Apparatus and method for exercising the leg

• US 5,743,831 A
• Filed: 07/15/1996
• Issued: 04/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alek Jakich
• Original Assignee: Alek Jakich
• Inventors: Jakich, Alek
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LaMarca, William
• Application Number:
  US08/680,022
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 482/52, 482/79, 482/142, 482/34, 482/36, 482/907, 601/34, 601/35, 601/27, 601/28
• US Class Current: 482/52
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2023/006 for stretching exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0458 Step exercisers without moving parts with movable steps A63B22/04
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/08 for ankle joints

Abstract

The invention comprises a product of and a method of using a raised platform which preferably has two pairs of sides. One pair of sides converge to define a protrusion and to accommodate feet which are turned inwardly; the other pair of sides recede to define an opening and to accommodate feet which are turned outwardly. Each side in a pair of sides is separately configured so the user can place his foot on the platform when the foot is turned inwardly or outwardly. The platform is supported above a lower surface by legs.

Claims

1. A method of exercising the leg comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus comprising a flat platform with a first top surface and a second top surface, said platform being defined by a plurality of sides including a first side extending along said first top surface and a second side extending along said second top surface, said first side and said second side each having a common end, said first side and said second side converging at an angle with respect to each other at said common ends thereof, said first side and said second side each having free ends opposite to said common ends;

a third side and a fourth side, said free end of said first side being adjacent to said third side and said free end of said second side being adjacent to said fourth side;

a fifth side and a sixth side, said fifth side being adjacent to said third side and extending toward said second side, and said sixth side being adjacent to said fourth side and extending toward said first side;

said first top surface being coplanar with said second top surface to define a plane; and

legs for bracing said platform above a base surface;

placing a first forefoot of a user on said first top surface and placing a second forefoot of said user on said second top surface; and

extending the heels of each foot in a direction longitudinally away from the legs of the user through said plane while maintaining both forefeet on the first and second top surfaces; and

withdrawing the heels of each foot in a direction longitudinally toward the legs of the user back through and away from said plane while maintaining both forefeet on the first and second top surfaces of said platform.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second sides of said apparatus converge inwardly to define an angular opening.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said first and second sides of said apparatus approximately define a right angle.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said angular opening of said apparatus is sufficiently wide to allow each foot of said user to be placed perpendicular to each respective one of said first and second sides of said angular opening.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second sides of said apparatus converge outwardly to define an angular protrusion.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said first and second sides of said apparatus approximately define a right angle.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said angular protrusion of said apparatus is sufficiently narrow to allow each foot of said user to be placed on said platform perpendicular to each respective one of said first and second sides of said angular protrusion.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein said angular protrusion of said apparatus is sufficiently narrow to allow said user to place each foot on said platform perpendicular to each respective one of said first and second sides of said angular protrusion.

8. A method of exercising the leg comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus comprising a flat platform with a first top surface and a second top surface, said platform being defined by a plurality of sides including a first side extending along said first top surface and a second side extending along said second top surface, said first side and said second side each having a common end, said first side and said second side converging at said common ends thereof, said first side and said second side each having free ends;

a third side and a fourth side, said free end of said first side being adjacent to said third side and said free end of said second side being adjacent to said fourth side;

a fifth side and a sixth side each having a common end, said fifth side being adjacent to said third side and extending toward said second side, said sixth side being adjacent to said fourth side and extending toward said first side, and said fifth side and said sixth side converging at said common ends thereof; and

said first top surface being coplanar with said second top surface to define a plane and legs for bracing said platform above a ground surface;

placing a first forefoot of a user on said first top surface and placing a second forefoot of said user on said second top surface; and

extending the heels of each foot in a direction longitudinally away from the legs of the user through said plane while maintaining both forefeet on the first and second top surfaces; and

withdrawing the heels of each foot in a direction longitudinally toward the legs of the user back through and away from said plane while maintaining both forefeet on the first and second top surfaces of said platform.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said first and second sides of said apparatus define a right angle.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said fifth and sixth sides of said apparatus define an angular opening.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said angular opening of said apparatus is sufficiently wide to allow said user to place each foot on said platform perpendicular to each respective one of said fifth and sixth sides of said angular opening.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said platform of said apparatus comprises two elongated beams each with a common end and a free end, the common ends of each of said elongated beams joining at a junction to define both an angular protrusion on the outside and an angular opening on the inside of the junction.

14. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein said top of said platform of said apparatus is substantially parallel above a ground surface.

19. The method of claim 8, wherein said first and second sides of said apparatus define an angular protrusion.

15. A method of exercising the leg comprising the steps of:

providing a flat platform with a top surface defining a plane and a plurality of sides, wherein a first side and a second side converge at an angle with respect to each other, the top surface of the platform providing a first surface adjacent said first side and a second surface adjacent said second side; and

said platform being supported above a ground surface;

placing a first forefoot of a user on said first surface and placing a second forefoot of said user on said second surface;

extending the heels of each foot in a direction longitudinally away from the legs of the user through said plane while maintaining both forefeet on the respective first and second surfaces; and

withdrawing the heels of each foot in a direction longitudinally toward the legs of the user back through and away from said plane while maintaining both forefeet on the respective first and second surfaces of said platform.

16. The method of claim 15 including the additional step of turning each foot of said user laterally inward, so that the forefeet of both feet are closer together than the heels of both feet before extending the heels of each foot in a direction longitudinally away from the legs of the user.

17. The method of claim 15, including placing each foot substantially perpendicular to each respective side.

18. The method of claim 15 including the additional step of turning each foot of said user laterally outward, so that the forefeet of both feet are farther apart than the heels of both feet before extending the heels of each foot in a direction longitudinally away from the legs of the user.