WO2004108229A2

WO2004108229A2 - Skating exercise equipment

Info

Publication number: WO2004108229A2
Application number: PCT/CA2004/000828
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jules Jardine
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-06-04
Filing date: 2004-06-04
Publication date: 2004-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 2005-12-04
Also published as: WO2004108229A3

Abstract

A skating exercise system may include a resistance device, a roller skate that is not restrained by a track, and a cable connected between the skate and the resistance device. A skate may included a chassis, a plurality of caster wheel assemblies, and springs. The chassis extends along a first axis. The plurality of caster wheel assemblies are pivotably coupled to the chassis and located along the first axis. A spring is biased between each of the caster wheel assemblies and the chassis. In alternative, a skate may include a chassis and a set of rollers. The rollers are located along the first axis of the chassis. The rollers extend from a bottom of the chassis. Each of the rollers is able to rotate in any direction.

Description

JAR-001 PCT International Patent Application

Skating Exercise Equipment

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/475,703 filed on June 4, 2003, entitled Pivoting Wheel Chassis With Adjustable Skate Plate And Exercise Equipment Including Same, which application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to exercise equipment. In one aspect it relates more particularly to skating exercise equipment for mimicking actual ice skating and/or inline skating movements while providing resistance training.

BACKGROUND

Ice skating and inline skating are involved in many sports and recreational activities. In hockey, for example, a player generally needs good ice skating skills to be a good hockey player. Serious hockey players often strive to increase their leg strength and stamina to improve their playing abilities and to increase their skating speed and power. Likewise, ice skaters and inline skate riders may also strive to increase their leg strength for improved skating abilities.

A prior exercise machine attempted to provide strength training for muscles used in skating. In this prior exercise machine, the user is permitted to move his feet along two tracks in a linear motion with a resistance. However, the movement of such a machine is constrained to a linear motion. The push stride is along the same line as the return stride. This is not a natural skating motion and is awkward for an experienced skater. Such linear motion may not exercise certain muscles as much that would be used in actual skating. A more natural skating motion is generally elliptical and the size and shape of the ellipse varies for different people. Thus, a need exists for an improved exercise machine that is adapted to provide a more natural skating motion while providing resistance training.

A skater (e.g., hockey player) recovering from an injury may desire to have an exercise machine for rehabilitating an injured leg that mimics a skating motion. Also, an athlete with one injured leg may desire to exercise the uninjured leg with a different intensity level than the injured leg. Hence, a need exists for an exercise machine that may be used for rehabilitating an injured skater.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problems and needs outlined above are addressed by the present invention. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an exercise system is provided. The exercise system includes a resistance device, a roller skate that is not restrained by a track, and a cable connected between the skate and the resistance device. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a skate is provided, which includes a chassis, a shaft member, a wheel truck, a spring, and a wheel The chassis extends along a first axis The first axis extends from a heel end of the chassis to a toe end of the chassis The shaft member extends along a second axis A first angle formed between the first and second axis is between about 60 degrees and about 90 degrees A wheel truck is pivotably coupled to the chassis via the shaft member so that the wheel truck may pivot about the second axis The spring is biased between the wheel truck and the chassis The wheel is rotationally coupled to and retained by the wheel truck The wheel may rotate about a third axis A second angle formed between the second and third axis is between about 60 degrees and about 90 degrees A third angle formed between the first and third axis varies as the wheel truck pivots about the second axis

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a skate is provided, which includes a chassis, a plurality of caster wheel assemblies, and springs The chassis extends along a first axis The plurality of caster wheel assemblies are pivotably coupled to the chassis and located along the first axis A spring is biased between each of the caster wheel assemblies and the chassis

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, a skate is provided, which includes a chassis and a set of rollers The chassis extends along a first axis The first axis extends from a heel end of the chassis to a toe end of the chassis The set of rollers is located along the first axis The rollers extend from a bottom of the chassis Each of the rollers is able to rotate in any direction

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following is a brief description of the drawings, which show illustrative embodiments of the present invention and m which

FIG 1 is perspective view of a skate exercise system of a first embodiment of the present invention,

FIG 2 is a side view of a skate of the first embodiment,

FIG 3 is a bottom view of a chassis from the skate of FIG 2,

FIG 4 is a side view of a caster wheel assembly of the first embodiment from the skate of FIG 2,

FIG 5 is an exploded view for part of the caster wheel assembly of FIG 4,

FIG 6 is a rear view of the caster wheel assembly of the first embodiment from the skate of FIG 2,

