Floor level balance training strip |
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申请号 | US11655792 | 申请日 | 2007-01-22 | 公开(公告)号 | US20080176715A1 | 公开(公告)日 | 2008-07-24 |
申请人 | Kimberly Renee Dick; | 发明人 | Kimberly Renee Dick; | ||||
摘要 | The floor level balance training strip of this invention relates to a gymnastics balance beam. More particularly, the invention relates to a balance training device that will attach to a flat horizontal carpeted or correlating surface thus providing a non-skid linear surface upon which a person may stand, walk or tumble.The invention is comprised of an elongated material strip having opposite ends, an upper surface and a correlating base composed of an adhesive hook fastening element. The hook fastening element located on the underside or base of the floor level balance training strip is used to attach the floor level balance training strip to a carpeted or otherwise compatible flat surface to sufficiently maintain it in a horizontal position. The invention uses a thin strip of loop fastening element to one end so the strip will remain coiled when rolled for stowage. | ||||||
权利要求 | |||||||
说明书全文 | Although balance beams are well known in the field of gymnastics, such beams are of a square or rectangular cross section, and are in typical use, positioned several feet above the ground and have had no known useful application for therapeutic medicine. U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,189 to Lane/Squibb (1999) discloses a raised gymnastics balance beam apparatus commonly associated to the sport of gymnastics. The disadvantage to a standard gymnastics balance beam is the weight and large size of the apparatus. At 16′5″ in length the regulation gymnastics balance beam is not conducive for home use nor is it portable. It is commonly known that one may utilize a 4″×4″ wood beam cut to shorter lengths to use in the home. While this is useful, it does pose the dilemma of how to stow the long wooden device when not in use. Again this wooden device is not truly a convenient and portable tool for the user. Both of the mentioned prior art are composed of non-flexible materials such as wood or steel. It is believed that a lightweight and flexible device as described and claimed herein has not been known prior to the present invention. In accordance with the present invention a floor level balance training strip comprises a flat, flexible, elongate body having a fastening element base and a corresponding surface material and is of predetermined length and width being adapted to lie flat along a flat horizontal surface. Said device also includes a strip of loop fastening material at one surface end to provide a self attaching mechanism when stowing said device. Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:
A preferred embodiment of the floor level balance training strip is illustrated in The preferred embodiment of this device is 4 inches wide, to simulate the same width of a regulation gymnastics balance beam. However, the floor level balance training strip can be manufactured anywhere from 1 inch to 12 inches in width depending on user preference. For instance, the device could be made 6 inches wide for toddlers and young gymnasts. In addition, the length could vary from 6 ft. to 20 ft. in length. However, in the best design the length is 16′5″ as that is the length of a standard competition gymnastics balance beam. The process of making the floor level balance training strip consists of the following:
The surface material in the preferred embodiment of the floor level balance training device consists of Beluga PVC Suede available at Sommers Plastics Products Co. Inc. of Clifton, N.J. The preferred design uses PVC suede due to its texture and durability. Additionally, the appearance and feel of the fabric is most similar to that of a standard regulation gymnastics balance beam apparatus. Other surface materials could be used for manufacture such as cloth, leather, suede, plastic, rubber and vinyl of various weights. For instance, an additional choice of surface medium is 29 oz. vinyl available at Spradling International, Inc. of Pelham, Ala.
The perimeter stitching is done at ¼ inch from the edge; however, stitching could be at any predetermined distance from the perimeter edge. The best working and thus preferred design is at ¼ inch. The thread can be of any color to match or contrast the color or material of the surface strip. Again, color has no bearing on the function of the device. Other thread weights can be used, however, the best design of this device uses the 16 oz bonded nylon thread because of its durability. Other design of stitching methods could be used such as zig-zag . . . However, this is a design preference much like color and has no bearing on the function or operation of the overall invention.
Any predetermined width of loop strip can be used, however, the preferred design and best embodiment uses ¼ inch wide loop cut to the predetermined width of the floor level balance training strip. Additionally, a circle or other shape of loop material could be substituted; however, the best working design is the ¼ inch wide strip of loop fastening element. This floor-level balance strip operates by unrolling the device onto a flat carpeted or otherwise similar material horizontal surface. ( To stow the beam, the user simply “jelly-rolls” the floor level balance training strip by rolling lengthwise, beginning at the non-loop end and attaching the loop fastening end to the hook base when completely rolled. ( Accordingly, the reader will see that the floor level balance training strip can be a versatile balance training device for all ages. By applying it to a carpeted, or otherwise material surface it provides a temporary, portable means for the user to practice balance by walking, standing and tumbling. Furthermore, it provides the following advantages in that
Although the description above contains much specificity, this should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, the floor level balance training strip surface could be slightly elevated from the floor due to the thickness of the fastening base and surface material used. In addition, the length, width, color and shape of the invention can vary depending on the preference of the user. For instance, the competitive gymnast might prefer the embodiment of the invention in the PVC suede at 4 inches width and 16′5″ length. A preschool might prefer the embodiment of the invention using 29 oz vinyl, and 6 inches wide by 8 feet in length in the color Red. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. |