U.S. patent number 3,791,645 [Application Number 05/292,919] was granted by the patent office on 1974-02-12 for ski-simulator training apparatus.
Invention is credited to Nick L. Stelma.
United States Patent |
3,791,645 |
Stelma |
February 12, 1974 |
SKI-SIMULATOR TRAINING APPARATUS
Abstract
Ski-simulator training apparatus including a track supporting a
carriage for to and fro powered motion resultant from frictional
contact with one or the other of oppositely moving flights of a
continuously moving power driven endless belt which contact is
automatically established by turning or canting motion of a pair of
foot pads supported on the carriage and adapted to receive the feet
of a ski trainee.
Inventors: |
Stelma; Nick L. (Ione, CA) |
Family
ID: |
23126813 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/292,919 |
Filed: |
September 28, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/71;
434/253 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
69/18 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
69/18 (20060101); A63b 069/18 () |
Field of
Search: |
;272/57B ;35/29R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Stouffer; R. T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fihe; Paul B.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Ski-simulator training apparatus which comprises
a track adapted for support on a floor or other surface and
defining a line,
a carriage supported for movement on said track
a pair of foot pads supported on said carriage for pivotal canting
and turning motion about axes which are mutually perpendicular to
one another and to the line defined by said track,
powered members continuously moving in opposite directions along
lines substantially parallel to the line of said track, and
means automatically operative in response to pivotal motion of said
foot pads for connecting said carriage to one of said powered
members to effect movement of said carriage along said track.
2. Ski-simulator training apparatus according to claim 1
wherein
said powered members are formed by parallel oppositelymoving
flights of an endless belt mounted on pulleys at opposite
extremities of said track.
3. Ski-simulator training apparatus according to claim 2
wherein
said automatically operative connecting means establishes
frictional connection with one flight of said endless belt in
response to canting, pivotal motion of said foot pads in one
direction and with the other flight of said belt in response to
canting pivotal motion of said foot pads in the opposite
direction.
4. Ski-simulator training apparatus according to claim 2
wherein
said automatically operative connecting means establishes
frictional connection with one flight of said endless belt in
response to turning motion of said foot pads in one direction and
with the other flight of said belt in response to turning motion of
said foot pads in the opposite direction.
5. Ski-simulator training apparatus according to claim 2 which
comprises
means for varying the speed of said endless belt.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to training apparatus for
skiers and more particularly, to a ski-simulator training apparatus
enabling the practice of various skiing maneuvers at home or at any
other convenient location.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The neophyte skier, even though training on a shallow slope with
the supervision of an experienced professional, encounters many
difficulties. Maintenance of balance and the leg and body motion
requisite for execution of a turn are difficult achievements for a
beginner. As a result, many falls are experienced, some with
injury, and infrequently used muscles become exceedingly sore from
the novel activity. Because of the seasonal nature of this sport
and the practical limitations on frequent access to the ski slopes,
even experienced skiers lose their touch and are subject to the
noted muscle soreness and on occasion have severe falls on the
steeper slopes which they traverse.
To provide training for neophyte skiers and a "warmup " exercise
for those more experienced, a number of training and exercise
devices have been proposed and utilized to some extent, but most
are large, awkward, and expensive structures which moreover leave
much to be desired in the ski-stimulating activity which they
allow.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Accordingly, it is the general objective of the present invention
to provide a ski-simulator training apparatus which enables
accurate reproduction of the body, feet and leg motions of a skier
so as to provide an excellent training and practice device which
however is relatively simple and small so that it can be used
readily in any living room, and moreover, is sufficiently compact
so that it can be stored in a closet or transported in the trunk of
a car. Generally, to achieve this objective, the apparatus includes
an elongated track that can be supported on the floor, ground or
any other surface and itself supports for movement therealong a
carriage which in turn carries a pair of foot pads arranged in
lateral side by side disposition to simulate foot support on a pair
of skis. Each of the foot pads is mounted on the carriage for
pivotal motion about mutually perpendicular axes which are also
perpendicular to the line defined by the mentioned track so that
the skiers feet can turn or cant as requisite for the turning
motions on an actual ski slope. A pair of powered members,
preferably in the form of the opposite flights of an endless belt
are arranged to move in opposite directions along lines that are
substantially parallel to the line defined by the track and the
mentioned canting or turning motion of the foot pads operate
through appropriate linkage to establish frictional connection with
one or the other of such powered members so that the entire
carriage will move to the left or to the right along the track thus
to provide the trainee with a precise simulation of the directional
changes resultant from the corresponding canting or turning of
actual skis. Preferably, the powered members are adjustable in
their speeds so that a professional skier can make adjustments to
precisely simulate the turning characteristics of skis in a
particular type of snow and on a particular degree of slope, thus
accommodating the variables encountered under particular sking
conditions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The stated objective of the invention and the manner in which it is
achieved as summarized hereinabove will be more readily understood
by reference to the following detailed description of the exemplary
structure shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ski simulator training apparatus
embodying the present invention and indicating in phantom lines the
position of a skier's feet and legs thereon during a training
session,
FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the structure with portions
broken away to show interior details,
FIG. 3 is a central fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along
line 3--3 of FIG. 2,
FIG. 4 is a detailed cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4 of
FIG. 2 to illustrate certain interior operating linkage, and
FIG. 5 is another cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 of
FIG. 2 to illustrate details of a variable drive arrangement.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF THE
INVENTION
As shown in the drawings, the ski simulator training apparatus
includes an elongated track 10 formed by a pair of cylindrical rods
12 preferably about six feet in length and held in parallel
disposition approximately one foot apart by transverse braces 14 at
their extremities. The track 10 can be placed directly on a floor
or other horizontal surface, or as an alternative, can be placed on
a sloping surface, the longitudinal line defined by the elongated
length of the track being preferably transverse to the line down
such sloping surface.
A carriage 16 is supported for to and fro movement along such track
10 and preferably includes a central housing 18 which can be formed
by hollow rectangular tubing from the opposite ends of which two
pairs of arms 20 project outwardly and downwardly at opposed angles
to mount rotatable, contoured rollers 22 dimensioned to engage the
track rods 12, thus enabling the desired to and fro motion of the
carriage 16 therealong. As can be best visualized by reference to
FIG. 4, the opposed angular relationship of the rollers 22 will
preclude lateral motion relative to the track-forming rods 12, but
on the other hand, will enable, in addition to the rolling motion
of the carriage 16 along the track 10, a lifting of the carriage
from the track when the unit is to be disassembled for storage.
A pair of like foot pads 24 are supported above opposite ends of
the carriage housing 18 so as to overlie the described roller
supporting structure of the carriage, and more particularly are
mounted both for pivotal turning and canting motion in response to
appropriate foot manipulation by a ski trainee who stands on the
foot pads in a fashion similar to a skier's upright disposition on
a conventional pair of skis, such disposition being indicated in
phantom lines in FIG. 1. To provide such pivotal motions, each foot
pad 24 mounts at its outer edge a pair of spaced tubular members 26
that rotatably receive an elongated pin 28 that is quite closely
encompassed within the tubular members so as to afford frictional
resistance to lateral canting pivotal motion of the foot pads
thereon. Centrally, between the tubular member 26, a shaft 27 is
rigidly connected to the pin 28 to project downwardly therefrom at
substantially a right angle for rotatable support about a generally
upright axis in suitable anti-thrust bearings 30 mounted in the
tubular housing 18, thus allowing lateral turning motion of the
foot pad 24 about this upright axis. As shown in the plan view of
FIG. 2, the foot pads 24 are normally positioned in transverse
relation to the line defined by the elongated track 10 and
accordingly, the two pivotal axes for canting and turning motion of
the foot pads constitute pivotal axes which are mutually
perpendicular to one another and to the elongated line defined by
the track.
When the skier, through appropriate leg and foot maneuvering,
effects a canting or turning motion of the foot pads 24 in a
direction which would normally instigate a left turn, automatic
means provide a controlled powered movement of the carriage 16 with
the foot pads thereon to the left and, in turn, opposite canting or
turning motion of the foot pads by the skier will automatically
provide for lateral motion of the carriage with the foot pads
thereon to the right.
