Foot Harness to Aid Athletic Stretching Exercises

Abstract

A foot harness to aid athletic stretching having three adjustable nylon strap members that secure around a user's foot in the areas of the top of the foot, the back of the foot, and the ankle. The harness includes left and right handles and a back loop. A user secures the harness around the foot and then uses the handles and loop to pull the user's foot in a direction to achieve a stretch or pull the user's torso in the direction of the foot to achieve a stretch.

1 . A foot harness to aid athletic stretching comprising:
 a first strap member configured to encircle a user's foot in an area around the ball of the foot;   a second strap member configured to encircle a user's foot in an area around the heal of the foot;   an ankle strap member configured to encircle a user's ankle;   a left handle member integrally connected to said first and second strap members on the left side of the harness;   a right handle member integrally connected to said first and second strap members on the right side of the harness; and   whereby a user may grip the handle members to pull the user's foot in a given direction or pull the user's torso towards the user's foot.   
   
   
       2 . The foot harness of  claim 1 , further comprising an ankle loop in a back area of said harness, whereby a user may grip the ankle loop to pull the user's foot in a direction of the user's buttocks. 
   
   
       3 . The foot harness of  claim 2 , wherein said first and second strap members have respective left ends and right ends, and wherein said respective left ends and right ends of said first and second strap members are mateable to wrap around and secure a user's foot. 
   
   
       4 . The foot harness of  claim 3 , wherein said respective left ends and right ends are joined by a connector. 
   
   
       5 . The foot harness of  claim 4 , wherein said connector is a plastic clip, said plastic clip comprising a first male end and a second female end that mate to lock said connector and said respective ends in integral engagement. 
   
   
       6 . The foot harness of  claim 5 , wherein said connector further includes means for adjusting the circumference of said first strap and said second strap. 
   
   
       7 . The foot harness of  claim 6 , wherein said means for adjusting the circumference of said straps comprises an eyelet and catch for frictional securing the length of said straps. 
   
   
       8 . The foot harness of  claim 7 , wherein said ankle strap comprises a left and and a right end that are mateable to wrap and secure around a user's ankle. 
   
   
       9 . The foot harness of  claim 8 , wherein the left end of said ankle strap and the right end of said ankle strap are joined by an engageable and disengageable connector. 
   
   
       10 . The foot harness of  claim 9 , wherein said connector is a plastic clip, said plastic clip comprising a first male end and a second female end that mate to lock said connector and said respective ends in integral engagement. 
   
   
       11 . The foot harness of  claim 10 , wherein said connector further includes means for adjusting the circumference of said ankle strap. 
   
   
       12 . The foot harness of  claim 11 , wherein said means for adjusting the circumference of said straps comprises an eyelet and catch for frictional securing the length of said straps. 
   
   
       13 . The foot harness of  claim 1 , further comprising a toe loop defining an orifice configured to receive a big toe of a barefoot user. 
   
   
       14 . The foot harness of  claim 1 , further comprising a shoe cup defining an aperture for receiving the front of a shoe of a user. 
   
   
       15 . The foot harness of  claim 1 , further comprising a foot sling configured to accept the arch of a user's foot. 
   
   
       16 . The foot harness of  claim 1 , wherein said straps comprise nylon. 
   
   
       17 . A method of stretching comprising:
 placing a user's foot in a harness comprising three strap members, left and right handle members, and an ankle loop;   securing the first strap member around a front area of a user's foot;   securing the second strap member around a back area of a user's foot;   securing the third strap member around an ankle of a user's foot;   gripping the left and right handle members with one hand and pulling the user's foot in a direction of stretching or pulling the user's torso in the direction of the foot.   
   
   
       18 . The method of stretching of  claim 17 , wherein said user is in the supine position. 
   
   
       19 . The method of stretching of  claim 18 , wherein the user is in the standing position. 
   
   
       20 . A method of stretching comprising:
 placing a user's foot in a harness comprising three strap members, left and right handle members, and an ankle loop;   securing the first strap member around a front area of a user's foot;   securing the second strap member around a back area of a user's foot;   securing the third strap member around an ankle of a user's foot;   gripping said ankle loop and pulling the user's foot in the direction of the user's buttocks.