U.S. patent application number 13/192404 was filed with the patent office on 2012-02-02 for weights for weight lifting shoes and sandals.
Invention is credited to Thomas Jay Zeek.
Application Number | 20120028767 13/192404 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45525952 |
Filed Date | 2012-02-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120028767 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zeek; Thomas Jay |
February 2, 2012 |
Weights for Weight Lifting Shoes and Sandals
Abstract
Weights and weight holding devices with hardware that is
designed to attach to corresponding parts on shoes or sandals. The
hardware works quickly and easily with the net result being that
the user can quickly and easily pick up and put down weights with
their feet, change the amount of weight, and change weights from
foot to foot enabling the user to easily move from one exercise to
another, and there is no need to remove the shoes or sandals when
performing other exercises or walking.
Inventors: |
Zeek; Thomas Jay; (North
Hollywood, CA) |
Family ID: |
45525952 |
Appl. No.: |
13/192404 |
Filed: |
July 27, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61400463 |
Jul 27, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/105 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/0726 20130101;
A63B 21/4023 20151001; A63C 17/02 20130101; A63C 17/262 20130101;
A63B 21/4015 20151001; A63B 21/065 20130101; A63B 2225/09
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/105 |
International
Class: |
A63B 21/065 20060101
A63B021/065 |
Claims
1. a weight having a substantially flat upper surface for receiving
the bottom of a shoe or sandal, said weight further consisting of
hardware that is designed to attach to corresponding parts on the
shoe or sandal, wherein said corresponding parts are designed to
attach to such hardware a. whereby a person can quickly and easily
secure and remove said weight to and from their foot, b. whereby
said person can perform a variety of leg exercises by lifting said
weight and can quickly and easily move from one exercise to
another.
2. the weight of claim 1 further consisting of a means for
attaching additional weight to it.
3. the weight of claim 2 wherein said means is a bar of a standard
diameter to accept ordinary barbell weights available at most
sporting goods stores.
4. the weight of claim 2 wherein said means is detachable.
5. a weight holding device consisting of a. a means for having
weights affixed to it, b. a substantially flat upper surface for
receiving the bottom of a shoe or sandal, c. hardware that is
designed to attach to corresponding parts on said shoe or sandal,
wherein said corresponding parts are designed to attach to such
hardware i. whereby a person can quickly and easily secure and
remove said weight holding device to and from their foot, ii.
whereby said person can perform a variety of leg exercises by
lifting said weights and can quickly and easily move from one
exercise to another.
6. the weight holding device of claim 5 wherein said means is a bar
of a standard diameter to accept ordinary barbell weights available
at most sporting goods stores.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Provisional
Application for Patent No. 61/400,463 for Weight Lifting Sandals
and Their Weights filed on Jul. 27, 2010 by Thomas Jay Zeek.
[0002] This application claims inventions shown in Provisional
Application for Patent No. 61/191,171 filed on Sep. 4, 2008 for
"Weight lifting shoes and their weights" and shown again in Regular
patent application Ser. No. 12/583,854 for "Weight Lifting Shoes"
filed on Aug. 26, 2009 filed by Thomas Jay Zeek.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0003] Not Applicable.
SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM
[0004] Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] This invention pertains to weight lifting, specifically to
weights and weight holding devices that work with a pair of shoes
or sandals that enable the user to easily pick up and put down the
weights with their feet and to change weights quickly to improve
the quality and number of exercises that a person can do with their
legs, and the shoes or sandals do not interfere with the user's
ability to walk or to do other exercises.
[0006] While exercises for the upper body have always been easy to
do and plentiful, exercises for the legs have been fewer and much
more difficult to coordinate. One of the reasons for this
discrepancy is the simple ability of a person to pick up and put
down weights with their hands, while no such ability exists for leg
exercises.
[0007] This problem is normally addressed by the use of large
expensive weight lifting machines. Machines called leg curl and leg
extension machines take up a lot of room in the user's house and
are only good for a couple of exercises. Other weight lifting
machines such as donkey kick machines are more expensive and for
most people require a gym membership.
[0008] Many devices have been invented for attaching weights to the
user's ankles or feet to increase the number of exercises that can
be done. Weighted shoes have been invented which don't hurt the
ankles like ankle weights do but they make changing and removing
weights difficult, and they hamper walking and other exercises
because they remain heavy. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,517,928 to Shanahan;
3,785,646 to Ruskin; and 6,052,924 to Sabat are examples of such
shoes. Methods of adding weights to normal shoes include weights
that tie into shoelaces U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,709 to Walsh and a sort
of sock that fits over the shoe U.S. Pat. No. 5,728,032 to Glass.
