Patent Application
20170252623
The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of exercise equipment and more specifically relates to ice skating training systems.
2. Description of Related Art
Many individuals participate in various sports and athletic activities that include the use of ice skates. Generally, these types of activities require extensive practice and training in order for the individual to be successful and competitive. There are various methods of training on ice skates, many of which require a surface of ice. This can prove to be difficult to find in warmer regions where the weather does not include times of the year when ice and snow are present.
Outdoor ice skating generally requires a large open area which can be dangerous if the individual is skating on a frozen lake with unknown thickness. Indoor ice skating areas may be available in some areas, but can be expensive to use (rental time) and may have a limited time available for an individual to ice skate and train. Treadmills are often used for individuals to train and exercise running, however it may be desirable for the user to add increased downward resistance in improve the ice skating skills and technique. Therefore a suitable solution is desired.
Several attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as those found in U.S. and Foreign Pat. Nos. U.S. Pat. No. 7,854,689 to Blaylock, U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,520 to Lepine et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,759 to Fricke et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,896,781 to Larson, U.S. Pat. No. 8,118,599 to Lipetz, U.S. Pat. No. 4,169,688 to Toshio, U.S. Pat. No. 8,784,223 to Talafous, CA 2672558 to Mcivor, NL 1,036,882 to Te Grou et al., and CA 2,116,378 to Lee. This art is representative of exercise equipment. However, none of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed.
Preferably, a ice skating training system should provide a safe and effective way for an individual to both train and practice ice skating skills with a variety of programmed drills and, yet would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable ice skating training system to avoid the above-mentioned problems.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known exercise equipment art, the present invention provides a novel ice skating training systems. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail is to provide an device to allow an individual to exercise and practice ice skating skills in a small area without the need for water-based ice. The present invention serves to increase the ice skating skills and endurance of the user by providing an ice skating simulation for the user.
An ice skating training system is disclosed herein, in a preferred embodiment, the ice skating training system comprising an ice skating training assembly in functional combination. The ice skating training system, in preferred embodiments, comprises a treadmill assembly and a harness assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the treadmill assembly comprises a frame, a pair of side-support-bars, a pedestal, a computer, an electric-motor, a plurality of bearings, and an artificial ice assembly in functional combination.
In preferred embodiments, the electric-motor operates via a 220-volt electrical supply and provides rotative motion to the artificial ice assembly, with the electric-motor being reversible such that the user may practice ice skating skills in an opposite direction. The plurality of bearings are structured and arranged to provide minimal resistance for the artificial ice assembly during use. Each of the pair of side-support-bars provide the user with a structural member to grasp during use.
The computer selectively controls a speed of the electric motor such that the user operates the computer to select a desired speed of the electric motor. Additionally, the computer controls the electric motor to allow the user to select a pre-programmed drill which includes variations of the speed of the electric motor during the drill. In preferred embodiments the computer calculates the number of calories burned by the user and the distance traveled by the user during use. The computer may also include a display such that the user may view the distance traveled and the number of calories burned for reference.
The pedestal is structured and arranged to support the computer, the harness assembly and the safety-tether. The harness assembly comprises the variable-downward resistance, the body-harness, and the safety-tether in functional combination. The safety-tether is structured and arranged to removably affix to the computer such that the user may shut off the power supply by pulling on the safety-tether, with the safety-tether including a clip to allow the user to affix the safety-tether to an article of clothing worn by the user such that if the user was to fall, the safety-tether would be incidentally be pulled, and power supply shut off. The variable-downward-resistance comprises elastic bands to provide a downward force in preferred embodiments.
The artificial ice assembly comprises a plurality of artificial-ice-panels and a plurality of lateral-pins in functional combination to provide the user with a continuous loop of an ice-like surface, in preferred embodiments. Also, preferred embodiments include each of the plurality of artificial-ice-panels constructed of an ultra-high-molecular-weight polymer to provide increased longevity and durability during use, and the plurality of lateral-pins may be constructed of a steel alloy for durability and longevity. Other materials may be used, but those mentioned herein are preferred.
The ice skating training system may further include embodiments where the treadmill assembly further comprises a plurality of wheels to aid the user in moving the ice skating training system and a linear-actuator structured and arranged to increase the vertical height of one side of the treadmill assembly to provide an incline. A kit and method are also disclosed herein.
The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as an ice skating training system. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.
The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, ice skating training systems, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention.
The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.
As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to exercise equipment and more particularly to a ice skating training system as used to improve ice skating exercise and training, for use in a small space without the need for ice.
Generally speaking, the ice skating training system comprises an ice skating training assembly, with the ice skating training assembly comprising a treadmill assembly and a harness assembly. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as user preferences, design preference, structural requirements, marketing preferences, cost, available materials, technological advances, etc., other ice skating training system arrangements with other components may be sufficient.
Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in
Referring now to
Computer 118 selectively controls (as operated by user 140) the relative speed of electric-motor 120 such that user 140 operates computer 118 to select the desired speed of electric-motor 120. Also, computer 118 controls electric-motor 120 to allow user 140 to select a pre-programmed drill which may include variations of the speed of electric-motor 120 during the ‘drill’ and other forms of training. Embodiments of ice skating training assembly 102 may include computer 118 which may calculate the number of calories burned by user 140 during use, and may further calculate a distance traveled by user 140 during use. In order to provide increased functionality, computer 118 may include display 172 such that user 140 may view the distance traveled and the number of calories burned during a particular exercise event. Computer 118 may further track and calculate a whole host of information relative to the exercise in real-time and over a duration so as to track progress.
As shown in
Embodiments of ice skating training system 100 may include variable-downward-resistance 162 comprised of resistance-rods to provide a downward force. Other embodiments may include variable-downward-resistance 162 comprising weights or comprising elastic bands to provide variable-downward-force 162.
Referring now to
Referring generally now to
The ice skating training system 100 may be sold as kit comprising the following parts: at least one ice skating training assembly 102 comprising treadmill assembly 110 and harness assembly 160; at least one set of ice-skates 176; and at least one set of user instructions 199. The kit has instructions such that functional relationships are detailed in relation to the structure of the invention (such that the invention can be used, maintained, or the like in a preferred manner). The ice skating training system 100 may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different components combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient.
Referring now to
It should be noted that step six 506 and step seven 507 are optional steps and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use 500 are illustrated using dotted lines in
It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as, for example, different orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc., may be sufficient.
The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.
