Sports and therapeutic device

Abstract

A balance board (1) comprises a support (10) with a first footrest (20.1) and a second footrest (20.2), as well as a support element movable relative to the support (10) on which the support (10) can be balanced during use. The first footrest (20.1) is rotatably mounted on the support (10) about a first axis oriented perpendicular to the first footrest (20.1), and the second footrest (20.2) is rotatably mounted on the support (10) about a second axis that is parallel to and spaced apart from the first axis.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a balance board comprising a carrier with a first footrest and a second footrest, as well as a support element movable relative to the carrier, on which the carrier can be balanced during use. State of the art

[0002] Balance boards have been an established training device in sports, especially martial arts, and therapy for decades. They serve to improve coordination, strengthen deep muscles, and aid in rehabilitation after injuries. Classic balance boards consist of a stable standing surface mounted on a movable or unstable base such as a roller, a ball, or a tilting mechanism.

[0003] Modern developments encompass a wide variety of models with varying degrees of freedom to accommodate different levels of difficulty for training or therapy. Nevertheless, there is still room for improvement regarding user-friendliness and adaptability to individual needs. While well-known balance boards are very effective at improving balance and coordination, they also pose certain risks of injury, particularly due to unnatural stress on joints during the balancing process. Description of the invention

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a balance board belonging to the aforementioned technical field, which enables particularly joint-friendly training of balance and coordination skills.

[0005] The solution to the problem is defined by the features of claim 1. According to the invention, the first foot support is rotatably mounted on the support about a first axis oriented perpendicular to the foot support, and the second foot support is rotatably mounted on the support about a second axis parallel to and spaced apart from the first axis.

[0006] This creates a balance board where the feet can be pivoted around a vertical axis. This allows for improved compensation of the board's movements while balancing.

[0007] Compared to conventional balance boards, this one offers less resistance, or virtually no resistance, to rotation of the foot around the vertical axis. This allows for gentler movements, significantly reducing stress on the knee, especially the meniscus. The innovative balance board thus makes it possible to gently train both balance and foot muscles.

[0008] The balance board is particularly suitable for training in martial arts, acrobatics, etc. Furthermore, the balance board can also be used particularly well for therapeutic applications, especially since it is particularly gentle on the joints.

[0009] The balance board is preferably made of wood, especially hardwood. However, variations may also use plastic, composite materials, metals, and combinations thereof.

[0010] Preferably, the first and second footrests are mounted independently of each other, allowing rotation around the first and second axes, respectively. This design is particularly advantageous because it allows the feet to be used individually for balance. In some variations, the footrests can be connected in a parallelogram configuration, so that only parallel movements are possible.

[0011] Preferably, the first foot support comprises a first plate-shaped element and the second foot support a second plate-shaped element, each of which includes a projecting element on its underside, and wherein the support comprises a first receptacle for receiving the first projecting element and a second receptacle for receiving the second projecting element. The support can be essentially designed as a board in which the receptacles are formed as bores, particularly preferably as blind holes. In variants, the support can also be designed with projecting elements, wherein the foot supports have corresponding receptacles.

[0012] The preceding element is preferably designed in a substantially circular cylindrical form. However, other shapes are also possible in variations, particularly if the receptacle is suitably designed.

[0013] Preferably, the protruding element and the receptacle each form a sliding bearing. This results in a particularly simple implementation of the rotatable foot supports. In alternative versions, bearings known to those skilled in the art, in particular ball bearings such as thrust ball bearings, roller bearings, etc., can also be provided.

[0014] The protruding element is preferably made of a ferromagnetic material, in particular as a steel hemisphere. This enables a bearing that does not tilt even under uneven loads on the footplate and is therefore particularly robust. In variations, the protruding element can also be cylindrical (pin-shaped).

[0015] Preferably, the support includes a first magnetic element in the first recess and a second magnetic element in the second recess, thus holding the first and second protruding elements in their respective recesses. This results in a particularly simple assembly of the balance board. When assembled, this prevents the footrests from falling out of the support due to gravity. This facilitates handling and transport when assembled. In some variations, the magnets can be omitted. In this case, the protruding element can be made of wood or plastic, for example.

[0016] Preferably, the magnetic element is detachably insertable into the support. The support can include multiple receptacles (i.e., more than two, in particular four or six) for the aforementioned element. This results in a balance board where the distance between the feet can be varied. This can be advantageous when used by people of different heights or for different types of training. Because the magnetic element is detachably insertable into the support, exactly two magnetic elements can now be provided for a balance board, which can be positioned in different receptacles depending on the desired distance between the two footrests.

[0017] This results in a cost-effective design. In some versions, however, the magnets can also be permanently mounted in the carrier.

