Exercise Device

Description

FIELD

A device that relates to an exercise device is depicted and described.

BACKGROUND

The human foot is a marvel of engineering, comprising a complex network of bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments that work together to support our bodies during locomotion, but the human foot is also susceptible to many various well-known injuries and conditions, many of which can significantly impact athletes' performance and hinder individuals' daily activities, often resulting in pain, discomfort, and reduced mobility.

While several rehabilitation and strengthening techniques exist, the development of a device that specifically targets and strengthens the foot's fascia by dorsiflexing and plantarflexing the foot provides a unique and effective approach to enhance foot health, alleviate pain, and optimize athletic performance.

SUMMARY

An exercise device may have a static portion, a dynamic portion, and a slide system. At least a portion of the slide system may be fixedly attached to the static portion, the dynamic portion may be pivotally attached to the slide system, and the slide system may comprise at least one bracket, at least one slide bar, and a front slide.

The at least one bracket may be fixedly attached to a bottom portion of the static portion and may be adapted to receive the at least one slide bar.

A bottom surface of the front slide may be directly connected to a top surface of the slide bar.

The slide bar may have a front portion and a rear portion.

The rear portion of the slide bar may have a flared portion that may be adapted to make selective contact with the bracket.

The front slide may be attached to the front portion of the slide bar.

The bracket may have a base portion and two leg portions, and the base portion may be directly attached to the bottom surface of the static portion, and the two leg portions may extend transverse therefrom.

The dynamic portion may be pivotally attached to the slide system via at least one hinge.

The at least one hinge may be directly attached to an upper side of the front slide. The dynamic portion may have an upper jaw that may open downward and a lower jaw that may open upward.

The static portion may have at least one hook on a lower, rear end portion and at least one hook on an upper, front portion.

An exercise device may have a static portion, a dynamic portion, and a slide portion. The dynamic portion may be attached to a first end portion of the slide portion via at least one pivot, and the static portion may be directly attached to a second end of the slide portion.

The at least one pivot may be attached to an upper side of the first end of the slide portion.

The second end of the slide portion may be attached to an underside of the static portion.

The slide portion may be adapted to move the dynamic portion relative to the static portion along a longitudinal axis.

The slide portion may have at least one slide bar, at least one slide bracket, and at least one front slide.

The at least one slide bracket may have the second end of the slide portion and may be adapted to slidingly receive the at least one slide bar.

A lock may be adapted to make selective contact with the at least one slide bar, and when the lock is engaged, the at least one slide bar may be fixed relative to the slide bracket.

The dynamic portion may be adapted to rotate relative to the static portion about the at least one pivot.

An exercise device may have a boot, a slide system, and a toe cup. A first portion of the slide system may be fixedly attached to a bottom surface of the boot, and a second portion of the slide system may be pivotally attached to the toe cup via a pivot mechanism. The top cup may be adapted to pivot about the pivot mechanism, and the slide system may be adapted to move the toe cup relative to the boot along a longitudinal axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an exercise device;

FIG. 2 is a side view of an exercise device;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exercise device;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exercise device;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an upper portion of an exercise device;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view a back side of an upper portion of an exercise device;

FIG. 7 is a top view of an exercise device;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of an exercise device;

FIG. 9 is a detailed view of a slide lock system in an engaged position;

FIG. 10 is a detailed view of a slide lock system in a disengaged position;

FIG. 11 is a side view of an exercise device in a contracted static horizontal position;

FIG. 12 is a side view of an exercise device in a contracted first desired pivot condition;

FIG. 13 is a side view of an exercise device in a contracted second desired pivot condition;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an exercise device in a contracted first desired pivot condition;

FIG. 15 is a side view of an exercise device in an extended static horizontal position;

FIG. 16 is a side view of an exercise device in an extended first desired pivot condition;

FIG. 17 is a side view of an exercise device in an extended second desired pivot condition;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an exercise device in an extended static horizontal position;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a resistance band;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a loop of the resistance band; and

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of an exercise device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It is to be understood that the device may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments. Hence, specific dimensions, directions or other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed are not to be considered as limiting, unless expressly stated otherwise.

Turning now to the figures, an exercise device 10 is depicted. The device 10 may have a foot boot 20 that may extend at least partially about the heel of a wearer (not depicted). The extension may be such that the foot boot 20 covers both sides of the heel (not depicted), the rear part of the heel (not depicted) and the underside of the heel (not depicted). The extension is designed to provide a complementary shape to the foot (not depicted) of the wearer (not depicted). For example, the portions 30, 40 of the foot boot 20 covering the rear part 30 of the heel (not depicted) and the sides 40 of the heel (not depicted) may be curved. The portion 50 of the foot boot 20 covering the underside 50 of the heel (not depicted) may be planar. The foot boot 20 may extend at least to, if not at least partially over, the ankle (not depicted) of the wearer (not depicted). The foot boot 20 may also extend upwardly to at least partially over the calf (not depicted) of the wearer (not depicted). The portions 30, 40, 50, 60 of the foot boot 20 covering the heel (not depicted) and the ankle (not depicted) may be substantially solid but the front 70 of the foot boot 20 may be open to provide access to an interior portion 80 of the foot boot 20.

