Patent ID: 9186543
Filing Date: 2015-11-17
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
1. A ski exercise apparatus, comprising: a ski-simulation apparatus comprising a frame supporting a rolling carriage following arcuate rails, the carriage constrained by stretchable bands, simulating skiing activity as a user urges the carriage side-to-side; a platform assembly joined to a ski-simulation apparatus, the platform assembly having a center level with a height at or below a height of the carriage at a highest point of the arcuate rails, and two lower levels, one to each side of the center level, at a height lower than the height of the center level; a hand rail joined to the platform assembly on a side opposite the ski-simulation apparatus at a height for a user of the ski-simulation apparatus to grasp the hand rail while exercising; and two foot pad assemblies having a common width and length mounted to the rolling carriage canted by brackets at an angle forward toward the platform assembly, to accept each of a user's feet with ski boots on; wherein each foot-pad assembly comprises a foot pad pivoted at a horizontal axis orthogonal to a translation direction of the rolling carriage, the axis above a floor plane of the foot pad supporting a user's feet in ski boots, each foot pad having a forward portion toward the platform assembly and a rear portion away from the platform assembly, the rear portion having a spring-loaded heel retainer plate spaced above the floor plane across a width of the foot pad, the front portion having a toe stop adjustable over a portion of the length of the foot pad, wherein a user, wearing ski boots, steps into the foot pads, fitting a sole of the ski boot at a heel under the heel retainer plate at the rear portion of the foot pad, and placing a toe of the ski boot behind the toe stop, such that the heel of the ski boot is constrained vertically, but the toe of the ski boot is constrained horizontally but not vertically, and the user is enabled to exit the apparatus to one of the levels of the platform assembly by lifting the toes of the ski boots above the toe stop and moving the ski boots forward to pull the sole of the ski boot from beneath the spring-loaded heel retainer plate.