Squat and Lunge Training Device

• US 20100274166A1
• Filed: 04/22/2010
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Timothy Terrio
• Original Assignee: Timothy Terrio
• Inventors: Terrio, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 9,168,165 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/23
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0113 Drop-foot appliances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2023/0411 Squatting exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0072 Limiting the applied force, torque, movement or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0405 involving a bending of the knee and hip joints simultaneously A63B23/0476 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0059 worn by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0062 Leg restraining devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0054 Features for injury prevention on an apparatus, e.g. shock absorbers mats or the like for absorbing shocks for jumping A63B6/00

Abstract

A device which restricts movement of the knee during lunge and squatting exercises prevents weight imbalance which may result in undue strain and knee injury. The device has a foot engagement member which is either stepped upon by the user and held in place by the user'"'"'s weight, or the foot engagement member conforms to the side of the user'"'"'s foot and is held in place by a strap or other means. Attached to the foot engagement is a vertical member which extends upwardly from the foot engagement member. A shin engagement member attached to the vertical member. The shin engagement member is generally positioned in a position along the lower leg of the user, below the knee and laterally adjacent to the user'"'"'s tibia. As the user does a lunge, squat, or similar exercise, the shin engagement member prevents the user'"'"'s knees from forward movement which extends forward of the user'"'"'s feet. The device also has structure which prevents inward collapse of the knees during the exercise.

Claims

1. A device for assisting a human user in properly performing a leg exercise, the leg exercise of the type where, for a single repetition of the exercise, the user starts in a standing position with his or her feet flat on a ground surface, with the toes of each foot pointing forward, the user thereafter pushes leans forward on a first leg attached to a first foot, and begins to bend at a first knee of the first leg and continuing to bend at the first knee until the a portion of first leg above the first knee is substantially parallel to the ground surface, and completing the repetition by rising back to a standing position, wherein, in the proper performance of the above described repetition, the user'"'"'s first knee does not extend forward of the toes of the first foot and does not turn inward, the device comprising:

a foot engagement member engaging the first foot while at least a portion of the foot engagement member simultaneously engages the ground surface;

a vertical member attached to the first foot engagement member, the vertical member comprising structure which causes the vertical member to remain substantially stationary during the repetition of the leg exercise;

a shin engagement member attached to the vertical member, the shin engagement member abutting a portion of the lower front of the first leg, the shin engagement member comprising structure which restricts forward movement;

means for restricting inward movement of the first knee during the repetition of the leg exercise; and

means for retaining the device in engagement with the first leg.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the foot engagement member, the vertical member, and the shin engagement member are an integral unit.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the structure which causes the vertical member to remain substantially stationary during the repetition of the squatting device comprises a rigid structure molded to conformably engage a portion of the lower front of the first leg.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the structure which restricts forward movement of the first knee during the repetition of the leg exercise is a rigid member which abuts the user'"'"'s leg below the first knee.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the foot engagement member comprises a rigid structure molded to conformably engage to an inside edge of the first foot.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the means for restricting inward movement of the user'"'"'s knees during the repetition of the leg exercise comprises a ground surface support member laterally extending from the foot engagement member.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for retaining the device in engagement with the first leg comprises a first strap which attaches the foot engagement member to the first foot and a second strap which attaches the shin engagement member to the first leg.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the first strap and second strap comprise hook and loop fasteners.

9. A device for assisting a human user in properly performing a squatting exercise, the squatting exercise of the type where, for a single repetition of the exercise, the user starts in a standing position with his or her feet flat and spread approximately a shoulder width apart with his or her toes pointing forward, the user thereafter pushes his or her hips rearward and begins to bend at the knees, maintaining the lower legs substantially motionless, continuing to bend at the knees until the top of the user'"'"'s hips have descended below the top of the user'"'"'s knees, and completing the repetition by rising back to a standing position, wherein, in the proper performance of the above described repetition, the user'"'"'s knees do not extend forward of the user'"'"'s toes and do not turn inward, the device comprising:

a pair of foot engagement members each engaging one of the users feet while at least a portion of the foot engagement member simultaneously engages a ground surface;

a pair of vertical members, each attached to a corresponding foot engagement member, the vertical members each comprising structure which causes each vertical member to remain substantially stationary during the repetition of the squatting exercise;

a pair of shin engagement members each attached to a corresponding vertical member, each shin engagement member abutting a portion of the lower front of one of the user'"'"'s legs, the shin engagement members comprising structure which restricts forward movement of the user'"'"'s knees during the repetition of the squatting exercise;

means for restricting inward movement of the user'"'"'s knees; and

means for retaining the device in engagement with the legs of the user.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the foot engagement member, the vertical member, and the shin engagement member are an integral unit.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the structure which causes the vertical member to remain substantially stationary during the repetition of the squatting device comprises a rigid structure molded to conformably engage a portion of the user'"'"'s lower leg.

12. The device of claim 9 wherein the structure which restricts forward movement user'"'"'s knees during the repetition of the squatting exercise is a rigid member which abuts the user'"'"'s leg below the knee.

13. The device of claim 9 wherein the foot engagement member comprises a rigid structure molded to conformably engage to an inside edge of the user'"'"'s foot.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the means for restricting inward movement of the user'"'"'s knees during the repetition of the squatting exercise comprises a ground engaging support member laterally extending from the foot engagement member.

15. The device of claim 9 wherein the means for retaining the device in engagement with the legs of the user comprises a first strap which attaches the foot engagement member to the foot of the user and a second strap which attaches the shin engagement member to the user'"'"'s leg.

16. A device for assisting a human user in properly performing a squatting exercise, the squatting exercise of the type where, for a single repetition of the exercise, the user starts in a standing position with his or her feet flat and spread approximately a shoulder width apart with his or her toes pointing forward, the user thereafter pushes his or her hips rearward and begins to bend at the knees, maintaining the lower legs substantially motionless, continuing to bend at the knees until the top of the user'"'"'s hips have descended below the top of the user'"'"'s knees, and completing the repetition by rising back to a standing position, wherein, in the proper performance of the above described repetition, the user'"'"'s knees do not extend forward of the user'"'"'s toes and do not turn inward, the device comprising:

a pair of foot engagement members each stood upon by one of the users feet while at least a portion of the foot engagement member simultaneously engages a ground surface;

a pair of vertical members, each attached to a corresponding foot engagement member, the vertical members each comprising an elongate slot traversing a portion of the length of each vertical member; and

a pair of shin engagement members each attached to a corresponding vertical member, each shin engagement member abutting a portion of the lower front of one of the user'"'"'s legs, the shin engagement members comprising means for slidingly attaching to the elongate slot of the respective vertical, each shin engagement member comprising a front member which limits forward movement of the user'"'"'s knees and side member which restricts inward movement of the user'"'"'s knees during the repetition of the squatting exercise.

17. The device of claim 16 further comprising a cushion member attached to the front member on the side facing the user'"'"'s knee.

18. The device of claim 16 further comprising a locking mechanism for manually locking the position of the shin engagement member with respect to the vertical member.