Patent Application
20230240930
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
None.
This disclosure generally relates to muscle stretching devices and methods of using the stretching devices.
Calf muscles are located at the back of a person's lower leg. The calf muscle is generally below the knee and extends to the ankle. Calf muscles often need to be stretched for various reasons. For example, a calf muscle may need to be stretched due to injury, strain, cramping, or other physiological conditions. Calf muscles may be relatively strong compared to many other muscles in a person's body. A strong calf muscle may take a relatively significant amount of force to stretch. When a calf muscle requires stretching, the stretch may require even more force.
Physical therapy is a health activity wherein a physical therapist often assists a patient in stretching a calf muscle. Physical therapists often assist in the maintenance and management of the musculoskeletal system. Physical therapists and patients are people who range in size and strength. When a patient is a large person and the therapist is a small person, the therapist may struggle to stretch a calf muscle fully. A large patient may correspondingly have larger calf muscles than a small patient with small muscles. A patient with large muscles may require more strength from the therapist to properly perform a stretch.
Physical therapists often struggle to stretch a calf muscle of a patient properly. As a result, physical therapists have a long-felt need to develop new devices and methods to stretch a calf muscle properly.
The present invention disclosed herein includes a device for stretching a patient's calf muscle and the method to use the device. The device and method are applicable specifically to a human being. Though the device has a preferred embodiment for stretching the calf muscle, the device may be used to stretch other muscles or biological structures. For example, the calf stretcher allows a small therapist to stretch a large patient's calf muscles.
The device invention may be referenced herein as the calf stretcher. The calf stretcher is comprised of a calf brace, a footrest, a hinge, and an extension. The calf stretcher may be further comprised of a handle, a foot strap, an angle gauge, a calf brace strap, a safety stop, and other elements. The calf stretcher may be secured to the calf and foot of a patient. The hinge connects the footrest to the calf brace. The hinge allows the footrest and the calf brace to change angles in relation to each other. The calf and the foot similarly may change angles in relation to each other. The hinge allows the calf stretcher to have a similar change in angle as the calf and the foot. When pressure is applied to the end of the extension distal from the hinge, the calf stretcher may apply force upon a patient's foot thereby causing the calf to stretch.
The method invention may be referenced herein as the calf stretching method.
The calf stretching method comprises securing the calf stretcher to the patient and applying pressure to the extension. The calf stretching method may further comprise of measuring the stretch, reclining the patient on a horizontal surface, and holding the stretch. A therapist may use professional judgment to determine the pressure applied to the extension. Different amounts of pressure may determine the extent of the stretch.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with accompanying drawings, wherein:
The present invention will now be described with occasional reference to the specific embodiments of the invention. However, this invention may be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and fully convey the invention's scope to those skilled in the art.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is for describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. As used in the description of the invention and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of dimensions such as length, width, height, and so forth as used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, unless otherwise indicated, the numerical properties outlined in the specification and claims are approximations that may vary depending on the desired properties sought to be obtained in embodiments of the present invention. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values outlined in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. However, any numerical values inherently contain certain errors necessarily resulting from errors found in their respective measurements.
Calf muscles are located at the back of a person's lower leg. The calf muscle is generally below the knee and extends to the ankle. Calf muscles often need to be stretched for various reasons.
The foot strap 108 may be comprised of multiple straps. The foot strap 108 may be attached to the footrest 104. For example, the figures show that there may be a first foot strap 108a and a second foot strap 108b. The multiple straps comprising the foot strap 108 may be referenced herein collectively as the foot strap 108. The foot strap 108 may be attached to the footrest 104 using a fastener, a hole in the footrest 104 through which the foot strap 108 may be looped, or any other variation. Multiple attachment points 401 may be utilized where the foot strap 108 may be attached. The foot strap 108 is not an essential element of the calf stretcher 101.
