A portable ballet barre attached to marley coated flooring

Abstract

The invention comprises a portable, free standing, exercise, ballet barre, and floorboard base for actively training ballet movements in a confined space such as a room or apartment. When assembled, the unit is sturdy and collapsible having a flooring board base support connected to Marley flooring. When dissembled, the unit can be stored and is easily transportable to alternate locations.

Description

[0001] Title: A Portable Ballet Barre Attached to Marley Coated Flooring

[0002] Inventors: Caitie Russell and Alex Gionis

[0003] Applicant: Dance N Go LLC

[0004] Cross Reference

[0005] This application claims benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 564,125, filed 12 March 2024, where permissible incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0006] Fields of the Invention

[0007] The present invention relates to exercise devices and methods or more particularly for portable multiple dance training uses and ballet mobility.

[0008] Background

[0009] It is well recognized that people exercise for multiple reasons associated with dance training or ballet. The amount of practice needed in a competitive field improves agility and strengthening of an individuals’ bones and muscles. More specifically, individual training can prepare a dancer or performer to maintain a certain level of activity which is needed at a professional level.

[0010] Lightweight ballet barres provide a stable and durable standing aid for positioning while exercising. While there exists many portable ballet barres, none incorporate a sturdy base to enable connection to acceptable dance platforms such as, but not limited to, those topped with Marley flooring. Marley flooring is preferred by professional performers to ensure a uniform and continuously integrated dance floor for consistent movement having a performance feel which is needed by performers to experience the entire studio and stage surface experience.

[0011] Marley dance floors are one of the most popular flooring options for dance studios. It can handle repeated use for practice or performances. It is a preferred option for nearly any type of dance, allowing for a studio to have a variety of dance classes where only one type of floor is needed. Further, simply positioning an independent portable dance or ballet barre next to a Marly floor pad does not allow the continuity required to allow the performer complete movement or motion about the pad.

[0012] The combination of a sturdy dance-specific flooring with a connectable ballet barre is a product currently not available anywhere. There are standalone ballet barres, but none that connect to a platform to enhance stability and none that incorporate Marley floor which is what dancers compete and take classes on. There are also independent portable dance boards with Marley but none with a feature that allows connection to ballet barre coupled with the storage ability or transport.

[0013] Summary

[0014] The embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings and figures which are summarized below. It is to be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the forms described in the specification. One skilled in the art can recognize that there are numerous modifications that would continue to embody the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the claims.

[0015] Accordingly, this invention comprises a method for dancers or performers to practice on a competition-level studio using Marley flooring and having a fixed ballet barre. The combination of a sturdy dance-specific flooring board base with connectable components in a fixed ballet barre is a device which has not been described. There are standalone ballet barres, but none connect to a platform that unfolds to enhance stability and none that incorporate a Marley floor which is what dancers compete and use to take class or train upon.

[0016] Prior to use, each component of the barre is assembled by securing two respective vertical adjustable poles to the floor board base which is then locked together along an upper middle point to form a horizontal barre. When disassembled, the components of the barre are secured to the underside surface of the folded floor board base to allow storage or transport and subsequent assembly upon arrival at a destination for use.

[0017] Description of the Figures

[0018] The following drawings form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the present invention. The invention may be better understood by reference to one or more of these drawings in combination with the detailed description of specific embodiments presented herein.

[0019] Figure 1. Representation of an assembled portable barre and base floor assembly with the horizontal portions connected and joined at an adjustable height having two vertical supports attached to a fixed horizontal ballet barre secured on the Marley floor board base to enable individual ballet movements.

[0020] Figure 2. Representation of the floor board base used without a barre assembly and components assembled as shown in an unfolded position for use in separate dance motions.

[0021] Figure 3. Four various vertical height adjustment positions of the horizontal barre assembly latched and secured to the floor board base as shown.

[0022] Figure 4. Representation of the floor board base in a closed orientation showing the folded base having handles in a locked position while attached with corresponding barre assembly components along one side of the closed face of the floor board base for storage or transport.

[0023] Figure 5. Representation of 3 partially folded configurations of the floor board base prior to becoming completely open. (A) completely closed, (B) partially opened showing attached barre assembly components (C) partially opened in an obtuse position exposing the floor board base before opening flat on the floor board base surface.

