BACKROUND OF THE INVENTION:
The importance of creating and maintaining flexibility is generally recognized in health, longevity, fitness, sports, ballet, and yoga. Stretching requires a sustained and prolonged effort in holding a particular joint in a stretched position for best results. For best user results, stretching devices should be simple to apply, comfortable, easy to adjust, safe and offer a variety of stretches throughout the body, and employ other static or dynamic point of fixation.
Prior art devices have recently been developed harnessing both shoulders to provide hands free stretching, but they fall short in giving a user the most effective stretching experience.
Current hands-free stretching devices require the user to apply and adjust multiple clips such as around the torso, around each shoulder, and at the leg. This can lead to user fatigue, confusion and less active user stretching.
Padding on hands free shoulder based stretching devices is not seen in prior art. This leads to discomfort and less active user stretching.
Adjustment in position and tension is accomplished by more than one strap clasp in prior art hands free stretching devices. This leads to complicated maneuvers for the user leading to less active user stretching.
Strap clamp adjusters appear to be the only method in adjusting stretching tension in current hands-free stretching devices. This can lead to slow and cumbersome adjustments during user stretching.
Strong and safe clamping of strap material is not recognized in prior art. This can lead to user stretching failure or user injury. Current hands-free stretching devices do not have durable fixation points to accommodate attaching to fixed or dynamic objects limiting the stretching utility of these devices.
The current invention addresses all these issues.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The Full Body, Hands-Free, Adjustable Strap Stretching Device has applicability in physical therapy, sports, yoga, ballet, health, and longevity. This device in provides for a variety of hands-free stretching that is easy to apply, comfortable, easy to adjust, safe, powerful, and prolonged. Once the user gets into a position or pose with this current invention, he/she can relax and allow strap tension, position, static and or dynamic forces do the work of stretching throughout virtually all areas of the body.
This current invention solves the problems of prior art devices by providing:
- A hands-free stretching device with strong and safe clamping of strap mechanism.
- User comfort with padding over strap in the Proximal Loop Component.
- Easy to access and application of the invention on a user with a single clamp strap on the Proximal Component.
- Easy to adjust fine stretch tension with a single clamp in the Proximal Loop Component.
- Easy to adjust coarse levels of tension with foot placement in the Distal Slotted Component.
- Fixation to stationary object with the Distal Slotted Component leveraging gravity for neck, shoulder, torso, back and lower extremity stretching.
- Fixation to a weight machine or fitness machine with the Distal Grommet Component for dynamic force stretching of the neck, shoulder, torso, back and lower extremity.
- Four levels of possible stretch tension adjustments including fine clamp adjustment, coarse foot position adjustment, static object fixation gravity adjustment, and dynamic attached machine adjustment.
- Full body stretching opportunities with laying, sitting, standing, and fixation of the current invention to static or dynamic weight machine or fitness machine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1:
- (a) Proximal Loop Component top view with strap, attached pad and adjustable clamp for insertion of shoulder, torso, chest, arm, leg, or head.
- (b) Distal Slotted Component top view with straps sewn together segmentally.
- (c) Distal Slotted Component side view with straps sewn together segmentally creating slot sections for foot insertion or stationary object attachment.
- (d) Distal Grommet Component top view with metal grommet through and through the strap material for clamp fixation to weight machine or other fitness machines.
- (e) Distal Grommet Component side view showing loop for loop attachment to the Proximal Loop Component.
FIG. 2: Natural state of the device showing how the Distal Slotted Component and the Distal Grommet component are connected to the Proximal Loop Component.
FIG. 3: Straightened state of the entire device.
FIG. 4: Basic user floor stretching poses and positions: (a) Hamstring, (b) Quad stretch, (c) Shoulder stretch, (d) Knee stretch (e) Hip stretch. The device is simplified in these drawings for clarity. Stripes represent stretching of muscles and grey areas represent joints “in play” during these stretching poses and positions:
FIG. 5: Various floor method of use positions and poses. The device is simplified in these drawings for clarity.
FIG. 6: Additional various floor method of use positions and poses. The device is simplified in these drawn for clarity.
FIG. 7: Various chair method of use positions and poses. The device is simplified in these drawings for clarity.
FIG. 8: Various fixed to stationary object or to weight machine or to fitness machine method of use positions and poses. The device is simplified in these drawings for clarity. The “x” represents the fixation point of a stationary object or a dynamic attachment to a weight machine or fitness machine.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This current invention simplifies application to the body by basing the device on a single heavy cotton strap loop and single clamp known as the Proximal Loop Component (FIG. 1a,2). The user takes this component, loosens a single clamp, applies the device over the shoulder, around the torso, or on a leg and simply tightens the loop with a pull on the strap quickly engaging the clamp to proper fitment.
This current invention incorporates a padded strap in the Proximal Loop Component (FIG. 1aa,2,3) for user comfort. This can be either fixed to the underlying strap by sewing or left free to glide around the strap for additional comfort adjustment.
The current invention embodies a single alligator spring loaded clamp which is located at one end of the Proximal Loop Component nearest the padding (FIG. 1a). This allows the user to see and access the clamp and adjust the stretching tension while the device is in use on the user. This is considered the fine adjustment of this device. An instructor could also easily adjust the strap with the clamp readily visible on the device.
