Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED ACTIONS AND PRIOR ART 
     Prior Art references, U.S. Design Patent U.S. D622,789, U.S. D 631,107, U.S. Pat. Nos. 383,813, 4,371,160, 6,063,013, 6,758,825, 6,942,604, 7,364,534, 7,179,206. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to fitness and rehabilitation devices that are used for the lower leg injuries, more specifically an apparatus to strengthen and or rehabilitate injuries by resistive movement of the lower leg. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     For decades consumers have enjoyed outdoor health, fitness and sports activities. In more recent years the health and fitness market has grown significantly as consumers become more aware of health risks that may be linked to, high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes that may be a result of inactive lifestyles and rising costs in the healthcare insurance. The trend has become more apparent from young adolescents to adults. In some instances programs have been changing the way consumer eat and participate in outdoor health and fitness activities. A consumer&#39;s trend has been recognized with more exercise, walking, running and participation in sports and other outdoor activities. 
     The most common outdoor activity is running or walking exercise, and although this is not new for many the trend seems to be growing along with the health and fitness industry. The injuries that occur in this trend exhibit the need for more equipment and rehabilitation devices. So many people are living more active lifestyles and as a result many new products are introduced into the market. As the market grows, health professionals are experiencing injuries and other complaints from patients that are sometimes remedied with pain killers, medications and cold and hot therapy. The specific cause for these injuries remains unknown in many cases, but the prescriptions are quite common. Most prescriptions involve pain medications which can be addictive and sometimes offer a patient temporary relief on the injury or condition. Several common injuries have been known in the lower leg extremity. Over the years the consumer have lived with a condition from sports and fitness that could be prevented and often avoided with the proper conditioning. There are products on the market that offer inserts to shoes , special shoes and other elastic bands or supports to wrap around a foot or shoe. These devices do not satisfy the need for most consumers and do not take into consideration the ease of use, the real motion required to strengthen the lower leg, and or provide preventative maintenance for a variety of injuries. Shin splints are one injury that is common to athletes and limited products are found on the market that provides therapy or rehabilitation in the running, sports and fitness marketplace. 
     Some devices may exist on the market today, but few devices offer an apparatus as the proposed invention to provide a method to help prevent injuries or remedy an injury in the lower leg extremity. The need for a device ergonomically designed to strengthen the lower leg extremity from adolescent to adults that is simple to use, with varying levels of resistance, minimal parts and portable is desired in today&#39;s market. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In general, in one aspect, the invention provides an apparatus that strengthens and conditions a lower leg extremity, utilizing a dorsiflexion motion with resistive movement at an angular displacement of the foot and ankle that can be used for both pre-conditioning and or rehabilitation. The foot is flexible consisting of bones, joints, muscles, and soft tissues that let us stand, walk, run, and jump. The apparatus consists of a base sized to fit a child to an adult foot, a support to engage the top surface of the foot and resistive band to provide selective resistive movement in a dorsiflexion motion. The dorsiflexion motion is defined as a motion of the lower leg extremity or foot from a heel to toe moving the foot at the toe end towards the body, or a foot pivoting around an ankle where the toes and arch of a foot is moving towards the lower shin on a human body. In this example, the foot and toes move toward the shin or knee, causing the muscles and angular rotation of the foot through or about a pivot point of the ankle. 
     Another aspect of the invention is to provide a base that can accommodate a foot size of a child, and also accommodate a foot size of an adult women and adult man. The sizes were researched with publications and experts in the shoe industry. The anatomical foot is divided into three planes, a transverse (top and bottom), frontal (divides front and back), and sagittal (divides left from right). The apparatus is sized appropriately considering the anatomical foot geometry of a child to an adult. Publications including Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, Anatomical Charts and Shoe manufacturers provided information including differences between barefoot and shoe sizes. The size is appropriately measured to offer a product that provides a universal fit and that will adapt to a anatomical foot size of a child up to an adult male at the upper end of the shoe size scale. The size is important to consider as the resistive movement and angular displacement of the device may affect the path and function of the device itself. The device accommodates the length and anatomical shape of the foot and is designed to fit the size of the consumer&#39;s foot from a child to an adult. The angular displacement of a foot and or shoe 8 inches in length may differ from that of a foot 13 inches in length. 
