Skating/skiing simulator with ergometric input-responsive resistance
First Claim
1. A skating/skiing simulator with ergometric variable input-responsive resistance comprising:
- a monorail mounted horizontally and supported in a middle portion by middle supports and at each of two ends of the monorail by telescoping end supports;
a pair of foot pads each attached atop a roller carriage with rollers rolling along the monorail;
a rotatable shaft attached to one of the end supports perpendicular to the monorail, wherein an ergometric input-responsive variable resistance means is attached to the rotatable shaft;
a first cable wound around the rotatable shaft extends from the rotatable shaft over a pulley at the opposite end support and back to the foot pad adjacent to the rotatable shaft;
a second cable wound around the rotatable shaft extends from the rotatable shaft to the other foot pad;
wherein both cables are wound around spring-loaded retractable one-way clutch drivers around the rotating shaft so that the cables rewind after being pulled;
a detachable front hand rail with sliding hand grips mounted along a front side of the monorail;
a performance monitor mounted on the front hand rail which performance monitor indicates user work output information sensed, interpreted, and displayed by an electronic microprocessor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Foot pads with foot straps are mounted to roller carriages which roll along a horizontal monorail with stationary middle supports and telescoping end supports. A rotatable shaft attached to one of the end supports is attached to an ergometric input-responsive variable resistance. Each of two cables wound around a spring-loaded retractable one-way clutch driver on the rotatable shaft connects to each of the foot pads. Stepper pedals hinged to the end support opposite the rotating shaft are each attached by a cable wound around the rotatable shaft. A long front rail with sliding hand grips and a short side rail are detachably mounted. A nordic double poling attachment may be mounted midway on the front rail with cables wound over pulleys and around the rotatable shaft. The platform is hinged in the center to fold in half for storage and transportation. A stationary foot pad is positioned adjacent to the hinges, and also serves as a stop for the moving foot pads. End foot pad stops may be positioned at any of a number of locations along the monorail. An electronic microprocesser performance monitor senses, interprets, and displays information about the output of the user on the invention. Any of a number of ergometric input-responsive resistance means can be used on the rotatable shaft including: a flywheel with a band brake, a vaned flywheel inside a variable opening case, a wind load, a water load, an eddy current load, a flywheel with a centrifugal braking device, and an electric motor and flywheel load.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A skating/skiing simulator with ergometric variable input-responsive resistance comprising:
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a monorail mounted horizontally and supported in a middle portion by middle supports and at each of two ends of the monorail by telescoping end supports; a pair of foot pads each attached atop a roller carriage with rollers rolling along the monorail; a rotatable shaft attached to one of the end supports perpendicular to the monorail, wherein an ergometric input-responsive variable resistance means is attached to the rotatable shaft; a first cable wound around the rotatable shaft extends from the rotatable shaft over a pulley at the opposite end support and back to the foot pad adjacent to the rotatable shaft; a second cable wound around the rotatable shaft extends from the rotatable shaft to the other foot pad; wherein both cables are wound around spring-loaded retractable one-way clutch drivers around the rotating shaft so that the cables rewind after being pulled; a detachable front hand rail with sliding hand grips mounted along a front side of the monorail; a performance monitor mounted on the front hand rail which performance monitor indicates user work output information sensed, interpreted, and displayed by an electronic microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification