Leg exercising apparatus

Abstract

An exercise apparatus for exercising, strengthening and conditioning the tibial and ankle areas of the leg, shin as comprises a first strap adapted to form a loop around the foot of a user, passing across the underside of the foot in the region of the ball of the foot. A metal ring is slidably attached to the underside portion of the strap to connect to an exercise resistance, such as a pulley system weight rack or an elastic cord. The first strap is held in place with the aid of a second strap extending along each side of the foot and around the heel portion and connecting at each side to the first strap.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An exercise apparatus for use in exercising the muscles and tendons of a user's leg comprising: 
 a first strap adapted to form a loop around the foot of the user passing across the underside of the foot in the region of the ball of the foot;    a second strap adapted to extend around the heel portion and along each side of the foot of the user and attached at each end to said first strap;    a slidable loop attached to an underside of said first strap to permit applying pressure to different portions of said foot and said leg by locating an attached elastic cord to different sections of said loop.    
     
     
         2 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  including a movable coupling means associated with said first strap and positioned at the underside of the user's foot, said second strap having a longer length than said first strap, both said first and second straps configured to fit around the side and front portion of said foot.  
     
     
         3 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein said movable coupling means is attached to said slidable loop, said loop slidably attached to said first strap and positioned at the underside thereof.  
     
     
         4 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein said first strap encircles an entire front portion of said foot and includes an adjustable fastening means.  
     
     
         5 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein said second strap includes an adjustable fastening means.  
     
     
         6 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein each of said adjustable fastening means is a hook and loop fastener.  
     
     
         7 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein each of said adjustable fastening means is a buckle.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 2  additionally including an exercise resistance device attachable to said coupling means.  
     
     
         9 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein said exercise resistance device is a weight and pulley exercise system.  
     
     
         10 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein said exercise resistance device is an elastic cord, said elastic cord having varying elastic strengths to accommodate various exercise needs.  
     
     
         11 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein said elastic cord is a bungee cord having pre-selected tensile strengths.  
     
     
         12 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein said movable coupling means is a securing loop slidably attached to said first strap at the underside thereof.  
     
     
         13 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 12  additionally including an exercise resistance device attachable to said coupling means.  
     
     
         14 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein said exercise resistance device is a weight and pulley system.  
     
     
         15 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein said exercise resistance device is an elastic cord.  
     
     
         16 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein said elastic cord is a bungee cord.  
     
     
         17 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein said movable coupling means comprises at least one hole through said first strap on the underside thereof.  
     
     
         18 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 17  additionally including an exercise resistance device attachable to said coupling means.  
     
     
         19 . An exercise apparatus for use in exercising the muscles and tendons of a user's leg comprising: 
 a first strap adapted to form a loop around the front portion of a foot of the user passing across the underside of the foot in the ball-foot region thereof, said first strap being adjustably securable on the upper side thereof by a hook and loop fastener and having a movable coupling means at the underside thereof for the attachment of an exercise resistance means thereto;    a second strap which is longer than said first strap and is adapted to extend around the heel portion and along each side of the foot of the user and attached at a front end to said first strap, said second strap being adjustably securable along a side portion thereof;    an exercise resistance means attachable to said coupling means;    said first and second straps being configured to fit around a user's foot;    said first strap having a movable loop or coupling means attached thereto, said loop movable to different locations on the bottom of said first strap to provide the exertion of pressure to different parts of said foot.    
     
     
         20 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein said movable coupling means is a securing loop encircling said first strap at the underside thereof and said exercise resistance means is a bungee cord or resistance elastic tubing.