Abstract:
A stretching device for stretching and strengthening the muscles of the lower back and legs of the user. The stretching device generally includes an attachment bracket, pull cord and pulley. The attachment bracket attaches to the top of a door frame and the pull cord and pulley are attached to the attachment bracket. The pull cord engages the pulley so that a sling is formed on one side of the pulley. A user inserts their leg into the sling and raises and lowers the sling causing muscles in the legs and back to stretch. Several stretching routines are possible which isolate and target certain muscle groups.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to exercise stretching devices and more specifically to portable exercise stretching devices. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Exercise routines involve stretching to maintain flexibility as well as prepare muscles for action. Traditionally, before executing an exercise routine such as lifting weights the muscles are stretched to avoid cramping and prepare the muscle for load. Additionally, stretching serves to increase and maintain flexibility in the joints and is an important tool in physical therapy when a person is recovering from an accident. 
     Current stretching equipment is complex. Even relatively simple devices designed to stretch the muscles include numerous parts and require intricate assembly or installation. One such device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,873 issued to Carlstrom. This exercise device includes a stretching line that is routed through a device that attaches to a door using a complex specially made anchor bracket having a threaded shaft and a plate. The proprietary anchor bracket makes ,the stretching device in Carlstrom relatively complex and expensive to manufacture. Another such stretching device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,865 issued to Trainor. The stretching device in Trainor describes a backboard which supports a post section, a cable and a pulley which are assembled to create a device that a user lies upon and is strapped into. The backboard and post section make the stretching device in Trainor bulky and difficult to transport and store. 
     What is needed is a simple exercise stretching device that is constructed from few components that require little assembly that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture and produce. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An exercise stretching device constructed from a single pull cord, a pulley and an attachment bracket constructed from a rigid material. 
     The pull cord is constructed from nylon rope having first and second ends. The first end of the pull cord is folded and clamped together so that a loop is formed. A small one wheel pulley is attached to the loop. The pulley is adapted in size to receive the pull cord. 
     The first end of the pull cord is suspended from the attachment bracket. The attachment bracket is constructed from a u-shaped rigid member with integral diametrically opposed flattened fingers at either end. The flattened fingers are formed by flattening and bending the ends of the u-shaped member used to construct the attachment bracket. The attachment bracket is installed on a door frame by pulling the u-shaped member slightly apart thereby spreading the distance between the fingers, positioning the u-shaped member so that the fingers are located above the door frame and then squeezing the u-shaped member together so that the fingers close and suspend the attachment bracket from the door frame. When the attachment bracket is properly installed the fingers rest on top of the door frame so that the attachment bracket hangs from the door frame. The first end of the pull cord is installed upon the attachment bracket by passing the loop through the bracket before installation on the door frame so that the loop, pulley and remaining length of rope hang down from the u-shaped member. 
     The second end of the pull cord is threaded through the suspended pulley creating a sling. The height of the sling is controlled by pulling the second end of the pull cord. The sling may be padded by foam or sponge padding. 
     In use, a user places their leg in the sling so that the sling supports the ankle of the leg and pulls the second end of the pull cord causing the sling to rise and consequently the leg inserted into the sling to rise and stretch. Several different muscle groups may be stretched, depending upon how the user stands and uses the stretcher. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a stretching device that is easy to use, simple to assemble with few parts, useful for a variety of stretches, and easily transportable. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a stretching device which is inexpensive to produce and manufacture. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a stretching device that will fit over any standard thickness wall. 
    
    
     In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the preferred attachment bracket of the invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a cut away view of the sling support of the invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the invention in use as a user prepares to perform a leg stretch. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the invention in use as a user is in the initial stages of a leg stretch. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the invention in use as a user is in the initial stages of a hamstring stretch. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the invention in use as a user is performing a hamstring stretch. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the invention in use as a user is performing a right thigh adductor stretch. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the invention in use as a user is performing a left thigh adductor stretch. 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the invention in use as a user is in the initial stages of a quadricep and back stretch. 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the invention in use as a user is performing a quadricep and back stretch. 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention in use by a user performing a pull-up. 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the invention in use as a user is in the initial stages of a hip muscle stretch. 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the invention in use as a user is performing a hip muscle stretch. 
     FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the invention in use as a user is in the initial stages of a front thigh stretch. 
     FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the invention in use as a user is performing a front thigh stretch. 
     FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the invention in use as a user is in the initial stages of a front and back upper thigh stretch. 
     FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the invention in use as a user is performing a front and back upper thigh stretch 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to FIG. 1 there is seen the exercise stretching device  10  installed. Exercise stretching device  10  is constructed from a pull cord  20 , a pulley  30  and an attachment bracket  40 . 
