Balance training device

Abstract

A balance training device is provided. The balance training device may include a rail, a plurality of foot supports slidably coupled to the rail, and at least one balance pad connected to the rail to provide a degree of angular instability. The balance training device may include an adjustment mechanism associated with the rail and each foot support to selectively position each foot support in a desired position along the longitudinal length of the rail. The balance training device may include a base including an adjustable height dimension to provide increasing levels of balance difficulty.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A balance training device, comprising:
 a rail including opposing first and second side ends and opposing front and rear longitudinal edges, the rail including a longitudinal length defined between the opposing first and second side ends and a width defined between the opposing front and rear longitudinal edges and transverse to the longitudinal length;   a plurality of foot supports slidably connected to the rail;   an adjustment mechanism associated with each foot support and the rail to selectively lock each foot support in a plurality of positions along the longitudinal length of the rail; and   at least one balance pad connected to the rail and including a convex bottom surface to provide a degree of angular instability.   
     
     
         2 . The balance training device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of foot supports includes a set of retaining members operable to slidably couple the foot supports to the rail. 
     
     
         3 . The balance training device of  claim 2 , wherein each set of retaining members engages the front and rear longitudinal edges of the rail. 
     
     
         4 . The balance training device of any of  claims 2  and  3 , wherein the width of the rail is substantially captured by the retaining members to slidably couple each foot support to the rail. 
     
     
         5 . The balance training device of any preceding claim, wherein each adjustment mechanism comprises:
 a ridge extending from the rail; and   a latch member associated with the ridge and including a plurality of engagement structures defining the plurality of positions of an associated foot support.   
     
     
         6 . The balance training device of  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of engagement structures engages the ridge to define the plurality of positions of the associated foot support. 
     
     
         7 . The balance training device of  claim 6 , wherein the latch member is a leaf spring connected to an underside of the associated foot support. 
     
     
         8 . The balance training device of any of  claims 6  and  7 , wherein each of the plurality of engagement structures includes a groove sized for receipt of at least a portion of the ridge therein. 
     
     
         9 . The balance training device of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the latch member is attached to the ridge; and   each of the plurality of engagement structures engages a portion of the associated foot support to define the plurality of positions of the associated foot support.   
     
     
         10 . The balance training device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the associated foot support includes an aperture defined therethrough; and   each of the plurality of engagement structures is a button operable to be received at least partially within the aperture of the associated foot support.   
     
     
         11 . The balance training device of any of  claims 5 - 10 , wherein:
 the rail includes an end cap; and   the ridge of the adjustment mechanism is formed on the end cap.   
     
     
         12 . The balance training device of any preceding claim, wherein the adjustment mechanisms are operable to position the plurality of foot supports asymmetrically about a center of the rail. 
     
     
         13 . The balance training device of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one balance pad includes a plurality of balance pads serially-connected together. 
     
     
         14 . The balance training device of any preceding claim, further comprising at least one bumper connected to an underside of at least one of the plurality of foot supports. 
     
     
         15 . A system including the balance training device of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensing device including a plurality of sensors configured to track movement of the balance training device and provide feedback to a user. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the sensing device includes a display to provide the feedback to a user during a workout. 
     
     
         17 . The system of any of  claims 15  and  16 , wherein the sensing device is received within a track formed within a surface of the rail. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the sensing device is substantially concealed from view when the balance training device is in a collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         19 . A balance training device, comprising:
 an elongate rail including a longitudinal length;   a plurality of foot supports coupled to the rail and configured to slide at least partially along the length of the rail; and   a base engaging a support surface, the base including an adjustable height dimension configured to provide increasing levels of balance difficulty.   
     
     
         20 . The balance training device of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the base includes at least one balance pad, each of the at least one balance pad including a convex bottom surface; and   the at least one balance pad is connected together in a stacked configuration to adjust the height dimension of the base.   
     
     
         21 . The balance training device of  claim 20 , wherein the convex bottom surfaces of each successively connected balance pad decreases in radius. 
     
     
         22 . The balance training device of any of  claims 20  and  21 , wherein:
 the at least one balance pad comprises:
 a first balance pad including a first bottom surface radius; 
 a second balance pad including a second bottom surface radius; and 
 a third balance pad including a third bottom surface radius; 
 
 the first bottom surface radius is greater than the second bottom surface radius; and 
 the second bottom surface radius is greater than the third bottom surface radius. 
 
     
     
         23 . The balance training device of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the second balance pad connects only to the first balance pad; and   the third balance pad connects only to the second balance pad.   
     
     
         24 . The balance training device of any of  claims 20 - 23 , further comprising a connection plate connecting the balance pads to the rail. 
     
     
         25 . The balance training device of  claim 24 , wherein the connection plate rotates freely relative to the rail. 
     
     
         26 . The balance training device of any of  claims 24  and  25 , wherein the first balance pad connects only to the connection plate. 
     
     
         27 . The balance training device of any of  claims 19 - 26 , further comprising an adjustment mechanism associated with the rail and each of the plurality of foot supports to selectively position each foot support between a plurality of positions along the length of the rail. 
     
     
         28 . The balance training device of  claim 27 , wherein the adjustment mechanisms selectively lock the balance training device in a collapsed configuration and in an expanded configuration. 
     
     
         29 . A method of expanding a balance board, the method comprising:
 slidably coupling a plurality of foot supports along a longitudinal length of a rail member;   positioning the plurality of foot supports in a first position to provide a first degree of balance instability; and   sliding the plurality of foot supports along the longitudinal length of the rail to a second position, the second position providing a second degree of balance instability.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising adjusting a height of the rail member above a support surface by adjusting a base of the balance board. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein adjusting the base of the balance board includes adding or removing a number of sequentially-connected balance pads to form a balance pad stack of varying height. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein positioning the plurality of foot supports in the first and second positions includes releasably locking each of the plurality of foot supports in the first and second positions via an adjustment mechanism. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein each adjustment mechanism forms a releasable connection structure between the rail and each of the foot supports. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein sliding the plurality of foot supports along the longitudinal length of the rail includes positioning the foot supports asymmetrically about a centerline of the rail.