Patent Publication Number: US-2016220859-A1

Title: Resistance device for improving swing and stabilizing leg position

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates to resistance devices for stabilizing a person&#39;s leg position relative to the ground. According to some embodiments, this device may be used to improve the person&#39;s swing or simulate other activities in which the person&#39;s leg should remain in a similar position relative to the ground. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Proper stabilization and driving force, particularly in the legs, is important to swinging a baseball bat or golf club in sports such as baseball, softball, and golf, and in other sports. In particular it is believed that a swing can be more powerful and efficient by keeping the player&#39;s weight on the back foot and hitting off the back foot. Many players have issues with keeping weight on the back foot, particularly younger players. Often, these players will move their feet and legs throughout the swing which affects the player&#39;s balance and produces less than desirable results. 
     Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a resistance device configured for improving the stabilization of a person&#39;s leg position during swinging and other activities. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Disclosed herein are devices and methods for substantially preventing a person from raising a foot from a person&#39;s first leg from the ground. In some embodiments, the devices and methods can be used to maintain the weight of the person on a back foot when swinging. In particular, according to various embodiments, a resistance device is provided that includes an anchor configured for affixing to a stationary object, a first fastener configured for securing adjacent an upper portion of a leg of a person, a first tether segment extending between the first fastener and the anchor, a second fastener configured for securing adjacent a lower portion of the leg of the person, and a second tether segment extending between the second fastener and the anchor. According to various embodiments, the stationary object includes the ground, a pole, a door knob, or an eye hook, for example. 
     In one embodiment, the anchor includes a coiled stake that is configured for screwing into the ground, and in another embodiment, the anchor includes a stake portion that is configured for being pushed into the ground. The anchor, according to these and other embodiments, may be made of metal, plastic, or a combination thereof. In addition, according to some embodiments, the anchor includes a ring, and at least one of the first tether segment and the second tether segment are secured to the anchor through the ring. In certain embodiments, both the first tether segment and the second tether segment are secured to the anchor through the ring, and in a particular embodiment, the first tether segment and the second tether segment are each part of the same tether. 
     According to other embodiments, the stationary object may be a pole, door knob, or eye hook, and the anchor is a strap, which, according to some embodiments, may be made of fabric, plastic, or combination thereof, and is configured for securing to the stationary object. 
     According to certain embodiments, the first and second fasteners are straps. In one embodiment, each of the first and second fasteners include a hook fastening field and a loop fastening field for securing each of the first and second fasteners adjacent the leg of the person. According to an alternative embodiment, each of the first fastener and the second fastener includes a buckle for securing each of the first and second fasteners adjacent the leg of the person. 
     According to some embodiments, the first tether segment terminates in a first loop and the second tether segment terminates in a second loop, and the first fastener and the second fastener are secured to the first tether segment and the second tether segment, respectively, through the first loop and the second loop. In addition, according to various embodiments, the tether is coated with a polymeric material. And, in some embodiments, the first tether segment and the second tether segment are extension straps. 
     According to some embodiments, the device further includes a sleeve that extends between a portion of the first and second tether segments adjacent the anchor and is configured to restrict a distance through which the portions of the first and second tether segments may be moved relative to each other. 
     According to one embodiment in which the anchor includes a coiled stake, the step of affixing the anchor to the stationary object includes screwing the coiled stake into the ground. In another embodiment in which the anchor includes a stake portion configured for being pushed into the ground, the step of affixing the anchor to the stationary object includes pushing the stake portion into the ground. 
     According to various embodiments, a method of substantially preventing a person from raising a foot from a person&#39;s first leg from the ground is provided. The method includes: (1) providing at least one resistance device, the at least one resistance device including an anchor, a first fastener, a first tether segment extending between the first fastener and the anchor, a second fastener, and a second tether segment extending between the second fastener and the anchor; (2) affixing the anchor to a stationary object; (3) securing the first fastener adjacent an upper portion of a first leg of the person; and (4) securing the second fastener adjacent a lower portion of the first leg of the person. 
     In one embodiment, the method can be a method of improving the swing of a person playing a sport, the person when swinging standing such that the first leg is a back leg and the second leg is a front leg, wherein the method comprises securing the first fastener adjacent an upper portion of the back leg of the person and securing the second fastener adjacent a lower portion of the back leg of the person. Typically, if the person is swinging left handed, then the back leg is the left leg of the person, and if the person is swinging right handed, then the back leg is the right leg of the person. The method further includes having the person swing while the first fastener and the second fastener are secured adjacent the back leg. 
