US3471144A - Pair of rockably mounted foot trays - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 7, 1969 3,471,144

HUGUETTE DREUX-YBOUCARD BORN LEMAIRE PAIR OF ROCKABLY MOUNTED FOOT TRAYS Filed March 13, 1967 F/G. 4v

FIG. 2

Un ed Stat atent( US. Cl. 272-57 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Gymnastics apparatus consists of two shoesqhaving a rounded bearing surface, a pair of trays secured to said shoes and so dimensioned that the user can place at least one footfon each tray, and a transverse horizontal shaft extending through said shoes in their transversgplane of symmetry and at the same level, said shoes beingj'mounted independently of each other for pivotal motion about said shaft, whereby the user by exerting pressures on said trays can cause the shoes to oscillate at will about said shaft either in the same direction or in opposite directions and by a same angle or through angles ofldifierent amplitudes, the maximum amplitude of the oscillations thus produced being subordinate to the curvature of the rounded bearing surfaces of said shoes.

The present invention relates in general to gymnastics apparatus, or apparatus for indoor physical training or excerises, and has specific reference to an apparatus of this type characterized in that it consists of a pair {of shoes having rounded or curved lower bearing surfaces, 21 pair of trays secured each to one shoe and so dimensioned and shaped that the user can place at least one foot; on each tray, and of a horizontal transverse shaft extending through said pair of shoes in their transverse plane of symmetry and at the same level, said shoes being pivotally and independently mounted on said shaft, whereby the user, by exerting adequately directed pressures on said tray, can cause said shoes to oscillate at will about said shaft either in the same direction or in opposite directions by a same angle or through different angles, the maximum amplitude of the oscillations thus produced being subordinate to the curvature of the aforesaid rounded bearing surfaces of said shoes. I

Assuming that the apparatus of this invention is laid fiat on the floor, it is used as a rule by stepping on it, with one foot placed on each tray, and subsequently, exerting pressures on the trays in one or the other direction to oscillate the shoes without losing ones equilibrium.

Other exercises consist in bending down and fising up while endeavouring to preserve ones equilibrium, but other movements may be imagined. These movements cause the joints of the ankles, knees and hips to work and develop the muscles, notably those of the legs and thighs. Furthermore, these exercises are useful inter alia for thinning the ankles and developing the calves, but they are also efficient for working the muscles of the trunk for keeping ones equilibrium. Moreover,a complete series of exercises for improving the spinal column, the abdominal muscles, the intestines, avoiding the loss of slimness at the waist and pelvis, can be performed by the user in the seated or horizontal position.

This apparatus lends itself to various applications: physical culture as a whole, and, more particularly, reeducative gymnastics, gymnastics for aesthetic purposes, and also training for improving the flexibility of joints and articulations for skiing and other sports.

This apparatus is advantageous also in that it is extremely useful in many ways although it has reduced over- 3,471,144 Patented Oct. 7, 1969 all dimensions. Anybody can easily keep this apparatus at home, but this apparatus, of course, is also suitable for use in gymnasiums.

The trays secured on top of the shoes may have for example a substantially semi-circular configuration and I the two shoes are so mounted on the shaft that the two trays disposed side by side form together a circular surface, thus improving the aesthetic appearance of the apparatus. Alternately, other geometricalshapes may be preferred for the pair of trays, such' as an'oval shape,

. and fancy configurations for example for children, such as flowers, butterflies, conventionalized heads of animals, clowns, etc.

This apparatus may also be provided with trays having dimensions large enough to accommodate two persons simultaneously, this apparatus being suitable for use as a game by two or more children. 1

This apparatus may be provided with means for rigidly interconnecting or interlocking the two trays or the pair of shoes, these means being adapted to be locked or re,- leased at will for operating the two shoes as a unit or not, as desired.

The top surface of the trays is covered preferably with an elastomer lining having an adequate surface roughness such as stria or ribs, to prevent the users feet from skidding thereon and improve the adherence.

This apparatus may be made of wood, plywood, metal, and advantageously of moulded plastic material, and in this case each shoe and the corresponding tray are moulded as a unit.

A specific form of embodiment of the device of this invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, in which.

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view;

FIGURE 4 is another side elevational view of the apparatus, to illustrate its mode of operation.

The apparatus constituting the subject-matter of this invention comprises two shoes 1 having a rounded or curved bearing surface 2, each shoe being rigidly assembled or forming an integral part of a substantially semicircular tray 3. Both trays are secured to the relevant shoe for example by gluing, or by means of nails or screws; if desired, they can be mounded integrally therewith, if the apparatus is made of plastic material.

Both shoes are pivotally mounted on a common pivot pin 4 consisting preferably of a metal shaft extending through the shoes at the same level in their transverse plane of symmetry. The shoes are retained in the proper axial position on the shaft 4 by means of split pins 5, adequate washers 6 being interposed therebetween; thus, each shoe can pivot freely and independently about the shaft, as shown in FIGURE 4, when a properly directed pressure is exerted on each tray.

Assuming that the user has placed his two feet on the assembled trays 3, the commonest use of the apparatus consists in rocking one tray in one direction with one foot, and the other tray in the opposite direction with the other foot (see FIGURE 4), and reversing this motion, and so forth, this exercise requiring a certain amount of muscular work to be successful without any loss of equilibrium. With a gradual training the frequency of the tray oscillations can be increased.

Of course, various modifications and variations may be brought to the constructional details of the above-described apparatus, notatably in connection with the shape of the trays, the curvature of the lower or bearing faces of the shoes and the manner in which the shoes are assembled with their pivot pin.

What I claim is:

1. A gymnastics apparatus comprising two shoes having a rounded bearing surface, a pair of trays secured each to one of said shoes and so dimensioned that the user can lay at least one foot on each tray, and a horizontal transverse shaft extending through said shoes in their transverse plane of symmetry and at the same level, said shoes being mounted for independent pivotal motion about said shaft, the maximum amplitude of the oscillations being subordinate to the curvature of the rounded bearing surface of said shoes.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said trays are of semi-circular or semi-oval configuration and said shoes are so mounted on said shaft that the two trays disposed side by side constitute together a circular or oval surface.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the top of said trays is covered with a non-smooth, roughsurfaced elastomer lining.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, comprising means for releasably interlocking said pair of trays.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, comprising means for releasably interlocking said shoes.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1965 Gibson 272--57 1/1968 Paves 272-57

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