Exercise apparatus for simulating skating movement

• US 20040241631A1
• Filed: 06/23/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Technogym International SPA (Technogym SpA)
• Original Assignee: Technogym International SPA (Technogym SpA)
• Inventors: Nizamuddin, Nash
• Granted Patent: US 7,115,073 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/253
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0028 the movement path being non-parallel to the body-symmetrical-plane, e.g. support elements moving at an angle to the body-symmetrical-plane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/003 the movement path being perpendicular to the body-symmetrical-plane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0038 One foot moving independently from the other, i.e. there is no link between the movements of the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0051 the support elements being supported at a substantial distance below their axis, e.g. the axis for the foot support elements are arranged at hip height
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0053 each support element being cantilevered by a parallelogram system
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0071 the axis being located behind the user, e.g. for skate training
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/206 on a curved path
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0435 One or both ends being anchored to a rotating element
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/055 extension element type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0552 Elastic ropes or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/157 Ratchet-wheel links; Overrunning clutches; One-way clutches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/00 Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements force-resisting aspects A63B21/00; for particular parts of the body, e.g. to strengthen particular limbs or muscles A63B23/00; electric or electronic controls therefor A63B24/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0046 Details of the support elements or their connection to the exercising apparatus, e.g. adjustment of size or orientation attachments of resisters or weights to the body of the user A63B21/4001; using rollers, wheels, castors or gliding means to be moved over the floor or guide tracks A63B22/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0056 the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis A63B22/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0061 the pivoting movement being in a horizontal plane, e.g. skating movement platforms for reciprocating rotating motion about a vertical axis A63B22/14
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0069 about an axis inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, e.g. steppers with an inclined axis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/203 in a horizontal plane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/205 in a substantially vertical plane, e.g. for exercising against gravity exercising for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a user's body weight A63B21/068; with adjustable inclination A63B22/0023
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0488 : by spreading the legs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0022 : for skating
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

An exercise apparatus used to simulate skating or roller blading movement in a user includes a pair of sleds or shuttles which include a pedal adapted to support the foot of a user standing thereon. The shuttles are movable along a respective guide assembly consisting of one or more rails which curve away from each other extending from proximate forwardmost ends, outwardly and rearwardly. The rail assemblies are provided in a substantially mirror arrangement and curve downwardly from their respective forwardmost ends to a lowermost distal portion. A guide member is provided to assist in positioning and maintaining the shuttles in sliding movement along each guide assembly, whereby the reciprocal sliding movement of the shuttles along an associated guide assembly acts to guide the feet of the user in skating or roller blade movement.

Claims

1. A skating exercise apparatus for simulating skating or roller blading movement in a user, said apparatus including,

a pair of shuttles, each of said shuttles for supporting a foot of said user standing in a generally forward facing position thereon,

a pair of guide assemblies, each guide assembly supporting and limiting an associated one of said shuttles in reciprocal movement along a respective associated predetermined path, and wherein said shuttles are movable by said guide assembly along said associated predetermined path in a direction away from the other in a generally mirror arrangement from raised proximal upper position and curving downwardly and/or rearwardly to a lower distal position,

and whereby alternating reciprocal movement of said shuttles along said associated predetermined paths moves the feet of a user thereon generally simulating skating or roller blading movement.

2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein each said guide assembly includes a guide rail, said apparatus further including a guiding mechanism for guiding an associated shuttle in movement along the guide rail, the guiding mechanism having at least one wheel rotatably engaging the said guide rail for rolling movement therealong.

3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 further including a return device for biasing the shuttles to an initial starting position spaced towards the proximal upper position.

4. The exercise apparatus of claim 3 wherein said return device is selected from a flexible wire cable, a resiliently extendable spring and a resiliently extendable shock cord.

5. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 further including a tensioning mechanism selectively operable to permit said user to vary resistance to the movement of said shuttles in at least one direction along said predetermined path.

6. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said guide assemblies comprise a pivotally movable elongated support arm extending from a respective rearward end to a forward end,

an associated one of said shuttles being mounted to the forward end of each support arm for pivotal movement relative thereto,

the rearward end of each support arm being mounted to a pivot joint for selective reciprocal rotational movement thereabout from a first position wherein said forward end is moved with said associated shuttle positioned at said raised upper position, and a second position wherein said associated shuttle is positioned in said lower distal position.

7. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 further including a pair of pedals, each of said pedals comprising a generally planar plate being mounted to a respective shuttle frame and sized to support a foot of said user standing thereon,

in the lower distal position the shuttle positioning of said pedal in an orientation inclined substantially in a direction of said predetermined path relative to the horizontal, an angle at between about 15 and 50°

and with said user'"'"'s foot thereon oriented in a generally outward sideways orientation.

