WO2016018253A1

WO2016018253A1 - Exercise machine

Info

Publication number: WO2016018253A1
Application number: PCT/US2014/048623
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jacob D. GODAK
Original assignee: Primus Exerceo
Priority date: 2014-07-29
Filing date: 2014-07-29
Publication date: 2016-02-04

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an exercise machine and related method of exercising. The system and method has many application and in some embodiment are particularly adapted for high intensity interval training.

Description

EXERCISE MACHINE

This application is being filed on 29 July 2014, as a PCT International patent application. Technical Field

The present disclosure provides an exercise machine and related method of exercising.

Background

Exercise equipment and methods of exercising are known. The majority of traditional exercise equipment and methods were designed to either build body mass, improve endurance, or burn calories. Although conventional exercise equipment can in some situations be used as part of a high intensity interval training (ΗΠΤ) and core strength and conditioning, there is a need in the art for exercise equipment and methods that are better adapted for such training. Summary

High intensity interval training (HUT) has become more popular. Research has shown that this type of training has benefits over conventional strength training and endurance training. Among other benefits, high intensity training stimulates production of human growth hormone (HGH), which causes the body to burn fat at a higher rate than otherwise for hours after the training has been completed. Embodiments of the system and method of the present disclosure are adapted for high intensity training. The system and method have many other applications including, for example, applications in rehabifitation.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is an isometric view of the machine according on one embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 2 is a top view of the machine of FIG. 1 ;

Figure 3 is a view of the machine of FIG 1 in use;

Figure 4 is an isometric view of a component of the machine of FIG. Figure 5 is an isometric view of a component of the machine of FIG. l ;

Figure 6 is a bottom view of the component of FIG. 4; Figure 7 is an exploded view of a portion of the component of FIG. 4;

Figure 8 is an exploded view of a portion of the component of FIG. 5;

Figure 9 is an exploded view the component of FIG. 5;

Figure 10 is an isometric view of a component of the machine of FIG. l ;

Figure 1 1 is an exploded view the component of FIG. 10;

Figure 12 is an exploded view a component of the machine of FIG. 1 ; Figure 13 is an end cross sectional view of the component of FIG. 5; Figure 14 is an enlarged view of a portion of the machine of FIG. 1 ; Figure 15 is a bottom view of the portion of the machine of FIG. 14; Figure 16 is an end view of the portion of the machine of FIG. 14;

Figure 17 is an cross sectional view of the portion of the machine of FIG. 14 in a unlocked position;

Figure 18 is an cross sectional view of the portion of the machine of FIG. 14 in a locked position;

Figure 19 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the machine of

FIG. 1 ;

Figure 20 in an enlarged portion of FIG. 19;

Figure 21 in an enlarged portion of FIG. 19;

Figure 22 is an isometric view of a component of FIG. 20;

Figure 23 is an exploded view of the component of FIG. 22;

Figure 24 is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the machine of FIG. 1 ;

Figure 25 is an isometric view of a hand grip shown in FIG. 24;

Figure 26 is a bottom view of a hand grip of FIG. 25;

Figure 27 is an exploded view of the hand grip of FIG. 25;

Figure 28 is a side view of a foot support of FIG. 24;

Figure 29 is an end view of the foot support of FIG . 28;

Figure 30 is a bottom view of a foot support of FIG. 28; Figure 31 is an exploded view of the foot support of FIG. 28;

Figure 32 is an isometric view of a component of FIG. 24;

Figure 33 is a bottom isometric view of a component of FIG. 24; Figure 34 is a top isometric view of a component of FIG. 24;

Figure 35 is a rear isometric view of a component of FIG. 24;

Figure 36 is a front isometric view of a component of FIG. 24;

Figure 37 is an isometric view of a component of FIG. 24;

Figure 38 is an end view of the component of FIG. 36;

Detailed Description

An embodiment of a full body exercise equipment 10 is shown in

Figs. 1 and 2. This equipment includes four elongate rails 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D. A shuttle 14A, 14B, 14C and 14D is shown slidably mounted to each of the rails 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D. In the depicted embodiment, a hand grip 16 is mounted to each of the two shuttles 14A and 14D mounted on the outer two rails 12A and 12D. A toe hold 18 is mounted to each of the two shuttles 14B and 14C mounted on the inner two rails 12B and 12C.

