Exercise devices – Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof – Having separate foot engaging members reciprocating on...
Utility Patent
1997-12-23
2001-01-02
Crow, Stephen R. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof
Having separate foot engaging members reciprocating on...
C482S072000, C482S138000
Utility Patent
active
06168554
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed toward an exercise apparatus and, more particularly, toward an exercise apparatus useable in a plurality of configurations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In today's health conscious world, people are realizing the benefits of a regular cardiovascular exercise program. As a result, numerous exercising apparatus or machines have been developed enabling a user to execute a variety of body exercising movements in opposition to a resistance. One such type of exercise device which has become popular is a cross-country ski simulator, with NORDICTRACK® models sold by NordicTrack, Inc. being very popular.
Such cross-country ski simulators include a pair of skis slidably mounted on a frame for movement in forward and rearward directions, with resistance, in opposite synchronization to simulate cross-country skiing. This resistance may be in the form of a flywheel device activated by rearward movement of the skis. These machines are generally combined with an arm exerciser in the form of a reciprocating cable extending around a pulley which resists turning. The user grasps and pulls on the opposite ends of the cable as he/she skis. This pulley may resist turning through the motion of an additional flywheel device activated by the cable.
While the cross-country ski simulating exercise aids in improving a user's overall health, a user is apt to get bored performing the same exercise movements over and over again. Further, by performing the same exercise movements over and over, only select groups of muscles are being worked, possibly to the detriment and/or exclusion of other muscles and/or muscle groups.
A user wishing to be able to perform a variety of exercise movements may have to purchase a different machine for each exercise movement. Such purchases may add up quickly. Further, a user may simply not have enough space in his/her house to accommodate a plurality of exercise machines.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a multi-purpose exercise machine which may be reconfigured or reoriented so that the user may perform a plurality of exercises, including rowing and cross-country skiing exercises.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An attachment, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, is provided for interchangeably converting a ski simulating machine into a rowing machine. The ski simulating machine includes a frame, a pair of skis mounted on the frame to move in forward and rearward directions on the frame, and means mounted on the frame for providing resistance to the pair of skis during at least one of forward and rearward movement. The attachment includes a seat slidably mounted on the skis for guided sliding movement with respect to the skis, foot support means mounted on the frame for bracing a user's feet when the user is sitting on the seat, and a pair of rowing oars each having a lower end pivotally mounted on a corresponding one of the skis.
In one aspect of the first embodiment of the present invention, a track is mounted on each of the skis for movement therewith, and means are provided for operatively mounting the seat on the track for guided sliding movement with respect to the track.
In another aspect of the first embodiment of the present invention, the mounting means includes a pair of rollers attached to the seat engaging each of the tracks.
In another aspect of the first embodiment of the present invention, the foot support means is pivotally mountable on the frame.
In another aspect of the first embodiment of the present invention, the foot support means is mountable on the skis for bracing a user's feet when the user is using the ski simulating machine to simulate skiing.
An attachment, according to a second embodiment of the present invention, is provided for interchangeably converting a ski simulating machine into a rowing machine. The ski simulating machine includes a frame, a pair of skis slidably mounted on the frame to move in forward and rearward directions on the frame, and means mounted on the frame for providing resistance to the pair of skis during at least one of forward and rearward movement. The attachment includes a seat mounted for guided sliding movement with respect to the frame, foot support means mounted on the frame for bracing a user's feet when the user is sitting on the seat, and means for coupling the resistance providing means for application to a user's arm movement during a rowing exercise.
In one aspect of the second embodiment of the present invention, the resistance providing means includes a one-way clutch flywheel rotatably mounted on the frame and a pair of oppositely disposed rollers keyed for rotation with the flywheel. The oppositely disposed rollers frictionally engage the skis and provide resistance associated with the one-way clutch flywheel to the pair of skis during at least one of forward and a rearward movement.
In another aspect of the second embodiment of the present invention, the coupling means includes a first rotatable spool mounted on the frame, the first rotatable spool having a first position wherein the first rotatable spool frictionally engages one of the oppositely disposed rollers, and a second disengaged position, a first pulley having its rotational axis translatable relative to the frame, a second pulley having its rotational axis fixed relative to the frame, first means for biasing translational movement of the rotational axis of the first pulley relative to the frame, and a first cable having distal ends, the first cable having one of the distal ends attached to the frame through the first rotatable spool and extending to a handle at the other distal end graspable by a user while sitting in the seat. The first rotatable spool, first pulley, second pulley and first means cooperating with the first cable to couple the resistance providing means for application to a user's arm movement during a rowing exercise with the first rotatable spool in its first position.
In another aspect of the second embodiment of the present invention, the first means includes a first tension spring coupled between the first pulley and the frame.
In another aspect of the second embodiment of the present invention, the coupling means further includes a second rotatable spool mounted on the frame, the second rotatable spool having a first position wherein the second rotatable spool frictionally engages the other of the oppositely disposed rollers, and a second disengaged position, a third pulley having its rotational axis translatable relative to the frame, a fourth pulley having its rotational axis fixed relative to the frame, second means for biasing translational movement of the rotational axis of the third pulley relative to the frame, and a second cable having distal ends, the second cable having one of its distal ends attached to the frame through the second rotatable spool and extending to a handle at the other distal end graspable by a user while sitting in the seat. The second rotatable spool, third pulley, fourth pulley and second means cooperating with the second cable to couple the resistance providing means for application to a user's arm movement during a rowing exercise with the second rotatable spool in its first position.
In another aspect of the second embodiment of the present invention, the second means includes a second tension spring coupled between the third pulley and the frame.
An attachment, according to a third embodiment of the present invention, is provided for interchangeably converting a ski simulating machine into a rowing machine. The ski simulating machine includes a frame, a pair of skis mounted on the frame to move in forward and rearward directions, first means on the frame for providing resistance to the pair of skis during at least one of forward and rearward movement, and second means mounted on the frame for providing resistance to user's arm movement. The attachment includes a seat mounted on the skis for movement therewith, and foot support means mounted on the frame for braci
Berg Steve W.
Swanson Ralph
Crow Stephen R.
Marsh Robert L.
Nguyen T.
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