The present invention relates to exercise equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to suspension training systems used as exercise equipment and components thereof.
Some conventional resistance training systems rely on a user's bodyweight to supply the main force of resistance via the user suspending from a strap, cable or cord. Such systems are generally referred to as suspension training systems. The user of such a such a system is typically partially suspended by the hands or feet from the strap, cable or cord. For example, a strap or cable may be threaded through a pulley suspended from a height, and handles may be coupled to the ends of the strap or cable. Thereafter, a user may, for example, place their feet on the ground while grasping the handles and place part of their body weight on the handles. Conventional handles or cradles are generally adapted primarily for use with the hands. Some conventional handles are capable of being used with a user's feet instead of hands. However, such handles or cradles present challenges in terms of ergonomics, ease of use and manufacturability.
Foot stirrups for use with suspension training systems and devices (including locking rotational suspension training systems) are described herein that allow users with widely different foot sizes and/or different footwear sizes or types to securely couple their feet to a suspension training system in both toe up and toe down positions. In one aspect, a suspension training foot stirrup includes a primary or load strap formed into a closed loop and configured to couple at its upper end to a suspension exercise system. A sole or foot strap is coupled to opposite sides of the loop that forms the load strap. In an aspect, the aforementioned coupling of the sole strap to the load strap forms a foot receiving opening that is comprised of the sole strap and a portion of the load strap that is between the points where the sole strap couples to the load strap and a lower end of the load strap (i.e., the end of the load strap opposite the end configured to couple to the suspension exercise system). Thus formed, the foot receiving opening is configured to receive a human foot inserted toe-first therein such that a sole of the foot is in contact with the sole strap, and the load strap portion of the foot receiving opening encloses an upper or instep portion of the foot. The foot receiving opening is likewise configured to receive a human foot inserted heel-first therein such that the sole of the foot comes in contract with the sole strap, and the load strap portion of the foot receiving opening encloses an achilles tendon region of a heel of the foot.
In a further aspect, the sole strap is movably coupled to the load strap such that the sole strap may be repositioned to accommodate different foot sizes and/or different footwear sizes and types. In another aspect, the sole strap may be removably coupled to the load strap thereby enabling the sole strap to be detached. In a further aspect, at least portions of at least one of the load strap or the sole strap may include a grip enhancement material and/or a compliant padding material. In another aspect, the sole strap may comprise a flexible material deformable to substantially conform to a shape of opposing sides and a bottom of the human foot.
In another aspect, the load strap may be formed to include a coupling loop at its upper end by simultaneously forming the loop that comprises the load strap and the coupling loop by coupling opposing ends of a length of non-rigid material together with an opposite side of the closed loop that forms the load strap. In a further aspect, the non-rigid material may comprise a length of nylon webbing, and the ends of the webbing may be coupled to one another and to the opposite side of the load strap by applying a bar tack stitch simultaneously through each.
These and other objects, advantages and features will become readily apparent in view of the following detailed description of the invention. Note that the Summary and Abstract sections may set forth one or more, but not all exemplary embodiments of the present invention as contemplated by the inventor(s).
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention.
The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.
The present specification discloses one or more embodiments that incorporate the features of the invention. The disclosed embodiment(s) merely exemplify the invention. The scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment(s). The invention is defined by the claims appended hereto.
References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.
In the discussion, unless otherwise stated, adjectives such as “substantially,” “approximately,” and “about” modifying a condition or relationship characteristic of a feature or features of an embodiment of the disclosure are understood to mean that the condition or characteristic is defined to be within tolerances that are acceptable for operation of the embodiment for an application for which it is intended.
Furthermore, it should be understood that spatial descriptions (e.g., “above,” “below,” “up,” “left,” “right,” “down,” “top,” “bottom,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” etc.) used herein are for purposes of illustration only, and that practical implementations of the structures described herein can be spatially arranged in any orientation or manner.
Still further, it should be noted that the drawings/figures are not drawn to scale unless otherwise noted herein.
Numerous exemplary embodiments are now described. Any section/subsection headings provided herein are not intended to be limiting. Embodiments are described throughout this document, and any type of embodiment may be included under any section/subsection. Furthermore, it is contemplated that the disclosed embodiments may be combined with each other in any manner. That is, the embodiments described herein are not mutually exclusive of each other and may be practiced and/or implemented alone, or in any combination.
