GB2204804A - Ski-training apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Ski-training apparatus 1 comprises a footboard 24 which can move along a circularly arcuate path on a track 10, the path being arcuate in horizontal and vertical planes and being higher at positions between the ends of the path than at them, elastic straps 30, 30' or springs being provided which act to restore the footboard 24 to an equilibrium position midway between the ends of the track. Preferably, the footboard 24 has wheels 23 and is mounted on an arm 26 pivoted to a baseboard 22. The path may be defined by rails. In use, a skier stands on the footboard 24 facing pivot 28 and may grasp a handrail (40, Fig 2). <IMAGE>

Description

SKI TRAINING APPARATUS The present invention relates to a ski training apparatus.

Various proposals have been made for an apparatus which attempts to simulate a skiing motion in a small space, and without a slope or snow. One such apparatus comprises a slope whose profile is an arc of a circle. A skier simulates a skiing motion by moving over the brow of the slope in a vertical plane, from side to side and back, with his skis oriented perpendicularly to the direction of travel. However, this apparatus does not simulate a realistic skiing motion, and therefore does not exercise those muscles in the skier's body which would usually be tired by skiing.

The present invention enables a skier to simulate the skiing motion more accurately, and in particular to simulate better the movements and weight distribution involved in making a parallel turn.

Parallel turns are particularly difficult to teach on a ski slope and it is therefore desirable to design an apparatus which will allow them to be taught easily indoors.

Therefore, according to the present invention, there is provided a ski training apparatus comprising a footboard and a track, the footboard being movable over the track along a substantially circularly arcuate path, the path being arcuate in both horizontal and vertical planes and being higher at some positions between the ends of the path than at either of the ends. The arcuate path preferably lies in a plane, inclined to the vertical and the ends of the arc are preferably substantially level with each other, and lower than parts of the arc intermediate the ends. The apparatus also has means for providing a restoring force such that the footboard is in equilibrium at a position intermediate the ends of the arcuate path but experiences a restoring force when at either end of the path.

The radius of the arcuate path preferably lies between 90 cm and 140 cm.

Preferably, the track is itself arc-shaped and may for example be cut from a sheet of material in such a way that it has two concentric arcuate boundaries. The two lateral boundaries will usually be straight. The footboard is preferably mounted on wheels which enable it to move over the track. Instead of a sheet the track may alternatively be a rail or rails along which the wheels move.

The track is preferably carried on supports which may rest against the ground, or which are affixed to a baseboard. Preferably, the footboard is mounted at the end of an arm which is pivotally mounted at a pivot point on the ground or, better, on the baseboard.

The means for providing a restoring force may be provided in a number of ways. For example, elastic straps may be connected on either side of the arm between the arm and the board and are extended and shortened alternately as the footboard moves between end positions of the arc and back. Alternatively the means may be connected to the footboard and may be a set of springs.

Preferably, a handrail is provided, onto which a user can hold when he is standing on the footboard.

The angle which the plane of the arc through which the footboard is movable makes with the horizontal, and consequently the angle which the footboard makes with the horizontal is chosen so that a user, when standing on the footboard stands at an angle which is typical for skiing.

Thus the plane of the arc should preferably make an angle of from 300 to 400 with the horizontal.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the ski-training apparatus; and Fig. 2 is an end view of the apparatus, with handrail.

Figures 1 and 2 show a ski-training apparatus 1 having a track 10 which may be cut from, for example, a sheet of wood. The track 10 is generally arc-shaped being bounded by concentric inner and outer arcs 12,14 and lateral boundaries 16,18. The distance between inner and outer arcs 12,14 is suitably 13 cm and the average radius of the track is about 125 cm. The track is mounted on supports 20, such that the plane of the track is inclined at an angle e, to the horizontal, of about 300.

The supports 20 are fixed on a baseboard 22. Because the track 10 is mounted on the baseboard 22 at an angle to the horizontal the track 10 is further off the baseboard 22 at the midpoint of its arc than it is at its extremities.

Thus, the outer arc 14 is suitably 14 cm from the board at its midpoint but only about 3 cm off the surface of the board 22 at its ends. The arc extends about 72 cm across the width of the baseboard 22.