The calf brace strap 109 may be comprised of multiple straps. The calf brace strap 109 may be attached to the calf brace 103. As shown in the figures there may be a first calf brace strap 109a and a second calf brace strap 109b. The multiple straps comprising the calf brace strap 109 may collectively be referenced as the calf brace strap 109. The calf brace strap 109 may be attached to the calf brace 103 using a fastener, a hole in the calf brace 103 through which the calf brace strap 109 may be looped, or any other variation. Multiple attachment points may be utilized where the foot strap 108 may be attached. The calf brace strap 109 is not an essential element of the calf stretcher 101.
The method invention may be referenced herein as the calf stretching method.
The calf stretching method comprises securing the calf stretcher 101 to a person 102 and applying pressure to the extension 106. In one embodiment, the calf stretching method may be performed by the person to whom the calf stretcher 101 is secured. When the calf stretching method is performed by the person to whom the calf stretcher 101 is secured, the method may be referenced as self stretching. After the calf stretcher 101 is secured to the person, the person may proceed to standing on a surface 112. While initially standing, the angle between the calf 110 and the foot 111 will roughly be 90 degrees. The person may then begin leaning forward such that the angle becomes more acute and less than 90 degrees. As the person is leaning forward, pressure is applying from the surface to the extension 106. The amount of leaning may determine the amount of pressure applied to the extension 106. The person may continue holding position such that pressure is continually applying such to cause continued stretching of the calf muscle.
The calf stretching method may further comprise of measuring the stretch, reclining the patient on a horizontal surface, and holding the stretch. Different amounts of pressure may determine the extent of the stretch.
When performed by a therapist, the calf stretching method comprises securing the calf stretcher 101 to the patient 201 and applying pressure to the extension 106. The calf stretching method may further comprise reclining the patient, measuring the stretch, and holding the stretch.
The calf stretcher 101 may be secured to the patient 201 using straps, clamps, interference fit, or other such methods. The figures show that the calf brace 103 may be secured to the calf 110 using at least one calf brace strap 109. Likewise, the footrest 104 may be secured to the foot 111 using at least one foot strap 108.
The therapist 202 may begin applying pressure to the extension 106 to cause the patient's calf muscle to stretch. In one embodiment, one of the patient's calf muscles is stretched at a time. Alternatively, the calf stretcher 101 may be configured to stretch both of a patient's calf muscles simultaneously. In such embodiment, both the calves and feet must be secured to the calf stretcher 101.
Reclining a patient 201 is the act of causing a patient 201 move to a position that is less than a vertical standing position relative to the surface prior to applying pressure. For example, in
As pressure is applying to the extension 106 the relative angle between the footrest 104 and the calf brace 103 decreases and becomes more acute. As the relative angle decreases the calf muscle is caused to be stretched. The manner in which the relative angle may be undergo measuring is described in more detail with the description of
Holding pressure on the extension 106 is the act of continually applying pressure on the extension 106. Holding a stretch is a common practice to ensure the proper stretching of a particular muscle. In this case, holding the stretch on a calf muscle may be a practice desired or recommended for a person 102 or patient 201. For example, a therapist may recommend holding a stretch for a period of time. Some recommend holding a stretch of 30 seconds and some say 60 seconds or even more. This recommendation is based on the particular person 102 or patient 201 undergoing the calf muscle stretching.
A therapist may use professional judgment to determine the pressure applied to the extension. Different amounts of pressure may determine the extent of the stretch.
Physical therapy is a health activity wherein a physical therapist 202 often assists a patient to stretch a calf muscle. A therapist 202 and a patient 201 are people with a range in size and strength. When a patient 201 is a large person and the therapist 202 is a small person, the therapist 202 may struggle to stretch a patient's calf muscle fully. A large patient may correspondingly have larger calf muscles than a small patient with small muscles. A patient 201 with large muscles may require more strength of the therapist 202 to perform a stretch properly. The calf stretcher 101 allows for a small therapist to stretch a large patient's calf muscles.
