Abstract:
The invention is a leg muscle strengthening device used for warming up, exercising, and strengthening the muscles of the lower limbs particularly after a period of immobilization or in order to carry out particular sporting or artistic activities. The invention comprises a main body including, in use, at least one work portion and at least one portion of abutment on a support, the main body being composed of an elastically deformable material, and the work portion and the abutment portion being yieldingly maintained in a mutually angled arrangement.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention regards a strengthening device of the leg muscles, in particular in the calf and foot areas, particularly recommended for rehabilitating the leg and generally the lower limbs after a period of immobilization or for exercising and greatly strengthening the leg muscles in order to carry out particular sporting or artistic activities, e. g. playing drum pedals, warming up the muscles before a race and the like. 
         [0002]    In particular, a strengthening device according to the invention is suitable for developing the recruitment and kinesthetic proprioception (neuromuscular control) of the leg muscles. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0003]    As is known, for exercising and/or rehabilitating arms muscles, in particular the forearm, (spherical) bodies are often used made of elastically deformable material, typically rubber. The user grasps one of such bodies and then repeatedly compresses and releases it, thus placing under stress the muscles of the arm and forearm in addition to those of the hand. 
         [0004]    Regarding the rehabilitation of the leg muscles, in particular in the calf area, their rehabilitation is carried out by walking and/or by means of the use of gymnastic equipment, which has complex structure and is therefore costly, with considerable bulk. 
         [0005]    In the musical instrument sector and in particular drums sector, a pedal device has already been proposed, like that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,683,240, which comprises two plate-like elements, generally made of plastic material, pivoted together at one end thereof and maintained in mutually angular position by a spring. The user, once the pedal device is arranged with a plate-like element thereof on the ground, can exert a press-release action on the other plate-like element, against the force of the spring. 
         [0006]    One such solution is thus little practical, since it does not permit adjusting the initial slope of the upper plate-like element in order to be suitable for the user&#39;s needs. Drummers, for example, require control pedals with adjustable slope, otherwise they run the risk of having to assume, for hours, an uncomfortable foot posture that could in the long-term cause them considerable discomfort. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The main object of the present invention is therefore that of providing a device for warming up, exercising and strengthening the muscles of the lower limbs that is adaptable to the needs and characteristics of the user and can be produced at decidedly competitive costs. 
         [0008]    Another object of the present invention is that of providing a strengthening and exercising device of the muscles of the lower limbs, in particular for warming up to be carried out by drummers before playing the drums, that is very efficient and easy to maneuver. 
         [0009]    According to a first aspect of the present invention a strengthening device of the lower limbs is provided, which comprises a main body including, in use, at least one work portion and at least one portion of abutment on a support, the main body being composed of an elastically deformable material, and the work portion and the abutment portion being yieldingly maintained in a mutually angled arrangement. 
         [0010]    According to another aspect of the present invention a method of warming up the lower limb muscles for a drummer is provided, which comprises the steps of: 
         [0011]    arranging a drum pedal; 
         [0012]    locating a damper device under the drum pedal; and 
         [0013]    pressing-releasing the drum pedal. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0014]    Further aspects of the present invention will better appear from the following detailed description of specific embodiments of a strengthening device of the leg muscles or lower limbs, description made with reference to the drawing set, in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a strengthening device according to the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 2 to 4  are frontal, side and back views, respectively, of a second strengthening device embodiment according to the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a section view taken along the line V-V of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5   a  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  of another embodiment of strengthening device; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a front view of another embodiment of the strengthening device according to the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a cross-section view taken along the line VII-VII of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  shows a side view of a further embodiment of the device according to the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 1  of another embodiment of the device according to the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a cross-section view taken along the line X-X of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the strengthening device of  FIG. 9  arranged under a drum pedal; 
           [0025]      FIG. 11   a  is a side view of a strengthening device arranged under a drum pedal; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is a similar view to  FIG. 1  of another embodiment of the device according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0027]    In the drawing set, the same or equivalent parts or components were marked with the same reference numerals. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]    With reference first to  FIG. 1 , a strengthening device is illustrated of the muscles of a lower limb (leg) according to the present invention. The strengthening device comprises a single-piece body  1 , substantially shaped as a wedge truncated at the tip and having an upper portion, in use, with a flat top work surface  3  and a lower abutment portion having a bottom surface  4 . Surfaces.  3  and  4  are extended along a desired slope angle, typically in the range of about 20-60°, with respect to each other. The body  1  is composed of an elastically deformable material, for which the upper surface  3 , in use, and the lower abutment surface  4  are yieldingly maintained in a mutually tilted arrangement. 
         [0029]    Typically, the body  1  is made of an elastic material selected from the group consisting of rubber, silicone, polyamide (e. g. Nylon®) and the like. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 2 to 5  illustrate another embodiment of the strengthening device according to the present invention equipped with a body  2  substantially shaped as a wedge truncated at the tip with an upper portion  3 , in use, having a top, for example flat, surface and with a lower portion  4  with abutment surface. The body  2  has a front face  2   a , at which a blind cavity  2   b  is formed, preferably wedge-shaped with two walls extending parallel to the upper external surface and the lower one, respectively, and designed to act as a receiving seat for two inserts, preferably wedge-shaped,  5   a  and  5   b . The inserts  5   a  and  5   b  are preferably composed of materials with different modulus of elasticity so as to be able to control the overall elasticity upon deformation by compression of the entire device  2  by suitably selecting the materials of the inserts  5   a ,  5   b.    