[0018] In one embodiment, the carrier below the first receptacle and the second receptacle (or further receptacles) includes a slot for inserting the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element, respectively, thus allowing the first and second magnetic element to be positioned below the first and second receptacles. The slot can be designed to be open, so that the magnetic element can be pushed through the slot for removal. The magnetic element can be a magnet. However, for handling purposes, it can be advantageous if the magnetic element includes a carrier (e.g., a small wooden plate) in which the magnet is embedded.

[0019] Preferably, a friction-reducing element, which in particular comprises felt, is arranged between the first plate-shaped element or the second plate-shaped element and the support. Instead of felt, other materials with low frictional resistance can also be provided, in particular, for example, a plastic. Furthermore, rollers or the like can also be provided between the first plate-shaped element or the second plate-shaped element and the support, which can reduce friction. Depending on the choice of material for the support and the plate-shaped element, or depending on the type of bearing arrangement, the friction-reducing element can also be omitted.

[0020] Preferably, the support includes a groove on the side opposite one of the first receptacles, in which the support element, in particular a ball or a roller, is guided, wherein the groove runs in particular parallel to a connecting line between the first and the second receptacle.

[0021] In use, the support can be placed on the support element, preferably the ball, with the groove facing downwards. If the support is placed exactly in the center of the ball, it will be in an unstable position. The user then stands on the footrests located on the support and tries to balance the support on the ball as best as possible so that it does not touch the ground. Since the footrests can be rotated around a vertical axis, the user can also turn their feet to achieve balance.

[0022] The support preferably has a length between 800 mm and 1200 mm, particularly preferably approximately 1100 mm. In variants, the length can also be less than 800 mm or greater than 1200 mm.

[0023] The support preferably has a width between 140 mm and 220 mm, particularly preferably approximately 180 mm. In variants, the width can also be less than 140 mm or greater than 220 mm.

[0024] The receptacles for the footrests are preferably arranged centrally with respect to the width of the support. These are preferably designed as bores, in particular blind holes, with a diameter between 30 mm and 80 mm and a depth between 20 mm and 50 mm. The support preferably comprises two or more receptacles for the projecting element of the footrest. The two outermost receptacles are preferably spaced between 400 mm and 700 mm apart, and more preferably between 500 mm and 600 mm apart. In variations, the spacing can also be larger or smaller. The distance is to be measured between the center axes of the cylindrical receptacles.

[0025] The footrests are preferably circular, in particular as wooden discs. The diameter of the discs is preferably between 150 mm and 300 mm, particularly between approximately 200 mm and 250 mm.

[0026] The groove preferably has a length between 60% and 95%, and more preferably between 75% and 85%, of the beam's length. For example, with a beam length of 1100 mm, the groove length can be approximately 900 mm.

[0027] If the support element is designed as a sphere, the sphere's diameter is preferably between 100 mm and 250 mm, particularly approximately 130 mm. However, the sphere's diameter can also be chosen to be smaller than 100 mm or larger than 250 mm. Depending on the sphere's diameter, different balancing challenges can be addressed.

[0028] The groove primarily serves to guide the support element during balancing. This allows linear movement of the support body in exactly one direction, namely along the longitudinal axis of the beam. Rotation (tilting) around the center of the sphere is possible perpendicular to this longitudinal direction. These movements must be controlled during balancing.

[0029] The support body can, for example, be completely enclosed in the groove and thus guided between the groove's side walls. In the case of a sphere, this would mean that the sphere lies at least halfway within the groove. Alternatively, the support body can also be guided by the groove's edges, like a rail. In one embodiment, the sphere can rest on these edges. In the particularly preferred embodiment, the sphere is supported in the groove by a circular arc segment smaller than a semicircle – thus, in this particularly preferred embodiment, the groove has a correspondingly circular segment-shaped cross-section.

[0030] The width of the groove is preferably between 60% and 95%, and particularly preferably between 75% and 85%, of the width of the support. The ball preferably has a diameter that exceeds the width of the groove.

[0031] The groove preferably has a circular segment cross-section with an interior angle between 70° and 150°, preferably between 90° and 120°. The radius of the circular segment preferably corresponds to the radius of the sphere (see above).

[0032] The supporting element does not necessarily have to be designed as a sphere, but can in principle be designed as any body of revolution, in particular also in the form of a football (rotational ellipsoid or similar) or as a hemisphere (which makes the balancing exercises somewhat easier).

[0033] In a particular embodiment, the support element is designed as a roller comprising two circumferential grooves into which an edge region of the support, defining the groove, is guided. Other possible support elements are known to those skilled in the art. Preferably, the support includes handles at two opposite ends in a longitudinal direction and, in particular, grip openings along at least one longitudinal side, making the support suitable for performing pull-ups when appropriately mounted. For example, the support can be installed above a door frame in U-profiles to perform pull-ups. This provides a storage space and expands the range of sporting applications. In some variations, these handles and grip openings can be omitted.

