Downhill Skiing Exercise Machine

The present invention relates generally to exercise equipment, and more particularly, to an exercise apparatus that simulates downhill skiing.

Others have designed exercise equipment intended to function as downhill skiing simulators. However, none of the prior art devices appears to disclose an exercise apparatus that (1) is fun to use; (2) is easy to use; (3) is relatively simple in construction; (4) effectively exercises the muscles used in downhill skiing; and (5) accurately simulates the "feel" of downhill skiing. Some of the particular problems with prior art downhill skiing simulators include difficulty (1) getting on and off the device; (2) learning to use the device; (3) feeling unstable while on the device; (4) performing edging motions; and (5) realizing an accurate downhill skiing sensation. Thus, it is desirable to provide an exercise apparatus that simulates downhill skiing.

According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a pair of simulator skis supported by a frame that rests upon a floor surface. The skis have front ski ends pivotally mounted to a front ski support, and rear ski ends pivotally mounted to a rear ski support. The front ski support is carried by at least one roller in contact with the floor surface. The rear ski support is carried by at least one roller in contact with a track surface that is supported above the floor surface by a rear frame portion. Non-parallel, equal length bars are disposed on opposite sides of the pair of skis, extending from front bar ends pivotally mounted to the front ski support, to rear bar ends pivotally mounted to the rear frame portion.

The present invention is fun and easy to use and relatively simple in construction. It accurately simulates the "feel" of downhill skiing and provides natural stability and natural edging capability. These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon a more detailed description of the preferred embodiment.

Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals represent like parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercise apparatus constructed according to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of an exercise apparatus similar to that shown in FIG. 1, but with a different base and different band supports;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the exercise apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the exercise apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the exercise apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front view of a pair of simulator ski poles designed for use with the exercise apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

The present invention provides an exercise apparatus (designated at 100 in FIGS. 1 and 5, and 200 in FIGS. 2-4) that rests upon a floor surface 199. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the apparatus generally includes a base 110 (preferred embodiment designated at 210 in FIGS. 2-4), a rear ski support 120, an elastic band 130 (shown in FIGS. 2-3), elastic band supports 140a and 140b (preferred embodiment designated at 240a and 240b in FIGS. 2-3), simulator skis 150a and 150b, a front ski support 160, inertia sensory and data output means 170 (shown in FIGS. 3-4), and bars 180a and 180b. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, simulator poles 190a and 190b are also provided for use with the exercise apparatus.

The base 110 extends laterally approximately 63 inches from a first end 111a to a second end 111b. The base supports a track surface 112 (as high as approximately 7 inches at its zenith) above the floor surface 199. The track surface 112 is a generally cylindrical surface having a radius of curvature of approximately 89 inches. The rear ski support 120 is carried by rear rollers 121a and 121b, which are in contact with the track surface 112. A marker 213 is positioned on the base 210 to identify a central location on the track surface 112 for convenient reference with respect to the position of the rear ski support 120.

The elastic band 130 is secured at an intermediate region 132 to a spacer 123 on the rear ski support 120, which effectively divides the elastic band 130 into a first elastic band segment 131a and a second elastic band segment 131b. The spacer 123 places some distance between the elastic band segments 131a and 131b and the rear ski support 120 in order to minimize undesirable "flapping" of the band segments against the rear ski support. Also, since the spacer 123 is centered on the rear ski support 120, the alignment of the spacer 123 relative to the marker 213 indicates that the rear ski support 120 is centered on the track surface, an equal distance from each of the band supports 140a and 140b.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first elastic band segment 131a extends between the spacer 123 and the first band support 240a, which is proximate the first end 211a of the base 210. The second elastic band segment 131b extends between the spacer 123 and the second band support 240b, which is proximate the second end 211b of the base 210. The band supports 240a and 240b include selectively rotatable spools 241a and 241b that are selectively biased against rotation relative to the base 210. The spools 241a and 241b have star-shaped cross sections that mate with corresponding star-shaped recesses in the base 210. The elastic band segments 131a and 131b are secured relative to the spools 241a and 241b, respectively, to provide a means for urging the rear ski support 120 upward (toward the central location) on the track surface 212. Alternatively, an elastic band could be wrapped around a single intermediate spool and fixed at each end to the ends of the base. Also, a series of openings may be punched in the elastic band along its length to provide a means for reducing the risk of complete severing of the elastic band during one tensioning cycle.