In both of those inventions changing weights is time consuming and
difficult. All of these inventions are hampered by the limited
amount of weight they can employ.
[0009] Closer to the mark have been devices that attach to shoes
and which in turn receive various amounts of weight. U.S. Pat. Nos.
2,114,790 to Venables; 2,849,237 to Simithis; 3,343,836 to James;
and 6,196,950 to Emick are all examples of such devices. All of
these devices are excellent while the user is actually doing the
exercise. They all accommodate heavy weight and in one case the
ease of changing weights rivals my own invention, but all have the
same drawbacks, namely that they interfere with walking and doing
other exercises.
[0010] U.S. Pat. Noa. 2,114,790 and 3,343,836 mentioned above both
use a very thick sole plate through which a dumbbell passes to add
weight. The thickness of the sole plates makes walking awkward and
makes other exercises awkward and dangerous as the user could
easily "fall off their heels." They would have to be removed when
the user is switching between upper body and lower body exercises.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,849,237 uses a thick sole plate as the actual
weight and carries with it the same problems as above. U.S. Pat.
No. 6,196,950 uses a thin sole plate but changing weights requires
the user to fumble with individual weight plates instead of trading
out the entire weight or weight holding device. The sole plate is
very rigid and flat and not at all conducive to walking.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,927 to Catanzano describes a similar
device in which the sole plate is made up of a plurality of weights
which can be thin but it is rigid and still awkward and is limited
in the amount of weight it can incorporate. U.S. Pat. No. 2,214,052
to Good refers to an exercising boot "preferably made by casting
suitable metal in a shaping form or mold." It is intended to be
worn in place of shoes and not over shoes and therefore will be
difficult to fit properly. Its rigid design again makes walking and
other exercises difficult and dangerous.
[0012] The only invention heretofore that is suitable for heavy
weights, allows quick and easy changing of weights, and considers
the user's ability to walk and to perform other exercises as well
as the user's safety is U.S. Pat. No. 757,983 to Vaile, which
discloses a shoe of substantially normal fit and construction with
some parts added to accommodate the addition and quick removal of
weights, even heavy weights, although not as heavy as the weights
in the system claimed herein. The mostly normal construction of
Vaile's shoe provides comfort, safety, and convenience because it
can be worn throughout the user's workout and walking and
performing other exercises is still possible, and it provides a
solid dependable base for a person who is standing on one foot
while exercising with the other foot.
[0013] Vaile's shoe however still carries with it some drawbacks
that need to be addressed.
[0014] The first drawback of Vaile's invention is that the
structural support for the parts that attach to weights comes in
the form of a steel toe section in the front of the shoe. This
steel toe completely eliminates all flexibility in the shoe from
the ball of the foot forward, which interferes with the ability of
the user to bend his or her toes back as would be necessary to for
instance run on a treadmill or perform any other exercise that
involves standing on the toes of either foot.
[0015] A worse drawback of Vaile's steel toe design is that it
prevents the user from pushing their toes down, which may be
necessary to keep from falling over forward when the user is
lifting heavy weights with their upper body, or doing squats with a
barbell on their shoulders.
[0016] Vaile's design also has the drawback of having the weight
over the toes of the user's foot. This weight forward design forces
the user to exercise their ankle and lower leg muscles and upper
leg muscles at the same time. During lateral leg raises for
instance the weight will put a twisting force on the user's ankle.
Being forced to exercise too many muscles at the same time reduces
the effectiveness on the target muscles because the user will get
tired before the target muscles have been fully worked.
[0017] Consequently there remains a need for, and it is the object
of the current invention to provide a means for a person to quickly
and easily pick up and put down heavy weights with their feet that
is supremely safe, that does not hurt, does not hamper walking or
other exercises, and that allows the user to switch back and forth
unimpeded between upper and lower body exercises.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The current invention is weights and weight holding devices
having a basically flat upper surface for receiving the bottom of
shoes or sandals and having hardware added to them for attaching to
corresponding hardware on the shoes or sandals.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 shows a cast iron weight 12 with hardware to attach
to shoes or sandals, and threaded holes 18 and weight bars 20 to
accept additional weight.
[0020] FIG. 2 shows the cast iron weight 12 of FIG. 1 with weight
bars 20 attached and ordinary barbell weights 68 added.