FIG 7 is a rear view of a caster wheel assembly of a second embodiment of the present invention,

FIG 8 is a side view of a skate of the second embodiment with a shoe operably installed therein,

FIG 9 is a bottom view of a skate of a third embodiment of the present invention,

FIG 10 is a side view of a skate of the third embodiment with a shoe operably installed therein, FIG. 11 is a rear view of one of the caster wheel assemblies of the third embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a side view of a skate of a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a cross-section view taken along line 13-13 in FIG. 12 to illustrate a roller from the skate of the fourth embodiment; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a skate exercise system of a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers are used herein to designate like or similar elements throughout the various views, illustrative embodiments of the present invention are shown and described. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in some instances the drawings have been exaggerated and/or simplified in places for illustrative purposes only. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the many possible applications and variations of the present invention based on the following illustrative embodiments of the present invention.

Generally, an embodiment of the present invention provides a way to mimic an actual ice skating and/or inline skating movement while the user remains within a small exercise area (e.g., about 4 m²) and while optionally providing resistance training.

A first illustrative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGs. 1-6. FIG. 1 is perspective view of an exercise system 20 of the first embodiment, the parts and functions of which will be described next. The exercise system 20 includes a pair of specialized roller skates 22. FIG. 2 is a side view of a skate 22 of the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, each skate 22 is attached to a resistance device 24 by a cable 26. Preferably, a hard, smooth, and planar exercise surface 30 is provided for the user to skate upon, as shown in FIG. 1. A set of cable pulleys 32 maybe attached to the exercise surface 30 to guide and retain the cables 26 during use of the system 20.

During typical use of the exercise system 20 of FIG. 1, a user wears the skates 22 as one would wear conventional inline skates, for example. Hand rails 34 are preferably provided (see e.g., FIG. 1) to assist the user in balancing and/or to reduce the amount of weight transferred to a leg (e.g., an injured leg) during use of the system 20. The system 20 may include a cup holder 36 (see e.g., FIG. 1) and/or other containers (not shown) for use by a user.

In this example embodiment, the resistance devices 24 are fans. The fans 24 of FIG. 1 have pulleys 40 on which the cables 26 are connected. As a skate 22 is moved away from a fan 24, the corresponding cable 26 is pulled (because it is attached to the skate 22), which in turn rotates the corresponding fan pulley 40. In FIG. 1, the right skate 22 is shown in two positions, the second position 42 being shown in phantom lines, to illustrate an example pushing stride movement of the skate 22 during use of the system 20. In a preferred embodiment, each fan 24 may be actuated independently. In the first embodiment, the left cable 26 actuates the left fan 24 and the right cable 26 actuates the right fan 24. Thus, each skate 22 maybe moved independently and each skate 22 may have a different resistance level. Each fan pulley 40 is preferably coupled to a spring biased ratchet mechanism (not shown) so that the fan blade is turned by the pulling of the cable 26 but then the slack of the cable 26 is drawn onto the fan pulley 40 as the skate 22 is moved towards the fan 24,

One or both of the fans 24 of FIG. 1 may have one or more sensors (not shown) to detect the rotational motion of the fan blade (and/or fan pulley 40) and or energy exerted to rotate the fan blade. Such information may be converted to calories burned, fan rotation speed, and/or equivalent acceleration, for example, and may be displayed on an instrument display panel 44 (see e.g., FIG. 1). The sensing of the fan pulley rotation may be converted to other useful information for the user as well, which also maybe displayed on the instrument display panel 44. For example, the instrument display panel 44 may provide displays or information such as (but not limited to): simulated skating distance, simulated skating speed, simulated skating acceleration, calories consumed, energy exerted, elapsed time of exercising, simulated motion around a track, countdown timer, heart rate, intensity level, resistance level, exercise routine targets, exercise program, histogram of information, average of information, and combinations thereof, for example. The display panel 44 also may be used to provide usage instructions and/or workout program prompts to a user. The display panel 44 may be powered by batteries, AC power from a wall outlet, power generated by the resistance device 24 (e.g., electric generator), or combinations thereof, for example.

