Exercise devices – Gymnastic – Bar or rope for balancing upon
Utility Patent
1999-09-21
2001-01-02
Donnelly, Jerome W. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
Gymnastic
Bar or rope for balancing upon
Utility Patent
active
06168549
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Gymnastic balance beams are comprised of elongated rigid body members elevated from a floor surface by rigidly attaching legs mounted directly under the body member and normally positioned at opposite ends thereof. For training purposes, the balance beams are elevated a short distance from the floor.
When a gymnast performs on the balance beam, the full weight of the gymnast is impacted on the beam a number of times in a typical routine. The rigid beam absorbs little, if any, of the impact of the gymnast, and provides no spring to the gymnast as the routine is continued following the moment of impact.
Reflex mechanisms to absorb the weight of the impact on the beam, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,086 by Strand, are well known but cannot be elevated a short distance from the floor for training purposes.
It is therefore the principle object of this invention to provide a balance beam with a reflex mechanism which will both absorb some of the impact of the gymnast's weight, and which will provide some impetus to the gymnast immediately following the moment of impact, that can be elevated a short distance from the floor surface.
A further object of this invention is to provide a balance beam with a reflex mechanism which is safe, durable, and easily serviced or repaired.
A further object of this invention is to provide a balance beam with a reflex mechanism which is easy to adjust to correspond to the weights of different gymnasts.
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A balance beam is disclosed which utilizes a conventional beam member with leg members wherein the upper section of the leg members are pivotally mounted to the lower surface of the beam. The leg members comprise a support member, a first leg section which extends upwardly and a second leg section which extends horizontally and substantially parallel to the beam. A clevis is secured to the lower surface of the beam. The second leg section is connected at its first end to the lower surface of the beam by a pin which extends through aligned bores in the clevis and second leg section. A bumper is secured to the second leg section at the second end and engages the lower surface of the beam.
When the gymnast lands on the beam, the weight of the gymnast causes the bumper to compress which partially absorbs the impact of the gymnast's weight. The immediate recovery of the bumper imparts some impetus to the gymnast as the gymnastic routine is continued immediately after the moment of impact. At the moment of impact, the beam moves from a first horizontal position to a slightly lower horizontal position as the bumper compresses downwardly.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5037086 (1991-08-01), Strand
patent: 5454772 (1995-10-01), Rodden
patent: 5562575 (1996-10-01), Gvoich
patent: 5885189 (1999-03-01), Lang et al.
patent: 6013011 (2000-01-01), Moore
patent: 6068578 (2000-05-01), Wang
Sherlock Sue M.
Sorenson Bill W.
Squibb Neal C.
American Sports International, Ltd.
Donnelly Jerome W.
Zarley McKee Thomte Voorhees & Sease
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