JPH0288085A - Semi-stable balance plate - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To enable a child to improve lateral balancing ability standing on a board, by including a round swing plane to limit motion of a foot bed around a protruding part in a vertical plane. CONSTITUTION: A semi-stable swing surface and a fulcrum 8 cooperate to give a pivot axis to limit motion around the fulcrum 8 in a vertical plane. That is, the motion is limited to motion from one end part to the other end part. The under side of the swing plane is smoothly and symmetrically curved and is expanded outward from the downward protruded fulcrum 8 arranged at the center to both end parts of a foot bed 4 so as to be crossed with the lower horizontal surface generally arranged under the slender foot bed. The swing plane 4 has width same as the foot bed and flat along the width. The curvature of the fulcrum 8 can be changed to make the grade of ability required for operating a toy 2 up/down.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to a new and improved balance toy for young children. More particularly, this invention relates to a balance toy for children to stand on to improve their lateral balance skills.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Foot balance boards of various designs have been used as recreational toys. Such plates use spherical, hemispherical or at least partially hemispherical supports. These fulcrums are either mounted under the footrest or, in the case of spherical fulcrums, move freely beneath the footrest. Thus, if a person stands on the footrest of a balancing board, balancing is essentially difficult.

Since the fulcrum of the balance plate is spherical or generally hemispherical in the prior art, such balance plates require very sophisticated balancing techniques on the part of the user. Both side-to-side and end-to-end balancing techniques are required simultaneously to remain balanced on the fulcrum. As a result, young children initially attempting to develop balancing skills may find this type of balancing board difficult, if not impossible to use. Such toys discourage children, often to the point where they are thrown away. Additionally, allowing small children to use this type of balance board may likely result in injury.

Prior art counterbalance plates that limit movement to only one vertical plane about a fulcrum, ie, end-to-end movement, used a linear array of hemispherical fulcrums. Using a linear array of hemispherical fulcrums limits the size of each hemisphere that can fit under the footstool, and therefore limits the height of the fulcrum. Furthermore, the use of multiple hemispherical supports limits the range of rocking surfaces that can be tailored to suit children at predefined developmental stages.

None of the prior art balancing plates are particularly suitable for stacking one on top of another to increase the level of balancing difficulty, nor are they suitable for a user to lean on.

The following patents disclose a variety of balance plate and rocking chair devices.

Patent number Inventor 3.451,672 Rikizudan 2.470,473 Daerenbach 7.901,
529 Pan Zale 3.150,189 Mutius 842.462 Gerafin 4.491,318 Frante 4.099,773 Chan 3.862,768 England 3.612,5
20 Chan 3.586,321 Kazdan discloses an elongated, rigid rocking entertainment device having a round, downwardly projecting center and two outwardly extending ends forming opposing seating areas.

Kazdan also teaches the use of plastic single shell construction and a marine plastic core. Kazdan does not teach the development of techniques for maintaining lateral balance. Also, his device is not suitable for the user to lie on the board and operate it.

Mutius teaches a balance plate with a hemispherical lower part and a foot surface on its upper planar side. The foot scene can be of any shape, such as rectangular or rectangular. Geraffin, Chang° 520, and Frante also teach a balance plate with a footrest that has a foot surface on the hemispherical shape of the lower portion. Geruga simply exemplifies a ball with a flat bottom and a flat edge projecting outward around the perimeter of the ball, which may be used as a balance toy by a child standing on or straddling it. .

Pan Saale has a rectangular footrest and two suspensions from it.
Discloses two linearly aligned hemispherical protrusions. Geraffin and England disclose a balance plate with a freely moving spherical fulcrum. Chan° 773 and Daerenbach teach a rocking chair for use by two or more people having a rocking plane and an integral seat formed from the upper side edge of the rocking plane.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An apparatus for developing balance in small children, comprising:
It includes a plastic monofoam core-shell construction counterbalance plate having a flat non-slip foot surface above the footrest and a round, downwardly projecting, symmetrical semi-stable rocking plane suspended therefrom.

