Abstract:
A leg rest and exercise apparatus constructed of an elongated planar member having concave depressions in one end thereof for receiving the legs of a user. The opposite end of the planar member has an irregular surface, preferably a plurality of protrusions, for engaging a support surface to prevent the apparatus from sliding during use.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to exercise devices and more particularly to a leg rest and exercise device that can be used by a person in a sitting or reclining position. 
     The lower extremities of the human, that is, that portion located approximately between the waste line and feet receives little, if any, movement when a person is seated. When such occurs muscles are not in motion and the blood supplied to the muscles tends to decrease or become stale. In response the muscles can stiffen, atrophy and the like. As a result, blood clots and other abnormalities can occur. 
     This becomes even more acute if a patient is recovering from leg or hip surgery. The accumulation of excess fluid known as edema can occur as a result of a higher osmotic pressure in the tissue surrounding the veins and in the veins themselves. The excess fluid causes additional swelling which is uncomfortable to the patient and may lead to other undesirable conditions such for example as venous stasis. This in turn may further lead to venous thrombosis and the venous thrombosis may result in vein occlusion and possible pulmonary emboli or clots to the lung which are potentially fatal. In addition, the lack of circulation also tends to retard convalescence of the operative portion of the leg or hip. 
     It is therefore highly desirable to promote and facilitate venous outflow from the lower extremities. This may be accomplished by physical exercise and elevation of the lower extremity. Exercising the lower muscles while seated or reclined causes blood flow through the lower extremity to increase and the effects of remaining in a seated or reclined position for extended periods of time to ameliorate. Accordingly, there exists a need for an exercise device which can be used for leg exercises while the user is in a seated or reclining position to increase blood flow to the lower extremities. Many prior art more complicated exercising and leg support devices exist. These devices are for the most part constructed of numerous components which are brought together by the user and which may be used by the user to either rest the legs or to exercise the legs while in a seated or reclining position. Such devices are expensive, cumbersome to use and also require a substantial amount of storage space when not in use. Therefore, the need exists for a simple device which can be easily stored when not in use and which is simple to utilize and can be used by the user when seated or in a reclining position to both rest the legs and to exercise the legs. 
     It is a common practice of chiropractics and medical institutions to use weights with pulleys and cords connected to the lower part of the body or legs in order to achieve a pain relief on the hip or lower back, by a pulling or tugging action. A more sophisticated method to relieve pain used by chiropractors is the usage of a motorized table like device whereupon the patient lies on his or her back and the motorized device with its alternate pulling of the lower extremities relieves the pain. Such requires a visit to the chiropractor&#39;s office or a hospital to receive the desired treatment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a leg rest and exercising or tug device which includes an elongated planar member having first and second ends. The first end of the member defines a pair of concave or recessed portions which receive the lower portion of the leg of the user. The concave portions are padded to provide additional comfort to the user. The second end of the planar member has an irregular surface which contacts a support surface upon which the device rests while being used. The irregular surface prevents the device from slipping while it is being used. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational view of the leg rest and exercising device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view taken about the lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  an illustrates the manner in which the padding is retained on the concave surfaces; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view showing the device of the present invention in use by the user while in a seated or reclining position. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an alternative view of the end of the device for engaging a support surface. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention is directed to a very simple leg support and exercise device which can be utilized by an individual who merely wishes to rest his/her legs or alternatively to exercise his/her legs when seated or reclining or to apply a pulling force to the legs to reduce back or hip discomfort. The device of the present invention consists of a single elongated planar member which can be placed by the user upon a support surface such as a floor and then while seated or reclining the user can place his/her legs upon the top end of the device within a pair of concave recesses designed to receive the legs of the user at approximately the ankle area thereof. The user may then manipulate his/or legs by bending the knees and drawing the apparatus toward the user and then extending the legs to straighten the knees thereby moving the apparatus away from the user. This movement of the apparatus to and from the user provides a physical exercise for the lower extremity of the user&#39;s body thus increasing the blood flow through the lower extremities thereby mitigating edema formation. 
