Exercise apparatus

Abstract

The present invention provides for an exercise apparatus comprising a pair of support-plates such as foot plates arranged for reciprocal motion along adjacent and parallel paths of travel which can be defined by an associated, and preferably gently concave, track serving to present a support surface for supporting the said support-plates and along-which the support-plates move during the reciprocal motion; the support surface further serving to define the paths of travel, and wherein the support surface further defines, at least in part, a slope for the paths of travel and wherein weight means can be provided to be moved by way of the footplate and so as to offer resistance to the movement of plates over the said track.

1 . Exercise apparatus comprising:
 a pair of support-plates arranged for reciprocal motion along adjacent and parallel paths of travel;   means for presenting a support surface for supporting the said support-plates and along-which the support-plates move during the reciprocal motion; the support surface further serving to define the paths of travel, and wherein the support surface further defines, at least in part, a slope for the paths of travel.   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the said slope comprises a curved slope. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the slope extends from a central portion at least upwardly towards one end of the path of travel. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the slope comprises sloped regions extending upwardly from the central portion of the path of travel to each of the respective ends of the path of travel. 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means presenting a support surface includes means for defining a track along which the support-plates are arranged to move. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the said support surface is provided as part of one or more tracks for receiving an engagement formation of the support-plates or for presenting an engagement formation to be received within the support-plates. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein separate tracks are provided for each of the support-plates and which comprise respective sets of rails. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  and including means for resisting motion of each support-plate in a direction up the said slope. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the said means for resisting such motion relies on one or more of resilience, friction and/or, the effect of gravity. 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein each support-plate is arranged to, at least temporarily, engage with a weight-portion of the apparatus in a manner to at least partially raise the weight during at least part of its movement along the paths of travel. 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the said weight-portion is arranged also to move along at least part of the said path of travel and can likewise be provided for engagement with the said track defining the path of travel. 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus of claims in  claim 10 , wherein the weight-portion is arranged for releasable engagement with the support-plates so as to be moved thereby only during movement of the support-plates over part of the paths of travel. 
     
     
         13 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the said weight-portion is arranged to abut the support-plates or engage therewith by means of connection/extension arms. 
     
     
         14 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein each weight-portion is arranged to be engaged with the support-plate during its movement up the slope. 
     
     
         15 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the support-plate is arranged to be disengaged from the weight-arrangement for part of the movement downward slope. 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the weight-portion comprises a weight having an engagement formation for facilitating the stacking of a plurality of weights. 
     
     
         17 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  and including handle bar and/or hand grip means arranged to be gripped by a user when standing on the footplates. 
     
     
         18 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the handlebar and/or hand grip means are pivotally mounted to the apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein they handlebar and/or hand grip means are pivotally mounted in a resilient manner. 
     
     
         20 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein they handlebar and/or hand grip means can be rotated to different positions prior to use or as part of an exercise routine. 
     
     
         21 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the support-plates can be moved relative to the paths of travel so as to vary the angle of inclination of the support-plates thereto. 
     
     
         22 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the distance and/or position between the support-plates and a track can be varied and, if required, some form of elliptical motion can be achieved between the footplate and the track during travel over the path of motion.