US20030045411A1

US20030045411A1 - Balance training device

Info

Publication number: US20030045411A1
Application number: US09/946,317
Authority: US
Inventors: Jong-Yuan Lin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-09-05
Filing date: 2001-09-05
Publication date: 2003-03-06

Abstract

A balance training device includes a platform having three sunken holes defined near a center of the platform and three recesses defined in a bottom of the platform. Each of the recesses communicates with a corresponding one of the sunken holes. Each of three compressible members has one end mounted in a recess in the platform and is held in place by a bolt that extends through the sunken hole in the platform and is screwed into the compressible member. A base is detachably connected to the compressible members, and includes a first side having at least three blind holes defined to hold a corresponding free end of one of the compressible members and a second side having at least three grooves radially defined in the base. Three legs each has one end secured in one of the corresponding grooves to support the base.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a training device, and more particularly to a balance training device that can be used by all people regardless of age or sex.

2. Description of Related Art

A conventional balance training device such as a balance beam or a bicycle is often used to improve one's sense of balance. However, a balance beam cannot be widely used in most homes, and a bicycle can be dangerous when the user is incapable of maintaining his or her balance.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantages of the conventional balance training device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide an improved balance training device that has a simple structure and can be widely used.

To achieve the objective, the balance training device includes a platform having three sunken holes defined near the center of the platform and three recesses defined in the bottom of the platform. Each of the recesses communicates with a corresponding one of the sunken holes. Each of three compressible members has one end received in a recess in the platform and is held in place by a bolt that extends through a sunken hole in the platform and is screwed into the compressible member. A base is detachably connected to the compressible members, and includes a first side and a second side. The first side has at least three blind holes defined to receive free ends of the corresponding compressible member. The second side has at least three grooves radially defined in the base. Each of three legs has one end secured in the corresponding grooves to support the base.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a balance training device in accordance with the present invention; [0009]
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the balance training device in FIG. 1; and [0010]
FIG. 3 is an operational perspective view of the balance training device in FIG. 1.[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a balance training device in accordance with the present invention comprises a platform ([0012] 10), at least three compressible members (12) and the base (20). The platform (10) has a top, a bottom and a center. One end of each compressible member (12) is perpendicularly attached to the bottom of the platform (10). The base (20) supports a free end of the compressible member (12).
The platform ([0013] 10) includes at least three sunken holes (11) defined near the center of the platform (10). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the platform (10) is round and has three sunken holes (11), and the compressible member (12) is a spring. The three sunken holes (11) form an equilateral triangle that is centered at the center of the platform (10). three recesses (111) are defined in the bottom of the platform (10) and communicate with the corresponding sunken holes (11).
Each compressible member ([0014] 12) has a first end mounted in a recess (111) in the bottom of the platform (10) and has a block (121) secured in the compressible member (12). A threaded hole (122) is centrally defined in each block (121) to attach a bolt (13) that extends through the sunken hole (11) in the platform (10) to hold the compressible member (12) in place.
The base ([0015] 20) includes a first side facing the bottom of the platform (10) and has at least three blind holes (21) defined to receive the free end of the corresponding compressible member (12). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the base (20) has three blind holes (21) defined to receive the free end of each of the compressible members (12). The base (20) includes a second side opposite to the platform (10). The second side of the base (20) has at least three grooves (22) radially defined to equally divide the second side of the base (20) into equal segments. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the base (20) has three grooves (22) defined in the second side and each of the grooves (22) includes a top having a threaded hole (221) longitudinally defined in the base (20).
The balance training device further comprises at least three legs ([0016] 23) each has a first end secured in the groove (22) in the base (20) and a second end adapted to rest on a supporting surface, such as a floor or the ground, to support the base (20). The first end of the leg (23) has a through hole (231) defined to align with the threaded hole (221) in the base (20) and allow a bolt (24) to extend through the leg (23) to be screwed into the threaded hole (221) to hold the leg (23) in place.
The balance training device further comprises at least three sensors ([0017] 30) attached to a periphery of the platform (10) and each electrically connected to a reactor to make a sound or turn on a light when the platform (10) is horizontal.
With reference to FIG. 3, to use the balance device, the legs ([0018] 23) are placed on a level supporting surface such as a floor. The user stands on the platform (10), and the compressible members (12) are pressed depending on the distribution of the user's weight so that the platform (10) tilts until the user evenly distributes his weight on the platform (10). The user must use his legs to cause the platform (10) to be horizontal. The reactor will make a sound or turn on a light to provide an entertainment effect when the platform (10) is horizontal.
The balance training device in accordance with the present invention includes the following advantages. [0019]
1. The structure of the balance training device is very simple so the price and the cost of manufacturing are reduced. [0020]
2. The balance training device can be used by all people regardless of age or sex so that the balance training device will not only be a popular training device but also an exercise device. [0021]
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. [0022]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A balance training device comprising:

a platform, with a bottom and a center, having at least three sunken holes defined near the center of the platform and at least three recesses defined in the bottom of the platform, the recesses each communicating with a corresponding one of the sunken holes;

at least three compressible members each having one end mounted in the recesses of the platform and held in place by bolts that extends through the sunken holes in the platform and are screwed into the compressible member;

a base detachably connected to the compressible members, the base including a first side having at least three blind holes defined to receive a free end of a corresponding one of the compressible members and a second side having at least three equally spaced grooves radially defined in the base; and

at least three legs each having one end secured in a corresponding one of the grooves to support the base and the other end adapted to support the balance training device on ground.

2. The balance training device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the platform comprises three sunken holes that form an equilateral triangle centered at the center of the platform.

3. The balance training device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compressible member is a spring and a block is secured in one end of the spring, the block is received in the recess in the bottom of the platform and has a threaded hole defined to axially correspond to the sunken hole in the platform to allow the bolt to be screwed into the threaded hole in the block after extending through the sunken hole in the platform.

4. The balance training device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the compressible member is a spring and a block is secured in one end of the spring, the block is received in the recess in the bottom of the platform and has a threaded hole defined to axially correspond to the sunken hole in the platform to allow the bolt to be screwed into the threaded hole in the block after extending through the sunken hole in the platform.

5. The balance training device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the base comprises three grooves each defined in the bottom of the base and having a threaded hole longitudinally defined in a top of the groove, and the leg has a through hole defined to align with the threaded hole in the base to allow a bolt to extend through the leg and be screwed into the threaded hole in the base to hold the leg in place.

6. The balance training device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the base comprises three grooves each defined in the bottom of the base and having a threaded hole longitudinally defined in a top of the groove, and the leg has a through hole defined to align with the threaded hole in the base to allow a bolt to extend through the leg and be screwed into the threaded hole in the base to hold the leg in place.

7. The balance training device as claimed in claim 5 further comprising at least three sensors equally spaced around and attached to a periphery of the platform and connected to a reactor, wherein the reactor is able to make an audible or visual indication when the platform is horizontal during use of the balance training device.

8. The balance training device as claimed in claim 6 further comprising at least three sensors equally spaced around and attached to a periphery of the platform and connected to a reactor, wherein the reactor is able to make an audible or visual indication when the platform is horizontal during use of the balance training device.