The example embodiments described herein are provided for illustrative purposes only, and are not limiting. The examples described herein may be adapted to any type of suspension training system including a locking rotational suspension training system or locking rotational device. For example, embodiments may be adapted to the locking rotational suspension training system as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,914,008, issued Mar. 13, 2018 and entitled “Locking Rotational Suspension Training System”, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. Further structural and operational embodiments, including modifications/alterations, will become apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) from the teachings herein.
A foot stirrup for a suspension training system according to various embodiments will now be described. First, an example foot cradle according to the prior art, and usage thereof is described. Next, a locking rotational suspension system, including a locking rotational device, suitable for use with embodiments is described. Thereafter, exemplary use of embodiments, including toe-up and toe-down insertion of the foot into embodiments, is described. Next, a detailed description of an example foot stirrup, according one embodiment, is described. Finally, closeup views of toe-up and toe-down usage of a foot stirrup embodiment are described.
User 308 of
Locking rotational device 302 may be suspended from any apparatus or structure that is both high enough for the users to perform the required suspension training exercises, and strong enough to support the weight of the user safely. For example, locking rotational device 302 may be secured at attachment point 402 to a steel frame, a building girder, an eyebolt sunk into suitably strong material (e.g., a wood beam or masonry), or the like. Prior to such suspension, strap 304 is threaded through wheel bracket 404 such that strap 304 engages with wheel 406. Thereafter, handles such as handles 306a or 306b, or foot stirrups according to the embodiments disclosed herein may be coupled to opposing ends of strap 304 at which point suspension exercise system 300 is fully assembled and ready to use.
Locking rotational device 302 may be configured to operate in two modes. In a first mode (unlocked mode), and with continued reference to
Locking rotational device 302 as depicted in
Returning now to the description of combination handle/foot cradle 102 of
For example, consider
These problems are equally applicable to a toe-up configuration (not shown) wherein the heel of, for example, human foot 202 is inserted into heel/toe loop 110. In particular, since heel/toe loop 110 is so small, only a small portion of the heel can fit inside heel/toe loop 110 and it can be very challenging for a user to keep ones feet in heel/toe loop 110 over certain angles. Likewise, handle 106 ends up being positioned very close to the edge of the heel which can cause instability for certain types of exercises.
Solutions to these issues are provided by embodiments described herein. For example, consider
In an embodiment, load strap 504 of foot stirrup 516 may be formed from a length of flexible material strong enough to support the body weight of a user. For example, such material may comprise nylon webbing, rope, cordage, braiding, twine, cable or other flexible material of suitable strength. Although embodiments herein are described with reference to “straps” (e.g., load strap 504 or sole strap 508), such components need not literally be straps. That is, although embodiments may be formed partially or wholly from flat nylon webbing and thus substantially conform to an ordinary definition of “strap,” no such limitation should be imported to the claims or otherwise inferred. Instead, embodiments may use rope or other materials, and it should be understood that the term “strap” as used in this written description and the claims are equally applicable to such embodiments.
For the purposes of describing
Although these embodiments are described in terms of stitching and sewing together of component parts, it should be understood that other means of forming a loop from a length of material are possible. For example, fasteners such as nuts, bolts, screws, rivets, contact cement, tri-glides or even velcro may be used instead. Likewise, load strap 504 may be formed from a conventional cam strap.
Sole strap 508 is coupled between the sides of load strap 504 such that an opening is formed between sole strap 508 and lower end 506 of load strap 504. More specifically, foot receiving opening 512 is the open region generally bounded by the portion of load strap 504 that is between sole strap 508 and lower end 506. In an embodiment, sole strap 508 may be comprised of substantially the same material as that of load strap 504 (e.g., flat nylon webbing). However, this need not be the case and sole strap 508 may be formed of other materials. For example, sole strap 508 may be composed of a semi-rigid though flexible material (e.g., thick rubber) that allows sole strap 508 to deform to substantially conform to the shape of the foot (and footwear attendant thereto). Alternative embodiments of sole strap 508 may comprise, for example, a material formed from a moldable material to substantially conform to the shape of the arch of the human foot. For example, a suitable plastic or other material may be molded or fabricated into an arch cup upon which a bare human foot may be placed. Such a cup molded in the shape of the human foot would enhance comfort of users that wish to exercise in bare or stocking feet.
