Exercise handles for athletic shoes

• US 4,596,387 A
• Filed: 11/28/1984
• Issued: 06/24/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Patrick S. Roberts
• Original Assignee: Patrick S. Roberts
• Inventors: Roberts, Patrick S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kramer, Arnold W.
• Application Number:
  US06/675,550
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 272/93, 272/70, 272/70 A, 272/119, 272/125, 272/143, 272/145, 272/94, 272/96, 273/DIG. 18, 273/DIG. 30, 434/247, 434/250, 434/260, 446/26, 24/68 SK, 36/113, 36/114, 36/117, 36/122, 36/125, 36/132, 36/136, 36/138, 36/8.3, 36/11, 36/23, 36/62, 36/66, 36/71.5, 128/25 B
• US Class Current: 482/139
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2023/006 for stretching exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4011 to the lower limbs means for physically limiting movements of body parts A63B69/0057
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4017 to the upper limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 273/18 Shoe mounted
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 273/30 Hooked pile fabric fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2183 Ski, boot, and shoe fasteners

Abstract

The invention comprises flexible handles which are adjustable in length, and which are attached to athletic shoes. The handles may be attached at various points on each shoe, adjusted to the desired length, and the wearer can grasp the handles to aid and augment exercises, and muscle toning routines.

Claims

1. Exercise handles and a pair of athletic shoes, said handles comprising:

two handles, and a plurality of attachment means, each said attachment means being affixed separatedly and permanently at one of various positions on each shoe of the pair, and

each handle being flexible, and having an adjusting means located at the approximate mid-length of the said handle to allow the length of the said handle to be lengthened or shortened, and each said handle having affixed thereto on each extremity, a mating means, whereby each of the said handles may be removably affixed to one of the shoes by mating the mating means to one of the attaching means on one of the shoes and the other mating means of said handle to another attaching means on said shoe, thereby forming a loop type handle on one shoe, and wherein the other handle is attached to the other shoe of the pair in an identical manner, thereby forming a loop type handle on the other shoe of the pair, and wherein both shoes of the pair have an adjustable loop type handle affixed to each shoe.

2. The exercise handles and athletic shoes of claim 1 wherein the attachment means are affixed to each shoe of the pair externally on the left and right sides in the ball area, the arch area, and the heel area, and one attachment means is affixed to the toe area of each shoe.

3. The exercise handles and athletic shoes of claim 1 wherein the mating means are affixed to the extremities of the handles, and wherein any of the maing means can mate with anyone of the attaching means on each of the shoes of the pair.

4. The exercise handles and athletic shoes of claim 1 wherein the attachment means are patches of Velcro material sewn to each shoe of the pair, said patches being sewn to each shoe, externally on the left side and the right side at the ball area, the arch area, and the heel area, and one patch is sewn to the toe area of each said shoe, and wherein the mating means, affixed to the extremities of each handle, are Velcro material.

5. The exercise handles and athletic shoes of claim 1 wherein the attachment means are snaps affixed externally to each shoe of the pair, said snaps being affixed externally on the left side and the right side at the ball area, the arch area, and the heel area, and one snap at the toe area of each shoe, and wherein the mating means is a mating snap affixed to the extremities of the handles, and wherein all attachment means are of one gender, male or female, and wherein the mating means are all of one gender, male or female, and wherein the mating means are all of the opposite gender from the attachment means, male or female.

6. The exercise handles and athletic shoes of claim 1 wherein the attachment means are loops of rather strong material, similar to belt loops, and wherein the loops are sewn to each shoe of the pair externally on the left side and the right side at the ball area, the arch area, and the heel area, and wherein one loop is sewn at the toe area of each shoe of the pair, and wherein the mating means is a clip type means capable of being easily secured and removed from the loops.

7. The exercise handles and athletic shoes of claim 1 wherein the attachment means are rings, made of metal, which are affixed to each shoe of the pair externally on the left side and the right side at the ball area, the arch area, and the heel area, and one ring is affixed to the toe area of each shoe of the pair, and wherein the mating means at the extremities of the handles are clips which can be easily secured to and removed from the rings.

8. The exercise handles and athletic shoes of claim 1 wherein the adjusting means is a buckle and holes to accomodate the buckle.

9. The exercise handles and athletic shoes of claim 1 wherein the adjusting means is two rings affixed to one half handle of each handle, and through which the other half handle is threaded so that the second half handle folds on itself, securing the two half handles to each other.

10. The exercise handles and athletic shoes of claim 1 wherein the handles are made out of cordage.

11. The exercise handles and athletic shoes of claim 1 wherein the handles are made out of webbing material.

12. The exercise handles and athletic shoes of claim 1 wherein the handles are made out of flexible leather.