The system 20 may include a computer system. The display panel 44 or some other component of the system 20 (e.g., a sensor, a computer) may be communicably coupled to an external computer system or another piece of equipment for sending information to and/or receiving information from such external system. For example, information from the exercise system may be sent to a computer system that is also connected to other devices to receive information from other devices, such as a breathing sensor or a heart rate sensor. In such case, the information from these various sources (including the information from the exercise system) may be used to test a person, to gather data about a person, or to correlate such information for generating other information. As another example, an embodiment may be communicably coupled (e.g., wire, cable, wireless) to a computer system or server that gathers information from the system 20. Such information may then be stored, graphed, analyzed, transmitted to another system, sent to a web page, compared to information about other users, and combinations thereof, for example. The performance of users all over the world could be compared on a web site, for example. A coach, a trainer, or a user, for example, may download training or exercise programs to the system 20 to be displayed to the user on the display panel 44 during use of the system. Hence, a user may have the ability to develop or use customized workout routines. In another example, two or more exercise systems of an embodiment may be communicably coupled together or to a server so that users may compete against each other. In such case, the simulated position of a user on a track could be displayed as the users race along the displayed track (i.e., the speed of their skating corresponding to their position on the displayed track). Users from anywhere in the world may even compete with each other over the Internet, for example. Thus, there are many possible uses of information provided to or from the system 20. With the benefit of this disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art will likely realize many other uses and applications, beyond those described herein, that would fall within the scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the skate 22 of the first embodiment has a chassis 50 extending along a first axis 51. The first axis 51 extends from a heel end 53 of the chassis 50 to a toe end 54 of the chassis 50. The skate 22 in this example has four spring biased caster wheel assemblies 56, which are shown detached in FIG. 2 for purposes of illustration. FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the chassis 50 of FIG. 2 with the caster wheel assemblies 56 removed.

FIGs. 4-6 show one of the caster wheel assemblies 56 of FIG. 2 in more detail. FIG. 4 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 2. FIG. 5 shows part of the caster wheel assembly 56 in an exploded view. FIG. 6 shows a rear view of the caster wheel assembly 56 operably attached to the chassis 50. Although four wheels 60 are used on each skate 22 in a preferred embodiment, any number of wheels 60 and/or rollers 62 (described below) may be used for an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGs. 4 and 6, a wheel truck 64 of the assembly has a U-shaped fork portion 67 that extends downward to the wheel axis 68. The wheel truck 64 retains and supports the wheel 60. The wheel 60 has a bearing 70 therein (see FIG. 4). The wheel 60 can thus pivot about the wheel axis 68 as it is supported by the wheel truck 64. The wheel truck 64 is pivotably coupled to a base plate 72. When the skate 22 is operably assembled the base plate 72, it may be considered part of the chassis 50. Referring to FIG. 5, the wheel truck 64 has a shaft member 74 extending therefrom along a shaft axis 76. The shaft member 74 is an integral part of the wheel truck 64 in this example. In other embodiments, the shaft member 74 may be a separable portion. The shaft member 74 extends through the base plate 72.

The first embodiment has a torsional spring arrangement, which is explained next (see e.g., FIG. 5). The base plate 72 has two spring stops 80 extending therefrom. In this example, the spring stops 80 are integral to the base plate 72. In other embodiments, however, the spring stops 80 may be separable portions or may be separate portions permanently attached to the base plate 72. This torsion spring arrangement of FIG. 5 includes a spring washer 82, a torsion spring 84, a keyed washer 86, and a retaining clip 88, all located about the shaft member 74 and along the second axis 76. Also, a bearing 90 may be located between the wheel truck 64 and the base plate 72, as shown in FIGs. 4 and 6. Such bearing 90 is preferably a low-profile bearing to reduce the space needed for the bearing 90. In other embodiments, however, this bearing 90 may be omitted or substituted with a low friction bushing (e.g., Teflon bushing) or a greased bushing, for example. Corresponding to the keyed washer 86, two key channels 92 extend along opposite sides of the shaft member 74 (parallel with the second axis 76). And corresponding to the retaining clip 88, a circumferential channel 94 is formed about a distal end of the shaft member 74.

