초록 ▼

An exercise device may comprise first and second elongated support members, at least one brace member for holding the first and second support members in a spaced apart relation to each other and a limb support device being disposed between the first and second support members and being interconnect

An exercise device may comprise first and second elongated support members, at least one brace member for holding the first and second support members in a spaced apart relation to each other and a limb support device being disposed between the first and second support members and being interconnected thereto for sliding longitudinal relative to the first and second support members.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An exercise device, comprising: (a) first and second elongated, longitudinally extending support members, each comprising an integrally formed elongated, longitudinally extending sliding surface;(b) at least one laterally extending brace member holding said first and second support members in a g

1. An exercise device, comprising: (a) first and second elongated, longitudinally extending support members, each comprising an integrally formed elongated, longitudinally extending sliding surface;(b) at least one laterally extending brace member holding said first and second support members in a generally parallel spaced apart relation to each other;(c) a heel support device being generally located and extending between said first and second support members, said heel support device having a generally upwardly directed surface configured and operable to receive and support a heel of a user's foot for longitudinal sliding movement of said heel support device between said first and second support devices;said first and second elongated support members and said heel support device being configured with a sliding connection, said sliding connection operable such that in operation said heel support device is slidably supported for sliding longitudinal movement on said sliding surface of said first elongated support member at a first side of said heel support device by said sliding surface of said first support member and is slidably supported for sliding longitudinal movement on said sliding surface of said second elongated support member at a second side of said heel support device by said sliding surface of said second support member for sliding longitudinal movement relative to first and second said support members, wherein during operation substantially all weight exerted by a heel of a user's foot on said heel support device is carried on said sliding surfaces; and wherein:said sliding connection comprises: (i) a pair of elongated sliding grooves on said first and second elongated support members providing said elongated sliding surfaces and (ii) first and second sliding protrusion elements of said heel support device received respectively in each of said respective elongated sliding grooves of said first and second elongated support members. 2. An exercise device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said heel support device comprises a heel cup. 3. An exercise device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each of said support members has an end portion and wherein said end portion is tapered. 4. An exercise device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each of said first and second support members has a strengthening structure reinforcing said sliding surface. 5. An exercise device comprising: (a) first and second elongated, longitudinally extending support members, each comprising an elongated, longitudinally extending sliding surface;(b) at least one laterally extending holding said first and second support members in a generally parallel spaced apart relation to each other;(c) a heel support device being generally located and extending between said first and second support members, said heel support device having a generally upwardly directed surface configured and operable to receive and support a heel of a user's foot for longitudinal sliding movement of said heel support device between said first and second support devices,said first and second elongated support members and said heel support device being configured with a sliding connection, said sliding connection operable such that in operation said heel support device is slidably supported for sliding longitudinal movement on said sliding surface of said first elongated support member at a first side of said heel support device by said sliding surface of said first support member and is slidably supported for sliding longitudinal movement on said sliding surface of said second elongated support member at a second side of said heel support device by said sliding surface of said second support member for sliding longitudinal movement relative to first and second said support members, wherein during operation substantially all weight exerted by a heel of a user's foot on said heel support device is carried on said sliding surfaces;wherein each of said first and second support members has a strengthening structure reinforcing said respective sliding surface;wherein each said strengthening structure comprises (a) an elongated support slot positioned below said respective sliding surface and (b) an elongated structural support device within said respective elongated support slot. 6. An exercise device as claimed claim 2 wherein said heel cup has a generally upwardly directed surface configured as a depression. 7. An exercise device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the depression has a circumferential opening defined by a lip, and wherein the lip is rounded or beveled. 8. An exercise device of claim 7, wherein the depression has a circumferential opening lip, and the lip is made from natural polyisoprene, polybutadiene, butyl rubber, silicone rubber, or ethylene propylene rubber. 9. An exercise device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the heel support device is made from natural polyisoprene, polybutadiene, butyl rubber, silicone rubber, or Ethylene Propylene Rubber. 10. An exercise device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said support members, including said sliding surfaces, is formed as a single contiguous piece using a plastic molding process. 11. An exercise device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said heel support device is formed as a single contiguous piece using a plastic molding process. 12. An exercise device as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein said support members are formed from one of: Nylenium 2800ST S, polycarbonates, nylon, acrylics or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. 13. An exercise device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said heel support device and said support members are formed from the same material. 14. An exercise device as claimed claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 5, wherein said support members, and said at least one brace member, are each made from a plastic formed by injection molding. 15. An exercise device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said structural support device comprises an elongated truss. 16. An exercise device as claimed in claim 15 wherein each said elongated truss is integrally formed as part of the first and second support members. 17. An exercise device, comprising: first and second elongated support members each comprising an integrally formed sliding surface;first and second transversely extending brace members for holding said first and second support members in a spaced apart relation to each other;a heel support device being disposed between said first and second support members and being slidably supported at a first side by said sliding surface of said first support member and at a second side by said sliding surface of said second support member for sliding longitudinal movement relative to said first and second support members, said heel support device having a generally upwardly directed surface configured and operable to receive and support a heel of a user's foot for longitudinal sliding movement of said heel support device wherein substantially all weight exerted by a heel on said upwardly directed surface of said heel support device is carried on said sliding surfaces;wherein each of said first and second support members has a strengthening structure reinforcing said respective sliding surface;wherein each said strengthening structure comprises (a) an elongated support slot positioned below said respective sliding surface and (b) an elongated structural support device within said respective elongated support slot. 18. An exercise device as claimed in claim 17, wherein each of said support members, including said sliding surfaces, is formed as a single contiguous piece using a plastic molding process. 19. An exercise device as claimed in claim 18, wherein said heel support device is formed as a single contiguous piece using a plastic molding process. 20. An exercise device as claimed in claim 18 or 19, wherein said support members are formed from one of: Nylenium 2800ST S, polycarbonates, nylon, acrylics or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. 21. An exercise device as claimed in claim 20, wherein said heel support device and said support members are formed from the same material. 22. An exercise device comprising: (a) first and second elongated, longitudinally extending support members, each comprising an integrally formed elongated, longitudinally extending sliding surface;(b) at least one laterally extending brace member maintaining said first and second support members in a generally parallel spaced apart relation to each other;(c) a heel support device being generally located and extending between said first and second support members;said first and second elongated support members and said heel support device being configured with a sliding connection, said sliding connection operable such that said heel support device is slidably supported for sliding longitudinal movement on said sliding surface of said first elongated support member at a first side of said heel support device by said sliding surface of said first support member and is slidably supported for sliding longitudinal movement on said sliding surface of said second elongated support member at a second side of said heel support device by said sliding surface of said second support member for sliding longitudinal movement relative to first and second said support members, wherein during operation substantially all weight exerted on said heel support device is carried on said sliding surfaces;and wherein each of said first and second support members has a strengthening structure reinforcing said respective sliding surface, and wherein each said strengthening structure comprises (a) an elongated support slot positioned below said sliding surface; and (b) an elongated structural support device within said elongated support slot. 23. An exercise device as claimed in claim 22 wherein said strengthening structure comprises an elongated truss. 24. An exercise device as claimed in claim 23 wherein each said elongated truss is integrally formed as part of the first and second support members.