Abstract:
Weights and weight holding devices with hardware that is designed to attach to corresponding parts on shoes or sandals. The hardware works quickly and easily with the net result being that the user can quickly and easily pick up and put down weights with their feet, change the amount of weight, and change weights from foot to foot enabling the user to easily move from one exercise to another, and there is no need to remove the shoes or sandals when performing other exercises or walking.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application for Patent No. 61/400,463 for Weight Lifting Sandals and Their Weights filed on Jul. 27, 2010 by Thomas Jay Zeek. 
         [0002]    This application claims inventions shown in Provisional Application for Patent No. 61/191,171 filed on Sep. 4, 2008 for “Weight lifting shoes and their weights” and shown again in Regular patent application Ser. No. 12/583,854 for “Weight Lifting Shoes” filed on Aug. 26, 2009 filed by Thomas Jay Zeek. 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
       [0004]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    This invention pertains to weight lifting, specifically to weights and weight holding devices that work with a pair of shoes or sandals that enable the user to easily pick up and put down the weights with their feet and to change weights quickly to improve the quality and number of exercises that a person can do with their legs, and the shoes or sandals do not interfere with the user&#39;s ability to walk or to do other exercises. 
         [0006]    While exercises for the upper body have always been easy to do and plentiful, exercises for the legs have been fewer and much more difficult to coordinate. One of the reasons for this discrepancy is the simple ability of a person to pick up and put down weights with their hands, while no such ability exists for leg exercises. 
         [0007]    This problem is normally addressed by the use of large expensive weight lifting machines. Machines called leg curl and leg extension machines take up a lot of room in the user&#39;s house and are only good for a couple of exercises. Other weight lifting machines such as donkey kick machines are more expensive and for most people require a gym membership. 
         [0008]    Many devices have been invented for attaching weights to the user&#39;s ankles or feet to increase the number of exercises that can be done. Weighted shoes have been invented which don&#39;t hurt the ankles like ankle weights do but they make changing and removing weights difficult, and they hamper walking and other exercises because they remain heavy. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,517,928 to Shanahan; 3,785,646 to Ruskin; and 6,052,924 to Sabat are examples of such shoes. Methods of adding weights to normal shoes include weights that tie into shoelaces U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,709 to Walsh and a sort of sock that fits over the shoe U.S. Pat. No. 5,728,032 to Glass. In both of those inventions changing weights is time consuming and difficult. All of these inventions are hampered by the limited amount of weight they can employ. 
         [0009]    Closer to the mark have been devices that attach to shoes and which in turn receive various amounts of weight. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,114,790 to Venables; 2,849,237 to Simithis; 3,343,836 to James; and 6,196,950 to Emick are all examples of such devices. All of these devices are excellent while the user is actually doing the exercise. They all accommodate heavy weight and in one case the ease of changing weights rivals my own invention, but all have the same drawbacks, namely that they interfere with walking and doing other exercises. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. Noa. 2,114,790 and 3,343,836 mentioned above both use a very thick sole plate through which a dumbbell passes to add weight. The thickness of the sole plates makes walking awkward and makes other exercises awkward and dangerous as the user could easily “fall off their heels.” They would have to be removed when the user is switching between upper body and lower body exercises. U.S. Pat. No. 2,849,237 uses a thick sole plate as the actual weight and carries with it the same problems as above. U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,950 uses a thin sole plate but changing weights requires the user to fumble with individual weight plates instead of trading out the entire weight or weight holding device. The sole plate is very rigid and flat and not at all conducive to walking. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,927 to Catanzano describes a similar device in which the sole plate is made up of a plurality of weights which can be thin but it is rigid and still awkward and is limited in the amount of weight it can incorporate. U.S. Pat. No. 2,214,052 to Good refers to an exercising boot “preferably made by casting suitable metal in a shaping form or mold.” It is intended to be worn in place of shoes and not over shoes and therefore will be difficult to fit properly. Its rigid design again makes walking and other exercises difficult and dangerous. 
         [0012]    The only invention heretofore that is suitable for heavy weights, allows quick and easy changing of weights, and considers the user&#39;s ability to walk and to perform other exercises as well as the user&#39;s safety is U.S. Pat. No. 757,983 to Vaile, which discloses a shoe of substantially normal fit and construction with some parts added to accommodate the addition and quick removal of weights, even heavy weights, although not as heavy as the weights in the system claimed herein. The mostly normal construction of Vaile&#39;s shoe provides comfort, safety, and convenience because it can be worn throughout the user&#39;s workout and walking and performing other exercises is still possible, and it provides a solid dependable base for a person who is standing on one foot while exercising with the other foot. 
