Patent Application
20140315694
A. Field of the Invention
The embodiments of the present invention relate to a foot exercising device, and more particularly, the embodiments of the present invention relate to a portable, length-adjustable, and resistance adjustable exercise device for allowing exercising of both feet of a user simultaneously without having to have the feet of the user physically attached thereto, for using weight of the user for activating resistance, and for allowing the feet of the user to be positioned in front of each other during exercising both feet simultaneously so as to work in opposition to each other by working the toe of one foot of the user simultaneously with the heel of the other foot of the user.
B. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous innovations for foot exercising devices have been provided in the prior art, which will be described below in chronological order to show advancement in the art, and which are incorporated in their entirety herein by reference thereto. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, nevertheless, they differ from the present invention in that they do not teach a portable, length-adjustable, and resistance adjustable exercise device for allowing exercising of both feet of a user simultaneously without having to have the feet of the user physically attached thereto, for using weight of the user for activating resistance, and for allowing the feet of the user to be positioned in front of each other during exercising both feet simultaneously so as to work in opposition to each other by working the toe of one foot of the user simultaneously with the heel of the other foot of the user.
(1) U.S. Pat. No. 3,472,508 to Baker et al.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,472,508—issued to Baker et al. on Oct. 14, 1969 in U.S. class 482 and subclass 79—teaches a foot and calf exercising device that is releasably held on the foot by straps. The device rests on the floor and the exerciser's foot engages the top surface thereof so that the ball of the foot is higher than the heel. The higher front and bottom of the device join in a curve so that the device can be rocked forwardly and backwardly to stretch and release the muscles of the lower leg.
(2) U.S. Pat. No. Des. 325,968 to Nofsinger.
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 325,968—issued to Nofsinger on May 5, 1992 in U.S. class D21 and subclass 685—teaches the ornamental design for a rehabilitation block.
(3) U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,892 to Sawdon.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,892—issued to Sawdon on Jul. 7, 1992 in U.S. class 482 and subclass 79—teaches an in situ foot exercise shoe for enhancing the in-place exercise of the foot of a person, particularly, the elderly and those afflicted with various abnormalities of the lower extremities, which require exercise without actual walking or running. The apparatus includes a shoe that enhances sliding movement in a to-and-fro path of travel. The shoe includes a planar slide for sliding in a to-and-fro reciprocal path of travel, and a mechanism for coupling the slide to the underside of the foot. The slide includes a sole having a smooth uninterrupted planar bottom surface.
(4) U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,995 to Ko.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,995—issued to Ko on Apr. 5, 1994 in U.S. class 482 and subclass 52—teaches a foot exercising apparatus including a main support adjustable mounted on a base plate in a sloping position, two linked sliding blocks driven by pedals with the legs to slide alternatively up and down in two tracks on two opposite long sides of the main support.
(5) U.S. Pat. No. 6,709,368 to Chue.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,709,368—issued to Chue on Mar. 23, 2004 in U.S. class 482 and subclass 79—teaches an exercise devise that can be used by anyone for simulating walking while sitting down. Including two pedals that move in opposition to one another as one foot presses down, while the other is pushed up, the device is placed under the feet while sitting in a chair. By turning clockwise, a resistance dial located on a stem adjusts resistance. A straight metal axle at the rear of the device serves as an axis about which two pedals rotate, and furnishes support through the attached feet. A mechanism of resistance is provided by opposition against two arc-shaped wedges offset by an angle resulting in one pedal rising as the other falls. Each end of a curved axle in the front provides support. The straight axle in the back is connected to the curved axle in the front by a central housing on top of which is positioned the resistance dial.
(6) United States Patent Application Publication Number 2006/0240955 to Pu.
United States Patent Application Publication Number 2006/0240955—published to Pu on Oct. 26, 2006 in U.S. class 482 and subclass 79—teaches a foot exercise device that includes a base having a front handle, a frame attached to a rear portion of the base and having an upper channel, and two or more lower cavities communicating with the upper channel. A platform includes a number of projections for massaging feet of users, and includes a front portion pivotally coupled to the base, and includes a rear portion having one or more pegs slidable along the upper channel of the frame, and selectively engageable in either of the lower cavities of the frame. The platform is adjustable relative to the base to different inclination when the peg of the platform is adjustably engaged in either of the lower cavities of the frame.
