Combination exercise apparatus
AssigneeNordicTrack, Inc.
InventorsTimothy S. Engel, Stephen S. Peterson, James R. Bostic
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus that selectively facilitates exercises that approximate the motions involved in walking and cross-country skiing. A base extends from a front end to a rear end, and a treadmill is operatively mounted relative to the base. Each of a pair of foot skates is selectively placed in rolling engagement with an upwardly facing portion of the treadmill or upper treadmill surface. Each of the pair of foot skates includes a one-way clutch roller for rolling forward relative to the upper treadmill surface and preventing rolling rearward relative to the upper treadmill surface. Thus, rearward movement of either skate requires coincidental rearward movement of the upper treadmill surface.
Claims20
An exercise apparatus, comprising:
- a base extending from a front end to a rear end;
- a treadmill operatively mounted relative to said base and within the dimensions of said base;
- a right foot skate selectively in rolling engagement with said treadmill, wherein said right foot skate includes one-way clutch roller means for rolling forward relative to said treadmill and preventing rolling rearward relative to said treadmill;
- and
- a left foot skate selectively in rolling engagement with said treadmill, wherein said left foot skate includes one-way clutch roller means for rolling forward relative to said treadmill and preventing rolling rearward relative to said treadmill.
An exercise apparatus, comprising:
- a base extending from a first end to a second end;
- a treadmill operatively mounted relative to said base and within the dimensions of said base;
- a right foot skate selectively in rolling engagement with said treadmill;
- a left foot skate selectively in rolling engagement with said treadmill;
- a right foot skate track disposed outside a right side of said treadmill and designed to selectively constrain movement of said right foot skate to a straight path along said right side of said treadmill;
- and
- a left foot skate track disposed outside a left side of said treadmill and designed to selectively constrain movement of said left foot skate to a straight path along said left side of said treadmill.
An exercise apparatus, comprising:
- a right foot skate having a one-way clutch roller for allowing said right foot skate to roll in a forward direction across a surface and for preventing said right foot skate from rolling in an opposite, rearward direction across said surface;
- a left foot skate having a one-way clutch roller for allowing said left foot skate to roll in said forward direction across said surface and for preventing said left foot skate from rolling in said rearward direction across said surface;
- a rotatable continuous loop disposed directly beneath said right foot skate and said left foot skate, wherein said surface is an upwardly facing portion of said continuous loop, and movement of said right foot skate in said rearward direction requires coincidental movement of said surface in said rearward direction, and movement of said left foot skate in said rearward direction requires coincidental movement of said surface in said rearward direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.