     Another aspect of the invention is to provide a resistive movement that may be adjustable for consumers with different conditioning levels of strength vs. resistance. In one particular case a young adult may require less resistance or in rehabilitation with a patient may require a change in resistance movement throughout a period of time. The invention apparatus provides a method to select, change and or increase resistance using the dorsiflexion motion with consumers, caregivers and medical professionals. 
     Another aspect of the invention is to provide a feature to simplify the use of the device, where the apparatus is designed to insert a foot or shoe inside without pre-loading the resistive movement member. The feature may include a recess pocket in the body of the base, or trough to position the foot or toe under the support and allow repetitive movement or displacement of the support. Another configuration may include the option or feature of incorporating an angle of the support bar that is configured within the base to allow the foot or shoe to be positioned inside the apparatus without lifting or preloading the pivoting member. The foot can be inserted and the apparatus utilized with no further action or secondary motion. 
     Another aspect of the proposed invention is a base comprising resistive or non-skid pads to prevent movement when the apparatus is in use or when placed on a floor. 
     The slip resistant component may be one assembled to the base, or over molded, co-injection molded or the base itself made of a slip resistance material. Another feature may include a pad positioned on the apparatus that provides comfort between the foot and the apparatus. The pad can be part of the apparatus or assembled and or an optional removable component. 
     The apparatus may include one of the following, a single piece resistive band that is configured to resist movement in the dorsiflexion motion, made of several strands of elastic like material, a single strand of elastomer material and or a spring like material contained inside a sleeve or like member. The resistive band is guided by features on the apparatus such as a ample radius within the slots or a guide to allow the outer sleeve of the resistive band to extend within the guides of the apparatus and or base, allowing the resistive band to move, and stretch for linearly uniform displacement of the support member. The resistive bands are configured for both tension resistive force and or displacement which are defined by the number of strands, material and elongation properties of the elastic like material. Resistive bands can be selectively chosen by the consumer for increased tension, and coordinated by markings or color within the apparatus design. The base can also be configured to store the bands. 
     The apparatus support is configured to pivot about a portion of the base, and conform to the anatomical shape of a foot. The anatomical size and shape of the foot&#39;s metatarsals through the phalanges are configured to fit the to a support arm arc engaging end of the apparatus. The support extends like an arm from a pivot point to a foot engaging end which forms an arc in a “U” configuration is designed to accept the width of a child to the width of an average adult. The support configured with two bosses or extensions on opposite sides configured to attach a resistive band around the outer diameter of the boss or extension, and guided under the base for resistive tension. The support may also include one of the following features, foam like pad configured where the foot contacts the support for added comfort, an over molded portion where the foot contacts the support and an optional feature for a removable pad that can wrap around the support for hygienic purposes. The apparatus may also include a counter to read the number of cycles in use. The support can be configured with a stop to prevent stress, break or fracture of the support arm. 
     The features and benefits of a minimal number of components along with the configuration of a base support and selectively resistive band can offer consumers a device that is both useful and needed in today&#39;s market. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the apparatus. 
         FIG. 2  is top and left side view of the support arm. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the base. 
         FIG. 4  is a left side view of the base and support arm assembly. 
         FIG. 5  is a detailed drawing of the resistive band and multi-strand configuration. 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the base. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for conditioning and or exercising the lower leg extremity, with a dorsiflexion motion apparatus. The apparatus utilizes an engineered resistive tension band with angular displacement movement for health, fitness and or rehabilitation. The dorsiflexion apparatus provides a device for runners, sports enthusiasts and athletes by conditioning the lower leg extremity and rehabilitating injuries including shin splints as a preferred method over drugs and other non-conventional remedies available on the market today. The apparatus is made of a minimum amount of primary components, these components are assembled with minimum effort and the apparatus is lightweight, portable for home, office and or travel. 