(7) U.S. Pat. No. Des. 596,246 to Nofsinger.
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 596,246—issued to Nofsinger on Jul. 14, 2009 in U.S. class D21 and subclass 685—teaches the ornamental design for a therapeutic foot exercise block.
(8) United States Patent Application Publication Number 2011/0224049 to Farnell.
United States Patent Application Publication Number 2011/0224049—published to Farrell on Sep. 15, 2011 in U.S. class 482 and subclass 79—teaches a device for exercising a foot, which has a base onto which the foot to be exercised is located, and an upper. A number of resilient members are secured to the upper, and on moving the foot between an extended position and a retracted position, the resilient members provide a resistive force on the foot, which opposes the movement of the foot between the extended and retracted positions.
It is apparent that numerous innovations for foot exercising devices have been provided in the prior art, which are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, nevertheless, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the embodiments of the present invention as heretofore described, namely, a portable, length-adjustable, and resistance adjustable exercise device for allowing exercising of both feet of a user simultaneously without having to have the feet of the user physically attached thereto, for using weight of the user for activating resistance, and for allowing the feet of the user to be positioned in front of each other during exercising both feet simultaneously so as to work in opposition to each other by working the toe of one foot of the user simultaneously with the heel of the other foot of the user.
Thus, an object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a portable, length-adjustable, and resistance adjustable exercise device for allowing exercising of both feet of a user simultaneously without having to have the feet of the user physically attached thereto, for using weight of the user for activating resistance, and for allowing the feet of the user to be positioned in front of each other during exercising both feet simultaneously so as to work in opposition to each other by working the toe of one foot of the user simultaneously with the heel of the other foot of the user, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.
Briefly stated, another object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a portable, length-adjustable, and resistance adjustable exercise device that allows exercising of both feet of a user simultaneously without having to have the feet of the user physically attached thereto, uses weight of the user to activate resistance, and allows the feet of the user to be positioned in front of each other during exercising both feet simultaneously so as to work in opposition to each other by working the toe of one foot of the user simultaneously with the heel of the other foot of the user. The portable, length-adjustable, and resistance adjustable exercise device includes a main base and a pair of resistance members. The main base rests on a support surface. The pair of resistance members are replaceably attached to the main base so as to allow the portable, length-adjustable, and resistance adjustable exercise device to be portable, ate length adjustably attached to the main base so as to allow the portable, length-adjustable, and resistance adjustable exercise device to be length adjustable, are resistance adjustable so as to allow the portable, length-adjustable, and resistance adjustable exercise device to be resistance adjustable, allow exercising of both feet of the user simultaneously without having to have the feet of the user physically attached thereto, are activated by the weight of the user, and are disposed on opposite sides of the main base so as to allow the feet of the user to be positioned in front of each other during exercising both feet simultaneously so as to work in opposition to each other by working the toe of the one foot of the user simultaneously with the heel of the other foot of the user.
The novel features considered characteristic of the embodiments of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The embodiments of the present invention themselves, however, both as to their construction and to their method of operation together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying figures of the drawing.
The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows:
