Stability Platform

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S Provisional Application No. 61/545,392, filed October 10, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention pertains to exercise equipment, particularly to exercise equipment intended to improve the user's balance and stability.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Many studies have been done about the benefits of performing physical exercises such as squats on an unstable surface. The effort of keeping one's balance on an unstable surface engages the stabilizer muscles of the spine and legs, thus resulting in greater muscular exertion. Furthermore, training on an unstable surface improves one's balance, which is especially important for seniors, who are vulnerable to falls, as well as for people recovering from injuries or surgery.

[0004] There are many stability board designs on the market. For example, U.S. Pat. No 6,422,983 to Week discloses a device comprising a rigid circular platform on top, supported by an inflatable half-sphere. Such a device provides an unstable surface for exercise or physical therapy. Other designs incorporate toroidal instability elements, or inflatable unstable legs. Another design, called a "balance board", involves a hard cylindrical element on the underside of a rigid platform.

[0005] However, while all of these designs are helpful in improving the user's balance or stability, they are not safe for a beginner, a person with balance trouble, or a senior. Due to their substantial instability, they greatly increase the user's risk of falling.

However, it is seniors and people with balance trouble who need such a device the most, as improving their balance will help them in their daily life.

[0006] A need therefore exists for a safer unstable exercise surface that is only mildly unstable - unstable enough to engage the stabilizer muscles of the legs and the back, but not so unstable that the user risks falling off.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an exercising device that can be utilized for aerobics, weight training, or other forms of exercise, and that can provide a surface that is unstable enough to engage the user's stabilizer muscles, while not so unstable that the user risks falling off the surface.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for physical therapy that can be utilized for balance training or recovery from injuries or surgery, and that is safe for an elderly user or a user with balance problems.

[0009] This and further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art in connection with the drawings and the descriptions set forth below. [0010] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an exercising device comprising a rigid platform of sufficient size and strength so as to enable the user to exercise on it, and a plurality of flexible elements attached to the bottom of the rigid platform and supporting the weight of the platform and the user. The instability of the invention can be calibrated to precise levels, enabling several models of the device to be provided, each with a different instability level. This enables a physical therapist or personal trainer to select the correct level of instability for their patient or client's needs, and to upgrade the patient or client to a higher level of instability as their balance improves. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the instability level can be adjusted, thus enabling a physical therapist or personal trainer to calibrate the level of instability to their patient or client's needs.

[0011] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flexible elements are small inflatable half-spheres, arranged in an array on the bottom of the rigid platform. The instability of the platform can be varied, depending on the number, size, and inflation pressure of the half-spheres and the exact location of their placement. The half-spheres may have inflation valves that are accessible to the user, thus enabling their inflation pressure to be adjusted. In an alternate embodiment, the interiors of at least two of the half-spheres may be connected together, enabling the user to adjust their inflation pressure simultaneously.

[0012] Other embodiments may comprise different shapes of inflatable elements, such as full spheres, ovoids, cylinders, toroidal shapes, or other shapes that will be apparent to a person skilled in the art.

[0013] In another embodiment of the present invention, the flexible elements are short half-tubes, arranged in an array on the bottom of the rigid platform with the cut sides attached to the rigid platform. The instability of the platform can be varied, depending on the diameter, length, wall thickness, and elasticity of the half-tubes and their number and placement. In one embodiment of the present invention, the user may be able to add or remove half-tubes, thus changing the instability of the device. In another embodiment of the present invention, several models of the device may be offered, with different instability levels.

[0014] In another embodiment of the present invention, the flexible elements are pairs of crossed half-rings, arranged in an array on the bottom of the rigid platform with the cut ends of the half-rings attached to the rigid platform. The instability of the platform can be varied, depending on the diameter, thickness, and elasticity of the half-rings and their number and placement. In one embodiment of the present invention, the user may be able to add or remove half-rings, thus changing the instability of the device. In another embodiment of the present invention, several models of the device may be offered, with different instability levels.