         [0013]    Vaile&#39;s shoe however still carries with it some drawbacks that need to be addressed. 
         [0014]    The first drawback of Vaile&#39;s invention is that the structural support for the parts that attach to weights comes in the form of a steel toe section in the front of the shoe. This steel toe completely eliminates all flexibility in the shoe from the ball of the foot forward, which interferes with the ability of the user to bend his or her toes back as would be necessary to for instance run on a treadmill or perform any other exercise that involves standing on the toes of either foot. 
         [0015]    A worse drawback of Vaile&#39;s steel toe design is that it prevents the user from pushing their toes down, which may be necessary to keep from falling over forward when the user is lifting heavy weights with their upper body, or doing squats with a barbell on their shoulders. 
         [0016]    Vaile&#39;s design also has the drawback of having the weight over the toes of the user&#39;s foot. This weight forward design forces the user to exercise their ankle and lower leg muscles and upper leg muscles at the same time. During lateral leg raises for instance the weight will put a twisting force on the user&#39;s ankle. Being forced to exercise too many muscles at the same time reduces the effectiveness on the target muscles because the user will get tired before the target muscles have been fully worked. 
         [0017]    Consequently there remains a need for, and it is the object of the current invention to provide a means for a person to quickly and easily pick up and put down heavy weights with their feet that is supremely safe, that does not hurt, does not hamper walking or other exercises, and that allows the user to switch back and forth unimpeded between upper and lower body exercises. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    The current invention is weights and weight holding devices having a basically flat upper surface for receiving the bottom of shoes or sandals and having hardware added to them for attaching to corresponding hardware on the shoes or sandals. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a cast iron weight  12  with hardware to attach to shoes or sandals, and threaded holes  18  and weight bars  20  to accept additional weight. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  shows the cast iron weight  12  of  FIG. 1  with weight bars  20  attached and ordinary barbell weights  68  added. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  shows the cast iron weight  12  of  FIG. 1  with two more cast iron weights  24  &amp;  26  that can be added to it. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  shows the cast iron weights of  FIG. 3  held together with the weight bars  20 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a weight holding device  34   a  with hardware to attach to shoes or sandals. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  shows the weight holding device  34   a  of  FIG. 5  with ordinary barbell weights added. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a top view of a weight holding device  34   b  that has locking pliers type clamps  36  to attach shoes or sandals. 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the weight holding device  34   b  with the clamps  36  open. 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the weight holding device  34   b  with the clamps  36  closed. 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  shows a cross sectional view of the threaded rod  44  and plunger  42  of the locking clamp  36  and the hole  48  that the smooth post  50  goes into. 
           [0029]      FIGS. 11A-B  are a perspective view and end view of a weight holding device  34   c  with hardware to attach to pegs  59  shown in  FIG. 12 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a shoe  60   c  which has pegs  59  for use with the weight holding device  34   c  shown in  FIGS. 11A-B . 
           [0031]      FIGS. 13A-B  are a perspective and top view of a tab assembly  90  that can be embedded in the sole of a shoe or sandal so that the shoe or sandal will work with the weights of this invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a short sandal  61  for use with weights and weight holding devices of this invention. 
           [0033]      FIGS. 15A-B  are a front &amp; perspective view of a shoe  60   a  for use with weights and weight holding devices of this invention. 
           [0034]      FIGS. 16A-B  show weight holding devices of this invention correctly attached to sandals  62  which are strapped to a user&#39;s shod foot. 
           [0035]      FIG. 17  shows a weight holding device of this invention correctly attached to a shoe  60   a  which is being worn by the user. 
           [0036]      FIGS. 18A-C  show a person doing various exercises with weight holding devices of this invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0037]    A preferred embodiment of this invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
         [0038]    The weight  12  is a  101   b . piece of cast iron and it has threaded posts  14  with wing nuts  16  to attach it to corresponding hardware on a shoe or sandal, and it has a flat upper surface for accepting the bottom of the shoe or sandal. It can also be made of plastic filled with concrete or any other suitable material. Weights of this kind can be anywhere from 2 to 100 lbs or more. 
