Abstract:
A device includes a foot-engaging element that can move in a spherical pattern and has resistance to movement generated by elastic straps. The straps can be added, changed or removed to customize the resistance to the exact pattern required to achieve maximum benefit for the user. The device does not require a user to place his or her weight on their foot to exercise, strengthen or rehabilitate an ankle. The device can be easily assembled and disassembled and transported.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the general art of fitness, and to the particular field of fitness and rehabilitation. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     As the population becomes more and more active, injuries to various parts of the body are increasing. Strained muscles, ligaments and the like are becoming commonplace. Certainly, such injuries occur in professional sports. One common injury occurs to the ankle joint. This injury can be to the bone, to the muscles, to the tendons or to the ligaments associated with an ankle. These injuries can vary from slight to extremely complex and debilitating. 
     Often ankle injuries require some rehabilitation and re-strengthening of the ankle and the body parts associated therewith. This may require work with a trainer or in a rehabilitation center. 
     While the art does contain examples of several devices that can be used to strengthen or rehabilitate an ankle, these devices have several disadvantages. These disadvantages will be understood from the following discussion. 
     If the rehabilitation/strengthening process requires the participation of another person, be it a trainer, a physical therapist, another health care worker, or simply a partner, the need for a second person may restrict the ability of a person to fully rehabilitate and/or strengthen an ankle. The person is restricted by the schedule of the other person, or by the schedule of the equipment or the like. Often, such rehabilitation is painful and arduous, and any impediment to such rehabilitation and or strengthening should be removed if possible. 
     Still further, many of the known devices require a person to place his or her weight on the device. This may require the person to place their weight on the injured ankle. Placing the person&#39;s weight on the ankle may limit the movement of the ankle during the rehabilitation process and may even re-injure the ankle. In either case, the process of rehabilitation and/or strengthening may be impeded or delayed. 
     Still further, some parts of an ankle may require movement or resistance that differs from other parts of the ankle. Thus, to be most efficient, each part of the ankle should be exercised in the manner best suited for that part of the ankle and each part should not be limited to the exercise of the overall ankle. However, many presently-available devices are not capable of such precise and customized exercise for an ankle. Still further, some exercise regimens may require movements that differ from movements of other portions of the same exercise routine, or may require a foot to be moved in various manners for the same overall exercise. However, many presently-available devices are not capable of such customized movements. 
     Still farther, many presently-available devices are cumbersome to use, cumbersome or complicated to assemble and difficult to disassemble. Many of these devices are also large and unsightly. Thus, such devices are not amenable for home use and thus may require a person to travel to a center, which may limit the ability of a person to have access to the machine when he or she wants to work out. Some people may be sized larger or smaller than normal, and these people may find many of the presently-available exercise devices difficult or uncomfortable to use. 
     PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a main object of the present invention to provide an ankle exercise device. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an ankle exercise device that is versatile. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an ankle exercise device that can accommodate users of various sizes. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an ankle exercise device wherein the amount of resistance can be customized to a particular routine. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an ankle exercise device that can be customized to exercise particular muscles, tendons or ligaments. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an ankle exercise device that can accommodate a wide range of ankle motion. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an ankle exercise device that can accommodate a spherical motion of the foot. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an ankle exercise device that does not require someone to assist a user. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an ankle exercise device that does not require the user to place his or her weight on the injured ankle during a workout. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an ankle exercise device that is portable. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an ankle exercise device that is easily assembled and disassembled and can be easily and conveniently stored between uses. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These, and other, objects are achieved by an ankle exercise device which includes a base/container unit having a plurality of eye fastener elements mounted thereon; a pedestal unit mounted in the base/container unit; a foot supporting unit movably mounted on the pedestal unit and including a plurality of eye fastener elements mounted on the foot supporting unit; a first plurality of eye fastener elements on the base/container unit; a second plurality of eye fastener elements on the foot supporting unit; and a plurality of elastic resilient tension straps each including a first end having a first eye fastener element-engaging hook thereon which releasably engages an eye fastener element of the first plurality of eye fastener elements in the in-use condition, and a second end having a second eye fastener element-engaging hook thereon which releasably engages an eye fastener element of the second plurality of eye fastener elements in the in-use condition. 
     The ankle exercise device can be customized by adding, changing or subtracting elastic straps and can rotate in 360° in a plurality of planes. Thus, the device can work any and all muscles, tendons and ligaments of an ankle and does not require a user to place his or her weight on the device. Maximum benefit can thus be obtained from the device. The device is easy to assemble and disassemble and does not require a person to use the assistance of anyone else. Thus, the device can be used at the convenience of the user. The size of the device can adjusted so any user can have maximum comfort and the device is portable. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ankle exercise device embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cover for the device embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 4A is an elevational view of an elastic, resilient tension strap of the device embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 4B shows a plurality of the tension straps. 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a pedestal unit of the device embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a foot-engaging unit of the device embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the foot-engaging unit mounted on a pedestal of the device of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in an ankle exercise device  10  that comprises a base/container unit  12  which includes a bottom  14  having an inner surface  16 , an outer surface  18  and feet  20  on the outer surface  18  of the bottom  14 . A first end  22  has an inner surface  24  located adjacent to the inner surface  16  of the bottom  14 , an outer surface  26  and snap fastener elements, such as snap fastener element  28 , on the outer surface  26  of the first end  22 . A second end  30  has an inner surface  32  located adjacent to the inner surface  16  of the bottom  14 , and an outer surface  34  and snap fastener elements, such as snap fastener element  36 , on the outer surface  34  of the second end  30 . 
