Stretch training tool

Abstract

A dynamic body stretching device with an elastic loop stitched to a static loop. The elastic loop forms a hand strap with a threaded on end grip handle. The static loop forms a foot loop. Between the elastic loop and the foot loop are threaded on handgrips held in position by buckle type strap locks. The handgrips have mirrored end ovoid shape allowing gripping and pulling from alternative directions.

Claims

1. A dynamic body stretching apparatus, comprising: a static lower strap forming a lower loop end and middle body, the static lower strap including first and second static lock ends; an upper elastic strap forming an upper end loop, the upper elastic strap including first and second elastic lock ends; the first and second static lock ends lapped over and connected to the first and second elastic lock ends with stitches at a single connection location; and an end grip handle positioned on the upper elastic strap.

2. A dynamic body stretching apparatus, comprising: a static lower strap forming a lower loop end and middle body, the static lower strap including first and second static lock ends; an upper elastic strap forming an upper end loop, the upper elastic strap including first and second elastic lock ends; the first and second static lock ends lapped over and connected to the first and second elastic lock ends with stitches at a single connection location; and at least one ovoid mid handgrip positioned on the static lower strap.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, the at least one ovoid mid handgrip, each handgrip having ends which have a shape that mirror one another in a center to end reduction.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, the at least one ovoid mid handgrip having two mirror shaped ends.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, the at least one ovoid mid handgrip slideably adjustable along the static lower strap.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: at least one static end tension lock positioned on the static lower strap adjacent to the at least one ovoid mid handgrip.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, the at least one ovoid mid handgrip including a first handgrip and a second handgrip, the first and second handgrips having the same shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following drawings, which form a part of the specification and which are to be construed in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals have been employed throughout wherever possible to indicate like parts in the various views:

(2) FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the current body stretching apparatus.

(3) FIG. 2 is a side of the handgrip with dashed lines showing the internal structure.

(4) FIG. 3 is an end view of the handgrip. front view, in a horizontal plane, of the plastic handgrip.

(5) FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a stretched version of the body stretching apparatus.

(6) FIG. 5 is a side view of the body stretching apparatus.

(7) FIG. 6 is a top view of the body stretching apparatus.

(8) FIG. 7 is a side view of an operator using the dynamic body stretching apparatus of the present invention between an arm and leg.

(9) FIG. 8 is a side view of a an operator using the dynamic body stretching apparatus of the present invention between two arms.

(10) FIG. 9 is an exploded view the dynamic body stretching apparatus.

(11) FIG. 10 is an end view of the handgrip showing the longitudinal fold of the parallel mid straps.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(12) Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 10 of the drawings, one may understand various aspects and uses of one embodiment of the present invention's dynamic body stretching apparatus 100 for use by a user 10. For consistency in terminology, the user 10 is described as follows. The user 10 is shown with a torso 11 connected to an upper arm 12 connected by an elbow 14 to a lower arm 16 connected by a wrist 18 to the user's hand 20. Also shown connected to the user's torso 11 is an upper leg 22 connected by a knee 24 to a lower leg 26 connected by an ankle 28 to the user's foot 30.

(13) The dynamic body stretching apparatus 100 includes a loop lower end 102 connected by a middle body 104 to a loop upper end 106. The lower end 102 and middle body are formed using a base of a static lower strap 200 and the upper end 106 is formed using a base of an upper elastic strap 40. The static lower strap 200 is approximately fifty seven to seventy three inches in length before it is folded into a loop and the elastic upper strap 400 has an unstretched elastic length of approximately twenty four inches to thirty two inches in length before it is folded into its loop. This maintains an ideal ratio of approximately twenty five percent unstretched elastic material length to seventy five percent static material length. The static lower strap 200 is folded into a loop and the ends are approximately one and a quarter inches with the upper elastic strap 400 and this overlap is secured with sewing stitches 700. The sewing stitches 700 include at least cross stitches but may be as detailed as a rectangular outline stitch 702 and an inner cross stitch 704. The stitches 700 are preferably formed from an appropriate synthetic material such as nylon thread that can withstand the stresses involved in the use of the device as well as the long term environmental considerations of exposure to seat, temperature changes, humidity variations, sunlight exposure, transportation, storage, and other environmental characteristics associated with indoor and outdoor sports where the user 10 benefits from stretching with the apparatus 100.

