FIELD OF THE INVENTION It is known that prolonged periods of sitting can have adverse effects on the body. In particular, sitting in confined spaces where the possibility of physical activity is limited, such as on long haul airline flights, can negatively impact on the body in a number of ways. One possible risk of such inactivity is the formation of blood clots, often in the legs. If such blood clots break free and travel through the body, the consequences can be serious and possibly fatal.

The formation of such clots, or deep-vein thrombosis, in people travelling on aircraft is often labelled as"economy class syndrome"as it is believed to result from passengers spending long periods in cramped conditions on board. It is recommended that to reduce the risk of these clots forming, passengers should exercise regularly and drink sufficient water to avoid dehydration. However, in commercial aircraft it is often not possible to exercise by moving around the aircraft due to narrow aisles and restrictions on moving during rough weather. While exercises such as stretching and lifting the legs in a seated position are helpful, some passengers such as the frail or elderly may also find this difficult.

The present invention attempts to overcome at least in part the difficulties of performing regular exercise of the legs in a seated position where limited space is available for movement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided an exercise apparatus comprising at least one elastic member having a foot engaging portion adjacent a first end thereof, wherein the foot engaging portion is arranged to engage with the foot of a user when the user is in a sitting position and the elastic member is arranged to extend upwardly from the first end thereof such that tension in the elastic member assists the user to lift their foot from the ground.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an exercise apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the exercise apparatus of Figure 1 in use; Figure 3 is a side view of the exercise apparatus of Figure 1 in use; and Figure 4 is a side view of the exercise apparatus of Figure 1 in an alternative arrangement for use; Figure 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an exercise apparatus in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of the exercise apparatus of Figure 5 in use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to Figures 1 to 4, there is shown an exercise apparatus 10 comprising first and second foot engaging portions 12 and 14 and respective first and second elastic members 16 and 18. The first foot engaging portion 12 is secured to a first end of the

first elastic member 16 and the second foot engaging portion 14 is secured to a first end of the second elastic member 18.

The first and second foot engaging portions 12 and 14 each comprise a flexible strap member 22. The flexible strap member 22 includes a fastening means arranged such that an end of the flexible strap member 22 remote from the respective elastic member 16 or 18 is releasably securable to a portion of the flexible strap member 22 adjacent the respective elastic member 16 or 18 such that the flexible strap member 22 forms a loop through which a user may place their foot (as shown in Figure 2). The fastening means is arranged such that the length of the loop formed is adjustable. The fastening means 26 may be in the form of a hook and loop fastener where a portion of hook material is located adjacent the elastic member 16 or 18 and a portion of loop material 26 extends along a portion of the length of the flexible strap member 22 adjacent the remote end of the strap member 22. The portion of the hook material 24 may then be secured to any point along the length of the loop material 26 to allow adjustment of the length of the loop.

The exercise apparatus is also provided with a support member 20 arranged to support second ends of the first and second elastic members 16 and 18 at points upwardly of the first ends of the first and second elastic members 16 and 18. The support member is in the form of a flexible shoulder strap 28 connected between a second end of the first elastic member 16 and a second end of the second elastic member 18. The flexible shoulder strap 28 is arranged to be placed around the back of the neck of a user such that it extends in use from a point in front of and below the right shoulder of the user, to a point in front and below of the left shoulder of the user (as shown in Figure 2).

In use, the user arranges the flexible shoulder strap 28 around their neck and shoulders as described above when in a sitting position. The first elastic member 16 is arranged to extend downwardly from the flexible shoulder strap 28 on an outer side of the user's right leg. The flexible strap member 22 is arranged to extend from the first end of the first elastic member 16, around an inner side of the user's right foot and back up to a point adjacent the outside of the user's right foot where it is secured to via the fastening means to form a loop as previously described.

The second elastic member 18 is arranged to extend from the flexible shoulder strap 28 downwardly on an outer side of the user's left leg. The flexible strap member 22 is arranged to loop around the user's right foot as described above for the left foot. The user lifts their left foot from the floor (as shown in Figure 2) and adjusts the flexible strap member 22 such that the second elastic member 18 is under tension. The user may then exercise by pressing their left foot downwardly to the floor against the tension in the second elastic member 18 and allowing the tension in the second elastic member 18 to then assist the user to lift their left foot back off the floor.

The user may then exercise their right leg in the same manner by adjusting the flexible strap member 22 on their right foot as described above for the left foot.

Figure 4 shows an alternate arrangement for use of the exercise apparatus 10. In this form, the support means 20 is in the form of a shoulder strap which is longer that that of the previous embodiment. The shoulder strap may then be looped around an upper portion of the seat in which the user is sitting. This allows some of the force to be taken off the neck of the user and to be taken by the seat.

Figure 5 and 6 show an alternative embodiment of an exercise apparatus 10 in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, the foot engaging portion

12 and 14 each comprise a loop which is not length adjustable as was the case in Figures 1 to 4. The length of the exercise apparatus 10 between the support member 20 and the foot engaging portion 12 and 14 is adjusted by adjustment means 30 provided adjacent ends of the support member 20.

The adjustment means 30 each comprise an adjustment strap 34 secured to the second end of the respective elastic member 16 or 18 and a ring member 32 secured to the adjacent end of the support member 20. Each adjustment strap 34 is provided with an adjustable fastening means such as hook and loop fasteners along the length of the adjustment strap 34 such that an end of the adjustment strap 34 may be passed through the respective ring member 32 and secured to any point along the length of the adjustment strap 34 to very the length of the exercise apparatus between the foot engaging portions 12 and 14 and the support member 20.

The use of the adjustment means 30 adjacent the support means 20 allows the adjustment of the length of the exercise apparatus 10 without the user needing to bend down to the foot engaging portions 12 and 14.

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention