Exercise methods and apparatus

Abstract

Left and right rails are supported on a frame and movable up and down with respect thereto. Left and right skates are supported on respective rails and movable back and forth with respect thereto. As a result, each skate is movable through a variety of paths within a respective vertical plane. Each rail is a leaf spring and provides its own, inherent reactionary force in response to upward and downward movement thereof.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a frame;    a left rail and a right rail, wherein each said rail is flexible and resilient, and each said rail has a first portion secured to the frame by a fastener, and a second portion supported by the frame and movable relative thereto; and    a left foot support and a right foot support, wherein each said foot support is mounted on a respective rail and movable in a first direction relative to the rail and the frame, and each said foot support and respective rail are movable in a second, generally orthogonal direction relative to the frame.    
     
     
         2 . The exercise apparatus of    claim 1   , wherein each said second portion is slideably supported on the frame.  
     
     
         3 . The exercise apparatus of    claim 1   , wherein each said first portion is forward of a respective second portion and supported by the frame at a relatively higher elevation above a floor surface.  
     
     
         4 . The exercise apparatus of    claim 1   , wherein opposite ends of each said rail are supported by the frame.  
     
     
         5 . The exercise apparatus of    claim 4   , wherein the opposite ends include respective, relatively higher forward ends and respective, relatively lower rearward ends.  
     
     
         6 . The exercise apparatus of    claim 1   , wherein each said foot support is rollably mounted on a respective rail.  
     
     
         7 . An exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a frame designed to rest upon a floor surface;    a first elongate leaf spring having a first end fastened to the frame, and a second end movable relative to the frame;    a second elongate leaf spring adjacent the first leaf spring and having a first end fastened to the frame, and a second end movable relative to the frame;    a first foot support, mounted on the first leaf spring, wherein the first foot support is both movable back and forth along the first leaf spring and movable up and down together with the first leaf spring relative to the frame; and    a second foot support, mounted on the second leaf spring, wherein the second foot support is both movable back and forth along the second leaf spring and movable up and down together with the second leaf spring relative to the frame.    
     
     
         8 . The exercise apparatus of    claim 7   , wherein each said second end is slideably supported on the frame.  
     
     
         9 . The exercise apparatus of    claim 8   , wherein each said first end is bolted to the frame.  
     
     
         10 . The exercise apparatus of    claim 9   , wherein each said second end is disposed between generally laterally extending members on the frame.  
     
     
         11 . The exercise apparatus of    claim 10   , wherein each said leaf spring has a relatively higher forward end and a relatively lower rearward end.  
     
     
         12 . The exercise apparatus of    claim 7   , wherein each said foot support is rollably mounted on a respective leaf spring.  
     
     
         13 . The exercise apparatus of    claim 7   , further comprising handles rotatably mounted to the frame and selectively movable to a position generally adjacent and parallel to the floor surface.  
     
     
         14 . The exercise apparatus of    claim 7   , wherein the first foot support and the second foot support are interconnected and move in reciprocal fashion along respective leaf springs.  
     
     
         15 . The exercise apparatus of    claim 14   , wherein the first foot support and the second foot support are connected to a flywheel rotatably mounted on the frame, and the flywheel rotates in response to rearward movement of either said foot support relative to a respective leaf spring.  
     
     
         16 . An exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a frame;    a left rail and a right rail, wherein each said rail is flexible and resilient;    a left anchoring means, connected to the frame, for anchoring a first end of the left rail to the frame while allowing an opposite, second end of the left rail to move relative to the frame;    a right anchoring means, connected to the frame, for anchoring a first end of the right rail to the frame while allowing an opposite, second end of the right rail to move relative to the frame; and    a left foot support and a right foot support, wherein each said foot support is mounted on a respective rail and movable in a first direction relative to the respective rail and the frame, and each said foot support and respective are movable together in a generally orthogonal, second direction relative to the frame.    
     
     
         17 . The exercise apparatus of    claim 16   , wherein each said anchoring means includes a fastener interconnected between the frame and the first end of a respective rail.