     Pull cord  20  is constructed from sturdy material such as nylon and is approximately one-half inch diameter having first and second ends  20   a  and  20   b . Nylon rope is preferred for it&#39;s low elasticity and resistance to staining, mildew, abrasion or rot. Nylon rope is also easily gripped. Alternatively, pull cord  20  may also be constructed from cotton, polypropylene, plastic coated wire or other suitable material. First end  20   a  of pull cord  20  is folded and clamped together using rope clamp  22  so that a loop  20   c  is formed. Pulley  30  is attached to attachment clamp  40  by loop  20   c . Pulley  30  is adapted in size to receive pull cord  20  and preferably is a conventional type one-wheel pulley. Alternatively, pulley  30  may be a conventional multiple wheel pulley. Pulley  30  is formed by a wheel  32  rotatably mounted within a hang clamp  34 . Loop  20   c  passes through a hole in hang clamp  34  so that pulley  30  is attached to loop  20   c.    
     First end  20   a  of pull cord  20  hangs from attachment bracket  40  as seen in FIGS. 1-2,  4 - 11 , and  13 - 18 . Attachment bracket  40  comprises a u-shaped member  40   a  with integral flat fingers  40   b  at either end, as seen in FIG.  2 . U-shaped member  40   a  is preferably formed by heating a length of electrical PVC pipe and bending it so that it resembles a ‘U’. Fingers  40   b  are formed by flattening and bending the ends of the u-shaped member  40   a . Other materials such as plastic may be used. Fingers  40   b  are diametrically opposed and form a plane perpendicular with the plane created by u-shaped member  40   a  as see in FIG.  2 . Attachment bracket  40  is preferably installed on a door frame  200  by pulling fingers  40   b  slightly apart thereby spreading the distance between fingers  40   b , positioning the bracket  40  so that fingers  40   b  are located above door frame  200  and then squeezing together fingers  40   b  so that fingers  40   b  close and suspend bracket  40  from door frame  200 . Other projectors, such as bulkheads, may alternatively be used. When bracket  40  is properly installed fingers  40   b  rest on top of door frame  200  so that bracket  40  hangs from door frame  200  as shown in FIGS. 1,  4 - 11  and  12 - 18 . Preferably, the bracket may be of a pre-determined size so that it will fit over any standard thickness door frame. First end  20   a  of pull cord  20  is attached to attachment bracket  40  by passing loop  20   c  through bracket  40  before installation on door frame  200  so that loop  20   c  is linked with attachment bracket  40 . When properly attached loop  20   c , pulley  30  and the remaining length of pull cord  20  hang down from u-shaped bracket  40  as seen in FIG.  1 . 
     Second end  20   b  of pull cord  20  is threaded through suspended pulley  30  creating a sling  20   d . The height of sling  20   d  is controlled by pulling second end  20   b  of pull cord  20 . Alternatively, a slide sheave which allows the pull cord  20  to slide through easily may be used instead of pulley  30 . Sling  20   d  is padded by sling support  50  as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3. Sling support  50  is preferably formed by a u-shaped sling tube  50   a  and foam padding  50   b  as shown in FIG.  3 . Sling tube is preferably constructed from PVC pipe of approximately one inch diameter. Sling tube  50   a  is preferably formed by heating a length of PVC pipe and bending it so that it resembles a ‘U’ which is sized to accommodate the leg of a user. Foam padding  50   b  wraps around sling tube  50   a  so that sling tube  50   a  is surrounded and fully padded. Sling tube  50   a  allows pull cord  20  to slide within sling support  50  so that as sling  20   d  is raised pull cord  20  does not bind or stick causing the movement of sling support  50  to be irregular. 
     In use, a user can perform a number of different stretching routines. Generally a user places their leg in sling support  50  so that sling support  50  supports the ankle or foot of the user&#39;s leg. The sling support  50  may be lowered to the ground as shown in FIG. 4 for convenience and safety. Once the ankle is supported by sling support  50  the user can slowly pull the second end  20   b  of pull cord  20  causing sling support  50  to rise and consequently the leg inserted into sling support  50  to rise and stretch as shown in FIG. 5. A number of stretch routines can be accomplished using stretching device  10 , several of which are described below. 
     Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is illustrated a hamstring stretch routine using stretching device  10 . The hamstring muscles are located behind the thigh and are responsible for flexion of the knee joint. To target the hamstring muscles the user is positioned to stand adjacent to and facing the doorframe  200 . The user places the right leg within sling support  50  so that the leg is supported by sling support  50  at the ankle. Sling support  50  may be lowered to the floor so that a user can safely and conveniently place a leg within sling support  50  without having to raise the leg. Once the leg is properly placed within sling support  50  the user begins the routine by slowly pulling pull cord  20  causing sling support  50  to rise and consequently the leg supported by sling support  50  to rise. Since the user is facing doorframe  200  and the leg is raised in front them, the hamstring of the raised leg is isolated and is caused to stretch while the leg continues to be raised. When the user feels that the limit of the stretch has been reached, the user stops pulling pull cord  20  and then slowly releases pull cord  20  so that the leg descends to the ground. The user can then repeat the routine with their left leg if desired as seen in FIG.  7 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, there is illustrated a thigh adductor stretch routine using stretching device  10 . The thigh adductor muscles are located on the inside of the thigh and responsible for adduction of the hip joint. To target the adductor muscles the user first places the right leg within sling support  50 , while standing adjacent to doorframe  200  so that the user is facing a direction that is perpendicular to the plane created by the doorframe  200 . Pull cord  20  is adapted in length so that sling support  50  may be lowered to rest on the floor below doorway  200  so that a user can safely and conveniently place a leg within sling support  50  without having to raise their leg. When properly placed within sling support  50  the leg is supported substantially at the ankle. Once placed within sling support  50  the user begins the routine by slowly pulling pull cord  20  causing the leg to raise. Since they are perpendicular with the plane created by door frame  200  the adductor muscles inside the thighs of the leg are isolated and are caused to stretch while the leg is raised to the side of the user as seen in FIG.  8 . When the user feels that the limit has been reached, the user stops pulling pull cord  20  and then slowly release pull cord  20  so that the leg descends to the ground. The user can then repeat the routine with the left leg as seen in FIG.  9 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, there is illustrated a quadriceps and back stretch routine using stretching device  10 . The quadricep muscles are located on the front of the thigh and are responsible for extension of the knee joint. The back muscles are located opposite the abdominal muscles and serve to support the body and the back. To target the quadriceps the user first places a leg within sling support  50  while standing adjacent to and facing away from doorframe  200 . Pull cord  20  is adapted in length so that sling support  50  may rest on the floor below doorway  200  so that a user can safely and conveniently place a leg within sling support  50  without having to raise the leg substantially. When properly placed within sling support  50  the leg is supported substantially at the ankle or top of the foot. Once placed within sling support  50  the user begins the routine by leaning forward and slowly pulling pull cord  20  causing sling support  50  to rise and consequently the leg supported by sling support  50  to rise. Since they are facing away from door frame  200  the quadriceps at the front of the thigh are isolated and are caused to stretch while the leg is raised behind the user. As the user leans forward the back muscles are also targeted and caused to contract. When the user feels that the limit has been reached, the user stops pulling pull cord  20  and then slowly releases pull cord  20  so that the leg descends to the ground. The user can then repeat the routine with the other leg as seen in FIG.  11 . 
     Referring to FIG. 12, there is seen attachment bracket  40  installed on a door frame and used for a two hand pull-up routine. The attachment bracket  40  may be used for pull-ups to exercise the biceps of the arms. A user simply grasps attachment bracket  40  and pulls themselves up causing the biceps to raise the weight of the users body. This common routine can be executed with only one hand grasping attachment bracket  40  or both hands grasping attachment bracket  40  depending upon the strength of the user. For safety reasons, it is preferred that the door frame and molding be able to easily support the user&#39;s weight. Alternatively, a second bracket  40  may be attached to the door frame, and a bar placed between the first and second brackets. The pull-up may then be performed on the bar. 
     Referring to FIG. 13 and 14, a hip stretch may be performed as generally described for the previous stretches. Likewise, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, a front thigh stretch may also be performed. Moreover, a stretch isolating the front and back upper thighs may also be performed, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. Many other isolating stretches can also be made with the present invention. 
     In all of the stretches described herein, either the left leg or the right leg, or both, may be stretched. The use of the pulley  30  allows a person to easily lift the leg, diminishing the apparent weight of the leg. Thus a user may hold a stretch longer because the user does not expend as much energy lifting the leg. 
     It is preferred generally in lifting the leg in these stretches that the knee is slightly bent at the start, and then the leg is extended during the stretch. It is also preferred for greater control of the stretch that the user is leaning gently forward, or toward the device during use. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a stretching device that is easy to use, simple to assemble with few parts and easily transportable. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a stretching device which is inexpensive to produce and manufacture. 
     In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.