Exercise devices – Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof – Alpine or towed skiing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-05
2001-05-15
Yu, Mickey (Department: 3733)
Exercise devices
Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof
Alpine or towed skiing
C482S051000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231484
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field
The invention is in the field of exercise machines of the type which develop a person's muscles used during snow skiing by simulating the movements made while snow skiing.
2. State of the Art
The typical exercise gym contains a multitude of different exercise machines of various designs to develop and build various muscles or groups of muscles in a person using such exercise equipment. Generally such exercise equipment is generic in that it is not designed to develop the specific muscles used in any one sport. As related to a specific sport such as snow skiing a person wishing to enhance the strength of muscles specific to snow skiing must determine which muscles are used in snow skiing and use a combination of exercise machines which work out those particular muscles or groups of muscles. This typically required the use of multiple exercise machines since no single exercise machine works all of the required muscles and muscle groups for a particular sport requiring additional time while doing nothing to enhance a person's skills such as balance and timing for the desired sport. Very recently, with the explosion of interest in skiing and snow boarding, several ski simulating exercise machines have been patented.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,995 issued to Alvarez et al. discloses a ski simulating exercise machine which has a pair of elongate foot support arms each of which pivot through a limited range of rotational motion about separate axes of rotation. Each respective axis of rotation extends along the intersection of perpendicular planes, one plane for each axis of rotation being substantially perpendicular to a machine central plane and the other planes for each axis of rotation intersecting one another. A gear is affixed to each foot support arm which gears rotate with the respective arm about its axis of rotation. An idler gear links the two gears to coordinate the motion of the respective arms.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,033 issued to Palmer discloses a ski simulating exercise machine which has a pair of elongate foot support arms each of which pivot similarly to those in the Alvarez et al. patent. Coordination therebetween, however, is accomplished by means of a pair of hydraulic cylinders one of which connects to each foot support arm and which move hydraulic fluid back and forth therebetween. A separate similar system is used to coordinate a pair of simulated ski poles on the exercise machine.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,659,842 issued to Aijala discloses a ski training machine which has a pair of horizontally rotatable arms pivotably attached to a support base. Each arm has a foot accepting portion in which a person's feet are placed. Each arm has an adjustable braking device to provide variable resistance to pivoting depending to vary the workout based on the user's level of fitness and skill.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,463 issued to Kleinnibbelink discloses a ski training machine having a generally horizontal platform upon which a person stands which platform is supported by an elongate arm bent downward at the far end therefrom and which bent portion fits within a bearing structure attached to a support frame. An elongate U-shaped handle bar extends vertically from the support frame for a person to grip during use for balance and for moving the arm from side-to-side. The arm travels in a semicircular upwardly facing arc in use and is self-centering by gravity due to the center position being the lowest position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention is an exercise machine which simulates the particular movements of a person peculiar to snow skiing so as to develop and strengthen those muscles. The exercise machine simulates the motion of snow skiing through a pair of foot support arms which act as simulated snow skis and upon the end of each is mounted a foot pedal which supports the person. The foot support arms pivot about the pivot end opposite the foot pedals about multiple axes longitudinally rotate to more precisely simulate snow skiing. Likewise multiple axes pivots are used elsewhere in the exercise machine produce this unique motion of the foot support arms. The foot support arms are mechanically coordinated to move generally parallel to one another as they are pivoted as in parallel snow skiing. As the support arms are pivoted horizontally from the centered position each support arm moves vertically upward and tilts inwardly toward the center with the innermost foot pedal vertically rising higher than the outermost foot support arm pedal as a skier does when edging in a turn. The foot support arms trace each trace a portion of a generally upwardly directed conical path with the ends thereof tracing generally upwardly directed arcuate paths.
The movement of the foot support arms, which each of which are pivotally attached for multiple axes rotation at the pivot end to the lower portion of a ground contacting support frame is accomplished by means of a pair of generally vertically extending pivot arms, each arm resiliently connected at a lower end thereof to a respective foot support arm by means of angled, or offset brackets intermediate the pivot end and the foot pedal. The upper end of the pivot arms are connected for multiple axes rotation to an upper portion of the support frame. A generally horizontally extending tie bar is pivotally connected at each end thereof to a respective pivot arm intermediate the ends thereof with the tie bar coordinating the movement of the foot support arms.
The exercise machine of the invention can include handle bars having a U-shaped upper gripping portion and an elongate, generally vertical post extending from the middle of the gripping portion which is pivotally connected at the midportion of the stem to an upper portion of the support frame and the lower portion of the stem pivotally connected to the tie bar. The handle bars move laterally in coordinated movement with the foot support arms, the lower portion of the handle bars moving the same direction as the foot support arms and the upper portion of the handle bars including the gripping portion moving opposite thereof. The handle bars gripping portion is gripped in hands to enhance a user's balance and to provide an upper body workout by pushing laterally on the handle bars in coordination with opposite pushing on the foot support arms.
Typically a pair of standard damper cylinders, spring cylinders, heavy elastic bands, or extension springs are advantageously pivotally attached between the ends of the tie bar and the upper frame to increase resistance to lateral movement of the foot support arms so as to provide a more strenuous workout. The placement and the number of cylinders and bands is not critical with multiple positions possible to achieve the same effect.
Preferably the pivot arms can be adjustable in length and/or the relative position of the lower end thereof can be movable along the length of the respective foot support arms so as to allow the relative movement of the foot support arms to change. Lengthening and shortening of the pivot arms can be done by using threaded insert in the ends of the pivot arms which can be rotated to lengthen and shorten the pivot arms. Similarly, the lower end of each pivot arm can each attached to a bracket which is movable between multiple positions along the length of the respective foot support arms and which can be bolted in the desired position.
The support frame is preferably a generally backwardly bent capital “U” shape with the long legs of the “U” contacting the ground and the short or crossing leg elevated above the ground. A cross brace of the support frame ties the long legs together adding rigidity to the support frame. The foot support arms are pivotally attached to the cross brace for multiple axes rotation. The upper ends of the pivot arms, handle bar vertical post, and cylinders or bands are attached to the short leg of the support frame. While this support frame configuration is economical to manufacture, numerous other frame configurations are possible which
Mallinckrodt & Mallinckrodt
Pothier Denise
Rayve Brian R.
Yu Mickey
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