TRAINING APPARATUS SIMULATING SKIING

Abstract

A training apparatus contains a base, a sliding unit, a cranking unit, and a linking unit. The sliding unit contains two connecting strips with treadles at the back ends. A first flexible link and a second flexible link are arranged in parallel and connected to the two connecting strips. The cranking unit contains a wheel supported axially by an end of a crank arm which rotates synchronously with the wheel. The linking unit contains a third flexible link connected between the other end of the crank arm and the front end of one of the connecting strips. By the resilience provided by the third flexible link, the lateral and reciprocal motions of the sliding unit are prevented from getting stuck at the dead spots.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional skiing machine.

FIG. 2 is a schematic top view showing the lateral motion of the conventional skiing machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a training apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view showing the training apparatus of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing the training apparatus of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a profile view showing the training apparatus of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a top view showing the training apparatus along the 7-7 plane of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a top view showing the training apparatus along the 8-8 plane of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a top view showing the training apparatus along the 9-9 plane of FIG. 5.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view showing the relationship between the crank arm, the fourth flexible link, and the erective stick of the training apparatus of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 11 to 15 are top views showing the training apparatus of FIG. 3 under various scenarios during exercise.

FIG. 16 is a top view showing the training apparatus according to another embodiment along the 7-7 plane of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

As shown in FIG. 3, a training apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention contains a base 50, a sliding unit 60, a cranking unit 70, and a linking unit 80. The basic operation principle of the machine is that the sliding unit 60 mounted on the base 50 engages the resistance-offering cranking unit 70 via the linking unit 80.

As also shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the base 50 has an I-like shape with a longer back beam and a shorter front beam arranged substantially in parallel at the two ends of a main beam respectively. A hollow frame 51 is erected vertically above the front beam. A rod 52 is in turn erected vertically from the center of the top edge of the frame 51. A handle 53 is then provided at the top end of the rod 52 for a user's holding during exercise. Two pivots 55 are positioned between the bottom edge of the frame 51 and the front beam of the base 50.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7˜9, the sliding unit 60 contains two parallel connecting strips 61 pin-joined to the two pivots 55 respectively in the front sections of the connecting strips 61. In the back sections of the connecting strips 61, two treadles 62 are provided respectively for supporting the feet of the user. A first flexible link 65 and a second flexible link 66 are arranged in parallel and joined to the two connecting strips 61 after and before the pivots 55 respectively. The first and second links 65 and 66 can be steel cables, rubber ropes, or springs. Steel cables are used in the present embodiment so that the connecting strips 61 can be swung synchronously from side-to-side. FIG. 16 shows another embodiment where a flexible link is replace by two resilient elements (e.g. springs) connected between the main beam of the base 50 and the two connecting strips 61 respectively.

The cranking unit 70 contains a plate 71 which is extended towards the front from the center of the frame 51's bottom edge. A wheel 72 of the cranking unit 70 is laterally supported by its axle which is rotatably connected to the front end of the plate 71. Another damping wheel 74 of the cranking unit 70 is also laterally supported by its axle inside the frame 51. A belt 73 circles around the rim of the wheel 72 and the axle of the damping wheel 74, thereby linking the two wheels 72 and 74 together. A crank arm 75 of the cranking unit 70 is positioned laterally beneath the plate 71 and has one end fixedly joined to the axle to the wheel 72. When the crank arm 75 is swung to a side, the wheel 72 is rotated by the crank arm 75 and the damping wheel 74 provides resistance to the wheel 72's rotation so as to enhance the exercising effect.

The linking unit 80 contains a third flexible link 81 (e.g., a rubber rope or a spring) whose two ends are joined to the other end of the crank arm 75 and the front end of one of the connecting strips 61, respectively. Bearings can be used at the connections. The linking unit 80 further contains a fourth flexible link 86 whose two ends are connected to the other end of the crank arm 75 and an erective stick 85 on top of the main beam of the base 50 behind the frame 51, as shown in FIG. 10.

According to the foregoing description, the resilience provided by the third and fourth flexible links 81 and 86 prevents the lateral and reciprocal motions of the sliding unit 60 from getting stuck at the dead spots.

The operation of the training apparatus is described as follows, along with the drawings FIGS. 3 and 11˜15. The user stands on the training apparatus with his two feet resting on the treadles 62 of the sliding unit 60 and his two hands holding the handle 63. Then, by twisting the waist, hip, and legs, the user moves the connecting strips 61 from side-to-side. Due to the first and second flexible links 65 and 66, the connecting strips 61 are synchronized. In contrast to the rigid links of prior art, the present invention is able to allow some discrepancy between the connecting strips 61 to more conforming to the posture of the user during exercise.

When the connecting strips 61 are engaged into side-to-side motions, the crank arm 75 is rotated through the third flexible link 81. As the crank arm 75 is pushed to the dead spots, the push and pull forces resulted from the resilience of the third and fourth flexible links 81 and 86 return the crank arm 75 smoothly and effortlessly out of the dead spots. The user therefore will not suffer unstable and staggering feeling and the smoothness and safety of operating the training apparatus are significantly improved.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A training apparatus simulating skiing comprising: a base having a hollow frame erected vertically above a front end of said base, a rod erected vertically from the top edge of said frame, a handle on the top end of said rod, and two pivots between the bottom edge of said frame and said base;a sliding unit having two parallel connecting strips pin-joined to said two pivots respectively in the front sections of said connecting strips, two treadles at the back ends of said connecting strips respectively, a first flexible link and a second flexible link arranged in parallel and joined to said connecting strips after and before said pivots respectively;a cranking unit having a wheel laterally supported by its axle in front of said frame and a crank arm whose one end is joined to the axle of said wheel so that said crank arm rotates synchronously with said wheel; anda linking unit having a third flexible link whose two ends are joined to the other end of said crank arm and the front end of one of said connecting strips;wherein, when said connecting strips are moved from side-to-side synchronously by said first and second flexible links, said crank arm is rotated through said third flexible link; and the resilience of said third flexible link prevents said crank arm from getting stuck at dead spots.

2. The training apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second flexible links are selected from the group consisting of steel cables, rubber ropes, and springs.

3. The training apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second flexible links contains resilient elements provided between said base and said two connecting strips respectively.

4. The training apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a damping wheel is engaged by a belt circulating said damping wheel and said wheel so as to provide resistance to the rotation of said wheel.

5. The training apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said third flexible link is selected from the group consisting of a rubber rope and a spring.

6. The training apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connections of said third flexible link to said crank arm and one of said connecting strips are achieved by using bearings.

7. The training apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a fourth flexible link has its two ends connected to the other end of said crank arm and an erective stick on said base respectively.