Nike, Inc.

Nike International Ltd.

Tobin Nathaniel Guild

Michael C Kemery

Zvi Rapaport

A method of thermoforming an inflatable structure of dissimilar materials includes the steps of providing a first sheet formed of a first material and a second sheet formed of a second material different than the first material, the second sheet being spaced from the first sheet, and a valve being positioned between the first and second sheets; heating the first and second sheets to a temperature above their glass transition temperature and below their melting point; bonding the first and second sheets together in a mold having an opposed pair of cavities to form an inflatable structure having a seal around a periphery thereof, the valve extending through the seal and being in fluid communication with an interior and exterior of the inflatable structure; and trimming excess material from the periphery of the inflatable structure.

Inflatable structure and method of manufacture

One or more balancing objects are provided having an arcuate roof onto which a user may step and a pair of sidewalls to support the roof. The arcuate roof is shaped such that a portion of a user's foot will contact the balancing object when standing on the roof, thereby challenging the user to maintain balance in a more unsteady state than when standing flat-footed. The sidewalls extend downwardly from lateral side regions of the arcuate roof and preferably have a concave profile extending laterally towards one another to provide superior strength to the balancing object when loaded under a user's weight. A frictional overmold may be formed over the arcuate roof to provide a frictional surface preventing a user's footwear from slipping off of the balancing object. Multiple balancing objects may be positioned on a flat, horizontal surface in a variety of orientations such that the user can target certain muscle groups to train for improving balance and proprioception.

Balancing object

An inflatable structure includes a first side of a first material and a second side of a second material different from the first material. A sidewall connects the first and second sides, and a seam extends around the sidewall joining first and second portions of the sidewall. The first and second portions are secured to one another by thermoforming, and an inflation valve is positioned in the sidewall. The inflatable structure may be formed by heating the first and second sheets of material to a temperature above their glass transition temperature and below their melting point, compressing the first and second sheets of material together in a mold having an opposed pair of cavities such that the valve extends through the seal and is in fluid communication with an interior and exterior of the inflatable structure, and trimming excess material from the periphery of the inflatable structure.

A balancing board allowing for selection of a desired degree of stability is disclosed. The balancing board has a platform and a hemispherical fulcrum slidably mounted to platform and bifurcated into a pair of pivot members. Each pivot member is independently positionable along an underside of the platform opposite of an engagement surface upon which a user positions themselves to practice balancing training techniques. When the pivot members are slid together, the balancing board is freely pivotable about any axis in the plane of the surface on which the pivot members are resting. Conversely, when the pivot members are spaced apart from each other, the balancing board resists pivoting in a direction aligned with the axis along which the pivot members are slidable.

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Beaverton, OR, United States of America

Tobin Nathaniel Guild