[0024] Figure 6. Representation of layered components incorporated into the Marley Floor Board surface. Each layered component is supported within a framed outer support structure to form the floor board base on the surface allowing for continuous dance and ballet movement by a user.

[0025] Figure 7. Schematic representation showing sequential method of steps for opening and assembly of the portable barre components and unfolding of the floor board base.

[0026] Detailed Description

[0027] In order to enable the above objects, features and advantages of the disclosure to be more apparent and easily understood, the specific embodiments of the disclosure will be further elaborated hereafter in connection with the drawings.

[0028] The following embodiments are further explanations and supplements to the present invention, and do not constitute any limitation to the present invention.

[0029] While most dance studios and performance spaces use a form of Marley flooring, it isn’t practical to install outside the dance studio as the floor isn’t useful for everyday activities. Further, when dancers consistently practice on unique flooring like Marley flooring, practice on carpet or tile can impede their ability to perform certain movements.

[0030] Thus, there is currently no way for dancers to practice on competition-level studio flooring with a ballet barre without being in a studio or on a stage. While pads or boards are used interchangeably, the present invention provides a floor board base and a component performance barre assembly that incorporates a professional dance or ballet surface such as a Marley flooring with a sprung floor securely connected to a fixed ballet barre which is portable and easily stored or transported. More important, the floor board base and barre components when assembled in a small room or apartment becomes readily available for providing a similar experience to dancing in a studio. The unit can be disassembled and packed for easy storage and transport, ft is ideal in urban areas where assembling and disassembling may be needed in remote training or other areas of education.

[0031] A typical example where the present invention is appropriate may include a professional dancer living in New York City who needs to continue practicing their performance material in their home or apartment to help maintain a continuous training regimen. The invention is also useful for pre-professional and beginner levels as well. Not every student has space available in their house that can be used as a dance studio or gym. Children who enjoy dance or ballet and ideally practice at home need to perform under conditions to allow them to continue to improve. The present invention solves this problem for most dancers.

[0032] A typical portable barre and floor board base assembly with all components ready for use is shown in Figure 1. When assembled, a Marley flooring board base (10) having an unfolded configuration and positioned on a suitable surface will support an assembled ballet barre with vertical and horizontal supports (19) latched together with magnetic guide latches (not shown). These guides provide secure attachment for the two lower adjustable vertical components of the barre (15). The assembled barre components are inserted into slots on the floor board base which are unlatched / latched so that the user fits the assembled ballet barre into the slots as magnets guide the ballet barre to snap in position and confirm that the barre is in the correct position. The latches are then tightened to ensure the ballet barre is not affected by individual pressure or inappropriate force from user movement.

[0033] The horizontal barre portion is attached through a two-piece horizontal barre arrangement (19) at a central portion along the top horizontal barre fitted together by a magnetic configuration that allows each piece to snap together when inserted in the appropriate position. Each of the horizontal two-pieces are an extension of a vertical component connected through a 90° support structure (17) and (18). The two vertical components (12) and (13) are adjusted to the appropriate user height by a telescoping collar mechanism (16). When correctly assembled the barre with components attached create a ballet barre approximately 4 to 5 feet along the edge of the floor board base. The completed height of the final ballet barre is approximately 36 to 48 inches.

[0034] Figure 2 depicts a floor board base in the open configuration having the Marley floor without the component barre assembly (20). Similar to the assembled orientation in Figure 1, the Marley floor board base is unfolded on a flat surface. The surface layers of the Marley flooring (21) are set in a supporting frame structure (22) so that when completely open the surface is suitable for supporting a dancer using individual independent motions or movements, thus allowing for the different dance or ballet positions of while on the Marley floor board base. The Marley floor board base is further shown with supporting handles (24) along the floor support frame for locking and handling when folded for storage or transport.

[0035] While not limiting in the assembled barre height, four different height positions are shown in Figure 3 as shown in representative images (31), (32), (33). and (34). These adjustable height options may differ in accordance with the requirements of the user for specific ballet movements. Each height position for an individual unit will have a floor board base and attaching ballet barre components adjusted through the vertical telescoping collars to the specific height of the user.