[0021] FIG. 3 shows the cast iron weight 12 of FIG. 1 with two more
cast iron weights 24 & 26 that can be added to it.
[0022] FIG. 4 shows the cast iron weights of FIG. 3 held together
with the weight bars 20.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a weight holding device 34a with hardware to
attach to shoes or sandals.
[0024] FIG. 6 shows the weight holding device 34a of FIG. 5 with
ordinary barbell weights added.
[0025] FIG. 7 is a top view of a weight holding device 34b that has
locking pliers type clamps 36 to attach shoes or sandals.
[0026] FIG. 8 is a side view of the weight holding device 34b with
the clamps 36 open.
[0027] FIG. 9 is a side view of the weight holding device 34b with
the clamps 36 closed.
[0028] FIG. 10 shows a cross sectional view of the threaded rod 44
and plunger 42 of the locking clamp 36 and the hole 48 that the
smooth post 50 goes into.
[0029] FIGS. 11A-B are a perspective view and end view of a weight
holding device 34c with hardware to attach to pegs 59 shown in FIG.
12.
[0030] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a shoe 60c which has pegs
59 for use with the weight holding device 34c shown in FIGS.
11A-B.
[0031] FIGS. 13A-B are a perspective and top view of a tab assembly
90 that can be embedded in the sole of a shoe or sandal so that the
shoe or sandal will work with the weights of this invention.
[0032] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a short sandal 61 for use
with weights and weight holding devices of this invention.
[0033] FIGS. 15A-B are a front & perspective view of a shoe 60a
for use with weights and weight holding devices of this
invention.
[0034] FIGS. 16A-B show weight holding devices of this invention
correctly attached to sandals 62 which are strapped to a user's
shod foot.
[0035] FIG. 17 shows a weight holding device of this invention
correctly attached to a shoe 60a which is being worn by the
user.
[0036] FIGS. 18A-C show a person doing various exercises with
weight holding devices of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0037] A preferred embodiment of this invention is shown in FIGS.
1-4.
[0038] The weight 12 is a 101b. piece of cast iron and it has
threaded posts 14 with wing nuts 16 to attach it to corresponding
hardware on a shoe or sandal, and it has a flat upper surface for
accepting the bottom of the shoe or sandal. It can also be made of
plastic filled with concrete or any other suitable material.
Weights of this kind can be anywhere from 2 to 100 lbs or more.
[0039] The threaded posts 14 are designed to be accepted by slots
94 in tabs 96R & 96L that protrude from the sides of weight
lifting shoes or weight lifting sandals such as those shown in
FIGS. 14 and 15A-B. The wing nuts 16 should then be twisted down
into concavities 92 in those tabs so that the shoe or sandal and
hence the user's foot will be secured to the weight. FIGS. 16A-B,
FIG. 17, and FIGS. 18A-C show weight lifting sandals and shoes
correctly attached to a weight holding device 34a that uses the
same threaded posts 14 and wing nuts 16 as the weight 12 in FIGS.
1-4.
[0040] With the weights attached to the weight lifting shoes or
weight lifting sandals the user is able to do several different
weight lifting exercises including donkey kicks, leg curls, leg
extensions, lateral leg raises and several others. FIGS. 18A-C show
some of the exercises that can be done with these weights.
[0041] After performing the desired number of repetitions of a
given exercise the user can quickly and easily remove the weight by
loosening the wing nuts 16 and sliding their foot back off of the
flat upper surface. The user can then attach the weight to their
other foot or attach a different weight to the same foot and
continue exercising, or they can leave the weights off and do some
upper body exercises with no weights attached to their feet. The
shoes and sandals that work with these weights will not interfere
in any way with pushups, sit ups, or almost any other exercise. The
wing nuts 16 never need to be removed from the threaded posts 14,
only loosened enough to provide clearance out of the concavities
92.
[0042] The distance between the threaded posts 14 can vary
according to the size of the shoe 60a or sandal 61 or 62 that is
being used since the shoe or sandal needs to fit between the
threaded posts 14, but the distance between the posts 14 should be
limited to only a few sizes to match a few sizes of tab assembly 90
so that retailers don't have to stock different weights for every
shoe size and weights can be shared by different members of a
household and kept when the user's shoe size changes. The weights
and weight holding devices of this invention can also be made in a
way that allows for adjustment of the distance between the threaded
posts.
