Foot Stretching Device

Abstract

A foot stretching device with simultaneous toe spacing and dorsiflexion capabilities, where the toe-spacing elements are continuously adjustable along flexible guiderails to custom fit individual foot geometry, while the method of applying tension between the ankle and the forefoot via inelastic material to enable dorsiflexion also secures the toe spacing elements to the user's foot through a linkage with the ankle cuff of the device. Exchanging the inelastic material for one which is elastic and stretchable allows plantarflexion exercises to be performed with resistance.

Claims

1) A device which stretches the toes laterally and pulls the forefoot into a state of dorsiflexion, comprised of: a) a plurality of inter-toe spacing elements of columnar form, with dual vertical ends which extend both above and below the plane of the forefoot, while a hollow connection slot is integrated with each vertical end of said spacing elements; b) a pair of flexible rail straps, comprised of a piece of webbing with an anchored end and an opposite travelling end, where the travelling end inserts through the connection slots of each inter-toe spacing element to form a single complete loop around the forefoot, and where the resulting dual loops overlap and transpose for superimposed alignment; c) a pair of arc-shaped clasps of parabolic form, where said clasp has both an attachment point for the anchored end of the flexible rail strap and a plurality of insertion points for the travelling end of said flexible rail strap, where said clasps are located at the horizontal extents of the forefoot and frame the inter toe spacing elements and have curvature which conforms to the geometry of the inner and outer forefoot; and, d) a cuff which surrounds the lower leg, and which features a plurality of auxiliary attachment surfaces, where said attachment surfaces connect with the travelling ends of the flexible rail straps to create dual inelastic tensile force linkages between the forefoot and the lower leg, which are of adjustable length, through a cinching action of the rail straps between said attachment surfaces and the travelling end insertion points of the parabolic clasps.

2) The device of claim 1, wherein an elastic and stretchable material element is integrated in series with the flexible rail straps, between the travelling end insertion points of the clasps and the cuff attachment surfaces, which enables the performance of foot plantarflexion exercises with resistance.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a depiction of the present invention, where the hollow connection slot is shown with (1) and is located at the endpoints of the inter toe spacing element (4). The flexible rail strap is shown with (3), which passes through (1) and links with (4). The anchored end of the flexible rail strap (3) is shown with (5) and is attached to the parabolic arc-shaped clasps at the extents of the forefoot, shown with (2). The travelling end of the flexible rail strap (3) is shown with (6) and is shown inserting through (2) after passing through (1). The ankle surrounding cuff is shown with (9), and its attachment surfaces are shown with (7). The inelastic tensile force linkage between the forefoot and lower leg is shown with (10) and is comprised of the linkage of the travelling end of the flexible rail strap (6) and attachment surfaces (7) which are connected to the cuff (9). A possible method for securing the connection between (6) and (7) is shown with (8) and represents hook and loop Velcro.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a front view of a pair of devices.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a depiction of the device when in use.

[0013] FIG. 4 is an isolated and detailed view of the forefoot-encompassing region of the device.

[0014] FIG. 5 is an alternative embodiment to FIG. 1, which includes an integrated elastic and stretchable element (11) and is configured for enabling the performance of plantarflexion movements with resistance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:

[0015] Continuous adjustment to the gaps between the inter-toe spacing elements (4) is enabled by the sliding action of the hollow connection slots (1) along the flexible rail straps (3).

[0016] An opposite orientation of the anchored ends (5) and the attached clasp mechanisms (2) creates a drawstring effect on the flexible rail straps (3), such that after (3) has been looped through the connection slots (1) of the inter toe spacing elements (4), an application of tensile force to the travelling ends (6) causes the single forefoot loops of the flexible rail straps (3) to tighten, thus securing the inter toe spacing elements (4) to the foot of a user.

[0017] Tension applied to the travelling ends (6) of the flexible rail straps (3) is set and maintained with the cuff which surrounds the lower leg (9) and its connected auxiliary attachment surfaces (7), where the connection between the travelling ends (6) of the flexible rail straps (3) and the attachment surfaces (7) on the cuff (9) comprise the inelastic tensile link (10) which creates dorsiflexion in the foot and lower leg. The secure connection between (6) and (7) can be made with Velcro, as shown with (8), while the use of cam buckles and other hardware variants for the attachment mechanism is obvious to one skilled in the art field of the present invention. The elastic and stretchable element (11) can be integrated with the flexible rail strap (3) at a location preceding its travelling end (6) and will provide a resistance mechanism when performing plantarflexion exercises.