Patent Application
20130296147
This application is a non-provisional application which has not been filed previously
The present invention relates to proprioception, enhancement devices, and more particularly to balance training. This invention also has the ability to house interactive sensors for interactive gaming.
Sk8Fit was created to assist in the promotion of health awareness thru safety constraints for the skating industry providing a safe and structured gateway to the sport of Skateboarding that parents will love. Provides a realistic feel to allow all users regardless of skill-set and age to have fun through product use. The device conditions muscles throughout the whole body thus assisting with proprioception. It promotes balance and satisfaction coordination. It is a primary building block in the human's ability to learn, repeat, and become comfortable with so many movements throughout life. Sk8Fit leverages the “Newton's Theory” of Universal Gravitation and places counter restrictions thus allowing a more controlled learning and safer environment Skateboarding injuries occur most often in the first week of participating in the sport due to lack of balance, confidence and incorrect technique. This product is the true “safe board” parents can feel comfortable in purchasing to pre-train and learn the necessary skill sets to excel in the sport. Physical Therapy and use of the Sk8Fit as Gym Equipment-Regular physical activity reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Keeping engaged and exercising may stimulate the growth of nerve/muscles which help with the overall recovery process. Sk8Fit engages its user ensuring a good cardiovascular workout which helps tone and strengthens muscle. The challenge of balance encourages muscular stabilization by improving core strength which is proprioception. A child's development for motor skills and balancing skills typically begin horn 16-18 months. Good balancing skills arc critical for many sporting movements for later use. It is the foundation from which your child will build many movement patterns upon.
Sk8Fit is a training device and interactive gaming system that enables a person to practice, learn, and master various movements and tricks. This device is 100% stationary and allows controlled learning in the safest environment possible while remaining in a safe controlled atmosphere. There have been other devices that made attempts to simulate and recreate the feel of riding a skateboard and mimic its tricks but have been very unsuccessful. These devices have proven effective in one facet but none of these devices have allowed for some of the most basic moves to be simulated and recreated in a generally stationary practice location. The Sk8fit does.
The balance board on U.S. Pat. No. 7,357,767 has a fulcrum that slides on a affixed rail unlike the referenced balance board that has the center balance ball with compression capabilities. Furthermore FIG. 4 Reference #12 are only end stops that are non-functional orbits that are omnidirectional in which this new innovation encompasses.
The balance board on U.S. Pat. No. 8,062,199 has similar characteristics and functionality to U.S. Pat. No. 7,357,767. It does not hold any similar traits nor claims aside from being referenced as a balance board.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,488,177 resembles a balance board more suitable for ski and surf training. Referenced as FIG. 6 #22 and #30 shows the functionality of the board pivoting side to side ONLY unlike the said invention that has the ability to pivot side to side, front to back using omnidirectional pivots, and ability to jump using compression like spring capabilities to assist with real like jumping movements.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,247,026 uses a similar top side board that the user stands on. It lacks the important parts which assist in proving the realistic feel of maneuvering on a normal skateboard. The uniqueness of the center orbital, omnidirectional pivots and base to assist with the skateboard experience for training and perfecting.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,247,026 uses similar teetering dynamics of having the center member axis (16) balance the torsion boards both front and rear lips off the ground. This although does not allow for board rotation nor tricks that requires jumping in which this new innovation does.
Similar to U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,357,767 and 8,062,199, US Application No. 20070027010 has a fulcrum that slides on a affixed rail.
Again, Sk8Fit is designed to provide a user with the ability to practice skate-like techniques and train those particular muscle groups safely that will he utilized and implemented in the actions of riding a skateboard.
The present invention is a combination of balance training board and interactive gaming device. Sk8Fit is an innovative product that helps promote user balance and coordination while having fun through the experience. It is intended to serve as a base platform and gateway to learning the necessary skill sets to the sport of Skateboarding. Sk8Fit is compact with a modern sleek customizable look that can be used as a living room, bedroom and/or dorm decorative piece that is cool yet functional. The Sk8Fit can also been enhanced for interactive gaming with its strategic placed sensors and compression plates. The Sk8fi's device is made up of (1) Sk8Fit universal pre-drilled customizable deck, (2) Sk8Fit customizable trucks with compression spring and orbital pivot (ball joint) w/optional sensor for interactive gaming, (1) Sk8Fit customizable balance ball (orbital) with compression spring and internal bearings w/optional sensor for interactive gaming, (1) Sk8fit customizable base which includes two large trucks with attached balance plate (where balance hall Is housed). See description drawings. Sk8Fit has a top side, underside, and base. The underside is arranged where the detachable orbital center balance ball rests on the Sk8fit's customizable base. To the right and kit of the center orbital hall lies Sk8Fit's customizable truck with orbital pivot housing, ball and compression spring. The center ball separates the two trucks making two individual equilibrium positional points. One side is stable, while the other is unstable offering a teetering yet safe experience. When the two trucks containing the small pivotal balls are not touching the ground and you are solely balancing on the center orbital bail which lies on the base, you are folly balancing. By applying pressure on one side of Sk8fit's deck engaging Sk8fits customizable truck with pivot; compression spring coils and uncoils thus giving a jump like “Ollie” motion. This jump like motion with practice will build self-confidence, balance, strength, and muscle memory to graduate to more complex tricks such as a kick flip. By balancing on the center ball and making the Sk8Fit board sum 180 degrees or more under their feet, user can gain confidence in executing Shove-It tricks. There are many variations of the Shove-it but they all follow the same principle: The user lead foot stays in one spot, and their hack foot docs the shove. By applying pressure on the pivot ball and adding the “shove-it” principal, users will learn the pop-shove it. These movements when practiced become the essential movements for the sport of skateboarding.
The present invention is a combination of the Sk8Fit board and optional interactive gaming system. The device allows user to improve their balance, muscular coordination and timing while simulating various maneuvers which are commonly performed in sport of skateboarding. SK8fit simulates the actual movements of a requited to execute flawless tricks with landing proportion when placed upon a board and engaged in the actual skateboarding action.
Sk8Fit has a top side, underside, and base referred to as the deck (1). The underside is arranged where the detachable orbital center balance ball (7) rests on the Sk8fit's customizable base (8). To the right and left of the center orbital ball lies Sk8Fit's customizable track with orbital pivot housing, ball and compression spring (1). The balance ball (7) separates the two orbital pivots and housing (1) making two individual equilibrium positional points. One side is stable, while the other is unstable offering a teetering yet safe experience. When the two trucks (1) containing die small pivotal balls are not touching the ground and you are solely balancing on the center balance ball (7) which lies on the base (8), you are rally balancing. By applying pressure on one side of Sk8fit's deck (4) engaging Sk8fits customizable truck with pivot; compression spring within pivot housing (1) coils and uncoils thus giving a jump like “Ollie” motion. This jump like motion with practice will build self-confidence, balance, strength, and muscle memory to graduate to more complex tricks such as a kick flip. By balancing on the center balance ball (7) and making the Sk8Fit hoard (4) spin 180 degrees or more under their feet, user can gain confidence in executing Shove-It tricks. There are many variations of the Shove-it bet they all follow the same principle: The user lead foot stays in one spot, and their back foot does the shove. By applying pressure on the trucks/ball/and base (8) and adding the “shove-it” principal, users will learn the pop-shove it. These movements when practiced become the essential movements for the sport of skateboarding.
Optional Interactive Gaming Sensors are to be located on orbital pivot housing (1), base (8) and inside the center balance ball (7).
