Leg muscle strengthening device
The invention is a leg muscle strengthening device used for warming up, exercising, and strengthening the muscles of the lower limbs particularly after a period of immobilization or in order to carry out particular sporting or artistic activities. The invention comprises a main body including, in use, at least one work portion and at least one portion of abutment on a support, the main body being composed of an elastically deformable material, and the work portion and the abutment portion being yieldingly maintained in a mutually angled arrangement.
The present invention regards a strengthening device of the leg muscles, in particular in the calf and foot areas, particularly recommended for rehabilitating the leg and generally the lower limbs after a period of immobilization or for exercising and greatly strengthening the leg muscles in order to carry out particular sporting or artistic activities, e. g. playing drum pedals, warming up the muscles before a race and the like.
In particular, a strengthening device according to the invention is suitable for developing the recruitment and kinesthetic proprioception (neuromuscular control) of the leg muscles.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTIONAs is known, for exercising and/or rehabilitating arms muscles, in particular the forearm, (spherical) bodies are often used made of elastically deformable material, typically rubber. The user grasps one of such bodies and then repeatedly compresses and releases it, thus placing under stress the muscles of the arm and forearm in addition to those of the hand.
Regarding the rehabilitation of the leg muscles, in particular in the calf area, their rehabilitation is carried out by walking and/or by means of the use of gymnastic equipment, which has complex structure and is therefore costly, with considerable bulk.
In the musical instrument sector and in particular drums sector, a pedal device has already been proposed, like that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,683,240, which comprises two plate-like elements, generally made of plastic material, pivoted together at one end thereof and maintained in mutually angular position by a spring. The user, once the pedal device is arranged with a plate-like element thereof on the ground, can exert a press-release action on the other plate-like element, against the force of the spring.
One such solution is thus little practical, since it does not permit adjusting the initial slope of the upper plate-like element in order to be suitable for the user's needs. Drummers, for example, require control pedals with adjustable slope, otherwise they run the risk of having to assume, for hours, an uncomfortable foot posture that could in the long-term cause them considerable discomfort.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe main object of the present invention is therefore that of providing a device for warming up, exercising and strengthening the muscles of the lower limbs that is adaptable to the needs and characteristics of the user and can be produced at decidedly competitive costs.
Another object of the present invention is that of providing a strengthening and exercising device of the muscles of the lower limbs, in particular for warming up to be carried out by drummers before playing the drums, that is very efficient and easy to maneuver.
According to a first aspect of the present invention a strengthening device of the lower limbs is provided, which comprises a main body including, in use, at least one work portion and at least one portion of abutment on a support, the main body being composed of an elastically deformable material, and the work portion and the abutment portion being yieldingly maintained in a mutually angled arrangement.
According to another aspect of the present invention a method of warming up the lower limb muscles for a drummer is provided, which comprises the steps of:
arranging a drum pedal;
locating a damper device under the drum pedal; and
pressing-releasing the drum pedal.
Further aspects of the present invention will better appear from the following detailed description of specific embodiments of a strengthening device of the leg muscles or lower limbs, description made with reference to the drawing set, in which:
In the drawing set, the same or equivalent parts or components were marked with the same reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSWith reference first to
Typically, the body 1 is made of an elastic material selected from the group consisting of rubber, silicone, polyamide (e. g. Nylon®) and the like.
If desired, the two inserts 5a and 5b are bonded to each other in any suitable manner, e. g. by means of fitted coupling or by means of pins or juts 5c projecting from an insert and being engaged in a respective recess in the other insert. In addition, a layer of anti-slip material 7 is preferably added to the lower abutment surface 7.
With reference then to
In
In
As will appear to a man skilled in the art, the two plate-like elements 47a, 47b as well as the insert 48, could have been obtained by shaping sheets, by means of any suitable process, e. g. by means of water jets, or hot (heating element) wires. In order to achieve one such embodiment, molds are therefore not necessary, equipped with impression especially shaped for making the work portions and abutment portions and the insert(s). It will be noted how the two plate-like elements 47a, 47b could for example be the two halves of a sheet cut by means of a wire or hot heating element.
It will be noted how a strengthening device according to the present invention is very light in weight, at the lightest limit if expanded materials are employed for its manufacture, and can therefore be conveniently carried in a bag or suitcase. It can also be made at very low costs, typically by any one suitable molding process, e. g. injection molding.
According to the present invention a method is also provided according to which a damper device, e. g. made of a material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, rubber, silicone, polyamide and the like, is used in combination with a drum pedal, where it permits the user to employ his pedal that he will use to play, pedal therefore that has already been previously set according an optimal slope for the user. The presence of a damper device under the pedal thus causes the user to overcome by pressing the pedal the resiliently yielding resistance offered by the device, resistance that was previously determined according to user's convenience and comfort, without having to play the drums during the warm-up period of the leg muscles: such as the medial gemellus, lateral gemellus, the soleus muscle, the long peroneal muscle, the short peroneal muscle, the flexor along the hallux, the calcaneal tendon, the tendon of the gracilis plantar muscle, the long flexor of the toes and in general all muscles and tendons that are between the toes of the foot and the gluteus.
The damper device, for example, comprises a tape or strip 46 of a flexible material (see
Advantageously, the damper device comprises a strengthening device according to the present invention.
The strengthening device as described above is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations within the protective scope of the present invention defined by the claims.
Claims
1. A strengthening device of the muscles of the lower limbs, which comprises a main body including, in use, at least one work portion and at least one portion of abutment on a support, and wherein said main body comprises at least one elastically deformable material, and in that said work portion and said abutment portion are yieldingly maintained in a mutually angled arrangement.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said material is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, rubber, silicone, polyamide and the like.
3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said work portion and said abutment portion can be removably coupled with each other.
4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said work portion and said abutment portion are made of two different materials.
5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said work portion and said abutment portion are obtained in a single piece.
6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said work portion and said abutment portion together delimit a receiving seat for at least one insert.
7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said receiving seat comprises a throughout opening extending from one end to the other end of said body, and the tip of said at least one insert, in use, reaches an area close to said other end of said body.
8. A device according to claim 6, wherein said at least one insert is composed of at least one resiliently deformable material.
9. A device according to claim 1, wherein said work portion and said abutment portion are obtained by folding or molding a sheet-form body.
10. A device according to claim 1, wherein said work portion and said abutment portion are obtained by means of injection molding.
11. A drum pedal when equipped with a strengthening device according to claim 1.
12. A method of warming up the lower limb muscles for a drummer, comprising the steps of:
- arranging a drum pedal;
- locating a damper device under the drum pedal; and
- pressing-releasing said drum medal.
13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said damper device is made of a material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, rubber, silicone, polyamide and the like.
14. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said damper device comprises a strengthening device according to claim 1.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 22, 2008
Publication Date: Oct 9, 2008
Inventor: Pinamonte Gianandrea
Application Number: 12/072,042
International Classification: A63B 21/02 (20060101);