[0034] In a further preferred embodiment, the balance board comprises a support and a rolling body movable relative to the support, wherein the support comprises a guide groove in which the rolling body can be guided during use of the balance board.

[0035] This balance board does not necessarily have to be equipped with rotating footrests. However, it is clear to those skilled in the art that all the features described above can be combined with this design.

[0036] Preferably, the rolling element is designed as a cylinder or a sphere. In a further embodiment, the rolling element comprises a sphere arranged between two coaxially aligned cylinders. The grooves formed between the sphere and the cylinders can be provided to receive the edge region of the groove in order to guide the rolling element.

[0037] Preferably, the rolling element comprises a frame to which it is rotatably attached. This allows the balance board to be balanced on a stationary, rotating object. The frame can, for example, rest on the floor. In a preferred embodiment, however, the frame is designed such that it can be attached to a wall in such a way that the rolling element is positioned with one axis perpendicular to the wall. In this configuration, the balance board can be used for balancing purposes at an elevated position, again with the rolling element stationary, particularly for performing pull-ups, by gripping the balance board at opposite ends in the longitudinal direction. Preferably, the rolling element is cylindrical in this application. In variations, other shapes, in particular a spherical shape or the like, are also possible.

[0038] Further advantageous embodiments and combinations of features of the invention can be derived from the following detailed description and the entirety of the patent claims. Brief description of the drawings

[0039] The drawings used to illustrate the exemplary embodiment show: Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a balance board along a plane parallel to the axis of rotation and a longitudinal direction of the support; Fig. 2 is a schematic top view of the balance board according to Figure 1 ; Fig. 3 a schematic sectional view of the balance board according to Figure 1 , transverse to the longitudinal direction, between the two recordings, along line AA; Fig. 4 a schematic sectional view of the balance board according to Figure 1, transverse to the longitudinal direction, through one of the two recordings, along line BB; Fig. 5a a schematic front view of the balance board with wall mount; Fig. 5b a schematic side view of the balance board with wall mount; Fig. 6a a schematic front view of the balance board with wheeled stand; and Fig. 6b a schematic side view of the balance board with wheeled stand.

[0040] Basically, identical parts in the figures are marked with the same reference symbols. Ways to implement the invention

[0041] The Figure 1 Figure 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a balance board 1 along a plane parallel to the axis of rotation and a longitudinal direction of the support 10.

[0042] The balance board 1 comprises a support 10, which includes a longitudinal groove 11 on one underside in which a ball 30 is guided. On the side of the support opposite the longitudinal groove 11, receptacles 12.1 and 12.2 are formed. These are hemispherical in this case, but can also be cylindrical.

[0043] The balance board 1 further comprises two footrests 20.1 and 20.2. These are designed as circular discs and each encloses a steel hemisphere 21.1, 21.2 on one underside. In use, the footrests 20.1, 20.2 with the hemispheres 21.1, 21.2 are inserted into the receptacles. The footrests 20.1, 20.2 are thus rotatably mounted in the receptacles 12.1, 12.2.

[0044] The user can now place their feet on one of the footrests 20.1, 20.2 to perform balance exercises. Instead of the ball 30, other bodies, in particular hemispheres or rollers (not shown), can also be provided, which are guided by the groove 11 or by the edge areas delimiting the groove 11, respectively.

[0045] Below the receptacles 12.1, 12.2, slots 13.1, 13.2 are provided transversely to the longitudinal direction of the support, into which a magnetic element 40.1, 40.2, each with a magnet 41.1, 41.2, is inserted. The magnet 41.1, 41.2 holds the respective foot support 20.1, 20.2 in position via the steel hemisphere 21.1, 21.2. Because the slots 13.1, 13.2 are continuous, the magnetic element 40.1, 40.2 can be easily slid out. This is advantageous when multiple receptacles are provided for the foot supports, allowing the distance between them to be varied.

[0046] The support includes hand grips 14.1 and 14.2 at opposite ends. The support 10 can be suspended, for example, above a door in U-shaped brackets (not shown), thus providing both a storage location for the support 10 and a further use for the support 10 for performing pull-ups.

[0047] The Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a top view of the balance board according to Figure 1 . In this illustration, the circular disc-shaped foot supports 20.1 and 20.2 are clearly visible.

[0048] The Figure 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the balance board according to Figure 1 , perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, between the two recordings along line AA. The groove 11 has a circular segment-shaped cross-section, the radius of which corresponds to the radius of the sphere 30. This ensures optimal guidance of the sphere 30 in the groove 11.

[0049] The illustration also shows recesses 15.1 and 15.2 on the sides. These also serve to perform pull-ups with the support beam 10 suspended (see above). The support beam 10 has several such recesses on each side for this purpose.

