Abstract:
A training device that simulates the skating motions to develop effective skating technique as well as develop increased strength. The device comprises of a resistance cord assembly that has multiple resistance cords that are attached at one end to a hip belt and the other to a fixed point or partner. The resistance cord assembly is comprised of multiple resistance cords to allow for the increase or decrease of the number of resistance cords attached to the hip belt to modify the resistance. The modifiable resistance allows the user, regardless of weight, to provide resistance to allow them to conduct the movements partially or completely as well as slowly or dynamically.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The purposes of the invention are: 
        To allow the user to simulate skating motions either on or off ice including forward strides, cornering, starts and lateral movements.     To allow the user to conduct the motions slowly and specifically     To allow the user to create muscle memory and transfer it to the ice     To allow the user to experience the feeling of the movements     To allow the user to simulate the skating motion during strength and power training.        
 
         [0007]     A training device for skaters, including speed skating, ice hockey, inline hockey, ringette and inline skating to be able simulate the skating motion for use both on and off ice.  
         [0008]     The device is designed so that a skater can learn fundamental technical movements by simulating different skating strides including, forward strides, cross-overs, corner pushes, and starts including forward and lateral, as well to be used for muscle memory development, strength training and power training.  
         [0009]     All though others have invented technical development and strength training devices for skaters our invention is has many unique advantages because it: 
        Allows the user to more closely simulate the actual skating motion.     Can be used both for technical learning and power and strength training.     Provides adequate and variable resistance allowing the user to conduct partial and full movements very slowly and or dynamically regardless of height, weight or movement they execute     Allows the user to feel the pressure under the balls of their feet for maximum power during the entire execution of the push     Allows the user to experience the feeling of acceleration of their weight in the direction they wish to go.     Allows the user to improve timing and rhythm.     Provides options to be used solo or in conjunction with a partner        
 
       References  
     U.S. Patent Documents  
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                 Des. 360,452 
                 Gessler 
                 D21/238; D8/382 
               
               
                 3,870,317 
                 Wilson 
                 273/188 R, 273/26 C 
               
               
                 4,685,671 
                 Sport Cord Inc 
                 A36B 21/02 
               
               
                 4,544,155 
                 Wallenbrock, Perry 
                 A63B 21/04 
               
               
                 5,846,167 
                 Pacific Cornetta Inc 
                 A63B 31/00 
               
               
                 4,328,964 
                 Walls 
                 A63B 21/04 
               
               
                   418,257 
                 Whitely 
               
               
                 5,813,955 
                 Gutkowski, Olney 
                 A63B 21/02 
               
               
                 4,530,497 
                 Moran, Bellerive 
                 A63B 31/00 
               
               
                 5,234,392 
                 Clark 
                 B63B 23/04 
               
               
                 5,176,599 
                 Beliakov 
                 A63B 21/02 
               
               
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                 A63G 9/00 
               
               
                 6,551,221 
                 Marco 
                 A63B 071/00 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     A training device that simulates the skating motions to develop effective skating technique as well as develop increased strength. The device comprises of a resistance cord assembly that has multiple resistance cords that are attached at one end to a hip belt and the other to a fixed point or partner. The resistance cord assembly is comprised of multiple resistance cords to allow for the increase or decrease of the number of resistance cords attached to the hip belt to modify the resistance. The modifiable resistance allows the user, regardless of weight, to provide resistance to allow them to conduct the movements partially or completely as well as slowly or dynamically.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0019]     Included are 14 drawings to assist in understanding the technique-development and strength-training device for skaters and the method of use:  
         [0020]      FIG. 1 . Is a perspective of the complete assembly.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2 . Is perspective of the stretch cord assembly.  
         [0022]      FIG. 3 . Is a perspective of the hip belt.  
         [0023]      FIG. 4 . Is a perspective of the end of the assembly and its securing features.  
         [0024]      FIG. 5A . Is a perspective of the stretch cord attached to the ring.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5B . Is an alternate perspective of the stretch cord attached to the ring.  
         [0026]      FIG. 6 . Is a perspective of the hook attached to the stretch cord and hooks attached to the hip belt.  
         [0027]      FIG. 7 . Is a perspective of the securing and placement of the D-Ring on the hip belt.  
         [0028]      FIG. 8A . Is a perspective of how the stretch cord assembly can be secured to a rail.  
         [0029]      FIG. 8B . Is a perspective of how the stretch cord assembly can be secured to wall with a hook.  
         [0030]      FIG. 8C . Is a perspective of how the stretch cord assembly can be secured to partner with a second hip belt.  
         [0031]      FIG. 9A . Is a perspective of where the hip belt is positioned on the user and a perspective of the initial position of the ankle angle initiating a forward stride.  
         [0032]      FIG. 9B . A perspective of the ankle angle closed to its maximum position in a forward stride.  
         [0033]      FIG. 10 . Is a perspective of the stretch cords in an extended position.  
         [0034]      FIG. 11 . Is a perspective of the stretch cords in an extended position demonstrated with a partner.  
         [0035]      FIG. 12 . Is a demonstration of the user in a completed forward start movement.  
         [0036]      FIG. 13 . Is a demonstration of the user in a completed forward stride movement.  
         [0037]      FIG. 14 . Is a demonstration of the user in a completed corner push movement.  
     
