Many individuals desire to stretch parts of one or more of their feet and/or legs for general wellness purposes or to treat injuries (e.g., plantar fasciitis). However, many individuals find difficulty in achieving effective stretching ranges. For example, geriatrics, injured persons, and/or others may experience difficulty or inability in positioning their feet and/or legs relative to conventional structures (e.g., stairs, flooring, stools, etc.) and/or devices to facilitate stretching. For example, it may be difficult for multiple persons to use the same stretching device due to lack in size adaptability or other constraints.
For at least the foregoing reasons, there is an ongoing need and desire for improved foot and leg stretching devices.
The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced.
Implementations of the present disclosure extend to devices for facilitating foot and leg stretching.
Some embodiments provide a stretching device that includes a heel platform sized and shaped to support a heel of a foot of a person thereon. The stretching device also includes a ball platform sized and shaped to support a ball of a foot of a person thereon. The ball platform may be angularly offset relative to the heel platform.
The stretching device may also include one or more connection members connecting the heel platform to the ball platform. Furthermore, the stretching device may also include an extension slot connected to the ball platform. In addition, the stretching device may include a stretching device extension. The stretching device extension may include an extension platform. The stretching device extension may include an extension insert arranged within and selectively removable from the extension slot. The extension platform of the stretching device extension may be arranged coplanar with the ball platform when the extension slot receives the extension insert of the stretching device extension.
In some embodiments, the stretching device may include an inner connection member extending between the heel platform and the ball platform. The inner connection member may define a foot gap between the heel platform and the ball platform. Furthermore, the stretching device may include an outer connection member extending between the heel platform and the ball platform. The stretching device may also include a plurality of connection member supports that extend from the inner connection member to the outer connection member. The plurality of connection member supports may include a plurality of surfaces that curve toward the ball platform. Also, the stretching device may include an additional support extending from the ball platform to the outer connection member. The additional support may also curve toward the ball platform.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the teachings herein. Features and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.
In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features can be obtained, a more particular description of the subject matter briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting in scope, embodiments will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings.
Implementations of the present disclosure extend to devices for facilitating foot and leg stretching.
In some implementations, a stretching device includes a heel platform sized and shaped to support a heel of a foot of a person thereon. The stretching device also includes a ball platform sized and shaped to support a ball of a foot of a person thereon. The ball platform may be angularly offset relative to the heel platform. The stretching device may also include one or more connection members connecting the heel platform to the ball platform. Furthermore, the stretching device may also include an extension slot connected to the ball platform. In addition, the stretching device may include a stretching device extension. The stretching device extension may include an extension platform arranged coplanar with the ball platform. The stretching device extension may include an extension insert arranged within and selectively removable from the extension slot.
In some implementations, a stretching device includes a heel platform sized and shaped to support a heel of a foot of a person thereon. The stretching device may also include a ball platform sized and shaped to support a ball of a foot of a person thereon. The ball platform may be angularly offset relative to the heel platform. The stretching device may include an inner connection member extending between the heel platform and the ball platform. The inner connection member may define a foot gap between the heel platform and the ball platform. Furthermore, the stretching device may include an outer connection member extending between the heel platform and the ball platform. The stretching device may also include a plurality of connection member supports that extend from the inner connection member to the outer connection member. The plurality of connection member supports may include a plurality of surfaces that curve toward the ball platform. Also, the stretching device may include an additional support extending from the ball platform to the outer connection member. The additional support may also curve toward the ball platform.
Those skilled in the art will recognize, in view of the present disclosure, that at least some of the disclosed embodiments may be implemented to address various difficulties associated with facilitating foot or leg stretching.
For example, a stretching device according to the present disclosure may include an arrangement of angularly offset plates with a foot gap intervening therebetween for providing ideal foot arrangement when a foot is positioned on the plates. Furthermore, a stretching device of the present disclosure provides stable rocking functionality (e.g., via a bottom grip material) to allow users to achieve foot or leg positions that stretch the users' feet, Achilles tendon, calf muscles, and/or other portions of the leg. In addition, in some instances, the rocking functionality of a stretching device of the present disclosure may enable users to achieve foot and/or leg stretching from a sitting or standing position. A stretching device of the present disclosure may assist users recovering from plantar fasciitis and/or other injuries or conditions.
In some implementations, a stretching device of the present disclosure includes a heel plate extending from a back portion thereof to allow users to easily maintain proper foot placement on the device during use. Furthermore, in some instances, one or more of the platforms of a stretching device of the present disclosure include ridges/treads to prevent a user's foot or footwear from slipping from placement on the stretching device during use. In addition, a stretching device of the present disclosure may include a non-slip element (e.g., a rubber pad) to prevent slipping of the stretching device during use for stretching (e.g., during rocking motions).
A stretching device of the present disclosure may be configured to fit a broad range of foot/footwear sizes, such as up to a men's size 15. Furthermore, in at least some implementations, a stretching device of the present disclosure includes a selectively removable stretching device extension to allow the stretching device to accommodate even larger foot/footwear sizes (e.g., greater than a men's size 15).
