Rocker boot with adjustable degree of rotation

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rocker boot for stretching or strengthening muscles. The rocker boot includes a arcuate base, a footrest, two arcuate rails on either side of the base, a bar located adjacent to the arcuate surface, and an adjustable securing mechanism to secure the bar to a rail. The degree of rotation of the rocker boot is adjustable by moving the bar to a different position on the arcuate base. In use, the bar comes into contact with a surface when the boot is rocked far enough in one direction, thereby limiting the degree of rotation in that direction. Boots may include one or two bars and rotation may be limited in the forward or backward direction or both. Two rocker boots may be combined to allow exercise of both legs and feet simultaneously.

1 . A rocker boot comprising: 
 a base having a arcuate surface;    a footrest attached to the base;    two arcuate rails, wherein the rails are located on the sides of the arcuate base;    at least one bar operable to sit adjacent to the arcuate surface of the base; and    at least one adjustable securing mechanism operable to secure the bar to the rail.    
   
   
       2 . The rocker boot of  claim 1 , further comprising a rear footrest and a front footrest.  
   
   
       3 . The rocker boot of  claim 2 , further comprising a heel stop operable to prevent a foot from slipping off the rocker boot when in use.  
   
   
       4 . The rocker boot of  claim 1 , wherein the footrest further comprises ridges.  
   
   
       5 . The rocker boot of  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises a plurality of holes, and wherein the adjustable securing mechanism further comprises: 
 a bar arm attached to and extending radially from the bar; and    a pin engaged by the bar arm, wherein the pin is operable to engage one of the plurality of holes.    
   
   
       6 . The rocker boot of  claim 5 , further comprising a spring mechanism operable to secure the pin in one the plurality of holes.  
   
   
       7 . The rocker boot of  claim 1 , wherein at least one rail further comprises a plurality of teeth, and wherein the adjustable securing mechanism further comprises a locking tab operable to receive and hold the bar and further operable to engage one of the plurality of teeth.  
   
   
       8 . The rocker boot of  claim 1 , further comprising at least two bars.  
   
   
       9 . The rocker boot of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of degree of rotation indicators.  
   
   
       10 . The rocker boot of  claim 1 , further comprising a passive securing mechanism.  
   
   
       11 . The rocker boot of  claim 10 , wherein the passive securing mechanism further comprises: 
 a bar arm attached to and extending radially from the bar; and    a tongue attached to the bar arm, the tongue operable to secure the bar to one of the two rails.    
   
   
       12 . The rocker boot of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one large hole operable to receive a large bar.  
   
   
       13 . The rocker boot of  claim 1 , wherein the rocker boot comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: plastic, injection-molded plastic, metal, cast metal, machined metal, aluminum, cast aluminum, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       14 . A method of manufacturing a rocker boot comprising: 
 forming a base having a arcuate surface;    attaching a footrest attached to the base;    attaching two arcuate rails to the sides of the arcuate base;    forming at least one bar operable to sit adjacent to the arcuate surface of the base; and    forming at least one adjustable securing mechanism operable to secure the bar to the base.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the attaching steps occur simultaneously with the base forming step.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the method of one or more forming steps is selected from the group consisting of: injection molding, casting, machining, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       17 . A method of using a rocker boot comprising: 
 selecting a degree of rotation in one direction for a rocker boot having a footrest and a arcuate surface;    adjusting an adjustable securing mechanism to position a bar adjacent to the arcuate surface, wherein the bar is operable to limit the degree of rotation of the rocker boot to the selected degree of rotation;    placing a foot upon the footrest;    using the foot to rotate the rocker boot in the selected direction until the bar engages a surface and prevents rotation beyond the selected degree of rotation; and    using the foot to rotate the rocker boot in an opposite direction.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 selecting a second degree of rotation in the opposite direction;    adjusting a second adjustable securing mechanism to position a second bar adjacent to the arcuate surface, wherein the second bar is operable to limit the degree of rotation of the rocker boot to the second selected degree of rotation; and    using the foot to rotate the rocker boot in the opposite direction until the second bar engages the surface and prevents rotation beyond the second selected degree of rotation.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising stretching or strengthening a tissue in the foot or a leg attached to the foot.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the tissue selected from the group consisting of: the anterior flexors, the anterior tibialis, the extensor giditorum longus, the plantar fascia, the plantar flexors, the gastrocnemius calf muscle, the soleus calf muscle, the achilles tendon, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising providing physical therapy to an injured tissue.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 attaching a second rocker boot to the first rocker boot; and    using a second foot to rotate the second rocker boot.