When operably assembled (see e.g., FIG. 4 in light of FIG. 5), the spring washer 82 fits over the shaft member 74 and lays against the base plate 72. The torsion spring 84 fits over the shaft member 74 and sits on the spring washer 82. Each prong 96 of the spring 84 is adjacent to or engaged against a corresponding spring stop 80 (depending on the spring configuration and the placement of the spring stops 80). In a preferred embodiment, the spring prongs 96 are both engaged against the spring stops 80. The keyed washer 86 has two inner prongs 98 and two downward extending prongs 100. The inner prongs 98 are adapted to fit within the two key channels 92 of the shaft member 74. The two downward extending prongs 100 are adjacent to or engaged against the spring prongs 96 on the same side of the spring prongs 96 as the spring stops 80. Hence, as the shaft member 74 pivots about the second axis 76 (in either direction), it causes the keyed washer 86 to pivot along with it. This in turn causes one spring prong 96 to move away from one of the spring stops 80, which causes the torsion spring 84 to be expanded or compressed (depending on the orientation of the spring 84). Thus, the wheel 60 may be pivoted about the second axis 76 from a first position (e.g., wheel 60 straight) to a second position (e.g., wheel 60 turned). The spring 84 preferably biases the wheel 60 for returning to the first position.

During use of the system 20 when a user pushes with a skating stride, as illustrated in FIG. 1, rather than propelling the user forward (as a normal skate would), the wheels 60 pivot about their respective second axis 76. This allows the user's foot to move in a pushing stride motion, but with little or no forward propulsion generated by the skate 22. The resistance from the resistance device 24 may provide a counter force to simulate the propulsion force that would occur with a normal skate during actual skating. When the user picks up his foot (along with the skate 22), the spring 84 biases the wheel 60 back to a first position (e.g., straight). The spring force provided by the torsion spring 84 may be varied and is preferably optimized to provide a more realistic skating feel during use of the system 20.

Referring to FIGs. 3, 4, and 6, when the caster wheel assembly 56 is operably attached to the chassis 50, the spring assembly 102 fits within a recess 104 formed in the chassis 50. FIG. 6 shows the spring assembly 102 in hidden lines to illustrate its location within the chassis 50 when the skate 22 of the first embodiment is operably assembled.

Although a torsional spring arrangement is shown in the first embodiment, other mechanical arrangements and/or mechanisms may be used to provide a pivotal movement of the wheel truck 64 relative to the chassis 50 and/or to provide a spring bias on the wheel truck 64 relative to the chassis 50. Such other arrangements/mechanisms maybe apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon routine experimentation, given the benefit of the teachings herein, and are within the scope of the contemplated invention.

As shown in FIGs. 1 and 3, a loop member 106 may be extending from the chassis 50 for attachment of the cable 26. In other embodiments, the connection location for the cable 26 may vary from that shown in FIG. 3. Also, in other embodiments the chassis 50 may simply have a hole or a fastener for attaching the cable 26 to the skate 22, for example.

Referring to FIG. 2, the chassis 50 is attached to a skate boot 108 in the first embodiment. The chassis

50 maybe permanently (e.g., adhesive, rivets, bonding, staples, etc.) or removably (e.g., bolts, clip, etc.) attached to the boot 108, for example. In other embodiments, the chassis 50 may be an integral part of the boot 108 (e.g., sewn into the boot sole). The chassis 50 and the wheel truck 64 may be made from any of a variety of suitable materials, including (but not limited to): metal, metal composite, nylon composite, polymer, wood, plastic, fiberglass composite, carbon fiber composite, Kevlar composite, and combinations thereof, for example. In a preferred embodiment, the chassis 50 and wheel trucks 64 are made from a material that includes aluminum. The chassis 50 and wheel trucks 64 may be made from different materials.

The cables 26 may be made from any of a variety of suitable materials and constructions, including (but not limited to): metal, rope, nylon, braided metal wire with a plastic outer coating, and combinations thereof, for example. The skating surface 30 may be any suitable material that preferably provides a hard, smooth surface. For example, the skating surface may be a wood board with a laminate surface affixed thereto, for example. The wheels 60 may be made from any of a variety of wheel materials, such as those used for inline skates and skateboards for example. Also, the diameter, width, shape, and hardness of the wheels 60 may vary for different designs of an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, note that a first angle 111 formed between the first axis 51 and the second axis 76 is about 90 degrees in a preferred embodiment. In other embodiments, however, the first angle 111 may be different. For example, the first angle 111 may be between about 60 degrees and about 90 degrees (in either direction). Referring to FIG. 6, note that a second angle 112 formed between the second axis 76 and the third axis 68 is about 90 degrees in a preferred embodiment. Yet, in other embodiments the second angle 112 may be different. For example, the second angle 112 may be between about 60 degrees and about 90 degrees (in either direction). Referring again to FIG. 4, note that the third axis 68 does not intersect with the second axis 76 and that the third axis 68 is closer to the toe end 54 of the chassis 50 than the second axis 76 in a preferred embodiment. In other embodiments, the arrangement of the third axis 68 relative to the second axis 76 may be different and they may intersect.

