Balance exercise device

Abstract

A multi-purpose balance exercise device designed to be used in multiple positions and for diverse exercises. For example, various embodiments allow for the device to be used as an aerobic step device as well as the ability to easily adjust the device to various heights to easily decrease the level of difficulty of the device for use during various exercises. The balance exercise device can provide a plurality of handles and grab points both horizontally and vertically, which allow for an enhanced number of exercises or movements using either the top and/or bottom of the device. The exercise device includes a flexible bladder filled with air, other gases, or gels attached to a substantially rigid base. The base can include an interior within which features such as handles are disposed to provide a gripping or lifting exercise for which the balance exercise device can be used.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A balance exercise device, comprising:
 a substantially rigid base including:
 a top surface; 
 a bottom surface including a recessed interior surface; 
 a first side wall extending along a length of the substantially rigid base; 
 a second side wall extending along the length and being disposed opposite to the first side wall; and 
 two opposing end walls respectively extending from opposing ends of the first and second side walls of the substantially rigid base, wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, the recessed interior surface, and the two opposing end walls of the base define a base interior, the base interior including two handles connected to the recessed interior surface of the base interior; and 
   a flexible bladder fastened to the substantially rigid base, the flexible bladder creating an unstable balance exercise surface when filled with air for use during a balance exercise.   
     
     
         2 . The balance exercise device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the two handles extend within the base interior such that the first sidewall, the second side wall, and the two opposing end walls extend around the two handles; and   a lower surface of the first sidewall, a lower surface of the second side wall, and lower surfaces of the two opposing end walls abut against a ground surface when the substantially rigid base of the balance exercise device is placed upon the ground surface.   
     
     
         3 . The balance exercise device according to  claim 1 , wherein the two handles extend partially across a central width of the base interior. 
     
     
         4 . The balance exercise device according to  claim 3 , wherein the two handles extend perpendicular to the first side wall and perpendicular to the second side wall. 
     
     
         5 . The balance exercise device according to  claim 1 , the handles being rigidly connected to the recessed interior surface of the base interior. 
     
     
         6 . The balance exercise device according to  claim 1 , the first side wall, the second side wall, and the end walls extending continuously around a periphery of the substantially rigid base. 
     
     
         7 . The balance exercise device according to  claim 6 , wherein the interior surface has an outer periphery defined by the first side wall, the second side wall, and the end walls. 
     
     
         8 . The balance exercise device according to  claim 7 , wherein the outer periphery of the interior surface is substantially tablet shaped. 
     
     
         9 . The balance exercise device according to  claim 1 , wherein a lowermost surface of the handles is substantially aligned with a lowermost surface of the end walls. 
     
     
         10 . The balance exercise device according to  claim 1 , further comprising opposing cutouts respectively defined in the first and second side walls, the opposing cutouts being sized so as to align a resistance band and allow the resistance band to extend around a bottom of the balance exercise device when the balance exercise device is placed upon a ground surface. 
     
     
         11 . The balance exercise device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first side wall and second side wall have opposing cutout features for repositioning a resistant band around different locations of the bottom surface of the substantially rigid base. 
     
     
         12 . The balance exercise device according to  claim 1 , wherein a first end wall has opposing cutout features for repositioning the resistant band around different locations of the bottom surface of the substantially rigid base. 
     
     
         13 . The balance exercise device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, and both end walls include opposing cutout features for repositioning the resistant band around different locations of the bottom of the substantially rigid base. 
     
     
         14 . A balance exercise device, comprising:
 a substantially rigid base including:
 a top surface; 
 a bottom surface including a recessed interior surface; 
 a first side wall extending along a length of the substantially rigid base; 
 a second side wall extending along the length and being disposed opposite to the first side wall; and 
 two opposing end walls respectively extending from opposing ends of the first and second side walls of the substantially rigid base, 
 wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, and/or one or more of the two opposing end walls of the base include multiple open cutout features for positioning a location of a resistant band around a bottom of the substantially rigid base; and 
   a flexible bladder fastened to the substantially rigid base, the flexible bladder creating an unstable balance exercise surface when filled with air for use during a balance exercise.   
     
     
         15 . The balance exercise device according to  claim 14 , wherein the first side wall and the second side wall have opposing open cutout features for repositioning the resistant band around different locations of the bottom surface of the substantially rigid base. 
     
     
         16 . The balance exercise device according to  claim 14 , wherein a first end wall has opposing open cutout features for repositioning the resistant band around different locations of the bottom surface of the substantially rigid base. 
     
     
         17 . The balance exercise device according to  claim 14 , wherein both the first side wall, the second side wall, and both end walls include opposing open cutout features for repositioning the resistant band around different locations of the bottom surface of the substantially rigid base. 
     
     
         18 . A method of exercising using a balance exercise device, the balance exercise device, comprising:
 a substantially rigid base including:
 a top surface; 
 a bottom surface including a recessed interior surface; 
 a first side wall extending along a length of the substantially rigid base; 
 a second side wall extending along the length and being disposed opposite to the first side wall; and 
 two opposing end walls respectively extending from opposing ends of the first and second side walls of the substantially rigid base, wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, the recessed interior surface, and the two opposing end walls of the base define a base interior, the base interior including two handles connected to the recessed interior surface of the base interior; and 
   a flexible bladder fastened to the substantially rigid base, the flexible bladder creating an unstable balance exercise surface when filled with air for use during a balance exercise, the method comprising:   performing a first exercise position using the balance exercise device wherein the first exercise is performed with the substantially rigid base against a ground surface;   performing a second exercise position using the balance exercise device wherein the second exercise is performed holding the two handles connected to the recessed interior surface and with the flexible bladder against the ground surface; and   performing a third exercise position using the balance exercise device wherein the third exercise is performed lifting the balance exercise device overhead holding the two handles connected to the recessed interior surface.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the first exercise position includes a free weight exercise, the second exercise position includes a push-up exercise performed using the handles with the bladder against the ground surface, and the third exercise includes using the handles to lift the balance exercise device overhead. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the first and second sidewalls include opposing cutouts sized to allow a resistance band to extend around a bottom of the substantially rigid base when the substantially rigid base is placed against the ground surface, the first exercise position including performing a resistant band exercise while standing on the flexible bladder, the resistant band extending around the bottom of the rigid base and within a cutout of the first side wall and within an opposing cutout of the second side wall.