8. The exercise apparatus of claim 7 wherein in said upper position said plate assumes an orientation inclined relative to the horizontal at an angle of between 0 and ±

15°

.

9. The exercise apparatus of claim 7 wherein said guide assemblies each comprise guide rails, the guide rails each including a rail portion which each curves in a mirror arrangement continuously downwardly and rearward from respective raised proximal upper end portions to lower distal end portions, and a tensioning mechanism selectively operable by said user to vary resistance to the movement of said shuttles in at least one direction along an associated one of said rail portions.

10. The exercise apparatus of claim 9 further including a return device for biasing the shuttles to an initial starting position spaced towards the proximal end portion of said associated guide rail.

24. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein in said lower distal position said pedal is positioned in an orientation generally transverse to said direction of said predetermined path at an angle of between about 15°

and 30°

relative to horizontal to position the toes of said user'"'"'s foot thereon in a generally downwardly extending orientation.

25. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said shuttles further includes a planar pedal surface, in the lower distal position the shuttle pedal surface is positioned in an orientation inclined generally in a forward direction of said apparatus at an angle inclined at between 15 and 50°

relative to the horizontal.

26. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 25 wherein when the shuttle is in the upper position, the pedal surface is positioned in an orientation inclined at an angle relative to the horizontal at between 0 and ±

15°

.

27. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein when the shuttle is in said lower distal position, said pedal surface is positioned in an orientation selected to align a foot of said user thereon generally transversely to said direction of said predetermined path and inclined at an angle of between about 15°

and 30°

relative to horizontal.

47. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein each shuttle further includes a pedal having a pedal surface sized to support said user'"'"'s foot thereon,

in the lower distal position the pedal surface inclined in a direction generally transverse to the direction of the predetermined path at an angle inclined relative to the horizontal for supporting said user'"'"'s foot thereon with the toes pointing in a generally downwardly inclined orientation.

48. The exercise apparatus of claim 47 wherein in the lower distal position the pedal surface is inclined at an angle of between about 15 and 30°

.

11. An exercise apparatus comprising,

a pair of shuttles, each for movably supporting a foot of a user standing in a generally forward facing position thereon,

a guide assembly,

said guide assembly supporting and limiting each said shuttles in movement along an associated predetermined path, said predetermined paths oriented in a substantially mirror arrangement and each extending in a direction away from the other from a generally adjacent raised proximal upper end portion and curving continuously downwardly and rearwardly to a lower distal end portion,

whereby the movement of said shuttles along said associated predetermined path substantially simulates a lateral motion of the user'"'"'s foot movement during skating.

12. The exercise apparatus of claim 11 further including a return device for biasing the shuttles to an initial starting position adjacent the proximal end portion.

13. The exercise apparatus of claim 12 wherein said return device is selected from a resiliently extendable spring and a resiliently extendable shock cord.

14. The exercise apparatus of claim 11 further including a tensioning mechanism operable to permit said user to vary resistance to the movement of said shuttles in at least one direction along said predetermined path.

15. The exercise apparatus of claim 11 wherein each said shuttle further comprises,

a generally planar plate mounted to said frame and sized to support one of said user'"'"'s feet with said user standing thereon,

said frame including a proximal plate support spaced closest towards said proximal end portion of said associated predetermined path,

and a distal support spaced closest towards said distal end portion of said predetermined path,

said distal plate support extending vertically a distance greater than said proximal plate support whereby said plate is inclined forwardly as said shuttle moves along the associated predetermined path from the proximal end portion towards the distal end portion.

16. The exercise apparatus of claim 15 wherein said proximal plate support and said distal plate support extend by a distance selected so that said plate assumes an orientation inclined at between 0 and ±

15°

when the shuttle is located adjacent to the proximal end portion.

17. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said guide assembly comprises a pair of guide rails which continuously curve downward and rearwardly from proximatemost raised upper ends to lowermost distal ends.

28. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein each of said shuttles further includes a pedal having a longitudinal length and a lateral width for supporting said user'"'"'s foot, when said shuttle is at said lower distal position said pedal being positioned with its longitudinal length in an orientation inclined in a first generally transverse direction to said predetermined path at an angle of between about 15°

and 30°

relative to horizontal to position the toes of said user'"'"'s foot thereon in a generally downwardly extending orientation.

29. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 28 wherein in the lower distal position the pedal is moved to an orientation with its lateral width inclined in a second generally forward direction of said apparatus at an angle of between 15 and 50°

relative to the horizontal.

30. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 28 wherein when the shuttle is in the upper position the said pedal is oriented at an inclined angle relative to the horizontal of between 0 and ±

15°

.

18. An ice skating or roller blading exercise apparatus,

a pair of shuttles for movably supporting a foot of a user standing in a generally forward facing position thereon,

a guide assembly limiting movement of said shuttles in reciprocal movement along an associated predetermined path, each of said predetermined paths extending in a direction away from the other from a respective forward proximal portion and curving outwardly and rearwardly to a respective lower distal portion,

and whereby movement of said shuttles along said associated predetermined path moves the user'"'"'s feet in a lateral motion generally simulating skating or roller blading movement.

19. The exercise apparatus of claim 18 wherein said guide assembly comprises a pair of rails, each said rail associated with a respective shuttle and curving in the direction of said respective predetermined path downwardly and rearward from a proximal end adjacent the proximal portion of said respective path towards a distal end adjacent the distal portion of said respective predetermined path,

the apparatus further including

a return device for biasing the shuttles to an initial starting position spaced towards the proximal end of said associated rail, and

a tensioning mechanism selectively operable to permit said user to vary resistance to the movement of said shuttles towards the distal end portion.

20. The exercise apparatus of claim 19 wherein each of said shuttles further comprise,

a generally planar plate sized to support at least part of one of said user'"'"'s feet thereon, said planer plate being pivotal coupled to a remaining portion of said shuttle,

a frame including a proximal support spaced towards said proximal end of the associated rail, and supporting a proximate-most portion of said plate, and

a distal support spaced towards said distal end of said associated rail and supporting a distal-most portion of said plate, and

wherein said distal support extends from said associated rail a height selected generally greater than that of said proximal support.

21. The exercise apparatus of claim 19 wherein each of said shuttles further comprise,

a pedal comprising a planar plate sized to support one of said user'"'"'s feet thereon,

a frame including a proximal support spaced towards said proximal end of said associated rail, and supporting a proximate-most portion of said plate, and

a distal support spaced towards said distal end of said associated rail and supporting a distal-most portion of said plate, said distal support extending from said associated rail a height selected generally greater than that of said proximal support,

and wherein said proximal and distal support extends a height above said associated rail by a distance selected so that said plate assumes an orientation inclined relative to the horizontal at between 0 and ±

15°

when the shuttle is moved to a position adjacent to the proximal end, and inclined at between about 15 and 50°

when the shuttle is moved to the distal end.

31. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein each said shuttle includes a generally planar support surface for supportingly engaging said user'"'"'s foot, when said shuttle is moved to the lower distal portion of said predetermined path the support surface being positioned in an orientation inclined generally in a forward direction of said apparatus at an angle inclined at between 15 and 50°

relative to the horizontal.

32. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein each said shuttle includes a generally planar support surface for supportingly engaging said user'"'"'s foot when said shuttle is moved to the proximal portion of the predetermined path, the support surface being positioned in an orientation inclined at an angle relative to the horizontal at between 0 and ±

15°

.

33. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein each said shuttle includes a generally planar support surface for supportingly engaging said user'"'"'s foot, when said shuttle is moved to said lower distal portion of said predetermined path said support surface being positioned with a longitudinal length in an orientation generally transverse to said direction of said predetermined path at an angle of between about 15°

and 30°

relative to horizontal.

34. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 33 wherein when said shuttle is moved to the lower distal portion of the predetermined path, the support surface being positioned with a lateral width in an orientation inclined generally in a forward direction of said apparatus at an angle inclined at between 15 and 50°

relative to the horizontal.

35. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 33 wherein when said shuttle is moved to the proximal portion of the predetermined path, the support surface being positioned in an orientation inclined at an angle relative to the horizontal at between 0 and ±

15°

.

22. An ice skating or roller blading exercise apparatus comprising,

a pair of shuttles, each including an associated pedal having an upper surface for movably supporting a foot of a user standing in a generally forward facing position thereon,

a guide assembly, said guide assembly supporting and limiting each said shuttles in movement along an associated predetermined path, said predetermined paths extending substantially mirror arrangement and in a direction away from the other from a raised upper position and curving downwardly and rearwardly to a lower distal position, and

wherein in actuation of said apparatus, said shuttles are each movable along said associated predetermined path,

in the lower distal position the shuttle positioning of said upper surface of said pedal in an orientation inclined generally in forward direction relative to the horizontal at an angle between about 15 and 50°

, and wherein in said upper position said shuttle positioning said upper surface of said pedal in an orientation inclined relative to the horizontal at an angle between 0 and ±

15°

.

