GB2516041A

GB2516041A - Training in balancing skills

Info

Publication number: GB2516041A
Application number: GB1312244.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Breach
Original assignee: SkiA Designs Ltd
Current assignee: SkiA Designs Ltd
Priority date: 2013-07-08
Filing date: 2013-07-08
Publication date: 2015-01-14
Also published as: GB201312244D0

Abstract

A pair of items of footwear 100 can with each item comprising securing means 106,108 for releasably securing a users foot to the item of footwear, a platform 102 for supporting said foot and a releasably mounted balancing member 128 located underneath the platform and on which the user can balance whilst walking, wherein the balancing member is least 10% longer along a central longitudinal axis running from the front to the back of the underside of the platform than it is wide. Optionally the balancing member is at least 200% longer longitudinally than it is wide. Preferably the footwear can include a brace 110 to engage the lower leg. The footwear can be sold in a kit including a guide in the form of a line, curve, track, route or other indicator showing where a user should walk.

Description

Trainin2 in balancin2 skills The present invention relates to items of footwear, kits and methods that can be used in training a user of the footwear iii balancing skills, especially to aid the user to train for balancing upon a narrow support.

There are various sports and activities where a person may seek to balance on a narrow support whilst moving. Examples include tightrope walking, gymnastic beam exercises, climbing or walking on narrow ledges, street sports such as parkour (also sometimes known as urban running) where participants may move quickly over railings, walls, ledges, etc. All of these require dynamic balancing skills, i.e. the ability to remain well balanced whilst moving.

Dynamic balancing skills can also bc useful for health and well-bcing. They arc therefore sometimes practised in yoga, certain martial arts (e.g. tai clii) and in dance exercises.

Such skills can also be important in a widc range of other situations.

For example, a person using a loft that not been boarded will often only be able to walk along narrow beams to avoid risking falling through the ceiling.

Another example is of a gardener who may need to wall along a wall to prune or trim hedges.

DIY activities can also require good balancing skills.ior example, a painter or decorator may need to move along a narrow platform (typically a narrow board between two ladders while paintthg) and whole carrying equipment.

Balancing whilst moving along a narrow support can, however, be very difficult to achieve.

Furthcnnorc, there is often a significant risk of injury if a person becomes unbalanced.

Thus, for example. injuries can casily arise if an inexperienced person falls when trying to balance when moving along a tightrope, a narrow gymnastics beam. etc. Although precautionary steps can be taken to try to reduce the risk of injury (e.g. lowering balancing beams or tightropes, providing safety netting or cushioning, having coaches at close attendance. etc.) there can still be significant risk.

Furthemiore, many people cannot easily master high level dynamic balancing skills without considerable practice. However they may have only limited access to specialist equipment, to coaches, etc. This can all lead to errors and frustration and can cause many people to abandon their efforts in improving such skills.

The present invention is a significant new development that allows people to train for dynamic balancing activities such as tightrope walking, balancing on beams etc.. whilst at home.

This can be donc without the risk of falling from a significant height and also without the need for expert supervision or tuition, at least during initial stages of training.

It can also be done in a gradual manner, allowing a user to develop balancing skills until he/she becomes confident and then to further develop them to a higher level.

This is achieved by the provision olnovel and inventive items oF footwear of the present invention that can he used in such training.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a pair of items of footwear that can be used for training a user thereof to walk with one foot placed in front of the other whilst balancing on balancing members, each item comprising: a) securing means for releasably securing a user's foot to the item of footwear; b) a platform for supporting said foot; and e) a releasably mounted balancing member locatcd underneath the platform and on which the user can balance whilst walking; wherein the balancing member is least 10% longer along a central longitudinal axis running from the front to the back of the undersidc of thc platform than it is wide.

The balancing member can therefore be considered as an elongate balancing member, given that it is significantly longer than it is wide.

One of the items of footwear of the pair will of course be the left item of footwear and the other will of course be the right item of footwear.

The user may walk in a "heel-to-toe" manner whilst wearthg the pair of items, whereby the "heel" (or rear) part of one item of footwear is placed immediately in front of the of the "toe" (or front) part of the other item of footwear and so on.

Here very small steps are taken. This can be useful for situations where only slow or controlled movement may be desired, e.g. initial stages of tightrope walking, walking along a beam or ledge, etc. It is also possible for the user to walk placing one foot in front of the other whilst leaving a gap betiveen the two feet. Here larger steps can be taken. Thus greater distance can be covered for a given number of steps, whilst still practising dynamic balancing.

This may, for example, be useful in more advanced tightrope training or in training for other activities in which larger steps are taken.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that balancing is performed on a balancing member located underneath the platform on which a foot rests.

Preferably the balancing member is at least 20%, at least 50%, at least 10O?/, at least 200% or even at least 400% longer along said central longitudinal axis than it is wide.

(If the width varies along the length of the balancing member then it is the maximum width that is used for assessing percentages or other calculations involving the width of the balancing member.) An inexperienced user may begin balancing training by praetising by using items of footwear with relatively wide balancing members underneath the platforms so as to gain confidence.

Once a user is confident in balancing using the relatively wide balancing members these can be removed and replaced with narrower ones, preferably of substantially the same length.

The procedure can be repeated with increasingly narrow balancing members, again preferably of substantially the same length, so that the user learns to focus his/her weight over increasingly narrow areas whilst balancing.

This helps to hone the user's balancing skills.

It also helps to improve confidence whilst balancing, but without incurring the risks that might otherwise he inherent in practising certain balancing activities.

Thus, for example, in the case of tightrope training, a user can use footwear of the present invention to learn how to shift his /her weight to focus 011 a narrow region approximating the width of a tightrope, but can do this at ground level.

The user can therefore develop significant dynamic balancing skills in a relatively safe environment (e.g. at home) before praetising balancing on tightrope.

Alternatively, if a user has already practised on a tightrope, he/she may still wish to use the present invention to further improve or to practise balancing skills between sessions of piactice on a tightrope.

Tt is preferred that, when in use, a central longitudinal axis of each balancing member will be generally aligned (along a vertical plane) with a central longitudinal axis running along the foot of a user, i.e. from the centre of the heel to the middle toe of the foot of the user.

The balancing member is of course positioned underneath the platform and will therefore lie underneath the axis running from the centre of the heel to the middle toe.

Desirably each item of footwear comprises a lower leg engager that releasably engages a lower part of the leg when the wearer is balancing or attempting to balance using said item.

This can provide a bracing action whereby lateral movement of the lower part of the leg is substantially restricted. This can therefore reduce the risk of injury.

The lower leg engager can be in any suitable form. It may for example be in the form of an upper that is formed of leather or another resilient material. One or more laces or other fasteners may be provided. The upper can provide a bracing action. Alternatively, a more specialised type of brace may be provided comprising one or more rigid components that can be releasably secured relative to (e.g. around or against) a part of the low-er leg.

The width of the balancing member is preferably less than the maximum width of the platform across the part of the platform where the balancing member is present.

More preferably it is less than 75%, e.g. less than 50%, less than 30% or less than 20% of said maximum width.

As indicated earlier, it is preferred that the width of the balancing member is substantially constant along its length. The term "substantially" constant allows for example for rounded edges, or other regions where the width may change to a small degree.

Less preferably, the width may vary significantly along the length of the balancing member.

Thus, for example, some balaiwing members may have a generally oval/elliptical cross section rather than a generally rectangular one. (Many other shapes are also possible as long as the balancing members fulfil their function.) Tt is preferred that balancing members of a given length are used and that, as training progresses. they are replaced with balancing members of the same length, hut with narrower widths.

This allows a user to become accustomed to balancing on increasingly narrow balancing members, without becoming distracted by any change in length of the balancing members.

(Thus the user does not need to compensate when balancing for any changes in length and can train better for balancing on tightropes, beams etc.) Whatever type of balancing member is uscd. it is prcfcrably symmetrical about the central longitudinal axis.

Desirably it is also symmetrical about a central transverse axis.

The balancing member is preferably a balancing block on which the user can pivot whilst balancing, It may, for example, have rounded or bevelled edges to aid pivoting.

Desirably it is substantially rigid block and will support the weight of an adult when balancing.

It may comprise non slip and/or wear resistant material. In some cases a layer or coating of such material may be provided.

Desirably the ground contacting surface comprises such material. It may even be provided with ridges or other configurations that can help reduce the risk of slipping.

In one aspect of the invention each item of footwear includes shoe engaging means that can relcasably secure the foot of a user thereto whilst the user is wearing a shoe, the platform being large enough to support a shoe with the user's foot within it whilst the item is in use.

(For these purposes the term "shoe" includes work shoes, leisure shoes, trainers, boots, sandals or other items with fixed soles.) In another aspect, each item of footwear may be arranged for releasably securing the foot of a user thereto with the user not wearing a shoe. Here the item of footwear of the invention may be considered as a "barefoot trainer" because the user will need to take off his/her shoes to train in balancing. The user may still of course wear tights, socks, or other fabric foot coverings, if desired.

As well as the items of footwearper se, the present invention includes various kits.

A simple kit of the present invention is a pair of items of footwear as described earlier and a box or another container that contains said pair of items.

If desired, the container may be a sealed container.

A further kit of the present invention comprises a pair of items of footwear with each item having features a) and b) as described earlier; the kit further comprising a pair of balancing members that can be releasably secured to said items to provide a pair of items of footwear having all of features a) to c) as described earlier.

Preferably said kit comprising a plurality of pairs of balancing members; wherein different pairs have different widths so that a given pair of members can be used initially and can subsequently be replaced with a pair of narrower balancing members that make balancing more difficult.

More preferably, it includes at least three pairs of balancing members each pair with different widths than thc other pairs. Mere a given pair of balancing members can be used initially, which can be replaced with a pair of narrower members that make balancing more difficult, which in turn can be replaced with a still narrower pair of balancing members that make balancing still more difficult.

As indicated earlier, the lengths of the balancing members of the kit are preferably substantially the same (although for certain embodiments balancing members of different lengths may be provided).

Although in some cases the balancing members may be as long as, or even longer than, the platform, in most cases it is preferred that they are shorter than the platform.

Thus they are preferably less than 90%, less than 80% or less than 70% of the length of the platform. They may even be less than 60%, Less than 50% of said length.

Preferably however they are at least 10% of the length of the platform. More preferably they are at least 20%, at least 30% or at least 40% of said length.

Desirably the length of the balancing members is between 10% and 90% of the length of the platform, e.g. between 20 and 80%, or between 30 and 70% of said length Whatever the nature or length of the balancing members, it is preferred that different pairs of balancing members have different ground-contacting surface areas.

It is also preferred that each balancing member of a given pair has the same or substantially the same ground-contacting area.

Thus the ground-contacting area of the balancing member underneath the left foot is preferably the same or substantially the same as that of the balancing member located underneath Ge right fool.

A user may therefore practice using a given pair of balancing members and may then replace these with another pair where each balancing member has a smaller ground contacting area than the given pair and so on, so as to focus increasingly on a small area. Desirably this is also an increasingly narrow area.

In some embodiments a kit of the invention may further include a guide showing where the user should walk when training.

The guide may for example be in the fomi of a line, a curve, a track, a route, or another indicator.

It may be provided on a mat, a board or another floor covering.

A user of the footwear of the present invention can therefore practice by walking along the guide. As indicated earlier this is preferably done by placing one foot in front of the other.

The guide may even have one or more dimensions mimic a support on which the user wishes to balance.

Preferably, it has a width that is substantially the same as that of the support (e.g. a tightrope of balancing beam).

Thus, for example, it may be a two dimensional shape or outline of the support. This can be particularly useful for a gymnast who may wish to practice beam exercises.

A further example of a kit of the present invention is in the form of a game, whereby a player must walk to a given target or along a given line, curve, track, or route whilst wearing a pair of items of footwear of the present invention. The items of footwear may be included in the kit. Additional pairs of balancing members may also be included.

If desired, a plurality of lines, curves, tracks, mutes and/or targets may be provided for a plurality of different players.

The kit may also include a timer or rules requiring one or more players to walk along a line, curve, track, or route within a given time or to walk to a target within a certain time As for other kits of the invention, the game may be provided in a container (e.g. a box), if desired.

The present also includes various methods It includes a method of training a user to walk whilst balancing; wherein the user walks wearing a pair of items of footwear of the present invention and attempting to balance on the balancing members located underneath the platforms.

Preferably the method is repeated after replacing said balancing members with narrower balancing members. Desirably the narrower balancing members are of the same length as the ones they replace and therefore they have a smaller ground contacting areas, as discussed earlier.

The step of replacing the balancing members with narrower ones can be done once a user has become well practised and confident in balancing on the initial balancing members. Thus training can proceed at a pace the user is confident with.

Desirably, once the user has become well practised and confident in balancing on the narrower balancing these may themselves be replaced with still narrower balancing members.

Thus the user can gradually focus on balancing on an increasingly narrow area underneath each foot (corresponding to the ground-contacting area of the balancing member).

As indicated earlier, it is preferred that the user moves whilst wearing the items of footwear and balancing on the balancing members (or attempting to do so) in order to develop dynamic balancing skills.

In particular a preferred method of the invention involves the user moving by placing the rear of one of the items of footwear in front of the front of the other item of footwear and continuing valking in this manner for a plurality of steps.

The method may involve the user walking along a given guide or to a given target whilst wearing a pair of items of footwear, as discussed earlier.

Alternatively, the user may simply concentrate on walking with one foot in front of the other without any particular guide or target.

If desired, a user may carry a pole or another balancing aid whilst walking. This is useful in tightrope training but can also be useful more generally in helping a user to become accustomed to balancing on a narrow support whilst moving.

A method of the present invention can therefore be used in training for a wide range of sports or activities where balancing is important, or simply for improving balancing skills (especially dynamic balancing skills) for general health and well-being.

A method of the present invention may be used in a game for improving balancing, as discussed earlier. This can he particularly useful for training children to develop their balancing skills, hut may also he useful for adults who enjoy gaines.

A method of the invention may also be used for various assessments.

Thus, for example, it may be used to assess one or more of the following: a) balancing skills; h) sobriety; c) concentration; d) coordination; e) a disorder affecting balancing or walking; 0 recovery from an operation.

It should be noted here that various disorders, conditions or injuries can affect balance and the present invention can provide a usethl way of assessing these.

Assessment of balancing skills can also he useful to people who may wish to improve such skills, Once an assessment has been made a person user can use the present invention to try to improve his/her balancing skills relative to what was achieved in the assessment.

For example a user who was initially assessed as being able to remain balanced while walking for a particular time or distance using items of footwear of the present invention, may use this time or distance as target to be improved upon.

It is known that balancing skills can often detcriorate with age. Howevcr this can be countered to some extent by regularly practising balancing exercises. The present invention is therefore again useful here.

In most methods of the present invention it is envisaged that a user will practice balancing by walking on a generally level surface using footwear of the present invention.

This can be done at home on a floor, outside on a pavement or other hard surface. Mats, boards or other items providing level surfaces can also he used, as discussed earlier. These can be non-slip for additional safety.

Thus the risks when practising balancing using the present invention can be much lower than practising balancing on a raised beam, on a tightrope, on a mountain ledge etc. Users can therefore practise balancing skills in a relatively safe environment.

If desired, additional precautionary steps can be taken.

Thus a user may have one or more supports close at hand so as to reduce the risk of the user falling over. For example, a user may attempt to balance whilst stood between two sturdy chairs or other sturdy articles positioned so that they can be gripped if the user becomes unbalanced. Two assistants (if available) may be positioned either side for similar purposes.

There are of course many other possibilities. For example a user may use a frame (e.g. a Zimmer® frame) for support or may even use rails or bars (as are sometime found in gymnasia, for example).

