Method of taking sliding exercise

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to fitness and exercise, and more particularly to a method of taking sliding exercise on a training machine.

2. Description of the Related Art

People usually exercise on various training machines for train his/her muscle or for fitness. The conventional training machines make users to move in a specific path, such as the stepper makes users to step repeatedly, the elliptical trainer makes users to move his/her feet in an elliptical path, which is like the path of feet when he/she is walking or running, the airwalker makes users to move his/her feet forward and rearward in a curved path, and a trainer makes users to split. These training machines may be operated indoor to make users to feel like he/she is exercising outdoors so that these machines are very popular. A variety of new training machines are provided in the market.

The specified path of movement only train specified muscles so that a new path of exercise must be provided in a modern training machine.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a method of taking sliding exercise in a new path.

The secondary objective of the present invention is to provide a method of taking a sliding exercise, wherein the sliding exercise is taken on a training machine and the training machine has two pedals. The method includes the steps of: a) putting feet on the pedals; and b) reciprocating the feet in opposite directions or in the same direction. The feet respectively move in a curved path on a substantial horizontal plane.

Therefore, the use's feet reciprocate forward/rearward and split to train user's muscles.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the training machine of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the training machine of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the path of motion in the horizontal plane;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the training machine of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the path of motion in the perpendicular plane;

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are top views of the training machine of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the feet moving in opposite directions;

FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are top views of the training machine of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing both the feet moving in the same direction; and

FIG. 9 is a top view of another training machine of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a new path of a sliding exercise for training. Both feet of a user slide on a substantial horizontal plane. It is preferable that the sliding exercise is taken on a specific training machine, and the training machine has two pedals to move in the new path.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , a training machine 100 for the sliding exercise the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a frame 10 , a handle 20 , two rotary members 30 , and two pedals 40 . The frame 10 stably stands on the ground, and the handle 20 is connected to the base 10 . Each rotary member 30 is a bar with an end pivoted on the frame 10 for ration on a substantial horizontal plane. The pedals 40 are respectively pivoted on distal end of the rotary members 30 to respectively move in an inwards curved path L 1 and L 2 (the dot lines shown in FIG. 3 ).

The frame 10 is provided with stop members 10 a , 10 b to limit the rotation of the rotary members 30 . Each path has a front end a 1 , a 2 , a rear end b 1 , b 2 , and a middle point c 1 , c 2 . A distance between the middle points c 1 and c 2 is shorter than a distance between the front ends a 1 and a 2 , and is shorter than a distance between the rear ends b 1 and b 2 as well.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 , each rotary member 30 has an axle 31 pivoted on the frame 10 , and the axles 31 slightly lean inwardly so that the front ends a 1 , a 2 and the rear ends b 1 , b 2 are higher than the middle points c 1 , c 2 . As shown FIG. 4 , an included angle between a line L 3 which passes the front end a 1 and the middle point c 1 and a horizontal line is in a range between 10 degrees and 20 degrees, and a preferable included angle is 15 degrees.

A user may take the sliding exercise on the training machine 100 . First, the user stands on the pedals 40 and holds the handle 20 to be ready for the sliding exercise.

In the beginning, both the pedals 40 are at middle points c 1 and c 2 , and then the use moves the feet in opposite directions, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 . FIG. 5 shows that the left foot moves forward and laterally to the front end a 1 , and meanwhile the right foot moves rearward and laterally to the rear end b 2 . Next, the left foot moves rearward and medially from the front end a 1 to the middle point c 1 , and keeps moving rearward and laterally to the rear end b 1 . At the same time, the right foot moves forward and medially front the rear end b 2 , and keeps moving forward and laterally to the front end a 2 . The height difference (gravity) helps the feet to move from the front/rear end to the middle point. A distance between the feet is getting longer when the feet are respectively moving from the middle point to the front/rear end, and is getting shorter when the feet are respectively moving from the front/rear end to the middle point.

It is easy to understand that the feet repeatedly move forward/rearward and split during the sliding exercise. Besides, the pedals 40 are free for rotation so that the feet may rotate purposely or naturally during the sliding exercise. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show that both feet keep straight. The center of weight of the user keeps steady in the sliding exercise so that it will provide a safe exercise. During the sliding exercise, the user will twist his/her hip that will train another portion of body. The conventional exercise only makes the feet to move forward and rearward, and a distance between the feet in a left-right direction keeps the same. However, the sliding exercise of the present invention makes the feet to move in two substantial orthogonal directions on a horizontal plane, forward-rearward and lateral-medial.

The sliding exercise of the present invention makes the feet to move in the curved paths on a substantial horizontal plane. Therefore, the feet may move in the same direction. In the second kind of the sliding exercise, the center of weight of the user will move during the exercise. As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 , the user respectively moves both feet forward and laterally from the middle points c 1 , c 2 to the front ends a 1 , a 2 , and then move both feet rearward to the rear ends b 1 , b 2 through the middle points c 1 , c 2 . This kind of exercise trains trunk's muscles. But the user has to prevent the hip injuries from twisting. The feet will rotate during the sliding exercise. FIG. 7 shows that the feet rotate laterally at the front ends a 1 , a 2 , and the feet rotate medially at the rear ends b 1 , b 2 . The second kind of the sliding exercise may be taken on the training machine 100 also.

FIG. 9 shows another training machine 200 on which the user may take the sliding exercise. The training machine 200 provides two sliding slots 60 , and the pedals 50 respectively engage the sliding slots 60 for sliding. The sliding slots 60 extend the same as the paths as described above.

The description above is a few preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the equivalence of the present invention is still in the scope of claim construction of the present invention.