     In referring to  FIG. 1 , an apparatus  10  includes a base  11 , support arm  12  and resistive band  13  as assembled. The base  11 , configured to a size of a length and width to accommodate a range of a foot sizes from a child to an adult. The sizes accommodate a width, length and height as indicated by anatomical charts. An adult male foot the largest, an adult women foot the mid-size and a child or teen the smallest. The base  11 , is approximately seven inches wide to eighteen inches in overall length in one configuration, assembled with a pivoting support arm  12 , received by the base approximately eleven inches long in overall length. The anatomical foot is divided into three planes, a transverse, frontal, and sagittal. The apparatus is sized to accomodate a foot size of a child to an adult. Variations in measurements may be considered reasonable within plus or minus one inch tolerances. The smallest size would be most desirable for transport and travel, and the largest size may accommodate more options such as a counter and or commercial grade apparatus products. The base  11 , further comprising a pair of parallel receiving slots  14  to receive a support arm  12 , at a pivot point designated within the body of the base  11 . The base  11  configured to a minimum overall height, preferably less than two inches and greater than one half an inch allowing the support arm  12  to engage and pivot inside the base  11 . The base  11 , comprising a trough or recessed area  15 , preferably in the front end of the base to receive a front portion of a foot or shoe, without raising the support arm  12  or preloading the resistive band  13 . The base  11  configured with a slip resistant pad or component  16 , located on the bottom surface of the base  11  to prevent movement of the apparatus. The base  11 , comprising an optional texture  17  on the top surface for added comfort or additional slip resistance while in contact of the sole of a foot or shoe. The base  11 , configured with an optional ramp  17 , to raise the support arm  12  to a desired angle for ease of inserting a foot. The angle can be selectable or fixed at a preferred 10 degree or greater angle. The angular motion of the apparatus support arm is desirable to move in an angular displacement of 20 or more degrees. The ramp  17  can also be configured to prevent damage to the arm or base when a force is applied to the top surface of the apparatus assembly. The ramp  17  can be configured on the two opposite sides of the base  11  top surfaces in the proximity of the end of the support arm  12 , wherein the ramp is configured to contact and provide a solid base for the support arm  12 . The support arm  12  is held approximately ten degrees or more from the base allowing a foot to be positioned into the apparatus without loading the resistive band  13 . The resistive band  13  is guided within a radiused slot  19  and configured to move along the external surface of the base  11  and extend when tension is placed on the band  13  from the support arm  12  pivoted in a dorsiflexion motion (dorsiflexion lower leg-moving the foot about the ankle pivoting the toes and foot back towards the shin) with the apparatus. The resistive band  13  is made of multiple strands of an elastomer material  99  or like resilient material, covered with a shell or sleeve of plastic or fabric like material  98 . The resistive band  13  is preferably round in diameter, configured to be wrapped about the ends  18  of the support arm  12  and guided through a radiused slot  19  on the base  11  forming a loop or one piece resistive resilient band. The resistive band  13  can be configured with different materials to provide different tensions, or different colors and or markings to identify different tensions, features or styles. The resistive band  13  in one configuration may comprise of fifteen strands of elastic at a specified outside diameter enabling fifteen to sixteen pounds of resistive displacement and at another configuration of twenty strands of elastic at a similar specified outside diameter increasing the resistive force to about twenty four pounds displacement. It may be desired to increase or reduce the number of strands, or increase or reduce the diameter of the resilient material to offer various levels of tension on the apparatus. The materials can be can be single elastic, multiple strand elastic, metal spring steel, helical extension coil spring with looped ends and other similar type resistive tension type materials. The materials are preferable covered with a sleeve of fabric or plastic like material configured to slide or move along a surface. The sleeve may be color coordinated to coincide with a specific tension or linear displacement of the resistive band  13 . Referring to  FIG. 2  , a support arm  12  comprising a U shaped body, having a foot engaging end  20 , and an opposite base engaging end  21 ,  22 , wherein the opposite base engaging end  21 ,  22  are coupled to the base  11  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The support arm  12  comprising of a “C” shape or hook like end  23 , and configured to be assemble and pivot within base  11  as shown in  FIG. 1 . When assembled the support arm  12  is rotated  90  degrees so the hook like