Rotation exercise apparatus

Abstract

An exercise apparatus ( 14 ) includes an upper plate ( 20 ) on which a person can stand, a lower plate ( 22 ) lying under the upper plate, and a low friction rotation bearing ( 24 ) between the plates. This rotation exercise device allows a person to stand on the upper plate and move his/her arms and legs to create torque that pivots the upper plate clockwise and counter clockwise The apparatus also can include a tilting device ( 26 ) that allows the person to tilt a top plate, which lies over the upper plate, so the top plate tilts about horizontal axes to simulate controlling tilt of a skateboard or surfboard white steering it.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exercise apparatus, comprising:
 a top plate on which a person can stand;   a lower plate lying under said top plate;   a low friction bearing rotatably supporting said top plate on said lower plate about a vertical axis, said bearing having sufficient carrying capacity to support a person that has a weight of over 200 pounds, in repeated opposite rotations, whereby to enable a person to exercise by twisting clockwise and counter-clockwise.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus described in  claim 1  wherein:
 said top plate has a horizontal width and a horizontal length wherein at least one is at least 20 inches long, whereby to enable the person standing on the top plate to stand with his/her feet spread apart for stability. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus described in  claim 1  including:
 a middle plate that lies vertically between said top and lower plates; and 
 a plurality of vertically compressible coil springs ( 32 ) that each lies between said top and middle plates ( 30 ,  20 ) and that supports said top plate on said middle plate, said springs each having a diameter of about 3 inches, and said springs being horizontally spaced apart with their axes ( 34 ) lying within an axis circle ( 41 ) of about 10 inches diameter, whereby to cause the person to exercise muscles to limit tilt while exercising leg muscles to pivot the top plate clockwise and counter-clockwise. 
 
     
     
         4 . The exercise device described in  claim 3  wherein:
 said springs comprise 4 coil springs having vertical coil axes ( 34 ) lying on the corners of an imaginary square ( 36 ), said vertical axes being uniformly spaced about said axis circle. 
 
     
     
         5 . A method for a person to exercise his legs and hips, comprising:
 standing on a top board ( 30 ) while the top board is supported in pivoting about a vertical axes on a bottom board ( 22 );   turning by lees than 360°, the person's upper body in repeated clockwise and counterclockwise directions about said vertical axis, to cause said top board to turn in opposite directions.