FIGs. 7 and 8 illustrate a skate 22 of a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a rear view of a wheel assembly 56. FIG. 8 is a side view of the skate 22 with a shoe 116 operably strapped therein. The second embodiment is adapted to perform essentially the same functions as the first embodiment, but with some design variations. As shown in FIG. 7, the skate 22 of the second embodiment has a torsion spring arrangement similar to that of the first embodiment (see e.g., FIG. 5), except that the shaft member 74 is part of the base plate 72 and the spring assembly 102 is located below the wheel truck 64. A protective casing 118 (shown in phantom lines in FIG. 7) may be used to cover the spring assembly 102. An advantage of the configuration of the second embodiment is that the chassis 50 may be made thinner. Although a base plate 72 is shown in FIG. 7 for the second embodiment, the separate base plate 72 may be omitted in other embodiments. For example, the shaft 74 may extend from the chassis 50 and the bearing track for the bearing 90 may be formed in the chassis 50.

The second embodiment is adapted to be removably attached to a user's shoe 116 instead of including a skate boot 108 (see e.g., FIG. 2). The chassis 50 has straps 120 for holding the skate 22 to a user's shoe 116 or foot. The chassis 50 also may include a toe hold portion 122 extending from a toe end 54 of the chassis 50, and/or a heel hold portion 124 extending from a heel end 53 of the chassis 50 (see FIG. 8). Also, the chassis 50 of the second embodiment preferably has an adjustable length along the first axis 51. Hence, one skate 22 may be able to fit many different foot sizes.

FIGs. 9-11 illustrate a skate 22 for a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the skate 22. FIG. 10 is a side view of the skate 22. FIG. 11 is a rear view of a caster wheel assembly 56. In the third embodiment, a tension spring arrangement is used (see e.g., FIGs. 9 and 11). In this case, the wheel truck 64 and the chassis 50 each include a spring bracket 126 for attaching a coil spring 84 between the wheel truck 64 and the chassis 50. Thus, when the wheel 60 and wheel truck 64 are pivoted relative to the chassis 50 (about the second axis 76), the spring 84 is extended. FIG. 9 shows two wheel assemblies 56 with the wheels 60 in a first position (e.g., straight) and two other wheel assemblies 56 with the wheels 60 pivoted about the second axis 76 and with the springs 84 extended. Hence, the third axis 68 is varied relative to the first axis 51. The spring bracket 126 extending from the chassis 50 may also act as a wheel return stop (where the wheel 60 is in the first position). Referring to FIG. 11, a bearing 90 is shown in hidden lines to illustrate its possible placement within the chassis 50. A skate 22 of a fourth embodiment is illustrated in FIGs. 12 and 13. FIG. 12 is a side view of the skate 22. FIG. 13 is cross-section view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 12. In this embodiment, rollers 62 are used instead of wheels 60. Each roller 62 is preferably permitted to roll in any direction. The roller housing 130 may be an integral part of the chassis 50, as shown in FIG. 13. In other embodiments, the roller housings 130 maybe separate members from the chassis 50 that are permanently or removably attached to the chassis 50. In the fourth embodiment, the chassis 50 preferably has a shape similar to that of an ice skate blade, as shown in FIG. 12 for example. Thus, the rollers 62 allow the skate 22 to slide in any direction.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an exercise system 20 in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the fifth embodiment, the fans 24 are placed on the sides of the skating surface 30. Instead of cable pulleys 32 (see e.g., FIG. 1), the fifth embodiment uses a cable guide 132. The cable guide 132 maybe attached to the skating surface 30. The rings 134 through which the cables 26 pass preferably have a rounded or circular cross-section so that the ring 134 has a torus shape. This shape may allow the cables 26 to pass through the rings 134 with less binding. In FIG. 14, the right skate is shown in two positions during a pushing stride. Note that the wheel positions are changed in the pushing stride to reduce or eliminate actual forward propulsion during a skating stride. A single hand rail 34 may extend from the supports of the instrument display panel 44, as shown in FIG. 14, for helping a user retain his balance during use of the exercise system 20. Note that any of the example skates 22 of the first, second, third, and fourth embodiments maybe used as part of the exercise systems 20 shown in FIGs. 1 and 14, for example. In the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the cables 26 cross each other. In a variation upon the fifth embodiment, the cables 26 may not cross each other. Also, as another variation on the fifth embodiment, the cable guide 132 may be two separate components (e.g., each having one ring 134).

Although fans 24 are shown as the resistance device in FIGs. 1 and 14, other resistance devices maybe used in other embodiments in addition to or in alternative to the fans, including (but not limited to): a pneumatic device, a hydraulic device, a flexible bow spring member, an elastic member, bungee cords, water/fluid resistance, an large inertia mass (e.g., with resistance to prevent spinning momentum from building up), a spring device, an electro-magnetic device, weights, or combinations thereof, for example. Also, as illustrated in FIGs. 1 and 14 for example, the placement of the resistance devices 24 may vary for other designs of an embodiment. Furthermore, the resistance function of the two fans in the first embodiment (see e.g., FIG. 1) may be provided with a single fan having two fan pulleys (e.g., one on each side) that engage two different clutches or ratchet devices, for example.

Although the illustrative embodiments shown in FIGs. 1 and 14 include a skating surface 30, the floor on which the exercise system 20 is placed may be used as a skating surface, rather than including it as part of the system 20. Some of the components (e.g., cable pulleys 32, cable guides 132, instrument display panel 44, resistance device 24, hand rails 34) of the exercise system may be attached to the skating surface 30 and/or to a floor, or they may be free standing, for example. The skating surface 30 may be adapted to be folded for storage of the system 20 or when the system 20 is not in use to reduce floor space used. An embodiment of the present invention may be permanently attached to a floor or may be adapted to be portable. In another embodiment (not shown), the skating surface 30 may be adapted to tilt or configured at an angle for providing an inclined skating surface.

A skate 22 for an embodiment of the present invention may incorporate one or more resistance bearings 70 for the wheels 60. Hence, the resistance for the skate 22 may be provided by the resistance bearings 70. Such resistance bearings 70 may be substituted for normal low resistance bearings. Also, the bearings 70 may be interchanged to change the resistance level provided by the system 20. In another embodiment, a bearing 70 may have an adjustable resistance so that the bearing may not need to be interchanged to change the resistance level. In still another embodiment, a small resistance device may be attached to or be part of the skate, such as a friction member that may be pressed against one or more wheels (e.g., at adjustable levels of pressure) to provide a resistance to a pushing stride. An embodiment incorporating resistance bearings 70 may not have a need for a separate resistance device 24 connected by cable. Hence, an exercise system of an embodiment may be as simple as a pair of skates 22 with pivotable wheel trucks 64 and resistance bearings 70 (i.e., no cables 26, no resistance devices 24, no instrument display panel 44, no skating surface 30). In such case, a user could easily carry the exercise system in a small bag and use it on any skating surface (e.g., smooth floor, street, driveway, kitchen floor, laminate floors, gym floor). Thus, such system could be travel size and stored in a suitcase.

In an embodiment of the present invention, it is preferred to use a bearing 70 that will stop the wheel 60 from spinning quickly when the user picks up his foot, rather than freewheeling for several minutes. If the wheels 60 are spinning quickly when the user brings his foot back down, it may cause him to lose his balance. Thus, by having bearings 70 that cause the wheel to stop or slow significantly before the user puts his foot back down, the system 20 may feel more like actual ice skating. For other embodiments, however, it maybe desirable to have very low friction bearings 70 that allow the wheels to spin freely with little resistance.

A skate 22 having pivotable wheels 60 (e.g., as described above) (with or without resistance bearings 70) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention may be used as new type of inline skate (e.g., for use on street or in sports) without being tied to a specific piece of exercise equipment (e.g., cables 26, resistance devices 24, etc.). For example, a locking device mechanism (not shown) may provide the ability to prevent the wheels from pivoting so that the skates 22 also may be used for normal inline skating. The range of pivotal movement may be limited and varied for an embodiment to provide another use of a skate 22 of an embodiment. Furthermore, skates 22 of an embodiment (with or without resistance bearings 70) may be used by simply pushing against a wall, pole, or any convenient support structure to hold the user in a small area while performing skating strides.

An advantage of an embodiment of the present invention is that a user can move his feet in a more natural skating motion, as compared to an exercise machine where the users feet move along a track. Also, a user may lift his feet from the skating surface. In an embodiment, weights may be added to the skate 22, or the skate 22 may be adapted for attaching weights, so that as a user lifts his feet, those muscles used to lift the feet while skating may be exercised as well. An embodiment of the present invention may allow a user to train and condition his legs for skating without developing poor skating posture or poor skating strides, as may be the case in using other exercise machines that attempt to provide strength training for skaters. Still another advantage of an embodiment of the present invention is that a user may still use many of the stabilizer muscles and skills involved in balancing one's self while skating. It may be important to develop those muscles used for balance as well.