     A first side  40  has an inner surface  42  located adjacent to the inner surface  16  of the bottom  14  and an outer surface  44 . A second side  46  has an inner surface  48  located adjacent to the inner surface  16  of the bottom  14  and an outer surface  50 . 
     The first end  22  and the second end  30  and the first side  40  and the second side  46  extends upwardly from the bottom  14  to define an interior volume  52  in the in-use condition. A longitudinal axis  54  of the base/container unit  12  extends between first end  22  of the base/container unit  12  to second end  30  of the base/container unit  12 . A transverse axis  56  extends between first side  40  of the base/container unit  12  to second side  46  of the base/container unit  12 . 
     A first portion of a first plurality of eye fastener elements, such as eye fastener element  60 , are mounted on the inner surface  42  of the first side  40 . The eye fastener elements  60  of the first plurality of eye fastener elements are spaced apart from each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis  54  of the base/container unit  12 . A second portion of the first plurality of eye fastener elements, such as eye fastener element  62 , are mounted on the inner surface  48  of the second side  46  and are spaced apart from each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis  54  of the base/container unit  12 . A third portion of the first plurality of eye fastener elements, such as eye fastener element  64 , are mounted on the inner surface  24  of the first end  22  and are spaced apart from each other in the direction of the transverse axis  56  of the base/container unit  12 . A fourth portion of the first plurality of eye fastener elements, such as eye fastener element  66 , are mounted on the inner surface  32  of the second end  30  and are spaced apart from each other in the direction of the transverse axis  56  of the base/container unit  12 . 
     A pedestal mounting base  70  is mounted on the inner surface  16  of the bottom  14  of the base/container unit  12  and is best shown in FIG.  5 . Base  70  includes a first end  72  which is spaced apart from the first end  22  of the base/container unit  12  and extends upwardly from the inner surface  16  of the bottom  14  of the base/container unit  12  in the in-use condition, a second end  74  spaced apart from the second end  30  of the base/container unit  12  and extending upwardly from the inner surface  16  of the bottom  14  of the base/container unit  12  in the in-use condition, a first side  76  spaced apart from the first side  40  of the base/container unit  12  and which extends upwardly from the inner surface  16  of the bottom  14  of the base/container unit  12  in the in-use condition, and a second side  78  spaced apart from the second side  46  of the base/container unit  12  and which extends upwardly from the inner surface  16  of the bottom  14  of the base/container unit  12  in the in-use condition. A top  80  is spaced apart from the inner surface  16  of the bottom  14  of the base/container unit  12  in the set-up condition, and an internally threaded bore  82  is defined in the top  80  of the pedestal mounting base  70 . 
     A pedestal unit  90  is also shown in FIG.  5  and includes a first tubular section  92  having an externally threaded proximal end  94  which is threadably received in the internally threaded bore  82  defined in the top  80  of the pedestal mounting base  70  in the in-use condition and a distal end  96 . A bore  98  extends between the proximal end  94  of the first tubular section  92  and the distal end  96  of the first tubular section  92 . A locking hole  100  is defined through the first tubular section  92  adjacent to the distal end  96  of the first tubular section  92 . A second tubular section  110  has a proximal end  112  slidably received in the first tubular section  92  at the distal end  96  of the first tubular section  92  in the in-use condition and a spring-biased locking projection  114  having a spring  116  therein on the second tubular section  110  near the proximal end  112  of the second tubular section  110 . The spring-biased locking projection  114  is sized and located to be accommodated in the locking hole  100  defined through the first tubular section  92  in the in-use condition. A mounting ball  118  is mounted on a distal end  119  of the second tubular section  110 . A groove  120  is defined in the second tubular section  110  adjacent to the mounting ball  118 . A mounting element  122  is movably mounted on the mounting ball  118 . The mounting element  122  includes a first planar side surface  124  having a top edge  126  and a bottom edge  128  in the in-use condition, a second planar side surface  130  having a top edge  132  and a bottom edge  134  in the in-use condition, a third planar side surface  136  having a top edge  138  and a bottom edge  140  in the in-use condition, and a fourth planar side surface  142  having a top edge  144  and a bottom edge  146  in the in-use condition. A planar top surface  150  is on the top edges  126 ,  132 ,  138 ,  144  of the planar side surfaces  124 ,  130 ,  136 ,  142 , and a chamber  152  is defined between the planar side surfaces  124 ,  130 ,  136 ,  142 , and the mounting ball  118  is movably accommodated in the chamber  152  in the in-use condition. 