A rotatable slide 20A is mounted to edges of adjacent rails 12A and 12B. A rotatable slide 20B is mounted to edges of adjacent rails 12B and 12C. A rotatable slide 20C is mounted to edges of adjacent rails 12C and 12D as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The rotatable slides 20A, 20B and 20C are of identical construction and are mounted to the rails 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D in a manner which will be described below. As shown in Fig. 2 the rotatable sides can be mounted between adjacent rails at the ends of the rails or at an intermediate location along the length of the rails. The rotatable slides hold the rails in place at a desired orientation relative to each other.

The equipment 10 may be used for exercise as illustrated in Fig. 3. One embodiment of a method of exercising includes the steps of setting up the machine including Orientating at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth rails 12A-12D such that the rail is an angle relative to another rail. In the embodiment depicted in Fig. 3 all of the rails 12A-12D are at an angle relative to each other and are generally in the same horizontal plane. Each of the rails 12A- 12D includes a shuttle 14A- 14D that is configured to move independent of each other on each of the rails. In other words, the movement of one of the shuttles on one of the rails does not dictate the movement of another shuttle on another rail. The method of exercising includes supporting one's body on the machine by supporting one's left upper extremity on a first shuttle 14D that slides on a first rail 12D; supporting one's right upper extremity on a second shuttle 14A that slides on a second rail 12A; supporting one's left lower extremity on a third shuttle 14C that slides on a third rail 12C; supporting one's right lower extremity on a fourth shuttle 14B that slides on a fourth rail 12B. The method of exercising includes executing a first exercise continuously for less than ten minutes, wherein the first exercise includes driving at least one of the first, second, third and fourth shuttles in a reciprocating motion.

In one embodiment, in the first exercise both the first and second shuttles are held stationary while both the third and fourth shuttles are alternatingly driven forward and backwards. In this embodiment the speed at which the user can cycle his or her legs can be improved. In another embodiment, the first exercise involves driving both the first and third shuttles in an outward direction while simultaneously driving the second and fourth shuttles in an inward direction in a reciprocating crawling like motion. In this embodiment a very large percentage of the body muscles are activated. In another embodiment, the first exercise involves the first, second, third and fourth shuttles being driven simultaneously outwardly and subsequently the first, second, third and fourth shuttles being driven

simultaneously inwardly. This motion targets the user's core muscles while activating a large number of muscles in the body.

After a short break, the user either executes a second set of the same exercise or a set of a different exercise which is herein referred to as a second exercise. The second exercise is any exercise that is in any way different than the first exercise. It can be, for example, any one of the exercises described above as a first exercise as long as it is different in some way than the first exercise that was actually performed. In one embodiment after a first exercise is performed a second exercise that is different from the first is continuously executed for less than ten minutes. In some embodiments the second exercise is different than the first in that the movement is different (i.e., different shuttles are driven, the shuttle are driven in a different sequence, etc.). In some embodiments the second exercise is different than the first in that the machine is configured differently (the angles between the rails are different, the resistance is set up differently, etc.). In some embodiments the machine can be configured such that the shuttles are biased such that they provide resistance against movement along the rail in one direction or both directions along the rail. In the depicted embodiment, the shuttles 14A, 14B, 14C and 14D all have similar features and are collectively referred to as a shuttle 14. A perspective view of a shuttle 14 to which is mounted a toe hold 18 is shown in Fig. 4. A perspective view of a shuttle to which is mounted a hand grip 16 is shown in Fig. 5. A bottom plan view of each of the shuttles 14A, 14B, 14C and 14D is shown in Fig. 6 with the designation 14. The shuttles 14 have a body 21 including parallel sidewalls 22 and 24. In the depicted embodiment, a top cover 26 is molded to the sidewalls 22 and 24 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. A pad 27 is secured to the top cover 26 with screws extending through screw holes 28 (shown in Fig. 6) in the top cover 26. In the depicted embodiment, wheel support blocks 30 are mounted to the sidewalls 22 and 24 with screws 32 as shown in Fig. 6. Wheels 34 are rotatably mounted to the wheel support blocks 30 with a screw axle 36.

In the depicted embodiment, the hand grip 16 and toe hold 18 are each mounted to a shuttle 14 with a mounting structure 38 as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The mounting structure 38 includes a pair of upright support members 40 and 42 adjoined together with a bottom plate 44. A bracing plate 46 spaced apart from the bottom plate 44 extends between the upright members 40 and 42 as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. A pivot screw 48 extends through a washer 50 resting on top of the bottom plate 44 and then through a hole provided in the bottom plate 44 and screwed into a screw hole 52 (shown in Fig. 6) provided in the top cover 26. The friction fit of pivot screw 48 in screw hole 52 is adjusted to allow the mounting structure 38 to pivot about the pivot screw 48. In the depicted embodiment, a protective shroud 58 is sized and shaped to cover the upright members 40 and 42 and the bottom plate 44. The upright members 42 and 40 are provided with aligned holes 60 and 62 and the shroud 58 is provided with holes 64 and 66 aligned with holes 60 and 62, respectively. A pin 68 extends through the holes 64, 60, 62 and 66. The hand grip 16 is rotatably mounted on the pin 68 and the toe hold 18 is rotatably mounted on a respective pin 68.

