U.S. patent number 3,741,540 [Application Number 05/214,558] was granted by the patent office on 1973-06-26 for nether limbs training implement.
Invention is credited to Yasuhiro Shimizu.
United States Patent |
3,741,540 |
Shimizu |
June 26, 1973 |
NETHER LIMBS TRAINING IMPLEMENT
Abstract
A nether limbs training implement having footboards having
formed on its surface a plurality of protuberances, the footboard
being jointed to a base block so that the footboard is swingable
upwards. Springs are disposed between the footboard and base block
to provide a force acting to push up one side of each of the
footboards. One footboard has a spring mounted underneath that
forces a steel ball into grooves on the shaft supporting the
footboards.
Inventors: |
Shimizu; Yasuhiro (Chofu-shi,
Tokyo, JA) |
Family
ID: |
26439305 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/214,558 |
Filed: |
January 3, 1972 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Oct 25, 1971 [JA] |
|
|
46-98102[U] |
Oct 25, 1971 [JA] |
|
|
46-98103[U] |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/80;
482/128 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
23/085 (20130101); A63B 22/0056 (20130101); A63B
21/023 (20130101); A63B 2022/0038 (20130101); A63B
21/05 (20130101); A63B 23/0429 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
22/00 (20060101); A63B 22/16 (20060101); A63b
023/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;272/83R,82,68,67,80
;124/4 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Browne; William R.
Claims
I CLAIM:
1. A nether limbs training implement comprising a base block, a
first footboard provided with a plurality of protuberances on the
surface thereof, a joining metal fitting which pivotally joins said
first footboard to said base block, a spring means disposed between
said base block and said first footboard and positioned to normally
push up one end of said first footboard, a second first footboard
provided in juxtaposition to said first foot-board, said second
footboard having a metal fitting joint, which pivotally joins said
second footboard to said base blocks, spring means disposed between
said base blocks and said second footboard and positioned to
normally push up one end of said second footboard, an elongated
stem-like bar formed with several circumferential grooves which is
journalled in one of said joint fittings of said respective
footboards, a spring housing element positioned on the underside of
one of said footboards, a spring disposed in said spring housing,
and a steel ball fittable in one of said grooves and pressed by
said spring.
Description
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an implement for training or hardening
the nether (lower) limbs of a person.
In general, weakening of the legs of a person is considered a
barometer indicating the decline of his vitality. Training of the
legs, which is essential for preventing decline of physical
strength and for building up physical stamina for all kinds of
sports, can be practiced by walking or running over a long distance
every day, with no need of using any specific equipment. However,
for many persons, it is very difficult to find the opportunity to
take such a long-distance walk or run every day. Rope skipping or
the use of a bicycle pedal-chain type implement is also effective
for hardening the legs. But the former requires a relatively wide
space for use of it, while the latter is expensive.
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a nether
limbs training implement which can be conveniently used in homes
and which is also relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
The other objects and features of the present invention will become
apparent from the following description of some preferred
embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of a nether limbs training
implement embodying the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the implement of FIG. 1, showing
a manner of use of the device;
FIGS. 3 and 4 are persepctive views of the implements of FIG. 1
with different forms of toe holding means;
FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views showing other embodiments of
the present invention, with parts broken away in FIG. 6; and
FIG. 7 is a front view of a compound type nether limbs training
implement according to the present invention.
The nether limbs training implement of the present invention
comprises essentially a flat base block 1, a footboard 2 formed
with a plurality of protuberances 3 on the surface thereof, joining
metal fittings 4 for pivotally securing said footboard 2 to said
base block 1, and spring means 5 adapted to act so as to push up
said footboard 3 relative to said base block.
Base block 1 may be of a flat plate-like configuration as shown in
FIGS. 1 to 5, or may be a frame-like structure as shown in FIG. 6.
On the upper surface of said base block 1 are provided buffer
elements 8 made of rubber or the like adapted to keep footboard 2
from directly hitting against base block 1.
The protuberances 3 on the top surface of footboard 2 are designed
to provide a slip preventative for the sole of the user's foot
placed thereon and to give a stimulus to the foot sole to promote
its blood circulation. It is preferred to raise the protuberances
of the portion corresponding to the plantar arch in the foot sole
as best shown in FIG. 2. These protuberances 3 may be pieces shaped
from relatively soft synthetic resin or other like material
separately from footboard 2, said pieces being bonded to the
surface of footboard 2. It is also possible to form such
protuberances by engraving footboard 2 itself.
Joining fittings 4 may be provided at the end junction between base
block 1 and footboard 2 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 to allow said
footboard 2 to make an up-and-down swining motion like a hinge, or
otherwise they may be provided at the middle portions of both base
block 1 and footboard 2 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 so as to make
said footboard 2 movable up and down in the manner of a seesaw.
Spring means 5 may be suitably selected from coiled compression
springs, coiled torsion springs, leaf springs and volute
springs.
If need be, there may be provided on footboard 2 a suitable toe
holding means such as covering 6 as shown in FIG. 3 or a thong 7 as
shown in FIG. 4.
Now, the operation of the present implement is described. The user
puts his foot on footboard 2 such that the toe portion of his foot
is positioned on the pivoted side of the footboard and the heel
portion on the free end side as shown by chain line in FIG. 2. With
this foot positioning completed, the user makes a stepping motion
by applying his body weight to the toe portion and to the heel
portion alternately, whereby the open end side of footboard 2 will
be brought into a closed condition relative to base block 1 when
the body weight of the user is loaded on said end side, and when
the load is transferred toward the toe portion; that is, when the
user stands on tiptoe, said footboard 2 is swung up about the
pivoted end by the stretching action of spring means 5. In this
manner, said footbard 2 is allowed to make repetitive up and down
motions. These forcible repetitive up and down motions of footboard
2 compel the user's ankle to exercise repetitive bending and
stretching motions. Such repetitive bending and stretching motions
go a long way to harden various nether limb muscles such as
Achilles' tendon, side abdominal muscles, femoral quadriceps,
femoral biceps, etc. Also, such foot motion causes corresponding
movements of the upper half of the body, with such motion
propagating from the backbone to the shoulder and then to the neck
portion, and thus virtually the entire body of the user is caused
to make swinging motion. Further, a plurality of protuberances 3
provided on footboard 2 serve to prevent skidding of the user's
foot sole and also give moderate stimulus thereto to promote blood
circulation.
Described in the above is a nether limbs training implement of a
simple structure designed for use for one foot, but it is also
possible to make a complex structure where the user's both feet are
subjected to training exercise. FIG. 7 shows an example of such
complex structure where an elongated stem-like bar 9 formed with
several circumferential click grooves 10 is journalled in joint
fittings 4, and a steel ball 12 adapted to fit in one of said
grooves is provided so that it is elastically pressed by a spring
11 positioned in a spring housing element 13 provided on the
underside of footboard 2. Now, if footboard 2 is pushed laterally
along the lengthwise direction of said bar 9, steel ball 12 is
forced to ride over the click groove 10, in which it has been
fitted, against the force of spring 11 and falls into the adjoining
click groove. In this manner, the distance between the adjoining
footboards 2,2 can be adjusted in a step-by-step manner according
to the desirable distance of the user's foot.
* * * * *