Sliding exercise machine

A sliding exercise machine comprises a main frame that has a housing movably mounted thereto along the vertical plane. A support is secured to and is movable with the housing. A board is slidably mounted atop the support and is slidable along the length of the same through manipulation of handles positioned at opposite ends of a cord. Secured to one end of the support is a bottom cross bar. An intermediate cross bar is positioned between the main frame and the bottom cross bar. A pair of spaced cables are secured between the bottom cross bar and the said main frame and extend through the intermediate cross bar. At least one tension band is removably secured to the bottom cross bar and either the board or the intermediate cross bar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed toward a sliding exercise machine for 
providing an aerobic and/or anaerobic workout and, more particularly, to 
such an exercise machine having a glide board slidably mounted to a 
support. A person exercises against his or her own weight as well as 
tension bands that either ride with the board or are secured to the 
exercise machine in such a manner that they do not increase the force 
necessary to move the board. 
Many people that would like to go to a gym to workout find they do not have 
the requisite time or money to do so. This has caused an increased demand 
for home exercise machines. A desirable feature of home exercise machines 
is the ability to provide a complete workout for both the upper and lower 
body. It is also desirable to have an exercise machine that can provide an 
aerobic or anaerobic workout. This is so several different machines do not 
have to be purchased. 
A popular type of home exercise machine is one in which an inclined board 
is slidably mounted on a support and the user exercises against his or her 
own weight. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,911,438 and 5,169,363 to 
Van Straaten and Campanaro et al., respectively. 
The Van Straaten patent discloses a slidable exercise machine in which the 
board moves up and down a rail member through manipulation of handles at 
opposite ends of a rope attached to a pulley system. This machine is 
deficient in that it is limited in the exercises a user is capable of 
performing. For example, this machine is not adapted to allow a user to 
exercise his or her lower body. Moreover, the pectoral region can not be 
specifically targeted during a workout. 
Another drawback with the exercise machine disclosed in the Van Straaten 
patent lies in the way the tension bands are secured thereto. More 
specifically, when two or more bands are utilized, they are secured 
adjacent one another on one side of the machine in such a manner that the 
outer bands must be removed from the machine in order to remove the inner 
bands. This is quite inconvenient. 
The exercise machine disclosed in the Campanaro patent is likewise limited 
in the types of exercises a user can perform. This machine is adapted only 
to exercise the lower legs for purposes of rehabilitation. In addition, 
this exercise machine is not foldable for easy and compact storage. 
Accordingly, there is a need for a sliding exercise machine that allows the 
user to perform a variety of different exercises and is readily 
collapsible so that it can be stored. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is designed to overcome the deficiencies of the prior 
art discussed above. It is an object of this invention to provide a device 
that can provide both an aerobic and anaerobic workout for a user. 
It is a further object of this invention to provide an exercise machine 
that is adapted to workout the upper as well as the lower body to provide 
a complete workout. 
It is yet another object of the invention to provide such a device that can 
be conveniently stored when not in use. 
It is still another object to provide an exercise machine wherein the force 
necessary to move the board can be readily changed. 
In accordance with the illustrative embodiments, demonstrating features and 
advantages of the present invention, there is provided a sliding exercise 
machine comprising a main frame and a housing movably mounted to the frame 
along a vertical plane. A support is secured to and is movable with the 
housing. A glide board is mounted atop the support and is slidable along 
the length of the same through manipulation of handles positioned at 
opposite ends of a cord. A bottom cross bar is secured to one end of the 
support. An intermediate cross bar is positioned between the main frame 
and the bottom cross bar. At least one tension band is removably secured 
to the bottom cross bar and either the board or the intermediate cross bar 
.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numerals 
have been used throughout the various figures to designate like elements, 
there is shown in FIG. 1 a sliding exercise machine constructed in 
accordance with the principles of the present invention and designated 
generally as 10. 
The sliding exercise machine 10 includes a main frame 12. The main frame 
has a transverse base member 13 secured to the bottom thereof. In the 
preferred embodiment, an upper cross bar member 17 is positioned adjacent 
the top of the main frame. A housing 14 is movably mounted to the frame 12 
along a vertical plane. A support 16 having first and second ends, 18 and 
20 respectively, is secured to and movable with the housing 14. A glide 
board 22 is slidably mounted atop the support 16. 
A pair of hand grips 23 and 25 are pivotally secured to the underside of 
glide board 22. The hand grips 23 and 25 are substantially identical to 
one another. Accordingly, only one of the hand grips will be described in 
detail, it being understood that the description applies equally to the 
other hand grip. Referring to FIG. 3, the hand grip 23 perpendicularly 
extends from the right side of board 22 when in use. Stop guide 27 
prevents further rotation of the hand grip once it perpendicularly extends 
from the board 22. When the hand grip 23 is not in use, the hand grip is 
rotated counter clockwise so it does not project from the side of the 
board 22. 