As shown in Fig. 9, an adjustment pin 54 is provided for selectively locking the mounting structure 38 in a selected rotated position. The adjustment pin 54 extends through a hole provided in the shroud, then through a hole provided in the bracing plate 46 through a coil compression spring 55 through a hole provided in the bottom plate 44 and extending into a selected indexing hole 56 to allow the mounting structure 38 to be secured in a selected rotated position. By lifting the adjustment pin 54 against the bias force of the spring 55, the adjustment pin 54 is retracted from a selected index hole 56. The mounting structure 38 can then be rotated to a selected position and the adjustment pin 54 released. The compression spring 55 extends the end of the adjustment pin 54 into the selected index hole 56. In the depicted embodiment, a cover 70 is mounted at each end of the shuttles 14 with the screws 32 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Fig. 9 shows an exploded view of the cover 70 mounted to one end of the shuttle 14.

In the depicted embodiment, the rotatable slides 20A, 20B and 20C are of similar configuraton and are collectively denoted as element 20 in Figs. 10 and 1 1. The rotatable slides 20 have a bottom plate 72 including a locking portion 74 to be described below. The rotatable slides 20 further include a top plate 76 also having a locking portion 78 to be described below. Sandwiched between the bottom plate 74 and the top plate 76 are plates 80 and 82. The plate 80 includes a slide portion 84 and the plate 82 includes a slide portion 86. The plate 80 further includes a circular concave portion 88 and the plate 82 has a circular convex portion 90 sized to slidably mate with concave portion 88. The top plate 76, the plate 80, and the bottom plate 72 are fixedly secured together with screws 92. A pivot bolt 94 includes a shaft portion 96 and a threaded end portion 98. The pivot bolt 94 extends through a hole 100 provided in the top plate 76 and then is slidably received by hole 102 provided in the plate 82 and is threadably received by a hole 104 provided in the bottom plate 72. With this construction, the plate 82 will rotate about the pivot bolt 94 relative to the plates 72, 80 and 76 which are fixedly joined together.

In the depicted embodiment, a locking pin 108 having a head portion 109 is mounted to a pull handle 1 18 through a coil compression spring 1 14 and a lock washer 1 16. The locking pin 108 is sized to extend through hole 1 12 provided in top plate 76 with head 109 resting in a selected index hole 106 provided in plate 82 when pull handle 118 is in the resting position. The index holes 106 are sized to receive the head 109. When the pull handle 1 18 is pushed down against the resilient force of spring 1 14, the head 109 is forced out of the selected index hole 106 through opening 1 10 provided in the bottom plate 72. The plate 82 can then be rotated about the pivot bolt 94 to a selected position and the pull handle 1 18 released. The spring 1 14 causes the head 109 of pin 108 to move upwards into a newly selected index hole 106.

In the depicted embodiment, a latching mechanism 120 is provided to lock the slide portion 86 to a rail 12 as described below. The latching mechanism includes a latch member having an end portion 124 for extending into a cutout portion 126 provided in the plate 82 and slide portion 86. The end portion 124 is shaped and sized to fit within a keyway 152 as shown in Figs. 17 and 18. The keyway 152 extends the length of the rail to enable the slides to be located at different positions along the rail. A cam lever arm 128 includes a handle portion joined to two spaced apart arms 132 and 134. A pin 136 is sized to be slidably received by holes provided in arms 132 and 134. The pin 136 includes a threaded hole 138. A bolt 140 is slidably received by a hole 142 provided in middle plate 82 and a hole 144 provided in the latch member 122 and then is threadably received by hole 138.

In the depicted embodiment, the arms 132 and 134 of the handle 130 have a cam shape such that when the handle is lifted, the end portion 124 of the latch member 122 is allowed to rise and when the latch member 122 is moved to the down position, the end portion 124 is forced downwardly.

