Calf Exerciser
The present invention is dedicated to a calf exerciser including a foot unit having foot-palm and heel support surfaces. The foot unit provides efficient resistance training of calf muscles by permitting both eversion or inversion movements of the foot-palm in synchronization with the plantar flexion dorsiflexion muscular contraction. This is achieved by inclining the foot-palm support surface either towards the exterior or the interior sides of the foot unit, by anteo-posteriolly curving the heel support surface from the foot-palm surface to the bottom of the foot unit and by including a gradual inclination of the heel support surface towards the exterior or the interior sides of the foot unit, thus forming a variable angulation foot sole gradient area. This variable angulation foot sole gradient area accentuates the eversion and inversion movements at the foot-palm and reduces the biomechanical stress by eliminating coronal rotation at the heel.
Latest Patents:
- Instrument for endoscopic applications
- DRAM circuitry and method of forming DRAM circuitry
- Method for forming a semiconductor structure having second isolation structures located between adjacent active areas
- Semiconductor memory structure and the method for forming the same
- Electrical appliance arrangement having an electrical appliance which can be fastened to a support element, in particular a wall
The present invention relates to a calf exerciser.
BACKGROUNDThe world of physical training has greatly evolved over the years, which has seen significant improvements in training equipment and apparatus due to technological innovations as well as a better understanding of the human body. Regardless of this evolution, there are still some cases where the technological development has not followed the course of the evolution in knowledge or new physical training tendencies, and especially in the case of leg resistance training.
A common complaint from athletes is that of a saturation effect in the muscular development of their calves. For a number of athletes, the muscular development efficiency curve quickly saturates and tends to even decline after a few training sessions based upon conventional training methods. As the calves represent a very important muscular system for many sporting disciplines, and that there are no apparatus or method that significantly improves the efficiency of conventional training methods, there is a reel need to provide such an apparatus.
Conventional calves resistance training techniques may provide good resistance training in conformance with natural movements if they are properly executed using appropriate equipment. The efficiency of those movements is regretfully limited because the training is geared mainly to the overall muscular system. The muscular contraction of a single specific muscle is very difficult to achieve with those types equipment. As may be seen in
Accordingly, there is provided, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a calf exerciser including a foot unit having foot-palm and heel support surfaces. The foot unit provides efficient resistance training of calf muscles by permitting both eversion or inversion movements of the foot-palm in synchronization with the plantar flexion dorsiflexion muscular contraction. This is achieved by inclining the foot-palm support surface either towards the exterior or the interior sides of the foot unit, by anteo-posteriolly curving the heel support surface from the foot-palm surface to the bottom of the foot unit and by including a gradual inclination of the heel support surface towards the exterior or the interior sides of the foot unit, thus forming a variable angulation foot sole gradient area. This variable angulation foot sole gradient area accentuates the eversion and inversion movements at the anterior part of the foot (foot-palm) and reduces the biomechanical stress by eliminating coronal rotation at the posterior part of the foot (heel).
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a calf exerciser comprising:
at least one foot unit, each of the at least one foot unit comprising:
a heel section comprising:
a first heel support surface having an anterior, a posterior, a left and a right edges, the first heel support surface anterior edge forming a first downward left incline from the right edge to the left edge, the first heel support surface posterior edge forming a second downward left incline from the right edge to the left edge and the first heel support surface forming an anteo-posterior curve;
a second heel support surface having an anterior, a posterior, a right and a left edges, the second heel support surface anterior edge forming a first downward right incline from the left edge to the right edge, the second heel support surface posterior edge forming a second downward right incline from the left edge to the right edge and the second heel support surface forming an anteo-posterior curve;
wherein the first heel support surface right edge and the second heel support surface left edge are adjacent;
a foot-palm section comprising:
a first foot-palm support surface having an anterior, a posterior, a left and a right edges, the foot-palm support surface forming a downward left incline from the right edge to the left edge;
a second foot-palm support surface having an anterior, a posterior, a right and a left edges, the foot-palm support surface forming a downward right incline from the left edge to the right edge;
wherein the first foot-palm support surface right edge and the second foot-palm support surface left edge are adjacent;
wherein the first heel support surface anterior edge and the first foot-palm support surface posterior edge are adjacent;
wherein the second heel support surface anterior edge and the second foot-palm support surface posterior edge are adjacent.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a calf exerciser wherein the foot-palm section comprises a single foot-palm support surface having an anterior, a posterior, a left, and a right edges and a pivot having an axis of rotation oriented from the posterior edge to the anterior edge such that the foot-palm support surface may be selectively inclined either towards the left edge or the right edge.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a calf exerciser wherein the support unit includes at least one guide and each of the at least one foot unit further comprises a slider element moveably engageable to the at least one guide and wherein each of the at least one foot unit further comprises a locking element which is operable with the support unit for stopping the foot unit from moving.