[0043] The weight 12 has threaded holes 18 in the ends to accept
the threaded ends 22 of the weight bars 20 if the user wants to add
more weight. The weight bars 20 are of a standard diameter to
accept ordinary barbell weights available at most sporting goods
stores. The weight 12 can be used with or without the weight bars
20 in place. Of course weights can be made without the threaded
holes.
[0044] FIG. 2 shows the weight 12 with the weight bars 20 screwed
into the threaded holes 18 and ordinary barbell weights 68 added to
the weight bars. The barbell weights 68 are held in place by weight
collars 70 that are available at most sporting goods stores.
[0045] It should be noted that the barbell weights 68 in this setup
also serve the function of wheels which make it easier for the user
to move to & from a chair when the weight 12 is attached.
Additionally some lightweight wheels could be permanently affixed
to the weight or could be sold with the weight to facilitate moving
around when the user doesn't want to add ordinary barbell
weights.
[0046] FIG. 3 shows the weight 12 with two boat shaped weights 24
and 26 that can be added and held in place by the weight bars 20.
The boat shaped weights 24 and 26 have smooth holes 28 on each end
for the weight bars 20.
[0047] FIG. 4 shows the weight 12 inside of the medium boat shaped
weight 24 inside of the large boat shaped weight 26 all held
together by the weight bars 20. Adding weights this way leaves more
room on the weight bars 20 for ordinary barbell weights. There are
many other ways that weight can be added to the basic weight 12 too
numerous to detail.
[0048] A second embodiment of this invention is the weight holding
device 34a shown in FIG. 5. The weight holding device 34a is not
necessarily a weight in its own right but it can be made as heavy
as one desires.
[0049] It consists of a 1'' diameter bar 32 that is fitted with a
platform 30 and two threaded posts 14 and two wing nuts 16. The
approximate dimensions of the platform 30 are 7'' in width, 2.5''
front to back, and about 0.25'' in thickness, although the
thickness is only for strength and can vary according to the
material it is made of. The distance between the threaded posts 14
can vary according to the size of the shoe 60a or sandal 61 or 62
that is being used since the shoe or sandal needs to fit between
the threaded posts 14, but the platform 30 and the distance between
the posts 14 should be limited to a few sizes for the same reasons
mentioned in paragraph above. The platform 30 also acts as a weight
collar and prevents the weights 68 from moving any closer to the
user's shoe or sandal and maintains space for the user's fingers to
operate the wing nuts 16. The bar 32 is of a standard diameter for
accepting normal barbell weights that are available at most
sporting goods stores.
[0050] FIG. 6 shows the weight holding device of FIG. 5 with normal
barbell weights 68 added to the bar 32. The weights 68 are held
onto the bar 32 with ordinary weight clamps 70 which are also
available at most sporting goods stores. The user of this invention
would ideally have several weights or several of these weight
holding devices 34a with a different amount of weight on each to
completely obviate the need for fumbling with the barbell weights
68, but the invention is still very valuable for picking up and
putting down the weight even if the user only has one.
[0051] FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 show a top view and side views of a weight
holding device 34b that replaces the threaded posts 14 and wing
nuts 16 with smooth posts 50 and locking clamps 36. FIG. 7 is shown
without the locking nuts 46.
[0052] The locking clamps 36 work in the same way as Visegrip.RTM.
locking pliers and use most of the same components. With the
locking clamps open as is shown in FIG. 8, the shoe 60a or sandal
61 or 62 is slid onto the platform 30 so that the notches 94 in the
tabs 96L & 96R accept the smooth posts 50. With the concavities
92 mostly encircling the smooth posts 50 and directly under the
plungers 42, the user locks the locking clamps 36 down onto the
tabs 96L & 96R by pushing down on the thumb levers 40 which
causes the plungers 42 to go down into the concavities 92. FIG. 9
shows the locking clamp 36 in the position for holding down on a
tab 96L. When the user wants to release the clamps they can simply
pull up on the thumb levers 40.
[0053] The locking clamps 36 can be adjusted by means of the
threaded rods 44. With the locking clamps 36 open as in FIG. 8 the
user can slide the shoe or sandal into position and depress the
thumb levers 40. If the user determines that a clamp is too tight
or too loose they can release the clamp and then twist the threaded
rod 44 and close the clamp again. When the desired tightness is
achieved the user should tighten the locking nut 46 which will hold
the threaded rod 44 in place. Clamps of this type are available
from Good Hand Inc., 7141 Paramount Blvd., Pico Rivera, Ca.
90660.
