Patent Publication Number: US-2013231227-A1

Title: Resistance exercise device

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from provisional application No. 61/549,303 which was filed Oct. 20, 2011, of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to resistance exercise equipment and, more particularly, to leg exercise equipment. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Use of elastic resistance as a form of exercise is widely known. Such exercise requires an elastic member and mechanism for engaging a body portion. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,368,258 is directed to an exercising device containing a two loops for engaging a users hands and a third loop for engaging a foot, having an elastic member between hand loops and foot loop. U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,609 discloses a gluteal and thigh muscle exercise system containing a strap for engaging a user&#39;s foot and connected to an elastic member which is attached to a handle bar. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     With parenthetical reference to the corresponding parts, portions or surfaces of the disclosed embodiment, merely for purposes of illustration and not by way of limitation, the present embodiments broadly provide an elastic resistance exercise device ( 20 ) comprising: a knee attachment cuff ( 22 ) having a first sheath configured to engage a user&#39;s lower thigh region, a wrap-around thigh strap containing hook and loop fastening surfaces ( 38 ,  42 ); a foot attachment cuff ( 26 ) having a second sheath configured to engage a user&#39;s foot, a wrap-around foot strap containing hook and loop fastening surfaces ( 41 ,  44 ), a first elastic member ( 24   a ) configured to pull the foot cuff upwards when worn by a user. 
     The exercise device may further contain an elastic member fastening mechanisms ( 32   a,    32   b,    33   a,    33   b ) arranged on the thigh cuff or foot cuff The fastening mechanism may be a hook, carabiner, universal clasp, or an irreversible attachment through sewn threads. The exercise device may further contain an elastic member adjustment mechanism ( 65 ,  66 ). 
     The first and second sheath may comprise a fabric or neoprene. The first and second sheath may also be made of an antimicrobial material. 
     The exercise device may further contain a second elastic member ( 24   b ). The second elastic member may have a spring constant different than the first elastic member. The exercise device may be provided with a plurality of elastic members of differing spring constants. Elastic members of differing spring constant may be distinguished by different colors. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side exploded view of a first embodiment exercise device. 
         FIG. 2  is a front exploded view of the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the first embodiment worn by a user. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a second embodiment exercise device being worn by a user. 
         FIG. 6  is a close up view of a fastener in the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a close up view of a fastener in a third embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a fourth embodiment having a stiff foot cuff. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     At the outset, it should be clearly understood that like reference numerals are intended to identify the same structural elements, portions or surfaces consistently throughout the several drawing FIGures, as such elements, portions or surfaces may be further described or explained by the entire written specification, of which this detailed description is an integral part. Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read (e.g., cross-hatching, arrangement of parts, proportion, degree, etc.) together with the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written description of this invention. As used in the following description, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up” and “down”, as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “rightwardly”, “upwardly”, etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure as the particular drawing FIGure faces the reader. Similarly, the terms “inwardly” and “outwardly” generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate. 
     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1  thereof, provided is a resistance leg exercise device, a first embodiment of which is generally indicated at  20 . Resistance exercise device  20  is configured to be worn by a user wishing to exercise his soleus and gastrocnemius muscles (calf muscles). Device  20  adds physical resistance to plantar flexion of a user&#39;s foot through his/her ankle joint. As shown in the side and front exploded views  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , device  20  generally includes knee attachment  22 , elastic members  24   a  and  24   b,  and foot attachment  26 . 
     Knee attachment  22 , also called a thigh cuff, is primarily made of an elongated rectangular piece of soft fabric, such as a polyester and cotton blend. Thigh cuff  22  has a length generally equal to the circumference of an adult lower thigh, such as 10 to 25 inches, and a width equal to about three inches. Thigh cuff  22  can also be made out of rubber, neoprene foam, vinyl, or other similar flexible materials. Thigh cuff  22  contains hook and loop (i.e. Velcro) material section  38  arranged on the outer surface of a first end as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Complementary hook and loop section  42  is arranged on the opposite surface and opposite end of thigh cuff  22  as hook and loop section  38 . 
     Two fasteners  32   a  and  32   b  are arranged on the outer left and right surfaces of thigh cuff  22  as shown. Each fastener  32   a  and  32   b  have a hook portion  35   a  and  35   b  respectively. 
     Elongated elastic members  24   a  and  24   b  are generally identical and contain upper loops  48   a  and  48   b,  and lower loops  49   a  and  49   b.  Elastic members  24   a  and  24   b  are made of tubular rubber, but may also be made of any similar elastic material. The materials used to make elastic members  24   a  and  24   b  may be selectively made of materials having differing elastic moduli so as to produce the resistance desired. The elastic moduli may be linear or nonlinear. Loops  48   a,    48   b,    49   a,    49   b  are made of metal, but may also be made of plastic or any mechanically similar material. 
