SKIING APPARATUS Russian patent published in 1995 - IPC

FIELD: device for fortifying cardiovascular system and for sports training. SUBSTANCE: device comprises a roller "ski track" set in unidirectional rotation by skis secured on the individual's feet and characterized in that, in order to increase efficiency of exercises and training by simulating any kind of ski steps, any distribution of the cyclic load on the feet and arms, and to measure and proportion the work done, it comprises two units obeying the same idea: the first unit provides for simulating the "snow sliding" while the second one ensures the work of arms both in the alternating and simultaneous push-off modes. Installed under the first roller of the "ski track" are two pairs of guides for independent reciprocation of two dollies, each provided with two pendulum levers, an H-shaped front lever and a U-shaped rear one. In the front position the levers are fixed on stops under the weight of the individual and the crosspieces of said levers form a support surface disposed above the rollers. As a result, the individual can stay in the "sliding" position on a given foot for an indefinite length of time. In the beginning of the pushing-off motion the levers forming the support surface move backward and down to such a distance that the ski resting on them comes in contact with the rollers and rotates them. The levers remain in the rear position until the binding on the foot shifted forward comes to bear against the arms of the front H-shaped lever and shifts it, moving the second U-shaped lever, via a link, to the front position, again forming a support surface above the rollers. The dollies pulled by springs to the rear position form movable supports. Any one of these movable supports can move forward when the "sliding" foot lunges forward during simulation of alternating step or due to work of the arms when the simultaneous step is simulated. When the force ceases to be applied, the dollies are smoothly returned by the pull-back springs to the rear position, creating an illusion of sliding over the snow. A vertical upright installed in front of the "ski track" carries a transverse shaft provided with driven holders of two overrunning couplings whose driving holders have the form of sheaves operated by a cord whose ends are held in the individual's hands. The middle of the cord runs around two movable sheaves pulled back by springs. When the cord is pulled by two hands, the couplings become engaged and rotate the transverse shaft while both sheaves go up. As soon as the arms start moving back, the movable sheaves go down and pull the cord, the driving holders rotate in reverse, and the couplings will be released, not interfering with unidirectional rotation of the shaft. When the cord is pulled by one hand, the corresponding coupling is engaged and rotates the shaft while the opposite coupling becomes released, not interfering with its rotation. To measure the work done by the individual, all the rollers of the "ski track" and the shaft of the hand-operated unit are interconnected by an endless belt with the shaft of a calibrated or adjustable loading device. EFFECT: ingenious design and clever construction. 3 cl, 2 dwg