Abstract:
A leg exercising apparatus for persons requiring less strenuous exercise in a supine position, comprising two rotatable posts involving springs and having heel cups positionable at different heights, the posts being integrated with a base and mat. Another embodiment provides two doubled posts with greater durability and adjustability in strength resistance, but limited in leg movement.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to an exercise apparatus and, more specifically, to a leg exercising apparatus comprising a mat integrated with two rotatable posts having adjustable height heel cups. One embodiment employs doubled posts with limited sideways movement.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    The related art of interest describes various leg exercising apparatus, but none discloses the present invention. There is a distinct need for a portable exercise apparatus which combines synergistically the effect of elevating one&#39;s legs while moving them with some adjustable resistance. The portable apparatus is a device for exercising the legs to improve the muscle tone of the legs in the comfort of the home.  
           [0005]    The related art will be discussed in the order of perceived relevance to the present invention.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,863, issued on Sep. 23, 1997 to Sung-Chao Ho, describes a leg exercising apparatus adapted for use at home comprising a retractable support bar having a suction disk at a bottom end and a horizontal handle bar at a top end, and a linking-up bar having a T-shaped foot rest at one end which is connected to the support bar by either a resilient bar or spring. The apparatus is distinguishable for its structure which requires a sitting position and the use of hands.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,277,062, issued on Jul. 7, 1981 to Mark Lawrence, describes a leg stretching device comprising a platform seat having an upwardly extending backrest and a pair of handles extending outwardly from the platform. A telescoping bar at the intersection of the backrest and platform seat provides a rope on pulleys at each end of the bar. A stirrup for one&#39;s foot and a handle are provided at each end of the rope for stretching one or both legs. The device is distinguishable for its seating structure with individual handles for stretching the legs positioned in stirrups against the force of the held handles.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,522,392, issued on Jun. 11, 1985 to Masakatsu Torii, describes a spring type leg exercising device comprising a pair of spring biased, slidable base frames on opposite sides of a central member. The user stands on the base frames and spreads his legs away from each other in opposite directions and then returns the legs towards each other.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,749,400, issued on Jul. 31, 1973 to Charles R. Stoffel, describes a spring type leg exercise device comprising an elongated base having a pair of guide tracks with a spring loaded foot support. The device is distinguishable for its dissimilar structure requiring an open box shape and a pushable foot support.  
           [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,251,070, issued on Feb. 17, 1981 to Helen M. Leseberg, describes a supine exercise device comprising a pair of moccasin-type stirrups attached to hand grip bars. The device is distinguishable for requiring handles attached to canvas or heat cloth stirrups.  
           [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,737, issued on Dec. 25, 1990 to Ronald W. Kock, describes an apparatus for exercising lower leg muscles of one leg comprising a housing block on a base plate maintained stable by a handle held by the patient on a training table. The right foot is strapped to a planar footplate having heel blocks on a rotatable shaft attached to one side of the housing block. Variable resistance is supplied on the opposite side of the housing by a fixed friction disk coacting with the rotating friction disk on the shaft compressed by an adjustable handwheel and spring. The apparatus is distinguishable for its one leg operation and requirement for friction disks and a stabilizing handle.  
           [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,251, issued on Feb. 6, 1996 to Sherman U. Robles, Jr., describes an exercise device comprising a foot harness connected by a rod to a tension adjusting mechanism housed on a thigh harness. The tension adjusting mechanism contains a slidable spring plate attached on one side to a spring and the rod of the foot harness. A threaded adjustment rod of the positioning mechanism with an external handle is attached to the opposite side of the slidable spring plate. The exercise device is distinguishable for its thigh harness and tension adjusting mechanism connected to a foot harness.  
           [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,594, issued on Nov. 25, 1997 to Roy J. Mankovitz, describes an exercise apparatus for use with office chairs comprising a foot bar with end wheels connected to the legs of a non-swivel chair or to the support post of a swivel chair by a plurality of rubber straps. The apparatus is distinguishable for its requirement of a wheeled foot bar and rubber straps.  
           [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,462, issued on Mar. 10, 1998 to Tom Jones, describes a reciprocal inhibition exercise device comprising a frame structure including a leg beam, a bottom cross member, a back support member, a front support member, a front vertical support member, and an exercise grip bar. The leg beam has a pair of foot pad slides attached to a spring and a leg beam middle plate. The foot pad slides have rotatable stirrups attached to a foot pad pedestal. Front and back grip bars are also provided. The device is distinguishable for its frame structure requiring multitudinous parts.  
           [0015]    Canadian Pat. No. 1,059,174, issued on Jul. 7, 1979, describes an elastic exerciser device having three triangular handles in a Y-shape. The stretchable exerciser device for the arms by using only the hands or in concert with the feet. The device is distinguishable for its singular Y-shaped structure.  
           [0016]    Canadian Pat. No. 1,206,495, issued on Jun. 24, 1986, describes an exercise device comprising a frame freely supporting a person by the arms and providing spring resistance for straightening the legs against the frame. The device is distinguishable for its frame structure.  
           [0017]    Canadian Pat. No. 1,211,766, issued on Sep. 23, 1986, describes an adjustable bench mounted leg lift exerciser device comprising a bench with a seat and an L-shaped member having two arms pivotable for holding the ankles and attaching weights. The device is distinguishable for its requirement for a bench and pivoting L-shaped arms.  
