Balancing and exercising device

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to balancing and exercising devices and more particularly to a bowl which can be rocked and spun for exercise or amusement.

Prior art exercising devices usually take the form of platforms which can be rocked back and forth to strengthen the legs or can be manipulated to progress backwards or forwards for racing. Balancing devices, in almost every case, are complicated and difficult to make and, therefore, are expensive or are so difficult to use that they do not appeal to small children.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device of the present invention contemplates a device which can be used to exercise the legs or for amusement for an adult but which appeals to younger children for amusement and which teaches them balance and coordination.

The device is in the form of an oval bowl with a projecting flat rim and a flattened bottom. By standing on the rim or in the bowl it may be rocked back and forth for exercising. When seated in the bowl, a child can grasp the rim and rock the bowl or spin around. By weighting and unweighting, the bowl can be tilted and spun around along the oval perimeter of the bottom. The ends of the bowl are thicker than the sides so as to be heavier, resulting in an eccentric motion of the bowl, when spun which is amusing to younger children and is educational in improving balance and coordination. It may also be used by older children or adults for amusement or exercise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a device according to the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are sectional views on the lines 2-2 and 3-3 of FIG. 1, respectively; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are elevational views on smaller scales illustrating uses of the device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The device 10 shown in FIGS. 1—3 is a unitary, oval bowlshaped article preferably of plastic or lightweight metal.

The device 10 has a flattened, oval bottom 11 and a flat, outwardly projecting, oval rim 12. From the bottom 11, the sidewalls 13 extend concavely, outward and upward to rim 12.

The sidewalls 13α at the ends of device 10, best seen in FIG. 2, are thicker and, consequently, heavier than the sidewalls

13b at the sides of the device, as shown in FIG. 3.

In its preferred form the device is about 2½ feet along the longer axis and about 6 inches shorter along its other axis, although it will be apparent that other sizes may be useful according to the size of the user. A length of at least a foot and a half is necessary to accommodate the feet of a user and the width, or overall length along the minor axis of the oval, must be about four-fifths the length along the major axis in order to obtain an eccentric motion when the device is spun as hereinafter described.

The balancing and exercising device 10 may be used in a number of ways. The adult or child may stand on the rim 12 as indicated at IS in FIG. 1 and rock the device end for end or from side to side to exercise the legs and ankles. By shifting the weight from one foot to the other and from heel to toe and back again, the device may be tilted and spun around along the perimeter of the bottom 11. It will be apparent that such exercises will be useful in strengthening legs and ankles for skiers.

Alternatively, the user may stand with one or both feet within the device and either rock it or spin it along the perimeter of the bottom, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Smaller children may sit within the device, as illustrated in FIG. S, with hands gripping the rim 12 and either rock or spin the device.

When the user stands with one foot within the device and either rocks it or spins it, considerable dexterity is involved, as well as beneficial exercise, and this will appeal to older children. When a small child sits in the device and spins it, the necessary shifting of the weight of the body teaches the child coordination as well as providing amusement.

It will be apparent that, whatever the manner of use, the user will be benefited both by the exercise and the development of balance. For younger children this teaching of balance and coordination is particularly helpful.