US20130116100A1

US20130116100A1 - Balancing exerciser

Info

Publication number: US20130116100A1
Application number: US13/373,078
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-11-03
Filing date: 2011-11-03
Publication date: 2013-05-09

Abstract

A balancing exerciser includes an immovable base having a socket opening for pivotally engaging with a universal joint device which has a shank, a plate is located above the base for supporting a user and includes a hole for engaging with the shank, and a knob engaged with the shank of the universal joint device and engaged with the plate for securing the plate to the shank of the universal joint device and for attempting to maintain the plate in a horizontal position or status and for allowing the user to conduct the balancing exercises or operations. The shank of the universal joint device is selected from a threaded shank for engaging with the threaded hole of the plate and for adjusting the plate toward and away from the base.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a balancing exerciser, and more particularly to a balancing exerciser including an improved and simplified structure that may be easily and quickly manufactured with a reduced manufacturing procedure and cost and that may be easily transported or carried with the user and that may be easily operated by the user.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical balancing exercisers comprise a disk or plate or foot support for supporting a user thereon, and for attempting to maintain the disk or plate or foot support in a horizontal position or status, or for allowing the user to conduct the balancing exercises or operations.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,586 to Tuthill et al. discloses one of the typical disk balancing exercisers comprising a disk or plate or foot support with threaded hole in its center for threading or engaging with the threaded bolt or screw which includes a hemispherical shoe attached to the bottom portion thereof for pivotally engaging with a supporting surface or ground and for allowing the typical disk balancing exercisers to be operated to maintain the foot support in a horizontal position or status, and for conducting the balancing exercises or operations.
However, the threaded bolt or screw and the foot support may be inclined or tilted a lot relative to the supporting surface or ground, and the users, particularly the elders and the children may feel afraid and may not use or operate the typical disk balancing exercisers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,180 to Boomer, U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,871 to Giovanni, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,636 to Chen disclose other typical mechanical surfboard simulators for training users in the operation or sport of surfing or balancing exercisers or operations and/or for conducting the balancing exercises or operations.
However, the typical mechanical surfboard simulators include a rather complicated structure that may not be easily manufactured and assembled by the manufacturing workers and that may not be easily carried and transported by the users and that may not be easily operated outdoors.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,635,325 to Chiang et al. discloses a further typical interactive training device comprising an operation unit including an immovable base, a movable plate, and a supporting member disposed between the immovable base and the movable plate.
However, the tilting operation or the inclination of the movable plate is limited by the supporting member that may not be easily twisted or inclined or tilted relative to the supporting surface or ground, and the movable plate may not freely pivoted or rotated relative to the immovable base to conduct the balancing exercises or operations.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional balancing exercisers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a balancing exerciser including an improved and simplified structure that may be easily and quickly manufactured with a reduced manufacturing procedure and cost and that may be easily transported or carried with the user and that may be easily operated by the user.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a balancing exerciser comprising an immovable base including a socket opening formed therein, a universal joint device pivotally received and engaged in the socket opening of the base and pivotable and tiltable relative to the base, the universal joint device including a shank extended outwardly therefrom, a plate located above the base for supporting a user thereon, the plate including a hole formed therein for receiving and engaging with the shank of the universal joint device, and a knob threaded or engaged with or secured to the shank of the universal joint device for rotating the shank and the universal joint device relative to the plate, and for adjusting the plate up and down relative to the base with the shank of the universal joint device.
The shank of the universal joint device is selected from a threaded shank, and the hole of the plate is a threaded hole for threading and engaging with the threaded shank of the universal joint device and for adjusting the plate relative to the base or for moving or adjusting the plate toward and away from the base to different height or spacing distance with the threaded shank of the universal joint device.
The universal joint device may further include a locking pin engaged between the knob and the shank of the universal joint device for allowing the universal joint device to be pivoted or rotated relative to the plate with the knob and for adjusting the plate toward or away from the base and for adjusting the spacing distance between the plate and the base.
Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a balancing exerciser in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the balancing exerciser;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the balancing exerciser, taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4, 5 are cross sectional views similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the operation of the balancing exerciser;