    
       [0038]     We have provided the following Reference Numerals to assist in following the description of the device and its method of use. 
     10  Stretch Cord      11  Ferrule      12  Hook      13  Ring      14  Large Hook      15  Attachment Strap      20  Webbing      21  D-Ring      22  Padding    
 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0048]    
       FIG. 1 
     
         [0049]     The technique-development and strength-training device for skaters has been designed using a Stretch Cord Assembly  FIG. 2 , that provides resistance to the user, a Hip Belt  FIG. 3  that is worn around the hips of the user and embodiments to attach the device to a fixed point or partner  FIG. 4 .  
         [0050]      FIG. 2 :  
         [0051]     The Stretch Cord Assembly  FIG. 2  is constructed of a number of Stretch Cords  10  passed through a Ring  13  and each cord is aligned at the mid point, and secured with a ferrule  11 , shown in more detail in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , At the end of each Stretch Cord  10  there is a hook  12  secured by folding over the Stretch Cord  10  and secured with a ferrule  11 , shown in more details  FIG. 6  The hook  12  is used to attach the individual Stretch Cords  10  to the D-Ring  21  of the Hip Belt  FIG. 3 , as shown in more detail in  FIG. 6   
         [0052]     The Ring  13  on the end of the Stretch Cord Assembly  FIG. 2  has a Large Hook  14  clipped on, as well as and Attachment Strap  15 , shown in more detail in  FIG. 4 , to be used to secure the assembly to a fixed object such as a pole or post  FIG. 4 , a rail  FIG. 8A  or hook  FIG. 8B  or a partner wearing an optional hip belt  FIG. 3  as demonstrated in  FIG. 8C   
         [0053]      FIG. 3 .  
         [0054]     The hip belt  FIG. 3  is constructed of Webbing  20 . A closed loop belt is constructed by securing both ends of the Webbing  20  after one end of the Webbing  20  is passed through a D-Ring  21 , and fastened to the other end of the Webbing  20  shown in more detail  FIG. 7 . The Webbing  20  has Padding  22  in the mid section to protect the user. The hip belt  FIG. 3  is worn by the user as well as an option to be worn by a partner assisting the user, as shown in  FIG. 8C .  
         [0055]     How the technique-development and strength-training device for skaters achieves its result.  
         [0056]     The stretch cord assembly  FIG. 1  is attached to a secure object, such as a pole  FIG. 4 , a rail  FIG. 8A , a wall  FIG. 8B  or to a partner as demonstrated in  FIG. 8C , using either the ring  13 , the large hook  14  or attachment strap  15 . The user positions the hip belt around their hips as demonstrated in  FIG. 9A . The optimal height to secure the Stretch Cord Assembly  FIG. 2  for all movements is approximately equivalent to the height of the of the user, except for forward starts, where the optimal height to secure the Stretch Cord Assembly  FIG. 2  is approximately nose height, unless being conducted with a partner, whereby the Cord Assembly  FIG. 2  is secured to a hip belt  FIG. 3  around the partners hips.  
         [0057]     For the straight-away stride: The hip belt  FIG. 3  is positioned so that the padding is on the opposite hip to the leg the user will be exercising and the Hip Belt  FIG. 3  attached to the Stretch Cord Assembly  FIG. 2  on the same side of the body as the leg they will be exercising, as shown in  FIG. 9A   
         [0058]     For Corners and Lateral Starts: The hip belt  FIG. 3  is positioned so that the padding  22  is on the hip on the same side as the direction of the movement and the Hip Belt  FIG. 3  is attached to the Stretch Cord Assembly  FIG. 2  on the opposite side of the body to the direction of the movement, as shown in  FIG. 14   
         [0059]     For Forward Starts: The hip belt  FIG. 3  is positioned so that the padding is on the front of the user and the Hip Belt  FIG. 3  is attached to the Stretch Cord Assembly  FIG. 2  to the rear of the user, as shown in  FIG. 12   
         [0060]     For continual motion exercises: (such as continual cross-overs, lateral starts and multiple stride forward starts)  
         [0061]     A pair of the Stretch Cords  10  are positioned in the opposite direction of the user,  FIG. 10  and attached to a Hip Belt  FIG. 3  worn by a partner. The Hip Belt  FIG. 3  is positioned and the Stretch Cord Assembly  FIG. 2  is attached to the user using the same method as described above, as demonstrated in  FIG. 12 .  
         [0062]     The number of Stretch Cords  10  attached to the Hip Belt  FIG. 3  is determined by the user, with experimentation, and is dependent on the height, weight and the nature of the exercise the user will be conducting.  
         [0063]     The device allows the user to adjust the resistance by adding or removing the number of Stretch Cords  10 . This amount of resistance used, allows the user to simulate an array of skating movements for a pre-determined range of motion. This allows the user to conduct a number of progressions to learn each part of a skating movement, as shown in  FIG. 9B  and also to conduct complete skating movements slowly or dynamically as shown in  FIG. 13 . Repeating the movements on a regular basis will create lasting muscle memory.  
         [0064]     The user can increase or decrease the amount of resistance by adjusting the number of Stretch Cords  10  attached to the users Hip Belt  FIG. 3  to conduct an array of different skating movements and learn and improve areas such as: 
        To accelerate their weight or center of gravity in the direction they wish to move, referred in sport as weight transfer.     To initiate a push at the optimum position where their pushing foot is creating maximum force in to the floor or ice.     Timing and rhythm of a movement.     Correct body position at the initiation, through the movement and the end of a movement including forward strides, cornering, starts and lateral.        
 