         [0031]    If desired, the two inserts  5   a  and  5   b  are bonded to each other in any suitable manner, e. g. by means of fitted coupling or by means of pins or juts  5   c  projecting from an insert and being engaged in a respective recess in the other insert. In addition, a layer of anti-slip material  7  is preferably added to the lower abutment surface  7 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 5   a  illustrates another embodiment of strengthening device according to the present invention, which is similar to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2 to 4  and has a hollow body  2 , in which a throughout cavity  2   e  is formed that extends from the front  2   a  to rear-face or end  2   f  of the body. The device further comprises a wedge-shaped insert  5   c  which is designed to be inserted, preferably with strict tolerances, into the cavity  2   e . Preferably, the insert  5   c  and the body  2  are so shaped that, when the insert has been completely inserted into the cavity  2   e  the tip  5   d  of the insert  5   c  reaches an area close to the rear face  2   f . The insert  5   c  can then be released from the cavity  2   e  by pushing backwards the tip  5   d.    
         [0033]    With reference then to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , another embodiment of the device according to the invention is illustrated which is similar to that illustrated in  FIGS. 2-5 , where the wedge-shaped insert  5   b  is inserted in the hollow wedge-shaped insert  5   a , typically in order to act as a relatively more rigid core, predominantly affecting a volume close to the front  2   a  of the body  2 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 8  illustrates an embodiment of the device according to the present invention having body  20  formed by a sheet made of plastic material which is folded or in any case shaped, e. g. by molding, in two, so that it has, in use, an upper portion  3  and a lower portion  4 , preferably covered with an anti-slip material layer  7 . Between the upper and lower portions, one or more inserts  5  made of resiliently deformable plastic material are arranged, held in position in any suitable manner, e. g. by means of juts, upper  8   a  and lower  8   b  juts, respectively, suitable for carrying out a form coupling with a respective insert  5 . 
         [0035]    In  FIGS. 9 and 10 , a strengthening device according to the present invention is illustrated having a body  30  substantially shaped as a wedge with truncated tip and formed by a pair of opposite shell-like elements  31   a  and  31   b  held together by any suitable means, e. g. any suitable glue, or a layer of adhesive material, for example Velcro, and delimiting a receiving seat  32  between them, preferably shaped like the receiving seat  2   b . In the seat  32 , an insert  33  is insertable, made of resiliently deformable material, preferably having a modulus of elasticity different from that of at least one of the shell-like elements  31   a  and  31   b . In this embodiment, a layer of anti-slip material  34  is provided, preferably like the layer  7 , also on the top portion  3 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 11  illustrates a pedal structure for percussion instruments, such as a drum  40  comprising a ground abutment frame generically indicated with  41  and a pedal made of rigid material  42  having one end articulated in  43  to the abutment frame  41  and the other end bonded to a drive rope or chain  44  of a beater or striker  45 . On the ground- or floor-abutting frame  41  and under the rigid pedal  42 , a body device  30  according to the present invention is placed which permits the user to exercise or “warm up” the leg muscles, for example before a concert, with pedal  42  oriented according to a desired (personalized) slope, comfortable for the user as well as resiliently loaded with the desired and preset elastic reaction force, typically by choosing the modulus of elasticity of the insert  33 . 
         [0037]    In  FIG. 12 , another embodiment of the device is illustrated, which has a body  46 , similar to the device illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , but having in place of the two shell-like elements, two substantially plate-like elements  47   a ,  47   b , which are fixed together, e. g. by means of paste or by means of a biadhesive material, such as Velcro®, upon insertion between them of an insert  48 . The surface, in use inside the two elements  47   a ,  47   b , is not flat, but rather consists of a series of sections that are mutually tilted with respect to each other, while the insert  48  has tilted walls so to determine a form coupling with the inner walls of the two elements  47   a ,  47   b . Above the external surface in use of the plate-like elements, a respective layer of anti-slip material  49   a ,  49   b  can be prearranged. 
         [0038]    As will appear to a man skilled in the art, the two plate-like elements  47   a ,  47   b  as well as the insert  48 , could have been obtained by shaping sheets, by means of any suitable process, e. g. by means of water jets, or hot (heating element) wires. In order to achieve one such embodiment, molds are therefore not necessary, equipped with impression especially shaped for making the work portions and abutment portions and the insert(s). It will be noted how the two plate-like elements  47   a ,  47   b  could for example be the two halves of a sheet cut by means of a wire or hot heating element. 
         [0039]    It will be noted how a strengthening device according to the present invention is very light in weight, at the lightest limit if expanded materials are employed for its manufacture, and can therefore be conveniently carried in a bag or suitcase. It can also be made at very low costs, typically by any one suitable molding process, e. g. injection molding. 
         [0040]    According to the present invention a method is also provided according to which a damper device, e. g. made of a material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, rubber, silicone, polyamide and the like, is used in combination with a drum pedal, where it permits the user to employ his pedal that he will use to play, pedal therefore that has already been previously set according an optimal slope for the user. The presence of a damper device under the pedal thus causes the user to overcome by pressing the pedal the resiliently yielding resistance offered by the device, resistance that was previously determined according to user&#39;s convenience and comfort, without having to play the drums during the warm-up period of the leg muscles: such as the medial gemellus, lateral gemellus, the soleus muscle, the long peroneal muscle, the short peroneal muscle, the flexor along the hallux, the calcaneal tendon, the tendon of the gracilis plantar muscle, the long flexor of the toes and in general all muscles and tendons that are between the toes of the foot and the gluteus. 
         [0041]    The damper device, for example, comprises a tape or strip  46  of a flexible material (see  FIG. 11   a ), which, after having been suitably folded up, is put under the drum pedal. 
         [0042]    Advantageously, the damper device comprises a strengthening device according to the present invention. 
         [0043]    The strengthening device as described above is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations within the protective scope of the present invention defined by the claims.