It is also possible to provide the items of footwear in a form so that it is unlikely that a user will fall even if he/she becomes unbalanced. For example, the balancing members may not be very high. Desirably they are less than 10 cm high. More desirably they are less than 7 cm, less or less than 5 cm high.

In a preferred embodiment, the platform may not be able to tilt too far in any direction before thither tilting is prevented by an edge of the platform contacting the ground.

It is even possible to provide one or more stops on the underside of the platform to further reduce the extent of tilting if this is considered a problem. These may be removable.

As a further safety feature it is even possible to provide a quick release system (similar to ski bindings) so that a brace, if present, disengages from the platform under certain circumstances. This may, for example, be triggered if a force is exerted that might otherwise result in a high risk of injury (e.g. if a user leans too far forsvards or backwards). However this will not normally be necessary.

The present invention therefore provides a very useflul training aid that allows a user to train in developing dynamic balancing skills at his/her own pace and in a relatively safe environment.

The invention will now be described by way of example only and without limitation thereof, wherein: Figure 1 shows a perspective view from above and to one side of an item of footwear of the present invention that has a brace that is secured in a closed position by straps.

Figure 2 shows the item of footwear shown in Figure 1, but with the straps released and the brace in an open position.

Figure 3 shows a view of the item of footwear shown in Figures 1 when seen from underneath so that a balancing member can be seen that is fixed to a mounting plate, with the mounting plate being held in place by screws.

Figure 4 is similar to Figure 3, but with the balancing member shown in Figure 3 replaced by a narrower balancing member Figure 5 is similar to Figure 4, hut with the balancing shown in Figure 4 replaced by a still narrower balancing member.

Figure 6 is similar to Figure 5, apart from the fact that there is no mounting plate and the screws are through the balancthg member.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view from above and to one side of an alternative item of footwear of the present invention that has an upper similar to that of a laced-up sandal.

Example I

One example of an item of footwear 100 that can be used as a balancing trainer of the present invention is shown in Figure I. Tt includes a platform 102 and a releasable foot securer 104 for relcasably securing the front part of a user's foot to the platform during balancing.

The releasable foot securer 104 comprises two foot straps 106 and 108. Each strap 106, 108 is secured to the platform 102 by a plalform fixing 124. The straps 106, 108 are releasably held together when the item of footwear is being worn by a hook and loop fastener system, e.g. Velcro TM (not shown).

A user can puil the straps 106, IOS apart when it is desired to release them, so as to also release the user's foot (also not shown). However, during use the hook and ioop fastener system is strong enough to keep the straps 106, 108 together.

The item of footwear 100 also comprises a lower leg engager in the form of a brace 110. It can be seen that the brace 110 comprises a front pail 112 and a rear part 114, with the brace being in a closed position around the lower pail of a user's leg (not shown) when secured by a releasable brace securer 116.

The releasable brace securer 116 comprises two brace straps 118 and 120, As for the foot straps 106, 108 described earlier, the brace straps 118, 120 are held together by a hook and loop fastener system and can be pulled apart by a user when it is desired to separate the straps 118, 120.

Each strap 118, 120 is secured to the brace 110 by a side fixing 122 As shown from Figure 2, when the brace strap 116 is open, the front part 118 can be pivoted forwards about pivot 122, whilst the rear part 120 stays in a fixed, upright position. This allows a user to place a foot within the brace 110 or to remove it from the brace 110.

In this example the brace 110 is formed of a rigid resilient material. It is connected to the platform via shoulders 126. If desired, the shoulders 126 and a lower part of the brace 110 may be integrally moulded together with the platform 102 so as to provide a unitary structure.

Alternatively an adhesive or other fixing means (e.g.rivets, screws, or a click fit, snap fit or interference fit system) may be used fix the brace 110 to the platfonn 102.

The brace 110 substantially restricts lateral movement of the lower part of the leg. This is useful in reducing the risk ofinjury.

A balancing member 128 in the form of a balancing block can he seen located underneath the platform 102 in Figures 1 and 2.