[0050] The Figure 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the balance board according to Figure 1 , transverse to the longitudinal direction, through one of the two recordings, along line BB. In this illustration, the slot 13.2 below the recording 12.2 is particularly visible, in which the magnetic element 40.2 with the magnet 41.2 is inserted.

[0051] The Figure 5aFigure 1 shows a schematic front view of the balance board 1, which is attached to the wall via a wall bracket 40. In this embodiment, a cylinder 31 is provided instead of a ball 30, which is rotatably mounted on a shaft of the wall bracket 40. The balance board 1 can be placed on the cylinder 31 and grasped at both opposite ends in the longitudinal direction to balance and, in particular, to perform pull-ups.

[0052] In another embodiment, not shown, the rolling element (ball, cylinder, etc.) is fixed and non-rotatable to the wall bracket. In yet another embodiment, not shown, the rolling element is detachably connected to the wall bracket, allowing it to be removed.

[0053] The Figure 5b shows a schematic side view of the balance board 1 with wall mount 40 according to Figure 5aIn this illustration, the frame of the wall bracket is more clearly visible, in particular the support of the shaft via a strut on the wall plate. The illustration is purely schematic; suitable designs for such wall mountings are known to those skilled in the art.

[0054] In another variant, not shown, the wall mount comprises two longitudinally spaced wall brackets, specifically two angle brackets, which can be used to hold the balance board stably for performing pull-ups. In this version, the balance board could also be used as a wall shelf when not in use, for example, to store accessories that were previously on the balance board.

[0055] The Figures 6a and 6bFigures 6 and 6 show a schematic front view and a schematic side view of the balance board with a roller stand 60, respectively. The roller stand 60 serves to hold the roller body 31 in place so that it can rotate. The roller body 31 is preferably mounted rotatably on the roller stand 60 for this purpose.

[0056] In summary, the invention provides a sports and therapy device that is particularly gentle on the ankle joints. It is especially suitable for building muscle in the feet and ankles while simultaneously training balance.

Claims

1. Balance board (1) comprising a support (10) with a first footrest (20.1) and a second footrest (20.2), and a support element movable relative to the support (10) on which the support (10) can be balanced during use, characterized by the fact that the first foot support (20.1) is mounted on the support (10) so as to be rotatable about a first axis oriented perpendicular to the first foot support (20.1) and the second foot support (20.2) is mounted on the support (10) so as to be rotatable about a second axis parallel and spaced apart from the first axis.

2. Balance board (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the first foot support (20.1) and the second foot support (20.2) are mounted independently of each other so as to be rotatable about the first and second axes respectively.

3. Balance board (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact thatthe first foot support (20.1) comprises a first plate-shaped element and the second foot support (20.2) comprises a second plate-shaped element, each of which includes a projecting element on an underside, and wherein the support (10) comprises a first receptacle for receiving the first projecting element and a second receptacle for receiving the second projecting element.

4. Balance board (1) according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the protruding element is made of a ferromagnetic material, in particular as a hemisphere made of steel, and wherein the support (10) comprises a first magnetic element in the first receptacle and a second magnetic element in the second receptacle, whereby the first protruding element and the second protruding element are held in the first and second receptacles respectively.

5. Balance board (1) according to claim 3, characterized by the fact thatthe magnetic element can be detachably inserted into the carrier (10) and in particular the carrier (10) has a slot below the first receptacle and the second receptacle respectively for inserting the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element respectively, so that the first and second magnetic element can be positioned below the first and second receptacle respectively.

6. Balance board (1) according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized by the fact that a friction-reducing element, which in particular comprises a felt, is arranged between the first plate-shaped element or the second plate-shaped element and the support (10).

7. Balance board (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by the fact thatthe support (10) comprises a groove (11) on the side opposite one of the first mounts, in which the support element, in particular a ball or a roller, is guided, wherein the groove (11) runs in particular parallel to a connecting line between the first and the second mount.

8. Balance board (1) according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the roller comprises two circumferential grooves into which an edge region of the carrier (10) limiting the groove (11) is guided.

9. Balance board (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by the fact that The support (10) has handholds at two opposite ends in a longitudinal direction and, in particular, handhold openings along at least one longitudinal side, making the support (10) suitable for performing pull-ups when properly mounted.

10. Balance board (1) comprising a support (10) and a rolling body movable relative to the support (10), characterized by the fact thatthe carrier (10) includes a groove, in particular a guide groove, in which the rolling element can be guided in the use of the balance board (1).

11. Balance board (1) according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that the rolling body is designed as a cylinder or as a sphere.

12. Balance board (1) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized by the fact that the rolling body comprises a frame on which the rolling body is rotatably held and wherein the frame is preferably designed in such a way that the frame can be attached to a wall in such a way that the rolling body is perpendicular to the wall with a rolling body axis.

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