     The bottom edges  128 ,  134 ,  140 ,  146  of the side surfaces  124 ,  130 ,  136 ,  142  of the mounting element  122  are accommodated in the groove  120  defined in the second tubular section  110  of the pedestal unit  90  in the in-use condition. 
     A first base plate  154  is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and is mounted on the planar top surface  150  of the mounting element  122 . The first base plate  154  includes a first end  155 , a second end  156 , a first side  157  having a groove  158  defined therein from the first end  155  of the first base plate  154  toward the second end  156  of the first base plate  154 , a second side  160  having a groove  162  defined therein from the first end  155  of the first base plate  154  toward the second end  156  of the first base plate  154 . The first base plate  154  further includes a bottom surface  163  fixed to the planar top surface of the mounting element and a top surface  164 . A plurality of locking buttons, such as locking button  166 , are located on the top surface  164  of the first base plate  154 . 
     A second plurality of eye fastener elements, such as eye fastener element  170 , are mounted on the bottom surface  163  of the first base plate  154 . As shown in the figures, the second plurality of eye fastener elements include eye fastener elements, such as eye fastener element  170 , located near the first end  155  of the first base plate  154 , eye fastener elements, such as eye fastener element  172 , located near the second end  156  of the first base plate  154 , eye fastener elements, such as eye fastener element  174 , located near the first side  157  of the first base plate  154  and eye fastener elements, such as eye fastener element  176 , located near the second side  160  of the first base plate  154 . 
     A toe base plate  180  is slidably mounted on the top surface  164  of the first base plate  154  and includes a first end  182 , a second end  184 , a first side  186  having a tongue  188  thereon which extends from the second end  184  of the toe base plate  180  toward the first end  182  of the toe base plate  180  and which slidably engages the groove  162  defined in the first side  157  of the first base plate  154  in the in-use condition. The toe base plate  180  further includes a second side  190  which is identical to the first side  186  and which is not shown but includes a tongue, identical to tongue  188  thereon and which extends from the second end  184  of the toe base plate  180  toward the first end  182  of the toe base plate  180  and which slidably engages the groove defined in the second side of the first base plate  154  in the in-use condition. The toe base plate  180  thus moves in directions  192  and  194  to adjust the size of the device  10  to the user. 
     A locking hole  200  is defined in the toe base plate  180  adjacent to the second end  184  of the toe base plate  180  and accommodates one locking button of the plurality of locking buttons on the top surface  164  of the first base plate  154  in the in-use condition. A foot accommodating strap  202  has a first end  204  fixed to the first side  186  of the toe base plate  180  and a second end  206  fixed to the second side  190  of the toe base plate  180 . A size adjusting element  208  is located on the foot accommodating strap  202  so users having various size feet can be accommodated by the device  10 . 
     A heel base plate  220  is mounted on the top surface  164  of the first base plate  154 . Heel base plate  220  includes a first end  222  located adjacent to the second end  184  of the toe base plate  180  in the in-use condition, a second end  224 , a first side  226  and a second side  228 . 
     A leg accommodating strap unit  230  is mounted on the heel base plate  220  and includes a first strap  232  having a proximal end  234  fixed to the first side  226  of the heel base plate  220  near the second end  224  of the heel base plate  220  and a distal end  236 . A second strap  240  has a proximal end  242  fixed to the second side  228  of the heel base plate  220  near the second end  224  of the heel base plate  220  and a distal end  244 . A leg-encircling strap  250  is attached to the distal ends  236 ,  244  of the first and second straps  232 ,  240  of the leg accommodating strap unit  230 . A size-adjusting element  252  is attached to the leg-encircling strap  250  so users having various leg sizes can be accommodated by the device  10 . 
     A plurality of elastic, resilient straps, such as elastic, resilient strap  260  are identical to each other and each includes a first end  262  having a first eye fastener element-engaging hook  264  thereon which releasably engages an eye fastener element of the first plurality of eye fastener elements  60  in the in-use condition and a second end  266  having a second eye fastener element-engaging hook  268  thereon which releasably engages an eye fastener element of the second plurality of eye fastener elements  170  in the in-use condition. The straps  260  establish resistance to movement of the toe base plate  180  and to movement of the heel base plate  220 . The straps  260  can have varying tensions whereby different movements of the same overall exercise will have different resistances. Furthermore, the straps  260  can have different tensions whereby a user can increase resistance to movement as the workout progresses. This permits a user to customize a particular exercise and to alter exercise routines as progress is made. As can be understood from this disclosure, the heel base plate  220  and the toe base plate  180  are able to move in a spherical movement so the user can move his or her foot in an infinite number of planes. This further facilitates the exercise routines. Still further, due to the tension straps  260 , the user need not place any of his or her weight on the foot or ankle during the exercise routine. 
     A cover unit  270  is shown in FIG.  3  and includes a plurality of snap fastener engaging elements, such as snap fastener-engaging element  272  thereon, which releasably engage the snap fastener elements  28 ,  36  on the outer surfaces  26 ,  34  of the first and second ends  22 ,  30  of the base/container unit  12  in the in-use condition of the cover unit  270 . 
     A handle  280  is mounted on first side  40  of the base/container unit  12  and is used to carry the device  10 . 
     It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.