The balancing member 128 can be seen best in Figure 3. It has a non-slip ground contacting layer 130 formed for example from a synthetic rubber material. Ridges 138 are also provided that further reduce the risk of the balancing member 128 slipping. The remainder of the balancing member 128 is formed of a hard material 132 (e.g. a hard plastics material).

It can be seen from Figure 3 that the balancing member 128 is fixed to a mounting plate 134 and the mounting plate 134 is releasably secured to the platform by screws 136. These screws 136 fit into corresponding screw-receiving apertures in the underside of the platform 102 (not shown).

When the screws 136 arc unscrewed, the mounting plate 134 and associatcd balancing member 128 can be removed. ft can then be replaced with another mounting plate 134 and associated balancing member 128.

Figure 4 shows another mounting plate 134 having been screwed into position via the same screws 136 as those used in Figure 3. Here it can be seen that the balancing member 128 shown is of the same length as the one shown in Figure 3, but is of a narrower width. This allows a user to focus balancing skills on a narrower ground contacting area.

Once the user has become accomplished at balancing on the balancing member illustrated in Figure 4 the mounting plate 134 and the associated balancing member 128 can also be removed and can then be replaced with a still narrower balancing member 128 and associated mounting plate 134.

The still narrower balancing member 128 is illustrated in FigureS. Again the same screws 136 can be used, because the mounting plate 134 has the same shape, with the screw holes being positioned at the same locations.

Tt should be noted that a user can revert from a relatively narrow to a relatively wide balancing member 128 if it turns out that the user is losing confidence or needs further practice on a relatively wide balancing member.

Thus, for example a user practising on the balancing member 128 shown in FigureS and finding it too difficult to balance on this, or losing confidence, may decide to replace it and the associated mounting plate 134 with the balancing member 128 and mounting plate 134 shown in Figure 4 until the user has improved confidence/improved balancing skills.

The user may then revert again to the balancing member 128 and associated mounting plate 134 town in Figure 5.

It should be appreciated that Figures 1 to 5 illustrate a left item of footwear. In practice, a user will of course wear left and right hand items of footwear 6 on his/her left and right feet respectively and will have a corresponding balancing member 128 and associated mourning plate 134 underneath the sole 102 of each foot.

The user can perform any desired balancing exercise, but it is preferred that the user attempts to balance whilst moving forwards or backwards and placing one foot in front of the other.

If desired, the user may attempt to follow a marked line, track or other indicator.

Thus, for example, in the case of tightrope walking trainin& a user may attempt to follow a line the thickness of a tightrope on the floor or a floor covering.

The balancing exercises may of course be varied depending on what a user is practising to do.

For example a user practising for moving along a gymnastic beam quickly may decide to step quickly with one foot placed in front of the other (e.g. whilst attempting to follow a marked line, track or other indicator).

In the case of training for tightrope walking, the user will nonnally step slowly and may even use an aid (e.g. a balancing pole held by the user as is often done whilst tightrope walking).

Whatever sport or activity the user is training for, the invention allows the user to focus balancing on an increasingly narrow area.

The balancing members can easily be removed and replaced using a screw-driver.

Alternatively, if a screw head is shaped for receiving an Allen key rather than a screwdriver, this can be used instead.

It is of course also possible not to use one or more screws and to usc other releasable attachment means instead, e.g. one or more releasable clips, catches, etc., provided that the releasable attachment means allows the balancing member to be maintained in position during use, until it is desired to remove it.

Example 2

This example is the same as Example 1, apart from the fact that no mounting plate is used and die screws 136 are screwed Lhrough the balancing member itsell as illustrated in Figure 6.

Here it can be seen that the screws 136 arc countersunk a little so as not to protrude from the balancing member 128. This helps to prevent screw heads from interfering with balancing.

It also helps prevent damage to the floor.

Example 3

Here a brace 310 is provided (see Figure 7) that is different from the one used for Examples 1 and2.

Tt comprises an upper 312 fonncd of leather or of another strong fabric material and again ftrnctions to restrict lateral movement of part of the lower leg.