In accordance with a further still aspect of the present invention, a calf exerciser foot unit, comprising:
a heel support surface having an anterior, a posterior, a first side and a second side edges, the first and second side edges being generally in alignment with an anteo-posterior axis, the heel support surface anterior edge forming a first downward incline from the first side edge to the second side edge, the heel support surface posterior edge forming a second downward incline from the first side edge to the second side edge and the heel support surface forming an anteo-posterior curve;
a foot-palm support surface having an anterior, a posterior, a first side and a second side edges, the first and second side edges being generally in alignment with the anteo-posterior axis, the foot-palm support surface forming a downward incline from the first side edge to the second side edge;
wherein the heel support surface anterior edge and the foot-palm support surface posterior edge are adjacent.
In accordance with a further still aspect of the present invention, there is provided a calf exerciser foot unit with heel support surface anterior and posterior downward inclines at angles between 4 and 15 degrees.
In accordance with a further still aspect of the present invention; there is provided a calf exerciser foot unit with foot-palm support surface downward incline at angles between 4 and 15 degrees.
In accordance with a further still aspect of the present invention, there is provided a calf exerciser foot unit with a foot-palm support surface posteo-anterior downward incline at an angle between 0 and 15 degrees.
Embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to
For the sake of clarity the right foot unit is described and as such is generally positioned at the right of the support unit (200). However, it is to be understood that the left foot unit is similar to the right foot unit but that it is generally positioned at the left of the support unit (200) and that the lateral and medial references are interchanged. Furthermore, it is also to be understood that the right side and the left side of the foot unit (100) are in reference to a view from its heel portion to its foot palm portion. Thus, when describing the right foot unit the lateral (external) side corresponds to the right side of the foot unit (100) and the medial (internal) side corresponds to the left side of the foot unit (100). Similarly, if the left foot unit was to be described, the medial (internal) side would correspond to the right side of the foot unit (100) and the lateral (external) side would correspond to the left side of the foot unit (100).
Referring now to
Referring to
In order to induce either an lateral or an medial incline to the foot-palm support block (140), the main module (110) further comprises a center pivot spine (116), as best shown in
Optionally, a pair of laterally spaced, opposed medial (146) and lateral (148) walls and an anterior (149) wall, as best shown in
All of the calves muscle training movements involve hyperdorsiflexion that bends the sole of the foot (4) in a concave manner. The dorsiflexion curvature of the heel incline surfaces (112, 114) renders this position comfortable by eliminating the pressure line under the foot (4). This characteristic eliminates the blood blockage sensation usually experienced with conventional foot-rests (2), such as, for example, the one illustrated in
Referring to
For practical purposes, the height h may be expressed in terms of length L as:
h=F×L, where 0.25≦F≦2. Equation 2
In the particular embodiment shown, the length L is set to 110 mm and the proportionality factor F is set to 1.25. As it may be understood, the expression of the posteo-anterior curvature (111) is not limited to the mathematical function of Equation 1 and may be expressed as, for example, other curvilinear mathematical functions. It may also be understood that different values of length L and proportionality factor F may be selected.
The remaining parameters β and δ may be both set, in the particular embodiment, at 8 degrees. In alternative embodiments, β and δ may be set from 4 to 15 degrees. In a further alternative embodiment, the foot unit (100) may be designed such that β and δ are user (6) adjustable.