Referring back to FIG. 1, a central pulley 24 is positioned atop the 
housing 14. A pair of spaced apart secondary pulleys 26 and 28, 
respectively, are secured to a top cross bar 31. A right guide pulley 30 
is secured beneath the right side of the board 22 as shown in FIG. 14. A 
left guide pulley (not shown) is similarly secured to beneath the left 
side of the board. A cord 34 is positioned around the central pulley 24. 
Each end of the cord 34 is positioned around a corresponding guide pulley 
and around a corresponding secondary pulley 26 and 28. A clip 37 is 
adapted to secure a right handle 35 to one of the cord 34 as illustrated 
in FIG. 16. Similarly, a left handle can be secured to the other end of 
cord 34. Manipulation of the handles moves the board 22 along the support. 
A bottom cross bar 40 is secured to the first end 18 of the support 16. In 
the preferred embodiment, a C-shaped support bar 42 is secured atop the 
bottom cross bar 40. An intermediate cross bar 44 is positioned between 
the transverse base member 13 and the bottom cross bar 40. A pair of 
spaced apart support cables 46 and 48 are secured between the bottom cross 
bar 40 and the transverse base member 13 of the main frame 12. The cables 
46 and 48 extend through the intermediate cross bar 44. 
The support cables 46 and 48 are substantially identical to one another. 
Accordingly, only one of the cables will be described in detail, it being 
understood that the description applies equally to the other cable. The 
cable 46 includes an inner segment 47 surrounded by a coiled covering 49 
(see FIGS. 1 and 2). A ball type head 54 extends from the end of the inner 
segment 47 closest to the transverse base member 13 as shown in FIG. 2. A 
collar 51 is secured to one end of the coiled covering 49 and is adapted 
to extend past the ball type head 54. When the sliding exercise machine is 
in its operating position, the ball type head 54 is inserted into a key 
hole extension 56 which projects from transverse base member 13. This is 
accomplished by pushing collar 51 so that the attached coiled covering is 
compressed and the ball type head 54 is exposed as shown in FIG. 2. The 
ball type head is then placed in extension 56. The collar is then released 
and the elastic restoring force of the coiled covering 49 causes the 
collar to surround the ball type head 54 and the key hole extension 56. 
In the preferred embodiment, the C-shaped support bar 42 has a number of 
raised projections 58a-d extending therefrom. Similarly, a number of 
raised projections 60a-d extend from the intermediate cross member 44. 
Glide board projections 62 extend from the board adjacent the end furthest 
from the bottom cross bar 40 (see FIG. 15). A number of tension bands 66, 
68 and 70 are each secured around one of the projections 58a-d and a 
corresponding glide board projection 62 in order to increase the amount of 
force necessary to slide the board 22 along the support 16. It should be 
noted that while only three tension bands are shown, the total number of 
bands that ride with the board can be increased or decreased in order to 
correspondingly increase or decrease the resistance of the machine. 
In order to reduce the amount of force required to move the gliding board 
22, the tension bands are positioned around projections 58 on bottom cross 
bar 40 and projections 60 on intermediate cross bar 44. When so 
positioned, the tension bands do not ride with the board 22 during the 
exercise. 
In the preferred embodiment, the sliding exercise machine 10 includes a leg 
attachment 74. Leg attachment 74 includes a foot platform 76 and a pair of 
spaced apart connecting rods 78 and 80 (see FIG. 4). The connecting rods 
78 and 80 are substantially identical to each other. Accordingly, only one 
of the rods will be described in detail, it being understood that the 
description applies equally to the other connecting rod. The connecting 
rod 78 has a pair of U-shaped slots 82 and 84 formed therein. U-shaped 
slot 84 is formed to securely fit around the elongated section of C-shaped 
support bar 42 and U-shaped slot 82 is formed to securely fit around the 
leg of C-shaped bar as illustrated in FIG. 4. U-shaped slots 86 and 88 are 
secured to C-shaped bar 42 in a similar manner. 
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 7, the exercise machine 10 includes a pair of 
curved pull up bars 90 and 92. Again, while only one pull up bar will be 
described in detail, it should be understood that the description equally 
applies to the other pull up bar. The pull bar 90 preferably has a square 
portion 93 projecting from one end as illustrated in FIG. 7. The square 
portion 93 is fitted into square hole 95 formed in top cross bar 31 so 
that the pull up bar is secured in place. The pull up bar is rotated 
90.degree. when the exercise machine is placed in the storage position in 
the manner described below. 
The exercise machine 10 includes a bench press bar 94 for allowing the user 
to concentrate on working out his pectoral muscles as shown in FIG. 1. In 
use, the ends of cord 34 are secured around side pulleys 98 which extend 
from opposite sides of the glide board 22. Straps 38 and 39 secure the 
ends of the cord 34 to the bench press bar 94. When the bench press bar is 
not being used, the straps 38 and 39 are removed from the ends of the cord 
and one end of the bar is placed in hole 11 formed in transverse cross bar 
13. The other end of the bar is secured to the upper cross bar member 17 
by means of a clip 99. 
