Claims
- 1. A ski exercising apparatus, comprising:
a set of at least two parallel, partially arcuate rails joined to an underlying frame structure at opposite ends, the rails providing a track rising from each end; a wheeled carriage riding on the track, such that the carriage, in side-to-side movement rises to a maximum height at the center of the track, and descends from the center to each side; at least one articulated footpad mounted to the wheeled carriage; and a set of three power bands; characterized in that the power bands are arranged concentrically, with an outer, an inner, and a middle band, joined at one point each to the wheeled carriage and at at least two points each to the underlying frame structure, and in that the attachment of the middle power band to the underlying frame structure is through a pair of adjustment mechanisms having two rollers each, the adjustment mechanisms attached to the underlying frame structure on each side of center.
- 2. The ski exercising apparatus of claim 1 wherein, in each adjustment mechanism, the middle power band passes under one of the rollers and around the other.
- 3. The ski exercising apparatus of claim 2 wherein the roller which the middle band passes around can be fixed at any one of at least three positions in the adjustment mechanism, each position at a different distance from the center of the apparatus, to adjust tension on the middle band.
- 4. In a mechanism for mounting a roller between two vertical walls spaced apart by a first distance, the roller for restraining and guiding a power band for a ski exercising apparatus having a wheeled carriage rolling on partially arcuate rails, the power band affixed to the carriage and passing around a roller in the mechanism, an improved roller axle comprising:
a first element including an axle portion of a first diameter and a length equal to the first distance, having a concentric threaded hole on a first end, an engagement portion concentric with the axle portion, of a length equal to a thickness of one of the walls, and larger in diameter than the axle portion to match a diameter of a hole in the one of the walls, and a head portion concentric with the axle portion and larger in diameter than the hole, for inserting through the hole and extending the axle portion between the two walls; and a second element including a head portion equivalent to the head portion of the first element and an engagement portion equivalent to the engagement portion of the first element, and also including a male threaded portion extending from the engagement portion for mating with the concentric threaded hole of the first element, the second element for inserting through a hole in the other of the two walls, equivalent to the hole ion the first of the two walls, and for engaging with the first element to form an axis for a roller to be mounted between the walls, and also for stabilizing and strengthening the mechanism.
- 5. A ski exercising apparatus, comprising:
a set of at least two parallel, partially arcuate rails joined to an underlying frame structure at opposite ends, the rails providing a track rising from each end; a wheeled carriage riding on the track, such that the carriage, in sideto-side movement rises to a maximum height at the center of the track, and descends from the center to each side; at least one articulated footpad mounted to the wheeled carriage; and at least one power band attached to the carriage and engaging mechanisms mounted to the underlying frame structure at opposite sides of center of the track; characterized in that the rails have a central arcuate portion of a width of twelve inches or less, joined to straight portions on each side of the arcuate portion, the straight portions extending at equal angles downward and outward from the central arcuate portion to the underlying frame structure.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 5 characterized in that the overall height of the track above the underlying frame structure is a least six inches.
- 7. A ski exercising apparatus, comprising:
a set of at least two parallel, partially arcuate rails joined to an underlying frame structure at opposite ends, the rails providing a track rising from each end; a wheeled carriage riding on the rails, such that the carriage, in side-to-side movement rises to a maximum height at the center of the track, and descends from the center to each side; at least one power band attached to the carriage and engaging mechanisms mounted to the underlying frame structure at opposite sides of center of the track; and a slide plate mounting to the wheeled carriage for providing attachment of elements interfacing to a human user; characterized in that the slide plate comprises spaced apart rounded parallel rails extending in the direction of movement of the wheeled carriage, the rails for engaging rounded grooves of one or more separate elements to be mounted to the slide plate.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 7 characterized in that the slide plate further comprises a plurality of holes arranged in linear matrix in the direction of the extension of the rails, the holes for selective positional mounting of the separate elements to be mounted.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising one or more spring-loaded pin extensions from the slide plate to act as safety retainers for the separate elements joined to the slide plate by engaging with the rounded rails.
