# US 8,540,519 B1 · Seated balancing device

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- Number: US 8,540,519 B1
- Document ID: US8540519B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 12/961,381
- Filed: 2010-12-06
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2010-10-21
- Applicants: James Lauter
- Inventors: James Lauter
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540519B1

## CPC

- A63B 26/003: {for improving balance or equilibrium (balance beams A63B4/00; apparatus for rope dancing A63B7/08; balancing drums, balancing boards or the like A63B22/16)}
- A63B 2069/068: {kayaking, canoeing}
- A63B 2208/0228: Sitting on the buttocks
- A63B 2225/093: Height
- A63B 2244/24: Horse riding
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)

## Abstract

A device for developing and improving seated balance is described. The device can be used to develop seated balance that is beneficial for horseback riding, kayaking, and other sports where seated balance is required. Embodiments include a seated balancing device that includes a seat borne by a universal joint, the universal joint being borne by a support member. The universal joint provides a pivot point, and a seating surface resides within 7 inches of the pivot point. The universal joint enables the seat to have at least two rotational degrees of freedom, which permits the seat to tilt in multiple directions.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A seated balancing device comprising:
a support member;
a universal joint, the universal joint being borne by the support member;
a pivot point; and
a seat, the seat including a seating surface, a portion of the seating surface residing less than seven inches from the pivot point, and the seat being (i) borne by the universal joint and (ii) adapted to tilt about the pivot point, wherein:
tilt about the pivot point is not powered; and
the seat is not self-righting.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The seated balancing device of claim 1, wherein a height of the seating surface is adjustable.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The seated balancing device of claim 1, wherein the seat is a semi-cylindrical straddle seat.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The seated balancing device of claim 1, wherein a tilting range of the seat about a horizontal axis is at least 9°.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The seated balancing device of claim 4, wherein the universal joint has three rotational degrees of freedom.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The seated balancing device of claim 1, wherein a tilting range of the universal joint is adjustable.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The seated balancing device of claim 6, wherein the tilting range of the universal joint is adjustable in a range between about 9° and about 53°.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The seated balancing device of claim 1, wherein resistance to seat tilting is adjustable.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The seated balancing device of claim 1, wherein height of the portion of the seat surface is between 22 inches and 40 inches.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A method of using a seated balancing device comprising:
providing the seated balancing device of claim 1; and
sitting upright on the seating surface, wherein the seating surface is upwardly convex across a transverse axis.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising
touching the ground with one or with one or more feet while sitting upright on the seating surface; and
lifting the one or more feet from the ground while sitting upright on the seating surface.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein said sitting upright on the seating surface comprises straddling the seat.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein a portion of the seating surface resides less than four inches from the pivot point.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein a portion of the seating surface resides less than two inches from the pivot point.

### Claim 15

A seated balancing device comprising:
a support member;
a universal joint, the universal joint being borne by the support member, including a pivot point, and having three degrees of rotational freedom; and
a straddle seat, the straddle seat including a seating surface, a portion of the seating surface residing less than three inches from the pivot point, and the straddle seat being (i) borne by the universal joint, (ii) adapted to tilt in any direction about the pivot point, (iii) unpowered, and (iv) not self-righting.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

A method of using the seated balancing device of claim 15 comprising sitting upright on the seating surface and balancing on the seating surface while not touching the ground with either foot.