Balance board

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a balance board that is used for exercise, recreation, and training for such sports as surfing and amusement wherein the distance that can be traveled along on the roller of the balance board is selectively adjustable by the user.

[0003] 2. Background of the Prior Art

[0004] Balance boards have been in use for a long period of time. Essentially, these devices provide a board member that sits atop a roller in some fashion and a user places his feet on the top surface of the board and has the board travel back and forth along the roller in order to develop balance skills as well as develop leg muscles. Such devices, which come in various configurations, have found particular favor amongst surfing enthusiasts. As balance boards simulate many of the balancing acts that must be performed on a surf board, balance boards provide an ideal platform upon which to practice and hone such skills while land side, allowing the surfer to be able to develop surfing skills even when not at the shoreline.

[0005] Although the balance boards expand the window of opportunity for surfing practice, some boards are limited in functionality in that they provide only a single range of travel for the board with respect to the roller. As an experienced surfer desires to be able to control a surf board across a wide range of back and forth distances, the single range of motion limits the surfer's ability to develop and refine such skills. Additionally, such a single range of motion does not give a user the ability to effectively practice side to side control of the board.

[0006] In order to overcome this limit in range of travel, balance boards have been proposed that allow for variance in the travel distance of the board with respect to the roller and/or the axis of travel of the board along the roller. However, the prior art devices tend to be unduly complex in design and construction making such devices relatively expensive to manufacture and to purchase by the public. Additionally, many prior art devices are cumbersome in changing from one range of travel to another or from one axis of travel to the other. This results in a time-consuming process of changeover, making the balance board less desirable to use to its full ability.

[0007] Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a balance board that has a variable range of travel with respect to the roller as well as having multiple axis of travel of the board along the roller, which balance board overcomes the shortcomings found in the art. Such a balance board must be relatively simple in design and construction such that it is relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture so as not to make the balance board cost prohibitive to the consuming public. The balance board must allow for a rapid changeover from one range of travel to another or from one axis of travel to the other so as to make the device versatile and make the changeover feature easy to use by the user.

[0008] The balance board of the present invention addresses the aforementioned needs in the art. The balance board has a variable range of travel with respect to its roller as well as having multiple axis of travel of the board along the roller. The balance board is relatively simple in design and construction such that it is relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture thereby making the balance board cost attractive to the consuming public. The balance board allows for a rapid changeover from one range of travel to another and from one axis of travel to the other making the device versatile and making the changeover feature easy to use by the user.

[0009] The balance board of the present invention is comprised of a cylindrical roller. A board member sits atop the roller and reciprocatively rides on the roller either along a central longitudinal axis of the board member or along a central latitudinal axis of the board member. A pair of stop members are removably attached to the board member for limiting the range of ride of the board member along either the longitudinal axis or along the latitudinal axis. The stops are attached to the board equidistant and on opposed sides of the latitudinal axis in order to limit the ride of the board member along the longitudinal axis and are attached to the board member equidistant and on opposed sides of the longitudinal axis in order to limit the ride of the board member along the latitudinal axis. The distance between each stop member and the latitudinal axis is variable so that the range of ride of the board member along the roller is variable.

[0016] Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

[0017] Referring now to the drawings, it is seen that the balance board of the present invention, generally denoted by reference numeral 10, is comprised of a board member 12 that has an upper surface 14 and a lower surface 16. The board; member 12 has a centrally disposed longitudinal axis 18 and a central latitudinal axis 20 that is normal to the longitudinal axis 18. The board member 12, which can have any appropriate shape such as the illustrated oval shape, is made from any appropriate material such as wood, plastic, aluminum, etc. A cylindrical roller 22 is provided such that the lower surface 16 of the board member 12 sits atop the roller 22 and rides along the roller 22. As best seen in FIG. 1, a first set of attachment point pairs 24 are located on the lower surface 16 of the board member 12. As seen each corresponding pair 24 is located equidistant and on opposite sides of the latitudinal axis 20 and each pair 24 is located a distance that is different relative to other pairs 24, and each one of each pair 24 may be a single attachment point that is located directly on the longitudinal axis 18, or each one of each pair 24 may be individual two points such that they are also located equidistant and on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis 18. A second set of attachment point pairs 26 are located on the lower surface 16 of the board member 12 equidistant and on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis 18. In similar fashion to the first attachment point pairs 24, each one of each pair 26 may be a single attachment point that is located directly on the latitudinal axis 20, or each one of each pair 26 may be individual two points such that they are also located equidistant and on opposite sides of the latitudinal axis 20, as illustrated in the drawings.

[0018] A pair of stop members 28 is removably attached to the lower surface 16 of the balance board 12 at either the first pair of attachment points 24 or at the second pair of attachment points 26. The number of attachment points comprising the particular pair, 24 or 26, being used determines the number of individual stop members 28 that comprise the pair.

[0019] As seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, in order to use the balance board 12 for travel along the roller 22 along the board member's longitudinal axis 18, the stop members 28 are attached to a first pair of attachment points 24. The user stands atop the upper surface 14 of the board member 12 and rides the board member 12 reciprocatively along the longitudinal axis 18. If the distance of the ride is to be either lengthened or shortened, the stop members 28 are moved to a different pair of first attachment points 24 appropriately. If desired, the stop members 28 on one side of the latitudinal axis 20 may be attached to an attachment point 24 that is a distance from the latitudinal axis 20 that is different than the distance of the corresponding other attachment point 24 used by the stop member 28 on the opposite side of the latitudinal axis 20, so that the user has a non-symmetrical back and forth ride with respect to the latitudinal axis 20.

[0020] As seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, in order to use the balance board 12 for travel along the roller 22 along the board member's the latitudinal axis 20, the stop members 28 are attached to a second pair of attachment points 26. The user stands atop the upper surface 14 of the board member 12 and rides the board member 12 reciprocatively along the latitudinal axis 20.

[0021] As best seen in FIGS. 6A–6B, the stop members 28 may be attached to the board member 12 in any appropriate fashion, such as by having the stop member 28 abut the lower surface 16 of the board member 12 and having a screw 30 or similar attachment device (bolt and nut, etc.,) pass through the stop member 28 and into the board member 12, as seen in FIG. 6A. Alternately, a recess 32 may be located within the board member 12 at each attachment point 24 and 26, such that the stop member 28 is received within the recess 32 and thereafter the screw 30 passes through the stop member 28 and into the board member 12, as seen in FIG. 6B.

[0022] While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to an embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.