Different size people (e.g., child, adult man, adult woman) will typically have different size skating strides (e.g., forming different size ellipses). Furthermore, some people have different skating styles for their strides and their feet movement. An advantage of an embodiment of the present invention is that the exercise system allows a user to move his feet in whatever skating stride pattern suits him. Thus, an embodiment of the present invention is adaptable to many different people and many different skating styles.

Another advantage of the present invention is that a user may exercise one leg independent of the other. Hence, more resistance may be applied to one leg than the other, or only one leg may be exercised, for example. This may be very useful for physical rehabilitation. Also, more resistance can be added for strength and/or power training. A user may use an embodiment to build the skating muscles, which may lead to more endurance in a sport, more power for push (e.g., in hockey), and/or better acceleration. Yet another advantage of an embodiment is that a user may get a skating workout without leaving his house.

If an embodiment incorporates an instrument display panel 44, a user may be able to track his progress and/or pace himself. For example, a coach may input a workout program for a student or player to help him develop in certain areas (e.g., power, endurance). A user may be able to track the simulated distance she skated or the calories burned in a workout to meet certain goals or pace, for example.

An embodiment of the present invention may have many applications and uses, including (but not limited to): training for hockey players, exercise equipment in a gym, home exercise equipment, training for figure skating, teaching a person to skate, training for speed skaters, training for inline skating sports, general leg and butt exercising for men and women, cardio training, muscle development, used in conjunction with a video game, used in conjunction with an exercise video, used in conjunction with a virtual reality simulator, and combinations thereof, for example. In a preferred embodiment for home use, various components of the system may be folded together to make the system more compact for storage. Many times when professional hockey players do not get enough minutes in a game, the coach will have a player ride a stationary bike to get a full workout. Such players could use an embodiment of the present invention to get a post-game workout that is more apt to train their legs for skating and is more like actual skating.

Although embodiments of the present invention and at least some of its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods, and steps described in the specification.

As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed, that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An exercise system comprising: a resistance device; a roller skate that is not restrained by a track; and a cable connected between the skate and the resistance device.

2. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein the roller skate comprises: a wheel; a wheel truck adapted to retain the wheel, the wheel truck being adapted to pivot as needed during operation of the exercise system.

3. The exercise system of claim 2, wherein the roller skate further comprises a resistance bearing located in the wheel.

4. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein the roller skate comprises a set of rollers able to roll in any direction.

5. The exercise system of claim 1, further comprising a skating surface adapted to be skated upon by a user wearing the skate during use of the exercise system.

6. The exercise system of claim 5, wherein the skating surface is adapted to be inclined.

7. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein the roller skate comprises: a chassis extending along a first axis; a plurality of caster wheel assemblies pivotably coupled to the chassis and located along the first axis; and a spring biased between each of the caster wheel assemblies and the chassis.

8. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein the skate comprises: a chassis extending along a first axis, wherein the first axis extends from a heel end of the chassis to a toe end of the chassis; a shaft member extending along a second axis, wherein a first angle formed between the first and second axis is between about 60 degrees and about 90 degrees; a wheel truck pivotably coupled to the chassis via the shaft member so that the wheel truck may pivot about the second axis; a spring biased between the wheel truck and the chassis; and a wheel rotationally coupled to and retained by the wheel truck, wherein the wheel may rotate about a third axis, wherein a second angle formed between the second and third axis is between about 60 degrees and about 90 degrees, and wherein a third angle formed between the first and third axis varies as the wheel truck pivots about the second axis.

9. The exercise system of claim 8, wherein the spring is attached to the wheel truck and the chassis in a tension configuration.

10. The exercise system of claim 8, wherein the spring is located about the second axis.

11. The exercise system of claim 1, further comprising an instrument display panel, the instrument display panel including at least one indicator adapted to provide information to a user regarding the use of the exercise system.

12. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein the system is adapted to be communicably coupled to an external component.

