Motorized apparatus and method for dynamic balancing exercise

Abstract

A method and apparatus for achieving dynamic balance exercise by using an elongated board that is tiltable in a longitudinal direction and energized by a set of motor-driven wheels which are connected to oppose the tilting action. A sidewise tilting movement of the board can also be accomplished concurrently with the longitudinal tilting movement to balance the exercise experience and improve the subjects fore-and-aft balance.

1 . A method for an individual person to achieve dynamic balance exercise, comprising the steps of:
 (a) selecting an elongated generally flat balance board having a foot-supporting area on its upper surface at each of its ends;   (b) placing a wheel assembly at about the longitudinal center of and at least partially underneath the balance board to provide a fulcrum for supporting the balance board in a tiltable position above the ground;   (c) placing the person's feet on respective foot-supporting areas of the upper surface of the board so that the person then faces in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the board;   (d) moving the person's center of gravity in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the balance board to produce a tilting action of the board about the wheel assembly; and   (e) then, in response to that tilting action of the board, drivingly rotating the wheel assembly so as to shift the fulcrum location along the ground in generally the same direction that the person's center of gravity has been moved, so as to oppose that tilting action.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the wheel assembly is selected to include a laterally spaced parallel pair of wheels, and the driving rotation is selectively applied unequally to the two wheels in order to twist the balance board sideways concurrently with the tilting action. 
   
   
       3 . A motorized balance board exercise device for a single person, comprising:
 (a) an elongated platform having foot-supporting areas at each of its two ends, the foot-supporting areas being adapted to support the person when facing in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the platform;   (b) a wheel assembly underneath and near the longitudinal center of the platform to provide a fulcrum for supporting the platform in a longitudinally tiltable position above the ground;   (c) an electrical motor for selectively applying power to the wheel assembly to move the platform in a direction parallel to its longitudinal axis; and   (d) controls responsive to movement of the platform when thus tilted for selectively energizing the motor in a direction to oppose that tilting action.   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the platform is also tiltable about its longitudinal axis relative to the supporting wheel assembly. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the wheel assembly includes a laterally spaced parallel pair of wheels, and the controls are also selectively operable for applying driving rotation unequally to the two wheels, thereby causing the platform to twist sideways in a horizontal plane concurrently with its longitudinal tilting action. 
   
   
       6 . In a dynamic balance exercise device having an elongated platform, the sub-combination comprising:
 (a) a wheel assembly positioned at least partially underneath the platform to provide a fulcrum for supporting the platform in a longitudinally tiltable position above ground;   (b) a motor for selectively applying power to the wheel assembly to move the wheel assembly along the ground in a direction longitudinally of the platform; and   (c) controls responsive to changes in the angular position of the platform to energize the motor for applying driving rotation to the wheel assembly.   
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the controls are responsive to a longitudinal tilting action of the platform for energizing the motor to drive the wheel assembly along the ground in a direction toward the end of the platform that has been tilted downward, so as to oppose that tilting action. 
   
   
       8 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the wheel assembly includes a laterally spaced parallel pair of wheels, and the controls include a differential drive means to drive the wheels unequally so as to cause the platform to twist sideways in a horizontal plane. 
   
   
       9 . Apparatus as in  claim 8  wherein the controls further include braking means for selectively braking the two wheels independently so as to control the twisting movement of the platform.