U.S. patent application number 11/053637 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-24 for exercise system and method.
Invention is credited to Carol Katterjohn.
Application Number | 20060189460 11/053637 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36758519 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060189460 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Katterjohn; Carol |
August 24, 2006 |
EXERCISE SYSTEM AND METHOD
Abstract
An exercise system and method of use to achieve numerous workout
possibilities without requiring attachment of the device to a fixed
object such as a door or wall. The system includes a specially
designed shoe clip for attachment to the front end of an exercise
or tennis shoe. A strapping element, for use in conjunction with
the shoe clip, is also specially designed for the overall system.
The system and method are applicable for a wide variety of workout
routines. The system includes attachment devices so that
stretchable resistance bands or stretchable tubing material can be
easily changed to vary the workout difficulty as desired.
Inventors: |
Katterjohn; Carol;
(Indianapolis, IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DANIEL J. O'CONNOR;# 821
6720 BUCKHORN DR
INDIANAPOLIS
IN
46254
US
|
Family ID: |
36758519 |
Appl. No.: |
11/053637 |
Filed: |
February 9, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/129 ; 36/96;
482/124 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/00185 20130101;
A63B 23/03508 20130101; A63B 21/00061 20130101; A63B 2208/0204
20130101; A63B 21/0442 20130101; A63B 2209/14 20130101; A63B
21/0004 20130101; A63B 2071/027 20130101; A63B 21/4011 20151001;
A63B 2208/0252 20130101; A63B 21/00043 20130101; Y10T 74/217
20150115; A63B 21/0557 20130101; A63B 21/4015 20151001; A63B
21/0552 20130101; A63B 23/035 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/129 ;
036/096; 482/124 |
International
Class: |
A43B 7/14 20060101
A43B007/14; A63B 21/04 20060101 A63B021/04 |
Claims
1-8. (canceled)
9. In combination, a shoe clip (10) and associated strap element
(12) for use in an exercise system and in association with a floor
or base (B), said shoe clip (10) having an upper area (15a) in
which is formed an aperture (14a), wherein said shoe clip upper
area (15a) extends into a central curved area (15b), wherein said
central curved area (15b) extends into a lower straight section
(15c), wherein said lower straight section (15c) has an aperture
(16a) formed at the end thereof by means of a lower wall (16),
wherein said strap element (12) extends through both of said
apertures (14a,16a), wherein said lower straight section (15c)
includes a ridge element (30) to provide traction and stability,
said ridge element (30) being of a depth to level out the bottom of
the shoe clip (10) in relation to a floor or base (B), wherein said
strap element (12) which passes through both apertures (14a,16a)
has an attachment device (24) thereon, and wherein said combination
further includes a resistance band (22) and a handle element (29).
Description
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is generally related to the exercise
and physical fitness arts and, in particular, to a novel system and
method for exercising many parts of the body.
[0002] U.S. Pat. No. 6,540,651 issued to Aberton shows a system
which uses an anchor point and a stocking device worn on a lower
limb of a user.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,749 issued to Broadwater shows a
portable exercise device with a handle grip for use in golf
practice training.
[0004] U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,322,483 and 6,059,698 are examples of door
mounted exercise devices.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,360 issued to Wilkins in 1997 teaches
the use of an exercise system and method which incorporates a foot
holster for use in stretching exercises. The methods of use
suggested by Wilkins typically require a door or other type of
fixed attaching point.
[0006] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
demonstrate an exercise system which utilizes specially designed
shoe clips and strap elements so that a separate fixed point is not
required in use of the device.
[0007] It is also an object of the invention to set forth an
exercise system which is highly effective and which is easily
transportable by the user.
[0008] It is a further object of the invention to show an exercise
system which is fabricated of economical plastic/rubber, cloth and
equivalent compounds.
[0009] It is a still further object to demonstrate a stretching
band type of exercise method which does not require the bands to be
tied about the hands or or feet for effective use.
[0010] It is also an object to describe an exercise system which
may be economically mass-produced for widespread commercial appeal
in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Specially designed shoe clips are shown which include:
[0012] a) an upper generally flat section which includes aperture
means for receipt of a strap element, [0013] b) a middle section
which includes two generally curved legs which extend from the
upper section, [0014] c) a lower generally flat section which also
includes aperture means for receipt of a strap element.
[0015] The strap elements each include side-mounted D-rings to
provide easy attachment of stretching band elements.
[0016] The strap elements each include hook and loop fastener
sections and a portion which extends around the back of the user's
shoe for added support and a more efficient exercise workout.
[0017] A wide variety of exercises may be performed in use of the
economically mass-produced system and method of use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0018] FIGS. 1 through 5 show various exercise methods which may be
practiced utilizing the system described herein.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a side schematic view of the shoe clip of the
present invention. The forward end of a tennis or exercising shoe
is placed within said shoe clip.
[0020] FIG. 7 is a top view of the shoe clip with the associated
strapping elements mounted thereon. A resistance band and handle
are also shown in FIG. 7.