[0054] FIG. 10 shows a cross sectional view of the threaded rod 44
and plunger 42 from the locking clamp 36. This view shows the hole
48 which accepts the smooth post 50 when the plunger 42 goes down
into the concavity 92. The smooth post 50 prevents the plunger 42
from moving on a horizontal plane and makes sure the plunger 42
goes in exactly the right place.
[0055] The hole 48 has to be deep enough to keep the smooth post 50
from hitting the top of the hole 48 because that would prevent the
plunger 42 from fully descending into the concavity 92. There
should always be some air space above the smooth post 50 when the
locking clamp 36 is closed.
[0056] FIGS. 11A and B show a perspective view and an end view of a
weight holding device 34c which is designed for use with the shoe
60c shown in FIG. 12. The user wearing the shoe 60c engages the
weight holding device 34c by stepping down on it so that the pegs
59 are forced through the latches 54. The latches 54 have a spring
and close automatically to hold the pegs 59 in place. The spacers
58 contact the sides of the latch mechanisms 52L & 52R to
prevent any lateral movement by the shoe 60c. The distance filled
by the spacers 58 should remain constant over several shoe sizes
for the reasons discussed in paragraph above. When the user of this
embodiment of the invention wants to release the shoe 60c from the
latch mechanisms they only have to depress the latch levers 56L
& 56R and the latches 54 will move out of the way.
[0057] FIGS. 13A & 13B show a perspective & a top view of a
tab assembly 90 that can be installed in the sole of a shoe or can
be an integral part of the sole of a sandal so the shoe or sandal
can be attached to the weights & weight holding devices of this
invention.
[0058] A similar assembly that has pegs 59 instead of tabs 96L
& 96R is used to make the shoe 60c in FIG. 12 and can also be
used to make sandals with pegs.
[0059] FIG. 14 shows a weight lifting sandal 61 which has the tab
assembly 90 integrally installed in its sole. The sandal has an
adjustable heel yoke 150 and straps 154,156, and 158 so that it can
be strapped to the user's normally shod foot. FIGS. 16A & B and
FIGS. 18B & C show a similar sandal 62 correctly strapped to
the user's shod foot and the weight holding devices of this
invention correctly attached to the sandals.
[0060] FIGS. 15A & B show a front and perspective view of a
shoe 60a that has a tab assembly 90 installed in its sole. The shoe
60a has a strap 82 to make it fit the user's foot and a shoe lace
84 so that the tightness around the top edge of the shoe can be
adjusted independently of the tightness of the rest of the shoe.
FIGS. 17 and 18A show the shoe on a user's foot and the weight
holding device of this invention correctly attached to the
shoe.
[0061] FIGS. 16A & B and FIG. 17 show weight holding devices of
this invention correctly attached to footwear that is designed to
work with them.
[0062] FIGS. 18A-C show a person doing various exercises with the
weight holding devices of this invention.
[0063] Accordingly the reader will see that the weights and weight
holding devices and the various hardware of this invention will
provide a method of lower body exercises that is effective, safe,
easy to operate, low cost, and can be used and kept easily in a
small room or apartment.
[0064] Although the description above contains many specificities,
exact descriptions of the hardware used to attach the weights and
weight holding devices to the shoes or sandals may be innumerable,
including hardware on the weights that attaches to hardware that is
recessed into the sides or the bottom of a shoe's sole. Examples
shown should not be construed as limiting the scope of this
invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the
presently preferred embodiments of this invention.
TABLE-US-00001 REFERENCE NUMERALS USED IN DRAWINGS 12 weight 14
threaded post 16 wing nut 18 threaded hole 20 short weight bar 22
threaded end 24 medium boat shaped weight 26 large boat shaped
weight 28 smooth hole 30 platform 32 bar 34a weight holding device
with wing nuts 34b weight holding device with locking clamps 34c
weight holding device with latch mechanism 36 locking clamp 40
thumb lever 42 plunger 44 threaded rod 46 locking nut 48 hole 50
smooth post 52L left latch mechanism 52R right latch mechanism 54
latch 56L left latch lever 56R right latch lever 58 spacer 59 peg
60a shoe with tabs 60c shoe with pegs 61 short sandal 62 full
footprint sandal 67 thin rubber laminate 68 barbell weight 70
weight clamp 82 shoe strap 84 shoelace 90 tab assembly 92 concavity
94 slot 96L left tab 96R right tab 150 heel yoke 154 long strap 156
medium strap 158 toe strap 170 buckle 172 non-slip surface
* * * * *