LEG STRENGTHENING SYSTEM

Description

BACKGROUND

Athletes, such as, but not limited to, dancers, are born with a particular range of motion in their legs and ankles. The art of dancing requires dancers to have superior strength, endurance and range of motion in their legs and ankles. Young dancers need to exercise their legs and ankles to achieve the desired strength to improve their ability to perform at his/her best. Therefore, a strengthening tool to help dancers is desired.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments described herein relate to a leg strengthening system. The leg strengthening system comprises a knee strap and a foot attachment. One or more resistance bands are removably coupled to the knee strap and the foot attachment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 illustrates a leg strengthening system in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of a leg strengthening system in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a portion of a leg strengthening system in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of a leg strengthening system in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates a portion of a leg strengthening system in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates a leg strengthening kit in accordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments.

The present embodiments described herein relate to a leg strengthening system that comprises a knee strap, one or more resistance bands and a foot attachment. Each of the one or more resistance bands comprise attachment clips at both ends to be removably coupled to the knee strap and the foot attachment. The present embodiments may facilitate an athlete, such as, but not limited to, a dancer, to apply varied levels of resistance to the knee strap/foot attachment to create hands free strengthening resistance.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a leg strengthening system 100 is illustrated. The system comprises a knee strap 110, a foot attachment 105, and a resistance band 115. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the knee strap 110 comprises a ring 125 (e.g., a D shaped ring) to connect (e.g., clipped) to the resistance band 115. Similarly, the foot attachment 105 comprises a ring 120 (e.g., a D shaped ring) to couple the foot attachment 105 to the resistance band 115.

The knee strap 110 may comprise a hook and loop (e.g. VELCRO) segment to hold the knee strap 110 on to a user's leg either above or below the knee cap. A front of the knee strap 110 may comprise the ring 125 which may be centered and front facing to create a more efficient strengthening system. The knee strap 110 may circumscribe a user's leg to Referring now to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, an embodiment of a foot attachment 200 is illustrated. The foot attachment illustrated in FIG. 2, may comprise a half-sole shoe. In some embodiments a half-sole shoe may comprise a dance-type shoe comprised of leather, neoprene, or stretch canvas. The foot attachment 200 may also comprise a sole 205 and a ring 210 (e.g., a D shaped ring) where the ring 210 is attached near a top of the shoes. As illustrated in FIG. 3, each foot attachment 200 may comprise one or more openings 215 to receive a user's toes. In use, a user may insert their foot into the foot attachment 200 with the user's toes being extended through the openings 215.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a plurality of resistance bands 400 are illustrated. Each resistance band 400 comprises a clip 405 on each end of the resistance band 400. Each resistance band also comprises a plurality of rings 410 that are coupled to each clip 405 and a sleeve 420 on each end of the resistance band 400 to couple each ring 410 to a flexible portion 415. The flexible portion 415 may comprise bands, a flexible tube, or solid tubular shaped band for providing resistance when stretched or extended. The flexible portion 415 may be comprised of rubber, silicone or any known flexible material that may provide resistance when stretched. In some embodiments, the flexible portion 415 may be flat, tubular or square/rectangular shaped. Each sleeve 420 may be press fit, glued or heated to be affixed to the flexible portion 415. In some embodiments, the flexible portion 415 the sleeve 420 may comprise a single unit. The resistance bands 400 may comprise varied strengths and the resistance bands may be used singularly or in multiples by attaching each end (e.g., one to the knee strap D ring and one to the half-sole shoe D ring).

Each ring 410 may be D shaped and may be comprised of metal or plastic. Each clip 405 may be removably coupled to a corresponding ring 410. In some embodiments, each clip 405 may comprise a non-slip mechanism to prevent the clip 405 from slipping off of the ring 410.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a foot attachment 500 is illustrated. The foot attachment 500 may comprise a sleeve that is used to circumscribe or go around a shoe, sneaker or other footwear. The foot attachment 500 may comprise a first strap 505 and a second strap 510 to secure the foot attachment 500 to footwear. For example, the first strap 505 may be used to pull a heal portion of a sneaker it into the sleeve and the second strap 510 may be used to push a back portion of the sneaker into the sleeve. The foot attachment 500 may also comprise a ring (as illustrated in FIG. 6) for coupling the foot attachment 500 to a resistance band. In some embodiments, this ring may be centered and front facing.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an embodiment of a kit 600 is illustrated. The kit 600 may include one or more knee straps that are comprised of a D-shaped ring including a hook-and-loop based fastener. The kit 600 may further comprise one or more resistance bands and one or more foot attachments. In some embodiments, the kit 600 may comprise a bag to hold the knee straps, resistance bands and foot attachments.

This written description uses examples to disclose multiple embodiments, including the preferred embodiments, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. Aspects from the various embodiments described, as well as other known equivalents for each such aspects, can be mixed and matched by one of ordinary skill in the art to construct additional embodiments and techniques in accordance with principles of this application.

Those in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the above-described embodiments can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the claims. Therefore, it is to be understood that the claims may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.