Frontal sole exercise device

• US 5,461,799 A
• Filed: 08/30/1993
• Issued: 10/31/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: METAPRO
• Original Assignee: METAPRO
• Inventors: Kim, John Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hilliard, Thomas P.
• Application Number:
  US08/115,169
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 36/7.1 R, 36/7.2, 36/7.4, 36/7.7, 36/7.5, 36/7.6, 36/7.8, 36/11.5, 36/23, 36/25 R, 36/50.1, 36/54, 36/81, 36/88, 36/89, 36/90, 36/106, 36/112-114 , 36/132, 36/140, 36/77 R, 36/1
• US Class Current: 36/7.2
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/20 Heel-less overshoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/18 Attachable overshoes for sporting purposes

Abstract

An exercise device for strengthening the muscles and ligaments of the feet, legs and lower torso. The device comprises a platform element, front and rear securing straps, a footbed and a tractive sole. The rear securing straps are attached substantially below the upper level of the platform element, helping to preclude inadvertent egress from the device while in use. The front securing straps are for substantially securing the forward portion of the foot to the device. In a preferred embodiment, the exercise device comprises a longitudinal upper strap, a radial lower strap and a mid strap for maintaining the foot securely in the exercise device.

Claims

1. A frontal sole exercise device for removably coupling to footwear, the footwear having an outsole, a heel, a vamp, a backstay, and a tip, the device comprising:

a platform having a semi-circular-like shaped wall, the wall defining a footbed for receiving the outsole of the footwear, the platform of sufficient thickness for elevating the heel off the ground;

a Y-shaped strap attached to the platform, one end of the Y-shaped strap attached to the platform for a frontal coincidence with the tip of the footwear and a front tip of the platform, ends opposite the one end of the Y-shaped strap being positioned on opposite sides of the footwear with the one end of the Y-shaped strap being directly adjacent to an exterior surface of the wall;

two lower anchor straps disposed apart from one another being attached to the platform, the two lower anchor straps being positioned on opposite sides of the footwear;

a K-shaped strap, a first two ends of the K-shaped strap for attachment to the ends opposite the one end of Y-shaped strap, a second two ends of the K-shaped strap for attachment to respective ends of the two lower anchor straps, the K-shaped strap being positioned around the back stay and along opposite sides of the footwear;

two securing straps attached on opposite sides of the footbed and adjacent to the wall, the two securing straps being positioned on opposite sides and on top of the footwear; and

a plurality of means for attaching the first two ends of the K-shaped strap to the ends opposite the one end of the Y-shaped strap, for attaching the second two ends of the K-shaped strap for attachment to the respective ends of the two lower anchor straps, and for attaching ends of the securing straps to one another;

the Y-shaped strap attached to the platform and to the K-shaped strap for limiting displacement of the tip from the wall owing to rearward movement of the footwear.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of means for attaching comprises buckles.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of means for attaching allows for adjustment of the device for accommodating footwear of varying dimensions.

4. A frontal sole exercise device for removably coupling to footwear, the footwear having an outsole, a vamp, a heel, a backstay, and a tip, the device comprising:

a platform having a semi-circular-like shaped wall, the wall defining the footbed for receiving the outsole of the footwear, the platform of sufficient thickness for elevating the heel;

a Y-shaped strap attached to the platform, one end of the Y-shaped strap attached to the platform for a frontal coincidence with the tip of the footwear and a front tip of the platform, ends opposite the one end of the Y-shaped strap being positioned on opposite sides of the footwear with the one end of the Y-shaped strap being directly adjacent to an exterior surface of the wall;

two lower anchor straps disposed apart from one another being attached to the platform, the two lower anchor straps being positioned on opposite sides of the footwear;

an upper strap having two ends for attachment to the ends opposite the one end of the Y-shaped strap, the upper strap being positioned around the backstay and along opposite sides of the footwear;

a lower strap having two ends for attachment to respective ends of the two lower anchor straps, the lower strap being positioned around the backstay and along opposite sides of the footwear;

two securing straps attached on opposite sides of the footbed and adjacent to the wall, the two securing straps being positioned on opposite sides and on top of the footwear; and

a plurality of means for attaching the two ends of the upper strap to the ends opposite the one end of the Y-shaped strap, for attaching the two ends of the lower strap to the respective ends of the two lower anchor straps, and for attaching ends of the securing straps to one another;

the Y-shaped strap attached to the platform and to the upper strap for limiting displacement of the tip from the wall owing to rearward movement of the footwear.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the plurality of means for attaching comprises buckles.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein the plurality of means for attaching allows for adjustment of the device for accommodating footwear of varying dimensions.