Skating/skiing simulator with ergometric input-responsive resistance

Abstract

Foot pads with foot straps are mounted to roller carriages which roll along a horizontal monorail with stationary middle supports and telescoping end supports. A rotatable shaft attached to one of the end supports is attached to an ergometric input-responsive variable resistance. Each of two cables wound around a spring-loaded retractable one-way clutch driver on the rotatable shaft connects to each of the foot pads. Stepper pedals hinged to the end support opposite the rotating shaft are each attached by a cable wound around the rotatable shaft. A long front rail with sliding hand grips and a short side rail are detachably mounted. A nordic double poling attachment may be mounted midway on the front rail with cables wound over pulleys and around the rotatable shaft. The platform is hinged in the center to fold in half for storage and transportation. A stationary foot pad is positioned adjacent to the hinges, and also serves as a stop for the moving foot pads. End foot pad stops may be positioned at any of a number of locations along the monorail. An electronic microprocesser performance monitor senses, interprets, and displays information about the output of the user on the invention. Any of a number of ergometric input-responsive resistance means can be used on the rotatable shaft including: a flywheel with a band brake, a vaned flywheel inside a variable opening case, a wind load, a water load, an eddy current load, a flywheel with a centrifugal braking device, and an electric motor and flywheel load.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.