13. A skate comprising: a chassis extending along a first axis, wherein the first axis extends from a heel end of the chassis to a toe end of the chassis; a shaft member extending along a second axis, wherein a first angle formed between the first and second axis is between about 60 degrees and about 90 degrees; a wheel truck pivotably coupled to the chassis via the shaft member so that the wheel truck may pivot about the second axis; a spring biased between the wheel truck and the chassis; and a wheel rotationally coupled to and retained by the wheel truck, wherein the wheel may rotate about a third axis, wherein a second angle formed between the second and third axis is between about 60 degrees and about 90 degrees, and wherein a third angle formed between the first and third axis varies as the wheel truck pivots about the second axis.

14. The skate of claim 13, wherein the spring is attached to the wheel truck and the chassis in a tension configuration.

15. The skate of claim 13, wherein the spring is located about the second axis.

16. The skate of claim 13, wherein the spring biases the wheel truck toward a first position, and wherein the third angle is between about 80 degrees and about 90 degrees at the first position.

17. The skate of claim 16, wherein the wheel truck is adapted to be pivoted to a second position, wherein the spring bias is increased when at the second position relative to the first position, and wherein the third angle is less than about 80 degrees at the second position.

18. The skate of claim 13, wherein the third axis does not intersect the second axis.

19. The skate of claim 13, wherein the first angle is about 90 degrees.

20. The skate of claim 13, wherein the second angle is about 90 degrees.

21. The skate of claim 13, wherein the chassis is an integral part of a shoe.

22. The skate of claim 21, wherein the shoe is a skate boot.

23. The skate of claim 13, wherein the chassis is attached to a shoe.

24. The skate of claim 23, wherein the shoe is a skate boot.

25. The skate of claim 23, wherein the chassis is permanently attached to the shoe with rivets.

26. The skate of claim 23, wherein the chassis is removably attached to the shoe with straps.

27. The skate of claim 13, wherein the chassis has an adjustable length along the first axis.

28. The skate of claim 13, wherein the chassis comprises a strap for securing a person's foot to the chassis.

29. The skate of claim 13 , wherein the chassis comprises a toe hold portion extending therefrom at the toe end of the chassis, and wherein the chassis comprises a heel hold portion extending therefrom at the heel end of the chassis.

30. The skate of claim 13, wherein the skate has four wheel trucks and four wheels located along the first axis.

31. The skate of claim 13, wherein the third axis is located closer to the toe end of the chassis than the second axis when the third angle is about 90 degrees.

32. The skate of claim 13, wherein the wheel truck has a generally U-shaped portion and the wheel is retained in the U-shaped portion.

33. The skate of claim 13, wherein the wheel comprises a bearing.

34. The skate of claim 33, wherein the bearing is a resistance bearing adapted to provide a predetermined resistance to rolling during use.

35. The skate of claim 13, wherein the wheel is an inline skate wheel.

36. The skate of claim 13, further comprising a base plate located between the wheel truck and the chassis, the base plate being adapted to be removably attached to the chassis and to act as part of the chassis when the skate is operably assembled, wherein the wheel truck is pivotably coupled to the base plate, and wherein the wheel truck is pivotably coupled to the chassis via the base plate.

37. The skate of claim 13, wherein the wheel truck and the wheel form a caster wheel assembly.

38. A skate comprising: a chassis extending along a first axis; a plurality of caster wheel assemblies pivotably coupled to the chassis and located along the first axis; and a spring biased between each of the caster wheel assemblies and the chassis.

39. The skate of claim 38, wherein each of the plurality of caster wheel assemblies comprises: a shaft member extending along a second axis, wherein a first angle formed between the first and second axis is between about 60 degrees and about 90 degrees; a wheel truck pivotably coupled to the chassis via the shaft member so that the wheel truck may pivot about the second axis; and a wheel rotationally coupled to and retained by the wheel truck, wherein the wheel may rotate about a third axis, wherein a second angle formed between the second and third axis is between about 60 degrees and about 90 degrees, and wherein a third angle formed between the first and third axis varies as the wheel truck pivots about the second axis.

40. The skate of claim 38, wherein the caster wheel assemblies comprise bearings.

41. The skate of claim 40, wherein at least one of the bearings is a resistance bearing adapted to provide a predetermined resistance to rolling during use.

42. The skate of claim 38, wherein wheels of the caster wheel assemblies are inline skate wheels.

43. A skate comprising: a chassis extending along a first axis, wherein the first axis extends from a heel end of the chassis to a toe end of the chassis; and a set of rollers located along the first axis and extending from a bottom of the chassis, wherein each of the rollers is able to rotate in any direction.

44. The skate of claim 43, further comprising a skate boot attached to a top of the chassis.