CA3033135A1

CA3033135A1 - Canoe ergometer exercise machine

Info

Publication number: CA3033135A1
Application number: CA3033135A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Sarah Neville
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-02-07
Filing date: 2019-02-07
Publication date: 2020-08-07

Abstract

A canoe ergometer exercise machine is provided. The canoe ergometer exercise machine comprises a base adapted for being placed on a floor. A user platform for supporting a user placed thereon is mounted to the base such that the user platform is tiltable movable with respect to the base. A paddle stroke resistance mechanism is mounted to the base, the paddle stroke resistance mechanism is connected to a paddle for resisting a paddle stroke exerted by the user.

Description

CANOE ERGOMETER EXERCISE MACHINE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to ergometer exercise machines, and more particularly to a canoe ergometer exercise machine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
While existing ergometer exercise machines enable canoeists to train indoors, none of the existing machines properly simulate the movement of a canoe on a water surface, thus preventing canoeists from exercising their paddle strokes while simultaneously exercising their balance.
Furthermore, the mechanism for providing resistance to the canoeists' paddle strokes of the existing ergometer exercise machines does not allow for exercising a realistic paddle motion.
It is desirable to provide a canoe ergometer exercise machine that enables a canoeist to exercise the paddle strokes while simultaneously exercising the balance.
It is also desirable to provide a canoe ergometer exercise machine that enables a canoeist to exercise more realistic paddle strokes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a canoe ergometer exercise machine that enables a canoeist to exercise the paddle strokes while simultaneously exercising the balance.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a canoe ergometer exercise machine that enables a canoeist to exercise more realistic paddle strokes.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a canoe ergometer exercise machine. The canoe ergometer exercise machine comprises a base adapted for being placed on a floor. A user platform for supporting a user placed thereon is mounted to the base such that the user platform is tiltable movable with respect to the base. A paddle stroke resistance mechanism is mounted to the base, the paddle stroke resistance mechanism is connected to a paddle for resisting a paddle stroke exerted by the user.
According to the aspect of the present invention, there is provided a canoe ergometer exercise machine. The canoe ergometer exercise machine comprises a base adapted for being placed on a floor. A user platform for supporting a user placed thereon is mounted to the base such that the to user platform is tiltable movable with respect to the base. A paddle stroke resistance mechanism is mounted to the base, the paddle stroke resistance mechanism is connected to a paddle for resisting a paddle stroke exerted by the user. The paddle stroke resistance mechanism is adapted for enabling the user to exercise more realistic paddle strokes.
The advantage of the present invention is that it provides a canoe ergometer exercise machine that enables a canoeist to exercise the paddle strokes while simultaneously exercising the balance.
A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a canoe ergometer exercise machine that enables a canoeist to exercise more realistic paddle strokes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure la is a simplified block diagram illustrating in a side view a canoe ergometer exercise machine according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
Figure lb is a simplified block diagram illustrating in a top perspective view a detail of a tilting mechanism of the canoe ergometer exercise machine according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;
Figures 1 c and id are simplified block diagrams illustrating in a top view and a side view, respectively, a user support platform of the canoe ergometer exercise machine according to the preferred embodiment of the invention; and, Figures 2a and 2b are simplified block diagrams illustrating in a side view and a top view, respectively, a Paddle stroke resistance mechanism of the canoe ergometer exercise machine according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention belongs.
Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described.
Referring to Figures 1 a to ld a canoe ergometer exercise machine 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is provided. The canoe ergometer exercise machine 100 comprises a base adapted for being placed on a floor 10. The base is made, for example, using steel or aluminum tubing forming a base structure 102A with a plywood sheet ¨ for example, 8' long, 14" wide and 3/4" thick - forming top plate 102B mounted thereto in a conventional manner using U-bolts. User support platform 106A, 106B for supporting a user placed thereon is mounted to the base 102A, 102B such that the user platform 106A, 106B is tiltable movable with respect to the base 102A, 102B, as illustrated in Figure lb. The user support platform comprises, for example, plywood sheet 106A ¨ having, for example, same dimensions as plywood sheet 102B ¨ and a metal plate such as, for example, an aluminum plate 106B mounted thereto in a conventional manner. Halfpipe 104 ¨ for example, 6" diameter aluminum piping cut in half along a longitudinal axis thereof ¨ is sandwiched between the top plate 102B
and the user support platform 106A, 106B and secured via eyebolts 108 with the eyebolts being mounted to the user platform 106A, 106B and the base 102A, 102B using conventional locking nuts. To enable tilting movement of the upper portion of the eyebolts 108 elongated cutouts 118 are disposed in the halfpipe 104, as illustrated in Figure lb. The tilting movement is dampened using dampening blocks 120 - made of, for example, rubber - disposed in the cutout 118.
Paddle stroke resistance mechanism 110 is mounted to the base 102A. The paddle stroke resistance mechanism 110 is connected to paddle 114 via, for example, a nylon rope 112 for resisting a paddle stroke exerted by the user. The rope 112 is directed from air fan resistor 110A
via pulleys 116A and 116B with the pulley 116A being mounted to arm 110B in a conventional manner with the arm 110B having a predetermined length L between approximately