- 10. A ski exercising apparatus, comprising:
a set of at least two parallel, partially arcuate rails joined to an underlying frame structure at opposite ends, the rails providing a track rising from each end; a wheeled carriage riding on the rails, such that the carriage, in side-to-side movement rises to a maximum height at the center of the track, and descends from the center to each side; at least one power band attached to the carriage and engaging mechanisms mounted to the underlying frame structure at opposite sides of center of the track; a substantially linear slide plate having spaced apart rounded rails extending in the direction of movement of the wheeled carriage, the slide plate mounting to the wheeled carriage; and at least one attachment plate having rounded grooves spaced-apart compatibly with the rounded rails, the attachment plate mounted to the linear slide plate by engaging the rounded grooves of the attachment plate with the rounded rails of the slide plate.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 10 comprising two attachment plates.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the attachment plate further comprises a normally extended spring pin, which, by being retracted, allows the attachment plate to be translated along the rails of the slide plate, and by being allowed to extend, engages a hole in the slide plate to position the attachment plate on the slide plate.
- 13. A ski exercising apparatus, comprising:
a set of at least two parallel, partially arcuate rails joined to an underlying frame structure at opposite ends, the rails providing a track rising from each end, a wheeled carriage riding on the rails, such that the carriage, in side-to-side movement rises to a maximum height at the center of the track, and descends from the center to each side; at least one power band attached to the carriage and engaging mechanisms mounted to the underlying frame structure at opposite sides of center of the track; a substantially linear slide plate having spaced apart rounded rails extending in the direction of movement of the wheeled carriage, the slide plate mounting to the wheeled carriage; at least one attachment plate having rounded grooves spaced-apart compatibly with the rounded rails, the attachment plate mounted to the linear slide plate by engaging the rounded grooves of the attachment plate with the rounded rails of the slide plate; and a foot pad attached to the attachment plate for engaging a user's foot to operate the apparatus.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 13 comprising two attachment plates engaging the slide plate and two foot pads, one attached to each attachment plate.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the foot pad comprises a planar portion for engaging a user's foot at a first height, and a pivot axis at a second height above the first height, such that the plane of the planar portion may rotate as the carriage descends from side to side.
- 16. A ski exercising apparatus, comprising:
a set of at least two parallel, partially arcuate rails joined to an underlying frame structure at opposite ends, the rails providing a track rising from each end; a wheeled carriage riding on the rails, such that the carriage, in side-to-side movement rises to a maximum height at the center of the track, and descends from the center to each side; at least one power band attached to the carriage and engaging mechanisms mounted to the underlying frame structure at opposite sides of center of the track; and a handgrip apparatus joined to the wheeled carriage, enabling a user to grasp the handgrip apparatus and operate the exercising apparatus.
- 17. The exercising apparatus of claim 16 wherein the handgrip apparatus provides two handgrips, one for each of a user's hands, spaced apart in the direction of translation of the wheeled carriage on the track.
- 18. The exercising apparatus of claim 16 wherein the handgrip apparatus provides four handgrips in two sets of two, one set provided at a height higher than the other set.
- 19. The exercising apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a substantially linear slide plate having spaced apart rounded rails extending in the direction of movement of the wheeled carriage, the slide plate mounting to the wheeled carriage, and at least one attachment plate having rounded grooves spaced-apart compatibly with the rounded rails, the attachment plate mounted to the linear slide plate by engaging the rounded grooves of the attachment plate with the rounded rails of the slide plate, the handgrip apparatus attached to the attachment plate.
- 20. A ski exercising apparatus, comprising:
a set of at least two parallel, partially arcuate rails joined to an underlying frame structure at opposite ends, the rails providing a track rising from each end; a wheeled carriage riding on the rails, such that the carriage, in sideto-side movement rises to a maximum height at the center of the track, and descends from the center to each side; at least one power band attached to the carriage and engaging mechanisms mounted to the underlying frame structure at opposite sides of center of the track; and at least one substantially planar interface for a user's feet joined to the wheeled carriage by a linear translation mechanism allowing limited free motion of the interface in a direction at substantially a right angle to direction of travel of the wheeled carriage on the track.
- 21. The exercising apparatus of claim 20 comprising two planar interfaces for a user's feet, each joined to the wheeled carriage by a linear translation mechanism allowing limited free motion for each interface in a parallel direction at substantially a right angle to direction of travel of the wheeled carriage on the track.