As may be seen in
Referring back to
The support unit (200), such as in the particular embodiment illustrated in
On the base (202), between two end plates (212, 214) are disposed, in a generally parallel configuration, a set of guides (216, 218) and a rail (220), the rail (220) having a number of slots (222) therein. As may be seen in
Also, located in the recess (126) is a locking block (160) which is positioned so as to be generally above the rail (220) when the slider blocks (152, 156) are engaged with the guides (216, 218). The locking block (160) comprises a locking mechanism (162) having a handle (164) operatively connected with a pin (166) which is biased outwardly from the locking mechanism (162). The handle (164) and the pin (166) are operatively connected such that pulling the handle (164) as for effect the retraction of the pin (166) into the locking mechanism (162). When the slider blocks (152, 156) are engaged with the guides (216, 218), the locking block (160) is positioned above the rail (220) in such a manner that the pin (166) of the locking mechanism (162) is in alignment with and engages a slot (222). The foot unit (100) is thus locked in place when the pin (166) is engaged with a slot (222) and may be moved by pulling on the handle (164), thus retracting the pin (166) into the locking mechanism (162), so that the foot unit (100) is free to move along the guides (216, 218). To lock the foot unit (100) in place once more, the handle (164) is released so as to allow the pin (166) to engage a slot (222) at the desired position along the rail (220).
In use, the particular embodiment of the calf exerciser (10) may be used in a free weight configuration, as shown in
Although the present invention has been described by way of particular embodiments and examples thereof, it should be noted that it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that modifications may be applied to the present particular embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A calf exerciser comprising:
- at least one foot unit, each of said at least one foot unit comprising: a heel section comprising: a first heel support surface having an anterior, a posterior, a left and a right edges, said first heel support surface anterior edge forming a first downward left incline from said right edge to said left edge, said heel support surface posterior edge forming a second downward left incline from said right edge to said left edge and said first heel support surface forming an anteo-posterior curve; a second heel support surface having an anterior, a posterior, a right and a left edges, said first heel support surface anterior edge forming a first downward right incline from said left edge to said right edge, said heel support surface posterior edge forming a second downward right incline from said left edge to said right edge and said second heel support surface forming an anteo-posterior curve; wherein said first heel support surface right edge and said second heel support surface left edge are adjacent; a foot-palm section comprising: a first foot-palm support surface having an anterior, a posterior, a left and a right edges, said foot-palm support surface forming a downward left incline from said right edge to said left edge; a second foot-palm support surface having an anterior, a posterior, a right and a left edges, said foot-palm support surface forming a downward right incline from said left edge to said right edge; wherein said first foot-palm support surface right edge and said second foot-palm support surface left edge are adjacent; wherein said first heel support surface anterior edge and said first foot-palm support surface posterior edge are adjacent; wherein said second heel support surface anterior edge and said second foot-palm support surface posterior edge are adjacent.
2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a support unit for supporting said at least one foot unit.
3. The apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said support unit includes at least one guide and each of said at least one foot unit further comprises a slider element moveably engageable to said at least one guide.
4. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said at least one foot unit further comprises a locking element which is operable with said support unit for stopping said foot unit from moving.
5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said foot-palm section comprises a single foot-palm support surface having an anterior, a posterior, a left, and right edges and a pivot having an axis of rotation oriented from said posterior edge to said anterior edge such that said foot-palm support surface may be selectively inclined either towards said left edge or said right edge.
6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first foot-palm support surface further forming a posteo-anterior downward incline at an angle between 0 and 15 degrees.
7. The apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said first foot-palm support surface posteo-anterior downward incline is at an angle of 10 degrees.
8. The apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said first foot-palm support surface posteo-anterior downward incline angle is adjustable.
9. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said second foot-palm support surface further forming a posteo-anterior downward incline at an angle between 0 and 15 degrees.
10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said second foot-palm support surface posteo-anterior downward incline is at an angle of 10 degrees.
11. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said second foot-palm support surface posteo-anterior downward incline angle is adjustable.
12. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first foot-palm support surface downward left incline is at an angle between 4 and 15 degrees.
13. The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said first foot-palm support surface downward left incline is at an angle of 8 degrees.
14. The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said first foot-palm support surface downward left incline an is adjustable.
15. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said second foot-palm support surface downward right incline is at an angle between 4 and 15 degrees.
16. The apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said second foot-palm support surface downward right incline is at an angle of 8 degrees.
17. The apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said second foot-palm support surface downward right incline angle is adjustable.
18. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first heel support surface first downward left incline is at an angle between 4 and 15 degrees.
19. The apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein said first heel support surface first downward left incline is at an angle of 8 degrees.
20. The apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein said first heel support surface first downward left incline angle is adjustable.
21. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first heel support surface second downward left incline is at an angle between 4 and 15 degrees.
22. The apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said first heel support surface second downward left incline is at an angle of 8 degrees.
23. The apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said first heel support surface second downward left incline angle is adjustable.
24. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said second heel support surface first downward right incline is at an angle between 4 and 15 degrees.
25. The apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein said second heel support surface first downward right incline is at an angle of 8 degrees.
26. The apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein said second heel support surface first downward right incline angle is adjustable.
27. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said second heel support surface second downward right incline is at an angle between 4 and 15 degrees.
28. The apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein said second heel support surface second downward right incline is at an angle of 8 degrees.
29. The apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein said second heel support surface second downward right incline angle is adjustable.
30. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said foot-palm section further comprises a left, a right and an anterior walls.
31. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said foot-palm section further comprise a harness to help maintain a foot of a user in position.
32. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first heel support surface anteo-posterior curve is ellipsoidal.
33. The apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein said ellipsoidal curve is expressed as a mathematical function of length L and height h: x 2 h 2 + y 2 L 2 = 1.
34. The apparatus as defined in claim 33, wherein said height h may be expressed in terms of length L as: h=F×L, where 0.25≦F≦2.
35. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said second heel support surface anteo-posterior curve is ellipsoidal.
36. The apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein said ellipsoidal curve is expressed as a mathematical function of length L and height h: x 2 h 2 + y 2 L 2 = 1.
37. The apparatus as defined in claim 36, wherein said height h may be expressed in terms of length L as: h=F×L, where 0.25≦F≦2.
38. A calf exerciser foot unit, comprising:
- a heel support surface having an anterior, a posterior, a first side and a second side edges, said first and second side edges being generally in alignment with an anteo-posterior axis, said heel support surface anterior edge forming a first downward incline from said first side edge to said second side edge, said heel support surface posterior edge forming a second downward incline from said first side edge to said second side edge and said heel support surface forming an anteo-posterior curve;
- a foot-palm support surface having an anterior, a posterior, a first side and a second side edges, said first and second side edges being generally in alignment with said anteo-posterior axis, said foot-palm support surface forming a downward incline from said first side edge to said second side edge;
- wherein said heel support surface anterior edge and said foot-palm support surface posterior edge are adjacent.
39. The apparatus as defined in claim 38, wherein said foot-palm support surface further forming a posteo-anterior downward incline at an angle between 0 and 15 degrees.
40. The apparatus as defined in claim 39, wherein said foot-palm support surface posteo-anterior downward incline is at an angle of 10 degrees.
41. The apparatus as defined in claim 39, wherein said foot-palm support surface posteo-anterior downward incline angle is adjustable.
42. The apparatus as defined in claim 38, wherein said foot-palm support surface downward incline is at an angle between 4 and 15 degrees.
43. The apparatus as defined in claim 42, wherein said foot-palm support surface downward incline is at an angle of 8 degrees.
44. The apparatus as defined in claim 42, wherein said foot-palm support surface downward incline angle is adjustable.
45. The apparatus as defined in claim 38, wherein said heel support surface first downward incline is at an angle between 4 and 15 degrees.
46. The apparatus as defined in claim 45, wherein said heel support surface first downward incline is at an angle of 8 degrees.
47. The apparatus as defined in claim 45, wherein said heel support surface first downward incline angle is adjustable.
48. The apparatus as defined in claim 38, wherein said heel support surface second downward incline is at an angle between 4 and 15 degrees.
49. The apparatus as defined in claim 48, wherein said heel support surface second downward incline is at an angle of 8 degrees.
50. The apparatus as defined in claim 48, wherein said heel support surface second downward incline angle is adjustable.
51. The apparatus as defined in claim 38, wherein said foot-palm support surface further comprises a first side, a second side and an anterior walls.
52. The apparatus as defined in claim 38, wherein said foot-palm support surface further comprises a harness to help maintain a foot of a user in position.
53. The apparatus as defined in claim 38, wherein said heel support surface anteo-posterior curve is ellipsoidal.
54. The apparatus as defined in claim 53, wherein said ellipsoidal curve is expressed as a mathematical function of length L and height h: x 2 h 2 + y 2 L 2 = 1.
55. The apparatus as defined in claim 54, wherein said height h may be expressed in terms of length L as: h=F×L, where 0.25≦F≦2.