(14) The static lower strap 200 is formed using a flat flexible static body 202 preferably formed from a nylon webbing or the like. The static lower strap 200 includes an outer static face 204, an inner static face 208, a first static strap edge 210, and a second static strap edge 212. The static lower strap 200 is folded to form a first static side 220 joined by a flexible static end curve 230 to a second static side 240. The first static side 220 extends from a first static lock end 222 to a first static curve end 224. Similarly, the second static side 240 extends from a second static lock end 242 to a second static curve end 244. In this manner, the first static side 220 and the second static side 240 are equal in length.

(15) A static end tension lock 250 is secured to the first static side 220 and second static side 240 by routing the static sides 220, 240 under a first static cross bar 252, over a second static cross bar 254, and back under a third static cross bar 256. The cross bars 252, 254, 256 are joined by a first side static connecting frame 258 and second side static connecting frame 260 such that they are fixably positioned to frictionally engage the outer static face 204 of the static lower strap 200. The static end tension lock 250 defines the foot loop lower end 102 and the middle body 104.

(16) In the middle, the static lower strap 200 forms parallel mid straps 300 with a first middle strap section 302 and second middle strap section 304. Both middle strap sections 302, 304 are placed with their various faces 204, 208 aligned and then have the a first static strap edge 210, and a second static strap edge 212 folded toward each other to form a longitudinal fold 306 to pass through the strap aperture 650 in the mirror ovoid mid handgrips 600. In this manner, the mirror ovoid mid handgrips 600 are threaded onto the parallel mid straps 300. In the preferred embodiment, four to five handgrips 600 are provided but it should be understood that the number of handgrips is dependent only on the length of the parallel mid straps 300. The five provided handgrips 600 include the first handgrip 661, second handgrip 662, third handgrip 663, fourth handgrip 664, and fifth handgrip 665.

(17) The mirror ovoid mid handgrips 600 are formed with a grip body 602 including a first end 610 with a first flattened face 612 connected by a transition radius 620 to a middle section 630. The middle section 630 is then connected to the second transition radius 644 to connected to the second flattened face 642 on the second end 640. The overall length of each handgrip 600 is approximately three inches and the ends are approximately one inch wide. The middle section 630 includes a central mirror line 632 that defines a mirroring point for the two center to end reductions 634 such that they are mirror images of each other. The width of the handgrip 600 at the mirror line is approximately one and five eighth inches. The center to end reductions 634 includes a reducing ovoid outer surface 636 that is gripped by the user's hand 20 such that these surfaces may be textured if desired. Each end 610, 640 forms the termination point for the strap aperture 650 that passes all the way through the mid handgrips 600. The strap aperture is approximately five eights of an inch in diameter. The mirror ovoid mid handgrips 600 are preferably formed from a hard plastic or can even be formed from foam to give the apparatus 10 buoyancy for use in water.

(18) The mirror ovoid mid handgrips 600 are adjustably locked in place by the static end tension lock 250 and the joint end tension lock 350. Because both the locks 250, 350 can be repositioned and the handgrips 600 are slideably adjustable along the length of the mid parallel straps, the apparatus 100 is extremely adjustable and versatile for many body sizes and stretch positions. The parallel mid straps 300 pass through the joint end tension lock 350 in a similar manner to the static end tension lock 250. The joint end tension lock 350 includes a first joint cross bar 352, second joint cross bar 354, and third joint cross bar 356 joined by a first side joint connecting frame 358 and second side joint connecting frame 360.

(19) The static lock ends 222, 242 of the parallel mid straps 300 are lapped over and connected with stitches 700 to the first elastic lock end 422 and second elastic lock end 442 of the elastic upper strap 400.

(20) The elastic upper strap 400 is formed with a flat elastic body 402 including an outer elastic face 404, an inner elastic face 408, a first elastic strap edge 410, and a second elastic strap edge 412. In this manner, the elastic upper strap 400 is basically constructed as a loop of elastic flat bungee cord. The flat elastic body 402 runs from a first elastic side 420 extending from a first elastic lock end 422 to a first elastic curve end 424 where it transitions to a first flexible elastic end curve 430. The first flexible elastic curve end 430 transitions to a flexible elastic cross section 432 and then to a second flexible elastic end curve 434 to a second elastic curve end 444 of the second elastic side 440 that terminates in the second elastic lock end 442. In this manner, the first elastic side 420 and the second elastic side 440 are equal in length.

