Exercise apparatus for simulating skating movement

An exercise apparatus extending generally in a front-to-back direction and comprising,

• a pair of shuttles, each for movably supporting a foot of a user standing in a generally forward facing position thereon facing towards a front of the apparatus and including a shuttle frame,
• a guide assembly,
• said guide assembly supporting and limiting each said shuttle in reciprocal movement along an associated predetermined path, said predetermined paths oriented in a substantially mirror arrangement and each extending in a direction away from the other such that the paths do not substantially cross a central plane and extend from a generally adjacent raised proximal upper end portion spaced towards the front of the apparatus, and curving continuously downwardly and rearwardly to a lower distal end portion rearwardly from the proximal upper end portion,
• each of the shuttles being substantially restricted in movement along said associated predetermined path between a raised forwardmost position spaced towards the upper end portion and a lowered rearward position spaced towards the lower distal end portion, and wherein when a first one of said shuttles is positioned in said proximal upper position, the second other shuttle being positionable in the distal position to move the user's feet to substantially simulate a lateral motion of the user's foot movement during skating.

An ice skating or roller blading exercise apparatus, said apparatus extending generally in a front-to-back direction and comprising,

• a pair of shuttles, each including an associated pedal having an upper surface for movably supporting a foot of a user standing in a generally forward facing position thereon facing a front of the apparatus,
• a guide assembly, said guide assembly supporting and limiting each said shuttle in movement along an associated predetermined path, said predetermined paths extending in a substantially mirror arrangement and in a direction away from the other such that the paths do not substantially cross a central plane and extend from a raised upper position and curving downwardly and rearwardly to a lower distal position, and
• wherein in actuation of said apparatus:
• said shuttles are each substantially limited in reciprocal movement along said associated predetermined path, and wherein when a first one of said shuttles is positioned in said proximal upper position, the second other shuttle being positionable in the distal position,
• wherein in the lower distal position, the shuttle positions an upper surface of said pedal in an orientation inclined generally in a forward direction relative to the horizontal at an angle between about 15° and 50°, and wherein in said upper position said shuttle positioning said upper surface of said pedal in an orientation
• inclined relative to the horizontal at an angle between 0 and 15°.

An exercise apparatus comprising,

• a pair of pedals, each for movably supporting a foot of a user standing in a generally forward facing position thereon,
• a guide assembly,
• said guide assembly supporting and limiting each said pedal in reciprocal movement along an associated predetermined path, said predetermined paths oriented in a substantially mirror arrangement and each extending in a direction away from the other such that the paths do not substantially cross a central plane and extend from a generally adjacent raised proximal upper end portion and curving outwardly and rearwardly, and extending downwardly to a lower distal end portion,
• a return device for biasing the pedals to an initial starting position spaced towards the proximal end portion, and
• a tensioning mechanism operable to permit said user to vary resistance to the movement of said pedals in at least one direction along said predetermined path.