The upper 312 is fixed to the platform 102. This can be achieved by stitching, adhesive or any other suitable fixing means.

The tipper 312 may optionally be reinforced by a strut or another reinforcing member (not shown). This can help increase rigidity. For example a region at the back of the lower leg may be reinforced (e.g. with a strut or support). Any suitable resilient material can be used for reinforcement. e.g. a plastics material, a metal or metal alloy material, a composite matenal, Here the upper 312 is shown as being open toed and also as having an open heel portion. Thus it resembles the upper of certain sandals. This is not however essential and the upper 312 may enclose die heel and/or toes.

Laces 314 are shown that are about to be tied. However straps, catches or any other releasable securing means can of course be used as an alternative.

In this embodiment the upper 312 releasably secures both the user's foot and the user's leg in position relative to the platform. Thus, unlike Examples I and 2, there is no need for additional strapping over the foot.

A balancing member 128 is provided that is the same as the one shown in Figure 6.

Thus it has a non-slip ground contacting layer 130 comprising a plurality of ridges 138. The remainder of the balancing member 128 is formed of a relatively hard material 132.

The balancing member 128 is attached to the base of the platform 102 by screws (not visible in this figure but corresponding to the screws 136 shown in Figure 6). Thus the balancing member 128 can be removed by unscrewing it from the underside of the platform and then screwing in another balancing member 128 of a different width.

As discussed earlier, it is preferred that as training progresses narrower balancing members 128 are used. The length of the balancing members 128 is preferably the same.

Example 4

This is as for any preceding example, apart from the fact that the item of footwear is large enough to be used by a user who is already wearing a shoe or another item of footwear.

Thus a platform, brace, straps, etc., can be shaped accordingly so that a foot of a user wearing the item of footwear can be accommodated and the user can practice balancing in accordance with a method of the present invention.