     In one embodiment, such as when simulating skiing, the step of providing at least one resistance device includes providing a first resistance device and a second resistance device. Affixing the anchor to a stationary object can include affixing an anchor from the first resistance device to a stationary object and affixing an anchor from the second resistance device to a stationary object. Securing the first fastener can include securing the first fastener of the first resistance device adjacent the upper portion of the first leg of the person and securing the first fastener of the second resistance device adjacent the upper portion of the second leg of the person. In addition, the method can include securing the second fastener of the first resistance device adjacent the lower portion of the first leg of the person and securing the second fastener of the second resistance device to a lower portion of the second leg of the person. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a resistance device according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the resistance device shown in  FIG. 1  secured to a person&#39;s back leg. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of two resistance devices, such as the device shown in  FIG. 1 , secured to each of a person&#39;s legs. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an anchor according to an alternative embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an anchor according to another alternative embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a fastener according to an alternative embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Disclosed herein are devices and methods for substantially preventing a person from raising a foot from a person&#39;s first leg from the ground. In some embodiments, the devices and methods are used for maintaining the weight of the person on the person&#39;s back foot when swinging. 
     The described methods, systems, and apparatus should not be construed as limiting in any way. Instead, the present disclosure is directed toward all novel and nonobvious features and aspects of the various disclosed embodiments, alone and in various combinations and sub-combinations with one another. The disclosed methods, systems, and apparatus are not limited to any specific aspect, feature, or combination thereof, nor do the disclosed methods, systems, and apparatus require that any one or more specific advantages be present or problems be solved. 
     Although the operations of some of the disclosed methods are described in a particular, sequential order for convenient presentation, it should be understood that this manner of description encompasses rearrangement, unless a particular ordering is required by specific language set forth below. For example, operations described sequentially may in some cases be rearranged or performed concurrently. Moreover, for the sake of simplicity, the attached figures may not show the various ways in which the disclosed methods, systems, and apparatus can be used in conjunction with other systems, methods, and apparatus. 
     The term “comprising” and variations thereof as used herein is used synonymously with the term “including” and variations thereof and are open, non-limiting terms. 
     Exemplary Embodiments for Resistance Devices 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a resistance device  100 . In particular, the resistance device  100  includes an anchor  102 , a first tether segment  104 , a second tether segment  106 , a first fastener  108 , and a second fastener  110 . The first fastener  108  is configured for securing adjacent an upper portion of a person&#39;s leg, and the second fastener  110  is configured for securing adjacent a lower portion of the person&#39;s leg, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Anchor 
     The anchor  102  can include a coiled stake portion  112  that is configured for screwing into the ground and a ring  114  disposed above the coiled stake portion  112 . The first tether segment  104  and the second tether segment  106  extend between the ring  114  and the first and second fasteners  108 ,  110 , respectively. Although a ring  114  is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a closed loop or substantially closed loop can be provided as part of the anchor  102  for attachment of the tether segments  104  and  106 . 
     According to an alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the anchor  202  comprises a tapered lower portion  212 , a cap portion  213  above the tapered portion  212 , and ring  214  below the cap portion  213  to which the first and second tether portions may be secured. The tapered portion  212  can be pushed into the ground by applying force to the cap portion  202  or otherwise. The anchor  102  may be made of metal (e.g., aluminum, steel, zinc, or other suitable metal), fabric, plastic, or a combination of both. According to yet another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the anchor  302  comprises a strap such as a fabric strap or a plastic band that can be secured to a pole  12  (or other stationary object such as a door knob, which is not shown). The strap  302  may be made of fabric, plastic, or a combination of both. In some embodiments, the anchor comprises fabric and plastic. 
     First and Second Tether Segments 
     According to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the first and second tether segments  104 ,  106  are part of the same tether cable, and the middle portion  120  of the tether loops through the ring  114  to secure the first and second tether segments  104 ,  106  relative to the anchor  102 . The first tether segment  104  comprises an end  116  that defines a loop  122  through which the first fastener  108  can be thread, and the second tether segment  106  comprises an end  118  that defines a loop  124  through which the second fastener  110  can be thread. According to various embodiments, the tether segments  104 ,  106  may be a solid or woven material, and at least a portion of the segments  104 ,  106  may be coated with a polymeric material. 