FIGS. 6, 7, 8 9 are plan schematic views illustrating the operation of the balancing exerciser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-3, a balancing exerciser in accordance with the present invention comprises an immovable base 10 for engaging with or for being supported on a supporting surface or ground, a movable or tiltable foot support or plate 20 disposed or located above the immovable base 10 for supporting a user 8 thereon (FIGS. 6-9), and a supporting member or universal joint device 30 disposed between the immovable base 10 and the movable or tiltable foot support or plate 20 for pivotally or rotatably attaching or mounting or securing or supporting the movable or tiltable foot support or plate 20 on the immovable base 10.
The immovable base 10 includes a socket opening 11, such as a semi-spherical socket opening 11 formed therein for pivotally or rotatably receiving or engaging with the spherical universal joint device 30 and for allowing the universal joint device 30 to be pivoted or rotated relative to the immovable base 10. The universal joint device 30 includes a threaded stem or shank 31 extended outwardly therefrom. The movable or tiltable foot support or plate 20 includes a threaded or screw hole 21 formed therein for threading or engaging with the threaded shank 31 of the universal joint device 30 and for attaching or mounting or securing the plate 20 to the base 10 and for allowing the plate 20 to be pivoted or rotated relative to the base 10.
The plate 20 may further include a cavity or space or compartment 22 formed therein and communicative with the screw hole 21 of the plate 20 for receiving or engaging with a lock nut or knob 32 which may be attached or mounted to the threaded shank 31 of the universal joint device 30 and the plate 20 for rotating the threaded shank 31 of the universal joint device 30 relative to the plate 20 and for adjusting or securing or retaining the plate 20 to the universal joint device 30 at different height or spacing distance. A locking pin 33 may further be provided and selectively attached or mounted or secured or engaged between the knob 32 and the threaded shank 31 of the universal joint device 30 for allowing the universal joint device 30 to be pivoted or rotated relative to the plate 20 with the knob 32 and for adjusting the plate 20 relative to or toward or away from the base 10. In operation, as shown in FIGS. 6-9, the user 8 may be supported on the foot support or plate 20 and may attempt to maintain the foot support or plate 20 in a horizontal position or status for allowing the user 8 to conduct the balancing exercises or operations. As shown in FIGS. 4-5, the threaded shank 31 of the universal joint device 30 may be pivoted or rotated relative to the plate 20 with the knob 32 for adjusting the plate 20 relative to or toward or away from the base 10 or for adjusting the height or the spacing distance between the plate 20 and the base 10, and for adjusting the tiltness or the inclination of the plate 20 relative to the base 10.
Accordingly, the balancing exerciser in accordance with the present invention includes an improved and simplified structure that may be easily and quickly manufactured with a reduced manufacturing procedure and that may be easily transported or carried with the user and cost and that may be easily operated by the user.
Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

I claim:

1. A balancing exerciser comprising:

an immovable base including a socket opening formed therein, a universal joint device pivotally received and engaged in said socket opening of said base and pivotable and tiltable relative to said base, said universal joint device including a shank extended outwardly therefrom,

a plate located above said base for supporting a user thereon, said plate including a hole formed therein for receiving and engaging with said shank of said universal joint device, and

a knob attached to said shank of said universal joint device for rotating said shank and said universal joint device relative to said plate, and for adjusting said plate up and down relative to said base with said shank of said universal joint device.

2. The balancing exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shank of said universal joint device is a threaded shank, and said hole of said plate is a threaded hole for threading and engaging with said threaded shank of said universal joint device and for adjusting said plate toward and away from said base with said threaded shank of said universal joint device.

3. The balancing exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said universal joint device includes a locking pin engaged between said knob and said shank.

4. The balancing exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said socket opening of said base is a semi-spherical socket opening, and said universal joint device is spherical for engaging with said semi-spherical socket opening of said base.