Surfboard paddling exercise apparatus

The invention is an exercise apparatus providing an advanced level of surfboard paddling simulation and muscle development. The design includes a specialized platform, unique hand harnesses, and cable systems with mechanical advantage and mass moment of inertia mechanisms, piston pumps, cable spools, and elastic elements. They allow the user to simulate paddling in an alternating or simultaneous sequence at any speed while strong elastic tension resists the user's thrust strokes, but during paddling return strokes the user feels no elastic tension or resistance. The design also prompts the user to engage and strengthen all dorsal muscles to maintain an appropriately arched body position while paddling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to exercising machines, particularly to exercise machines of the type using yielding elastic elements.

Description of the Related Art

There are numerous exercise machines available to develop the muscle groups needed for performing particular sports activities. However, there has been no exercise machine available to effectively develop the unique combination of muscle groups needed when paddling on a surfboard while surfing. That is because paddling while surfing requires more than just stroking one's arms through the water to thrust the surfboard forward. It also requires the strength and coordination to raise and hold the shoulders and upper chest and both legs upward, and well above the deck of the surfboard while paddling. The reason for arching the shoulders upward in that manner while paddling, is so that each arm can be lifted completely out of even very choppy water to avoid dragging the arm through the water while swinging it forward during each paddling return stroke. Accordingly, a surfboard paddling exercise machine should develop all of the dorsal muscles needed to raise the shoulders upward while paddling. Furthermore, to simulate the absence of any drag on the arm through the water during paddling return strokes, the machine should first provide a full measure of muscle developing paddling resistance during the user's thrust strokes, but then offer zero tension or resistance to the user's arm motions during return strokes. Additionally, the exercise machine should allow the user to simulate paddling with both arms simultaneously, or with each arm in an alternating sequence, or in any variation thereof, and at any typical paddling speed just as when surfing. The present invention is an advancement over prior art in that it does fulfill all of those requirements to develop the full range of muscular strength for paddling that surfing demands.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A preferred example of the present invention provides a horizontal platform that the user lays upon as when paddling on a surfboard. The top surface of the platform includes a raised section that is just large enough to support the user's lower torso and upper legs. That torso support design prompts the user to hold the shoulders and upper chest and legs up above the surrounding top surfaces of the platform while the user simulates surfboard paddling thrust strokes by pulling down and back on specialized hand harnesses. The right and left hand harnesses allow the user to cup the hands just as when paddling a surfboard, and they are connected to the unique cable systems of the invention. The cable systems use a combination of mechanisms and elastic cords to fully resist the user's thrust strokes, which strokes can be in an alternating or simultaneous sequence, or in any variation thereof. Then, during the user's return strokes, and at any paddling speed, the cable systems are able to automatically fully return each hand harness back to its original starting position with just enough time delay, relative to the user's arm motions, that the existing elastic cord tension seemingly disappears to the user. That mechanical capability provides not only a very accurate paddling simulation, but also allows the user's arms to be raised above the shoulder level on the return strokes without causing discomfort or strain on the user's shoulder and elbow joints that could otherwise be caused by the strong tension and resistance from the elastic cords.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1shows an elongated solid platform1configured in accordance with the present invention. The platform1is elevated and supported at each end by a front leg assembly2and a rear leg assembly3that are hingedly connected to the platform. The leg assemblies and platform may be made of wood or metal or plastic or any other suitable materials or combination thereof. The leg assemblies are shown in their extended positions and may be held there by metal folding brackets or any suitable means, but then may be folded into a collapsed position for storage or transportation of apparatus A.FIG. 1also shows each hand harness4located at each side of apparatus A near its forward end. Just before operating the apparatus, the user places a hand harness on each hand, such as shown in the expanded view inFIG. 16, and the hand harness construction is described later.FIG. 1also shows a torso support5that the user's torso is positioned upon as shown inFIG. 10. The torso support is also shown in the expanded view ofFIG. 17, and its construction will be described later.