     According to various alternative embodiments (not shown), the first and second tether segments are separate cables. In one such embodiment, each of the first and second tether segments have a first end that is secured to the anchor and a second end opposite the first end that is secured to the first and second fasteners, respectively. In another embodiment (not shown), a portion of the first or second tether segment engages the ring  114  of the anchor  102 , but the other tether segment does not. 
     According to various alternative embodiments (not shown), the first and second tether segments can be extension straps. 
     In some embodiments, the first tether segment and the second tether segment are each part of the same tether. For example, the first tether segment can be a first cable segment and the second tether segment can be a second cable segment, and the first cable segment and second cable segment can be parts of the same cable. 
     First and Second Fasteners 
     According to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the first and second fasteners  108 ,  110  are elongated straps, such as fabric or plastic straps, that include a first end  130 , a second end  132  opposite the first end  130 , a first surface, and a second surface opposite the first surface. In some embodiments, the first end  130  comprises a field of hooks (or loop material)  134  on the first surface of the strap, and the second end  132  comprises a field of loop material (or hooks)  136  on the second surface to receive and engage the field of hooks  134  when the second surface of the strap is secured around the person&#39;s leg, as shown in  FIG. 2 . For example, the first end  130  and second end  132  can be formed of VELCRO®. When the first and second fasteners  108 ,  110 , are secured around the person&#39;s leg, the loops  122 ,  124  of the first and second tether segments  104 ,  106 , respectively, are secured adjacent the person&#39;s leg. 
     According to other embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , each of the first and second fasteners comprise a buckle  512  at a first end  510  of the fastener, and a second end  514  of the fastener is configured for looping through the buckle  512  to secure the fastener adjacent the person&#39;s leg. 
     In other embodiments (not shown), the first fastener can be sewn or otherwise fastened to the first tether segment, and the second fastener can be sewn or otherwise fastened to the second tether segment. 
     Sleeve 
     In addition, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the device  100  can further include a sleeve  150  that extends between a portion of the first and second tether segments  104 ,  106  adjacent the middle portion  120 . The sleeve  150  is configured to restrict a distance through which the portions of the first and second tether segments  104 ,  106  may be moved relative to each other. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the sleeve is a fabric sleeve that substantially wraps around the first and second tether segments  104 ,  106 . According to other embodiments, however, the sleeve may be metal or plastic, or a combination of metal, plastic, and/or fabric. 
     Exemplary Uses of the Resistance Device 
     According to various embodiments, a resistance device, such as the resistance device  100  described above in relation to  FIG. 1 , can be used to improve the swing of a person playing a sport, such as baseball, softball, or golf. When swinging, the person typically stands such that one leg is a front leg and one leg is a back leg. If the person is swinging left handed, then the back leg is the left leg of the person, and if the person is swinging right handed, then the back leg is the right leg of the person. 
     The coiled portion  112  of the anchor  102  is screwed into the ground to secure the anchor  102  into a stationary position. The first fastener  108  is thread through the end loop  122  of the first tether segment  104  and secured adjacent an upper portion of the person&#39;s back leg, and the second fastener  110  is thread through the end loop  124  of the second tether segment  106  and secured adjacent a lower portion of the person&#39;s back leg. The person then moves (e.g., walks) in a direction away from the anchor  102  until the first and second tether segments  104 ,  106  are relatively taut and practice his or her swing. Alternatively, the anchor  102  can be placed at a distance away from the person such that it is taut before being secured in a stationary position. The device  100  prevents the person from raising his or her back leg during the swing motion. In other embodiments, the first fastener  108  may be secured adjacent the lower portion of the person&#39;s leg, and the second fastener  110  may be secured adjacent the upper portion of the person&#39;s leg. 
     The resistance device  100  may also be used to substantially prevent a person from raising at least one of the person&#39;s feet from the ground. For example, the resistance device  100  can be used to train a person to swing by maintaining his or her weight on a back foot, such as for sports such as baseball, softball, or golf. Alternatively, at least two resistance devices  100  can be used to train a person to ski by simulating downhill skiing, such as shown in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 . In particular, according to the embodiment shown, two resistance devices  100   a ,  100   b  are provided, and the anchors  102   a ,  102   b , respectively, are screwed into the ground uphill from the person. The first fasteners  108   a ,  108   b , respectively, are secured adjacent the upper portion of each leg of the person, and the second fasteners  110   a ,  110   b , respectively, are secured adjacent the lower portion of each leg of the person. The person can then lean forward in the manner the person would lean downhill to ski with the resistance devices  100   a ,  100   b  holding the person in place on the hill.