1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the technical area of exercising apparatus simulating techniques used in skiing, and pertains more particularly to an apparatus that enables a user to exercise in ski boots.
2. Description of Related Art
Apparatus in the art for providing exercise while simulating techniques used in skiing is well known, but such apparatus at the time of the filing of the present patent application does not provide for a user to wear his or her ski boots while using the apparatus in a manner that simulates the actual feel that is experienced with the boots attached to an actual pair of skis, while also providing safe exit from the apparatus. This is because to capture the feel of having the boots on, with the boots attached to skis, requires that the user have the boots on, and attached to foot pads of the apparatus in a manner similar to the attachment to skis. In this circumstance the user of the exercise apparatus cannot step off the apparatus at need.
What is clearly needed in the art is a ski exercise apparatus that enables users to safely exercise with their ski boots on.
In one embodiment of the present invention a method is provided, comprising putting on a pair of ski boots by a person seeking to exercise on a ski exercise machine, stepping onto a pair of foot pads on the ski exercise machine one at a time, the foot pads implemented on a carriage rolling on arcuate rails, engaging a rearward portion of the sole of each ski boot in each foot pad beneath a heel retainer plate as a part of each foot pad, such that the heel portion of the ski boot is constrained vertically, placing the toe of each ski boot behind an adjustable toe stop on each foot pad such that the ski boot is constrained from moving forward in the foot pad, but the toe is not constrained vertically, and grasping a hand rail as part of the ski exercising machine and urging the carriage side to side on the arcuate rails, simulating skiing activity.
In one embodiment of the method the person adjusts position of the adjustable toe stop prior to mounting the ski exercise machine to exercise. Also in one embodiment the person, having exercised on the ski exercise machine, lifts the toes of the ski boots above the toe stops one at a time, slides the boots forward one at a time, disengaging the sole portion from under the heel retainer plate, freeing the ski boots from the foot pads, and steps off the ski exercise machine onto a platform assembly. Also in one embodiment, at the time of stepping off, the rolling carriage is near one end of the arcuate rails, and therefore at a height lesser than at a center of the arcuate rails, and the skier steps off the ski exercise machine onto one of two lower levels of the platform assembly. And in one embodiment, at the time of stepping off, the rolling carriage is near a center of the arcuate rails, and the skier steps off onto a center, higher level of the platform assembly.
Apparatus 101 further comprises a platform assembly 106 having an uppermost level, and a lower level to each side of the uppermost level. There is, in addition, a hand rail apparatus 107 provided for a user to stabilize himself or herself during use. An important function of the unique arrangement of elements shown in
Each foot pad assembly in this embodiment is mounted to sliding plate 202 by a wedge-shaped bracket 203 so that each foot pad assemble is canted forward at an angle of from about six to twenty-degrees toward platform assembly 106 and hand rail 107. This angle may vary depending on a number of circumstances, and provides a proper angle for the user, who will be gripping hand rail 107, to exercise with ski boots on.
A very important feature of each footpad 204 is apparatus provided with the foot pads for interfacing to a user's ski boots. Firstly a retainer plate 205 is provided at one end of the foot pad, away from the platform assembly, for engaging a sole of a ski boot at the heel of the boot. Heel retainer plate 205 is spaced above a floor plane of the footpad by a distance somewhat less than the thickness of the sole of the boot, and is spring-loaded vertically downward. The arrangement enables a user to step into the footpad and to engage the sole of each ski boot at the heel under spring-loaded heel retainer plate 205, so that, once engaged, the boot may not disengage vertically without first moving forward.
On each foot pad 204 a toe stop 206 is provided at the end of the foot pad 204 away from heel retainer plate 205. This toe stop enables the user, once the sole at the heel is engaged under heel retainer plate 205, to stand on the foot pads with the toe of the sole of the boot against the toe stop.
Footpad 204 is shown in
Ski boot 301 in
Importantly, the toe portions of the user's boots are not constrained vertically, and it is not necessary to do so, because the natural skiing actions keep weight on the forward portions of the boots. However, when the user is ready to stop, or if something happens that dictates a quick exit, the user may simply shift his or her weight to the rear, and the toe portions of the boots will lift, allowing the user to disengage the heel portions readily and step off the foot pads forward to platform 106. If the user is to the left or right, lower on the arcuate rails than the center portion, the user may step onto one of the two lower levels of platform 106. If the carriage at the point of exit is at the center, higher portion of the arcuate rails, the user may step onto the higher platform.
Typically a user, before using the apparatus of the invention for exercise, will use his or her ski boots to set the proper position of toe stops 206 with buttons 402. The user may then put on the ski boots, and mount the apparatus for exercise.
A skilled person will realize that the elements and arrangements as described in the examples and embodiments in this specification may be altered in various ways without departing from the scope of the invention. The scope is limited only by the claims that follow.
The present application is a divisional application of co-pending application Ser. No. 14/068,950, filed on Oct. 31, 2013, issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 9,186,543 on Nov. 17, 2015, and all disclosure of the parent application is incorporated herein at least by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 14068950 | Oct 2013 | US |
Child | 14942443 | US |