Kicking device

The method shown contemplates a restraining element applied to the kicking foot of the player which, in turn, is secured to an elastic strap which is anchored at a remote position. The player then positions the pivot foot firmly on the ground or floor, and exercises the kicking leg by bending the knee with the toes downwardly and moving the knee to a position where the leg is substantially straight, and the ankle to a position where the foot is substantially perpendicular to the straight leg at the point when the foot is parallel with the floor or ground. Modifications of the method include starting from the position with the foot parallel with the ground and moving the leg forwardly with the toes extending progressively downwardly against the tension of the strap and then retracting through the same steps. The device discloses an elastic band for circumferentially engaging the ankle of the player with an elastomeric strap secured at a rear portion of the band adjacent the Achilles heel of the player, and anchoring the strap at a position remote from the point where it is attached to the ankle band. Desirably a clip with a ring is secured at the rear portion of the strap so that the same can be attached to a tree, post, or other anchor portion adjacent the ground or floor.

FIELD OF INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to a kicking device and method. The art 
is classified in class 273 sub-class 55B and class 272 sub-classes 80, 82, 
83, 125, 137 and 141, and elsewhere. 
THE PRIOR ART 
The Prior Art is exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 1,905,352 entitled "Punting 
Machine" which is a large complicated device utilizing a plurality of 
sequentially engaged loads. Other patents such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 
3,749,400; 1,734,238: and 2,340,66 are leg exercising devices, many of 
which are designed for use on the prone or seated position. As to the 
nonpatented devices, leg weights are employed such as small dumbbells 
layed over the ankle, as well as ankle weights for lifting. 
In the various methods for strengthening the kicking leg running is 
employed, kicking of the ball, whether football or soccer ball is repeated 
generally outdoors. Running in shallow water is often encouraged. 
The problem with all of the devices disclosed in a patent literature, as 
well as the methods set forth above, is that they require a special 
environment, and often times do not adequately and precisely control the 
particular muscles and sequence to strengthen the leg for proper kicking. 
As pointed out in The Athletic Journal, Volume 60, issued Sept. 19, 1979 by 
Richard Salvino "Dynamics of Punting" when a moving mass collides with a 
stationary object, the moving mass tends to retain its speed. The lighter 
object, such as a football or soccer ball which is at rest, may acquire as 
much as double the speed as the original moving mass or foot. It is 
therefore important for the foot to have as much speed as possible at the 
point of contact with the ball so that the gain in the speed of the ball 
will be increased substantially, resulting in maximum distance of travel 
by the ball. 
To acquire the maximum transfer of foot speed to the ball, the foot and the 
ankle must be as rigid as possible. This rigidity, coupled with a 
conditioned speed and strength, permits the kicker to often times double 
the velocity of the ball and thereby maximize the kicking distance and, 
depending upon the dexterity of the player, also the accuracy of the 
direction and distance of the ball. 
SUMMARY 
The present invention as to the method contemplates a restraining element 
applied to the kicking foot of the player which, in turn, is secured to an 
elastic strap which is anchored at a remote position. The player then 
positions the pivot foot firmly on the ground or floor, and exercises the 
kicking leg by bending the knee with the toes downwardly and moving the 
knee to a position where the leg is substantially straight, and the ankle 
to a position where the foot is substantially perpendicular to the 
straight leg at the point when the foot is parallel with the floor or 
ground. Modifications of the method include starting from the position 
with the foot parallel with the ground and moving the leg forwardly with 
the toes extending progressively downwardly against the tension of the 
strap and then retracting through the same steps. Optionally, to increase 
the tension and the load on the player, the player can continue with a 
marked position for the pivot foot and wrap the strap around the ankle 
thereby increasing the tension for further firming up the exercise. 
The device contemplates an elastic band for circumferentially engaging the 
ankle of the player with an elastomeric strap secured at a rear portion of 
the band adjacent the Achilles heel of the player, and anchoring the strap 
at a position remote from the point where it is attached to the ankle 
band. Desirably a clip with a ring is secured at the rear portion of the 
strap so that the same can be attached to a tree, post, or other anchor 
portion adjacent the ground or floor. 
Both the method and the device may be used indoors or outdoors, and can be 
used in a solo fashion not requiring a helper to retrieve balls, or 
otherwise assist the player. 
In view of the foregoing it is the principal object of the present 
invention to maximize the kicking capability of a player by providing an 
exercise which will cause him to repeatedly move the leg and foot through 
that arc and against those forces which will maximize the velocity and 
rigidity of the foot when it contacts a ball. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a kicking device 
which is economical to fabricate, simple to be used, and applicable for 
both indoors and outdoors usage. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a kicking device 
and method which can be progressively loaded to increase the severity of 
the exercise. 
Another detailed object of the present invention is to provide a kicking 
device which will be comfortable while worn, and not interfere with the 
trajectory of the foot while exercising.