The foot boot 20, also known as a static portion 20, may be such as plastic and injection molded as one piece, unitary and integrally formed, or it may be created from a plurality of pieces.

A rear lower portion 90 of the foot boot/static portion 20 may have a strap connection 100, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 8, 9, 13-15 and 17-19. The strap connection 100 may be molded to the foot boot 20 or separately attached thereto. The strap connection 100 may be such as an upwardly extending finger 100 or hook 100. The strap connection 100 may be generally centered on the rear lower portion 90.

One or more inserts 110 may be located into the interior portion 80 of the foot boot 20. By way of example, a heel insert 120 may be located in the interior portion 80 as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 8. The heel insert 120 may have a general U-shape that matches the shape of the interior wall 130 of the foot boot 20. The heel insert 120 may be such as a primary foam insert 120. The primary foam insert 120 may have a first predetermined compressibility.

A secondary foam insert 140 may be located in at least a partially nested manner with the primary foam insert 120 as may be seen in FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 8. It may be that the secondary foam insert 140 has a second predetermined compressibility that is less than the first predetermined compressibility. The foam inserts 120, 140 may be constructed in whole in part of foam but other cushioning materials may be used.

A foot cushion 150 may be located in the foot boot 20 as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 8. The foot cushion 150 may be located on the planar portion 160 of the foot boot 20. The foot cushion 150 may be comprised of a foam material the same or similar to the primary 120 and/or secondary foam inserts 120.

A securing device 170 may be located at least partially about the foot boot 20, as shown in FIGS. 1-8 and 13-19. The securing device 170 may extend about an upper portion 180 of the foot boot 20. In some cases, a groove 190 may be provided in the upper portion 180 of the foot boot 20 to at least partially receive the securing device 170 therein. The groove 190 may help retain the securing device 170 to the upper portion 180 of the foot boot 20 and locate the securing device 170 to the foot boot 20. In other words, the groove 190 may receive the securing device 170 such that the securing device 170 may be secured to the foot boot 20.

The securing device 170 may be a strap 170. The strap 170 may extend about a rear side 200 of the foot boot 20, about both sides 210 of the foot boot 20, and in front of, such as span across, the interior portion 80 of the foot boot 20. In some cases, the strap 170 may cantilever out in front of the interior portion 80 of the foot boot 20. As such, the strap 170 may have a certain thickness and/or stiffness to it so that it can extend out from the foot boot 20 on its own.

Different portions of the strap 170 may be comprised of hook and loop fasteners 220 so that the strap 170 can securely attach to itself 170. For example, the strap 170 can be opened up or expanded, the user (not depicted) can locate their leg (not depicted) and foot (not depicted) between the foot boot 20 and the strap 170, the strap 170 can be tightened about the user's leg (not depicted) and then the strap 170 can be secured to itself 170 (such as via the hook and loop fasteners) so that it does not appreciably lengthen or shorten.

The securing device 170 may have one end portion 240 with a loop 230 thereon. The loop 230 may be connected to a slot 250 in the foot boot 20. Slot 250 may be located on the rear side 200. The loop 20 may fixedly connect the end portion 240 of the securing device 170 to the foot boot 20.

The securing device 170 may be fitted with a front support 270. The front support 270 may have openings 280 for receiving a least a portion of the securing device 170 such that the securing device 170 can be woven into/through the front support 270 for connecting the securing device 170 and the front support 270 together.

The front support 270 may have a curved or arc design that may be at least partially complementary to the shape of the front of the leg (not depicted) of the wearer (not depicted). For example, the front support 270 may have a similar shape and curvature to the front shin (not depicted) of the wearer (not depicted).

The front support 270 may have a flared upper portion 290 and lower portion 300. The flares 290, 300 may provide relief areas 310 for the wearer (not depicted) in which a portion for their leg (not depicted) may extend during use of the device 10. The flares 290, 300 may extend away from a leg (not depicted) of a wearer (not depicted), but may contact the leg (not depicted) when the wearer (not depicted) leans forward or backward. The relief areas 310 may also aid in putting on and taking off the device 10.

The front support 270 may also have a strap connection 320. The strap connection 320 may be such as an upwardly extending hook 320 that is connected to a front surface 330 of the front support 270. The hook 320 may be generally centered on the front surface 330. The hook 320 may be one-piece, integrally formed and unitary with the front support 270.

The foot boot 20 may be connected to a foot boot support 340 as shown in FIGS. 1-5 and 13-20. The foot boot support 340 may be located under the foot boot 20, such as in direct facing contact with the foot boot 20. The foot boot support 340 may be connected to the foot boot 20 through mechanical fasteners 350 that extend through the foot boot support 340 and into the foot boot 20. While mechanical fasteners 350 are noted other mechanical devices including male/female connectors, hook and loop fasteners, tabs and click-lock devices may be used.

The foot boot support 340 may have an outer perimeter shape 360 that is generally the same or similar to the outer perimeter 380 of at least the lower portion 370 of the foot boot 20. The foot boot support 340 may be constructed of plastic, such as injected molded plastic.

The foot boot support may have downwardly extending prongs 390. The prongs 390 may be equally or unequally spaced from one another about the perimeter 380 of the foot boot support 340 and the prongs may have different shapes. The prongs 390 may all terminate in the same horizontal plane under the foot boot support.

It may be that there are gaps 400 of different sizes/shapes between the prongs 390. The gaps 400 may provide access to an interior portion 410 of the foot boot support 340. The gaps 400 may also lessen the amount of material needed thus making the device 10 lighter weight and less expensive to produce.

A front slide 420 may be connected to the foot boot as shown in FIGS. 1-5 and 13-20. The front slide 420 preferably has an upper surface 430 that is coplanar with an upper surface 440 of the foot boot 20. A cushioning material 450 may be located on the upper surface 430 of the front slide 420. A top surface 460 of the cushioning material 450 may be horizontally coplanar with a top surface 470 of the cushioning material 150 of the foot boot 20.

The front slide 420 may be generally U-shaped with a base portion 480 adapted to be selectively located against a front edge 490 of the foot boot 20. Arms 500 of the U-shape may extend forward from the base portion 480. The arms 500 may be of generally equal size and shape to one another and they may extend from the base portion 480 at generally the same angle and extent.

A front slide support 510 may be located under the front slide 420, such as in direct facing contact with the front slide 420. The front slide support 510 may be connected to the front slide 420 through mechanical fasteners 520 that extend through the support 510 and into the slide 420. While mechanical fasteners 520 are noted other mechanical devices including male/female connectors, hook and loop fasteners, tabs and click-lock devices may be used.

The front slide support 510 may have an outer perimeter shape 530 that is the generally the same or similar to an outer perimeter 540 of the front slide 420. The front slide 420 and the front slide support 510 may be constructed of plastic, such as injected molded plastic.

The front slide support 510 may have downwardly extending prongs 550. The prongs 550 may extend downwardly from the arms 500 of the U-shape. The prongs 550 may extend generally parallel one another, share the same general size and shape and terminate in the same plane as one another, which may be the same plane for the prongs 550 of the foot boot support 340.

A gap 560 may exist between the prongs 550, which provides access to the underside 570 of the front slide support 510. The absence of front slide support 510 materials in the gap 560 may lessen the amount of material needed thus making the device 10 lighter weight and less expensive to produce.

First and second hinge housings 580, 590, also known as first and second pivots 580, 590 may be attached to an upper surface 600 of the arms 500 of the U of the front slide 420. The housings 580, 590 may be the same or similar in size and shape and preferably they are aligned with one another on the arms 500.

The housings 580, 590 may be provided with recesses 610. The recesses 610 may be similarly sized and shaped to one another. In some cases, they may be circular recesses 610. The recesses 610 may face one another, and they may be vertically and horizontally aligned.

A toe cup 620, also known as a dynamic portion 620, may be provided with posts 630 having a complementary size and shape to the recesses 610. The posts 630 may be selectively located in the recesses 610 to connect the toe cup 620 to the housings 580, 590. The posts 630 may have rounded portions 640 such that they are able to selectively rotate within the recesses 610, thus providing the toe cup 620 with the ability to pivot up or down about at least one pivot 580, 590.

The pivot function is further made possible as the front slide 420 and the front slide support 510 generally terminate at the housings 580, 590. In other words, the toe cup 620 is cantilevered from the housings 580, 590 and after the front slide 420 and front slide support 510 terminate there is no other structure associated with the device 10 below the toe cup 620. Thus, the toe cup 620 may pivot downwardly without interference from other structures of the device 10.

The toe cup 620 may define a generally hollow interior 650. A cushioning material 660, such as foam, may be located into the interior 650. The cushioning material 660 may define a cavity 670 in which at least the toes (not depicted) and/or midfoot (not depicted) of the wearer (not depicted) may be received. The bottom layer 680 of cushioning material 660 may be coplanar with a top surface the cushioning material 450 on the slide support 510. Thus, the coplanar nature of the cushioning material 660 in the device 10 maintains the foot (not depicted) of the wearer (not depicted) in a generally planar orientation in the static state of the device 10.