end “C” shape or hook like end  23  can assemble onto the pin  24  on the flat sides on the diameter pin  24 , the support arm can then rotate to lock into position and pivot about the pin  24 . A support arm  12 , further comprising a support arc  25  about the foot engaging end  20  within the U shaped body, sized to accommodate an arch of the topside foot surface of a child to an adult. The support arc  25 , defined as a differentiable curve in two planes having a minimum width and depth to accommodate the top arch of a foot. The support arm  12  may also be configured to have a pad  26  to provide comfort to the engaging foot wherein the pad  26  is mounted to the bottom side of the support arm  12  foot engaging end  20 . A support arm  12 , may have an optional printing or logo  27  on the top surface and or be combined with a pad, co-injection or over molded elastomeric material (such as TPE thermo plastic elastomer, or TPR thermo plastic rubber) bonded to or with a secondary material or component such at the support arm  12 . Printing, secondary components and or over molding are optional choices for features, branding and or styling the apparatus. Referring to  FIG. 3 , a base  11 , comprising a length and width to receive a foot size from a child to an adult, and further configured with a pair of parallel receiving slots  14 , configured to receive a support arm  12  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The parallel receiving slots  14 , configured with a pin  24  configured to engage a support arm  12  “C” hook like end  23  at a desired angle, and when rotated the support arm  12  locks securely onto the base  11 . Base  11  is further comprises radiused slots  19 , designed to receive a resistive band  13  through one side of the base  11  and guided through the bottom up through the opposite side of base  11 . The radiused slot  19  preferably formed in a parallel pair, to each other starting from the top surface of base  11 , through a portion of the overall height  28 , of base  11 . A ramp  29 , extending from the base  11  at the end of the parallel receiving slots  14 , configured to provide added support of the support arm  12 , with in the assembled apparatus from an excessive load and or to maintain an optional preferred angle of 10 degrees or more. The ramp  29  provides a surface area for the support arm  12  to engage and allows the support arm  12  to be held at a desired angle to insert a foot or shoe into the apparatus without pre-loading the resistive bands  13  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The ramp  29 , can be extended through the base  11 , channel or slot  19  further extending support to a second component a support arm  12  that is coupled to the apparatus and prevent breakage . A slip resistant component  30 , fixed to the bottom side of base  11  to help prevent movement while the apparatus is in use. The slip resistant component  30 , made of rubber like material (i.e. Rubber, EDPM, SBR, other like non slip materials, non-marking, grommets, tape with adhesive backing and or over molded plastic). Referring to  FIG. 4 , an apparatus  10 , including a base  11 , a support arm  12  configured to receive a foot size from a child to an adult. The apparatus  10 , having a base  11 , with a recessed slotted area  19 , configured to a position  31  and  32 , about the front end of the base  11 , wherein the recessed slotted area is stepped and cut away at two different positions and or relative heights  31 ,  32  to accommodate a resistive band and allow equal resistive force transferred to the support arm  12  when the apparatus is in use. The recessed slotted areas  31 ,  32 , are configured onto both sides of the base  11  parallel and symmetrical in shape. The recessed slotted heights  31 ,  32  are also configured with full radii edges to allow the resistive band to move within the recessed slots when the apparatus is in use and the resistive band  13  as shown in  FIG. 1 . is loaded. A ramp  29 , extending from the base  11  top surface area, about the mid-section of the base  11 , towards the front end of the base  11 . The ramp  29 , configured to raise the support arm  12 , to a desired angle of about ten degrees or more, allowing a foot to be inserted without pre-loading the apparatus or moving the support arm  12  to insert a foot. The ramp  29  can extend parallel along a length of the support arm  12 . The ramp  29  offers both stability and surface area for a load applied to the support arm  12  transferred to the base  11  and reduces the load on the pivoting end of the assembly. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , in one configuration a resistive band  13 , comprising an elastic material  31 , a sleeve  32 , and a desired length  33 , coupled with a fastening device  34  to form a loop assembly. The resistive band  13  can be configured with a single strand of elastic material, and or multiple strands of elastic material. The resistive band  13 , can be a single molded part design, and or an assembly of multiple components. The properties of the material such as the material itself including modulus of elasticity, diameter of the elastic strand, stiffness, and or number of strands can provide various desirable tensions that may be applied to the apparatus assembly. A resistive band  13 , with elastic properties having a number of strands such as fifteen strands  35  may be desirable for lower resistance, and a resistive band having a number of strands such as twenty or more  36  may have a higher resistance and more desirable for a different consumer. The resistive band  13  in one configuration may comprise of fifteen strands of elastic at a specified outside diameter of 3/16″ enabling approximately sixteen pounds of resistive angular displacement over a span of two to three inches and in another configuration of eighteen strands of elastic at a similar specified outside diameter of 3/16″ resulting in approximately twenty one pounds of resistive angular displacement over a span of two to three inches and twenty strands of elastic at a similar specified outside diameter increasing the resistive force to about twenty four pounds displacement over a span of two to three inches. It may be desired to increase or reduce the number of strands, or increase or reduce the diameter of the resilient material to offer various levels of tension on the apparatus. The size of the elastic strand, and the number or strands may be designated for a variety of applications for example a desirable resistive band of 3/16″ (5 mm) diameter sleeve with fifteen strands of elastic material at approximately 0.035″ diameter strand provides a resistive load of less than that of a 20 strand material of 0.035″ single strand of elastic material. The sleeve  32 , made of a plastic or fabric like material to provide a sliding component onto the surface area of the base wherein the elastic internal to the cover is slip resistant, but the cover material or the sleeve  32  is required to move or slide on the base  11  surface area allowing the apparatus to function with tension on the elastic material, but also stretch in the elastic covered by the sleeve  32 . The sleeve  32  material can be nylon, polypropylene or like plastic and or fabric material. It is desired to have a sleeve  32 , made of a material that slides easily such as nylon, polypropylene or other like materials for uniform movement about the outer surface of the base  11 . The force and displacement can be configured in one optional design with a lower number of elastic strands such as a fifteen strand with a resistive force of about one and half pounds over one inch displacement, and two and half pounds over three inches and three and half pounds over six inches. A higher number of strands such as a twenty strand elastic cord may result in a resistive force of three pounds over one inch and four pounds over three inches and six pounds over six inch displacement. If the sleeve  32  did not move, the tension from the elastic material alone would not provide sufficient movement or extension of the resistive band  13  for dorsiflexion movement of the lower leg extremity. A combination of the physical properties of the material, number of strands within the resistive band  13  and the ability for movement between the resistive band  13  and the base  11  is desired for optimum performance of the apparatus. An alternative design, a spring made of metal configured with a sleeve  32  can be provide another resistive embodiment for the proposed invention. The combination of elastic material extending in combination with the sleeve  32  movement enables the apparatus to extend in synchronous cycles or movement with minimum wear on the device. In referring to  FIG. 6 , a base  11 , comprising a pin like features  35  configured to a circular pin with two flat parallel surfaces  37  a double “D” configuration  36 . The pair of circular cross section pin like features  35  with two flats  37  extending from within the base  11  configured to receive the support arm  12 . The pin like feature  35 , is coupled to a “C” hook like feature  38  extending from an end of the support arm  12 , wherein the hook like feature  38  can be rotated to engage the pin like feature  35  onto a shape  36  with two flats  37  between the “C” hook  38 . The hook like feature  38  is then rotated to lock onto the pin like feature  35  within the base  11 . The two design features enable the parts to be manufactured with minimum number of components and easy to assemble without tools. 
     A resistive band guide  39  is configured to the base  11  bottom, comprising of a detail to guide the resistive band from one edge  40  to the opposite edge  41  of the base. The guide enables the resistive band  13  (as shown in one previous embodiment  FIG. 1 ) to follow a path with no resistance to movement and allows the resistive band to move as desired when the apparatus is in use. An optional feature, a resistive band storage feature  42 , is configured to the base  11 , having a protrusion from the base wherein a resistive band can be wrapped or stored. The apparatus may also be optionally configured with a handle, markings, and or engravings for instructions or use. It should be understood that the proceeding is a detailed description of one embodiment of the invention described within this specification and numerous changes to the disclosed embodiment can be made in accordance with the disclosures herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 1