Compact balance boards and system using same

Abstract

A compact balance board including a first board having a plate shape, a second board spaced a predetermined distance from and parallel to the first board, a shaft coupled to a bottom portion of the first board, a pivot support connecting the shaft and the second board so as to allow three-dimensional pivotal motions in which the first board or the second board is shaken and rotated, at least one elastic member positioned between the first board and the second board so as to provide elasticity for keeping the first board and the second board in parallel to each other, and a sliding member installed on one end portion or both end portions of the elastic member so as to allow the elastic member to be slidingly rotated when the first board or the second board is rotated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Compact balance boards comprising:
 a first board having a plate shape;   a second board spaced a predetermined distance from a lower portion of the first board and parallel to the first board;   a shaft coupled to a bottom portion of the first board or extending in one piece from the bottom portion of the first board;   a pivot support connecting the shaft and the second board so as to allow three-dimensional pivotal motions in which the first board or the second board is shaken and rotated;   at least one elastic member positioned between the first board and the second board in contact with the first board and the second board so as to provide elasticity for keeping the first board and the second board in parallel to each other; and   a sliding member installed on one end portion or both end portions of the elastic member so as to allow the elastic member to be slidingly rotated when the first board or the second board is rotated,   wherein the pivot support comprises:   an inner ring coupled to the shaft and having a spherical outer surface; and   an outer ring having an inner surface spherically in contact with and slidable on the outer surface of the inner ring, the outer ring being provided to an upper portion of the second board.   
     
     
         2 .- 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . Compact balance boards comprising:
 a first board having a plate shape;   a second board spaced a predetermined distance from a lower portion of the first board and parallel to the first board;   a shaft coupled to a bottom portion of the first board or extending in one piece from the bottom portion of the first board;   a pivot support connecting the shaft and the second board so as to allow three-dimensional pivotal motions in which the first board or the second board is shaken and rotated;   at least one elastic member positioned between the first board and the second board in contact with the first board and the second board so as to provide elasticity for keeping the first board and the second board in parallel to each other; and   a sliding member installed on one end portion or both end portions of the elastic member so as to allow the elastic member to be slidingly rotated when the first board or the second board is rotated,   wherein the pivot support comprises:   an inner ring having an inner surface contacting an outer surface of the shaft and being coupled to the shaft; and   an outer ring having an inner surface spherically in contact with an outer surface of an insertion solid part for being rubbed thereon, the insertion solid part being included on an outer surface of the inner ring, the outer ring being provided to an upper portion of the second board.   
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The compact balance boards of any one of  claim 1  or  5 , further comprising a board coupling part to attach an additional board including a snowboard or a skateboard to the first or the second board. 
     
     
         8 . The compact balance boards of any one of  claim 1  or  5 , further comprising any one selected from:
 a first sensor part configured to sense a movement of the first board or the shaft; 
 a second sensor part configured to sense a load applied to the first board; and 
 a third sensor part attached to an end of the shaft or a position facing the end of the shaft so as to sense a positional variation of the shaft. 
 
     
     
         9 . A balance board system comprising:
 the compact balance boards of  claim 8 ;   a central processing unit configured to receive a signal from at least one of the first to third sensor parts and process information; and   a display unit configured to display information received from the central processing unit.   
     
     
         10 . The balance board system of  claim 9 , further comprising an external input device to input information to the central processing unit. 
     
     
         11 . The compact balance boards of any one of  claim 1  or  5 , further comprising an auxiliary elastic member placed between the outer ring and the second board so as to elastically support vertical shaking of the first board or the second board.