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  System for improving the balance of a personUSPTO Application #: 20060070646Title: System for improving the balance of a person Abstract: A system for improving the balance of a person while in a standing position, transitioning between a sitting and a standing position, or while performing various recreational or other activities which require precise balancing comprises a gyrostabilizer, and a support for holding the gyrostabilizer. The support is either in the form of a belt to be coupled to a user's torso, or in the form of a walking cane to be gripped by a hand of the user in order to steady the user while using the gyrostabilizer. (end of abstract) Agent: Mccormick, Paulding & Huber LLP - Hartford, CT, US Inventor: Ronald Denman USPTO Applicaton #: 20060070646 - Class: 135066000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Tent, Canopy, Umbrella, Or Cane, Canes, Sticks, Crutches, And Walking Aids, Combined And Convertible The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060070646. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to devices for stabilizing the balance of a person, and more particularly relates to a system employing a gyrostabilizer for improving balance while in a standing or walking-position, while transitioning between a sitting position and a standing position, or while performing various recreational or other activities which require precise balancing. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Devices have been developed for stabilizing various movements of the human body. For example, devices recently have begun to employ gyrostabilizers for stabilizing tremors in the human body. Gyrostabilizers have already been used for decades to stabilize sighting devices such as binoculars, cameras or other handheld equipment. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,811,042 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,006,197, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference. [0003] The recent use of gyrostabilizers for stabilizing tremors is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,730,049 B2 ("the '049 patent"), the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. The '049 patent is directed to a tunable and adjustable device for stabilizing tremors. The device includes a rigid splint for receiving a patient's hand, wrist and forearm, and at least one gyroscope removably and rigidly attachable to the splint and positionable for countereffecting the tremors. [0004] However, the aforementioned devices do not address the need for providing overall stabilization to the human body while, for example, in a standing or walking position. Moreover, such prior devices do not address the need to improve stability to a person while the person is transitioning between a sitting or lying position and a standing or walking position. [0005] It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide a system for overcoming the above-mentioned drawbacks and disadvantages of prior stabilizing devices. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] A system for improving the balance of a person while in a standing position or transitioning between a sitting and a standing position comprises at least one gyrostabilizer, and a support for holding the gyrostabilizer. The support is adapted to communicate with either a torso or a hand of a user so as to steady the user while using the gyrostabilizer. [0007] The system is also useful while performing various recreational or other activities that require precise balancing such as, for example, running, bicycling, skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, in-line skating, roller skating and skateboarding. The system can also be incorporated into a prosthesis such as, for example, a leg to provide further stability. [0008] In one embodiment, the support includes a belt for being attached to the waist of a user. The gyrostabilizer is coupled to the belt so as to be disposed preferably at the front of a user when wearing the belt. An elongated handle, to further steady the user, may be coupled to the gyrostabilizer such that the elongated handle laterally extends to each side of a user for gripping by both hands when the belt is worn by a user. The system can also comprise shoulder straps coupled to the belt such as, for example, in a crisscross configuration for preventing the belt from sagging under the weight of the gyrostabilizer coupled thereto. A battery power source, preferably rechargeable, can be provided to communicate with and energize the gyrostabilizer. [0009] In a second embodiment of the present invention, the support includes a walking cane defining a housing. The gyrostabilizer is disposed within the housing. A battery power source communicates with and energizes the gyrostabilizer. The battery power source can be disposed within the housing or be disposed externally of the housing. [0010] The foregoing and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] FIG. 1. is a schematic front perspective view of a system for stabilizing the balance of a person in accordance with the present invention. [0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic rear perspective view of the system of FIG. 1. [0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a gyrostabilizer and components for maintaining power to the gyrostabilizer in accordance with the present invention. [0014] FIG. 4 is front view of a gyrostabilizer incorporating an elongated handle in accordance with the present invention. [0015] FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a system for stabilizing the balance of a person in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. [0016] FIG. 5B is an exploded perspective view of the system of FIG. 5A. [0017] FIG. 5C is a partially broken away perspective view of the system of FIG. 5A. [0018] FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a system for stabilizing the balance of a person in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. [0019] FIG. 6B is an exploded perspective view of the system of FIG. 6A. [0020] FIG. 6C is a partially broken away perspective view of the system of FIG. 6A. Continue reading... Full patent description for System for improving the balance of a person Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this System for improving the balance of a person patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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