[0015] Other shapes of flexible elements may also be used, as long as the array of flexible elements is disposed on the bottom of the rigid platform and is capable of rendering the platform unstable to a similar degree of instability as the embodiments described above.

[0016] While in the preferred embodiment, the flexible elements are arranged in a rectangular grid on the bottom of the rigid platform, they may also be arranged in any other pattern. One alternative embodiment comprises a plurality of flexible elements arranged around the perimeter of the rigid platform, with no flexible elements elsewhere on the rigid platform. Other patterns are also possible. The user may also be able to add or remove flexible elements or change their pattern in order to change the instability level of the device.

[0017] The rigid platform may be a single piece of material, or it may be able to be folded or taken apart for easy transportation. In the preferred embodiment, the top surface of the rigid platform is rough so that the user does not slip while exercising.

LIST OF FIGURES

[0018] With the above and additional objects and advantages in view, as will hereinafter appear, this invention comprises the devices, combinations and

arrangements of parts hereinafter described by way of example, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of several embodiments of the invention, in which:

[0019] FIG.l is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the device, comprising a rigid board and inflatable spheres;

[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternate preferred embodiment of the device, comprising a rigid board and flexible half-tubes;

[0021] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternate preferred embodiment of the device, comprising a rigid board and interwoven rubber tubes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] FIGS. 1-3 show several preferred embodiments of an exercise device in accordance with the present invention. Each exercise device has a base 100 to which an array of flexible elements is attached. The flexible elements may be attached

permanently or removably. In some embodiments, the flexible elements are attached removably so that their placement, type, and number can be modified by the user. [0023] FIG.l shows the preferred embodiment of the exercise device, where the flexible elements are inflatable half-spheres. The inflatable half-spheres 200 are attached to the underside of the board 100 in a rectangular grid arrangement. The attachment means may be a removable fastener, a non-removable fastener, adhesives, or any other attachment means familiar to a person skilled in the art. The inflation pressure of the half-spheres 200 determines the instability of the device. The spheres may have valves so that each one can be inflated by the user individually, or may be connected to one valve so that the user can adjust the pressure on all the spheres at once. Alternately, the spheres may not have any valves at all and their inflation pressure may be set at the time of manufacturing, or may be filled with foam rubber or other similar material so that inflation is not required. The board 100 may be made of wood, plastic, metal, or any other material that is strong enough to enable a user, even an overweight user holding heavy exercise implements, to stand on top of it. The top of the board is preferably rough to prevent slipping.

[0024] FIG.2 shows another embodiment of the exercise device, where the flexible elements are elastic half-tubes. The half-tubes 300 are attached to the underside of the board 100 by any attachment means familiar to a person skilled in the art. The wall thickness, length, and elasticity of the half-tubes determine the instability of the device. This design has the advantage of not requiring inflatable elements, therefore being safer and more durable.

[0025] FIG.3 shows another embodiment of the exercise device, where the flexible elements are interwoven elastic tubes. The elastic tubes 400 are equal or nearly equal in length to the edge of the board to which they are parallel, and are attached to the board in a manner that would render the attachment secure. The wall thickness, diameter, and elasticity of the tubes determine the instability of the device. This design has the advantage of being easy to manufacture and more durable than individually attached elastic members such as the ones shown in Fig.l or Fig.2.

[0026] Flexible elements of other shapes may also be used in the exercise device, as long as the flexible elements provide similar amounts of flexibility and instability to the ones described above.

[0027] The flexible elements in the above embodiments are made of rubber or other elastic materials. However, the invention is not limited to those materials. Elements such as metal springs may also be used to provide instability.

[0028] While the invention has been described herein with reference to certain preferred embodiments, those embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and not to limit the scope of the invention. Additional embodiments thereof will be obvious to those skilled in the art having the benefit of this detailed description. Further modifications are also possible in alternative embodiments without departing from the inventive concept.

[0029] Accordingly, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that still further changes and modifications in the actual concepts described herein can readily be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed inventions as defined by the following claims.