US 6,306,068 B1 · Exercising and/or amusement device

Abstract

An exercising and/or amusement device supported by a ground surface and on which a person may stand. The device includes a walking beam having first and second platforms at opposite ends thereof for supporting the feet of a person, each platform having an upper surface adapted to support one of the person's feet. A ground engaging element is associated with each platform. Each ground engaging element has a bottom surface for engaging a ground surface, a hemispherical supporting surface, and a pin extending from the hemispherical supporting surface. Each platform is pivotably connected to an associated ground engaging element by a pivotable connection including a curved concave bottom surface on each platform shaped complementary to the hemispherical supporting surface of the associated ground engaging element and having a slot therein through which the pin of the associated ground engaging element extends. A plurality of resilient members engages the pin and urges it toward a neutral position. The resilient members are oriented such that extension of at least one of the resilient members applies a restoring force to the pin along a longitudinal axis of the walking beam.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An exercising and/or amusement device supported by a ground surface and on which a person may stand, comprising

a walking beam having first and second platforms at opposite ends thereof for supporting the feet of a person, each platform having an upper surface adapted to support one of the person's feet;
a ground engaging element associated with each platform, the ground engaging elements each having a bottom surface for engaging a ground surface, a hemispherical supporting surface, and a pin extending from the hemispherical supporting surface;
and
a pivotable connection connecting each platform with an associated ground engaging element, comprising a curved concave bottom surface on each platform shaped complementary to the hemispherical supporting surface of the associated ground engaging element and having a slot therein through which the pin of the associated ground engaging element extends, a plurality of resilient members engaging the pin and urging the pin toward a neutral position, the resilient members being oriented such that extension of at least one of the resilient members applies a restoring force to the pin along a longitudinal axis of the walking beam.

1 more element

An exercising and/or amusement device for resting upon a ground surface and supporting the feet of a person, comprising:

first and second platforms spaced from each other, each platform having a center and an upper surface, said upper surface adapted to receive one of the feet of a person;
a rigid crossbeam having first and second ends, the first and second platforms being connected to the crossbeam at the first and second ends, respectively, the crossbeam further having first and second concave curved bottom surfaces below the platforms, the crossbeam further having a longitudinal axis parallel to an imaginary line extending from the center of the first platform to the center of the second platform;
first and second pockets formed in each end of the crossbeam, the pockets being located between the platforms and the concave curved bottom surfaces;
a slot formed in each concave curved bottom surface and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and having ends and side edges;
a ground engaging element operatively associated with each platform, the ground engaging elements each having a bottom surface, a curved top surface complementary to the concave curved bottom surfaces of the crossbeam, and a pin extending from the curved top surface;
a pivotable connection connecting each ground engaging element with an associated platform, the pivotable connection being formed at least in part by abutting contact of the concave curved bottom surfaces of the crossbeam with the curved upper surfaces of the associated ground engaging elements, the pin of the associated ground engaging element extending through the slot into the pockets, each pin being urged to a neutral position by a plurality of resilient members extending from the pin to the crossbeam, the resilient members oriented such that extension of at least one of the elastic element results in a force being applied to the pin along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the crossbeam, said force urging the pin to a neutral position.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Exercising and/or amusement device

Life of this patent

Exercising and/or amusement device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16