GB2230706A - Exercise apparatus operated by the foot - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides an exercise device for the foot which comprises a pair of parallel rollers 34 having corrugated surfaces. The rollers are supported by end brackets 10, 12 for rotation in that the device is placed on the ground so that the rollers rest on the ground and the user puts his foot on the rollers at the upper sides thereof and pulls his foot back and forth which causes the rollers to turn and the device to move back and forth exercising a relaxing effect on the foot and on the user in general. <IMAGE>

Description

Exercise Apparatus Operated by the Foot This invention relates to an exercise apparatus which is operated by the foot, and which is designed and dimensioned so as to be capable of ready use at home or in an office, whilst in a seated or standing position.

The apparatus specifically is relatively small in size, and is easily portable and storable when not in use, with the consequence that the apparatus is relatively inexpensive.

An object of the apparatus is to provide a means whereby the user of the apparatus will experience a relaxing and pleasant feeling in his lower leg.

The apparatus is such that the person using it can do so whilst seated at a desk working, or watching television, or reading, making it a particularly convenient piece of equipment.

Basically, the apparatus according to the invention comprises a pair of spaced rollers which in use lie with their axes horizontal, and arranged so that the toe and heel ends of the foot can rest thereon, which rollers can be rolled back and forward by the foot to provide said relaxing feeling.

Each roller surface preferably is defined by a corrugated sleeve as it has been found that the sensation of the ridges of corrugations on contacting the sole of the foot enhances the effect. Corrugations may be provided by lengths of spiral tubing sleeve, and these may be securely mounted on support sleeves which in turn are rotatably mounted on spindles.

The spindles may be securely connected to a pair of end plates or brackets. The end plates may be formed from pieces of plastic coated chipboard.

There may be a third roller positioned midway between the said first mentioned roller, said third roller however comprising only a support sleeve and spindle of the nature provided in each of the other rollers.

For the connection of the spindles to the brackets, and said spindles may be all of cylindrical tubes, the bracket plates are simply slotted to define tongues which engage in the spindle ends, and fixing screws passing through the spindles and engaging said tongues serve to fasten the spindles to the plate.

The spindle support sleeves and corrugated sleeves preferably are formed of plastics material.

The first and second rollers are preferably parallel to each other, and the third roller which is mid-way between the first and second rollers is also parallel to said first and second rollers.

The rollers preferably are of equal length, and are of such length comfortably to accommodate feet of a wide range of widths. In an alternative construction, the rollers may be long enough to accommodate two feet.

To gain the best benefit from the use of the device, the user should remove his shoe so that there will be direct and sensitive contact between the surfaces of the corrugated rollers and the sole of the foot albeit that said contact may be through a stocking or sock.

4s7i < wli: be understood, the apparatus according to the invention is simple in construction and therefore will be inexpensive to produce and buy, making it highly suitable for use at home or in an office. It can be made relatively small in size so as to be easily portable and stowable.

An embodiment of the -invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device according to the embodiment; Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the device and showing how it is used; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the end plates of the device; and Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken on the line A-A in Fig.

1 to indicate how the end plates are connected to the device and spindles.

Referring to the drawings, the device comprises simply a pair of similar end plates 10, 12 which may be fabricated from laminated chipboard. These end plates are identical and are provided with pairs of slots 14, 16, 18 along one side to define tongues 20, 22, 24 which are received in respective ends of hollow spindles, 26, 28, 30. The spindles 26, 28, 30 are equally spaced, are of the same length and are arranged with their axes parallel. The spindles are secured to the tongues 20, 22, 24 as shown in Fig. 4 by means of screws 32 which pass through the spindles and engage the tongues. The two plates 10, 12 and the spindles form a frame for the supporting of rotatable sleeves.

In the case of the two outside spindles, the sleeve 34 which is rotatably supported on each of said spindles comprises a plastics material support sleeve 36 on the outside of which is provided a corrugated sleeve 38, also of plastics material.

On the centre spindle 28 is provided a support sleeve 36 only. The support sleeves 36 are of the same diameter, and it will be appreciated therefore that when the device rests on the ground or floor with the axes of the spindles horizontal, the outer surfaces of the corrugated sleeves 38 engage the floor, and the device can be rolled over the floor on such corrugated sleeves.

The support sleeves are of equal length, as are the corrugated sleeves.

The device is used as shown in Fig. 2. A user simply rests his foot 40 on the device so that the sole of his foot engages towards the toe end, and towards the heel end, the respective corrugated sleeves 38. He should use the device with his shoe removed as it is important that the sole of the foot should engage the corrugated sleeve for best results.

The user now simply rocks his foot back and forth as indicated by the arrow 42 between the full line position and the dotted line position whilst the device takes the weight off the foot and lower leg. It has been found that such operation provides a relaxing and pleasant feeling in the foot and lower leg. The device also of course provides a means for exercising the foot and lower leg.

Other embodiments of the invention are possible, and are intended to be covered herein.

Claims (9)

1. Exercise apparatus comprising a pair of spaced rollers which in use lie with their axes horizontal, and arranged so that the toe and heel ends of the foot can rest thereon, which rollers can be rolled back and forward by the foot to provide a relaxing feeling.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein each roller surface is defined by a corrugated sleeve.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the corrugations are provided by lengths of spiral tubing sleeve securely mounted on support sleeves which in turn are rotatably mounted on spindles.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the spindles are securely connected to a pair of end brackets.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the end plates are formed from pieces of plastic coated chipboard.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including a third roller positioned midway between the first mentioned rollers, said third roller comprising a support sleeve and spindle.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the spindles are cylindrical tubes.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the rollers are long enough to accommodate two feet.

9. Exercise apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.