A footboard 24 is arranged to move in an arc between fully clockwise and anticlockwise positions, along the track 10 between stops 25,25'. The footboard 24 is also suitably of wood and may be a sheet 2 cm thick and 40 cm x 18 cm.

The footboard 24 is mounted on wheels 23 which allow it to move over the track 10. As it moves between extreme positions of the track 10 it moves upwards, on its way to the midpoint of the arc and then down again.

The footboard 24 is mounted at one end of an arm 26.

The other end of arm 26 is pivotally mounted on the baseboard 22 at the pivot 28. In the embodiment illustrated the arm 26 is constructed from two metal strips 27,29 which are bolted together in a parallel arrangement. However, any substantially rigid piece, such as a rod could be used.

Several elastic straps 30,30' are connected on either side of the arm 26 between the arm 26 and the baseboard 22.

Straps 30 are slack when the footboard 24 is in its fully anticlockwise position on the track 10 but are extended and under tension when the footboard 24 is in its fully clockwise position, and tend to pull the footboard 24 back to its midpoint position, at which it is in equilibrium. The straps 30 behave oppositely - i.e. are extended when the footboard 24 is in its fully anticlockwise position.

In use, a skier stands, looking towards the pivot 28, on the footboard 24 and holds onto a handrail 40 shown in the end view of Fig. 2. The position of the handrail should be such that the position which the skier takes up is not dissimilar to that in which he would find himself when skiing and balancing and supporting himself with conventional poles. By bending his legs and disposing his or her body weight in an appropriate way, the skier can cause the footboard 24 to move from its initially midpoint position to its end positions on the arc. In the midpoint position the skier's legs are straightened but at an end position the legs are bent so that the skier can, by straightening his legs propel himself to the alternative end position. This bending and straightening action and changing disposition of weight simulates the movements which a skier would make in a real ski situation when making a parallel turn.

In order to simulate more closely the movement involved in making a parallel turn the track 10 may be contoured so that, at the anticlockwise and clockwise extremities of the motion the footboard 24 is inclined more steeply than at the midpoint of the movement.

In alternative embodiments the wheels of the footboard 22 may run on metal rails. Two concentric rails may be provided; the outer rail may, if desired be bent so that, as described above, the movements of a parallel turn may be simulated more precisely. Alternatively, a set of four rails may be provided, the footboard running on one pair of rails towards the midpoint of its motion and on the other pair at the extremities. The rails are, again, arranged so that the footboard is more steeply inclined at the end points of the motion.

Springs could be used in place of the elastic straps described above. The springs can be appropriately tensioned for this application. They may be mounted as shown for the elastic straps, or may be concealed underneath the footboard.

Claims (12)

1. A ski training apparatus comprising a footboard and a track, the footboard being movable over the track along a substantially circularly arcuate path, the path being arcuate in both horizontal and vertical planes and being higher at some positions between the ends of the path than at either of the ends; the apparatus also having means for providing a restoring force such that the footboard is in equilibrium at a position intermediate the ends of the arcuate path but experiences a restoring force when at either end of the path.

2. A ski training apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the arcuate path lies in a plane. inclined to the vertical.

3. A ski training apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the plane is inclined at 600 to 700 to the vertical.

4. A ski training aparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the ends of the arcuate path are substantially level with each other and lower than those parts of the arc intermediate the end.

5. A ski training apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the radius of the arcuate path is between 90cm and 140cm.

6. A ski training apparatus according to any Dne f the preceding claims wherein the track is arc-shaped.

7. A ski training apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the track comprises a sheet of material.

8. A ski training apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the track comprises at least one rail.

9. A ski training apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a baseboard and wherein the footboard is mounted at the end of an arm which is pivotally mounted on the baseboard.

10. A ski training apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the means for providing a restoring force comprise at least one elastically extensible member said member being extensible such that the restoring force is provided when the footboard is not in its equilibrium position.

11. A ski trainig apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the track is contoured such that, at the ends of the path the footboard is inclined more steeply than at positions intermediate said ends.

12. A ski-training apparatus substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.