FIG. 2shows matching cable systems of the present invention mounted to the underside of platform1(the hinged leg assemblies2and3are not depicted). Both cable systems generally operate independently of one another, but are designed as mirror images of one another and function similarly. Accordingly, the like structures and parts for the user's right-hand operated cable system and left-hand operated cable system will be referred to by like numerals. As the user simulates surfboard paddling on platform1, each cable system goes through two modes of operation. The first mode of operation is during each of the user's power strokes while the user is pulling on either the right-hand or left-hand harness4as shown inFIGS. 10-12. The second mode of operation is during each of the user's return strokes while the user is returning either hand harness back to its original position on platform1, as shown inFIGS. 13-15.

FIG. 2shows that the means of resistance to the user's power strokes is provided by a primary elastic cord20included within each cable system. As the user pulls a hand harness4, such as shown by the direction arrow extending axially from one of the two hand harnesses depicted, the leading cable6to which the hand harness is attached, is also pulled, which causes its respective primary elastic cord20to be stretched in the direction depicted by the four arrows shown beside the primary elastic cord as it resists the user's pull. Conversely, while either hand harness is being returned to its original resting position during a user's return stroke, the cable system for that respective right-hand or left-hand side provides a means for the user to experience zero tension and resistance from the primary elastic cord20. That is because the cable system provides a slight amount of slack in the leading cable6, as shown inFIGS. 14 and 15. And almost all such slack in the leading cable6will be gone by the time that the user's hand has returned to the start position for the next power stroke as depicted inFIG. 15. Either cable system can independently provide that effect regardless of how fast or slow the user pulls on the leading cable6, or returns the leading cable back to its start position.

FIG. 3shows the main components of both cable systems, with one of the cable systems in motion during a user's power stroke according to the direction arrows, and the other cable system stationary at rest following a user's return stroke.FIG. 3also shows that each leading cable6is threaded through its respective outboard pulley7and then is threaded through a passageway in the side frame member of platform1, as depicted by the cutaway views at the ends of the frame members, and then the leading cable is threaded through its inboard pulley8. The pulleys may be attached to the frame of platform1with screws or any suitable fasteners. After being threaded through each inboard pulley8, each leading cable6takes an approximately ninety degree turn from the inboard pulley, and goes directly to its respective spool hub10a. And the spool hub is also shown inFIG. 4.

FIG. 4shows how each spool is constructed for each cable system by using a hollow hub10athat is made from a suitable material such as a short section of plastic pipe. The hub is centered upon and sandwiched between a top disc10band a bottom disc12, and then secured in that position by a plurality of machine screws10c, that extend entirely through the spool at locations just inside of the hollow hub, and that are then screwed into lock nuts10d, so that the hub does not slip or rotate between the discs. The spool may be made from any suitable materials such as metal or plastic using cast or machined parts, and be held together by any suitable means, and the hub may be centered on the discs or held in place by grooves or lugs located in or on the cable spool. When each spool has been fully assembled to include cable segments6and14as will be described, it is then rotatably mounted onto platform1by an axle bolt9a, that is threaded at each end as shown inFIG. 4, and that extends through a hole9fin the top surface of platform1. The axle bolt9ais inserted into hole9ffrom the underside of platform1. However before the axle bolt is inserted through hole9f, the axle bolt lock nut9b, and a fender washer9e, are placed onto the end of the axle bolt that is then inserted through hole9f. Then another fender washer9e, and a cap nut9c, may be placed onto the end of the axle bolt9athat projects through the top surface of platform1. The cap nut9cis then fully tightened onto the end of axle bolt9a. Then the axle bolt lock nut9bis tightened down around the threads of the axle bolt to secure it on the platform in a protruding orientation to form a stable shaft for the spool to rotate upon as shown inFIG. 5. That leaves the cap nut9cvisible on the top surface of platform1as shown inFIG. 1. Each spool top disc10band bottom disc12has a hole at its center through which the axle bolt9aextends, allowing the spool to be rotatably held on the axle bolt with a spool retaining nut9d, and washer9e, that are located on the other threaded end of the axle bolt9athat protrudes through the top disc10bof the cable spool.