Claims

Claims 1. A pair of items of footwear that can be used for training a user thereof to walk with one ffiot placed in front of the other whilst balancing on balancing members, each item comprising: a) securing means for relcasably securing a user's foot to the item of footwear; b) a platform for supporting said foot; and c) a releasably mounted balancing member located underneath the platform and on which the user can balance whilst walking; wherein the balancing member is least 10% longer along a central longitudinal axis running from the front to the hack of the underside of the platform than it is wide.
2. A pair of items of footwear according to any preceding claim; wherein said balancing member of each item is at least 20% longer along said longitudinal axis than it is wide.
3. A pair of items of footwear according to any preceding claim; wherein said balancing member of each item is at least 50?/o longer along said longitudinal axis than it is wide.
4. A pair of items of footwear according to any preceding claim; wherein the balancing member of each item is at least 100% longer along said longitudinal axis than it is wide.
5. A pair of items of footwear according to any preceding claim; wherein the balancing member of each item is at least 200% longer along said longitudinal axis than it is wide.
6. A pair of items of footwear according to any preceding claim; wherein, when in use, said longitudinal axis of each balancing member is generally aligned with a central longitudinal axis running from the back to the front of the foot of the user.
7. A pair of items of footwear according to any preceding claim; wherein each item comprises a lower leg engager that releasably engages a lower part of the leg when the wearer is balancing or attempting to balance using said item.
8. A pair of items of footwear according to any preceding claim; wherein said lower leg engager is in the form of a brace.
9. A pair of items of footwear according to any preceding claim; wherein the length of the balancing member attached to each item is at least 20% of the length of the platform.
10. A pair of items of footwear according to any preceding claim; wherein the length of the balancing member attached to each item is at least 40% of the length of the platform.
II. A pair of items of footwear according to any preceding daim; wherein the length of the balancing member attached to each item is less than 90% of the length of the platform.
12. A pair of items of footwear according to any preceding claim; wherein the width of the balancing member attached to each item is less than the width of the platform.
I 3. A pair of items of footwear according to any preceding claim; wherein the width of the balancing member attached to each item is less than 70% of the width of the platform.
14. A pair of items of footwear according to any preceding claim; wherein the width of the balancing member attached to each item is less than 50% of the width of the platform.
15. A pair of items ol footwear according to any preceding claim; wherein the balancing member attached to each item is symmetrical about the longitudinal axis.
16. A pair of items of footwear according to any preceding claim; wherein the balancing member attached to each item is a balancing member on which the user can pivot whilst balancing.
17. A pair of items of footwear according to any preceding claim; wherein the balancing member attached to each item is relcasably secured underneath the platform by one or more screws, clips, catches or clamps.
18. A pair of items of footwear according to any of claims 1 to 17; wherein each item comprises shoe engaging means that can releasably secure the foot of a user thereto whilst the user is wearing a shoe, the platform being large enough to support a shoe with the user's foot within it whilst the item is in use.
19. A pair of items of footwear according to any of claims 1 to 17; wherein each item is arranged for releasably securing the foot of a user thereto with the user not wearing a shoe.
20. A kit comprising a pair of items of footwear with each item having features a) and b) of claim 1; the kit further comprising a pair of balancing members that can he releasably secured to said items to provide a pair of items of footwear having all of features a) toe) of claim 1.
21. A kit according to claim 20 that can be used to provide a pair of items of footwear according to any of claims 2 to 19.
22. A kit according to claitn 19 or 20 comprising a plurality of pairs of balancing mcmbers; wherein different pairs have different widths so that a given pair of balancing members can be used initially and can subsequently be replaced with a pair of narrower balancing members that make balancing more difficult.
23. A kit according to claim 22; wherein at least three pairs of balancing members with different widths are provided so that so that a pair of members can be used initially, which then can be replaced with a pair of narrower members that make balancing more difficult, which in turn can be replaced with a pair of still nanower balancing members that make balancing still more difficult.
24. A kit according to claim 22 or 23: wherein the length of the balancing members is the same.
25. A kit according to any of claims 22 to 24; wherein different pairs of balancing members have different ground-contacting surface areas.26. A kit according to any of claims 20 to 24 further comprising a guide showing where the user should walk when training.
26. A kit according to claim 25; wherein the guide is in the form of a line, a curve, a track, a route, or another indicator showing where the user should walk.
27. A kit according to claim 26; wherein the guide is provided on a mat, a board or another floor covering.
28. A kit according to any of claims 25 to 27 in the form of a game, whereby a user must walk to a given target or along a given line, curve, track, or route whilst wearing a pair of items of footwear according to any of claims 1 to 19.
29. A kit according to claim 28 wherein a plurality of lines, curves, tracks, or mutes are provided for a plurality of different players.
30. A method of training a user to walk whilst balancing on a narrow support; wherein the user when wearing a pair of items of footwear according to any of clams 1 to 19 attempts to walk whilst balancing on the balancing members.
31. A method according to claim 30 wherein the method is repeated after replacing said balancing members with narrower balancing members.
32. A method according to claim 32 wherein the method is repeated after replacing said narrower balancing members with still narrower balancing members.
33. A method according to any of claims 30 to 32; wherein the user walks by placing the rear of one of the items of footwear in front of the front of the other item of footwear and continues walking in this manner for a plurality of steps.
34. A method according to claim 33; wherein the user walks along a given line, curve, track, or route whilst wearing a pair of items of footwear.
35. A method according to any of claims 30 to 34; wherein a user carries a pole or another balancing aid whilst walking.
36. A method according to any of claims 30 to 35 that is used in training for tightrope walking, for balancing on a beam, or for another sport, hobby or activity involving balancing on a narrow support whilst moving.
37. A method according to any of claims 30 to 36 that is a part of a game for improving balancing.
38. A method according to any of claims 31 to 37 that is used to assess one or more of the following: a) balancing skills; b) sobriety; c) concentration; d) coordination e) a disorder affecting balancing or walking; 1) recovery from an operation.
39. A pair of items according to any of claims I to 19, a kit according to any of claims 20 to 29, or a method according to any of claims 30 to 38; wherein the pair, kit, or method is substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings and/orexamples.