- 22. The exercising apparatus of claim 20 wherein the linear translation mechanism comprises a foot-pad carriage mounted on rollers riding in linear slots in the translation mechanism.
- 23. The exercising apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a substantially linear slide plate having spaced apart rounded rails extending in the direction of movement of the wheeled carriage, the slide plate mounting to the wheeled carriage, and at least one attachment plate having rounded grooves spaced-apart compatibly with the rounded rails, the attachment plate mounted to the linear slide plate by engaging the rounded grooves of the attachment plate with the rounded rails of the slide plate, the translation mechanism attaching to the attachment plate.
- 24. A ski exercising apparatus, comprising:
a set of at least two parallel, partially arcuate rails joined to an underlying frame structure at opposite ends, the rails providing a track rising from each end; a wheeled carriage riding on the rails, such that the carriage, in side-to-side movement rises to a maximum height at the center of the track, and descends from the center to each side; at least one power band attached to the carriage and engaging mechanisms mounted to the underlying frame structure at opposite sides of center of the track; and at least one substantially planar interface for a user's feet joined to the wheeled carriage by an arcuate translation mechanism allowing limited arcuate motion of the interface about a pivotal axis located at a height greater than the height of the footpad and extending in the direction of motion of the wheeled carriage.
- 25. The exercising apparatus of claim 24 comprising two planar interfaces for a user's feet, each joined to the wheeled carriage by an arcuate translation mechanism allowing limited arcuate motion of the interface about a pivotal axis located at a height greater than the height of the footpad and extending in the direction of motion of the wheeled carriage.
- 26. The exercising apparatus of claim 24 wherein the arcuate translation mechanism comprises a foot-pad carriage mounted on rollers riding in arcuate slots in the translation mechanism.
- 27. The exercising apparatus of claim 24 further comprising a substantially linear slide plate having spaced apart rounded rails extending in the direction of movement of the wheeled carriage, the slide plate mounting to the wheeled carriage, and at least one attachment plate having rounded grooves spaced-apart compatibly with the rounded rails, the attachment plate mounted to the linear slide plate by engaging the rounded grooves of the attachment plate with the rounded rails of the slide plate, the arcuate translation mechanism attaching to the attachment plate.
- 28. A ski exercising apparatus, comprising:
a set of at least two parallel, partially arcuate rails joined to an underlying frame structure at opposite ends, the rails providing a track rising from each end; a wheeled carriage riding on the rails, such that the carriage, in side-to-side movement rises to a maximum height at the center of the track, and descends from the center to each side; at least one power band attached to the carriage and engaging mechanisms mounted to the underlying frame structure at opposite sides of center of the track; and at least one substantially planar interface for a user's feet joined to the wheeled carriage by a linear translation mechanism allowing limited free motion of the interface in a direction at substantially a right angle to direction of travel of the wheeled carriage on the track, and by a curvilinear translation mechanism allowing limited arcuate motion of the interface about a pivotal axis above the height of the footpad and extending in the direction of motion of the wheeled carriage.
- 29. The exercising apparatus of claim 28 comprising two planar interfaces for a user's feet, each joined to the wheeled carriage through both of the linear and arcuate translation mechanisms.
- 30. The exercising apparatus of claim 28 wherein the linear and arcuate translation mechanism comprise carriages mounted on rollers riding in separate linear and arcuate slots in the translation mechanism.
- 31. The exercising apparatus of claim 28 further comprising a substantially linear slide plate having spaced apart rounded rails extending in the direction of movement of the wheeled carriage, the slide plate mounting to the wheeled carriage, and at least one attachment plate having rounded grooves spaced-apart compatibly with the rounded rails, the attachment plate mounted to the linear slide plate by engaging the rounded grooves of the attachment plate with the rounded rails of the slide plate, the arcuate translation mechanism attaching to the attachment plate.