[0036] As shown in Figure 4, the entire floor board base can be folded and collapsed into a locked orientation with all the associated barre components used in assembly for storage and transport (40). The floor board base contains locking handles (42) with securing latches for support during storage and transport. Each individual barre component used in assembly are attached to the outer surface of the folded floor board base through a series of slots and latches (45) by collapsing each component barre assembly, thus allowing the components to be easily stored and transported while attached to the side surface of the floor board base. This structured configuration makes it easy for dancers to bring the unit to dance performances and competitions as well as use it in their homes. Further, most dance competitions are in hotel ballrooms or convention centers which do not have the proper flooring for students to rehearse or prepare. Dance educators or students and their families are able to set this up in a hallway or side room where the dancer practices stationary movements in preparation of their routine. Since the entire ballet barre can be stored behind the folded floor board based, the unit can be easily packed in a car for transportation to remote events.

[0037] Figure 5 provides a serial perspective of the floor board base in different opening views. Each successive view shows a partially open view from a completely folded configuration. Figure 5 (A) shows the floor board base with barre components when completely folded and closed in the storage and transport configuration. Figure 5 (B) is a view of the partially open floor board base with all the ballet barre components still attached and in view. Figure 5 (C) is a view with the floor folded at an obtuse angle perspective showing the top floor surface face with the Marley floor surface before becoming being open.

[0038] Another embodiment of the present invention includes the Marley floor board base and its structured material design. As shown in Figure 6, the floor board base consists of an inner frame (67) for supporting multiple floor padding. The pads are layered in a base insert support frame using at least 4 locking types of floor and subfloor material as shown. When completely assembled, the Marley floor board base will be approximately 2 inches thick with all the layers having approximate dimensions of 3’x4’ and 4’x5’ length vs. width in the unfolded orientation. The materials considered in the contact flooring within the support frame will include some combination containing a thin sheet of PVC plastic in the top base or a durable vinyl (60). The top layer includes various thickness levels, preferably approximately 1 ,5mm thick which is lighter and less expensive. While almost any color is considered, black or gray are most desired with a thin durable top vinyl layer appropriate for background performance. A foam under backing (62) allows for a low impact dancing on the surface which is coupled with an absorbent subfloor such as rubber or any material that will protect from mold or mildew or resistant to any hollow sounding underlayment (65). Layers of subfloor consist of EPP foam, EVA foam, and PP honeycomb. PP or polypropylene is a plastic core made in an open cell configuration with a layer of non-woven polyester scrim for promoting surface bonding, making it useful for sandwich panel cores and energy absorption. EPP foam or polypropylene is a highly versatile closed-cell bead foam that provides a unique range of properties, including outstanding energy absorption, multiple impact resistance, thermal insulation buoyancy, water and chemical resistance having exceptionally high strength to weight ratio. Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) also known as foam rubber is a versatile foam material with a closed-cell structure. The closed-cell foam has excellent shock absorption and moisture resistance. This arrangement of layered pads offers excellent sprung and bounce in dance practice motions as it is flexible enough to absorb energy from impact and still provide the resistance for dance movements. The flexibility of the layered configuration further provides a safe surface to minimize injuries that occur as a consequence of turns that require leg and feet movement.

[0039] One of the main advantages of the present invention is the stability and the convenience in assembly, especially the latching connection of the ballet barre and folding / unfolding of the floor board base which provides transportability of the components and their storage. While other ballet barres have been used in spaces such as a dance studios, they usually require storage and transportation in a form of at least ten pieces and are very unstable once assembled, making them unsafe and challenging for dancers. The present invention provides an improved design that allows for portability of a dance surface and ballet barre to improve the dance or ballet experience.

[0040] Figure 7 shows a flow chart depicting the steps in the method for the ballet barre components and floor board base assembly. To assemble the present invention for individual use whether for a ballet or dance performance in an apartment or small room, the floor area must be devoid of obstacles. The user should select an area having a secured flat surface capable of supporting the dancer’s motion when the unit is in use. The first step is to remove all the ballet barre components and set them aside for proper positioning the floor board base. Next open the floor board base and grabbing the handles, and unfolding the frame so that the completely unfolded frame lays flat along the flat floor surface with the top flat dance surface facing upward for use.

