Lateral exercise apparatus and method

A lateral exercise apparatus for use in performing side-to-side skating movements comprising:

• a top surface layer for performing said side-to-side skating movements on each side thereof, each side of said top surface layer having a very low coefficient of friction;
• a plurality of adjustable clamps for adjusting the length of said top surface layer, each of said adjustable clamps including a pair of releasable clamping surfaces for gripping said top surface layer;
• a plurality of resilient bumpers removably interlocked to one of said releasable clamping surfaces of each of said adjustable clamps for terminating said side-to-side skating movements, said resilient bumpers having a low impact surface angle of less than or equal to 20.degree.;
• said resilient bumper comprises a channel for receiving a raised portion of one of said releasable clamping surfaces of said adjustable clamps to form a removable interlock between said bumper and said clamps;
• and
• a high friction layer for underlying and securing said top surface layer to a floor surface.

A method of constructing a lateral exercise apparatus for use in performing side-to-side skating movements, said method comprising the steps of:

• extending a top surface layer on a floor surface for performing said side-to-side skating movements on each side thereof, each side of said top surface layer having a very low coefficient of friction;
• underlying and securing said top surface layer to said floor surface with a high friction layer;
• adjusting the length of and gripping said top surface layer between a pair of releasable clamping surfaces of each of a plurality of adjustable clamps;
• and
• interlocking a plurality of resilient bumpers to one of said releasable clamping surfaces of each of said adjustable clamps for terminating said side-to-side skating movements, said resilient bumpers having a low impact surface angle of less than or equal to 20.degree. further including the step of forming a channel in each of said resilient bumpers for receiving a raised portion of a corresponding adjustable clamp to form a removable interlock between said bumpers and said clamps.