IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,285,068

Granted Patent B2

US 11,285,068 · App. 16/672,301 · Granted Mar 29, 2022

Foot and ankle strengthening device

Inventor: Floyd Powell (Houston, TX)

A61H1/0266 A61H15/00 A61H2015/0014 A61H2201/0173 A61H2201/164 A61H2201/1695 A61H2203/0406

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 11,285,068
App. No.: 16/672,301
Granted: Mar 29, 2022
Kind: B2

External Links

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Abstract

A foot and ankle strengthening device is an apparatus used to provide stimulus to muscles typically weakened in people who suffer from various foot and ankle problems, particularly plantar fasciitis. A pair of angled surfaces is used to reinforce healthy foot arches. The apparatus comprises a first foot-bracing platform, a second foot-bracing platform, a textured roller, and an elongated balance block. The first foot-bracing platform is a surface against which a user may place a foot for support and appropriate positioning. Similarly, the second foot-bracing platform provides a surface for the user's opposite foot. The textured roller is a generally cylindrical device that enables the user to apply targeted pressure to specific pieces of the user's foot or ankle. The elongated balance block is a generally rectangular prism-shaped protrusion that, in the preferred usage of the apparatus, provides the contact point with the ground.

Claims (90)

1. A foot and ankle strengthening device comprises:

a first foot-bracing platform;

a second foot-bracing platform;

a textured roller;

an elongated balance block;

a first textured layer;

the first foot-bracing platform and the second foot-bracing platform each comprise a proximal edge and a distal edge;

the proximal edge of the first foot-bracing platform and the proximal edge of the second foot-bracing platform being positioned adjacent to each other;

the textured roller being rotatably mounted between the proximal edge of the first foot-bracing platform and the proximal edge of the second foot-bracing platform;

the elongated balance block being mounted between the distal edge of the first foot-bracing platform and the distal edge of the second foot-bracing platform;

the elongated balance block being centrally positioned along the distal edge of the first foot-bracing platform and the distal edge of the second foot-bracing platform;

a sagittal plane being positioned in between the first foot-bracing platform and the second foot-bracing platform;

the first foot-bracing platform being oriented at a first interior acute angle with the sagittal plane;

the second foot-bracing platform being oriented at a second interior acute angle with the sagittal plane;

the elongated balance block being positioned normal to the sagittal plane;

the first textured laver being connected across the first foot-bracing platform, opposite the elongated balance block; and

the elongated balance block extends beyond underside surfaces of the first and second foot-bracing platforms to provide contact surface with a ground.

2. The foot and ankle strengthening device as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

a second textured layer; and

the second textured layer being connected across the second foot-bracing platform, opposite the elongated balance block.

3. The foot and ankle strengthening device as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

a plurality of grip-enhancing features; and

the plurality of grip-enhancing features being laterally connected around the textured roller.

4. The foot and ankle strengthening device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of grip-enhancing features is configured into a hexagonal prism.

5. The foot and ankle strengthening device as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the textured roller comprises a thermally-conductive housing and a thermally-resistive core;

the thermally-resistive core being mounted within the thermally-conductive housing; and

the thermally-resistive core being in thermal communication with the thermally-conductive housing.

6. The foot and ankle strengthening device as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the elongated balance block comprises a first block end and a second block end;

the first block end being positioned offset from the distal edge of the first foot-bracing platform; and

the second block end being positioned offset from the distal edge of the second foot-bracing platform.

7. The foot and ankle strengthening device as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

a roller mount;

the roller mount being integrated in between the proximal edge of the first foot-bracing platform and the proximal edge of the second foot-bracing platform; and

the textured roller being rotatably attached into the roller mount.

8. The foot and ankle strengthening device as claimed in claim 7 comprises:

the textured roller comprises a first mounting protrusion, a second mounting protrusion, and a roller body;

the first mounting protrusion being terminally connected to the roller body;

the second mounting protrusion being terminally connected to the roller body, opposite the first mounting protrusion; and

the first mounting protrusion and the second mounting protrusion being rotatably engaged to the roller mount.

9. The foot and ankle strengthening device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first interior acute angle is in a range between 70 arc degrees and 80 arc degrees.

10. The foot and ankle strengthening device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second interior acute angle is in a range between 70 arc degrees and 80 arc degrees.

11. The foot and ankle strengthening device as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the first foot-bracing platform and the second foot-bracing platform each comprises a platform body;

a width of the platform body being in a range between 6 inches to 12 inches; and

a length of the platform body being in a range between 12 inches to 18 inches.

12. A foot and ankle strengthening device comprises: