Attachable convex plyometric footwear trainers

Abstract

Attachable and detachable footwear components are disclosed which contribute to the development of certain muscles and tendons in the lower body, including the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, sartorius, plantaris, and the like. The disclosed footwear components are inflatable in some embodiments and made in the preferred embodiment of flexible elastomeric polymers. The disclosed components detach to and from the soles of common footwear commonly available in the market, and comprise a distal ball, a proximal ball, and some embodiments, one or more mid-balls. When affixed to standard footwear, the disclosed components destabilize the foot longitudinally and laterally, and plyometrically stress tendons and muscles in the legs of a wearer, toning and strengthening the wearer's legs with time.

1 . A plyometric athletic trainer, the plyometric athletic trainer comprising:
 an elastomeric hemisphere comprising a convex lower surface and a planar top surface, wherein the lower surface comprises a flexible elastomeric material such that the hemisphere undergoes deformation due to an impact load of a loaded shoe, wherein the hemisphere is detachable and attachable to a sole of a shoe.   
     
     
         2 . The plyometric athletic trainer of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface comprises one of an elastomeric material, lead, a metal, and wood. 
     
     
         3 . The plyometric athletic trainer of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface is non-planar such that the top surface contours the lower surface of a shoe sole. 
     
     
         4 . The plyometric athletic trainer of  claim 1 , wherein the lower surface of the hemisphere comprises one or more ground-engaging component(s), or tread(s). 
     
     
         5 . The plyometric athletic trainer of  claim 1 , wherein the lower surface and the top surface define a hollow interior recess isolated atmospherically from ambient air. 
     
     
         6 . The plyometric athletic trainer of  claim 5 , wherein the hollow interior recess of the hemisphere is inflated with one or more gases to attenuate shock imposed upon a shoe by the impact of the ground when the hemisphere is used in stepping. 
     
     
         7 . The plyometric athletic trainer of  claim 6 , wherein the hollow interior recess of the hemisphere is filled with one of viscoelastic polyurethane foam and gel. 
     
     
         8 . The plyometric athletic trainer of  claim 1 , wherein the plyometric athletic trainer is attachable and detachable to soles of one or more shoes. 
     
     
         9 . The plyometric athletic trainer of  claim 8 , wherein the plyometric athletic trainer is attachable and detachable using one of Velcro, adhesives, screws, clamps, straps, ties, hooks, bands, and snaps. 
     
     
         10 . The plyometric athletic trainer of  claim 1 , wherein the plyometric athletic trainer is shaped as one of polyhedral, toroidal polyhedral, spherical cap, and egg. 
     
     
         11 . The plyometric athletic trainer of  claim 5 , further comprising a door on the lower surface providing access to hollow interior recess. 
     
     
         12 . The plyometric athletic trainer of  claim 11 , wherein the hollow interior recess serves as a receptacle, the receptacle accessible through the door, the receptacle for receiving one or more of a weight, a shock absorber, and one or more electrical devices from the group consisting of a GPS tracker, batteries, LEDs, lights, an odometer, and a step counter. 
     
     
         13 . The plyometric athletic trainer of  claim 12 , wherein the hollow interior recess provides user storage. 
     
     
         14 . The plyometric athletic trainer of  claim 5 , wherein the lower surface and the planar top surface define a plurality of hollow interior recess(es) isolated atmospherically from ambient air, the hollow interior recesses separated by one or more interior walls affixed to both the top surface and the lower surface. 
     
     
         15 . The plyometric athletic trainer of  claim 1 , further comprising a solid core encased by the lower surface and the top surface, the solid core comprising one or more of an elastomeric material, lead, a shock absorber, a metal, and wood. 
     
     
         16 . A plyometric athletic trainer, the plyometric athletic trainer comprising:
 a plurality of elastomeric hemispheres, the hemispheres each comprising a convex lower surface and a planar top surface, wherein both the lower surface and the planar top surface comprise an elastomeric material, wherein the hemisphere is detachable and attachable to a sole of a shoe;   wherein the lower surface and the top surface of each hemisphere define a hollow interior recess isolated atmospherically from ambient air; and   wherein each hemisphere is interconnected to one or more of the other hemispheres such that each hemisphere is oriented in substantially the same direction and such that the top surfaces of each hemispheres rest in substantially the same plane.   
     
     
         17 . A detachable convex plyometric athletic trainer to be worn by a wearer for athletic training, the detachable convex plyometric athletic trainer comprising:
 a shoe comprising:
 a sole having a top side, an underside, oppositely disposed lateral edges including an inside lateral edge and an outside lateral edge, and two or more ground-engaging components on the underside, the ground-engaging components being approximately disposed in a common plane, with a longitudinal axis extending from the proximal end of the shoe to the distal end of the shoe, and with a lateral axis extending from the inside lateral edge to the outside lateral edge; 
 a distal ball affixed to the underside of the sole, the distal ball convex in shape and comprising a lower surface made of a pliable durable non-porous polymer material, wherein the diameter of the distal ball at its largest magnitude is more than half the distance between the inside lateral edge and the outside lateral edge, wherein the lower surface defines a recess within the distal ball; and 
 a proximal ball affixed to the underside of the sole, the proximal ball convex in shape and comprising an lower surface of a pliable durable non-porous polymer material, wherein the diameter of the proximal ball at its largest magnitude is more than half the distance between the inside lateral edge and the outside lateral edge, wherein the lower surface defines a recess within the proximal ball. 
   
     
     
         18 . The detachable convex plyometric athletic trainer of  claim 17 , wherein the distal ball is affixed to the sole using one or more removable distal screw(s) insertable through one or more apertures in the distal ball, and wherein the proximal ball is affixed to the sole using one or more removable proximal screw(s). 
     
     
         19 . The detachable convex plyometric athletic trainer of  claim 17 , wherein the distal ball and proximal ball are inflated with air. 
     
     
         20 . The detachable convex plyometric athletic trainer of  claim 17 , wherein one or more of the distal ball and the proximal ball are filled with one of viscoelastic polyurethane foam and silicone gel. 
     
     
         21 . The detachable convex plyometric athletic trainer of  claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of mid-balls disposed between the proximal ball and the distal ball, the mid-balls identical in shape as the proximal ball.