         [0039]    The threaded posts  14  are designed to be accepted by slots  94  in tabs  96 R &amp;  96 L that protrude from the sides of weight lifting shoes or weight lifting sandals such as those shown in FIGS.  14  and  15 A-B. The wing nuts  16  should then be twisted down into concavities  92  in those tabs so that the shoe or sandal and hence the user&#39;s foot will be secured to the weight.  FIGS. 16A-B ,  FIG. 17 , and  FIGS. 18A-C  show weight lifting sandals and shoes correctly attached to a weight holding device  34   a  that uses the same threaded posts  14  and wing nuts  16  as the weight  12  in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
         [0040]    With the weights attached to the weight lifting shoes or weight lifting sandals the user is able to do several different weight lifting exercises including donkey kicks, leg curls, leg extensions, lateral leg raises and several others.  FIGS. 18A-C  show some of the exercises that can be done with these weights. 
         [0041]    After performing the desired number of repetitions of a given exercise the user can quickly and easily remove the weight by loosening the wing nuts  16  and sliding their foot back off of the flat upper surface. The user can then attach the weight to their other foot or attach a different weight to the same foot and continue exercising, or they can leave the weights off and do some upper body exercises with no weights attached to their feet. The shoes and sandals that work with these weights will not interfere in any way with pushups, sit ups, or almost any other exercise. The wing nuts  16  never need to be removed from the threaded posts  14 , only loosened enough to provide clearance out of the concavities  92 . 
         [0042]    The distance between the threaded posts  14  can vary according to the size of the shoe  60   a  or sandal  61  or  62  that is being used since the shoe or sandal needs to fit between the threaded posts  14 , but the distance between the posts  14  should be limited to only a few sizes to match a few sizes of tab assembly  90  so that retailers don&#39;t have to stock different weights for every shoe size and weights can be shared by different members of a household and kept when the user&#39;s shoe size changes. The weights and weight holding devices of this invention can also be made in a way that allows for adjustment of the distance between the threaded posts. 
         [0043]    The weight  12  has threaded holes  18  in the ends to accept the threaded ends  22  of the weight bars  20  if the user wants to add more weight. The weight bars  20  are of a standard diameter to accept ordinary barbell weights available at most sporting goods stores. The weight  12  can be used with or without the weight bars  20  in place. Of course weights can be made without the threaded holes. 
         [0044]      FIG. 2  shows the weight  12  with the weight bars  20  screwed into the threaded holes  18  and ordinary barbell weights  68  added to the weight bars. The barbell weights  68  are held in place by weight collars  70  that are available at most sporting goods stores. 
         [0045]    It should be noted that the barbell weights  68  in this setup also serve the function of wheels which make it easier for the user to move to &amp; from a chair when the weight  12  is attached. Additionally some lightweight wheels could be permanently affixed to the weight or could be sold with the weight to facilitate moving around when the user doesn&#39;t want to add ordinary barbell weights. 
         [0046]      FIG. 3  shows the weight  12  with two boat shaped weights  24  and  26  that can be added and held in place by the weight bars  20 . The boat shaped weights  24  and  26  have smooth holes  28  on each end for the weight bars  20 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 4  shows the weight  12  inside of the medium boat shaped weight  24  inside of the large boat shaped weight  26  all held together by the weight bars  20 . Adding weights this way leaves more room on the weight bars  20  for ordinary barbell weights. There are many other ways that weight can be added to the basic weight  12  too numerous to detail. 
         [0048]    A second embodiment of this invention is the weight holding device  34   a  shown in  FIG. 5 . The weight holding device  34   a  is not necessarily a weight in its own right but it can be made as heavy as one desires. 
         [0049]    It consists of a 1″ diameter bar  32  that is fitted with a platform  30  and two threaded posts  14  and two wing nuts  16 . The approximate dimensions of the platform  30  are 7″ in width, 2.5″ front to back, and about 0.25″ in thickness, although the thickness is only for strength and can vary according to the material it is made of. The distance between the threaded posts  14  can vary according to the size of the shoe  60   a  or sandal  61  or  62  that is being used since the shoe or sandal needs to fit between the threaded posts  14 , but the platform  30  and the distance between the posts  14  should be limited to a few sizes for the same reasons mentioned in paragraph above. The platform  30  also acts as a weight collar and prevents the weights  68  from moving any closer to the user&#39;s shoe or sandal and maintains space for the user&#39;s fingers to operate the wing nuts  16 . The bar  32  is of a standard diameter for accepting normal barbell weights that are available at most sporting goods stores. 
         [0050]      FIG. 6  shows the weight holding device of  FIG. 5  with normal barbell weights  68  added to the bar  32 . The weights  68  are held onto the bar  32  with ordinary weight clamps  70  which are also available at most sporting goods stores. The user of this invention would ideally have several weights or several of these weight holding devices  34   a  with a different amount of weight on each to completely obviate the need for fumbling with the barbell weights  68 , but the invention is still very valuable for picking up and putting down the weight even if the user only has one. 