If the rear ski support 120 is displaced toward the first end 211a, then the tension in the first elastic band segment 131a decreases and the tension in the second elastic band segment 131b increases. The resulting tension imbalance urges the rear ski support 120 back toward the second end 211b. Similarly, in response to a displacement of the rear ski support 120 toward the second end 211b, an opposite resulting tension imbalance urges the rear ski support 120 back toward the first end 211a. Flanges 244a and 244b on the spools 241a and 241b serve as guide means for guiding a slack elastic band segment onto its respective spool.

The band supports 240a and 240b further include handles 243a and 243b, respectively, secured relative to their respective spools 241a and 241b. A person pulls up on a handle to remove the star-shaped cross section from the corresponding star-shaped recess, thereby making the spool rotatable. The "freed" handle is then turned to capture or release elastic band relative to the spool, and thereby increase or decrease the tension in a respective elastic band segment. When a tension adjustment is completed, the spool is returned to its rotation-locked position by pushing the star-shaped cross-section into the corresponding star-shaped recess. The relative tension in the first and second elastic band segments 131a and 131b can be determined from the relative alignment of the spacer 123 to the marker 213. Recognizing that the elastic band segments exert opposing tension forces on the rear ski support, any disparity in tension will cause the rear ski support to move off center in the direction of the "tenser" band. In this regard, the marker 213 serves as an indicator means for indicating relative tension in the elastic band segments. Similarly, the combination of the marker 213 and the handles 243a and 243b serves as a balance means for balancing the tensions in the elastic band segments. With the alternative embodiment having a single intermediate spool, indicating means and balancing means would be unnecessary because the tensions in the band segments would not be independently adjustable.

Alternatively, the relative tension could be determined by the relative orientation of the handles, where the same effective length of elastic band is provided on each side of the spacer 123, and the elastic band segments are wound in the same rotational direction about their respective spools. In such a case, the handles 243a and 243b would provide not only separate tension adjustment means for each spool 241a and 241b, but also separate indicator means for indicating relative tension adjustments in the first and second elastic band segments. Were the elastic band segments wrapped in the same rotational direction about their respective band supports, rotation of either spool in a first rotational direction would increase tension in a respective elastic band segment, and rotation of either spool in a second, opposite rotational direction would decrease tension in a respective elastic band segment.

The simulator skis 150a and 150b extend from rear ski ends 151a and 151b to front ski ends 152a and 152b. The longitudinal axes Za and Zb of the skis 150a and 150b define an angle of approximately 7 degrees relative to the floor surface 199. However, the skis 150a and 150b may be said to be approximately parallel to the floor surface 199 where "approximately parallel" is defined to mean "within 15 degrees of parallel." The rear ski ends 151a and 151b are pivotally mounted to (and supported by) the rear ski support 120. The plane of pivoting of the rear ski ends is substantially co-planar with the plane of rotation of the rear rollers to avoid the exertion of any significant moment force on the rear ski support. The rear ski ends 151a and 151b pivot about respective rear pivoting axes Xa and Xb that are above the skis 150a and 150b and approximately parallel to the floor surface 199.

The front ski ends 152a and 152b are pivotally mounted to (and supported by) the front ski support 160, and pivot about respective front pivoting axes Ya and Yb that are above the skis 150a and 150b and approximately parallel to the floor surface 199. The location of the pivoting axes above the skis provides natural stability and natural edging capability, as the skis naturally tend to orient their load bearing surfaces to capture their load. In other words, the most stable orientation for the skis 150a and 150b is directly in front of the load forces they are opposing, which is the least stable orientation for prior art skis that have their pivoting axes below the skis. Whether the load forces are simply the person's weight or some combination of weight and sideways thrust, the skis of the present invention tend to pivot to capture the load forces (perpendicularly) against their load bearing surfaces, whereas the prior art simulator skis tend to pivot to release the load forces (tangentially) relative to their load bearing surfaces.