23. The ice skating apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein in said lower distal position said upper surface of said pedal is further inclined in generally transverse to the direction of said predetermined path at an angle of between about 15°

and 30°

relative to horizontal to reposition the toes of said user'"'"'s foot thereon in a generally downwardly extending orientation.

36. An ice skating or roller blading exercise apparatus comprising,

a pair of shuttles, each including an associated pedal for movably supporting a foot of a user standing in a generally forward facing position thereon, each said pedal being pivotally movable relative to a remaining portion of the shuttle,

a guide assembly, said guide assembly supporting and limiting each said shuttles in movement along an associated predetermined path, said predetermined paths extending substantially mirror arrangement and in a direction away from the other from a raised upper position and continuously curving downwardly and rearwardly to a lower distal position, and

wherein in actuation of said apparatus, said shuttles are each movable along said associated predetermined path,

wherein each of said pedals comprises a generally planar plate being mounted to a respective shuttle frame and sized to support at least part of one of said user'"'"'s feet thereon,

in the lower distal position, the shuttle positioning of said plate in an orientation inclined relative to the horizontal at between about 15 and 50°

.

37. The exercise apparatus of claim 36 wherein in said upper position said plate assumes an orientation inclined relative to the horizontal at between 0 and ±

15°

.

38. The ice skating apparatus as claimed in claim 37 wherein in said lower distal position said plate positioned is inclined in generally transverse to the direction of said predetermined path at an angle of between about 15°

and 30°

relative to horizontal to reposition the toes of said user'"'"'s foot thereon in a generally downwardly extending orientation.

39. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 36 wherein in said lower distal position said plate is repositioned in an orientation generally transverse to said direction of said predetermined path at an angle of between about 15°

and 30°

relative to horizontal for supporting said user'"'"'s foot thereon with the toes in a generally downwardly extending orientation.

40. A method of using a skating exercise apparatus to simulate skating or roller blading movement in a user, said apparatus including,

a pair of shuttles, each of said shuttles supporting a foot of said user standing thereon,

a pair of guide assemblies, each guide assembly supporting and limiting an associated one of said shuttles in reciprocal movement along a respective associated predetermined path, and wherein said shuttles are movable along said associated predetermined path in a direction away from the other in a generally mirror arrangement from raised proximal upper position and curving downwardly and/or rearwardly to a lower distal position,

wherein, with said user standing with each foot on an associates shuttle in a generally forward facing position, said user pushing a first said foot against said associated shuttle so as to move therewith along said associated predetermined path from said proximal upper position to said lower distal position, and thereafter pushing the second other said foot against said associated shuttle to move therewith along said associated predetermined path from said proximal upper position to said lower distal position,

and whereby alternating reciprocal movement of said user'"'"'s feet with said associated shuttles along said associated predetermined paths moves the feet of a user thereon in generally simulating skating or roller blading movement.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein said apparatus further includes a return device for biasing the shuttles to an initial starting position spaced towards the proximal upper position, and

wherein during movement of the first said foot with said associated shuttle to said lower distal position, said return device biasing said user'"'"'s second other foot and associated shuttle in return movement towards said proximal upper position.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein said apparatus further includes a pair of pedals, each of said pedals comprising a generally planar plate being mounted to a respective shuttle and sized to support a respective foot of said user thereon,

in the lower distal position the shuttle positioning said pedal in an orientation inclined to a direction of said predetermined path at an angle relative to the horizontal of between about 15 and 50°

, to maintain said user'"'"'s foot in a substantially neutral ankle position, with said foot pointing in a generally outward sideways orientation.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein in said upper position said plate assumes an orientation inclined at an angle relative to the horizontal at between 0 and ±

15°

.

44. The method of claim 42 wherein in the lower distal position the shuttle positioning the plate in a position inclined in a direction generally transverse to the direction of the predetermined path at an angle relative to the horizontal of between about 15 and 50°

, to support the toes of said user'"'"'s foot thereon pointing in a generally downwardly extending orientation.

45. The method of claim 41 wherein each of said shuttles further includes a generally planar pedal sized to support said user'"'"'s foot thereon;

with the shuttle in the lower distal position, the pedal inclined in a direction generally transverse to the direction of the predetermined path at an angle relative to the horizontal to support the toes of said user'"'"'s foot thereon pointing in a generally downward extending orientation.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein when said shuttle is in the lower distal position, said user'"'"'s toes point in said downward extending orientation at an angle between about 15 and 30°

.