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Tibialis anterior strength training machineTibialis anterior strength training machine description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070275833, Tibialis anterior strength training machine. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001]Not Applicable FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH [0002]Not Applicable SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM [0003]Not Applicable BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004]1. Field of the Invention [0005]This invention relates to a strength training machine for exercising the muscles on the front of the lower leg that lift the foot toward the body. [0006]2. Description of the Related Art [0007]Overall physical fitness is achieved by exercising all the major muscles of the body. It is especially important to exercise antagonistic muscles, ones that oppose one another. Exercising a muscle continuously while neglecting its antagonist often leads to strength and postural imbalances. Also, the neglected muscle has an increased susceptibility to injury. A muscle particularly subject to these concerns is the tibialis anterior. [0008]The tibialis anterior muscle is located on the front of each lower leg just lateral to the shin bone. It is responsible for dorsiflexion, which is when the foot pivots at the ankle toward the body. Other muscles of the lower leg contribute to dorsiflexion as well, but the tibialis anterior is the most powerful. During the swing phase of human gait, it lifts the foot clear of the ground to prevent tripping. It also controls the lowering of the foot immediately after the heel strikes the ground, thereby dampening impact. [0009]The calf muscles act antagonistically to the tibialis anterior, meaning they induce the opposite motion. This opposite motion is known as plantar flexion, in which the foot pivots at the ankle away from the body. An exercise regimen that includes strength training for the calf should also include strength training for the tibialis anterior to ensure muscular balance. Strength training machines for the calf are commonly found in fitness centers, while those for the tibialis anterior are unfortunately rarely present. [0010]An isolation exercise is one where movement is restricted to one joint and one muscle group. This technique is appropriately applied to the tibialis anterior when only ankle joint rotation is permitted and only dorsiflexion is resisted. The machine axis of rotation should be closely aligned with the ankle axis of rotation. If these mechanical and anatomical axes do not closely match, the ankle joint is able to translate relative to the machine axis. Consequentially, other muscles and joint motions may aid in this translation of the ankle. This has the undesired effect of reducing the tibialis anterior contribution to the exercise and thereby diminishing the strengthening benefit for the tibialis anterior. The present invention includes unique structural features that provide better strength training isolation for the tibialis anterior than any of the related art machines. [0011]U.S. Pat. No. 2,542,074, issued to William Bierman on Feb. 20, 1951, shows an exercising apparatus for the carpal-tarsal joints which allows for limited strength training of the tibialis anterior muscles. The Bierman machine is intended for rehabilitation of paralyzed patients while they are lying down. The device is intended for resistance levels insufficient to meet the strength training demands of athletes. Further, the foot support of the apparatus lacks an axis of rotation that goes through the foot near the ankle to appropriately isolate the tibialis anterior. [0012]U.S. Pat. No. 3,120,954, issued to Chris J. Apostol on Feb. 11, 1964, shows an exercise machine that allows for strength training of the tibialis anterior muscles. The Apostol machine lacks any support for the bottom of the foot while exercising the tibialis anterior muscles. This may result in ankle instability and poor isolation of the tibialis anterior. [0013]U.S. Pat. No. 3,863,916, issued to Vance Allen Cline on Feb. 4, 1975, shows an exercise machine that allows for strength training of the tibialis anterior muscles. The Cline machine lacks an integral seat, forcing the user to provide seating which may not be dimensionally appropriate for the machine. Further, the swing arms of the device lack an axis of rotation that goes through the foot near the ankle to appropriately isolate the tibialis anterior muscle. [0014]U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,712, issued to Lloyd J. Lambert, Jr. on Dec. 2, 1980, shows an exercise machine for the calf muscles. The Lambert machine is designed to resist the motion of plantar flexion and is therefore not appropriate for strength training of the tibialis anterior. [0015]U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,149, issued to Daniel R. Godfrey on May 27, 1986, shows an exercise machine that allows for strength training of the tibialis anterior muscles. The bar lifted by the foot in the Godfrey machine moves linearly rather than rotationally. Thus, the bar moves relative to the tops of the feet, which may result in discomfort for the user. The Godfrey device lacks an axis of rotation that goes through the foot near the ankle to appropriately isolate the tibialis anterior. Further, the device requires manual loading of weights which can be cumbersome and inconvenient for the user. [0016]U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,874, issued to Lloyd R. Little on Feb. 28, 1989, shows an exercise machine that allows for strength training of the tibialis anterior muscles. As claimed, it is a combination device for both dorsiflexion and plantar flexion resistance with separate stations for each exercise. In a practical sense, the dual use of the machine would be wasted since most people would not feel comfortable exercising shoulder to shoulder with another person. Not only would the Little machine be more costly to manufacture since it is two machines in one, plantar flexion machines for the calf muscles are commonplace and it is highly likely that fitness centers would already have one. A standalone machine for the tibialis anterior is more practical. Furthermore, the Little device contains an unnecessary apparatus for adjusting the range of motion of the machine, whereas the adjustable seat can be used to alter the orientation of the user's lower legs and thus match the ankle range of motion to the machine range of motion. The Little machine utilizes a strapping system for fixating the feet, which causes inconvenience by requiring the user to bend down and adjust straps for each foot. The present invention includes an alternative method that avoids this. [0017]U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,270, issued to Henry H Maag on Nov. 28, 1989, shows a strength training machine for the tibialis anterior muscles. As claimed, the device incorporates rigid seating and no method for users of different size to match their ankle range of motion to the machine range of motion. Further, the Maag device does not allow independent motion of each ankle necessary to ensure each foot is applying equal amounts of resistance. [0018]U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,535, issued to Ron D. Williams on Nov. 10, 1998, shows a strength training machine for the tibialis anterior muscles. The exercise bar in the Williams machine spans both feet and therefore does not allow independent motion of each ankle necessary to ensure each foot is applying equal amounts of resistance. This flaw may result in unbalanced conditioning of each leg's tibialis anterior muscle. Further, the Williams machine lacks an axis of rotation that goes through the foot near the ankle to appropriately isolate the tibialis anterior. The Williams machine contains an unnecessary lever system that raises the exercise bar so that the user can position his or her feet. The purpose of the lever in the Williams machine can be accomplished by the adjustable seating that allows a user to match the starting position of the feet with that required by the machine. [0019]U.S. Pat. No. 6,277,057, issued to Craig Hayden on Aug. 21, 2001, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,897, issued to Blair R. Patton on Sep. 4, 2001, show ankle conditioning devices that allow for limited strength training of the tibialis anterior muscles. The two devices employ piston-cylinders and elastomeric bands, respectively, for resistance, making changes in resistance inconvenient, especially since the user would have to reach to ground level to make such changes. Each apparatus incorporates one foot platform, limiting exercise to one foot at a time. Further, the foot platforms of the Hayden and Patton devices each lack an axis of rotation that goes through the foot near the ankle to appropriately isolate the tibialis anterior muscle. [0020]U.S. Pat. No. 6,421,935, issued to Michael D. Bartlett on Jul. 23, 2002, shows a therapeutic rocking shoe that provides limited strength training for the tibialis anterior muscles. The device uses body weight for resistance and therefore may provide inappropriate resistance for certain users. Further, the resistance cannot be readily altered to provide the intensity level of strength training demanded by athletes. Continue reading about Tibialis anterior strength training machine... Full patent description for Tibialis anterior strength training machine Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Tibialis anterior strength training machine patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Tibialis anterior strength training machine or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Gait training system using motion analysis Next Patent Application: Ab alert Industry Class: Exercise devices ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Tibialis anterior strength training machine patent info. 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