         [0069]     The variable resistance factor also allows the user to use the device as a strength-training device by adjusting the number of Stretch Cords  10  creating resistance that will allow the user to repeatedly complete a particular complete movement dynamically.  
         [0070]     To use the device the user secures the Stretch Cord Assembly  FIG. 2  to secure position as shown in  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 8A ,  FIG. 8B  or partner, as shown in  FIG. 8C  and places the Hip Belt  FIG. 3  in a position as described above depending on the movement they will be conducting. They take the body position to simulate the initiation of a movement at a distance where the Stretch Cords  10  are tight but not resisting. The number of Stretch Cords  10  attached to the Hip Belt  FIG. 3  will be determined by the nature of the movement, partial or complete as well as whether the movement will be executed slow or dynamically. The skating movement is initiated by the movement of the users body weight in the direction they wish to move by closing the ankle angle as demonstrated for a forward stride in  FIGS. 9A and 9B .  
         [0071]     Though there are many points to which a movement could be conducted, the primary are: 
        The point at which the body position creates maximum force in a downward position on the pushing foot at which point the push is initiated, as shown for the forward stride in  FIG. 9B      and the point at which the push is completed and the body is in a position to initiate the next push or movement as demonstrated for the forward start in  FIG. 12 , forward stride  FIG. 13 , right corner push  FIG. 14         
 
         [0074]     These are not the only embodiments of our invention. Alternatively: 
        The stretch cords can be made from an alternate material that will provide adequate resistance and elasticity to allow the user to have both a partial and full range of motion.     The means of securing the hooks can be changed from metal ferrule to another material or method as long as it has the ability to with stand the forces applied to it when used.     The shape and material of the Ring can be changed as long as it allows for the attachment of the Stretch Cords and allows the Stretch Cord Assembly to be attached to a secure point.     The number of Stretch Cords can be increased or decreased as long it provides adequate resistance for the user to complete both partial and complete movements.     The padding on the Hip Belt can be made of an array of materials and attachment methods so to provide comfort to the user.     The size, material and design of the hip belt can be modified such that there is still a mechanism or means to attach it to the Stretch Cord Assembly and be able to support the load placed on it and provide sufficient support to the user.