US20100101973A1

US20100101973A1 - Portable Leg Exercise Device Kit

Info

Publication number: US20100101973A1
Application number: US12/614,393
Authority: US
Inventors: Julee Kim
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-03-20
Filing date: 2009-11-07
Publication date: 2010-04-29
Also published as: KR100967216B1; KR20090100686A

Abstract

A portable leg exercise device kit for use in a limited space. Other embodiments of the portable leg exercise device kit include a case (10) having one or more platform (11) for adjusting leg exercise assembly parts (20), (30), (40) contained inside the case, with interlocking functions (11 a), (21 a), (22 a), (31 aa), (31 ca) for a simple assembly into a stepping exercise and ankle stretching functions. In addition, simple attachable function (20), (41 a) for one or more exercise alteration is also available by assembly (40). Other embodiments include portable leg exercise kit which is fixed (11″), (20″), (30″) to the case wherein assembling effort is saved.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of application Ser. Nr. KR/10-2008-0026005, Filed 2008 Mar. 20, now published: 10-2009-0100686, in Rep. of Korea.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field
This application generally relates to exercise device, specifically to a portable exercise device kit with assembly parts which can be easily assembled to allow leg exercise in a limited space and time.
2. Prior Art
The lifestyles of most sedentary office workers lead to long hours of little movement, especially on the lower body, resulting in health and muscular discomfort, including obesity. Prolonged immobilization or sedentary position may not only generate discomfort, especially on the lower-body, but increasing medical studies are reporting the close connection with health risks such as blood circulatory difficulties, obesity, deep-vein thrombosis, varicose vein, mental state decrease and/or other problems. Such immobile circumstances are especially developed for long distance travels, including air flights, trains, buses, cars . . . etc., which leave the passengers in immobile situation under a limited space for extended hours, accelerating fatigue, swelling of the lower body and discomfort.
Numerous portable exercise devices that provide exercise function while being foldable or having assembly parts, have been introduced for the user to travel with the exercise device to apply the exercise device in different locations and circumstances. The following examples are of typical prior art to this field of endeavor.


	U.S. Pat. No.:

4,225,130	Zimmerman	Sep. 30, 1980
4,262,902	Draselka	Apr. 21, 1981
4,431,185	Cisneros	Feb. 14, 1984
4,856,775	Colledge	Aug. 15, 1989
4,946,162	Lubie	Aug. 07, 1990
5,669,862	Sayman	Sep. 23, 1997
5,697,870	Osborn	Dec. 16, 1997
6,979,282B1	Mangano	Dec. 27, 2005
7,001,315B1	Diodati	Feb. 21, 2006
2007/0087920A1	Dachraoui	Apr. 19, 2007
7,326,154B2	Foley	Feb. 05, 2008

However, most prior art describe devices that require certain space for exercise or a subject to adjust the exercise device to. Moreover, considering that the majority users would use these devices in the office or in a compact space, such as in an airplane, little but efficient movement for the legs is important. Yet most exercises provided by the mentioned prior art devices involve large motion range to exercise. Otherwise, some prior art describe devices that may be carried for travelling but is rather heavy and does not allow leg exercise, which is the most immobile part of the body when working sedentarily or traveling in a compact space.
Health related studies show that exercising the lower body, such as thighs and calves where large amount of muscles are formed, burns more calories while it also prevents deep-vein thrombosis, varicose vein and other blood circulatory troubles, thus is especially recommended for people with extended stationary or sedentary position
Advantages of this application of one or more aspects are to provide a convenient, compact and light leg exercise device without requiring additional space or furniture, and which provide efficient leg movements without distracting the crowd around the user with excessive movements. Other advantages of one or more aspects are to provide variations of leg exercise, such as stepping motion, ankle stretch and thigh contraction, which may be practiced simultaneously while performing other activities such as conventional office work, doing simple works at a table or desk, watching television or video games or being seated in an airplane or long distance bus, without requiring much space other than seated and footing area of the user. This application describe device that is quiet enough to exercise in the office or small space without disturbing others. These and other advantages of one or more aspects will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment a portable leg exercise device kit of box-like case comprising assembly components contained in said case which reconfigures in such a way as to allow leg exercise. Components may also be assembled to be used as thigh exercise equipment.

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.

FIG. 1-2 is a perspective view of the most preferred embodiment of the portable leg exercise device kit.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded side view of the assembled portable leg exercise device kit in FIG. 2, ready for use.

