Patent Application
20220323824
The present specification relates to sports training equipment and exercise devices, more particularly to a training apparatus for a motorized board.
Various types of training apparatuses exist for sporting equipment and motorized boards. These type of devices are used to assist a user in learning the proper posture, techniques, and movements involved on the board. Oneboarders (Onewheelers), skateboarders and snowboarders want to be able to practice their skills in a safe, controlled environment relevant to their particular board when conditions make it not practical to practice outside. This allows the user to deverlop muscles, learn technuques and movements with less danger of injury to the user and to the device. In general such devices comprise a board on which the user may stand, wherein the board is supported by a rolling element or a ball element of some form. The mounting of the rolling or ball element allows the board to freely slide in one direction or another making it hard for the user to actually train and attempt tricks on the board.
Training and balance boards exist for surfing, skateboarding, yoga, and skiing, but there is not a board that assists a user in learning a motorized board, such as a Onewheel.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,360,943 shows a balance board that is hourglass shaped with a rolling cylendar underneath. This design does not accurately simulate the balance required for a motorized board, such as a Onewheel, nor does it allow for a user to practice movements required for tricks.
U.S. 2017/0095696 shows a balance and spin practice board comprising a rectangular board with a ball placed in the center of the board in a manner such that the board surrounds the center of the ball with half of the ball protruding above the board, and the other half of the ball protruding under the board. There are additionally two smaller half balls placed at the ends of the board. This design does not accurately simulate the balance required for a motorized board, such as a Onewheel.
It would be advantageous to have a board that mimics the dimensions of a motorized board, specifically a Onewheel °, with a flat compressible material that simulaties the onewheel for ease in gaining skills required to use a Onewheel®.
A training device for a motorized board comprising an elongated board that can have a top surface and a bottom surface with opposing end sections having a first plane and a second plane wherein the first plane is substantially longer than the second plane. The board can have a thickness that can extend between the top surface and the bottom surface. The top surface can have a first section, a second section and a third section. The first section and the third section can be substantially the same shape and the second section can be substantially larger than the first and third sections, wherein the second section can be the size of a wheel. The bottom surface can have a pivot pad wherein the pivot pad can have a thickness that extends vertically from the bottom surface and can be substantially centered on the bottom surface.
A first pad and a second pad can be located on the first section and the third section wherein the first pad and the second pad can have a thickness and a traction element. The bottom surface can have at least one radiused section located on the opposing end sections. The board is substantially rectangular and the first pad and second pad can be substantially rectangular. The board can have opposing ends with radiused sections on the bottom surface. The board can be made of popular wood and the pad can be made of EVA foam. The top surface of the board can have one or more ideal foot placement markings. The top surface of the board can have one or more accessories attached thereon wherein the accessory is a fender or in the shape of a wheel top.
Aspects and applications of the invention presented here are described below in the drawings and detailed description of the invention. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the specification and the claims be given their plain, ordinary, and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. The inventors are fully aware that they can be their own lexicographers if desired. The inventors expressly elect, as their own lexicographers, to use only the plain and ordinary meaning of terms in the specification and claims unless they clearly state otherwise and then further, expressly set forth the. Absent such clear statements of intent to apply a “special” definition, it is the inventor's intent and desire that the simple, plain, and ordinary meaning to the terms be applied to the interpretation of the specification and claims.
The inventors are also aware of the normal precepts of English grammar. Thus, if a noun, term, or phrase is intended to be further characterized, specified, or narrowed in some way, then such noun, term, or phrase will expressly include additional adjectives, descriptive terms, or other modifiers in accordance with the normal precepts of English grammar. Absent the use of such adjectives, descriptive terms, or modifiers, it is the intent that such nouns, terms, or phrases be given their plain, and ordinary English meaning to those skilled in the applicable arts as set forth above.
Further, the inventors are fully informed of the standards and application of the special provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112 (f). Thus, the use of the words “function,” “means” or “step” in the Detailed Description or Description of the Drawings or claims is not intended to somehow indicate a desire to invoke the special provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112 (f), to define the invention. To the contrary, if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112 (f) are sought to be invoked to define the inventions, the claims will specifically and expressly state the exact phrases “means for” or “step for”, and will also recite the word “function” (i.e., will state “means for performing the function of . . . , without also reciting in such phrases any structure, material or act in support of the function. Thus, even when the claims recite a “means for performing the function of molding a . . . , step for performing the function of molding . . . ,” if the claims also recite any structure, material or acts in support of that means or step, or that perform the recited function, then it is the clear intention of the inventors not to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112 (f). Moreover, even if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112 (f) are invoked to define the claimed inventions, it is intended that the inventions not be limited only to the specific structure, material or acts that are described in the preferred embodiments, but in addition, include any and all structures, materials or acts that perform the claimed function as described in alternative embodiments or forms of the invention, or that are well known present or later-developed, equivalent structures, material or acts for performing the claimed function.