A. Introductory.
B. Overall Configuration of Portable, Length-Adjustable, and Resistance Adjustable Exercise Device 10.
C. Specific Configuration of Main Base 20.
D. Specific Configuration of Pair of Resistance Members 22.
E. Specific Configuration of Three Coil Spring Assemblies 58 of Pair of Resistance Members 22, Respectively.
A. Introductory.
Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to
B. Overall Configuration of the Portable, Length-Adjustable, and Resistance Adjustable Exercise Device 10.
The overall configuration of the portable, length-adjustable, and resistance adjustable exercise device 10 can best be seen in
The portable, length-adjustable, and resistance adjustable exercise device 10 comprises a main base 20 and a pair of resistance members 22. The main base 20 is for resting on a support surface 24. The pair of resistance members 22 are replaceably attached to the main base 20 for allowing the portable, length-adjustable, and resistance adjustable exercise device 10 to be portable, are length adjustably attached to the main base 20 for allowing the portable, length-adjustable, and resistance adjustable exercise device 10 to be length adjustable, are resistance adjustable for allowing the portable, length-adjustable, and resistance adjustable exercise device 10 to be resistance adjustable, are for allowing exercising of both feet 12 of the user 14 simultaneously without having to have the feet 12 of the user 14 physically attached thereto, are for activating by the weight of the user 14, and are disposed on opposite sides of the main base 20 for allowing the feet 12 of the user 14 to be positioned in front of each other during exercising both feet 12 simultaneously so as to work in opposition to each other by working the toe 16 of the one foot 12 of the user 14 simultaneously with the heel 18 of the other foot 12 of the user 14.
C. Specific Configuration of the Main Base 20.
The main base 20 comprises a rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 25.
The rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 25 of the main base 20 has a lower surface 26, an upper surface 28, a pair of axial side surfaces 30, and a pair of lateral side surfaces 32.
The rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 25 of the main base 20 further has a pair of through bores 34.
The pair of through bores 34 of the rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 25 of the main base 20 are parallel to each other, and extend axially therethrough, in close proximity to, and parallel to, both the pair of axial side surfaces 30 of the rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 25 of the main base 20 and the lower surface 26 of the rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 25 of the main base 20.
The rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 25 of the main base 20 further has two pair of threaded blind bores 36.
The two pair of threaded blind bores 36 of the rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 25 of the main base 20 are parallel to each other, extend laterally into the pair of axial side surfaces 30 of the rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 25 of the main base 20, respectively, and each associated pair of the two pair of threaded blind bores 36 of the rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 25 of the main base 20 are collinear.
The two pair of threaded blind bores 36 of the rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 25 of the main base 20 communicate with the pair of through bores 34 of the rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 25 of the main base 20, respectively.
The main base 20 further comprises a skid-resistant pad 38.
The skid-resistant pad 38 of the main base 20 overlies the upper surface 28 of the rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 25 of the main base 20, and is for increasing grip of the foot 12 of the user 14 thereon.
The main base 20 further comprises two pair of rail rods 40.
The two pair of rail rods 40 of the main base 20 are straight, slender, and elongated.
The two pair of rail rods 40 of the main base 20 move readily in the pair of through bores 34 of the rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 25 of the main base 20, respectively.
The main base 20 further comprises two pair of bolts 42.
The two pair of bolts 42 of the main base 20 thread into the two pair of threaded blind bores 36 of the rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 25 of the main base 20, respectively.
D. Specific Configuration of the Pair of Resistance Members 22.
The pair of resistance members 22 straddle the main base 20, and are adjacent to the pair of lateral side surfaces 32 of the rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 25 of the main base 20, respectively.
Each resistance member 22 comprises an auxiliary base 44.
The auxiliary base 44 of each resistance member 22 is a rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 46.
The rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 46 of the auxiliary base 44 of each resistance member 22 has a lower surface 48, an upper surface 50, a pair of axial side surfaces 52, and a pair of lateral side surfaces 54. The lower surface 48 of the rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 46 of the auxiliary base 44 of each resistance member 22 is for resting on the support surface 24.
The rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 46 of the auxiliary base 44 of each resistance member 22 further has a pair of blind bores 56.
The pair of blind bores 56 of the rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 46 of the auxiliary base 44 of each resistance member 22 are parallel to each other, extend axially therein from a respective lateral side surface 54 of the rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 46 of the auxiliary base 44 of an associated resistance member 22, and are in close proximity to, and parallel to, both the pair of axial side surfaces 52 of the rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 46 of the auxiliary base 44 of the associated resistance member 22 and the lower surface 48 of the rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 46 of the auxiliary base 44 of the associated resistance member 22.
The pair of blind bores 56 of the rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 46 of the auxiliary base 44 of each resistance member 22 align with the pair of through bores 34 of the rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 25 of the main base 20, respectively, and slidingly receive the two pair of rail rods 40 of the main base 20, respectively, so as to allow the pair of resistance members 22 to move relative to the main base 20 so as to allow the portable, length-adjustable, and resistance adjustable exercise device 10 to be length adjustable.