     Sitting in one&#39;s favorite chair with the upper part of the heels resting over the outer edge of the rubber padded recesses one can experience a variable pulling of the legs as direct result of the planar member angle held in relation to the floor and to the legs weight. When using the devices in an absolute vertical or 90 degree to the floor, no pulling of the legs is exerted. However, if the top of the device is titled away from the user or its end resting on a support surface is brought closer to the user, therefore reducing the angle degree of the outer face position to the floor to less than 90 degrees, the pulling force on the legs increases. The device tilted at a 70 to 60 degree angle to the support surface offers a preferred tug or pull of the legs. In essence, one can also control the amount of pulling force that is personally preferred by extending or retraction of the legs. Such movement results in exercise. The device can be used to rest, exercise or tug the legs by a simple desirable and satisfying application. Leg muscle relaxation by tugging can be achieved in a sitting position while for lower back and hip pain relief the use of a recliner chair is suggested. 
     As is seen in  FIG. 1 , the exercise device of the present invention includes an elongated planar member  10  which has a first end  12  and a second end  14 . The first end  12  defines a pair of concave depressions  16  and  18  which are adapted to receive the legs of the user when the user is in a seated or reclining position. The second end  14  of the planar member  10  includes an irregular surface  20  which may include a plurality of outwardly extending protrusions  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  and  30 . In one specific embodiment of the present invention these protrusions  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  and  30  may be metal prongs which extend from the second end  14 . Alternatively, the irregular surface  20  may be defined by ribs or extensions from the material from which the planar member  10  is manufactured. In some circumstances, particularly when the support surface is hard and dry the irregular surface  20  may be modified to have a surface which will not slip on the hard dry supporting surface. One embodiment to provide such is illustrated in  FIG. 4  and includes a rubber strip  50  which defines a slot or depression  52  on the upper surface which receives the irregular surface  20  and holds the strip in place. The lower part  54  of the strip is formed to have a plurality of griping members such as ribs or points which engage the hard dry support surface in a non-slipping manner. The planar elongated member  10  may be constructed of any material desired, for example wood or molded plastic or if the device is to be used under hospital conditions it may be constructed of stainless steel which can then be subjected to appropriate sterilization processes. If the planar member is constructed of plastic, it may be a solid member of a thermo-setting plastic or an injection molded plastic or a rotationally molded hollow member filled with polyurethane foam. 
     Referring more specifically to  FIG. 2 , it will be noted that the concave depressions  16  and  18  have a pad  32  positioned thereon to provide more comfort to the user. The pad  32  is preferably constructed of an elastomeric material which is elastically deformable. The pad includes a pair of downwardly and inwardly extending arms  34  and  36  terminating in an inwardly directed flange which is received within a groove  38  and  40  respectively which is defined adjacent, but below the edge of the concave depressions in the first end  12  of the planar member  10 . By such construction the pad  32  may be snapped into place or alternatively may be removed for replacement or cleaning as the situation may require. 
     By reference now more particularly to  FIG. 3 , there is shown the legs of a user who is seated with the planar member  10  resting upon a support surface  42 . The second end  14  of the member  10  rests upon the supporting surface  42  and the irregular surface  20  of the second end  14  engages the support surface  42  and through appropriate friction maintains the second end  14  in firm contact with the support surface  42 . Such allows the user to manipulate the planar member  10  by moving it toward the user as shown at  44  or away from the user as shown at  46 . This is accomplished by bending the knees of the user and manipulating the planar member  10  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Such activity provides the exercise above referred to and accomplishes the increased blood flow that is above-described. Obviously, the user may use the exercise and leg rest device of the present invention while seated as shown or reclining, if such is desired. 
     To relieve lower back and hip discomfort the irregular surface  20  may be positioned closer to the user so that it resides at an angle of approximately 60-70 degrees with respect to the support surface. This positioning applies a pull or tug to the legs of the user thereby mitigating discomfort to the lower back or hip. The user may then manipulate the member  10  as shown by the arrows  44 - 46  to further enhance the tugging or pulling force on the legs as desired. 
     There has thus been described a leg rest and exercise device which is quite simple in construction, may be easily stored in a minimal space and can be used without any type of assembly simply by placing the same on a support surface and positioning the legs upon the device and then manipulating the device with the legs to accomplish the exercise.