The motive power for this character of carriage motion is provided
by powered members 32a, 32b that move in opposite directions along
the described track 10 and conveniently can take the form of the
opposite flights of an endless belt which is trained around pulleys
34, 36 mounted for rotation on the braces 14 at the opposite ends
of track 10 so that the central elongated portions of the belt
flights pass through the tubular housing 18 in contact with guide
rollers 42, 44 adjacent opposite sides thereof. One of the pulleys
34 is a spring-urged variable diameter idler pulley and the other
pulley 36 is mounted on a drive shaft 46 connected through an
additional belt and pulley arrangment 48 to an electric motor 50
suitably mounted on a bracket 52 at that end of the track 10. As
best shown in FIG. 5, the described drive pulley 36 is also a
variable-diameter pulley with one side thereof being mounted for
displacement along the drive shaft 46 by a foot lever 53 whose
manipulation, accordingly will vary the pulley diameter and thus
the speed of travel of the endless belt. A plurality of notches 54
are formed in the brace 14 adjacent the lever 53 which is urged by
a spring 56 into one notch so as to retain the variable speed
pulley 36 in the desired adjusted position until further manual or
pedal force is applied thereto to effect variation of the speed.
The diameter of the idler pulley 34 under its spring action,
automatically accommodates any resultant slack of the belt.
Within the tubular housing 18 of the carriage 16, a pair of
elongated rods 58, 60 are limited to lateral motion into contact
with one or the other of the flights 32 a, 32 b of the endless
belts respectively thus to establish frictional driving connection
between the carriage 16 and one flight of the belt or the other.
Two separate means are provided for establishing such frictional
connection, one means being operative in response to the mentioned
turning motion of the foot pads 24 and the other being
automatically operative in response to canting motion thereof. More
particularly, the first means is in the form of simple double cam
structures 62, only one being shown in FIG. 2, mounted at the
bottom of each upright pivot shaft 27 which support a respective
foot pad 24. When the foot pad 24 is turned, as can be best
visualized by reference to FIG. 2, one or the other section of the
cam 62, depending upon the direction of the turning, will engage
the adjacent elongated rod 58, 60 to frictionally press the same
against the adjacent endless belt flight 32 a, 32 b.
The other automatic means includes a small, open rectangular member
66 that is centrally pivoted on the two upstanding brackets 68
midway between the foot pads 24 and carries oppositely projecting
arms 70 with balls 72 mounted rotatably at their outer extremities
in positions which underlie the respective foot pads 24 as is best
illustrated in FIG. 3. Additional pivot pins 74, 76 in the small
rectangular member 66 carry pivotally supported, elongated cam
members 78, 80 which project downwardly into the body member and
are formed with sloping cam surfaces 82, 84 adjacent their lower
extremities in positions to effect camming lateral motion of the
described elongated rods 58, 60 into frictional contact with the
respective flights 32 a, 32 b of the endless belt. Thus, if the
skier manipulates the foot pads 24 to pivot about the pins 28
downwardly to the left as viewed in FIG. 3, the interior
undersurface of the foot pad 24 on the right will engage and press
downwardly on the ball 72 thereunder thus to cause a clockwise
pivotal motion of the pivotally supported member 66 and urge the
cam member 78 on the right downwardly to effect contact of the
engaged, elongated rod 58 with the belt flight 32a to cause motion
of the entire carriage 16 to the left.
In training use the belt may initially be set to move at a
relatively slow speed and the ski trainee can then obtain the
feeling resultant from canting or turning motion of the skis in a
manner which will readily accommodated. As progress occurs, the
belt speed can be increased and the responsiveness of the carriage
motion can be made to accurately simulate any particular ski
conditions. In addition to the simulation of responsiveness of the
device to a variety of snow conditions, continued, use preferably
with professional guidance will enable the skier to attain the
proper body and leg motion corresponding to particular slope
angles.
Obviously, many modifications in the structure as specifically
described can be envisioned without departing from the spirit of
the invention, and the foregoing description of one embodiment is
accordingly to be considered as purely exemplary and not in a
limiting sense, and the actual scope of the invention is to be
indicated only by reference to the appended claims.
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