FIG. 4A-4B presents examples of potential operation applications of the exercise device kit in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of altered use of components for thigh muscle exercise by component assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6A-6B present one of many examples of the portable leg exercise device kit in FIG. 2, with components being directly attached to the case, ready for use.


DRAWINGS-REFERENCE NUMERALS

1	portable leg exercise device kit	10	case
10″	ready-to-use portable leg exercise device case
11	pole lock base	11″	pole base
11a	base groove	11aa	cross-shape groove
12	anti-sliding rod	13a	hinge joint tongue for closing
13b	hinge joint tongue for operation	14	hinge joint groove
15	case closing lock	20	elastic support pole
20″	elastic support pole	21	lower pole shell
21a	lower pole flange	21aa	lower pole cross-shape tongue
22	upper pole shell	22a	upper pole flange
22aa	upper pole cross-shape tongue	23	springs
30	slippers	31	slippers footboard
31a	front footboard	31a″	front footboard
31aa	front footboard lock base	31aa″	front footboard lock base
31b	center footboard		31b″	center footboard
31c	heel footboard		31c″	heel footboard
31ca	heel footboard lock base	31ca″	heel footboard lock base
32	acupunctural cushion	32″	acupunctural cushion
33	slippers cover	33″	slippers cover
40	thigh exercise assembly	41	thigh wing
41a	thigh wing lock groove

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Most preferred embodiment of a portable leg exercise device kit (1) is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The device kit is composed of main device kit case (10) which contains leg exercise assembly inside. The leg exercise assembly of the preferred embodiment of said device includes one or more pairs of elastic support poles (20), a pair of slippers (30), and a pair of streamline shaped thigh wings (41) which can be connected with one of the elastic support poles (20).
As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the case (10) is a convenient portable bag form for carrying, and contains the exercise assemblies together inside. Inner surface of the case (10) has one or more projected pole lock base (11) on each side of the case (10) for placing and locking elastic support poles (20). Said projected pole lock base (11) is projected in an angle of similar given angle between user's foot and leg, to provide ease and comfort for the user's ankles when exercising, since the case (10), when fully opened, serves as the base for the leg exercise. Said lock base (11) includes base groove (11 a) and cross-shape groove (11 aa) to connect with elastic support pole (20). On the external part of the case (10) exists one or more anti-sliding rod (12) to prevent the said device kit (1) from sliding or walking around the ground when exercising, due to the force given by the user and resistance provided by the elastic pole (20). The anti-sliding rod (12) can be unfolded to stand against a wall or subject in front, usually a desk or front seat.
As illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, one or more pairs of elastic poles (20) is composed of lower pole shell (21) that include lower pole flange (21 a) with lower pole cross-shape tongue (21 aa), and upper pole shell (22) which include upper pole flange (22 a) with upper pole cross-shape tongue (22 aa), containing springs (23) inside. The slippers (30) contain a slippers footboard (31) with a front footboard (31 a), a center footboard (31 b) and a heel footboard (31 c). The slippers footboard (31) is divided into three parts to allow easier foot and ankle stretch motions. On each front footboard (31 a) and heel footboard (31 c), there is corresponding front footboard lock base (31 aa) and heel footboard lock base (31 ca) which serves as a groove to lock the elastic support pole (20). On the upper surface of the slippers (30), acupunctural cushions (32) are provided to stimulate blood circulation and ease tension of the user's feet. Said acupunctural cushions (32) may be bumpy surfaced cushions filled with air or hard bumpy surfaced rollers. The streamline shaped thigh wings (41) have thigh wing lock groove (41 a) on the convex surface, similar to the base groove (11 a), to connect the two thigh wings (41) with one elastic support pole (20).
The portable leg exercise device kit (1) can be assembled easily by taking the elastic support poles (20) and placing them over each projected pole lock base (11) on one end, and the slippers' front footboard lock base (31 aa) and heel footboard lock base (31 ca) on the other end. When placing the elastic support poles (20) into the projected pole lock base (11), the lower pole cross-shape tongue (21 aa) can be placed over the cross-shape groove (11 aa), as the upper pole cross-shape tongue (22 aa) can be placed over the front footboard lock base (31 aa). The same process is applied for all elastic support poles (20) to each projected pole lock base (11) and all the front footboard lock bases (31 aa) and the heel footboard lock bases (31 ca) of each slipper. When assembling, user can use the longer elastic support pole (20) for the front footboard (31 a), and the shorter elastic support pole (20) for the heel footboard (31 c), since the support pole (20) lengths are different from each pair. The user can then turn the support poles (20) either left or right to fix itself with the case (10) and the slippers (30), by locking the lower pole cross-shape tongue (21 aa) with the base groove (11 a) and the upper pole cross-shape tongue (22 aa) to the front footboard lock base (31 aa). Same logic applies to the rest of the elastic support poles (20) of each end, with projected lock bases (11) and slippers (30).
FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B show examples of exercises which may be practiced with the assembled portable leg exercise device kit (1). Other than stepping exercise which is available by pressing down each leg at a time or simultaneously, user can also stretch the ankles or release tension on the feet and calves by pressing down the front foot and heels by turns as shown in the two illustrations, FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B.
FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the said portable exercise device kit, connecting the elastic support pole (20) with the two thigh wings (41). The support pole locking logic is equal to the pole locking logic described for locking the case (10) and the slippers (30) with elastic support pole (20). The streamline shaped thigh wings (41) have a thigh wing lock groove (41 a) on the convex surface to connect the elastic support pole (20). When both ends of the elastic support pole (20) is fixed with the thigh wings (41), the user can apply alternative thigh exercise by placing the assembled thigh exercise assembly (40) between the user's inner thighs, then straining against the elastic force with the thighs, by pulling the thighs towards each other.
FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate one of many examples of alternative embodiment of the portable leg exercise device with the elastic support pole (20″) directly connected to the case (10) and the slippers (30), which does not require assembling action for the user. The elastic support pole (20″) is directly connected to the pole lock base (11″) and the slippers' front footboard lock base (31 aa″) and heel footboard lock base (31 ca″). This alternative embodiment also has different length of the elastic support pole (20″) between the front and the heel of the slippers (30), therefore to effectively minimize the case (10) size, each slipper's direction is reversely overlaid on top of each other when the case is closed, as shown in FIG. 6A. However, the user can align one side of the case (1) by detaching hinge joint tongues for closing (13 a), away from hinge joint grooves (14) of other side of the case (1), then turning the direction around to align the two slippers in the same direction, and placing hinge joint tongues for operation (13 b) in the hinge joint grooves (14). Case closing lock (15) on the handle part of the case (1) is a hook formed lid type which holds the hinge joint tongue for operation (13 b) when the case (1) is closed for portability.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