THE METHOD 
The method of the present invention will be understood by following FIGS. 
1-7, and noting that the portions of the body are set forth on those 
figures with understandable arabic letter designations. As noted in FIG. 
1, for example, the foot F and the ankle A are naturally at the lower 
portion of the lower leg with the tibialis interior muscle at the forward 
portion of the lower leg being the exercised principal muscle and 
achieving the perpendicular relationship between the foot F and the lower 
leg LL. The upper leg UL moves the lower leg LL forward primarily by 
exercising the quadraceps femoris to bend the leg at the knee joint to 
straighten up the upper leg UL in its relationship with the lower leg LL. 
Essentially at the point of contact, the gastrocnemius which is the major 
portion of the calf exercises the Achilles tendon and works in balancing 
fashion with the tibialis interior to preserve the rigidity of the foot F 
in its relationship between the lower leg LL and the ankle A. 
As noted, particularly in FIG. 3 the foot F is substantially perpendicular 
to the lower leg LL at the point where the foot F is substantially 
parallel with the ground or floor. 
A further exercise contemplated by the method starts with position shown in 
FIG. 3 and moves the lower leg LL forward with the foot positioned 
continually in a perpendicular relationship to the lower leg LL. 
A further exercise is illustrated in FIG. 5 where the foot F is pointed 
downwardly from the lower leg LL and as the lower leg LL is moved 
forwardly the foot F is raised to a position where it becomes 
substantially perpendicular to the lower leg LL. FIG. 7 shows the phantom 
lines the return slowly from the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. 
THE KICKING DEVICE 
The kicking device 10 essentially as shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, is 
outlined in broad detail on FIG. 1 where it will be seen that the kicking 
device 10 includes an elastic band 11 with an elastic strap 20 extending 
rearwardly from it. The kicking device 10 is secured to the foot F of the 
player at all times while the exercises are being conducted. 
In greater detail, it will be seen that the elastic ankle band 11 is a toe 
opening 12, and ankle opening at the upper portion 14, and a heel opening 
15 at the lower portion. The openings are surrounded by a toe seam 16, and 
ankle seam 18, and a heel seam 19. Such elastic ankle bands 11 are 
commercially available, one model of which is known by the trademark "The 
Bike". 
The elastic ankle band 11 is secured to an elastic strap 20, and terminates 
at its remote end and an end loop 21. The ankle band strap portion 22 is 
shown in FIG. 8, is stitched to the elastic ankle band 11 and secured 
thereto. At the rear portion of the elastic ankle band 11, the elastic 
strap 20 is secured by means of an anchor portion 24 which is 
substantially adjacent to the Achilles tendon of the player. The remote 
end of the elastic strap 20 has secured to its end loop 21 a swivel clip 
25, the securing being through the eye 26 of the swivel clip 25. 
As shown particularly by comparison of the illustrations in FIGS. 8 and 9, 
a ring 30 is provided around the elastic strap 20 to be engaged by means 
of clip 25 in surrounding engagement to an anchor post 35, the latter 
being shown in phantom lines in FIG. 8. 
Desirably the elastic strap 20 is of a double thickness as shown in FIG. 
10, the same being secured by means of double-thickness stitches 28 which, 
of course, provide the end loop 21 for engaging the swivel clip 25, as 
well as the means for stitching the ankle band strap forward portion 22 to 
the elastic ankle band 11. 
In review it will be seen that a method has been shown and described for 
strengthening the kicking leg, and confining the kicker's efforts to 
maximize the rigidity of the relationship between the player's foot and 
the leg at the point of ball contact, while applying a restraining force 
causing the muscles to be exercise. The exercising of the muscles in this 
fashion will increase the players capability of maximum speed of the 
travel of the foot at the point of ball contact while training him to also 
maximize the rigid relationship between the foot and the lower leg. 
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and 
described in full here, there is no intention to thereby limit the 
invention to the details of such embodiments. On the contrary, the 
intention is to cover all modifications, alternatives, embodiments, usages 
and equivalents of the subject invention as fall within the spirit and 
scope of the invention, specification and the appended claims.