The invention has a generally elongated top surface that overlies a downwardly directed protrusion from a central area on the underside of the top surface, the bottom end of said protrusion serving as a fulcrum, and teeth,
At the end remote from the platform plane it is oriented towards a semi-stable balance plate containing a rounded rocking plane which limits the movement of the platform near said projection to the vertical plane.

The lower side of the upper surface of the balance plate may be flat at both ends, and the lower flat surface extends from the ends at the lower end of the protrusion.
merging smoothly and symmetrically into a single centrally aligned and symmetrically projecting downwardly curved single swinging plane, the swinging plane being generally the width of the upper scaffolding surface and flat across said width; .

The smoothly symmetrically merging balance plate rocking surfaces may define, in cross-section, a generally inverted bell-shaped fulcrum with a laterally extending straight pivot surface, said pivot surface substantially Provides lateral stability and semi-stable end-to-end stability.

The scaffolding surface may have a non-slip mat thereon.

The radius of curvature of the lower end of the inverted bell fulcrum may be varied to adjust the degree of skill required by the user to balance the plate. The tip of the fulcrum is removable and can be replaced with a tip with a larger or smaller radius of curvature.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Today, more and more children's toys require a well-developed sense of balance. Toys such as bicycles, skateboards, etc. are becoming more sensitive to movement due to the weight of the child user on the toy's center of equilibrium. Additionally, the use of toys that require balance often involves high forward speeds and, unfortunately, close proximity to fast moving and potentially harmful motor vehicle traffic.

It develops all the physical senses that young children play, which are taken for granted later in life, but which are essential for a child to function normally in today's society. Most of the toys available today are extremely advanced. Therefore, today's young children are too often given toys that require a developed sense of balance before they have had a chance to develop senses such as balance. This often results in children trying and accidentally injuring themselves before they have developed the necessary sense of balance.

To some extent, prior art toys have bridged the gap between learning to walk and learning to balance on a wheeled, moving balance toy, such as a bicycle or skateboard. For example, a rocking chair teaches children a sense of movement that requires balance; however, the nature of a rocking chair does not require any active balance movements;
Therefore, it is as if the same cannot be developed.

On the other hand, the balancing plates found in the prior art teach sophisticated balancing techniques, the amount of which is required depending on the shape of the fulcrum used. This invention fills a gap in the type of toys that can be used to teach small children moderate balance.

The invention also allows a user, such as a child, to lie on the balance toy on their back, side or belly and rock from end to end while reading, watching television, etc. Make it. This balancing toy is also useful and fun because one toy can be placed upside down on top of another and balanced in various directions if the child so desires. The skill level of the combined toys increases.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the present invention consists of a generally rectangular, substantially flat foot platform 4 covered with a rubberized maturo to provide a non-slip footing surface. A balance toy 2 is realized. FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a footrest 4 covered with rubber mats.

Suspended from the underside of the footrest 4 and smoothly fused to the lower horizontal surface parallel to and in close proximity to both ends of the footrest,
A centrally aligned, downwardly projecting, symmetrical, semi-stable rocking surface fulcrum 8 having generally the same width as the footrest 4 and generally flat over such width. FIG. 2 represents a front view of the balance toy 2 showing the footrest 4 covered with rubber mats from which the swinging surface fulcrum 8 is suspended.

FIG. 3 represents a cross-sectional view taken along the section line A--A in FIG. 2 of the footrest 4 covered by a rubber matte from which the rocking surface fulcrum 8 is suspended. The toy 2 comprises a foam core 10 surrounded by a plastic shell 12 reinforced on each side by steel rods 14.
It consists of Although a steel rod 14 is shown,
It is possible to strengthen the toy 2 by forming reinforcing ribs in the plastic.

The semi-stable rocking surface and fulcrum 8 cooperate to provide a pivot axis that restricts movement about fulcrum 8 to one vertical plane. That is, movement is limited to end-to-end movement. The lower side of the rocking surface 4 is smoothly and symmetrically curved, extending outward from a centrally aligned, downwardly protruding fulcrum 8 toward both ends of the footrest 4, which is generally similar to that of an elongated footrest. It intersects a lower horizontal surface located below. The swing surface 4 is generally the width of the footrest and is flat over its width. The generally inverted bell-shaped fulcrum 8 defines a swinging surface that is substantially stable in transverse plane motion and semi-stable about the fulcrum in end-to-end planar motion.

