This application is a reissue application of U.S. Pat. No. 10,843,039 B2, issued from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/161,132, filed on Oct. 16, 2018, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The embodiments relate to an exercise apparatus, and more particularly relate to an exercise apparatus for the strengthening and rehabilitation of the muscles, tendons, and joints, of the lower extremities in addition to improving gait.
Exercise boards employing various means for creating instability have been used to promote workout intensity and improve balance. Increasing muscle activity through the use of various exercise routines has been effective in promoting a healthy anatomy, and improving physical performance.
Current methods and devices suffer substantial drawbacks. Many balance boards include a single platform upon which the user stands, allowing the user to use the entirety of both feet and their body to properly balance. These devices do not focus on the various muscles of the feet and toes which are considered crucial in proper balance and gait mechanics. While performing the balancing exercise barefoot may require more muscle recruitment from the feet and toes, these devices do not isolate the hallux (“big toe”) as the primary driver of propulsive force during gait.
In some circumstances, isolation of each foot can be beneficial in developing the muscles each foot. The current devices do not provide a method for isolating each foot to promote the balanced utilization of the muscles required for proper gait.
This summary is provided to introduce a variety of concepts in a simplified form that is further disclosed in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In one aspect, an exercise apparatus includes at least one rocker board dimensioned to support a human. A plurality of convex rockers is releasably engaged with the rocker board(s) to provide instability during an exercise. A cutout is positioned through the rocker boards to isolate the second, third, fourth, and fifth rays of the user requiring the force necessary for balance to be generated by the first ray and foot.
In another aspect, the exercise apparatus includes a first rocker board and a second rocker board each having a top side and a bottom side. Each rocker board is configured to support the foot and the first ray of a user, each rocker board includes a cutout dimensioned to isolate the second, third, fourth, and fifth rays of the user. A plurality of apertures is positioned at suitable angles from a central axis of each rocker board. The apertures receive a convex rocker extending from the bottom side to reduce the stability of each rocker board.
In one aspect, the first and second rocker boards each include a foot indicator oriented to correspond to a central axis. The top side of each rocker board is a substantially planar surface.
In one aspect, the first ray of the user is the primary impetus of force to each rocker board during exercise activity. The apparatus is sufficiently dimensioned to permit a human to perform whole body exercises on one or both of the first and second rocker boards. In some embodiments, a subset of the plurality of apertures is configured to releasably engage with an auxiliary exercise device.
A more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages and features thereof will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
The specific details of the single embodiment or variety of 30 embodiments described herein are to the described system and methods of use. Any specific details of the embodiments are used for demonstration purposes only and not unnecessary limitations or inferences are to be understood therefrom.
Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of components related to the system and method. Accordingly, the system components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
As used herein, relational terms, such as “first” and “second”, “left” and “right” and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements.
Embodiments presented herein relate to an exercise apparatus to strengthen and rehabilitate muscle groups related to proper balance and gait of a human user.
The first and second rocker boards 110,120 are designed to support the weight of a person in many different positions, including standing and squatting positions in addition to any movement in common balancing muscle strengthening exercises. Each of the first and second rocker boards 110,120 are suitably dimensioned to support a foot and rays of the user such that no portion of the foot or rays is extending past the perimeter of the rocker boards 110,120. Suitable materials include wood, metals, and substantially rigid plastic materials.
In some embodiments, each rocker board 110,120 is substantially planar to provide a suitable surface for standing, balancing, or exercising.
In some embodiments, a single convex rocker 200 is engaged with one or more apertures 160. The single convex rocker 200 can be constructed to support the user during an exercise routine.
Referring back to
Convex rockers 200 may be provided as one of a set or kit to provide alternate angles of deflection and increased balancing difficulty. The convex surface 250 on the rocker plates defines the rate of change of the angle of deflection of the board. The board may be deflected as much as perpendicular, i.e., 45°, to the ground, but for most embodiments, the maximum angle of deflection of the board is between 10° and 35°. In a preferred embodiment, the maximum angle of deflection is between 12° and 16°. The user may increase the difficulty by using convex rockers having a more sharply curved convex surface. Each convex rocker 200 may be shaped as a semi-circle, semi-sphere, or semi-ovoid member. In an alternate embodiment, each convex rocker 200 is pivotally engaged with one or more apertures 160 to provide varying planes of deflection during exercise.
The apparatus 10 can be configured to exercise with a single foot (left or right) of the user, or as a set such that both the left and right feet of the user are exercised. The embodiment illustrated in
It will be understood by one skilled in the art that a variety of instability members (illustrated as convex rockers 200) can be utilized to promote the strengthening of the anatomy and a proper gait. Instability members can include the convex rockers 200 shown, in addition to one or more balance domes, one or more rollers, or other suitable instability members.
One skilled in the arts will understand that
Now referring to
Intrinsic and extrinsic muscles are strengthened as the user 500 engaged in various exercises while using the apparatus 10. The user 500 utilizes the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles in communication with the leg, foot, and first rays to manipulate and stabilize each rocker board 110,120 during an exercise.
The apparatus 10 allows for users having differing levels of capabilities by providing interchangeable and modular components as part of a set. In one example, the degree of difficulty in balancing on one or more of the rocker boards 110,120 throughout an exercise by providing a numbering of different convex rockers 200 having varying shape, size, and radius of curvature. In one example, the diameter of each convex rocker 200 and height of each convex rocker 200 may vary between sets of predetermined ranges.
One skilled in the arts will recognize various exercise positions, protocols, and techniques that will be useful with the apparatus 10. The exercise may not be limited to standing positions, as sitting techniques can be useful, especially in compromised or otherwise rehabilitating users.
To provide suitable top surfaces 210,220 a cover may be provided having favorable grip, feel, softness, tack, or texture to ensure comfort and adequate friction between the foot of the user and the rocker boards 110,120.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides a versatile exercise apparatus having a platform for exercising to which different forms and shapes of instability members and exercise attachments may be detachably mounted so that the person using the apparatus may perform a wide variety of exercises in a number of different exercise positions on the platform.
The exercises may be performed on the platform either with or without weights, exercise attachments on the top surface of the platform or other external exercise devices including but not limited to exercise bands, medicine balls, and weights.
Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to literally describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any way and/or combination, and the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein, and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination.
An equivalent substitution of two or more elements can be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element can be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements can be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination can be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present embodiment is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the following claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16161132 | Oct 2018 | US |
Child | 17707663 | US |