FIG. 4also shows that the hollow hub10ahas two holes or slots in its side wall. The cable leading segment6is inserted into one hole or slot, and the cable trailing segment14is inserted into the other hole or slot. Then the end of each cable segment is knotted, so that the cable segments are secured on the spool hub once the spool is fully assembled. Then the machine screws10care used to assemble the spool. Then the cable leading segment6is wound six times in a given direction around the spool hub10a. Then the cable trailing segment14is wound one time around the spool hub10ain the opposite direction as that of the cable leading segment. Then the spool assembly is ready to be placed on its axle bolt9a, and secured with retaining nut9d. In the present invention, the cable leading and trailing segments could as a variation be combined as a single continuous cable threaded through the spool hub, where the continuous cable enters into the hollow hub10aas the cable leading segment, and is then knotted as described above or anchored to the spool hub, and then exits from out of the spool hub as the cable trailing segment. And the spool hub could also have openings of any shape for receiving or holding the cable segments.

Additionally, referring now toFIG. 4at X, there is shown a variation of the spool hub10a. In said variation, the spool hub comprises two different diameters wherein one portion of the hub10ais larger in diameter for the cable leading segment6to wind around, and the other portion of the hub10ais smaller in diameter for the cable trailing segment14to wind around. Then, when constructing the spool assembly as described previously, the cable leading segment is to be wound six times around the larger diameter portion of the hub in a given direction, and the cable trailing segment is to be wound once around the smaller diameter portion of the hub in the opposite direction. And during operation of the apparatus, both portions of the spool hub rotate in unison and on the same axis, so that when the spool rotates, the ratio of the travel of the cable trailing segment will be less than that of the cable leading segment. That difference in the ratio of cable travel provides a means to actuate a piston pump as will be described later.

FIG. 5depicts the underside of apparatus A with both spools rotatably mounted onto their axle bolts and held in place with retaining nuts9d, and shows the cable leading and trailing segments6and14wrapped around the spool hubs10a.FIG. 5also shows one cable system at rest, with its hand harness4returned to the start position, and with its cable leading segment6accordingly wound six times around that spool hub10a, and with its cable trailing segment14wound once around that spool hub. The other cable system is shown in motion according to the direction arrows, and indicates that its cable leading segment6is being pulled during a power stroke and is unwinding from off of its spool hub by rotating the spool hub10athrough six revolutions, and that at the same time its cable trailing segment14is being reeled onto the spool hub10aby those same six revolutions of the hub. That depicted motion shows the cable system first mode of operation during a power stroke.

In the second mode of operation of each cable system during a return stroke, the rotation direction of the spool reverses due to the structures and connections shown inFIGS. 2, 3 and 5.FIGS. 3 and 5for example show that each cable trailing segment14goes through a set of block-and-tackle pulleys13aand13b, and that each block set of pulleys13ais mounted to platform1in a fixed position, and that each tackle set of pulleys13bis connected to each forward yoke15, and that each forward yoke15is connected to each primary elastic cord20. The forward yoke15may be made of sheet metal or any suitable material, and the tackle set of pulleys13bmay be attached to the forward yoke with screws or other suitable fasteners, but sheaves mounted in the forward yoke could alternatively function as the tackle set of pulleys. The forward yoke15is coupled to the ends of the primary elastic cord20with metal loops on the forward yoke into which the knotted ends of the primary elastic cord20are placed, but the primary elastic cord could alternatively be coupled to the forward yoke15by any other suitable means.FIG. 2shows that each primary elastic cord20then goes from its connection on a forward yoke15to a rearward yoke21(and as will be described later, each rearward yoke21is adjustable by the user to alter the existing elastic force within the primary elastic cord20). The result, as shown by the direction arrows inFIGS. 2 and 3, is that whenever a hand harness4is being pulled axially during the user's power stroke, that pulling motion is transmitted through the cable leading segment to rotate the spool which reels-in the cable trailing segment14causing the cable trailing segment to pull the tackle set of pulleys13btoward the block set of pulleys13a, which causes the tackle set of pulleys13bto pull the forward yoke15, which causes the forward yoke to pull on its respective primary elastic cord20. Accordingly, whenever the user is pulling on a hand harness4, the user is also indirectly pulling on and stretching the respective primary elastic cord20which resists the user's pull.

As also shown inFIG. 3, each cable system includes a piston pump17, and each forward yoke15couples together not only the tackle set of pulleys13band each primary elastic cord20, but also the piston rod16of each piston pump. The block-and-tackle pulleys reduce the sixty linear inches of cable leading segment travel produced by the reach of the user's arm motions during power strokes, down to about eighteen inches of closure between the block set of pulleys13aand the tackle set of pulleys13bto make it practical to employ a piston pump within the cable system. In order to do that, each cable trailing segment14is threaded between the block-and-tackle pulleys to produce a 3.5:1 mechanical advantage ratio. However as a variation of that design within the present invention, the mechanical advantage ratio could be produced by making the spool hub10awith two different diameters as shown inFIG. 4at X as described previously. The present invention therefore includes the principle of employing a mechanical advantage ratio as the means to transmit and reduce approximately sixty inches of cable travel produced by the user's arm strokes, down to a lesser amount of linear motion to make it practical to operate a piston pump. In accordance with that principle, the tackle set of pulleys13bis coupled to the forward yoke15which is coupled in turn to the piston pump rod16. That is done here by threading and screwing the end of the piston rod into a threaded nut on the forward yoke, but any suitable coupling means could be used. The result of that coupling, as depicted inFIG. 3is that while a hand harness4is being pulled according to the direction arrows, the forward yoke15and the piston rod16to which it is coupled, are pulled outward from piston pump17, while a one-way air valve operatively connected to the piston pump allows ambient air to enter into the pump chamber without restriction during the user's power stroke. Accordingly, since each piston pump17is held in place by straps40fastened to crossbars41that are fastened to the frame of platform1, there is no significant resistance from the piston pump17while air is drawn into its chamber during the user's power stroke. However, during the user's return stroke, all aforementioned motion of the identified components is reversed because of the way that each forward yoke15links together the tackle pulleys13band piston rod16and primary elastic cord20, so that during the user's return stroke, the piston rod is forced back into the pump chamber by the elastic force from the primary elastic cord which is transmitted through the forward yoke15to the piston rod which causes the piston pump17to push air out through the air hose18, and through the relief valve19, which relief valve can be pre-adjusted by the user to variably restrict the air exiting from the piston pump, thus causing the cable system and hand harness4to adjustably return to their starting positions more slowly.

The present invention includes not only fluid resistance from the piston pumps described previously to dampen the cycling speed of the cable system, but also includes mass moment of inertia, as will now be described, to dampen the cycling speed of the cable system, and both or either of such means as described may be used as part of the invention. The mass moment of inertia design of the invention, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, includes weights11athat are attached proximate to the rotating perimeter of each spool to provide mass moment of inertia as the spool rotates during the user's power strokes. The weights11aare attached with suitable fasteners through holes11bas inFIG. 4, so that during the power strokes, the weights11arotate with the spool around its axle bolt9a. But when the user begins a return stroke, the mass of the weights resists any sudden reversal of rotation direction being applied to the spool from the accumulated elastic force of the stretched primary elastic cord20that is being transmitted to each spool through its respective cable trailing segment14as described previously. Since the mass moment of inertia from the weighted spool resists that sudden reversal of rotation direction, that dampens the cable system's cycling speed in order to make the tension from the primary elastic cord20seemingly disappear to the user in the first few moments of a return stroke. The weights may be attached to or made a part of the spools and may be of any suitable material to provide a mass moment of inertia that is sufficient to significantly alter the cycling speed of the cable system as the user alternates from power stokes to return strokes, and the weights or mass may be located anywhere within the cable system and be rotated directly or indirectly by the travel of the cables as described here. And the positions or amounts of the mass may be adjustable manually or automatically to affect the mass moment of inertia during operation of apparatus A.

