elysia Tsai Adjustable balance board with freely moveable sphere fulcrum
WO2013028677A1 (fr) * 2011-08-22 2013-02-28 Td Innovations, Llc Plateforme instable
EP3231487A1 (fr) 2016-04-14 2017-10-18 Yves Auderset Dispositif d'exercice physique, utilisation d'un tel dispositif d'exercice physique et procédé d'exercice physique
US11161013B2 (en) 2019-05-17 2021-11-02 Slaq Tec Llc Balance training device
USD973156S1 (en) 2020-07-17 2022-12-20 James E. KLOPMAN Balance training device

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