Unstable Platform

Abstract

A platform comprising a planar member having a top face and a bottom face and at least one pivoting member approximately in the center of said top face or bottom face, such that when a pivoting member is placed on a surface a distance depending on the shape of the pivoting member is created between the planar member and the surface and the platform is unstable. Thus the unstable platform encourages a user to expend energy, and is quickly height adjustable by choosing which pivoting member is placed on the surface.

Description

PRIORITY[0001]This application claims priority of the U.S. provisional application No. 61 / 525,872 filed on Aug. 22, 2011 and the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to an unstable platform that requires energy input from a user to either rock the platform or to keep the platform parallel to a surface.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Unstable platforms such as wobble boards and rocker boards are well known in the art. They generally consist of a platform with a pivoting mechanism underneath. A user is expected to stand on the platform and attempt to keep his or her balance. The pivoting mechanisms generally consist of either a hemispherical protrusion, in the case of a wobble board, or a cylindrical roller in the case of a rocker board.[0004]Lu disclosed a representative wobble board in U.S. Pat. No. 7,264,580 B2. A representative rocker board is disclosed by Wischusen in U.S. Pat. No. 7,134,990.[0005]...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017]Yet another object of this invention is to provide a platform having improved freedom of motion.

[0018]A further object of this invention is to provide a platform that allows the user to choose between at least two different movement ranges without a need for any accessories or tools.

[0019]Still another object of this invention is to provide a quietly operating platform.

[0020]In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided an unstable platform comprising a substantially planar member having a first face and a second face; a first pivoting member being attached on the first face, said first pivoting member having a first summit point; a second pivoting member being attached on the second face, said second pivoting member having a second summit point; wherein a distance between the first face and the first summit point is different than a distance between the second face and the second summit point, whereby a user can choose a different level of movement of the planar member by setting the first summit point against the surface or setting the second summit point against the surface; and wherein said first and said second faces are sized to accept a user's feet, hands or other body parts, whereby the platform can be manipulated or rocked in at least one of the directions selected from side to side and forward and backward.

[0021]According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the user chooses the height of the platform and the level of its movement by setting one of the pivoting members against the surface. The user is then seated with the platform in front of him or her, and the user's feet are on the upper face of the platform on both sides of the pivoting member that is not against the surface. Other embodiments include the user standing, or having the user's hands or other parts of the body on the platform. Other embodiments include the user's feet, hands, or other parts of the body on the upper face of the platform on one side of the pivoting member that is not against the surface. From the seated position, the force that the user supplies to the platform may not be perpendicular to the surface. At least a portion of this force will encourage the platform to move with respect to the surface and the user, rather than just cause a rocking motion. Therefore a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an anti-slip member between a pivoting member and the surface to restrict unwanted translational motion between the pivoting member and the surface.

Problems solved by technology

Usually the attachment methods of these replacement parts are complicated and the user would need tools for adjusting the pivoting mechanism.

A disadvantage of the wobble boards and rocker boards is their fairly large size.

Moreover these devices require a user to stand up.

Proprioception boards tend to be fairly small; however they only activate small muscles around the ankle and calf.

However, the rolling motion may require significant space under a desk to be effective, and may distract the user from his / her work.

However they would require schools to replace currently installed capital (desks) at relatively high costs.

Most wobble boards and rocker boards are not sized to fit under a desk.

In addition, since the user is likely sitting rather than standing, the force applied to the platform would not be perpendicular to the floor, and is likely to cause the board to move with respect to the user.

In addition, if the edges of the board contact the floor, the resulting noise would be unsuitable for the environment in which the desk is found, such as a school or workplace.

Also, current methods to adjust the pivot mechanisms are time consuming and / or require the storage of multiple accessories.

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