The present invention also provides a means for the user to adjust the pre-existing elastic force within each primary elastic cord20so that the elastic cord offers greater or lesser tension resistance to the user's power strokes. As shown inFIG. 2, either of the primary elastic cords may be set to a longer or shorter operating length by adjusting the position of either of the two rearward yokes21that serve as carriers to which the primary elastic cords20are linked. The rearward yokes are threaded onto threaded rods that are rotatably mounted on platform1, so that the carriers move along the threaded rods22as the user turns either of the rods22using the elastic cord adjustment cranks43to move the rearward yokes21closer to or father from the forward yokes15. Each rearward yoke has a pair of rearward yoke pulleys23, through which each primary elastic cord20is threaded, after which each primary elastic cord20then goes to an elastic cord fixed anchor point24on platform1. As the user turns either adjustment crank43, thus moving the rearward yoke21, that movement of the rearward yoke adjustment can be seen while standing over apparatus A and looking through inspection slots42that are cut through the top of platform1. The rearward yokes may be made of sheet metal or any suitable material to provide suitable mounting points to which the rearward yoke pulleys23may be attached with suitable fasteners, or as an alternative, sheaves may be mounted into each rearward yoke21to serve the same purpose as the pulleys23. Each rearward yoke21has a threaded nut or other suitable threaded receiver into which the threaded elastic cord adjustment rod22may be installed. As a variation, both primary elastic cords could simultaneously be adjusted by turning a single elastic cord adjustment crank, or within the principle of the design, such adjustment could be through a remote or motorized actuator, or by anchoring the elastic cords to alternative locations on apparatus A, or by adding or subtracting the number elastic cords, or by mechanisms to automatically coordinate the primary elastic cord adjustment with that of the relief valve19by the use of gears, or other suitable means.

FIG. 6shows a means within the present invention to automatically take-up any excess slack in the cable leading and trailing segments6and14that might occur if the relief valve19is for example adjusted too restrictively. As depicted, the cable trailing segment14, after being threaded through all block and tackle pulleys, then passes through a hole in the trailing cable end stop44. The end stop may be made of metal or any suitable material, and mounted to platform1with suitable fasteners, and the hole in the end stop is just large enough to accommodate the cable diameter size. After passing through the hole in the end stop, the cable trailing segment end is then coupled to a link45to which a secondary elastic cord46is also coupled. After coupling to link45, the secondary elastic cord46is threaded through the secondary cord pulley48, and the secondary elastic cord then goes from that pulley to an anchor point47that is attached to the frame of platform1. The secondary elastic cord then provides relatively weak, but continuous, tension on the end of the trailing cable to take-up any excess slack. As a variation, the cable end stop44and link45may be placed on the opposite side of the sheave of pulley48. The relief valve adjustment dial49is depicted as an example of a means to restrict the range of air valve adjustment.