Additional features and advantages of the present specification will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present specification will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
In the following description, and for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various aspects of the invention. It will be understood, however, by those skilled in the relevant arts, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, known structures and devices are shown or discussed more generally in order to avoid obscuring the invention. In many cases, a description of the operation is sufficient to enable one to implement the various forms of the invention, particularly when the operation is to be implemented in software. It should be noted that there are many different and alternative configurations, devices and technologies to which the disclosed inventions may be applied. The full scope of the inventions is not limited to the examples that are described below.
Referring to
The top surface 14 can have a first section 22, a second section 24 and a third section 26 wherein the first section and the third section can be the substantially the same size and shape and second section can be substantially larger than the first section and the third section. In certain embodiments, the first section 22 and the third section 26 can be substantially larger than the second section 24. In certain embodiments, the first section 22 and the third section 26 can have an outline of a footprint for allowing the user to see proper foot placement on the board 12. The third section 26 can have a center point 40 such as a sticker, marking, or the like, wherein the center point can be a reference for the user to know where the center pivot point is located.
The bottom surface 16 can have a pivot pad 28 attached to it wherein the pivot pad can have a thickness and can be substantially centered on the bottom surface. The pivot pad 28 can be made from such as, for example, high density foam, polyurethane foam, neoprene foam, closed cell foam, rebond foam, or the like. The pivot pad 28 can be such as, for example, between 0.5 inch and 5 inch thick, more preferably between 1 inch and 3 inch thick, and still more preferably approximately 1.5 inch thick or the like. The pivot pad 28 can be attached to the bottom surface by such as, for example, adhesive, fasteners, hook and eye closures, rubber bands, magnets or the like. The pivot pad 28 can be the same size and shape as a wheel that is on a motorized board that has one wheel in the middle of the board thus mimicking the feel of riding the motorized board. In certain embodiments, there can be more than one pivot pad 28 on the bottom surface 16 located in the center of the board or out towards the opposing ends 18 mimicing one or more wheels on the board.
The first section 22 and the third section 26 can have a first pad 30 and a second pad 32 attached to the top surface 14 wherein the first pad and the second pad are substantially the same size and shape. The first pad 30 and the second pad 32 can have a thickness that extends vertically from the top surface 14 of the board 12. The first pad 30 and the second pad 32 can be attached to the top surface 14 by such as, for example, adhesives, fasteners, hook and eye closures, magnets or the like and can be manufactured from such as, ethylene-vinyl acetate foam, copolymer foam, polyethylene foam, expanded polypropylene, grip tape, rubber, or the like. The first pad 30 and the second pad 32 can be in the shape of such as, rectangular, square, circular, hexagonal, or the like. The first pad 30 and the second pad 32 can have a thickness of such as, for example, between 0.025 inch and 2 inch thick, more preferably between 0.125 inch and 1 inch thick, and still more preferably approximately 0.25 inch thick or the like. The first pad 30 and the second pad 32 can further comprise a plurality of traction elements 34 wherein the traction elements can provide traction between the users shoes and the first pad and the second pad. The traction element 34 can be such as, a diamond shape, hexagonal shape, circular shape, square shape, or any suitable shape to allow the user's shoes or feet to grip the first pad 30 and the second pad 32. In certain embodiments, the first pad 30 and the second pad 32 can extend across the top surface 14 and can be one or more pads and in other embodiments the first pad and second pad can be omitted from the top surface.
The bottom surface 16 can compsire at least one radiused section 36 on the opposing ends 18 wherein the radiused sections can be flat, beveled, ¼ radius, ½ bullnose, ogee, full bullnose, ogee bullnose, cove, knife, dupont, cove ogee, or the like. The radiused sections 36 allow for the user to use the board like the actual motorized board having one wheel wherein the user can balance on the board 12 on the pivot pad 28 and can lean forward, backwards, and side to side thus mimicking a motorized board. The bottom surface can further comprise a slot 38 wherein the slot can allow the user to easily carry the training device 10 from place to place. The slot 28 can be such as, for example, a slot, multiple holes, an extruded cut, or the like. In certain embodiments the slot 28 can be omitted from the bottom surface 16.
Referring to
It is to be understood that although aspects of the present specification are highlighted by referring to specific embodiments, one skilled in the art will readily appreciate that these disclosed embodiments are only illustrative of the principles of the subject matter disclosed herein. Therefore, it should be understood that the disclosed subject matter is in no way limited to a particular methodology, protocol, and/or reagent, etc., described herein. As such, various modifications or changes to or alternative configurations of the disclosed subject matter can be made in accordance with the teachings herein without departing from the spirit of the present specification. Lastly, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, which is defined solely by the claims. Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to those precisely as shown and described.
Certain embodiments are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the methods and devices described herein. Of course, variations on these described embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Accordingly, this disclosure includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described embodiments in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the disclosure unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
This application claims benefit from currently pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/172,859 titled “Training Device for Motorized Board” and having a filing date of Apr. 9, 2021, all of which is incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63172859 | Apr 2021 | US |
