# US 11,305,156 B2 · Foot exercise device

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- Number: US 11,305,156 B2
- Document ID: US11305156B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/719,837
- Filed: 2019-12-18
- Published: 2021-03-25
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2019-09-23
- Applicants: Spencer Fumio Yamada
- Inventors: Spencer Fumio Yamada
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305156B2

## CPC

- A63B 23/10: for feet or toes
- A61H 1/0266: {Foot}
- A63B 21/0552: {Elastic ropes or bands}
- A63B 23/03508: {For a single arm or leg, (A63B21/0726 takes precedence)}
- A63B 21/00061: {Replaceable resistance units of different strengths, e.g. for swapping}
- A63B 21/0421: {the ends moving relatively by a pivoting arrangement}
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)
- A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N)

## Abstract

A foot exercise device is described. In some embodiments, a foot exercise device includes a base structure and a forefoot structure coupled to the base structure. The base structure is configured to remain stationary. The forefoot structure is configured to be moved by a forefoot of a user while the base structure remains stationary. In some embodiments, a foot exercise device includes a base structure and a heel structure coupled to the base structure. The base structure is configured to remain stationary. The heel structure is configured to be moved by a heel of the user while the base structure remains stationary.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A foot exercise device comprising:
a base structure having a substantially flat upper surface configured to remain stationary, wherein a heel cup is disposed on the substantially flat upper surface, wherein a first heel or a second heel of a user is configured to be disposed on the substantially flat upper surface of the base structure, and wherein the heel cup comprises a vertical surface configured to contact a rear surface of the first heel or the second heel;
a first paddle structure configured to interface with a first forefoot responsive to the first heel being disposed on the base structure, the first paddle structure being pivotally coupled to the base structure proximate a first edge of the base structure, wherein the first paddle structure is configured to be pivoted in a first plane by the first forefoot of the user while the base structure remains stationary in a second plane that is approximately parallel to the first plane and the first heel of the user remains stationary on the base structure;
a second paddle structure configured to interface with a second forefoot responsive to the second heel being disposed on the base structure, a first foot of the user comprising the first forefoot and the first heel, a second foot of the user comprising the second forefoot and the second heel;
a first fastener coupled to the first paddle structure and the base structure proximate the first edge of the base structure, wherein the first paddle structure is configured to pivot relative to the base structure via the first fastener; and
a second fastener coupled to the second paddle structure and the base structure proximate a second edge of the base structure that is opposite the first edge of the base structure, wherein the second paddle structure is configured to pivot relative to the base structure via the second fastener.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The foot exercise device of claim 1, wherein the first paddle structure is configured to be moved by the first forefoot towards the first heel of the user to shorten a distance between the first forefoot and the first heel and to increase a height of an arch of the user.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The foot exercise device of claim 1, wherein the first paddle structure is configured to be moved by the first forefoot without toes of the user contacting the foot exercise device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The foot exercise device of claim 1, wherein the first paddle structure is configured to be moved by the first forefoot to strengthen plantar fascia of the user.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The foot exercise device of claim 1, wherein the substantially flat upper surface comprises a frictional horizontal surface configured to contact a bottom surface of the first heel or the second heel of the user.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The foot exercise device of claim 1 further comprising a block structure coupled to the base structure, wherein the block structure is configured to be placed against a corresponding vertical surface to prevent the base structure from moving.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The foot exercise device of claim 1, wherein an upper surface of the first paddle structure comprises:
a first distal area that has a wider surface area configured to interface with a wider distal lower surface area of the first forefoot; and
a second distal area that has a narrower surface area configured to interface with a narrower distal lower surface area of the first forefoot, wherein the first paddle structure is pivotably coupled to the base structure proximate the second distal area of the upper surface of the first paddle structure and proximate the first edge of the base structure.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The foot exercise device of claim 1, wherein the base structure forms one or more openings, wherein the first paddle structure is configured to pivot relative to the base structure via the first fastener interfacing with the one or more openings.

### Claim 9

A foot exercise device comprising:
a base structure configured to remain stationary, wherein the base structure comprises a first paddle structure and a second paddle structure, the first paddle structure and the second paddle structure comprising a corresponding frictional horizontal surface configured to contact a corresponding bottom surface of a corresponding forefoot of a user; and
a heel cup movably coupled to the base structure proximate an edge of the base structure, wherein the heel cup is configured to be moved in a first plane by a heel of the user while the base structure remains stationary in a second plane that is approximately parallel to the first plane and the corresponding forefoot of the user remains stationary on the first paddle structure or the second paddle structure of the base structure, wherein the foot exercise device comprises a frictional horizontal surface configured to contact a bottom surface of the heel of the user.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The foot exercise device of claim 9, wherein the heel cup is configured to be moved by the heel towards the corresponding forefoot of the user to shorten a distance between the corresponding forefoot and the heel and to increase a height of an arch of the user.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The foot exercise device of claim 9, wherein the heel cup is configured to be moved by the heel without toes of the user contacting the foot exercise device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The foot exercise device of claim 9, wherein the heel cup is configured to be moved by the heel to strengthen plantar fascia of the user.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The foot exercise device of claim 9, wherein the frictional horizontal surface of the first paddle structure comprises:
a first distal area that has a wider surface area configured to interface with a wider distal lower surface area of the corresponding forefoot; and
a second distal area that has a narrower surface area configured to interface with a narrower distal lower surface area of the corresponding forefoot.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The foot exercise device of claim 9, wherein the heel cup comprises a vertical surface configured to contact a rear surface of the heel.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The foot exercise device of claim 9 further comprising a block structure coupled to the base structure, wherein the block structure is configured to be placed against a vertical surface to prevent the base structure from moving.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The foot exercise device of claim 9 further comprising one or more fasteners, wherein the base structure forms one or more openings, wherein the heel cup is configured to pivot or move translationally relative to the base structure via the one or more fasteners interfacing with the one or more openings.