A calf muscle may be very tight and therefore difficult to stretch. The extension 106 allows for a patient 201 and a therapist 202 to utilize leverage to increase the moment at the hinge 105. A moment may also be called torque. When force is applied to the extension 106 in a direction toward the footrest 104 that is relatively perpendicular to the bottom of a footrest surface 302, a moment is created at the hinge 105. A foot 111 that is secured to the footrest 104 is forced to bend relative to the calf 110 at the ankle when a moment is present. This bending causes the calf muscle to stretch. When the calf muscle is tight and therefore difficult to stretch, the leverage which can be utilized by use of the extension allows for less force required to create the needed moment to cause the calf to stretch. The longer the extension 106, the more leverage is provided. The more leverage provided, the less force perpendicular to the footrest surface 302 is required to cause the calf muscle to stretch.
The calf brace 103 is connected to the footrest 104 by a hinge 105. The calf brace 103 and the footrest 104 may rotate relative to each other along the axis of the hinge 105. The calf brace 103 may be shaped to conform to the calf 110 of a person 102 ergonomically. The calf 110 as referenced herein is generally understood to be the leg portion that extends from a person's knee to the person's ankle. The ankle is the joint where the foot 111 and the calf 110 meet. Therefore, the ankle is where the calf 110 and the foot 111 may bend in relation to each other.
A calf brace 103 may be secured to the back of a person's calf 110. The calf brace 103 does not need to extend the entire length of the calf 110. For example, the calf brace 103 does not need to extend the entire distance from the ankle to the knee. The calf brace 103 may extend from the hinge 105 to two-thirds of the distance to the knee. The calf brace 103 may be of any length capable of securing a person's calf 110. To secure the calf brace 103 to the calf 110, at least one calf brace strap 109 may be used. A calf 110 may be secured in the calf brace 103 such that the calf 110 is aligned with the back face 301 of the calf brace 103. The back of the calf 110 represents the surface of the calf at the rear of the person 102.
A footrest 104 may be secured to the foot 111 of a person 102. To secure the footrest 104 to a foot 111, the bottom of the foot 111 must be placed on the footrest surface 302. When the foot 111 and the calf 110 is secured in the calf stretcher 101 as described, the hinge 105 and the ankle are positioned relative to each other such that the foot 111 and the footrest 104 may rotate in relation to the calf brace 103 and the calf 110 with a similar pivot location. The pivot location is understood to be the location where the calf 110 and foot 111 bend at the ankle and the footrest 104 and calf brace 103 bend at the hinge 105. As the calf 110 and the foot 111 bend relative to each other, the calf 110 may be stretched. When the calf 110 and foot 111 is secured to the calf stretcher 101, force applied to the extension 106 causes the calf 110 and the foot 111 to bend relative to each other thereby causing the calf 110 to stretch.
The hinge 105 may be manufactured and configured in many different embodiments. An exemplary embodiment of the hinge 105 is one as shown in the figures. In the figures, the hinge 105 is comprised of two connections between the footrest 104 and the calf brace 103 on opposite sides of where the ankle would be positioned when the calf stretcher 101 is secured to a person 102. The hinge 105 may be configured alternatively. For example, the calf brace 103 and the footrest 104 may be molded such that the two pieces hingedly interlock. This may be considered a molded interlock. Alternatively, a rivet or other fastener may hingedly connect the footrest 104 and calf brace 103.
The extension 106 may be connected to the footrest 104. The extension 106 and the footrest 104 may be manufactured as on solid objects or may comprise multiple pieces. For example, the footrest 104 and extension 106 may be manufactured as separate objects and be connected together. For example, the extension 106 may be glued or fastened to the footrest 104. The extension 106 may be manufactured from multiple material types and multiple pieces. For example, the extension 106 may comprise a metal rod embedded in a second material such as a plastic. The metal rod may provide for additional structural strength.
The handle 107 may be connected to the extension 106 to provide a spot upon which a therapist 202 or other person may apply pressure to stretch a calf 110. The handle 107 may be generally perpendicular to the extension 106 as shown in the figures, or may be configured at any other orientation relative to the extension 106. The handle 107 may be manufactured from a material different than the extension 106. For example, the handle 107 may have a grip tape material coating.
The calf stretcher 101 may be manufactured in a variety of sizes. For example, the calf stretcher 101 may be manufactured to work with adolescents, children, large adults, small adults, or any other size. Different people have different width feet and calves which may require various sized footrests.