         [0051]      FIGS. 7 ,  8 , and  9  show a top view and side views of a weight holding device  34   b  that replaces the threaded posts  14  and wing nuts  16  with smooth posts  50  and locking clamps  36 .  FIG. 7  is shown without the locking nuts  46 . 
         [0052]    The locking clamps  36  work in the same way as Visegrip® locking pliers and use most of the same components. With the locking clamps open as is shown in  FIG. 8 , the shoe  60   a  or sandal  61  or  62  is slid onto the platform  30  so that the notches  94  in the tabs  96 L &amp;  96 R accept the smooth posts  50 . With the concavities  92  mostly encircling the smooth posts  50  and directly under the plungers  42 , the user locks the locking clamps  36  down onto the tabs  96 L &amp;  96 R by pushing down on the thumb levers  40  which causes the plungers  42  to go down into the concavities  92 .  FIG. 9  shows the locking clamp  36  in the position for holding down on a tab  96 L. When the user wants to release the clamps they can simply pull up on the thumb levers  40 . 
         [0053]    The locking clamps  36  can be adjusted by means of the threaded rods  44 . With the locking clamps  36  open as in  FIG. 8  the user can slide the shoe or sandal into position and depress the thumb levers  40 . If the user determines that a clamp is too tight or too loose they can release the clamp and then twist the threaded rod  44  and close the clamp again. When the desired tightness is achieved the user should tighten the locking nut  46  which will hold the threaded rod  44  in place. Clamps of this type are available from Good Hand Inc., 7141 Paramount Blvd., Pico Rivera, Ca. 90660. 
         [0054]      FIG. 10  shows a cross sectional view of the threaded rod  44  and plunger  42  from the locking clamp  36 . This view shows the hole  48  which accepts the smooth post  50  when the plunger  42  goes down into the concavity  92 . The smooth post  50  prevents the plunger  42  from moving on a horizontal plane and makes sure the plunger  42  goes in exactly the right place. 
         [0055]    The hole  48  has to be deep enough to keep the smooth post  50  from hitting the top of the hole  48  because that would prevent the plunger  42  from fully descending into the concavity  92 . There should always be some air space above the smooth post  50  when the locking clamp  36  is closed. 
         [0056]      FIGS. 11A  and B show a perspective view and an end view of a weight holding device  34   c  which is designed for use with the shoe  60   c  shown in  FIG. 12 . The user wearing the shoe  60   c  engages the weight holding device  34   c  by stepping down on it so that the pegs  59  are forced through the latches  54 . The latches  54  have a spring and close automatically to hold the pegs  59  in place. The spacers  58  contact the sides of the latch mechanisms  52 L &amp;  52 R to prevent any lateral movement by the shoe  60   c . The distance filled by the spacers  58  should remain constant over several shoe sizes for the reasons discussed in paragraph above. When the user of this embodiment of the invention wants to release the shoe  60   c  from the latch mechanisms they only have to depress the latch levers  56 L &amp;  56 R and the latches  54  will move out of the way. 
         [0057]      FIGS. 13A &amp; 13B  show a perspective &amp; a top view of a tab assembly  90  that can be installed in the sole of a shoe or can be an integral part of the sole of a sandal so the shoe or sandal can be attached to the weights &amp; weight holding devices of this invention. 
         [0058]    A similar assembly that has pegs  59  instead of tabs  96 L &amp;  96 R is used to make the shoe  60   c  in  FIG. 12  and can also be used to make sandals with pegs. 
         [0059]      FIG. 14  shows a weight lifting sandal  61  which has the tab assembly  90  integrally installed in its sole. The sandal has an adjustable heel yoke  150  and straps  154 , 156 , and  158  so that it can be strapped to the user&#39;s normally shod foot.  FIGS. 16A  &amp; B and  FIGS. 18B  &amp; C show a similar sandal  62  correctly strapped to the user&#39;s shod foot and the weight holding devices of this invention correctly attached to the sandals. 
         [0060]      FIGS. 15A  &amp; B show a front and perspective view of a shoe  60   a  that has a tab assembly  90  installed in its sole. The shoe  60   a  has a strap  82  to make it fit the user&#39;s foot and a shoe lace  84  so that the tightness around the top edge of the shoe can be adjusted independently of the tightness of the rest of the shoe.  FIGS. 17 and 18A  show the shoe on a user&#39;s foot and the weight holding device of this invention correctly attached to the shoe. 
         [0061]      FIGS. 16A  &amp; B and  FIG. 17  show weight holding devices of this invention correctly attached to footwear that is designed to work with them. 
         [0062]      FIGS. 18A-C  show a person doing various exercises with the weight holding devices of this invention. 
         [0063]    Accordingly the reader will see that the weights and weight holding devices and the various hardware of this invention will provide a method of lower body exercises that is effective, safe, easy to operate, low cost, and can be used and kept easily in a small room or apartment. 
         [0064]    Although the description above contains many specificities, exact descriptions of the hardware used to attach the weights and weight holding devices to the shoes or sandals may be innumerable, including hardware on the weights that attaches to hardware that is recessed into the sides or the bottom of a shoe&#39;s sole. Examples shown should not be construed as limiting the scope of this invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 REFERENCE NUMERALS USED IN DRAWINGS 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                  12 
                 weight 
               
