STRIDE STRETCHING APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20090286661A1
• Filed: 07/24/2009
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brian E. Campbell
• Original Assignee: Brian E. Campbell
• Inventors: Campbell, Brian E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,896,784 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/124
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2023/006 for stretching exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0023 for isometric exercising, i.e. substantial force variation without substantial muscle motion
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4015 to the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4019 to the hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/04 for lower limbs training appliances for special sports A63B69/00; for the purpose of producing mechanical power F03G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/907 Stretching

Abstract

A unique apparatus designed to facilitate various types of stretches and exercise routines found in yoga, Pilates, fitness, and rehabilitation. The stride and leg stretching system has a one-size-fits-most design, allowing comfort in operation. The stride and leg stretching system is designed to increase range of motion of the ankle joint in all three clinical planes of motion, while affecting the muscular walking system of the hips, legs, and lower back. The design allows for adjustment based on the preference of the user via a hook and loop fastener strap. The unit has a firm, non-flexible base that prevents the foot from bending, while allowing complete freedom for the ankle joint. The top portion of the foot casing is a soft, flexible material that can accommodate varying foot size comfortably. The pivoting handles allow for a comfortable grip, keeping the muscles relaxed in the upper body, and prevent unwanted torsional forces in the wrist.

Claims

1. A stride and leg stretching system for enabling stretching of a user'"'"'s musculoskeletal system generally at or below the user'"'"'s hips, the stride and leg stretching system comprising:

a foot-engaging portion for securely engaging a foot, the foot-engaging portion having a front side, a rear side, a left side, and a right side, the foot-engaging portion being detachably attachable to a user'"'"'s foot, the foot-engaging portion having a sole adapted to prevent the foot from bending while providing freedom of articulation for a user'"'"'s ankle joint, the sole having a lower side for engaging the ground and an upper side for engaging the foot, the sole of resilient material sufficient to support a person'"'"'s weight and to provide pedal support for the person'"'"'s foot;

the lower side of the sole having at least one side of a hook and loop fastener pair exposed thereon, the sole adapted to provide easier adjustment for various size feet via the hook and loop fastener pair;

the sole being approximately three-sixteenth inch thick, being approximately ten inches long, having a front width of approximately four and five-eighths inch, and having a rear heel insert area approximately three inches wide;

the sole having the left side and the right side raised approximately one inch in height tapering to approximately two inches in height at approximately the heel insert area;

the foot-engaging portion further having a harness coupled to the sole and adapted to detachably engage the foot to hold the sole on the foot, the harness further having a rear ankle strap and a front securing strap with the rear ankle strap adapted to secure a user'"'"'s ankle upon a heel portion of the sole and the front securing strap adapted to secure a front part of the user'"'"'s foot upon a front of the sole;

the rear ankle strap approximately two inches wide, approximately thirteen inches long and approximately three-eighths inches thick and constructed of soft, pliable material;

the front securing strap approximately two inches wide and approximately twelve inches in length;

a manual-engagement strap for manual engagement by the user wearing the foot-engaging portion, the manual engagement strap attached on a first side to the left side of the foot-engaging portion and attached on a second side to the right side of the foot-engaging portion;

the manual-engagement strap including soft, pliable woven material, the manual engagement strap being approximately six feet in length, being approximately one and one-half inches in width, and being approximately one-sixteenth inch in thickness;

the manual engagement strap including a hand insert;

the hand insert having a first opening approximately eighteen inches from a point of attachment of the manual engagement strap with the foot-engaging portion, the hand insert comprising a series of loops adapted for engagement by a user'"'"'s hand, each loop being approximately five inches long, with about 2 inches between each loop, whereby the user may use the user'"'"'s hand to articulate the manual engagement strap and the foot-engaging portion;

a removable handle adapted for engaging an opening in the manual engagement strap, the removable handle enabling better manual engagement of the manual-engagement strap and resulting flexible articulation of the person'"'"'s foot;

the removable handle further having a hook portion for removably engaging the manual-engagement strap and a handle portion coupled to the hook portion, the handle portion adapted for manual engagement and controlling tension on the hook portion;

whereby the use may attach the foot-engaging portion to the foot and subsequently stretch the user'"'"'s stride and/or leg associated with the foot by manipulating and engaging the manual-engagement strap either manually or with the removable handle.

2. A stride and leg stretching system, comprising:

a foot-engaging portion for securely engaging a foot, the foot-engaging portion having a front side, a rear side, a left side, and a right side, the foot-engaging portion being detachably attachable to a user'"'"'s foot; and

a manual-engagement strap for manual engagement by a user wearing the foot-engaging portion, the manual engagement strap attached on a first side to the left side of the foot-engaging portion and attached on a second side to the right side of the foot-engaging portion;

whereby the user may attach the foot-engaging portion to the foot and subsequently stretch the user'"'"'s stride and/or leg associated with the foot by manipulating and engaging the manual-engagement strap.

3. A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the foot-engaging portion further comprise a sole adapted to prevent the foot from bending while providing freedom of articulation for a user'"'"'s ankle joint, the sole having a lower side for engaging the ground and an upper side for engaging the foot.

4. A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the sole further comprise a resilient material sufficient to support a person'"'"'s weight and to provide pedal support for the person'"'"'s foot.

5. A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the lower side has at least one side of a hook and loop fastener pair exposed thereon.

6. A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the lower side is configured to provide easier adjustment for various size feet via the at least one side of a hook and loop fastener pair.

7. A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the sole further comprises:

the sole being approximately three-sixteenth inch thick, being approximately ten inches long, having a front width of approximately four and five-eighths inch, and having a rear heel insert area approximately three inches wide; and

the sole having the left side and the right side raised approximately one inch in height tapering to approximately two inches in height at approximately the heel insert area.

8. A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the foot-engaging portion further comprises a harness, the harness coupled to the sole and configured to detachably engage the foot to hold the sole on the foot.

9. A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the harness further comprises:

a rear ankle strap and a front securing strap;

the rear ankle strap adapted to secure an ankle upon a heel portion of the sole; and

the front securing strap adapted to secure a front part of a foot upon a front of the sole.

10. A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the rear ankle strap is approximately two inches wide, approximately thirteen inches long and approximately three-eights inches thick and is constructed of soft, pliable material.

11. A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the front securing strap is approximately two inches wide and approximately twelve inches in length.

12. A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the manual-engagement strap further comprises soft, pliable woven material, the manual engagement strap being approximately six feet in length, being approximately one and one-half inches in width, and being approximately one-sixteenth inch in thickness.

13. A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the manual-engagement strap further comprises a hand insert.

14. A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the hand insert comprises one or more loops adapted for engagement by a user'"'"'s hand.

15. A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the hand insert comprises a first opening approximately eighteen inches from a point of attachment of the manual engagement strap with the foot-engaging portion, the hand insert being series of loops, each loop being approximately five inches long and adapted for engagement by a user'"'"'s hand, each loop being separated from another loop by approximately two inches, whereby the user may use the hand to articulate the manual engagement strap and the foot-engaging portion.

16. A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a removable handle adapted for engaging an opening in the manual-engagement strap, the removable handle enabling better manual engagement of the manual-engagement strap and resulting flexible articulation of the user'"'"'s foot.

17. A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in claim 16, wherein the removable handle further comprises:

a hook portion for removably engaging the manual-engagement strap; and

a handle portion coupled to the hook portion, the handle portion adapted for manual engagement and controlling tension on the hook portion.