As stated above, the housing 14 is movably mounted to the frame 12 so that 
it can move along the vertical plane. The housing 14 moves along main 
frame 12 by means of rollers 103 as shown in FIG. 12. The main frame 12 
has a plurality of holes 15 formed along the vertical plane. Locking pin 
102 is inserted through housing 14 and into one of a plurality of holes 15 
formed in main frame 12 to secure the housing to the frame. The locking 
pin 102 has a tapered tip 104 (see FIG. 13). The tapered tip 104 
facilitates the entry of locking pin 102 into one the holes 15 in main 
frame 12. The locking pin 102 is spring biased in pin support 105 which is 
secured in housing 14. Accordingly, when knob 106 is pulled, the pin tip 
104 is moved out of hole 15 and the housing is free to move up and down 
the main frame 12 which in turn raises or lowers the level of inclination 
of the attached board 22. Once a predetermined level of inclination is 
achieved, the knob 106 is released and the tension restoring force from 
the spring (not shown) causes the tip 104 of pin 102 to enter a hole 15 
aligned along the same horizontal plane. 
In the preferred embodiment, an adjustable display means 112 is mounted 
atop the main frame 12 (see FIG. 1). The display means 112 is equipped 
with a computer to provide the user with a variety of information such as 
the user's heart rate, how many calories are being burned and how much 
time is remaining to complete the workout. 
To facilitate an understanding of the principles associated with the 
foregoing apparatus, its operation will now be briefly described. Before 
using the sliding exercise machine 10, the user pulls knob 106 to move the 
tip 104 of locking pin 102 out of hole 15 in main frame 12 so that the 
housing is free to move along the length of main frame 12. This allows the 
angle of inclination of the attached board 22 to be set at a desired 
angle. The machine user then has to decide what type of exercise he or she 
wants to perform. For example, exercise involving the pulleys can be 
performed by the user grasping each of the handles 35 and 36 and pulling 
the same. This causes the board to move along the support 16. 
On the other hand several other types of exercises can be performed. For 
example, to perform a bench press exercise, the ends of bench press bar 94 
are inserted through straps 38 and 39. The exerciser lays prostrate on the 
board 22 and grasps the ends of the bench press bar. To perform the bench 
press exercise, the user's arms are fully extended and then contracted. 
This is repeated until a desired number of repetitions have been reached. 
A pull up type exercise can be performed by the user lying on his stomach 
and grasping pull up bars 90 and 92. As the user pulls on the bars 90 and 
92, the board slides up the support 16. The user then pushes on the bars 
to cause the board to slide down the support. 
Regardless of the exercise performed, the level of difficulty can be 
increased by securing tension bands 66, 68 and 70 to the board. This is 
accomplished by securing one or more tension bands around a corresponding 
glide board projection 62. Additionally, the level of difficulty can be 
increased by increasing the angle of inclination of the board by pulling 
locking pin 102 from hole 15 in main frame 12 and moving the housing 14 
upward. The tip 104 of pin 102 is then re-inserted into a hole 15 to lock 
the housing and attached board 22 in place. 
After an exercise session is completed, the sliding exercise machine can be 
folded up and stored away. This is accomplished by removing ball type head 
54 from key hole projection 56 so that the cables 46 and 48 are detached 
from transverse cross member 13. The end of cable 46 is secured in a cable 
bracket 110 secured to the right side of side of housing 14 as shown in 
FIG. 8. The end of cable 48 is similarly secured in a cable bracket (not 
shown) located on the left side of housing 14. Pull up bars 90 and 92 are 
removed from square holes 95 in top cross bar 31 and rotated 90.degree. so 
they do not extend past the cross bar. The bench press bar is placed in 
hole 11 in transverse cross member 13. Hand grips 23 and 25 are also 
rotated 90.degree. so they no longer extend from the sides of glide board 
22. The leg attachment 76 is removed from C-shaped support bar 41. Next, 
knob 106 is manually pulled so that the tip 104 of the pin 102 is removed 
from hole 15 in main frame 12. The housing 14 is then folded downward 
until its bottom rests on the transverse base member 13. 
In the preferred embodiment, a U-shaped stand 114 is secured in base member 
13 through holes 115 formed therein when the sliding exercise machine is 
placed in its folded position (see FIG. 10). This allows the machine to be 
upended so that it stands on U-shaped stand 114 as shown in FIG. 8. A pair 
of storage wheels 120 and 122 secured to the top cross bar 31 facilitates 
the transportation of the exercise machine 10 when it is in its folded 
position. 
Referring to FIG. 9, a clip 116 is preferably secured to the back of leg 
attachment 74 and a square support 118 is attached to intermediate cross 
bar 44. When the sliding exercise machine is placed in its folded 
condition, the clip 116 is friction fitted around the square support 118 
(see FIG. 9). 
Strap cords 119 and 120 are secured around intermediate cross member 44 and 
upper cross bar member 17 to hold the exercise machine 10 in the folded 
condition (see FIGS. 1 and 8). 
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without 
departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and accordingly 
reference should be made to the appended claims rather than to the 
foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.