The calf stretcher 101 may also be configured with a safety stop. The safety stop may be a feature, such as a protruding notch or key, on either or both of the calf brace 103 and the footrest 104, limiting the bend between the two.
The angle plate 701 is installed on the footrest surface 302. The foot 111 of a person 102 may be secured to the footrest 104 such that the bottom of the person's foot 111 is placed on the angle plate 701. The angle plate 701 provides for an inclined surface 702 under the person's foot 111. The inclined surface 702 allows for uneven pressure upon the bottom of the foot 111 while the calf stretcher 101 is being used to stretch the calf muscle. The uneven pressure may cause increased inversion or eversion on the foot 111 while stretching the calf muscle with the calf stretcher 101.
The calf stretcher 101 may have an inward side 703 and an outward side 704.
The calf stretcher 101 may be symmetrical in shape or may be formed to the natural shape of a foot 111. The inward side 703 represents the side of the footrest 104 which is adjacent to the instep of the foot 111 when the foot is placed on the footrest 104. The instep is opposite of the outstep. The outward side 704 represents the side of the footrest 104 which is adjacent to the outstep of the foot 111 when the foot is placed on the footrest 104. The outstep is the side of the foot 111 with the cuboid bone. The angle plate 701 may be configured such that the inclined surface 702 is sloped upward from the inward side 703 up to the outward side 704, or it may be configured to slope upward from the outward side 704 to the inward side 703. The inclined surface 702 may be configured as desired by a person 102 or therapist to achieve the desired result.
An inversion is the inward tilt of the foot 111 such that the inclined surface 702 is sloped up from the outward side 704 to the inward side 703. An eversion is an outward tilt of the foot 111 such that the inclined surface 702 is sloped up from the inward side 703 to the outward side 704. Installing an angle plate 701 may be useful for stretching specific parts of the calf 110, may be useful for causing the foot 111 to adjust, or for other purposes. Different individuals have different levels of inversion or eversion and an angle plate 701 may be necessary to properly fit the calf stretcher 101 to a particular person 102. The angle plate 701 may be installed on the footrest surface 302 prior to securing a person's foot 111 to the calf stretcher 101.
The footrest 104 may have a front 705 and a back 706. The front 705 is aligned with the location where toes on a foot 111 will be located when the foot 111 is secured to the footrest 104. The back 706 is aligned with the location where heel on a foot 111 will be located when the foot 111 is secured to the footrest 104. The angle plate 701 may be configured with an inclined surface 702 that is sloped up from the front 705 to the back 706 or from the back 706 to the front 705. The angle plate 701 may comprise of both a slope between the inward side 703 and the outward side 704 as well as a slope between the front 705 and the back 706. Alternatively, the angle plate 701 may be configured with only one slope.
While various inventive aspects, concepts and features of the general inventive concepts are described and illustrated herein in the context of various exemplary embodiments, these various aspects, concepts and features may be used in many alternative embodiments, either individually or in various combinations and sub-combinations thereof.
Unless expressly excluded herein all such combinations and sub-combinations are intended to be within the scope of the general inventive concepts. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects, concepts and features of the inventions (such as alternative materials, structures, configurations, methods, devices and components, alternatives as to form, fit and function, and so on) may be described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or later developed. Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of the inventive aspects, concepts or features into additional embodiments and uses within the scope of the general inventive concepts even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. Additionally, even though some features, concepts, or aspects of the inventions may be described herein as a preferred arrangement or method, such description is not intended to suggest that such feature is required or necessary unless expressly stated. Still further, exemplary or representative values and ranges may be included to assist in understanding the present disclosure; however, such values and ranges are not to be construed in a limiting sense and are intended to be critical values or ranges only if so expressly stated. Moreover, while various aspects, features and concepts may be expressly identified herein as being inventive or forming part of an invention, such identification is not intended to be exclusive, but rather there may be inventive aspects, concepts and features that are fully described herein without being expressly identified as such or as part of a specific invention. Descriptions of exemplary methods or processes are not limited to including all steps as being required in all cases, nor is the order that the steps are presented to be construed as required or necessary unless expressly so stated.