It is important to note that the radius of curvature of the fulcrum 8 can be varied to increase or decrease the degree of balancing ability required to manipulate the toy 2. A larger radius of curvature is more stable and reduces the skill level required to operate the toy 2.

A small radius of curvature increases the required level of skill.

Embodiments of the invention include rubber mats on a foot surface 4 that is substantially flat and generally rectangular. The maturo can have a series of protrusions 16 thereon to increase traction between the maturo and the sole of the user's shoe.

4 and 5 each represent a front view of an alternative design of toy 2. FIG. In FIG. 4, the radius of curvature of the lower end of the fulcrum 8 is small, which increases the level of skill required to successfully manipulate the toy 2. FIG. 5, on the other hand, represents a toy 2 having a lower end of the fulcrum 8 with a relatively large radius of curvature. This type is the simplest of the three types shown as a unit in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, and separately in FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 6 represents a front view of an alternative design of toy 2 with a removable fulcrum tip 18. The tip 18 with the specified curvature can be removed and replaced with a tip 18 (not shown) with a larger or smaller radius of curvature to suit the level of balance skill of the toy 2. − As will be apparent to one skilled in the art in light of the foregoing disclosures:
Many changes and modifications may be made to the plan view of the balance plate scaffolding surface to practice this invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

FIG. 2 represents a front view showing the footrest and semi-stable rocking surface fulcrum.

FIG. 3 represents a cross-sectional view of the footrest and rocking surface taken along section line A--A of FIG.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of an alternative design of the footrest.

FIG. 5 shows a front view of a second alternative design of the footrest.

Figure 6 shows a third alternative design of the footrest.

In the figure, 4 represents a footrest, 6 a rubber mat, and 8 a fulcrum.

Must be explained in accordance with Patent Applicant G.F. Raymond.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 shows the rubber mat covering the opposite end of the footrest. Procedural amendment (method) % formula % 1. Indication of the case 1999 Patent Application No. 99929 2. Name of the invention Semi-stable balance plate 3. Person making the amendment Relationship with the case Patent applicant address Buoy, Canada 6. J.F. 4 British Columbia, Bank-Bar West 8th Avenue, 303-1620 Name J.F.
Raymond Choinard 4, agent address: Sumitomo Bank Minamimorimachi Building 6, 2-1-29 Minamimorimachi, Kita-ku, Osaka, all drawings to be amended 7, details of the amendment as shown in the attached sheet. There is no change. The contents of the drawings are dated July 2, 1999.

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) having a generally elongated upper surface overlying a downwardly directed projection from a central region on the underside of the upper surface, the bottom end of said projection serving as a fulcrum; A semi-stable balance plate comprising, at the end remote from the foot scene, a round rocking surface that confines the movement of the footrest near the projection to the vertical plane. (2) the lower side of the upper surface is flat at its ends;
The lower surface merges smoothly and symmetrically from said ends at the lower end of the projection into a single centrally aligned and symmetrically downwardly projecting smoothly curved single rocking surface, said rocking surface generally 2. A balance plate according to claim 1, which is the width of the upper foot scene and is flat across said width. (3) said smoothly symmetrically merging rocking surfaces define, in cross-section, a generally inverted bell-shaped fulcrum having a laterally extending straight pivot surface, said pivot surface having substantially lateral stability; imparting stability and semi-stable end-to-end stability,
Balance plate according to claim 2. (4) the foot scene has a non-slip mat on it;
Balance plate according to claim 1. 5. The balancing plate of claim 3, wherein the radius of curvature of the lower end of the inverted bell fulcrum is varied to adjust the degree of skill required by the user to balance the plate. 6. The balance plate of claim 5, wherein the fulcrum tip is removable and replaceable with a tip having a larger or smaller radius of curvature.