A front end portion 690 of the dynamic portion 620 may have an upper jaw 700 and a lower jaw 710 attached thereto as shown in FIGS. 1-5, 9 and 13-20. The jaws 700, 710 may be one piece, unitary and integrally formed with the toe cup 620. The jaws 700, 710, and the toe cup 620, may be constructed of plastic, such as injected molded plastic.

The upper jaw 700 may open downwardly, and the lower jaw 710 may open upwardly. The jaws 700, 710 may be aligned with one another on the front end portion 690 with a gap 720 separating them.

The device 10 may also comprise a slide system 730, also known as a slide portion 730, shown in FIGS. 1 and 8-12. The slide system 730 may comprise at least one bracket 740 attached to a bottom 750 of the foot boot 20. The bracket 740 may be generally C-shaped with the base 760 of the C being directly attached to the bottom surface 750 of the static portion 20 and the legs 770 of the C extending downwardly therefrom.

The slide system 730 may also comprise a slide bar 780. The slide bar 780 may slidingly fit within the bracket 740.

A front portion 790 of the slide bar 730 may be attached to the front slide 420. The attachment may be such as through mechanical fasteners 800 or the like. A bottom surface 435 of the front slide 420 may be directly connected to a top surface 785 of the slide bar 730. A rear portion 810 of the slide bar 780 may be fitted with a flared portion 820. The flared portion 820 is adapted to contact the bracket 740 to function as a stop.

Two slide systems 730 may be used. The slide systems 730 may be substantially the same as one another in size, shape, features and function.

The device may also comprise a slide lock system 830. The system 830 may comprise a lock housing 840 and a lock device 850. The lock housing 840 may be formed, such as integrally formed, with the foot boot 20. The lock housing 840 may extend downwardly from the lower surface 750 of the foot boot 20 adjacent the slide system 730. A threaded insert 860 may be located in an aperture 870 in the lock housing 840. The threaded insert 860 may receive a threaded rod 880 attached to a dial 890. The rod 880 may locate the dial 890 to a position laterally outboard 900 of the perimeter 380 of the foot boot 20 so that it is accessible by the wearer (not depicted).

The wearer (not depicted) may use the dial 890 to locate the rod 880 toward and away from the slide 420. While the rod 880 is away from the slide 420, the slide 420 is free to move forward and back. When the rod 880 is in contact with the slide 420, it functions to lock the slide 420 in place.

By way of further example, the front slide 420, front slide support 510 and toe cup 620, being all connected together, may be slid toward and away from the foot boot 20 via the slide system 730. In this way, the device 10 may accommodate different foot sizes of different wearers (not depicted), which makes the device 10 adaptable to many different wearers (not depicted).

A resistance band 910 may be used in conjunction with the device 10 as depicted in FIGS. 11-22. The band 910 may be constructed of a length of material having one or more apertures 920. In the depicted embodiment, the apertures 920 may be generally equally spaced along the band 910. The apertures 920 may be generally all of the same shape, which may be such as round. Grommets 930, or areas of increased thickness, may be located on/around/in the apertures 920 as reinforcements.

The band 910 may have a loop 940 at one end. The loop 940 is adapted to be connected to the upper 700 or lower jaw 710. When connected to the upper jaw 700 (see FIGS. 11, 12, 14, 15 and 18) the band 910 may be used to pivot the toe cup 620 in an upward direction. The toe cup 620 may be pivoted upward by up to 45 degrees from the static horizontal position 970. In this condition, the band 910 may be connected to the strap connection 320 on the front support 980 to hold the toe cup 620 in a first desired pivot condition 950. In this condition, the band 910 extends over the toe cup 620 to a top portion 990 of the device 10. The resistance band 910 may selectively located on the strap connections 100, 320 on the foot boot via the apertures 920. The apertures 910 may be selected by a user (not depicted) to obtain a desired band 910 length, which may determine the pivot angle of the toe cup 620.

When connected to the lower jaw 710 (see FIG. 17) the band 910 may be used to pivot the toe cup 620 in a downward direction. The toe cup 620 may be pivoted downward by up to 45 degrees from the static horizontal position 970. In this condition, the band 910 may be connected to the strap connection 100 on the rear surface 90 of the foot boot 20 to hold the toe cup 620 in a second desired pivot condition 960. In this condition, the band 910 extends under the toe cup 620, the slide system 730 and the foot boot support 340.

The band 910 may also be comprised of apertures 920 with grommets 930 wherein the apertures/grommets 920/930 may be connected to the upper or lower jaw 700, 710, as schematically depicted in FIG. 21. The band 910 may function as described above to assist in holding the toe cup 620 in any pivot direction and degree.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present device has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiments. However, it should be noted that the device can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.