The rear pivoting axes Xa and Xb are located farther above the skis than are the front pivoting axes Ya and Yb. The separate front and rear pivot radii provide an inclined pivot axis relative to the plane of the skis. As the simulator skis edge, the rear ski support tends to steer itself in a curve having an effective center beyond the front ski support 160.

As shown in FIG. 3, the skis 150a and 150b include foot supports 153a and 153b selectively mounted in one of a plurality of positions along skis 150a and 150b, respectively. The skis 150a and 150b have respective series of holes 154a and 154b formed therein, and the foot supports 153a and 153b have respective pegs (not shown for ski 150a but identical to that shown at 155b in FIG. 4 for ski 150b) that are sized and arranged to mate with various combinations of holes in the skis. The variable positioning of the foot supports provides capability to simulate a range of downhill skiing styles ranging from slalom (with foot supports rearward) to mogul (with foot supports forward).

The front ski support 160 is carried by front rollers 161a and 16lb, which are in contact with the floor surface 199. A plastic mat can be placed under the front rollers to improve operation on irregular floor surfaces, such as carpet. The front ski support 160 is fitted with inertia sensory and data output means 170 for sensing when a person reverses direction on the skis, generating reversal data, and outputting the reversal data to a person using the apparatus. Those skilled in the art will recognize that an inertia switch is the means 170 may be a mercury switch or a mechanical inertia switch.

Bars 180a and 180b are disposed on opposite sides of the pair of skis 150a and 150b. The bars 180a and 180b extend between rear bar ends 181a and 181b that are pivotally secured to the base 110, and front bar ends 182a and 182b that are pivotally secured to the front ski support 160. The front bar ends 182a and 182b are pivotally secured to opposite sides of the front ski support 160 and are supported by front rollers 161a and 161b, respectively. The front rollers 161a and 161b have rotational axes directed toward respective rear bar end pivot points at the base 110, and the front rollers roll in arcs centered about these pivot points.

The pivoting axes of the front and rear bar ends are substantially perpendicular to the floor surface 199 and thus, are also substantially perpendicular to the pivoting axes of the front and rear ski ends, where "substantially perpendicular" is defined to mean "within 15 degrees of perpendicular." The rear bar ends 181a and 181b are spaced farther apart than the front bar ends 182a and 182b. Thus, reference lines drawn through respective rear and front bar ends converge at an effective center point beyond the front ski support. Also, the bars 180a and 180b include rearward segments 183a and 183b and forward segments 184a and 184b, respectively, and the forward segments 184a and 184b are relatively less convergent (more parallel) than the rearward segments 183a and 183b. In another embodiment, the bars include first segments that converge from the rear bar end pivot points to rear hidden points beneath the skis, second segments that extend substantially parallel beneath the skis from the rear hidden points to front hidden points, and third segments that diverge from the front hidden points to the front bar end pivot points. As shown in FIG. 3, the relatively parallel nature of the forward segments 184a and 184b leaves a great deal of space (designated at A and B) for the simulator ski poles 190a and 190b to engage the floor surface 199. This ski pole space is maximized in the embodiment having the bars disposed beneath the skis.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the bars 180a and 180b are non-parallel, equal length sides of a four bar linkage that also includes the base 110 and the front ski support 160. As such, the base (or rear bar) 110, the bars 180a and 180b, and the front ski support (or front bar) 160 define a frame that supports the skis 150a and 150b. The skis 150a and 150b are substantially perpendicular to the front bar 160, and when in a rest position the skis are also perpendicular to the rear bar 110. In operation, the four bar linkage provides a realistic downhill skiing motion having both rotational and translational components.

While the present invention has been described in terms of a preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will recognize a variety of embodiments that differ from the preferred embodiment but still remain within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is to be limited only by the appended claims.