     Foot attachment  26 , also called foot cuff, is generally similar to thigh cuff  22 . Foot cuff  26  is generally made out of an elongated rectangular piece of flexible fabric, such as a polyester cotton blend. Foot cuff  26  contains hook and loop section  41  on the outer surface of a first end. Complementary hook and loop section  44  is arranged on the opposite surface and opposite end of foot cuff  26  as section  41 . Foot cuff  26  is about 6 to 15 inches in length, and about 4 inches in width. 
     Foot cuff  26  contains fastener  34   a  arranged on the outer left surface of foot cuff  25  and fastener  34   b  arranged on right outer surface of foot cuff  26 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  show assembled front views of device  20  in an actively used configuration by user  51 . Loop portions  48   a,    48   b,    49   a,    49   b  of elastic members  24   a  and  24   b  are attached to corresponding fasteners  32   a,    32   b,    33   a,  and  34   b.  For example, upper loop  48   a  is attached to upper left hook  35   a  and lower hook  49   a  is attached to lower left fastener  34   a.  Similarly, upper loop  48   b  is attached to upper left hook  35   b  and lower hook  49   b  is attached to lower left fastener  34   b.    
     When using device  20 , a user tightly wraps thigh cuff  22  around his or her thigh, making sure hook and loop section  42  are arranged over hook and loop section  38  as shown. Additionally, a user would wrap foot cuff  26  around one of user&#39;s feet such that hook and loop section  44  is arranged over hook and loop section  41 . The lengths of elastic members  24   a  and  24   b  are configured to be shorter than a typical adult&#39;s lower leg length such that when device  20  is properly worn, elastic members  24   a  and  24   b  are stretched. 
     In the configuration shown in  FIG. 4 , since elastic members  24   a  and  24   b  are stretched, user foot  52  is pulled upwards in a dorsi flexion direction about user  51 &#39;s ankle. A user now can flex his or her calf muscles in order to press his or her foot downwards in a plantar flexion direction. After fully flexing his or her foot downwards, user  51 , while still countering the elastic member force, may slowly allow his or her foot to return upwards. This process is repeated, providing the user with a calf muscle workout. 
     Alternatively, after wearing device  20 , a user may go running, or take part in other physical activity, while device  20  continually provides resistance to the user&#39;s calf muscles. 
       FIG. 6  shows a close up view of fastener  35   a.  Fastener  35   a  has loop section  54  which is used for mounting faster  35   a  on knee attachment  22 . A fabric section of knee attachment  22  is passed through hole  56  in loop section  54  for making a secure connection. Attached to loop portion  54  is neck  57  which is connected to hook portion  58 . Flexible latch  61  is mounted on hook portion  58  as shown and creates a locking loop for engaging a loop of one of elastic members  24 . Fastener  35   a  is also called a carabiner. 
       FIG. 7  shows snap buckle  62  which which is used in an alternative embodiment by replacing fastener  35   a.  Buckle  62  contains female portion  65  which is mounted to knee attachment  22 . Buckle  62  also contains male portion  66  which is attached to elastic band  67 . Elastic band  67  replaces elastic member  24 . Male portion  66  and female portion  65  can be placed in reversible locking engagement. Additionally, elastic band  67  is adjustably arranged through holes  68   a  and  68   b.  The length of elastic member  67  between fastener male portion  66  and the terminal end of member  67  attached to either thigh cuff  22  or foot cuff  26  may be adjusted by weaving elastic member  67  through the holes of fastener male portion  66  such that a desired length between thigh cuff  22  and foot cuff  26  is achieved. 
       FIG. 5 . shows additional embodiment resistance exercise device  120 . Exercise device  120  has a knee attachment  122  and foot attachment  124  similar to exercise device  20 &#39;s knee attachment  22  and foot attachment  24 . However, elastic member  124  is a continuous loop which passes through both the knee attachment and foot attachment. Elastic member  124  does not contain fastener loops. 
     Other fastener mechanisms may be used such as a carabiner, universal clasp, or an irreversible attachment through sewn threads. 
       FIG. 7  shows a further embodiment in which foot cuff  71  comprises stiff portion  72  and wrap around strap  74 . Strap  74  is secured with hook and loop fasteners. In this embodiment, the flat stiff surface of the foot cuff offers less strain on a user&#39;s foot. 
     While a preferred form of the elastic resistance exercise apparatus has been shown and described, and several modifications thereof discussed, persons skilled in this art will readily appreciate that various additional changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined and differentiated by the following claim.