(21) The end grip handle 500 defines an inner pass through aperture 504. The flexible elastic cross section 432 passes through the inner pass through aperture 504 in the end grip handle 500. The end grip handle 500 also includes an outer grip surface 502. Both the inner pass through aperture 504 and the outer grip surface 502 extend from the first handle end 506 to the second handle end 508. The end grip handle 500 is preferably made from a foam rubber.

(22) FIG. 7 of the drawings shows the user lying on their back with the torso 11 in a horizontal position for using the stretching apparatus 100 between a hand 20 and foot 30 to stretch the connecting muscles and tissues. The user's foot 30 is placed in the lower loop end 102. The static end tension lock 250 is strategically placed as to provide enough space to put the foot 30 into the lower loop end 102. The joint end tension lock 350 holds the handgrips 600 in place. The user 10 grips the end grip handle 500 on the upper loop end 106 to lift the foot 30 upwards thereby stretching the connecting muscles and tissues.

(23) FIG. 8 of the drawings shows the user standing with the torso 11 in a vertical position for using the stretching apparatus 100 between two hands 20 to stretch the connecting muscles and tissues. The upper hand 20 grips one of the handgrips 600 being held in place by the static end tension lock 250. The joint end tension lock 350 also holds the handgrips 600 in place. The user 10 grips the end grip handle 500 and the two hands 20 apply opposing forces to the end of the device 100 thereby stretching the connecting muscles and tissues either up, down, or they may apply equal forces to do isometric exercises.

(24) Reference numerals used throughout the detailed description and the drawings correspond to the following elements:

(25) TABLE-US-00001 User 10 Torso 11 Upper arm 12 Elbow 14 Lower arm 16 Wrist 18 Hand 20 Upper leg 22 Knee 24 Lower leg 26 Ankle 28 Foot 30 dynamic body stretching apparatus 100 lower loop end 102 middle body 104 upper loop end 106 static lower strap 200 flat flexible static body 202 outer static face 204 inner static face 208 first static strap edge 210 second static strap edge 212 first static side 220 first static lock end 222 first static curve end 224 flexible static end curve 230 second static side 240 second static lock end 242 second static curve end 244 static end tension lock 250 first static cross bar 252 second static cross bar 254 third static cross bar 256 first side static connecting frame 258 second side static connecting frame 260 parallel mid straps 300 first middle strap seciton 302 second middle strap section 304 longitudinal fold 306 joint end tension lock 350 first joint cross bar 352 second joint cross bar 354 third joint cross bar 356 first side joint connecting frame 358 second side joint connecting frame 360 elastic upper strap 400 flat elastic body 402 outer elastic face 404 inner elastic face 408 first elastic strap edge 410 second elastic strap edge 412 first elastic side 420 first elastic lock end 422 first elastic curve end 424 first flexible elastic end curve 430 flexible elastic cross section 432 second flexible elastic end curve 434 second elastic side 440 second elastic lock end 442 second elastic curve end 444 end grip handle 500 outer grip surface 502 inner pass through aperture 504 first handle end 506 second handle end 508 mirror ovoid mid handgrips 600 grip body 602 body shape 603 first end 610 first flattened face 612 transition radius 620 middle section 630 central mirror line 632 center to end reduction 634 reducing ovoid outer surface 636 second end 640 second flattened face 642 second transition radius 644 strap aperture 650 first handgrip 661 second handgrip 662 third handgrip 663 fourth handgrip 664 fifth handgrip 665 sewing stitches 700 rectangular outline stitch 702 inner cross stitch 704

(26) From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention well adapted to obtain all the ends and objects herein set forth, together with other advantages which are inherent to the structure. It will also be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

(27) When interpreting the claims of this application, method claims may be recognized by the explicit use of the word method in the preamble of the claims and the use of the ing tense of the active word. Method claims should not be interpreted to have particular steps in a particular order unless the claim element specifically refers to a previous element, a previous action, or the result of a previous action. Apparatus claims may be recognized by the use of the word apparatus in the preamble of the claim and should not be interpreted to have means plus function language unless the word means is specifically used in the claim element. The words defining, having, or including should be interpreted as open ended claim language that allows additional elements or structures. Finally, where the claims recite a or a first element of the equivalent thereof, such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.