Thus the reader will see that, according to one embodiment of the invention, a compact and efficient portable leg exercise device kit is provided, and which could be used in limited space and time. The embodiment also provides variations of lower body exercise, such as aerobic exercise, muscle and joint stretching and inner thigh muscle training, which may be practiced simultaneously while being seated in an airplane passenger seat or performing other activities such as conventional office work, video games or reading, without requiring much movement of the upper body to prevent eyesight fatigue and also the distractions of the crowd around the user. Furthermore, the reader will also see that the embodiment will help playing a role in preventing obesity and promoting public health through promotion of constant movement of the lower body, stimulating blood circulation for long-hours sedentary users. The embodiment will also help prevent the deep vein thrombosis, also known as economy flight syndrome, for long distance flight travelers who are placed in a limited space and in immobility for extensive hours.
While the above description contains much specificity, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any embodiment, but as exemplifications of the presently preferred embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the various embodiments. For example, the portable leg exercise device kit may have various designs, colors, weights, materials, sizes and shapes, such as various shapes or material of the case or slippers; various forms of elastic system for support pole other than spring, such as air-compressed poles or rubber material; various forms of slippers in diverse materials, designs, sizes or it may not even be in a shape of slippers, but in a platform shape to lay users feet over; various forms of anti-sliding method such as toothed gearing with a brake or anti-sliding surface on the outer case; it may also have a different mode or function of operation, such as the use of thigh exercise assembly for arm muscle exercise, calves or inner knee tension depending on where the user locates the assembly, etc.
Thus the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.

Claims

1. A portable leg exercise device kit comprising:

a. a case having means to hold leg exercise assembly parts inside,

b. said portable case having one or more platform for means to attach and connect the exercise assembly parts,

c. said exercise assembly parts including elastic poles with means to connect to said platform of the case on one end while providing elastic resistance for exercise, and footings with means to connect to said elastic poles,

whereby said device kit will allow substantially convenient portability and installation on various places and time, and provide multiple alterations of leg exercises in a limited space.

2. A pair of streamline shaped parts of said exercise assembly parts of claim 1 wherein, the said pair of streamline shaped parts have means to adjust to said elastic support pole on each convex surface, whereby said streamline shaped parts assembled with said elastic pole, provide alternative exercise applications for users' exercise preferences.