[0041] To assemble the ballet barre attachment, grasp the shorter lengths of the two components at the open end, each having a 90° support connecting structure attached to a longer vertical component. Insert the shorter length connecting end portions by fitting one of the shorter ends inside the other end to securely latch together into a magnet snap when in contact with each other. This alerts the user that the barre components are safely attached and can be latched. The two longer vertical barre portions are now attached through the 90° support structure and shorter components. The assembled components are positioned for lowering and insertion into the surface of the floor board base which contains slot having supporting magnetic attachments capable of unlatching and re-latching when in the correct position. Telescoping collars on the sides of the assembled ballet barre to allow for adjustment of the appropriate height on each side for correct use. The steps are reversed for closing the ballet barre, folding, and attaching the components to the flooring board base to enable transport or storage. The present invention will make training much easier and more accessible for dancers or ballet performers, allowing them to effectively transform any space into a studio. With a completed and assembled barre and floor board base, dancers will be able to work on their technique on a professional performance flooring designed for either hard sole or soft sole shoes. In addition, the invention is useful for performing techniques in bare feet. The floor board base supports mostly Ballet dance, but also most other types of dance techniques such as, Modem dance, Jazz dance, Lyrical dance, Tap dance, , Hip Hop dance orpointe work.. Coupled further with collapsibility it is easily storable and transportable. All of this helps dancers train from their home or onsite with proper equipment before a performance or competition. It will also benefit dance educators by affording students the opportunity to properly train at home.

[0042] One skilled in the art can recognize that there are numerous modifications that would continue to embody the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the claims.

Claims

We claim:

1. A portable ballet and dance device comprising: a. a Marley floor board base; and b. a ballet barre, wherein the ballet barre is assembled and latched to the Marley floor board base which allows ballet and dance movements.

2. The portable ballet and dance device of claim 1 where the Marley floor board base forms a flat open face when unfolded.

3. The portable ballet and dance device of claim 1 where the Marley floor board base includes a structural frame and recessed composite dance floor contact surface.

4. The portable ballet and dance device of claim 1 where the structural frame include one or more grasp handles.

5. The portable ballet and dance device of claim 3 where the Marley floor board base is approximately 3'x4' and 4'x5' with two slots for securing an assembled ballet barre along the perimeter of the structural frame.

6. The portable ballet and dance device of claim 3 where the composite dance floor contact surface is a thin sheet of PVC plastic or durable vinyl.

7. The portable ballet and dance device of claim 3 where the composite dance floor contact surface is a thin sheet of durable vinyl having a layered subfloor with and EPP, EVA or PP honeycomb foam under backing and an absorbent subfloor to support low impact dancing.

8. The portable ballet and dance device of claim 1 where a ballet barre includes two vertical and two horizontal components.

9. The portable ballet and dance device of claim 8 where one vertical component and one horizontal component are each fixed together by a 90° structural connector.

10. The portable ballet and dance device of claim 9 where shorter horizontal components lock at a middle point by a first magnetic guide and latch to form an upper continuous horizontal barre.

11. The portable ballet and dance device of claim 9 where two vertical support components contain a second magnetic guide and latch to secure each vertical component in the slots on the Marley floor board base.

12. The portable ballet and dance device of claim 11 where the two vertical support components contain a telescoping adjustable collar for selecting the height of the upper continuous horizontal barre.

13. The portable ballet and dance device of claim 4 where Marley board base is folded for storage or transport by grasping handles.

14. The portable ballet and dance device of claim 12 where the folded Marley board base exposes an outer surface containing storage slots on an outer surface for attaching the two vertical and horizontal components.

15. A method for assembling the portable ballet and dance device of claim 1 comprising: a. disconnecting ballet barre components on an outer surface of a folded portable ballet and dance device; b. grasping handles to unfold a Marley floor board base; c. connecting two short horizontal components with a first magnetic guide and latch to form a continuous upper horizontal ballet barre; d. connecting two long vertical components to latching slots on the Marley floor boar base with a second magnetic guide and latch; and e. adjusting a telescoping collar on each vertical component to select the height of the upper horizontal ballet barre.

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