Abstract:
The present invention is directed to an exercise and training device for runners and provides a means to train them to stay in the most efficient position for optimum muscle use and to improve speed and lateral quickness. The device comprises an upper thigh strap, a foot stirrup and a length of resilient elastic material adjustably secured therebetween and adjusted to maintain the user&#39;s knee at a 90° angle during running.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention is directed to an exercise and training device for runners and provides a means to train them to stay in the most efficient position for optimum muscle use and to improve speed and lateral quickness. The device comprises an upper thigh strap, a foot stirrup and a length of resilient elastic material adjustably secured therebetween and adjusted to maintain the user&#39;s knee at a 90° angle during running. Securing the upper strap around the upper thigh places the resistive pressure of the elastic material along the quadriceps and hamstrings and effectively eliminates the strength of the hips from extending the user&#39;s leg and stretching the elastic material. The resilient elastic material may be any suitable material providing a relatively high tension elasticity. For example, rubber tubing, “bungee” cord, therapeutic elastic band such as that used in orthopedic rehabilitation, or the like. The foot stirrup comprises an arch strap that wraps around the user&#39;s foot at the arch and two separate heel straps extending rearward from the arch strap with means to secure the elastic material thereto. The heel straps serve to keep the elastic material away from the foot and to keep the heel off the ground so the user stays on his toes. The thigh strap is adapted to adjustably encircle the user&#39;s thigh and has an adjustable loop through which the elastic material passes from one heel strap to the other. The adjustability of the loop permits the device to be adjusted according to the length of the user&#39;s legs.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     When training athletes the correct mechanics of running, there are several things that both the athlete and the trainer must keep in mind and apply simultaneously and there can be a tendency to focus on one or two aspects while forgetting the others. To the extent possible, anything that can be done to apply principles subconsciously so that they become second nature to the athlete, is helpful.  
         [0003]     One of the key aspects of running and speed drills is to maintain the correct form and motion of the legs thereby making optimum use of the muscles to generate the most power without sacrificing power and energy to wasted movement.  
         [0004]     For speed, the optimum position for the legs is to have the knees bent at about 90° and for the athlete to run on his toes. This can be seen by watching slow motion film or video of sprinters who strive for speed over a short distance. Such athletes achieve such position, form and function through long hours of practice until it becomes second nature to adopt that position. However, while training, particularly during the early phases, it requires conscious effort on the part of the athlete and constant attention by the trainer to ensure that the correct form and position is adopted and used without lapsing to a less efficient form.  
         [0005]     Many devices have been proposed for use to give athletes resistance during running. These include devices having elastic bands connected between the athlete&#39;s waist and ankles which, while providing resistance, permit the athlete to use all of his leg muscles from the hips on down with the result that the athlete is able to straighten his legs when running. As a result, the athlete is not trained to maintain the correct position of the legs for optimum muscle use and maximum speed. Other devices use weights attached around the hips or quadriceps to provide resistance to the hip flexors and quadriceps in driving the knees upward during running. Such devices, while potentially helping with conditioning and muscle strength, do not restrict the athlete from fully extending his legs while running and, therefore, do not train the runner to maintain the correct and efficient form for running.  
         [0006]     What is needed is a device which is easily worn by athletes during training to maintain their legs in the correct position and form while training and which provides sufficient resistance to prevent undesired extension of the legs without a conscious effort on the part of the athlete. Such a device should be easily applied and adjustable to different heights and strengths.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a runner training and exercise device which is wearable by athletes when training to maintain their legs in the correct form and position for running.  
         [0008]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device wearable by athletes during training to maintain their legs in the correct form and position for running which is fully adjustable for size and strength of individual athletes.  
         [0009]     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a device wearable by athletes during training to maintain their legs in the correct form and position for running which is fully adjustable for size and strength of individual athletes and which can be used with a program of drills and exercise such that the maintenance of the correct position and form becomes a subconscious act for the athlete.  
         [0010]     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become evident from the following description and drawings.  
         [0011]     The present invention provides a device which is easily worn by athletes during training to maintain their legs in the correct position and form for optimum muscle use and power generation without wasted motion.  