               
                   
                  14 
                 threaded post 
               
               
                   
                  16 
                 wing nut 
               
               
                   
                  18 
                 threaded hole 
               
               
                   
                  20 
                 short weight bar 
               
               
                   
                  22 
                 threaded end 
               
               
                   
                  24 
                 medium boat shaped weight 
               
               
                   
                  26 
                 large boat shaped weight 
               
               
                   
                  28 
                 smooth hole 
               
               
                   
                  30 
                 platform 
               
               
                   
                  32 
                 bar 
               
               
                   
                  34a 
                 weight holding device with wing nuts 
               
               
                   
                  34b 
                 weight holding device with locking clamps 
               
               
                   
                  34c 
                 weight holding device with latch mechanism 
               
               
                   
                  36 
                 locking clamp 
               
               
                   
                  40 
                 thumb lever 
               
               
                   
                  42 
                 plunger 
               
               
                   
                  44 
                 threaded rod 
               
               
                   
                  46 
                 locking nut 
               
               
                   
                  48 
                 hole 
               
               
                   
                  50 
                 smooth post 
               
               
                   
                  52L 
                 left latch mechanism 
               
               
                   
                  52R 
                 right latch mechanism 
               
               
                   
                  54 
                 latch 
               
               
                   
                  56L 
                 left latch lever 
               
               
                   
                  56R 
                 right latch lever 
               
               
                   
                  58 
                 spacer 
               
               
                   
                  59 
                 peg 
               
               
                   
                  60a 
                 shoe with tabs 
               
               
                   
                  60c 
                 shoe with pegs 
               
               
                   
                  61 
                 short sandal 
               
               
                   
                  62 
                 full footprint sandal 
               
               
                   
                  67 
                 thin rubber laminate 
               
               
                   
                  68 
                 barbell weight 
               
               
                   
                  70 
                 weight clamp 
               
               
                   
                  82 
                 shoe strap 
               
               
                   
                  84 
                 shoelace 
               
               
                   
                  90 
                 tab assembly 
               
               
                   
                  92 
                 concavity 
               
               
                   
                  94 
                 slot 
               
               
                   
                  96L 
                 left tab 
               
               
                   
                  96R 
                 right tab 
               
               
                   
                 150 
                 heel yoke 
               
               
                   
                 154 
                 long strap 
               
               
                   
                 156 
                 medium strap 
               
               
                   
                 158 
                 toe strap 
               
               
                   
                 170 
                 buckle 
               
               
                   
                 172 
                 non-slip surface