Electronic balance system and platform

[0001] This application claims priority from provisional application, filed Mar. 25, 2002, having Serial No. 60/367,008 and titled Exbodi exercise balans disc toy.

[0002] This invention relates generally to balance toy devices. More particularly, it relates to an interactive exercise toy system that operates on principals of human balance and user feedback.

[0003] The human body is known to deteriorate with age, and research shows that our sense of body positioning also deteriorates with age due to decreased physical activity in later years. The strength of human muscles and good flexibility are both directly correlated to our sense of balance.

[0004] Exercise balance toys designed to stimulate our sense of balance are well known. Some action toys, like the Pogo stick, exercise the user's sense of balance by way of spring action that catapults a user into the air on foot-pegged stick. This device utilizes a contact area on the bottom of the stick that touches the ground at periodic intervals during play. The contact area may form a pivot point upon that the user can manipulate to absorb spring forces, vary the amount of energy entering into spring and establish the direction of each catapult cycle to propel the user and stick along a vector, with a specific force and direction. Unfortunately, this device is known to cause various bodily injuries as users to tend to collide with obstacles and land on unstable surfaces.

[0005] Conventional balance boards generally comprises a platform having a fulcrum member connected to the bottom portion thereof, and serving as the fulcrum point for tilting movement of the platform. In use, the board is placed on a supporting surface, fulcrum side down. The user then mounts the platform in a standing or sitting position, or on hands or knees, and attempts to distribute his weight in such a manner that the platform does not tilt, but remains in a horizontal plane. This requires the user to exert equal effective pressure on opposite sides of the fulcrum member, since the effective pressure applied is the resultant, not only of the actual pressure applied by the parts of the body in contact with the board, but also of the distance of the contact points of the body from the fulcrum point, which changes the leverage effect.

[0006] Boards of this general type have also been in use as exercise devices for many years, and examples of such devices are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,716,229 to Van Der Cleyen et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 3,862,768 to England. Both of these designs generally utilize a disc platform that encircles and attaches to a full sphere. The disc platform is generally positioned at the midpoint of the sphere. The underside of the disc platform is essentially defined by the cross sectional half-sphere which represents the fulcrum mechanism upon which platform tilt is established.

[0007] Van Der Cleyen et. al and England designs suffer from a decreased balancing surface given the top half of the fulcrum sphere protrudes into the foot surface area. In these designs, one half of the sphere is used for the fulcrum on the underside, but the other half protrudes into the disc platform and renders the foot surface to become non-planar. These devices fail to provide a planar balancing surface since the fulcrum sphere protrudes into the balancing surface.

[0008] Other balance devices have been developed that utilize a flat or planar disc shaped balancing top surface that attaches to a half sphere underside fulcrum. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,984,100 to Firster, U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,318 to Franchke, U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,703 to Stack all utilize a flat disc shaped balancing surface coupled to a half sphere underside fulcrum. These devices are generally designed to promote human balance but generally fail to provide the essential element necessary to achieve balancefeedback.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,830 to Tagao describes an exercise balance platform utilizing feedback based on speaker and LEDs that sound out and light up when the platform is tilted in particular angles. Tagao utilizes an octagon shaped platform that includes eight sensors disposed across the platform at each vertex on the underside. Although this approach involves user feedback, Tagao's design is limited in several ways. First, the feedback is limited to out of balance states that occur when user tilts the platform such that one of the referential vertex sensors touches the ground. This leaves various states and tilt angles unaccounted for and further provides non-uniform feedback in response to balance movements. The audio visual feedback is also binary in that it only actuates upon reaching one of the eight states. In addition, the control electronics of this design is costly given that a plurality of sensors is utilized as opposed to a single novel switch.

[0010] Furthermore, given a general understanding that feedback is critical to assisting a user who attempts to balance on balancing devices, none of the prior art systems provide a high level of feedback required to influence this process. In particular, the prior-art systems generally do not provide user feedback at the center-balance position. Rather, the feedback provided by the prior art occurs only if the platform is out of balance.

[0011] In addition, the prior-art balance devices are generally designed with limited entertainment value. More specifically, no prior-art balance device is shown that can be configured to support a plurality of games with various rules, despite the assertion that such games offer a high level of motivation to entice users to engage in a very healthy activity.

[0012] The present invention contains several features and embodiments that may be configured independently or in combination with other features of the present invention, depending on the application and operating configurations. The delineation of such features is not meant to limit the scope of the invention but merely to outline certain specific features as they relate to the present invention.

[0013] It is a feature of the present invention to provide an exercise toy system that provides the user with real-time visual feedback showing platform tilt at every tilt angle of the platform, including the center-balance position.

[0014] It is a feature of the present invention to provide a toy system that operates on the principals of human balance that may provide user feedback in response to at least one spatial orientation of the toy.

[0015] It is a feature of the present invention to provide a balance toy system that may be configured to enable a variety of games that operate on the principals of human balance.

[0016] It is a feature of the present invention to provide a balance toy system that may be used for a variety of purposes, including but not limited to, entertainment, medical research, rehabilitation and physical therapy.

[0017] It is a feature of the present invention to provide a toy system capable of exercising the muscles, ligaments, and joints in each players ankles, legs, knees, lower back and spine.

[0018] It is a feature of the present invention to provide a balance toy system that may be configured with a counter to count the number of instances the toy is tilted beyond a threshold angle and/or maintain a timer to support various gaming models.

[0019] The disadvantages associated with the prior art may be overcome by a balance toy system having a balancing surface supported by pivot positioned in the center underside of the platform to provide a fulcrum upon which the platform may tilt. A switch positioned around the perimeter of the underside platform may be actuated when the device is tilted in the X and Y axis beyond a threshold angle. The balancing surface may be configured with a raised lip around its perimeter and include a depression in the center of the device to enable a ball placed on the platform to roll in the tilt direction. When the device is aligned in the center-balance position, the ball may roll into the center depression. Visual feedback provided to the user by way of real-time ball movement and may be supplemented by optional counter, buzzer and LEDs. Various gaming models are also provided as part of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 1A shows a front view of the present invention balance toy platform.

[0021] FIG. 1B shows an isometric underside view of the present invention balance toy platform.

[0022] FIG. 1C shows a top view of the present invention balance toy platform.

[0023] FIG. 1D shows a bottom view of the present invention balance toy platform.

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a front view rest position of the present invention balance toy platform.

[0025] FIG. 2A shows a front view rest position of the switch element of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a front view action position of the present invention balance toy platform.

[0027] FIG. 3A shows a front view action position of the switch element of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a front view of the pivot assembly and its main nest that may house batteries, LEDs, buzzer and electronic system of the present invention balance toy platform.

[0029] FIG. 5 shows a bottom view preferred embodiment balancing surface molded to yield a high strength to weight ratio.

[0030] FIG. 6 shows a maze template and transparent balancing surface that may be configured to the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 7A shows the outer core of the tilt switch of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 7B shows the inner core of the tilt switch of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 7C shows the tilt switch of the present invention with both inner and outer cores.

[0034] FIG. 8 shows an example electronic circuit that may be implemented into the present invention.

[0035] Throughout this application, like reference numbers as used to refer to like elements.

[0036] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is presented in FIG. 1 sub FIGS. A through D, which show the exercise balance toy device 100 of the present having a pivot 15 on the underside of the balancing flat support surface 5 that enables the balance device to tilt in three dimensions as a user stands on the balance platform. One or more balls 25 may be placed onto the balance platform 5 and maintained on the plane of the surface by raised perimeter lip 30 which keeps the balls 25 from falling out of the platform. A depression may be formed in the center of the support surface 5 to form a target in which a user may attempt to score the balls 25 therein, in so performing a range of balancing and exercise muscle movements. A tilt switch 20 disposed along the underside of platform 5 senses when device 100 is tilted beyond the critical angle, resulting in a fault event. The system may be configured so that a fault event triggers the emission of sound from sound source 45 and the emission of photons from LEDs 44. A counter 35 counts the number of faults in any session, and reset switch 40 resets the counter.

[0037] It is preferred that pivot 15 be a hollow sphere comprised of substantially noncompressable material such as steel. MacMaster-CARR, Part no. 2833K76 may be used as a suitable pivot 15. It is also preferred that the pivot 15 be overlaid with a compressible surface 15, such as polyurethane foam, to buffer and smooth the platform movement. One suitable compressible surface 15 is available from the Patch Company who makes a six inch Soft Ball may be cut in half and glued to the pivot 15. A pivot subassembly comprised of pivot 15 and compressible material 15 may be stacked to a height of five and one half inches but it is within the scope of the present invention to utilize a set of interlocking materials for the pivot assembly that would enable the pivot to support the platform at different heights.

[0038] FIG. 1B shows an isometric underside view of balancing support surface 5. Balancing support surface 5 may be made of plastic, metal or natural products, such as wood. It is preferred that the support surface 5 be made of molded plastic, and that the underside of the balance support surface 5 is patterned with structural ribs that enable the device to maintain a high strength to weight ratio, as shown in FIG. 1B. Balancing support surface 5 includes a hole at its center and a circular ring depression concentric with the disc origin that will be utilized to mate the complete pivot assembly to the platform.

[0039] Tilt switch 20 is disposed on the underside of the balancing support surface 5 around the perimeter to sense when the balancing platform is tilted beyond the threshold tilt angle. The tilt switch which may be imbedded or attached to this outer rim may be a pneumatic switch or a proximity switch activated by contact. However, it is preferred that tilt switch 20 is a compressible tilt switch having an electrically conductive outer switch gasket 20 and a electrically conductive inner switch gasket 20 optimized to enable a resting state of the platform without triggering a fault.