- 32. A ski exercising apparatus, comprising:
a set of at least two parallel, partially arcuate rails joined to an underlying frame structure at opposite ends, the rails providing a track rising from each end; a wheeled carriage riding on the rails, such that the carriage, in side-to-side movement rises to a maximum height at the center of the track, and descends from the center to each side; at least one power band attached to the carriage and engaging mechanisms mounted to the underlying frame structure at opposite sides of center of the track; and a system for monitoring travel of the wheeled carriage in operation.
- 33. The exercising apparatus of claim 32 wherein the system for monitoring comprises an endless tether attached to the carriage and passing over rollers mounted to the underlying frame structure at points spaced to either side from center.
- 34. The exercising apparatus of claim 33 wherein the system for monitoring further comprises a sensing roller turned by the tether as the carriage translates, the sensing roller enabled to provide a signal proportional to the direction and extent of rotation of the sensing roller.
- 35. The exercising apparatus of claim 34 wherein the sensing is accomplished by interruption of an optical sensor.
- 36. The exercising apparatus of claim 33 wherein the rollers mounted to the underlying frame structure are integrated with rollers provided for anchoring and guiding the at least one power band.
- 37. The exercising apparatus of claim 33 further comprising an electronic system including a display for compiling and displaying movement statistics related to the exercising apparatus.
- 38. The exercising apparatus of claim 37 wherein input and output elements of the electronic system, including the display, are located at a position observable by and accessible to a user of the apparatus.
- 39. A ski exercising apparatus, comprising:
a set of at least two parallel, partially arcuate rails joined to an underlying frame structure at opposite ends, the rails providing a track rising from each end; a wheeled carriage riding on the rails, such that the carriage, in side-to-side movement rises to a maximum height at the center of the track, and descends from the center to each side; at least one power band attached to the carriage and engaging mechanisms mounted to the underlying frame structure at opposite sides of center of the track; a support frame mounted to the underlying frame structure, providing a support bar in a convenient position for a user to grasp by hands for support during use of the exercising apparatus; and an elastic tether system including an anchor point to the exercising apparatus and an attachment interface for a user's body, the tether system for imposing variable tension on the user's body while operating the exercising apparatus.
- 40. The exercising apparatus of claim 39 wherein the elastic tether system includes at least one pulley through which the tether passes between the user and the anchor point.
- 41. The exercising apparatus of claim 40 wherein the anchor point is to the support frame to one side of the user, and the pulley is mounted to the support frame to the other side of the user.
- 42. The exercising apparatus of claim 39 wherein the attachment interface to the user's body comprises a band for mounting to one of a user's upper leg, knee, or lower leg.
- 43. A ski exercising apparatus, comprising:
a set of at least two parallel, partially arcuate rails joined to an underlying frame structure at opposite ends, the rails providing a track rising from each end; a wheeled carriage riding on the rails, such that the carriage, in side-to-side movement rises to a maximum height at the center of the track, and descends from the center to each side; at least one power band attached to the carriage and engaging mechanisms mounted to the underlying frame structure at opposite sides of center of the track; at least one substantially planar interface for a user's feet joined to the wheeled carriage; and a set of two flag mechanisms joined to the underlying frame structure at opposite ends of the structure, each flag mechanism having a mechanical interface activated by contact with the wheeled carriage in operation, such that the user may see the flag of either of the flag mechanisms move each time contact is made with the wheeled carriage.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS
[0001] The present application claims priority as a continuation in part application of application Ser. No. 09/533,614, filed Mar. 22, 2000 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,569,064 issued on May 27, 2003. The present application is also related in part to U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,257 issued on Sep. 15, 1992 and filed on Sep. 4, 1990, which is a divisional of U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,853 issued on Sep. 4, 1990 and filed on Apr. 6, 1988, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 4,743,014 issued on May 10, 1988 and filed on Jul. 30, 1987. The present application is also related to U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,793 issued on Jun. 4, 1991 filed on Oct. 24, 1989, which is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 4,743,014.
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
07178354 |
Apr 1988 |
US |
Child |
07577101 |
Sep 1990 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (3)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09533614 |
Mar 2000 |
US |
Child |
10447014 |
May 2003 |
US |
Parent |
07577101 |
Sep 1990 |
US |
Child |
10447014 |
May 2003 |
US |
Parent |
07080755 |
Jul 1987 |
US |
Child |
07178354 |
Apr 1988 |
US |