           [0018]    Canadian Pat. No. 2,045,690, issued on Aug. 4, 1990, describes a leg exerciser apparatus comprising a frame with two four-bar linkages arranged side by side. Each linkage carries a foot pad and is attached to a double acting hydraulic cylinder connected to a variable flow control valve to vary the resistance to linkage movement. The apparatus is distinguishable for its four-bar linkages requiring hydraulic cylinders for resistance.  
           [0019]    None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, a portable leg exercising device solving the aforementioned problems is desired.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0020]    The present invention is directed to an integrated mat and leg exercising apparatus comprising a pair of padded rotatable posts having heel cups which are adjustable in height. Rubber springs, which may be inside or outside the posts, enable the rotation. The user lies supine on the mat, moving the legs alternatively or together to achieve the synergistic benefit of elevating one&#39;s legs and exercising them simultaneously or individually. A third embodiment utilizes a pair of doubled posts connected by a pair of crossed rubber cables covered by either padding or rubber tubing.  
           [0021]    Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a leg exercising apparatus for improving the muscle tone of the legs while keeping the legs elevated for improved circulation.  
           [0022]    It is another object of the invention to provide a leg exercising apparatus integrated with a mat and having rubber coils proximate the base of each post for providing resistance to rotation of the posts.  
           [0023]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a leg exercising apparatus with heel cups made of mesh material on each post, the heel cups being adjustable in height to alter the position of the legs for the comfort of the user.  
           [0024]    It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.  
           [0025]    These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a first embodiment of a leg exercising apparatus utilizing heel cups according to the present invention.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the first embodiment of the present invention with an exercise apparatus with posts having overlapping rubber coils affixed on a stand and mat.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a second embodiment of the present invention with the exercise apparatus having rubber coils encased in the connected posts affixed on a stand and mat.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 4 is third embodiment of the present invention wherein the exercising apparatus has doubled posts with two pairs of external springs. 
     
    
       [0030]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]    The present invention is directed to a leg exercising apparatus for improving muscle tone in the legs while improving circulation by keeping the legs elevated during exercise. The device is used by a person lying supine on a comfortable mat which has the exercising portion attached to prevent slippage, and features flexible heel cups positioned at an adjustable height on the posts which swivel in various directions with minimal resistance.  
         [0032]    In the first embodiment of the portable exercise apparatus  10  illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a person  12  (FIG. 1) is lying in a supine position with her legs  14  extended upward with her heels  16  held by flexible heel cups  18  made of a mesh material supported on U-shaped hooks  19  at the end of bars retained by pins  20  in one of the plurality of apertures  22  in the padded posts  24  supported by cup-shaped base brackets  26 . Each post  24  is separated into two sections with an upper section or portion  28  having a cap  32  and a lower section or portion  30 . Each section or portion  28  and  30  is connected externally by a compact rubber or rubber coated metal spring  34  and to a stand  36  which is preferably attached further by fasteners (not shown) to the rectangular mat  35 . The mat  35  can be made of durable flexible material such as carpeting.  
         [0033]    As the arrows indicate in FIG. 1, the legs  14  can be moved in any direction from forward to backwards, sideways and rotated together or separately. In FIG. 2, the hooks  19  can be placed in any of the exemplary three apertures  22  (attachment to the bottom aperture shown) in the upper section or portion  28  of the padded posts  24  to position the heel cups  18  on the inside of the posts. The different positions of the heel cups  18  permit the user to bend his or her knees to a comfortable position while exercising. Although the padded posts  24  are shown having a square cross-section, the posts in this embodiment can be cylindrical to conform to the external shape of the springs  34 .  
         [0034]    A second embodiment  38  of a portable leg exercise apparatus is depicted in FIG. 3 having a U-shaped bottom piece  40  on the stand  36  secured by a fastener  42 . The upper ends of the pair of springs  44  are partially encased in the upper sections or portions  28 , and a portion is exposed between the upper sections  28  and the bottom piece  40 . The heel cups  18  are now placed in the uppermost aperture  22  and held by hooks  19  and pins  20 . The movement of the upper sections or portions  28  of the exercise apparatus  38  can be in any direction as mentioned above.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 4 is drawn to a third embodiment of a portable leg exercising apparatus  46  having doubled posts with inner posts  48  and outer posts  50  (all posts and crossbars having a square cross-section) connected by a pair of elastic elements  47 , such a rubber bungee cords or bands, although coil springs may also be used, which are covered by either padding or a rubber tube and secured by pins  62 , and an upper crossbar  52 . The apparatus  46  further comprises a lower crossbar  54 , an upper pair of brackets  56 , and a lower pair of brackets  58  secured on a stand  36  and mat  35 . Each bracket  56 ,  58  can be in two parts or one-piece secured at the ends of the posts  48 ,  50  and crossbars  52 ,  54  by a centered pin  60 . Other pins  62  secure the ends of the posts  48 ,  50  and crossbars  52 ,  54  in the respective brackets  56 ,  58 .  
         [0036]    Each heel cup  18  is placed on hooks  19  on the inside of the inner padded posts  48 . The inner and outer posts  48 ,  50  on either side of the apparatus  46  are restricted in movement only in a sideways direction due to the brackets  56 ,  58 . This exercise apparatus  46  may be limited in movement, but provides a more durable apparatus with adjustability in the strength of movement due to the elastic elements  47  which are not bent, and also can be exchanged for adjustability in stretching capacity.  
         [0037]    Thus, at least three embodiments of a leg exercising apparatus for persons who desire home-based apparatus having the capacity to readily adjust the resistance and the height of their feet while in a supine position have been shown.  
         [0038]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.