Exercise devices – Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof – Alpine or towed skiing
Patent
1991-10-03
1995-02-21
Crow, Stephen R.
Exercise devices
Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof
Alpine or towed skiing
482 51, 482112, A63B 2200, A63B 6918
Patent
active
053911300
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to exercise apparatus of the type comprising: positions spaced from the connections of the first arms to the frame; the second arms so as to provide, with the first and second arms and the frame, two four bar linkages; pivotal movement of each first arm with respect to the frame.
An apparatus of this type is disclosed in Canadian Patent 955,278, issued Sep. 24, 1974 to George V. Hague. The disclosed apparatus is intended to allow simulation of the leg movements in ice skating, with the apparatus applying resistance to a rearward push by the foot on a foot pad. In this known apparatus, the resistance acts only against the rearward movement of a foot pad, so that there is little effect in exercising the opposing muscle groups used in a forward stride. In addition, there is no provision made in the known device for adjusting the magnitude of the resistance. This limits both the training and therapeutic value of the apparatus.
The present invention is intended to address these deficiencies of the known device. Preferred embodiments of the invention are intended to provide additional improvements in other areas.
According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus of the aforementioned type that is characterized in that the resistance means is a double acting resistance means for resisting pivotal movement of each first arm with respect to the frame in both directions, and means are provided for adjusting resistance to movement provided by the resistance means.
The resistance means may, for example, be a double acting fluid cylinder with a cylinder barrel, a piston in the barrel and a piston rod extending from the piston through one end of the barrel. Fluid inlets to the barrel adjacent each end are equipped with one-way inlet valves, while outlets, also adjacent the ends of the barrel are connected to variable flow control valves for controlling the resistance to movement.
In an hydraulic system, a fluid reservoir may be provided by a tube surrounding the cylinder barrel, with the inlets communicating directly with the reservoir and return flow from the control valves discharging into the reservoir.
One particularly advantageous embodiment has the flow control valves mounted on a handle bar standard for ready access by a person using the apparatus.
The apparatus may also include adjustable stop means for varying stride length by varying the travel limits of the linkage. In one preferred form, the stop means is an adjustable stop projecting into one end of the resistance cylinder to limit piston travel.
The apparatus may also include a novel foot pad in which a sole plate carrying foot or shoe retainers is mounted rotatably on a support arm by a resilient pedestal. The support arm is itself aligned with and pivotally connected to the respective second arm to pivot upwards about a horizontal axis, transverse to the second arm. This arrangement allows the foot universal rotation on the support arm against the resistance of the pedestal. The foot may be lifted at the end of a rearward movement and during a forward movement, as in normal skating.
The geometry of the preferred embodiment has the pivot mountings between the first arm and the frame and between the tie rod and the frame spaced slightly and side by side. The pivotal connection of the tie rod to the second arm is approximately midway between the pivotal connection between the first and second arms and the foot pad. This produces a movement that is closer to a natural skating action than is the case with the known apparatus.
A further desirable feature is a handle bar for the apparatus, to be gripped by a user. The most preferred handle bar is one that can be adjusted fore and aft of the frame for the comfort of the user.
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercise apparatus according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, omitting the upper section of the handle bar;
FIG. 3 is a section alo
REFERENCES:
patent: 2068578 (1937-01-01), Stronach
patent: 3475021 (1969-10-01), Ruegsegger
patent: 3756595 (1973-09-01), Hague
patent: 4376532 (1983-03-01), Hunstad
patent: 4396189 (1983-08-01), Jenkins
patent: 4609190 (1986-09-01), Brentham
patent: 4915373 (1990-04-01), Walker
Green Edward J.
Kendall Gerald R.
Lumbard Mark
Naran Arvind
Ade Stanley G.
Battison Adrian D.
Crow Stephen R.
Thrift Murray E.
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