Having described some of the various high-level features and benefits of the disclosed embodiments, attention will now be directed to
In some implementations, the heel platform 102 is sized and shaped to support a heel of a foot of a person. Furthermore, in some implementations, the ball platform 104 is sized and shaped to support a ball of a foot of a person. Furthermore, as is evident in
The stretching device 100 illustrated in
In some implementations, as shown in
In the specific example shown in
The extension supports 202 may provide structural support to the extension platform 112 to enable the extension platform 112 to stably support toes or a portion of a ball of a foot of a user to enable the user to achieve desired foot and/or leg stretching ranges using the stretching device 100 in conjunction with the stretching device extension 110. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate, in view of the present disclosure, that the particular form and/or arrangement of the extension supports 202 of the stretching device extension 110 may be varied in accordance with implementations of the present disclosure.
For example, the various extension supports may have different shapes and/or sizes relative to one another (e.g., the additional pair of extension supports 202 have a different size than the three linearly arranged extension supports 202 of
The extension insert 204 may be configured (e.g., via the extension insert interface members 206) for insertion into the extension slot 108 of the stretching device 100. For example, in some instances, the extension slot 108 includes extension slot interface members 210, which may be configured to interface with the extension insert interface members 206 to removably secure the stretching device extension 110 to the stretching device 100. A user may insert the extension insert 204 into the extension slot 108 such that surfaces of the extension insert interface members 206 abut surfaces of the extension slot interface members 210, thereby creating static frictional force that removably secures the stretching device extension 110 to the stretching device 100.
It will be appreciated, in view of the present disclosure, that although
Furthermore, although the present disclosure focuses, in at least some respects, on implementations in which the extension slot 108 is disposed on the stretching device 100 and the extension insert 204 is disposed on the stretching device extension 110, one or more slots may be arranged on the stretching device extension 110 and/or one or more inserts may be arranged on the stretching device 100 to facilitate removable attachment of the stretching device extension 110 to the stretching device 100, in accordance with the present disclosure.
Furthermore,
Additional details related to the connection members 106 that connect the heel platform 102 to the ball platform 104 will now be provided.
The connection members 106 may also include a plurality of connection member supports 310, as illustrated in
In some implementations, as shown in
In addition to the connection member supports 310, the connection members 106 may include, in some instances, an additional support 312, as shown in
As demonstrated in
Although the present disclosure focuses, in at least some respects, on a stretching device 100 that includes a particular arrangement of connection members 106 (e.g., four connection member supports 310 extending from the inner connection member 304 to the outer connection member 308 and a single additional support 312 extending from the ball platform 104 toward the outer connection member 308), those skilled in the art will understand, in view of the present disclosure, that the connection members 106 can be implemented in various ways in accordance with the present disclosure. For example, a stretching device 100 may include fewer or more than four connection member supports 310 and/or may include fewer or more than one additional support 312. Furthermore, the positioning and/shape (e.g., degree of curvature) of the various connection members 106 may be varied according to the present disclosure.
Although
Additionally,
The particular configuration of the recessed grooves 502 and the opening 504 is illustrative only and non-limiting. For example, in some instances, a stretching device includes fewer or more than two recessed grooves 502 and/or fewer or more than one opening 504, and the recessed groove(s) 502 and/or opening(s) 504 (if any) may comprise substantially any shape. By way of non-limiting example, a stretching device 100 may omit any opening 504 and may instead include a linear arrangement of recessed grooves 502 that extend in a transvers direction across the outer surface of the outer connection member 308. In yet another example, a stretching device 100 may include a plurality of openings 504 and may omit recessed grooves 502 and may optionally include a grip material adhered to the outer surface of the outer connection member 308 in the absence of the recessed grooves 502. Other examples are also within the scope of this disclosure.
Various alterations and/or modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and additional applications of the principles illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims, and are to be considered within the scope of this disclosure. Thus, while various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments are contemplated. While a number of methods and components similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used to practice embodiments of the present disclosure, only certain components and methods are described herein.
It will also be appreciated that systems, devices, products, kits, methods, and/or processes, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure may include, incorporate, or otherwise comprise properties, features (e.g., components, members, elements, parts, and/or portions) described in other embodiments disclosed and/or described herein. Accordingly, the various features of certain embodiments can be compatible with, combined with, included in, and/or incorporated into other embodiments of the present disclosure. Thus, disclosure of certain features relative to a specific embodiment of the present disclosure should not be construed as limiting application or inclusion of said features to the specific embodiment. Rather, it will be appreciated that other embodiments can also include said features, members, elements, parts, and/or portions without necessarily departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
Moreover, unless a feature is described as requiring another feature in combination therewith, any feature herein may be combined with any other feature of a same or different embodiment disclosed herein. Furthermore, various well-known aspects of illustrative systems, methods, apparatus, and the like are not described herein in particular detail in order to avoid obscuring aspects of the example embodiments. Such aspects are, however, also contemplated herein.
The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. While certain embodiments and details have been included herein and in the attached disclosure for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the present disclosure, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in the methods, products, devices, and apparatus disclosed herein may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure or of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20220118312 A1 | Apr 2022 | US |