56. A calf exerciser comprising:
- A first foot unit, comprising: a heel support surface having an anterior, a posterior, a left and a right edges, said heel support surface anterior edge forming a first downward left incline from said right edge to said left edge, said heel support surface posterior edge forming a second downward left incline from said right edge to said left edge and said heel support surface forming an anteo-posterior curve; a foot-palm support surface having an anterior, a posterior, a left and a right edges, said foot-palm support surface forming a downward left incline from said right edge to said left edge; wherein said heel support surface anterior edge and said foot-palm support surface posterior edge are adjacent;
- a second foot unit, comprising: a heel support surface having an anterior, a posterior, a left and a right edges, said heel support surface anterior edge forming a first downward right incline from said left edge to said right edge, said heel support surface posterior edge forming a second downward right incline from said left edge to said right edge and said heel support surface forming an anteo-posterior curve; a foot-palm support surface having an anterior, a posterior, a left and a right edges, said foot-palm support surface forming a downward right incline from said left edge to said right edge; wherein said heel support surface anterior edge and said foot-palm support surface posterior edge are adjacent; and a support unit for supporting said first and said second foot units.
57. The apparatus as defined in claim 56, wherein said support unit includes at least one guide and each of said first and second foot units further comprise a slider element moveably engageable to said at least one guide.
58. The apparatus as defined in claim 57, wherein each of said first and second foot units further comprise a locking element which is operable with said support unit for stopping said first and second units from moving.
59. The apparatus as defined in claim 56, wherein said first foot unit and said second foot unit foot-palm support surfaces further forming posteo-anterior downward inclines at angles between 0 and 15 degrees.
60. The apparatus as defined in claim 59, wherein said first foot unit, and said second foot unit foot-palm support surfaces posteo-anterior downward inclines are at an angle of 10 degrees.
61. The apparatus as defined in claim 59, wherein said first foot unit and said second foot unit foot-palm support surfaces posteo-anterior downward inclines angles are adjustable.
62. The apparatus as defined in claim 56, wherein said first foot unit foot-palm support surface downward left incline and said second foot unit foot-palm support surface downward right incline are at angles between 4 and 15 degrees.
63. The apparatus as defined in claim 62, wherein said first foot unit foot-palm support surface downward left incline and said second foot unit foot-palm support surface downward right incline are at an angle of 8 degrees.
64. The apparatus as defined in claim 62, wherein said first foot unit foot-palm support surface downward left incline and said second foot unit foot-palm support surface downward right incline angles are adjustable.
65. The apparatus as defined in claim 56, wherein said first foot unit heel support surface first downward left incline and said second foot unit heel support surface first downward right incline are at angles between 4 and 15 degrees.
66. The apparatus as defined in claim 65, wherein said first foot unit heel support surface first downward left incline and said second foot unit heel support surface first downward right incline are at an angle of 8 degrees.
67. The apparatus as defined in claim 65, wherein said first foot unit heel support surface first downward left incline and said second foot unit heel support surface first downward right incline angles are adjustable.
68. The apparatus as defined in claim 56, wherein said first foot unit heel support surface second downward left incline and said second foot unit heel support surface second downward right incline are at angles between 4 and 15 degrees.
69. The apparatus as defined in claim 68, wherein said first foot unit heel support surface second downward left incline and said second foot unit heel support surface second downward right incline are at an angle of 8 degrees.
70. The apparatus as defined in claim 68, wherein said first foot unit heel support surface second downward left incline and said second foot unit heel support surface second downward right incline angles are adjustable.
71. The apparatus as defined in claim 56, wherein said first foot unit foot-palm support surface and said second foot unit foot-palm support surface further comprise a right, a left and an anterior walls.
72. The apparatus as defined in claim 56, wherein said first foot unit foot-palm support surface and said second foot unit foot-palm support surface further comprise a harness to help maintain a foot of a user in position.
73. The apparatus as defined in claim 56, wherein said first foot unit heel support surface and said second foot unit heel support surface anteo-posterior curves are ellipsoidal.
74. The apparatus as defined in claim 73, wherein said ellipsoidal curves are expressed as a mathematical function of length L and height h: x 2 h 2 + y 2 L 2 = 1.
75. The apparatus as defined in claim 74, wherein said height h may be expressed in terms of length L as: h=F×L, where 0.25≦F≦2.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 31, 2005
Publication Date: Jun 23, 2011
Applicant:
Inventors: Stephane Bedard (St. Augustin-de-Daemaures), Jean-Francois Boulay (Quebec)
Application Number: 11/910,324
International Classification: A63B 26/00 (20060101);