Dynamic Aerobic Device for Stretching and Improving the Flexibility of the Feet

Abstract

A dynamic aerobic device for stretching and improving the flexibility of the feet, formed by: a foot stretcher and a removable handle, as well as a strap that can be positioned either on the calf or above the knee so as to allow two different uses. The device includes: a central projection of suitable dimensions corresponding to part of the sole of the foot; a coupling mechanism with an internal screw thread and an external channel; a removable weight on the outsole of the foot stretcher; and a securing elastic half-sock that is wider at the open end than at the closed end, said half-sock including convex faces and rounded edges and corners, having different densities, and being provided with a band on the upper edge of the open end.

Claims

1. Dynamic aerobic device for stretching and improving the flexibility of the feet which, on the basis of the techniques and materials used in industries of instruments for the training of classical dancers, is characterised by dividing the device into two pieces: an upper piece or handle (1) approximately 33 cm long, and a lower piece or foot stretcher (2) approximately 43 cm long in total, in such a way that the device allows the foot stretcher to be fastened to the leg, either above the knee (3) fastened by a strap at the top end, with or without channel, of the handle joined to the foot stretcher (4); or at the height of the mid-calf (5) by a strap mounted on the channel of the joining piece which crowns the handle-less foot stretcher, or directly on the top end of the handle-less foot stretcher (6); and by its bottom end by a fastening elastic half-sock which grips both the foot and the sole of the foot stretcher (7).

2. Dynamic aerobic device for stretching and improving the flexibility of the feet according to claim 1, which is characterised in that it has, in the insole (8) area, just at the exit from the heel cavity, a central projection (9) approximately 7.5 cm long and 5 cm at the base, with a gentle symmetrical descent from a central height of approximately 8 cm until it opens out, starting at the sides in the area where the toes are held (10).

3. Dynamic aerobic device for stretching and improving the flexibility of the feet according to claim 1, which is characterised in that it has a removable weight (11) in the sole of the device (12).

4. Coupling mechanism by internal screw thread with external channel which, for greater utility of claim 1, is characterised in that it allows the handle and foot stretcher to be joined and separated by means of an internal screw thread coupling mechanism with external channel formed of two elements: one which holds the female screw thread (13) in the inside of a cylinder (14) attached to a flat circular base (15) connected to the bottom end of the handle (16); and another cylindrical element (17) which may be longitudinally concave or with a channel (18) wide on the outside, which mounts the male screw thread (19) on an internal cylinder (20) located in the centre of a cylindrical cavity located in the centre of the piece, attached to the top end of the foot stretcher (21).

5. Fastening elastic half-sock especially designed to apply and fasten the foot on the foot stretcher which, manufactured with sanitary silicone for contact with the skin, is characterised in that it has a base (22) delimited by two unequal parallel ends, a longer open side (23) approximately 13 cm on the flat, and another shorter side which defines a closed termination (24), and a height of approximately 20 cm between the two; the upper and lower faces of the fastening elastic half-sock are joined in a termination which, with a height (25) and width (24) adapted to the dimensions of the bottom end of the foot stretcher, has rounded corners and edges (26) and closes the fastening elastic half-sock at its bottom end; the open side has an opening (27) with a perimeter of approximately 27 cm, wherein the top half of this length (28) is flat, or very slightly curved, in a length of approximately 13 cm and the edge of the lower part describes a concave arc (29); the upper face in its natural form (with no pressure) has a convex curve both laterally (30) and longitudinally (31); the lower face has a convex curve both laterally (32) and longitudinally (33).

6. Fastening elastic half-sock especially designed to apply the foot on the foot stretcher, manufactured with sanitary silicone suitable for contact with the skin, according to claim 5, which is characterised in that the upper termination, which is flat or very slightly curved on the open side, has along its whole length a edge band (34) approximately 4 mm thick.

7. Fastening elastic half-sock especially designed to apply the foot on the foot stretcher, manufactured with sanitary silicone for contact with the skin, according to claim 5, which is characterised in that it is manufactured with a scale of different densities of silicone, comprised between 20 and 40 shores.

8. Fastening elastic half-sock especially designed to apply the foot on the foot stretcher, manufactured with sanitary silicone for contact with the skin, according to claim 5, which is characterised in that it allows one fastening sock to be inserted inside another.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0029] To illustrate the proposed solutions, the following figures are provided: drawing of the full device with the handle (1) separate (FIG. 1) and attached to the foot stretcher (2) (FIG. 2), drawing of the strap in its two application positions (FIGS. 3 and 4), drawing of the new projection (9) (FIG. 5), drawing of the weight (11) applied to the foot stretcher (FIG. 6) and on its own (FIG. 7), detailed drawings of the coupling mechanism by an internal screw thread with external channel from the front (FIGS. 8 and 11) and in cross-section (FIGS. 9 and 10); drawing of the flat fastening elastic half-sock seen from above (FIG. 12), drawing of the fastening elastic half-sock from the open side (23) with the closed end (24) furthest away (FIG. 13), drawing of the fastening elastic half-sock seen from below the lower right corner of the open side (23)behind(FIG. 14), drawing of the fastening elastic half-sock seen from below from the lower right corner of the closed end (24)at the front(FIG. 15) and drawing of the fastening elastic half-sock seen in profile from the right side (FIG. 16). It should be noted that these figures are provided for illustrative purpose and, together with the description, are merely to explain the principles of the proposed invention. The intention is not to limit the invention to the form given in these illustrations; consequently, the elements of which it is composed may take other forms not necessarily included in these drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0030] The manufacturing process consists of the following steps: Selection of the woods and materials most appropriate for the function to be carried out by the device.

[0031] The wood is positioned in the pantograph to carve the exact upper shape. Then, piece by piece, it is installed on a lathe to give the rounded finish of the rear part, wherein the metal connecting piece will be inserted later on. Once it has been shaped, the wood is then polished, taking care not to modify in the slightest way the functionally relevant shape.

[0032] The coupling mechanism by an internal screw thread with external channel is made up of three pieces. The starting point is a metal cylinder, wherein a concave channel is dug out of the outside. Equally, a cylindrical cavity is drilled in its centre, and a smaller cylinder with the male screw thread inserted is situated on such centre (FIG. 10). From another side, another piece with a flat circular base is prepared, out of the centre of which a male cylinder containing inside the female screw thread emerges (FIG. 9).

[0033] The wooden pieces are then painted, and a final coat of colourless varnish is applied to provide greater resistance to blows and scratches.

[0034] Once the pieces have been painted, the metal connecting elements are assembled: the flat disc from which the cylinder containing the internal female screw thread emerges is placed at the lower end of the handle, and the concave cylinder with the external male screw thread in the inferior cavity is placed in the upper part of the foot stretcher.

[0035] The weight is formed by adding small metal balls to a flat bag, which has on one of its faces a joining element which is complemented with the other element placed on the opposite side to the pressure part at the lower part (at toe level) of the foot stretcher.

[0036] Once the mould has been manufactured, the fastening elastic half-sock is made by injecting sanitary silicone for direct contact with the skin into the corresponding mould for the desired strength and density. When cool, it is removed from the mould.