[0001] The growing interest in fitness has accelerated the study of and research into training,
contributing to the development of new training equipment and instruments to improve
sporting performance.
[0002] One of those particularly in use is proprioceptive platforms - that is, unstable
surfaces that require the user to continuously reset his or her centre of gravity
by processing somatosensory information to preserve optimal motor control and balance.
[0003] The most common proprioceptive platforms include BOSU, which are tools that mimic
an unstable surface by using a soft hemispherical cushion attached to a rigid base
or platform, as well as proprioceptive boards, which are rigid surfaces resting on
half-spheres or half-cylinders.
[0004] One limitation of these proprioceptive platforms is that the degree of difficulty
of the exercise is not easily adjustable, and therefore they may be too easy to use
for athletic, healthy people or may be too difficult to use for people with limited
motor control.
[0005] The present invention aims to resolve this drawback by allowing the user adjust the
degree of "instability" when training proprioceptively. This aim is achieved by creating
a specific device wherein a surface becomes unstable due to being hung by flexible
elements from a stable surface, wherein the oscillation of the former relative to
the latter is determined by the tension applied to an additional cable that further
connects the two surfaces, and which is adjustable by specific tensioning means.
[0006] The present invention will now be described in some of its non-limiting embodiments
while making reference to the figures wherein:
- Figure 1 shows the invention from an isometric view;
- Figure 2 shows the invention from a front view, with some parts removed to better
highlight others;
- Figure 3 shows an alternative version of the invention from a view analogous to that
shown in Figure 2;
As can be seen in Figure 1, the present invention relates to an adjustable balance
platform. This comprises a first structure (1) composed of a base (101a) and two walls
(101b, 101c) opposite to each other, both having two lateral protrusions (102a, 102b;
102c, 102d) on which are attached cables (103a, 103b, 103c, 103c), connected also
to protrusions (104a, 104b, 104c, 104d) of a second structure (105), which is analogous
in form but arranged upside down and rotated 90 degrees relative to the first structure
(101). As shown in Figures 2 and 3, in the platform (100), inside the two structures
(101, 105) there is a further cable (106), which is attached at one end (107) to one
wall (101b) of the first structure (101), passes through an idler system (108), such
as a loop (108b) or a pulley (108b), positioned on the second structure (105) diametrically
opposite the base (101a) of the first structure (101), and is connected at its second
end (109) to tensioning means (110), such as a tie-rod (110a) with a threaded screw,
which is screwable and unscrewable in the opposite wall (101c) of the first structure
(101), such to enable the adjustment of the cable (106) connecting the two structures
(101, 105) and consequently the variation of the degree of oscillation.
1. Adjustable balance platform, comprising a first structure (1), provided with a base
(101a) and two walls (101b, 101c) opposite to each other, wherein both walls (101b,
101c) have two lateral protrusions (102a, 102b; 102c, 102d) to one end of which four
flexible elements (103a, 103b, 103c, 103d) are attached, and a second structure (105)
bound to the first structure (101) by means of the at least four flexible elements
(103a, 103b, 103c, 103d) and at least one further cable (106), passing over an idler
system (108), said platform (100) being characterised in that the second structure (105) is analogous in form to the first structure (101), but
arranged upside down and rotated 90° relative to the first structure (101), with relative
protrusions (104a, 104b, 104c, 104d) to which the flexible elements (103a, 103b, 103c,
103d) are bound, and the further cable (106) is attached at one end (107) to the wall
(101b) of the first structure (101), passes from the idler system (108) attached to
the second structure (105) in a position opposite the base (101a) of the first structure
(101), and is connected at a second end (109) to tensioning means (110) situated on
the wall (101c) of the first structure (101), such to modify the tension of the cable.
2. Platform according to Claim 1, characterised in that the flexible elements (103a, 103b, 103c, 103d) are cables.
3. Platform according to Claim 1, characterised in that the flexible elements (103a, 103b, 103c, 103d) are chains.
4. Platform according to Claim 1, characterised in that the idler system (108) comprises a pulley (108a).
5. Platform according to Claim 1, characterised in that the idler system (108) comprises a loop (108b).
6. Platform according to Claim 1, characterised in that the tensioning means (110) comprise a screwable and unscrewable tie-rod (110a).
