Exercise aid

Abstract

To effectively increase force for stepping on the ground.SOLUTION: A motion assist tool includes a toe locking part which locks a toe, and a plate part connecting to the toe locking part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an exercise assist device.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, in sports, the force of strongly stepping on the ground is important. Performance is greatly improved by efficiently using the repulsive force (ground reaction force) generated by stepping on the ground.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a sole training device for training the plantar muscle group. The sole training device of Patent Document 1 is for training the plantar muscle group.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Various tools for training (for example, Patent Document 1) have been devised. However, an exercise assist device aimed at effectively strengthening the force of stepping on the ground has not yet been proposed.

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a tool useful for effectively strengthening the force of stepping on the ground.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The present invention proposes an exercise assist device including a finger locking portion for a finger to lock and a plate portion connected to the finger locking portion.

[0008] The present invention proposes an exercise assist device, wherein the plate portion is configured such that a biological part connected to a finger locked to the finger locking portion lies on the plate portion.

[0009] The present invention proposes an exercise assist device, wherein the biological part is near the base of the index finger on the sole of the foot.

[0010] The present invention proposes an exercise assist device, wherein a substantially central portion of the upper surface of the plate portion is convex.

[0011] The present invention proposes an exercise assist device, wherein the plate portion has a concave shape at a substantially central portion of the lower surface of the plate portion.

[0012] The present invention proposes an exercise assist device, wherein the finger locking portion has a cylindrical portion.

[0013] The present invention proposes an exercise assist device, wherein the finger locking portion is made of an elastic material or a soft material.

[0014] The present invention proposes an exercise assist device, wherein the plate portion is made of an elastic material or a soft material.

Advantages of the Invention

[0015] By wearing the exercise assist device of the present invention, the user can clearly know which part of the foot to apply force to in order to strengthen the force of stepping on the ground. Thereby, effective training for strengthening the force of stepping on the ground can be performed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016]

Figure 1

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Figure 8

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] The invention of the present application is an exercise assist device. The exercise assist device includes a finger locking portion for locking a finger and a plate portion connected to the locking portion. The plate portion is configured such that a living body portion connected to the finger locked to the finger locking portion is placed thereon.

[0018] The living body portion is near the base of the index finger on the sole of the foot. In order to strengthen the force of stepping on the ground, it is important to perform training to apply force to the vicinity of the base of the index finger on the sole of the foot (around the middle metatarsal head). The reason is that when force is applied to the vicinity of the base of the index finger on the sole of the foot, force is also simultaneously applied to the entire toes, the ball of the thumb, and the ball of the little finger. When stepping on the ground while concentrating on the vicinity of the base of the index finger on the sole of the foot, the ground can be firmly pressed without wasting the stepping force. However, even if instructed to apply force to the vicinity of the base of the index finger on the sole of the foot, it is difficult for the general public to actually embody it and they cannot do it well. When stepping on the ground with this exercise assist device attached to the foot, the entire sole of the foot receives the reaction force from the ground, but for the area near the base of the index finger on the sole of the foot, the plate portion receives the reaction force from the ground in a state of being crimped. At this time, the feeling in the vicinity of the base of the index finger on the sole of the foot is different from other areas of the sole of the foot and is a more pressed feeling. Thereby, the user can sensuously and clearly know the area on the sole of the foot where force should be applied to strengthen the force of stepping on the ground.

[0019] The plate portion has a convex shape at approximately the center of the upper surface of the plate portion. Since the approximately central portion of the upper surface of the plate portion is convex, the living body portion is further pushed upward, so that the user can more clearly know the area of the living body portion on which to focus in order to strengthen the force of stepping on the ground.

[0020] The plate portion may have a concave shape at approximately the center of the lower surface of the plate portion. When the approximately central portion of the lower surface of the plate portion is concave, the approximately central portion of the upper surface of the plate portion pushed by the living body portion is recessed downward, and when it returns to its original position by the repulsive force, the living body portion is pushed upward. Thereby, the user can more clearly know the area of the living body portion on which to focus in order to strengthen the force of stepping on the ground.

[0021] The finger locking portion has a cylindrical portion. When the user's finger is inserted into the cylinder, the exercise assist device is attached to the user's living body portion. The finger locking portion is made of an elastic material or a soft material. The plate portion is made of an elastic material or a soft material. For example, synthetic rubber or natural rubber such as silicone rubber can be mentioned. Also, soft resin can be mentioned.

[0022] A plurality of holes may be provided in the plate portion. The diameter of the holes is preferably, for example, 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm, but is not limited thereto. The ventilation property is enhanced by the holes.

[0023] Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described. The following examples are merely examples of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the following examples. That is, modified and applied examples in which the features of the present invention are not significantly impaired are also included in the present invention.

[0024] (First Embodiment) The exercise assist device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is used for training to strengthen the force of the foot stepping on the ground. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the motion assist device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the motion assist device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the motion assist device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a left side view of the motion assist device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention (the right side view is symmetric to the left side view). FIG. 5 is a front view of the motion assist device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a rear view of the motion assist device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] The motion assist device 1 includes a finger locking portion 11 for locking a finger. The motion assist device 1 includes a plate portion 12.

