Exercise devices – Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof
Patent
1990-11-29
1992-07-28
Apley, Richard J.
Exercise devices
Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof
482 13, 472118, A63B 2200
Patent
active
051337002
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an arrangement of a flexible sliding mat to be placed on a floor and, if desired, for use with an exerciser, to simulate skating, snow skiing, etc.
A known and used sliding mat includes a piece of linoleum with a friction coating glued to the underside to make the mat lie firmly on a floor, and provided with transverse stop/kick-off edge elements in the shape of, e.g. cover strips glued onto the mat. Such a sliding mat may be rolled up to a minimum size bulk for storage or transportation, but has the disadvantage that the sliding mat, when rolled out, will be bumpy after having been rolled up.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a sliding mat which has considerably improved properties in use as compared with the known sliding mat, both with regard to its capability of lying firmly in a flat state on its support when rolled out, and to the possibility of adjusting the distance between stop/kick-off edge elements in the form of transverse strips. Also, it is an object to eliminate a disadvantage of the present strip-shaped stop/kick-off edge elements, i.e. a tendency to tilt or twist outwardly when a user's foot hits the stop edge during sliding movement, thus resulting in the foot sliding across the stop edge element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
An embodiment of the invention will be described in more detail below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a plan view from above of a sliding mat;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation and partly in section of a detail of such mat, and shown on an enlarged scale; and
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sliding mat in use with an exerciser.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A sliding mat 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, comprises a sliding surface member 2 and transverse stop/kick-off edge elements 3a, 3b at opposite ends 1a, 1b of sliding surface member 2. At least one of stop/kick-off edge elements 3a, 3b is displaceable along the sliding mat 1 for adjustment of the length/extension of sliding surface member 2 to be adapted to the exercise of interest and the size of the user.
Each stop/kick-off edge element 3a, 3b has a longitudinal flange 4, with flanges 4 facing each other, i.e. inwards of sliding surface member 2. Flanges 4 are provided below sliding mat 1 to prevent the stop/kick-off edge elements 3a, 3b from tilting when the user's foot or feet hit them laterally, since at the same time the foot exerts a vertical load on flange 4.
Each stop/kick-off edge element 3a, 3b, which preferably are identical, consists of two longitudinal aluminum members 3, 5, although the members may obviously be manufactured from any suitable material. Member 3 which forms the stop/kick-off edge element 3a, 3b proper, bears against the upper side of the sliding mat, i.e. sliding surface member 2, whereas the other member 5 is substantially flat and bears against the lower side of sliding mat 1, directly below upper member 3. Upper and lower members 3, 5 are connected at each of opposite ends thereof by releasable connecting members. The connecting members are secured to sliding mat 1. Lower member 5 includes the flange 4 extending outwardly beyond one longitudinal side of upper member 3.
The releasable connecting members each include a screw bolt 6 and a nut 7 for cooperation with aligned holes 8, 9 in the end portions of upper and lower members 3, 5. The under side and the upper side of upper and lower members 3, 5, respectively, having complementary cross sectional shapes 10, 11, e.g. a concave cross sectional shape 10 and a convex cross sectional shape 11. The sliding mat can be clamped firmly between members 3, 5 so that the latter will not slide due to lateral loads when the user does exercises on the sliding mat. As shown in FIG. 2, upper member 3 may be hollow with at least one oblique face forming an obtuse angle with sliding surface member 2 to form stop/kick-off edge member 3a, 3b.
Sliding mat 1 advantageously may include a preferably tr
REFERENCES:
patent: 821881 (1906-05-01), Pell et al.
patent: 4779862 (1988-10-01), Keppler
Apley Richard J.
Crosby D. F.
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