Stride stretcher

Abstract

A unique apparatus designed to facilitate various types of stretches and exercise routines found in yoga, Pilates, fitness, and rehabilitation. The Stride Stretcher™ has a one-size-fits-most design, allowing comfort in operation. The Stride Stretcher™ is designed to increase range of motion of the ankle joint in all three clinical planes of motion, while affecting the muscular walking system of the hips, legs, and lower back. The design allows for adjustment based on the preference of the user via a Velcro strap. The unit has a firm, non-flexible base that prevents the foot from bending, while allowing complete freedom for the ankle joint. The top portion of the foot casing is a soft, flexible material that can accommodate varying foot size comfortably. The pivoting handles allow for a comfortable grip, keeping the muscles relaxed in the upper body, and prevent unwanted torsional forces in the wrist.

1 . A stride and leg stretching system for enabling stretching of a user's musculo-skeletal system generally at or below the user's hips, said stride and leg stretching system comprising:
 a foot-engaging portion for securely engaging a foot, said foot-engaging portion having a front side, a rear side, a left side, and a right side, said foot-engaging portion being detachably attachable to a foot, said foot-engaging portion having a sole adapted to prevent a foot from bending while providing freedom of articulation for the ankle joint, said sole having a lower side for engaging the ground and an upper side for engaging a foot, said sole of resilient material sufficient to support a person's weight and to provide pedal support for said person's foot   said lower side of said sole having at least one side of a hook and loop fastener pair exposed thereon, said sole adapted to provide easier adjustment for various size feet via said at least one side of a hook and loop fastener pair;   said sole being approximately three-sixteenth inch thick, being approximately ten inches long, having a front width of approximately four and five-eighths inch, and having a rear heel insert area of approximately three inches;   said sole having said left side and said right side raised approximately one inch in height tapering to approximately two inches in height at approximately said heel insert area;   said foot-engaging portion further having a harness coupled to said sole and adapted to detachably engage a foot to hold said sole on said foot, said harness further having a rear ankle strap and a front securing strap with said rear ankle strap adapted to secure an ankle upon a heel portion of said sole and said front securing strap adapted to secure a front part of a foot upon a front of said sole;   said rear ankle strap approximately two inches wide, approximately thirteen inches long and approximately three-eights inches thick and constructed of soft, pliable material;   said front securing strap approximately two inches wide and approximately twelve inches in length;   a manual-engagement strap for manual engagement by a person wearing said foot-engaging portion, said manual engagement strap attached on a first side to said left side of said foot-engaging portion and attached on a second side to said right side of said foot-engaging portion said manual-engagement strap including soft, pliable woven material,   said manual engagement strap being approximately six feet in length, being approximately one and one-half inches in width, and being approximately one-sixteenth inch in thickness;   said manual engagement strap defining a hand insert;   said hand insert having a first opening approximately eighteen inches from a point of attachment of said manual engagement strap with said foot-engaging portion, said hand insert being approximately five inches long and having approximately four loops adapted for engagement by a hand, each of said loops separated by approximately two inches whereby a user may use a hand to articulate said manual engagement strap and said foot-engaging portion;   a removable handle adapted for engaging an opening in said manual-engagement strap, said removable handle enabling better manual engagement of said manual-engagement strap and resulting flexible articulation of the person's foot;   said removable handle further having a hook portion for removably engaging said manual-engagement strap and a handle portion coupled to said hook portion, said handle portion adapted for manual engagement and controlling tension on said hook portion; whereby   a person may attach said foot-engaging portion to his foot and subsequently stretch his stride and/or leg associated with his foot by manipulating and engaging said manual-engagement strap either manually or with said removable handle.   
   
   
       2 . A stride and leg stretching system, comprising:
 a foot-engaging portion for securely engaging a foot, said foot-engaging portion having a front side, a rear side, a left side, and a right side, said foot-engaging portion being detachably attachable to a foot; and   a manual-engagement strap for manual engagement by a person wearing said foot-engaging portion, said manual engagement strap attached on a first side to said left side of said foot-engaging portion and attached on a second side to said right side of said foot-engaging portion; whereby   a person may attach said foot-engaging portion to his foot and subsequently stretch his stride and/or leg associated with his foot by manipulating and engaging said manual-engagement strap.   
   
   
       3 . A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said foot-engaging portion further comprises:
 a sole adapted to prevent a foot from bending while providing freedom of articulation for the ankle joint, said sole having a lower side for engaging the ground and an upper side for engaging a foot.   
   
   
       4 . A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said sole further comprises:
 said sole of resilient material sufficient to support a person's weight and to provide pedal support for said person's foot.   
   
   
       5 . A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said sole further comprises:
 said lower side having at least one side of a hook and loop fastener pair exposed thereon.   
   
   
       6 . A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said sole further comprises:
 said lower side adapted to provide easier adjustment for various size feet via said at least one side of a hook and loop fastener pair.   
   
   
       7 . A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said sole further comprises:
 said sole being approximately three-sixteenth inch thick, being approximately ten inches long, having a front width of approximately four and five-eighths inch, and having a rear heel insert area of approximately three inches; and   said sole having said left side and said right side raised approximately one inch in height tapering to approximately two inches in height at approximately said heel insert area.   
   
   
       8 . A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said foot-engaging portion further comprises:
 a harness, said harness coupled to said sole and adapted to detachably engage a foot to hold said sole on said foot.   
   
   
       9 . A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said harness further comprises:
 a rear ankle strap and a front securing strap;   said rear ankle strap adapted to secure an ankle upon a heel portion of said sole; and   said front securing strap adapted to secure a front part of a foot upon a front of said sole.   
   
   
       10 . A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said rear ankle strap is approximately two inches wide, approximately thirteen inches long and approximately three-eights inches thick and is constructed of soft, pliable material. 
   
   
       11 . A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said front securing strap is approximately two inches wide and approximately twelve inches in length. 
   
   
       12 . A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said manual-engagement strap further comprises:
 said manual-engagement strap including soft, pliable woven material, said manual engagement strap being approximately six feet in length, being approximately one and one-half inches in width, and being approximately one-sixteenth inch in thickness.   
   
   
       13 . A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein said manual-engagement strap further comprises:
 said manual engagement strap defining a hand insert.   
   
   
       14 . A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said manual-engagement strap further comprises:
 said hand insert having a first opening approximately eighteen inches from a point of attachment of said manual engagement strap with said foot-engaging portion, said hand insert being approximately five inches long and having approximately four loops adapted for engagement by a hand, each of said loops separated by approximately two inches whereby a user may use a hand to articulate said manual engagement strap and said foot-engaging portion.   
   
   
       15 . A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a removable handle adapted for engaging an opening in said manual-engagement strap, said removable handle enabling better manual engagement of said manual-engagement strap and resulting flexible articulation of the person's foot.   
   
   
       16 . A stride and leg stretching system as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein said removable handle further comprises:
 a hook portion for removably engaging said manual-engagement strap; and   a handle portion coupled to said hook portion, said handle portion adapted for manual engagement and controlling tension on said hook portion.