         [0012]     The device comprises an upper thigh strap, a foot stirrup and a length of resilient elastic material adjustably secured therebetween and adjusted to maintain the user&#39;s knee at a 90° angle during running. Securing the upper strap around the upper thigh places resistive pressure of the elastic material along the quadriceps and hamstrings and effectively eliminates the strength of the hips from extending the user&#39;s leg and stretching the elastic material. The resilient elastic material may be any suitable material providing a relatively high tension elasticity. For example, rubber tubing, “bungee” cord, therapeutic elastic band such as that use in orthopedic rehabilitation, or the like. The foot stirrup comprises an arch strap that wraps around the user&#39;s foot at the arch and two separate heel straps extending rearward from the arch strap with means to secure the elastic material thereto. The heel straps serve to keep the elastic material away from the foot and to keep the heel off the ground so the user stays on his toes. The thigh strap is adapted to adjustably encircle the user&#39;s thigh and has an adjustable loop through which the elastic material passes from one heel strap to the other. The adjustability of the loop permits the device to be adjusted according to the length of the user&#39;s legs.  
         [0013]     Thus, the present invention provides a runner training and exercise device comprising, an adjustable upper thigh strap, an adjustable foot stirrup assembly, and an elastic resistance member secured to the thigh strap and the stirrup assembly and adjustably disposed therebetween along the back of the leg, whereby the elastic resistance member is adjustable in length to position and hold the leg at about 90° flexion of the knee.  
         [0014]     The invention further provides a runner training and exercise device comprising: an adjustable upper thigh strap adapted to releasably encircle a user&#39;s upper thigh and having releasable securing means, the thigh strap further having an adjustable member thereon; an adjustable foot stirrup assembly comprising an adjustable arch strap adapted to releasably encircle a user&#39;s foot and having releasable securing means, the stirrup assembly further comprising at least one heel strap secured to and extending rearward from the arch strap; and an elastic resistance member comprising an elongated resilient body passing through the adjustable member and having opposite free ends secured to the at least one heel strap, whereby the elastic resistance member is disposed behind the leg and is adjustable by the adjustable member to position and hold the leg at a desired angle through the knee.  
         [0015]     The invention provides still further a method of training athletes on speed and running form comprising: providing a training and exercise device comprising, an adjustable upper thigh strap adapted to releasably encircle a user&#39;s upper thigh and having releasable securing means, the thigh strap further having an adjustable member thereon, an adjustable foot stirrup assembly comprising an adjustable arch strap adapted to releasably encircle a user&#39;s foot and having releasable securing means, the stirrup assembly further comprising at least one heel strap secured to and extending rearward from the arch strap, and an elastic resistance member comprising an elongated resilient body passing through the adjustable member and having opposite free ends secured to the at least one heel strap; applying the device to each leg of the athlete whereby the adjustable foot stirrup assemblies are secured to the feet and the upper thigh straps are secured about the upper thighs, whereby the elastic resistance members are disposed behind the legs; adjusting the adjustable members whereby the length of the elastic resistance members between the thigh straps and the stirrup assemblies is shortened or lengthened to position and maintain the leg at a desired angle; and conducting a series of drills and exercises while wearing the device. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is a view showing the device of the subject invention on a user&#39;s leg.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a detail view of the elastic member adjustment means on the upper thigh strap.  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a detail view of the foot stirrup assembly of the device.  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a detail view of an alternative elastic member adjustment means on the upper thigh strap.  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a detail view of an alternative foot stirrup assembly and elastic member adjustment means thereon.  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is a detail view of a releasable fastening means for the thigh strap and foot stirrup assembly.  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  is a detail view of an alternative attachment means for the elastic member. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]      FIG. 1  illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention on a user&#39;s leg. The device comprises an adjustable thigh strap  1  a foot stirrup assembly  2  and an elastic resistance member  3 . Foot stirrup assembly  2  comprises an arch strap  4  which encircles the user&#39;s foot  5  at the instep or arch and heel straps  6  extending rearward from arch strap  4 . Thigh strap  1 , arch strap  4  and heel straps  6  are preferably made from non-elastic woven strap or webbing that is flexible but of sufficient strength to resist the tension of elastic resistance member  3 . Alternatively, thigh strap  1  may include an elasticized portion to allow a certain amount of flexibility in the strap  1  as the thigh muscles flex during use. Resistance member  3  may be made from any resilient elastic material providing the desired strength and resistance to stretching so as to work to maintain the user&#39;s legs bent while running. Such materials include elastic straps or webbing, rubber tubing, rubber straps, “bungee” cords, or the like.  
         [0024]     Thigh strap  1  and arch strap  4  are adjustable in length to accommodate different sizes of users and have a releasable fastening means  8 , preferably a hook and loop fastener such as Velcro®, to releasably hold their ends together. Thigh strap  1  and arch strap  4  may be simple lengths of strap material that are wrapped around the thigh or foot and secured by the fastening means  8  and may have a cushioning layer  21  on one side for comfort against the skin.  FIG. 6  illustrates a preferred means of adjustably fastening the thigh strap  1  and arch strap  4  wherein a buckle  7  is secured at one end of the appropriate strap by stitching  9  or other suitable non-releasable fastening means, while the other end wraps around the appropriate body part, passes through the other side of buckle  7  and is folded back over itself to secure with the releasable fastener  8 . Of course other means for providing similar adjustable fastening means may be employed without departing from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0025]     In addition to arch strap  4 , the foot stirrup assembly includes at least one heel strap  6  secured to arch strap  4  and extending rearward therefrom. Preferably, heel strap  6  and arch strap  4  are secured by stitching although other non-releasable fastening means may be used. Heel strap  6  is attached to arch strap  4  so as to extend therefrom on either side of the user&#39;s heel and at an angle of from about 30° to about 60° relative to the longitudinal axis of the user&#39;s foot. In this manner, when the device is in place on the user and properly adjusted to hold the knee bent at a bout a 90° angle, the heel strap  6  and the elastic resistance member  3  will be substantially in line behind the leg along the hypotenuse of a triangle formed thereby in combination with the upper and lower leg.  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  illustrates separate heel straps  6  on either side of the user&#39;s foot, with each strap having means to receive the free ends  10  of elastic resistance member  3 . Such means may simply be holes  11  in the ends of heel straps  6 , which holes are preferably reinforced with grommets  12 . In such a structure the ends  10  of resistance member  3  may be passed through the holes  11  and knotted  13  to prevent them from passing back through. Alternatively, ends  10  of elastic resistance member  3  may be provided with clips, such as swivel clips  14 , which may be used to releasably clip elastic resistance member  3  to heel straps  6  through the holes  11  and grommets  12  as shown in  FIG. 7 . In this manner, elastic resistance member  3  may be easily changed in the event of breakage or the desire to use a stronger or weaker resistance member  3 . Other means for securing resistance member  3  to heel straps  6  may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0027]     Although the length of resistance member  3  may be changed by changing the position of knots  13 , it is preferred that a simpler adjustment means be provided. In the principal embodiment of the device illustrated in  FIG. 1 , resistance member  3  comprises a length of elastic tubing that is secured to each of the heel straps as shown in  FIG. 3 , and passes through an adjustable loop  15  on thigh strap  1 . Adjustable loop  15  comprises a strap  16  secured to thigh strap  1  by stitching or other non-releasable fastening means and having a longer portion extending downward from the lower edge of thigh strap  1  and a shorter portion extending from the upper edge of thigh strap  1 . Shorter portion is provided with a releasable buckle or grip clip type fastener  17  through which the longer portion of strap  16  passes and is adjustable to make loop  15  larger or smaller. With resistance member  3  passing through loop  15  as shown in  FIG. 2 , adjusting the size of loop  15  by lengthening or shortening strap  16  in fastener  17  will have the effect of lengthening or shortening the effective length of resistance member  3  between thigh strap  1  and stirrup assembly  2 , thus permitting the device to be adjusted for different users.  