FIGS. 7-9show another embodiment of apparatus A that is structured in accord with the principles of the present invention, wherein the cable systems are generally similar to those inFIGS. 2 and 3. Accordingly, the like parts and structures of both embodiments will be referred to by like reference numerals. As shown by the cutaway views inFIG. 8, a set of rack and pinion gears25and31is used for the same purpose of reducing about sixty inches of cable leading segment travel down to approximately eighteen inches of linear motion for actuating the piston pumps.FIG. 9shows how each pinion gear31and gear rack25mesh together due to the gear rack guide32mounted in the spool bracket27using a gear rack guide mounting bracket34that is fastened to the spool bracket with screws26. The spool bracket27is fastened to the underside of platform1and the gear rack guide32slidably holds the gear rack25against the pinion gear31, allowing the gear rack25to slide in a linear manner upon the gear rack bearing insert33that is made of any suitably low-friction material, and which is fastened into the gear rack guide using screws with countersunk heads. The pinion gear31is coupled to the top disc10bof the spool, here using set screws, and rotates in unison with the spool hub10aon the same axle bolt9athat is attached to platform1as described previously. The result, as in the first embodiment, is that during a power stroke the spool rotates. And according to the rotation direction arrow inFIG. 8, that spool rotation causes the pinion gear31to rotate, which causes the gear rack25to move in a linear direction toward the inboard pulley8. Then during the user's return stroke, the motion of the spool and pinion gear and gear rack will be reversed due to the elastic force from the primary elastic cord20as in the first embodiment of the invention.FIG. 8also shows that each gear rack25is coupled to the end of each piston rod16. Here, that is done by drilling and tapping the end of each metal gear rack to accept the threaded end of each piston rod16, but any suitable material and coupling means could be used. As shown by the direction arrows inFIG. 7, during a user's power stroke, the gear rack25pulls the piston rod16of the piston pump17, causing the pump to draw ambient air into its chamber. Then, during the user's return stroke, the elastic force from the primary elastic cord20causes the spool and pinion gear and gear rack to reverse direction, which pushes the piston rod16into piston pump17and which forces the air out of the pump into the pump air hose18and relief valve19. In this embodiment of the invention perFIG. 7, each cable trailing segment14may, as a variation, go directly from its cable spool hub10a, through a link28to the primary elastic cord20, and the opposite end of the primary elastic cord20may be anchored to the frame of platform1by a pin29that may be placed into various locations along on a notched rack, or the like, on platform1, and elastic cord transom pulleys30may be used to extend the operating length of the elastic cords20. Other parts shown numbered inFIGS. 7 through 9are the same parts providing the same functions as those described previously for the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 16depicts the design for each hand harness4that is coupled by any suitable means to each leading cable6. The hand harness is not designed to provide, or attribute, any significant conditioning or developing of muscles found in the region beyond the user's forearms, but is instead designed to easily remain on the user's hand while the user is exercising on the apparatus A. Within the context of this application, the “hand harness” is defined as a device that provides at least one flexible loop into which one or more of the fingers of a person's hand may be snuggly inserted, and although there could be one or more of such finger loops provided, the ideal is that an individual finger loop is provided for each one of the user's four fingers on the hand, so that while the hand harness is on the hand it will not tend to slip off even when the hand is inverted in any position, and so that the user may comfortably cup the hand while pulling on leading cable6as when paddling a surfboard. The hand harness design of the present invention may be made from one length of strap formed into finger loops that are then riveted together at their top ends as depicted, and with one last loop over a “D” ring with a lap joint that can be sewn or glued over the “D” ring. However, the hand harness4of the present invention may as a variation be constructed from any flexible material or webbing, or made by molding or forming the hand harness from rubber or flexible plastic or the like, or by making the hand harness from more or fewer parts, or by holding it together or attaching it to a cable by any suitable means.

FIG. 17depicts the torso support5of apparatus A, and within the context of this application, the “torso support” is defined as a plate35that may be made from any suitable material such as plywood, and that may be padded with any suitable material such as foam, and the torso support is designed to be suitably large enough to primarily support only the user's mid to lower torso and upper legs as shown inFIG. 10. The torso support may be mounted on platform1by a means that allows the user's body to tilt side to side with the torso support during operation of apparatus A. Plate35is accordingly mounted on the elongate center line of platform1to the top surface of the platform over a length of round pipe, or the like, serving as an axle36that is centered under plate35and rotatably held onto the top surface of platform1by straps37and38at the forward and rearward ends of axle36. The tilting movement of plate35is subject to a plurality of compression springs39, or the like, mounted proximate to and between the side edges of plate35and the top surface of platform1. As variations within the invention, the springs could be made of other alternative elastic materials such as rubber blocks, and the user may add or remove such elastic elements to compensate for user body weight in order to best simulate the challenge of remaining balanced on a tilting buoyant surfboard.

The principles of the present invention may be adapted to the construction of a variety of other embodiments, and alternative sizes or shapes or locations or numbers or orientations or materials of the components depicted and described above may also be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is believed that the disclosure set forth above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions have been disclosed in their preferred forms, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions described and depicted above includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and sub-combinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed herein. No single feature, function, element or property of the disclosed embodiments is essential to all of the disclosed inventions herein. Similarly where the claims recite “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. Inventions embodied in other combinations and sub-combinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of the present claims or presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to a new invention or directed to the same invention, whether different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are also regarded as included within the subject matter of the inventions of the present disclosure.