2' and 3' to provide a more angled approach of the rope 112 to the paddle 114 for enabling the user to exercise more realistic paddle strokes.
Knee block support 122 and rear foot rest 124 are mounted to the user support platform 106A, 106B using conventional fastening techniques such as screw bolts disposed in in respective bores 126, 127, 128, and 130. To enable adjustment to varying body sizes of the users and use of the left or right leg for kneeling, a plurality of bores 126, 127, 128, and 130 are provided, with the bores 127 and 130 being elongated to enable a substantially wide variation of adjustments, as illustrated in Figure lc. Cushioning block 122A ¨ for example, a Styrofoam block ¨ inserted into the knee block support 122 in concert with the rear foot rest 124 secure a user's leg 12 in the kneeling position to the user support platform 106A, 106B, as illustrated in Figure Id.
The tilting user support platform 106A, 106B forces the user to balance while exerting a paddle stroke and allows to work the core muscles. The arm 110B having a predetermined length L
between approximately 2' and 3' provides a more angled approach of the rope 112 to the paddle 114 and enables the user to utilize the paddle 114 as a balancing tool. It simulates the ability of the athlete to lean on the paddle for stability similar to a paddle in the water.
Resistance to the rope 112 during a paddle stroke is provided via a conventional air fan resistor 110A and a conventional bungee cord resistance system disposed in the base structure 102A, as illustrated in Figures 2a and 2b. A bungee cord 136 is fixed at one end to the base structure 102A

and uses a series of pulleys 138 to create resistance tension. The other end of the bungee cord 136 is attached to a transition block 132 by a crimped stopper. Within the transition block 132 is a pulley 134 that allows the movement of the rope 112 that is attached to the paddle114. The transition block 132 is a floating unit that moves back and forth with each pull or stroke of the paddle 114. The rope 112 is fixed at one end 112A of the base structure 102A.
It then runs around the pulley 134 of the transition block 132, then exits to the fan 110A
through the front of the base structure 102A. This supporting mechanism, transition block 132, bungee cord 136 and a portion of the rope 112 is housed within the base structure 102A.
The rope 112, after leaving the base structure 102A, travels along a guide pulley that directs the rope to the fan housing 110A. Once entering the fan housing 110A the rope 112 runs around pulley 111 affixed to the fan shaft. The pulley 111 causes the fan to rotate.
The Fan creates wind resistance and transmits this resistance to the pulley 111 making it more challenging for the user.
After the fan 110A the rope 112 is guided by pulley 116B to direct it to the delivery arm 110B.
The delivery arm 110B is designed to swivel from left to right depending on the user's paddling preference. The delivery arm 110B directs the rope up through two fitted pulleys 116A, 116B.
The length of the arm 110B ¨ approximately 2' -3' - allows for a more realistic motion and transmits an upward force on the paddle 114. This force is very similar to the forces exerted on the user's paddle blade when the paddle 114 strikes water. Once the user has finished the stroke and is moving the paddle 114 forward to begin the next stroke, the slack in the rope 112 is taken up by the tension on the bungee cord 136, which when it contracts pulls the rope 112 in a reverse direction through the arm 110B, fan pulley 111 and base structure 102A.
Resistance is increased or decreased based on the speed of the fan 110A, which is controlled by the user's stroke rate. As the stroke rate increases resistance increases.
The present invention has been described herein with regard to preferred embodiments. However, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that a number of variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as described herein.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A canoe ergometer exercise machine comprising:
a base adapted for being placed on a floor;
a user platform for supporting a user placed thereon, the user platform being mounted to the base such that the user platform is tiltable movable with respect to the base; and, a paddle stroke resistance mechanism mounted to the base, the paddle stroke resistance mechanism being connected to a paddle for resisting a paddle stroke exerted by the user.

2. A canoe ergometer exercise machine according to claim 1 wherein the paddle stroke resistance mechanism is adapted for enabling the user to exercise more realistic paddle strokes.