         [0028]     In an alternative embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , heel strap  6  is in the form of a loop  18  of the strap material secured at each end to opposite sides of arch strap  4  and extending beyond the user&#39;s heel. Non-releasably secured to the back of loop  18  is a releasable buckle fastener  19  through which the end  10  of resistance member  3  passes and is held in an adjustable manner. Thigh strap  1  is provided with a similar releasable buckle fastener  19  that is non-releasably secured to thigh strap  1  and through which the other end  10  of resistance member  3  passes and is held in an adjustable manner. In this embodiment, the effective length of resistance member  3  is adjustable directly through the buckles  19  and may be released for replacement simply by removing the ends  10  from the buckles  19 . Instead of buckles  19  of the type shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , releasable grip clamps or other releasable fastening means that will securely hold the ends  10  of the resistance member  3  during use of the device may be employed without departing from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0029]     In use, a runner is provided with one device for each leg. The arch strap  4  is wrapped about the foot  5  at the instep or arch with the heel strap  6  extending rearward and the releasable fastening means  8  is secured to prevent slippage of the strap  4 . The thigh strap  1  is wrapped about the upper thigh  20 , preferably at a point just below the lower curve of the buttocks, and the releasable fastening means  8  is secured to prevent slippage of the strap  1  downward but not so tight as to impede circulation within the leg. Thigh strap  1  is positioned on the runner&#39;s thigh  20  so that loop  15  or buckle  19  is at the back of the thigh  20  above the heel. In this manner, resistance member  3  will span the distance between thigh strap  1  and heel strap  6  behind the leg without rubbing against the leg as shown in  FIG. 1 . With thigh strap  1  and stirrup assembly  2  properly positioned and fastened, the length of resistance member  3  is adjusted through either loop  15  or buckles  19  so that the runner&#39;s leg assumes a 90° angle through the knee. In this position, the runner is forced to assume a crouch like that of a sprinter with the heels off the ground and the runner&#39;s weight on the toes and balls of the feet. Preferably, the resistance provided by the elastic resistance member  3  is sufficient to maintain this position against normal extension of the leg during running but not so great as to positively prevent such extension. With the device properly positioned and adjusted, the runner is effectively prevented from using the strength through the hips to extend his legs and must solely focus on the quadriceps, hip-flexors and hamstrings that will generate the muscular force to maintain the crouch position without the device.  
         [0030]     With the device in position, as long as the runner maintains his correct crouch, there will be no feeling of tension or resistance from the resistance member  3 , which will tell the runner that his legs are at the correct angle. Any attempt to extend the legs during use will result in tension being applied through the resistance member  3  thus providing the runner with immediate knowledge that he is not in the correct position. The device thus trains the runner to remember the feeling of the proper technique and correct position required for efficient use of the leg muscles so there is no wasted movement and force is generated out of every turn and push from the lower body.  
         [0031]     When conducting running drills with the device, it is important that such drills be of short duration, i.e., no more than thirty yards at a time to avoid muscle fatigue. Rest time between drills is spent sitting on the ground so that, even with the knees bent, the legs are not under tension and the muscles can rest. With high resistance, the device is intended for teaching correct form and position rather than conditioning.  
         [0032]     However, with different strength resistance members  3  installed, the device has utility in conditioning and strengthening of the leg muscles through the use of different drills such as a quick leg extension in which the user quickly extends the leg against the resistance of the resistance member  3  to a position as far as possible toward straight and then immediately relaxes. This has the effect of improving the speed of leg motion.  
         [0033]     In further drills, the device has utility in working on the endurance of the quadriceps and hip flexors by a static hold drill in which the user remains in a stationary squat with the heels off the ground while maintaining pressure on the leg muscles, not the knee joints, until the muscles begin to feel as though they will fail to support this position. The user then makes a controlled drop to the ground to rest and, when control of the muscles is regained, repeats the exercise.  
         [0034]     An additional drill is a squat jump. With the device in position, the user performs a jump from the squat position bringing his knees up to his chest with the heels against the buttocks, then dropping the knees to land on his toes. This exercise works on the same form as is used during running. The muscles are used to control landing in the squat position and prevent all of the landing pressure from falling on the knees.  
         [0035]     While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, that all such modifications and changes are within the true spirit and scope of the invention as recited in the following claims.