[0040] FIG. 2 shows the device 100 in a resting position. In this position, no user weight is applied to the platform and the platform takes on a referential tilt angle formed by the height of the uncompressed pivot in relation to the diameter of the platform and the thickness of the uncompressed switch (approximately inch in the example shown). In the continuing example, the platform diameter is 24 inches, which results in a rest state tilt angle of approximately 23 degrees. In this resting state, the tilt switch 20 does not activate and no fault is triggered since the electrically conductive outer switch gasket 20 fails to make contact with the electrically conductive inner switch gasket 20.

[0041] FIG. 3 shows the device 100 in the action position. In this position, user weight is applied to the platform resulting in a compression of the tilt switch and the platform takes on a referential tilt angle formed by the reduced height of the compressed pivot in relation to the diameter of the platform which is approximately 17 degrees with the shown example. In the fault state, the tilt switch 20 activates since the electrically conductive outer switch gasket 20 makes contact with the electrically conductive inner switch gasket 20.

[0042] FIG. 4 shows a zoomed in partial view of a main nest 11 housing the control electronics, including batteries 43 and the sound source 45. Main nest 11 may be formed of plastic and have a rim or ring 33 around its perimeter that fits into the circular depression in the balance support surface 5. The main nest 11 may have a depression to enable a counter 35 to be embedded flush with the top plane of the nest. Main nest 11 may be a fixture securely attached to the support surface 5 by way of epoxy or by way of the thread and washer features that may be incorporated into the fixture. A screen nest 26, positioned inside the main nest, holds a plurality of LEDs 44 placed in holes disposed along the nest.

[0043] With respect to FIG. 4, the pivot assembly described earlier is coupled to the platform by way of a circular trench groove feature on the underside of the balancing support surface 5 which mates with the hollow sphere pivot 15 structure.

[0044] FIG. 5 demonstrates that the electrical connection leads from the tilt switch to the main nest may be hidden behind a structural support rib on the underneath of the platform.

[0045] FIG. 6 demonstrates another configuration of the present invention in which a plastic maze template 47 is patterned into the topside of balancing support surface platform 5 to increase the challenge of displacing the balls into the center depression. In this configuration, a transparent top cover made of acrylic or polycarbonate is disposed over the template 47.

[0046] The process for fabricating the tilt switch 20 of the present invention is now described:

[0047] FIG. 7 shows detailed views of the tilt switch 20 having an outer gasket 20 and an inner gasket 20. The outer gasket may be rubber door bottom seal material such as that available from M-D building products. The inner gasket may be formed from cellural rubber such as the D profile weather seal from M-D building products. The outer and inner gasket material may first be cut the length of the switch, as defined by the perimeter of the disc platform, approximately 70 inches in the example shown. Then the outer material may be cut along cut line 52 and electrically conductive tape (Schlegal, part no. 59410-0200-5) disposed on the inner surface 53. The outer gasket may be epoxied onto the underside of the balance platform 5. Conductive electrode 54 is placed along the top surface of the inner gasket, and the inner gasket 20 is wrapped with electrically conductive tape 54 in a candy cane pattern. The inner gasket is then placed inside the outer gasket and epoxy is used to secure the inner to the outer gasket as shown in FIG. 7C. Electrical leads are soldered to the electrically conductive features disposed on both gaskets.

[0048] FIG. 8 shows an example electronic schematic of the present invention in which a main switch 40 enables power from batteries 43 to be received at the leads of switch 20. Switch 20 controls flow to a plurality of LED's 44, counter 35 and sound source 45. Upon a fault or action event, the LEDs provide visual feedback to the user, the LCD counter maintains a count of faults and the sound source activates. The counter is reset by switch 41.

[0049] Although the platform of the present invention has been fully described by way of description and accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the entire pivot assembly may be constructed of compressible material that will regain its shape after the compression is removed. The outer gasket of the switch which is used to sense when the edge of the disk touches the ground may be filled with air or some incompressible fluid. Various switch designs may be used along the perimeter of the device. The disc may have various shapes. The disk can employ a counter to count the number of times the outer edge touches the ground or it may employ a timer which alerts the user that the preset time has run out. The balls used in the disk may be made of steel, plastic or other firm composition. The balls may also be coated or constructed of a fluorescent material that glows when the UV light source is initiated. The size of the dome under the disc may be constructed or adjusted to variable sizes to lift the disk off the floor or ground to different heights. Various games may be devised in using the disk; one may involve getting some number of balls into the central cup with minimum number of edge floor touches; another may be getting the balls into the central cup in some allotted time period; another may involve varying the number of balls placed on the disk to get into the central cup; another may involve varying the height of the dome to make balance more or less difficult. The height of the outer rim which is used to contain the balls and keep them from rolling off during balancing may have several different heights so that balls of varying diameters may successfully be used. Therefore, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications from those abstractions defined herein, unless otherwise stated or departing from the scope of the present invention, should be construed as being included therein and captured hereunder with respect to the claims.