Another method of adjusting tension is by foot placement in the Distal Slotted Component of this device (FIG. 1b,1c,2). The location of the user's foot along this component determines the amount of tension applied across the area of interest. It is considered a coarser adjustment allowing the user to get to the next stretch force level quickly. This is typically followed by the finer adjustment with the Proximal Loop Component clamp noted above.
This invention incorporates a strong spring-loaded alligator type clamp in the Proximal Loop Component (FIG. 1a) which supports hundreds of pounds of force when this part of the device is manufactured with proper heavy cotton strap material.
This invention allows for multiple stretch positions and poses on the floor (FIG. 5,6), in a chair (FIG. 7), and standing (FIG. 8),
This invention embodies the Distal Slotted Component (FIG. 1b,1c,2) which includes the slotted sites that can be looped, for example on a fixed bar (i.e., Pull up bar) or ceiling fixed screw islet (FIG. 8). This leverages gravity and allows for neck, shoulder, torso, back as well as lower extremity stretching.
This invention embodies the Distal Grommet Component (FIG. 1d,1e,2) which incorporates strap grommets to allow fixation with mountaineer type metal clips commonly found in gyms. This allows for attachment to weight and other fitness machines to this current invention for dynamic stretching of the neck, shoulders, torso and back (FIG. 8)
The Hands-Free Full Body Adjustable Strap Stretching Device consists of three components (FIG. 1a,1b,1c,1d,1e,2,3)) that are connected by looping them together (FIG. 2):
The Proximal Loop Component (FIG. 1a, 2, 3):
This section is a long piece of heavy cotton strap with a fixed soft pad sewn to the strap or a “floating” soft pad. The latter encompasses the strap and is mobile over it by sewing the pad material to itself along one edge but not into the underlying strap. There is a spring-loaded alligator type of clamp fixed at the end of this strap near the fixed soft pad. The other end of this component has a sewn folded strap end “hard stop” to prevent the clasp from completely releasing off the end of the strap in the event of failure or excess forces. This section is placed around the user's shoulder, chest, torso, leg, or head and is attached to the Distal Slotted Component (FIG. 1b,1c,2) and/or the Distal Grommet Component (FIG. 1d,1e,2). The pad is for user comfort. The clamp allows the user to fine tune the force of a stretch by tightening or loosening the strap while in a stretching position.
The Distal Slotted Component (FIG. 1b,1c):
This is made up of a long piece strap material that is folded on itself and sewn together in sections to provide slots for insertion of the foot or fixation to a stationary object. FIG. 1b shows a top view while FIG. 1c shows a side view demonstrating the slots created by sewing the strap together between the slots. FIG. 2f demonstrate the Distal Slotted Component attached by looping with the Proximal Loop Component in the devices natural state. FIG. 3 demonstrates the Distal Slotted Component looped to the Proximal Loop Component in a stretched state. With the Proximal Loop Component in place, the user as able to position a foot along the Distal Slotted Component which adjusts the amount of stretching force that will be applied across the area of interest. The user can also place this component on a static structure using one of the slots such as to a pull up bar to leverage gravity in the stretching process (FIG. 8). The stretching for is adjusted by positioning and posing the users body in reference to the fixation point. More fine adjustment is obtained through the clamp and strap on the Proximal Loop Component.
The Distal Grommet Component (FIG. 1d,1e):
This is made up of a piece of strap material that is folded on itself, sewn together, and then pierced with one or more grommets. FIG. 1d shows a top view with a grommet at one end while FIG. 1e shows a side view demonstrating the loop available for attachment to the Proximal Loop Component. FIG. 2 demonstrate the Distal Grommet Component attached by looping with the Proximal Loop Component in the devices natural state. FIG. 3 demonstrates the Distal Grommet Component looped to the Proximal Loop Component in a stretched state. With the Proximal Loop Component in place, the user can attach this component to a weight machine or fitness machine and use the machines dynamic force to stretch an area. The stretching force is adjusted by the users positioning, the amount of force chosen on the weight or fitness machine the Distal Grommet Component is attached to. More fine adjustment is obtained through the clamp and strap on the Proximal Loop Component.
Methods of Use (FIG. 4,5,6,7,8)
These are simplified drawings to give clarity in the location of the invention and the human form interplay. FIG. 4 a-e show basic poses with the device. The parallel lines depict the muscles and fascia under stretching tension forces. The grey areas depict the joints “at play” in these stretching positions and poses. FIGS. 5 and 6 depict multiple floor stretch positions and poses. FIG. 7 depicts multiple chair stretch positions and poses. FIG. 8 depicts multiple fixed- and dynamic-point stretch positions and poses. The fixation points are represented by an “x” in the drawings and could be either the Distal Slotted Component fixed static attachment or the Distal Grommet Component for dynamic attachment to a weight or fitness machine.
Once the user gets into a stretching pose, the invention allows for hands free, powerful, prolonged, and adjustable stretching of the body with minimal effort by the user.
Patent Application
20240207665