Each resistance member 22 further comprises three coil spring assemblies 58.
The three coil spring assemblies 58 of each resistance member 22 extend vertically upwardly from the upper surface 50 of the rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 46 of the auxiliary base 44 of an associated resistance member 22 to terminators 60.
Each resistance member 22 further comprises a platform 62. The platform 62 of each resistance member 22 is for working the toe 16 of a foot 12 of the user 14 or the heel 18 of the foot 12 of the user 14.
The platform 62 of each resistance member 22 comprises a thin block 64.
The thin block 64 of the platform 62 of each resistance member 22 is disposed on the terminators 60 of the three coil spring assemblies 58 of an associated resistance member 22, and has an upper surface 65.
The platform 62 of each resistance member 22 further comprises a skid-resistant pad 66.
The skid-resistant pad 66 of the platform 62 of each resistance member 22 overlies the upper surface 65 of the thin block 64 of the platform 62 of an associated resistance member 22, and is for increasing grip of the foot 12 of the user 14 thereon.
E. Interface of the Two Pair of Bolts 42 of the Main Base 20 and the Two Pair of Rail Rods 40 of the Main Base 20.
The interface of the two pair of bolts 42 of the main base 20 and the two pair of rail rods 40 of the main base 20 can best be seen in
The two pair of bolts 42 of the main base 20 tighten down in the two pair of threaded blind bores 36 of the rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 25 of the main base 20, respectively, onto the two pair of rail rods 40 of the main base 20, respectively, so as to maintain the two pair of rail rods 40 of the main base 20 at a predetermined position for allowing the portable, length-adjustable, and resistance adjustable exercise device 10 to be length adjustable.
F. Specific Configuration of the Three Coil Spring Assemblies 58 of the Pair of Resistance Members 22, Respectively.
The specific configuration of the three coil spring assemblies 58 of the pair of resistance members 22, respectively, can best be seen in
Each coil spring assembly 58 of each resistance member 22 comprises a coil spring 68.
Each coil spring assembly 58 of each resistance member 22 further comprises a lower seat 70.
The lower seat 70 of each coil spring assembly 58 of each resistance member 22 is attached to the upper surface 50 of the rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 46 of the auxiliary base 44 of an associated resistance member 22 by screws 72.
The coil spring 68 of each coil spring assembly 58 of each resistance member 22 sits in the lower seat 70 of an associated coil spring assembly 58 of an associated resistance member 22.
Each coil spring assembly 58 of each resistance member 22 further comprises an upper seat 74.
The upper seat 74 of each coil spring assembly 58 of each resistance member 22 is attached to the thin block 64 of the platform 62 of an associated resistance member 22 by screws 76.
The upper seat 74 of each coil spring assembly 58 of each resistance member 22 caps off the coil spring 68 of an associated coil spring assembly 58 of an associated resistance member 22.
Each coil spring assembly 58 of each resistance member 22 further comprises a stem 78.
The stem 78 of each coil spring assembly 58 of each resistance member 22 extends vertically upwardly through the rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped block 46 of the auxiliary base 44 of an associated resistance member 22, through the lower seat 70 of an associated coil spring assembly 58 of the associated resistance member 22, through the coil spring 68 of the associated coil spring assembly 58 of the associated resistance member 22, and into the upper seat 74 of the associated coil spring assembly 58 of the associated resistance member 22.
G. Impressions.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.
While the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described as embodied in a portable, length-adjustable, and resistance adjustable exercise device for allowing exercising of both feet of a user simultaneously without having to have the feet of the user physically attached thereto, for using weight of the user for activating resistance, and for allowing the feet of the user to be positioned in front of each other during exercising both feet simultaneously so as to work in opposition to each other by working the toe of one foot of the user simultaneously with the heel of the other foot of the user, however, they are not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions, and changes in the forms and details of the embodiments of the present invention illustrated and their operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the embodiments of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the embodiments of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt them for various applications without omitting features that from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of the embodiments of the present invention.
