Patent Publication Number: US-2020276467-A1

Title: Leg strengthening system

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Athletes, such as, but not limited to, dancers, are born with a particular range of motion in their legs and ankles. The art of dancing requires dancers to have superior strength, endurance and range of motion in their legs and ankles. Young dancers need to exercise their legs and ankles to achieve the desired strength to improve their ability to perform at his/her best. Therefore, a strengthening tool to help dancers is desired. 
     SUMMARY 
     Some embodiments described herein relate to a leg strengthening system. The leg strengthening system comprises a knee strap and a foot attachment. One or more resistance bands are removably coupled to the knee strap and the foot attachment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a leg strengthening system in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a portion of a leg strengthening system in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a portion of a leg strengthening system in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a portion of a leg strengthening system in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a portion of a leg strengthening system in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a leg strengthening kit in accordance with some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments. 
     The present embodiments described herein relate to a leg strengthening system that comprises a knee strap, one or more resistance bands and a foot attachment. Each of the one or more resistance bands comprise attachment clips at both ends to be removably coupled to the knee strap and the foot attachment. The present embodiments may facilitate an athlete, such as, but not limited to, a dancer, to apply varied levels of resistance to the knee strap/foot attachment to create hands free strengthening resistance. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a leg strengthening system  100  is illustrated. The system comprises a knee strap  110 , a foot attachment  105 , and a resistance band  115 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the knee strap  110  comprises a ring  125  (e.g., a D shaped ring) to connect (e.g., clipped) to the resistance band  115 . Similarly, the foot attachment  105  comprises a ring  120  (e.g., a D shaped ring) to couple the foot attachment  105  to the resistance band  115 . 
     The knee strap  110  may comprise a hook and loop (e.g. VELCRO) segment to hold the knee strap  110  on to a user&#39;s leg either above or below the knee cap. A front of the knee strap  110  may comprise the ring  125  which may be centered and front facing to create a more efficient strengthening system. The knee strap  110  may circumscribe a user&#39;s leg to Referring now to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , an embodiment of a foot attachment  200  is illustrated. The foot attachment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , may comprise a half-sole shoe. In some embodiments a half-sole shoe may comprise a dance-type shoe comprised of leather, neoprene, or stretch canvas. The foot attachment  200  may also comprise a sole  205  and a ring  210  (e.g., a D shaped ring) where the ring  210  is attached near a top of the shoes. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , each foot attachment  200  may comprise one or more openings  215  to receive a user&#39;s toes. In use, a user may insert their foot into the foot attachment  200  with the user&#39;s toes being extended through the openings  215 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a plurality of resistance bands  400  are illustrated. Each resistance band  400  comprises a clip  405  on each end of the resistance band  400 . Each resistance band also comprises a plurality of rings  410  that are coupled to each clip  405  and a sleeve  420  on each end of the resistance band  400  to couple each ring  410  to a flexible portion  415 . The flexible portion  415  may comprise bands, a flexible tube, or solid tubular shaped band for providing resistance when stretched or extended. The flexible portion  415  may be comprised of rubber, silicone or any known flexible material that may provide resistance when stretched. In some embodiments, the flexible portion  415  may be flat, tubular or square/rectangular shaped. Each sleeve  420  may be press fit, glued or heated to be affixed to the flexible portion  415 . In some embodiments, the flexible portion  415  the sleeve  420  may comprise a single unit. The resistance bands  400  may comprise varied strengths and the resistance bands may be used singularly or in multiples by attaching each end (e.g., one to the knee strap D ring and one to the half-sole shoe D ring). 
     Each ring  410  may be D shaped and may be comprised of metal or plastic. Each clip  405  may be removably coupled to a corresponding ring  410 . In some embodiments, each clip  405  may comprise a non-slip mechanism to prevent the clip  405  from slipping off of the ring  410 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a foot attachment  500  is illustrated. The foot attachment  500  may comprise a sleeve that is used to circumscribe or go around a shoe, sneaker or other footwear. The foot attachment  500  may comprise a first strap  505  and a second strap  510  to secure the foot attachment  500  to footwear. For example, the first strap  505  may be used to pull a heal portion of a sneaker it into the sleeve and the second strap  510  may be used to push a back portion of the sneaker into the sleeve. The foot attachment  500  may also comprise a ring (as illustrated in  FIG. 6 ) for coupling the foot attachment  500  to a resistance band. In some embodiments, this ring may be centered and front facing. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , an embodiment of a kit  600  is illustrated. The kit  600  may include one or more knee straps that are comprised of a D-shaped ring including a hook-and-loop based fastener. The kit  600  may further comprise one or more resistance bands and one or more foot attachments. In some embodiments, the kit  600  may comprise a bag to hold the knee straps, resistance bands and foot attachments. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose multiple embodiments, including the preferred embodiments, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. Aspects from the various embodiments described, as well as other known equivalents for each such aspects, can be mixed and matched by one of ordinary skill in the art to construct additional embodiments and techniques in accordance with principles of this application. 
     Those in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the above-described embodiments can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the claims. Therefore, it is to be understood that the claims may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.