Exercise Device

Abstract

An exercise device for allowing a user to exercise the muscles of an ankle. The device includes a resilient member, such as an elastic band held in a housing. The housing includes three sides with the resilient member suspended between two of the sides in a cutout. The resilient member is suspended over the other side of the housing, which allows the user to place one foot on a side of the housing and thereby secure the device in place while placing the other foot, the one to be exercised, in contact with the resilient member. The other foot may be exercised by pushing it against the resilient member in a desired direction. The first foot is placed to prevent movement of the housing in the direction of the exercise.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exercise device for exercising muscles in an ankle of a user, the device comprising:
 a resilient member;   a housing for retaining said resilient member; and   a first support for securing said housing against movement if pressure is applied against said resilient member in a first direction.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein said resilient member comprises an elastic material. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise device of  claim 2 , wherein said elastic material is an elastic band. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second support for securing said housing against movement if pressure is applied against said resilient member in a second direction, different from said first direction. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise device of  claim 4 , wherein said second direction is substantially perpendicular to said first direction. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise device of  claim 4 , wherein said second direction is substantially opposite to said first direction. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise device of  claim 6 , wherein said first support and said second support are a single support, which secures said housing against movement in both of said first and second directions. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise device of  claim 4 , further comprising a third support for securing said housing against movement if pressure is applied against said resilient member in a third direction, different from both said first direction and said second direction. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise device of  claim 8 , wherein one of said first, second and third directions is substantially perpendicular to the other two of said first, second and third directions, and said other two of said first, second and third directions are generally opposite to one another. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein said housing includes a cutout portion for receiving said resilient member and securing said resilient member in said housing. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise device of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one clip for holding said resilient member in said cutout portion. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise device of  claim 10 , wherein said cutout portion is disposed so that said resilient member is secured in a position which is opposite to a first side of said housing at a distance sufficient to permit the user to place at least one of the user's feet at least partially within said housing and exercise the ankle. 
     
     
         13 . An exercise device for exercising muscles in an ankle of a first foot of a user, the device comprising:
 a resilient member;   a housing having at least first, second and third sides, said first and third sides being substantially perpendicular to said second side and substantially parallel to one another at opposed locations on said second side, at least one of said first and third sides including a cutout portion for receiving said resilient member; and   at least one clip configured to receive said resilient member and to engage said cutout portion for securing said resilient member in a position generally opposed to said second side of said housing;   whereby the user may position the second of the user's two feet adjacent to at least one of said first, second and third sides of said housing to secure said housing against movement if the user moves the user's first foot against the resilient member to thereby exercise the user's ankle muscles of the first foot.   
     
     
         14 . The exercise device of  claim 13 , wherein said housing further has a fourth side substantially perpendicular to said first and third sides of said housing to support said first and third sides of said housing against movement towards one another. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise device of  claim 13 , wherein each of said first and third sides of said housing includes a respective first and second cutout portion, and said at least one clip being a first clip which engages said first cutout portion, and the device further comprises a second clip for engaging said second cutout portion, and thereby retain said resilient member in a desired location within said housing. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise device of  claim 13 , further comprising a hook disposed on one of said first and third sides of said housing, and said other of said first and third sides of said housing includes said cutout portion, whereby said resilient member may be hooked over said hook at an end of said resilient member, and said clip may be attached to a portion of said resilient member distant from said end of said resilient member, said portion of said resilient member at which said clip is positioned being at a distance from said end of said resilient member at which said clip may be positioned in said cutout portion while tensioning said resilient member at a desired tension to provide a desired level of resistance for the desired exercise to be performed. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise device of  claim 16 , wherein the position of said clip on said resilient member may be adjusted to provide different levels of tension and thereby allow the user to exercise the muscles of the ankle being exercised at different degrees of resistance. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise device of  claim 13 , further comprising an opening in at least one of said first, second and third sides, said opening having a size sufficient to accommodate a user's hand. 
     
     
         19 . The exercise device of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of said first and third sides includes a notch which receives said resilient member. 
     
     
         20 . The exercise device of  claim 13 , wherein said cutout portion includes a hook for securing an end of said resilient member therein.