Resistance Type Exercise Device for Conditioning

Abstract

An exercise device accommodating leg thrust exercises is shown and described. The device provides a flat, nominally planar base or frame on which are mounted two slide members riding in parallel, linear tracks. Each slide is coupled to the frame by an elastic tether. A hand grip bar spans right and left sides of the frame at one end thereof. In use, a person grasps the hand grip bar, and places each foot on one of the slide members. The user then pushes with either one leg or alternatively, with both legs, against the resistance of the elastic tether.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An exercise device comprising a frame, two slide members each constrained to slide along the frame, a resistance element yieldingly opposing sliding motion of each one of the two slide members along the frame independently of sliding motion of another said slide member, and a hand grip at one end of the frame and coupled to the frame, the hand grip configured and dimensioned to enable a user to grasp the hand grip with two hands while engaging each said slide member with one foot on each one of the slide members, whereby pushing with one leg and an associated foot on each said slide member urges that slide member away from the hand grip against resistance of the resistance element. 
     
     
         2 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a member having opposed flat, parallel faces along an entire length of the frame, and tracks configured and dimensioned to laterally surround each one of the slide members, wherein the tracks are each coupled to the frame on one of the flat, parallel faces of the frame. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise device of  claim 2 , further comprising for each track, a first stop limiting travel of one said slide member along the track at one end of the track, and a second stop limiting travel of the other said slide member along the track at an opposed end of the track. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise device of  claim 2 , wherein the hand grip comprises a bar parallel to the frame and spaced apart from the frame on the same flat, parallel face of the frame as that along which the slide members are constrained to slide. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise device of  claim 3 , wherein the hand grip spans at least beyond both said tracks, along a width of the frame. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise device of  claim 3 , wherein the hand grip overhangs a full extent of the frame along a width of the frame. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise device of  claim 3 , wherein the bar is curved, with a concave side of the curve facing the slide members. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise device of  claim 3 , wherein the hand grip includes a resilient cover covering the bar. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise bar of  3 , wherein the bar includes a first stanchion coupling the bar to the frame at one end of the bar, a second stanchion coupling the bar to the frame at an opposed end of the bar, and a third stanchion coupling the bar to the frame between the first stanchion and the second stanchion. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the resistance element comprises a flexible, elastic tether coupled proximate an end of the frame coupled to the hand grip. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise device of  claim 10 , wherein the tether comprises a bungee cord. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise device of  claim 10 , wherein the flexible, elastic tether comprises a first section coupled to one of the slide members and to the frame, and a separate second section coupled to another one of the slide members and to the frame. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise device of  claim 12 , wherein the first section and the second section of the flexible, elastic tether each comprise a bungee cord. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein each one of the slide members includes a friction lining to oppose a foot of the user from sliding out of contact with the slide member when exercising. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the frame comprises a member having opposed flat, parallel faces along an entire length of the frame, and tracks configured and dimensioned to laterally surround each one of the slide members, wherein the tracks are each coupled to the frame on one of the flat, parallel faces of the frame;   the exercise device further comprising for each track, a first stop limiting travel of one said slide member along the track at one end of the track, and a second stop limiting travel of the other said slide member along the track at an opposed end of the track; and   the frame comprises a structural cross member coupled to the frame and spanning a width of the frame, and a bar parallel to the frame, spaced apart from the frame on the same flat, parallel face of the frame as that along which the slide members are constrained to slide, and coupled to the structural cross member.   
     
     
         16 . The exercise device of  claim 15 , wherein the structural cross member also is located and configured to serve as a stop limiting travel of each said slide member along associated said tracks at one end of the frame. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is formed in two mutually movable sections united at a joint enabling hinged pivoting of the mutually moved sections. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the hand grip comprises a fastening enabling the handgrip to be removably coupled to the frame. 
     
     
         19 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the slide members further comprise a friction element, for varying sliding friction thereof along the tracks.