In an embodiment, sole strap 508 may be movably attached to load strap 504 such that a user such as user 308 may slide sole strap 508 up and down load strap 504. For example, each end of sole strap 508 may be formed into a loop suitably dimensioned to allow load strap 504 to be threaded through the loop. Alternatively, sole strap 508 may be coupled to load strap 504 at variable locations along the sides of load strap 504 by various coupling methods. For example, the ends of sole strap 508 may comprise hook and loop material and the complimentary material may be fixed to suitable locations on load strap 504 such that sole strap 508 may be coupled to load strap 504 at some point or points along the sides of load strap 504. Such coupling methods have the advantage of permitting sole strap 508 to be removed from load strap 504 altogether thereby permitting, for example, sole strap 508 to be washed or replaced (e.g., due to wear). Likewise, detachable coupling of sole strap 508 to load strap 504 also permits the length of sole strap 508 to be adjusted which may be advantageous from a comfort perspective particularly when used with very wide or very narrow foot sizes. In every case, such movable attachment of sole strap 508 to load strap 504 allows users to vary the size of foot receiving opening 512 to accommodate different foot sizes, different types of footwear, or bare feet (i.e., feet not wearing footwear).
In embodiments, one or both of sole strap 508 and the portion of load strap 504 that bounds foot receiving opening 512 may be augmented to include additional materials incorporated into or deposited thereon. For example, sole strap 508 and/or load strap 504 may be augmented to include grip enhancing materials on the surfaces of such straps that engage with a users foot. For example, rubber material having a high tack may be bonded to sole strap 508 and/or load strap 504 in the foot receiving opening 512 to enhance the grip between such straps and a user's foot.
Likewise, embodiments permit other materials to be incorporated into or onto sole strap 508 and/or load strap 504 for enhancing comfort. For example, a compliant padding material may be incorporated into or onto the portions of sole strap 508 and/or the portion of load strap 504 that comprise foot receiving opening 512. Having described embodiments of foot stirrup 516, exemplary uses thereof with suspension exercise system 300 of
Suspension exercise system 300 as depicted in
Foot stirrup 516 of
Consider, for example,
Just as with view 600 of
Foot stirrup 516 of
View 900 also depicts a side view of stitching region 514 which, in an embodiment, is formed by stitching the ends of a length of material that forms the foot stirrup 516 to one another while also stitching each side of load strap 504 to one another thereby also forming coupling loop 510. The stitches of stitching region 514 may comprise, in an embodiment, bar tack stitches 902. Of course, other types of stitches are possible in other embodiments, such as but not limited to box stitches and pattern stitches.
In certain embodiments of foot stirrup 516, the width of the strap used to form load strap 504 and coupling loop 510 is in a range of approximately ¾ inches to approximately 2 inches, and in one particular embodiment of foot stirrup 516, the width of the strap used to form load strap 504 and coupling loop 510 is approximately 1½inches. Of course, these are only examples, and are by no means limiting.
In certain embodiments of foot stirrup 516, the full length of the strap used to form load strap 504 and coupling loop 510 is in a range of approximately 20 inches to approximately 40 inches, and in one particular embodiment of foot stirrup 516, the full length of the strap used to form load strap 504 and coupling loop 510 is approximatley 34½ inches. In further accordance with such an embodiment, the length of the overlap between the opposing ends of the strap that forms stitching region 514 may be approximately 1 inch, and 3 bar tack stitches may be formed in stitching region 514. In still further accordance with such an embodiment, coupling loop 510 may form a 1 inch loop approximately when flattened. Of course, these are only examples, and are by no means limiting.
In certain embodiments of foot stirrup 516, the width of the strap used to form sole strap 508 is in a range of approximately ¾ inches to approximately 2 inches, and in one particular embodiment of foot stirrup 516, the width of the strap used to form sole strap 508 is approximately 1½ inches. Of course, these are only examples, and are by no means limiting.
In certain embodiments of foot stirrup 516, the length of the strap used to form sole strap 508 is in a range of approximately 8 inches to approximately 18 inches, and in one particular embodiment, the length of the strap used to form sole strap 508 is approximately 14 inches. In further accordance with such an embodiment, each end of the strap used to form sole strap 508 may be folded around an outside of load strap 504 to form a 2 inch overlap and a single bar stitch may formed through the overlap, thereby creating a loop through which load strap 504 is threaded. Of course, these are only examples, and are by no means limiting.
While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.