[0021] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the shoe clip with a shoe
inserted therein. The ridges for traction and stability as well as
the D-ring and elastic strap for placement around the back of the
shoe are also shown.
FULL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] Referring to the drawing FIGS. 1-5, some of the many methods
of use of the invention are shown.
[0023] As illustrated in FIG. 1, shoe clips 10 are placed on each
shoe and a resistance band 22 extends between the shoe clips. Such
a configuration can be utilized in the supine position shown in
FIG. 1 or the standing position of FIG. 2.
[0024] FIGS. 3 and 4 show the use of a handle element while FIG. 5
shows the use of plural handle units attached to respective shoe
clips.
[0025] The method steps used in practice of the invention are
broadly described as follows: [0026] a) placement of shoe clips 10
on the shoes of a person beginning a workout, [0027] b) attaching a
resistance band 22 to extend between said shoe clips, [0028] c)
exercising from a standing or a supine position as indicated in
FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0029] In an equivalent usage, bands or tubing can be placed on the
outsides of the shoes to effect an added variety of exercise and
stretching routines.
[0030] Referring to the drawing FIG. 6 which shows a side schematic
view of a shoe clip structure, a shoe clip 10 is shown as resting
on a floor or base B.
[0031] As shown, each shoe clip of the invention has an upper area
15a in which is formed an aperture or loop 14a which has a top
portion or wall 14.
[0032] The upper area 15a extends into a central curved area 15b
which is shaped so as to receive the toe portion for various sizes
of exercise shoes. Central area 15b may be comprised of one or more
elements as will be further shown.
[0033] Curved central area 15b extends into a lower straight
section 15c. Lower section 15c has an aperture or loop 16a formed
formed at an end thereof by means of a lower wall 16.
[0034] Apertures or loops 14a and 16a are provided for the receipt
of strapping material to be further described.
[0035] As futher shown in FIG. 6, the lower section 15c of shoe
clip 10 includes ridge means 30 which provides for traction and
stability. The ridge means 30 is further shown herein and is
approximately of a depth to level out the bottom of the overall
shoe clip 10.
[0036] Referring to the top schematic view of FIG. 7, the shoe clip
10 is shown as having a top section 15a with aperture 14a formed
therein. Such aperture 14a receives strapping 12 which has hook and
eye closures thereon as indicated at numerals 18 and 19.
[0037] Also visible in FIG. 7 is the lower section 15c of the shoe
clip having the lower aperture 16a formed therein.
[0038] Numeral 17 indicates a strap retaining element which is
placed on one end of strap material 12.
[0039] An elastic strap 20 extending from the main strap 12 is of
sufficient length to extend around the back of a shoe for
stability.
[0040] As further indicated in FIG. 7, numeral 24 shows an
attachment device for attaching elastic bands or tubing to the
exercise system. The device 24 may comprise, for example, a D-ring
type connector which is attached to the strapping material at a
point where it is positioned at the inside of an exercise shoe.
[0041] FIG. 7 further shows a resistance band 22 which is connected
to a handle element 29 by means of attachment mechanism 28.
Attaching device 28 may comprise, for example, a D-ring type
connector which is attached to the strapping of handle 29.
[0042] The connector devices shown at 24 and 28 allow the
resistance bands 22 to be easily changed depending upon the type of
workout desired.
[0043] For example, a person doing a rehabilitative type of
exercise on one side of the body could choose a resistance band
which provides lesser resistance and is easier to operate. The
resistance band shown in FIG. 7 may also be an elastic type of
tubing.
[0044] Referring to the bottom view of FIG. 8, a lower portion 15c
of the shoe clip 10 is shown as having an aperture 16a formed by
wall 16 for receipt of strapping material 12.
[0045] Ridges 30 are also shown in FIG. 8. In this embodiment,
plural ridges are shown, i.e. one ridge for each leg. It is noted
that if a different curved leg configuration were used, e.g. a
single wider leg instead of the two curved legs shown, the ridges
30 may be configured differently.
[0046] FIG. 8 also shows the D-ring type of attachment mechanism 24
to which is attached a resistance band 22.
[0047] The elastic strap 20 which extends around the back of the
shoe is also shown.
[0048] The shoe clip 10 and combined strapping material 12 are
configured and connected to the exercise shoe so that the main
pressure point is at or near the ball of a user's foot. Such
configuration provides that the person exercising produces the
maximum force output.
[0049] While particular systems and methods of use have been shown
and illustrated, it is intended in this specification to include
all equivalent systems and equivalent methods which would
reasonably occur to those of skill in the art.
[0050] Under the doctrine of equivalents as described in federal
case law and statutes, it is considered an equivalent usage when a
resistance band is placed on the outside of a shoe to enable
various alternative exercise and stretching routines. Other
equivalent uses include tubing in place of a stretchable resistance
band. Stretching is deemed an equivalent to the term exercise as
used in the specification.
[0051] The invention is further defined by the claims appended
hereto.
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