FOOT EXERCISER AND ASSOCIATED METHODS

• US 20090270231A1
• Filed: 03/08/2006
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Progressive Health Innovations Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Progressive Health Innovations Incorporated
• Inventors: Myers, Jordan Aldon, Denny, Christopher Grant, Ferguson, Matthew Earle Crozier, Hall, Richard Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 7,794,367 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/79
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00069 Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0442 Anchored at one end only, the other end being manipulated by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0552 Elastic ropes or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0557 Details of attachments, e.g. clips or clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4015 to the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/08 for ankle joints
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/085 by rotational movement of the joint in a plane substantially parallel to the body-symmetrical-plane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/10 for feet or toes

Abstract

A foot, toe, and ankle exercise device provides variable resistance to movements in multiple directions. The device comprises a flexible forefoot support to allow for full toe and foot range of motion. The forefoot support includes a raised surface under the toes used to help align anatomical landmarks to delineate the resistance for the toes from that of the foot/ankle. Resistance may be provided by elastic banding or tubing that is mounted on an octagonal frame. Tensioners are provided to adjust the magnitude of the resistance. A height adjustable heel cup is mounted on a horizontal track to adjust the apparatus for use by different users with different size feet. A vertical track is provided to raise or lower the forefoot support and system of elastic banding or tubing so that full range movements are possible. In another version of the invention, inelastic banding along with weights is used to provide resistance.

Claims

1. Exercise apparatus comprising:

a forefoot member attachable to a forefoot of a user;

a projecting foot-locating feature on a superior surface of the forefoot member;

a plurality of resistance members connected to the forefoot member, the resistance members including one or more resistance members extending in a superior direction relative to the forefoot member and one or more other resistance members extending in an inferior direction relative to the forefoot member.

2. Exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the resistance members include resistance members that extend in each of two opposed lateral directions from the forefoot member.

3. Exercise apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the resistance members include one or more first resistance members that extend from the forefoot member in a first direction, one or more second resistance members that extend from the forefoot member in a second direction opposed to the first direction, one or more third resistance members that extend from the forefoot member in a third direction that is not parallel to either of the first or second directions and one or more fourth resistance members that extend from the forefoot member in a fourth direction opposed to the third direction.

4. Exercise apparatus according to claim 3 when the first and third directions are bilaterally symmetrical with respect to a plane passing perpendicularly through the forefoot member.

6. Exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the resistance members comprise elastic members.

8. Exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the forefoot member is flexible about a transverse axis.

11. Exercise apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the forefoot member comprises a removable stiffener extending longitudinally along the forefoot member wherein, when the stiffener is in place, the forefoot member is stiffer with respect to flexing about the transverse axis than it is when the stiffener is removed.

14. Exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the foot-locating feature comprises a transversely-extending ridge.

15. Exercise apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the foot-locating feature coincides longitudinally with the transverse axis.

16. Exercise apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the plurality of resistance members comprises a first set of resistance members connected to the forefoot member on a forward side of the transverse axis and a second set of resistance members connected to the forefoot member on a rearward side of the transverse axis.

17. Exercise apparatus according to claim 16 wherein each of the first and second sets of resistance members comprise resistance members that extend in each of two opposed lateral directions from the forefoot member.

18. Exercise apparatus according to claim 17 wherein each of the first and second sets of resistance members include one or more first resistance members that extend from the forefoot member in a first direction, one or more second resistance members that extend from the forefoot member in a second direction opposed to the first direction, one or more third resistance members that extend from the forefoot member in a third direction that is not parallel to either of the first or second directions and one or more fourth resistance members that extend from the forefoot member in a fourth direction opposed to the third direction.

19. Exercise apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the first and third directions are bilaterally symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane passing through the forefoot member.

21. Exercise apparatus according to claim 16 wherein, for each resistance member in the first set of resistance members there is a corresponding resistance member in the second set of resistance members and the resistance members of the first set of resistance members provide less resistance than the corresponding resistance members of the second set of resistance members.

22. Exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the forefoot member is suspended by the resistance members from a frame and the resistance members are connected to the frame at their ends remote from the forefoot member.

24. Exercise apparatus according to claim 22 comprising a heel support located adjacent to the forefoot member.

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31. Exercise apparatus comprising:

a forefoot member extending longitudinally between front and rear ends;

a plurality of resistance members connected to the forefoot member, the resistance members including a first set of one or more resistance members connected to the forefoot member at a first longitudinal position, the first set including one or more resistance members extending in a superior direction relative to the forefoot member and a second set comprising one or more other resistance members connected to the forefoot member at a second longitudinal position toward the front end of the forefoot member from the first longitudinal position.

32. Exercise apparatus according to claim 31 wherein the forefoot member is flexible about at least one transversely-extending axis at least in its portion between the first and second longitudinal positions.

33. Exercise apparatus according to claim 31 wherein the resistance members comprise elastically-stretchable members.

35. Exercise apparatus according to claim 33 wherein the resistance members of the first set provide greater resistance to stretching than the resistance members of the second set.

36. Exercise apparatus of claim 31 comprising a foot-locating feature projecting in a superior direction on a superior face of the forefoot member at a location between the first and second longitudinal positions.

46. Exercise apparatus according to claim 31 comprising a heel strap attached to the forefoot member.

47. Exercise apparatus according to claim 31 wherein ends of the resistance members remote from the forefoot member are coupled to a transversely-extending handle.

48. Exercise apparatus according to claim 47 wherein the handle is telescopic.

49. Exercise apparatus according to claim 47 wherein the handle comprises a plurality of sections that are detachably connected together.

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