[0026] The finger locking portion 11 has a cylindrical portion 112. Since the finger locking portion 11 only needs to lock the finger, it may not be cylindrical and may have a substantially C-shaped cross section. In the case of a substantially C-shaped cross section, even for persons with slightly different finger sizes, it is possible to cope with the same size of finger locking portion. A toe is inserted into the cylindrical portion 112. The inserted toe is, for example, the index finger. The shape of the mouth of the cylindrical portion 112 is preferably elliptical. This is to prevent a gap from occurring with the inserted finger. The thickness of the mouth of the cylindrical portion 112 is preferably such that the index finger just passes through. The diameter in the horizontal direction of the mouth of the cylindrical portion 112 is preferably, for example, 1.6 cm to 2.6 cm. The diameter in the vertical direction of the mouth of the cylindrical portion 112 is preferably, for example, 0.9 cm to 1.9 cm.

[0027] The motion assist device 1 is made of an elastic material. For example, a rubber material (synthetic rubber or natural rubber such as silicone rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, acrylonitrile rubber, butyl rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, urethane rubber, etc.) is used. By using a rubber material, the finger locking portion 11 and the finger inserted into the finger locking portion 11 are in close contact.

[0028] The plate part 12 is connected to the finger locking part 11. The plate part 12 is configured such that the vicinity of the base of the index finger of the foot locked by the finger locking part 11 is placed thereon. The substantially central part of the upper surface of the plate part 12 is convex. This convex part is called the raised part 121. As shown in FIG. 7, the raised part 121 is raised more than the surrounding area. In a state where the index finger of the foot is locked to the finger locking part 11, the raised part 121 is arranged at a position such that the vicinity of the base of the index finger of the foot just touches. Since the vicinity of the base of the index finger of the foot is further pushed up from the raised part 121, the user can sensorially recognize the area of the sole of the foot on which to focus in the training. Since the motion assist device 1 is made of a rubber material, it prevents the foot placed on the plate part 12 from slipping. Also, because it is a rubber material, the foot does not hurt even when pressed by the raised part 121.

[0029] The usage method of the motion assist device 1 will be described. The user inserts the index finger of the foot into the cylindrical part 112 of the finger locking part 11. Regarding the direction of inserting the finger into the cylindrical part 112, it is inserted from the cylindrical opening on the side of the plate part 12. When the finger fits into the cylindrical part 112, the motion assist device 1 is attached to the foot. FIG. 8(a) is a view of the foot with the motion assist device 1 attached seen from the back side. FIG. 8(b) is a view of the foot with the motion assist device 1 attached seen from the sole side. The user wears socks over the motion assist device 1. Since the sock presses the plate part 12 from below, the plate part 12 and the sole of the foot are more closely attached, preventing the plate part 12 from shifting.

[0030] The user steps on the ground while wearing socks. Then, the raised portion 121 of the plate portion 12 presses the base part of the index finger. The user sensually recognizes that the pressed area of the foot is the area to which force should be concentrated. And the user performs training to apply force to that area. For example, the user may stand on the ground with the exercise aid 1 attached to the foot and perform training to apply force to the base part of the index finger. Also, with the exercise aid 1 attached to the foot, the user may perform muscle strength training such as squats while being conscious of the base part of the index finger. Further, in the case of golf training, with the exercise aid 1 attached to the foot and being conscious of the base part of the index finger, the user may perform training to swing the club. These trainings are just examples and can be applied to various other trainings. If the exercise aid 1 is worn on both feet, both feet can be trained simultaneously. However, it may also be worn only on the foot that one wants to train.

[0031] According to the first embodiment, by the raised portion 121 of the plate portion 12 pressing the base part of the index finger, the user can clearly know the area of the foot to which force should be concentrated in order to strengthen the force of stepping on the ground.

[0032] Note that the use of the exercise aid 1 is not limited to training. The user may play while wearing the exercise aid 1 on the foot. In this case, since the user can be conscious of the area of the foot to which force should be concentrated even during play, the user can firmly apply force to the base part of the index finger even during play.

[0033] Although the present invention has been described with the above preferred embodiments, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made and implemented within the scope of its technical idea.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0034] 1 Exercise aid 11 Finger locking part 111 Cylindrical part 12 Plate part 121 Raised portion

Claims

1. A training method for strengthening the force of stepping on the ground using an exercise aid, wherein the exercise aid is an index finger insertion part where only the index finger of the foot can be inserted, rather than all the toes of the foot being insertable simultaneously, and a plate part connected to the index finger insertion part and is configured such that when the index finger of the foot is inserted into the index finger insertion part, the vicinity of the base of the index finger on the sole of the foot is placed on the plate part, a convex shape is formed at approximately the center of the upper surface of the plate part, a concave shape is formed at approximately the center of the lower surface of the plate part, and a training method in which the force of stepping on the ground is strengthened by inserting the index finger of the foot into the index finger insertion part and stepping on the ground.

2. An exercise aid useful for strengthening the force of stepping on the ground, wherein the exercise aid is an index finger insertion part where only the index finger of the foot can be inserted, rather than all the toes of the foot being insertable simultaneously, and a plate part connected to the index finger insertion part and is configured such that when the index finger of the foot is inserted into the index finger insertion part, the vicinity of the base of the index finger on the sole of the foot is placed on the plate part, a convex shape is formed at approximately the center of the upper surface of the plate part, a concave shape is formed at approximately the center of the lower surface of the plate part, and an exercise aid in which the force of stepping on the ground is strengthened by inserting the index finger of the foot into the index finger insertion part and stepping on the ground.

3. The exercise aid according to claim 2, which is used in the training method of claim 1.

4. The exercise aid according to claim 2, wherein the index finger insertion part has a cylindrical shape.

5. The exercise aid according to claim 2, wherein the index finger insertion part is made of an elastic material or a soft material.

6. The exercise aid according to claim 2, wherein the plate part is made of an elastic material or a soft material. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

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