Calf/ankle isolator

Abstract

Exercise machine targeting the calf, ankle, and Achilles tendon having a foot tray exercising both feet simultaneously, and a padded frame fitting over the knees. Shock resistance cylinders or stretch bands are attached between the tray and the frame for resistance to foot movement downward during ankle rotation. A two-tray adaptation for exercising each leg individually is also included, which may feature a heel and adjustable toe for different foot lengths. Another embodiment has an elongated telescopic shaft, two padded portions, to fit over the knees, a handgrip, and two foot pads on either side of the shaft which extends to a rubber tip The shaft includes a shock resistance cylinder or resistance bands resisting foot movement downward during ankle rotation. Both embodiments are adjustable in length.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A calf/ankle exercise device comprising: 
 a) an outer frame having an upper portion, a first upright portion having a lower portion, and a second upright portion having a lower portion;    b) first and second knee pads located on the underside of said upper frame portion for fitting over a user's knees;    c) a pivot bar extending between said lower end portions of said first and said second upright portions, respectively, and normal thereto;    d) at least one foot tray having a heel portion and a toe portion and pivotally connected therebetween to said pivot bar; and    e) a shock resistance cylinder pivotally connected between each of said first and said second upright frame portions and said toe portion of said at least one foot tray, said shock resistance cylinder connection with said first and said second upright frame portions spaced above said pivot bar.    
     
     
         2 . The calf/ankle exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein said first and said second upright frame portions are adjustable in length.  
     
     
         3 . The calf/ankle exercise device of  claim 1 , further comprising a frame lower portion extending between said first and said second frame uprights below said pivot bar.  
     
     
         4 . The calf/ankle exercise device of  claim 1 , further comprising a heel piece and a length adjustable toe piece located on said at least one foot tray.  
     
     
         5 . The calf/ankle exercise device of  claim 1 , further comprising a toe strap and an ankle strap located on said at least one foot tray.  
     
     
         6 . The calf/ankle exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one foot tray comprises a left foot tray having a left toe portion and a right foot tray having a right toe portion and wherein said shock resistant cylinders are connected to said left toe portion and said right toe portion, respectively.  
     
     
         7 . The calf/ankle exercise device of  claim 6 , said left foot tray and said right foot tray being spaced along said pivot bar and said upper frame portion having a central portion between said knee pads, and further comprising a telescoping central upright extending between said upper frame central portion and said pivot bar between said left foot tray and said right foot tray.  
     
     
         8 . The calf/ankle exercise device of  claim 7 , wherein said left foot tray and said right foot tray each have a heel piece and an adjustable toe piece, respectively, and defining a toe adjustment groove for lengthwise adjustment of each said toe piece relative to its respective heel piece.  
     
     
         9 . The calf/ankle exercise device of  claim 8 , wherein each said toe piece has an adjusting screw extending through said adjustment groove and secured at a desired point along said adjustment groove by a washer and a nut.  
     
     
         10 . The calf/ankle exercise device of  claim 1 , further comprising a horizontally disposed handle having a connector centrally connected with said outer frame upper portion and extending upward therefrom.  
     
     
         11 . A calf/ankle exercise device comprising: 
 a) an upper cross piece having a left portion, a right portion, and a center portion;    b) an upper tube assembly extending downward from said center portion of said upper cross piece and normal thereto;    c) left and right knee pads located on the lower surface of said upper cross piece along said left portion and said right portion, respectively;    d) a lower extension tube located below and in line with said upper tube assembly;    e) an extensible mechanical resistor having and upper end and a lower end and mounted to said upper tube assembly at said upper end and to said lower extension tube at said lower end, thereof; and    f) a toe rest cross piece having a left toe rest and a right toe rest, said cross piece being mounted to said lower extension tube between said left and right toe rests and extending parallel to said upper cross piece.    
     
     
         12 . The calf/ankle exercise device of  claim 11 , wherein said upper tube assembly is adjustable in length.  
     
     
         13 . The calf/ankle exercise device of  claim 12 , wherein said upper tube assembly comprises an upper center extension tube attached to said upper cross piece and a lower center extension tube extending over said upper center extension tube, each said center extension tubes having a series of corresponding pin bores for receiving a pin, whereby said upper tube assembly may be adjusted in length.  
     
     
         14 . The calf/ankle exercise device of  claim 11 , further comprising a boot attached to the extreme lower end of said lower extension tube.  
     
     
         15 . The calf/ankle exercise device of  claim 11 , wherein said extensible mechanical resistor device is a retracting shock resistance cylinder.  
     
     
         16 . The calf/ankle exercise device of  claim 11 , wherein said lower center extension tube extends over lower said lower extension tube in sliding engagement therewith and said extensible mechanical resistor device comprises a pair of stretch resistance bands mounted at opposite upper and lower ends thereof to said center extension tube and said lower extension tube.  
     
     
         17 . The calf/ankle exercise device of  claim 16 , wherein said lower center extension tube has horizontally disposed opposed upper pins extending from a lower end thereof and wherein said lower extension tube has horizontally disposed opposed lower pins extending from a point above its intersection with said toe rest cross piece, said upper pins receiving said upper ends of said stretch resistance bands and said lower pins receiving said lower ends of said stretch resistance bands.