In the depicted embodiment, the rails 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D are all of similar configuration. These rails will be collectively referred to as element 12 in Figs. 12 and 13. The rails 12 include a central cavity 146 which extends longitudinally from one end of the rail to the opposite end of the rail. The rail 12 further includes wheel races 148 which extend from one end of the rail 12 to the opposite end of the rail 12 for rollably receiving wheels 34 of the shuttles 14. The rails also include longitudinal slots 150 extending from one end of the rail 12 to the opposite end of rail 12 for slidably receiving the wheel support blocks 30 of the shuttle 14. The rails 12 further include a longitudinal keyway 152 provided on each side of the rail 12 for receiving the slide portion 84 or the slide portion 86 of a rotatable slide 20 as shown in Fig. 14.

At each end of each fail 12, an end plate 154 is mounted to the rail 12 with screws 156 as shown in Fig. 14. Two opposed axle support plates 158 are secured to the end plate 154 as shown in Figs. 12 and 14. An axle 160 is mounted within aligned holes provided in the axle support plates 158 and pulleys 162 are rotatably mounted on the axle 160 between the axle support plates 158 as shown in Figs. 12 and 14.

In the depicted embodiment, slots 164 and 166, provided in end plate

154, as shown in Fig. 14, receive the locking portions 74 and 78, respectively, of the rotatable slide 20 (shown in Fig. 1 1). With this arrangement, the locking portions 74 and 78 prevent the rotatable slide 20 from sliding on the rail 12 in which the locking portions are mounted. A shroud 168 is threadably secured to a base plate 170 positioned below the axle support plates 158 with screws 172.

An end of the shroud 168 locks the locking portions 74 and 78 in the positions shown in Fig. 15. The shroud 168 prevents the locking portions 74 and 78 from being disengaged from the slots 166 and 164.

With the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, the locking portions 74 and 78 of rotatable slides 20A and 20C, as shown in Fig. 2, are locked on the outer rails 12A and 12D, respectively. The locking portions 74 and 78 of rotatable slide 20B are locked on rail 12B.

In the depicted embodiment, one side of the rotatable slide 20 is locked to a rail 12 as described above. The other side of the rotatable slide is releasably locked to an adjacent rail with the end portion 124 of the latch member 122 resting in the keyway 152. The handle 130 has a cam portion resting on the latch member 122. When the handle 130 is rotated upwardly, as shown in Fig. 17, the latch member 122 rides freely within the keyway 152, as shown in Fig. 17. When the handle 130 is rotated to the downward position as shown in Fig. 17, the latch member 122 is forced into frictional engagement with the wall 174. With latch member 122 in the raised position, the rotatable slide 20 will slide in the keyway 152 of the rail 12. When the latch member 122 is in the downward position, as shown in Fig. 18, the rotatable slide 20 is prevented from moving in the keyway 152.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the rotatable slide 20A is positioned with the latching mechanism 120 engaging rail 12B. The rotatable slide 20B is positioned with the latching mechanism 120 engaging rail 12C. Under normal conditions, the latching member 120 is positioned with the handle 130 in the downward position thereby locking rotatable slide 20B to both rails 12B and 12C. The rotatable slide 12C has the latching mechanism 120 in engagement with rail 12C. Under normal conditions, the latching members 120 of rotatable slides 20A and 20C are positioned with the handle 130 in the raised position thereby allowing rotatable slides 20A and 20C to slide on rails 12B and 12C, respectively.

In the depicted embodiment, resilient cords 176 extend longitudinally through the rails 12 within cavity 146 as shown in Figs. 12 and 19-21. The resilient cord 176 extends around a pulley 162 through an opening 178 provided in a cord guide plate 180 (shown in Figs. 12 and 14) and is attached to a ball connector 182.

The ball connector 182 is shown in Figs. 22 and 23. A ball 184 having a threaded shaft 186 is connected to a resilient cord attachment member 188 through a hole 190 with a nut 192. A pull strap 194 is connected to the cord attachment member 188 through an opening 196. The cord 176 is connected with the cord attachment member 188 by looping an end of the resilient cord 176 through an opening 198 provided in the cord attachment member 188 and then attaching the end of the resilient cord 176 to the cord 176 with a crimp 198. A clamshell cover having two halves are joined together to cover the connection of the cable 176 with the cord attachment member 188.

An end of the resilient cord 176 may be connected to a shuttle 14 by inserting the ball 184 into a keyhole slot 202 as shown in Figs. 4-6, and as shown in Fig. 21.

When not connected to a shuttle, the resilient cord 176 rests against the cord guide plate 180 with the clamshell cover 200 preventing the ball connector 182 from being retracted through opening 178 as shown in Fig. 20.

As discussed above, in operation, the rails 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D may be angularly oriented with respect to one another with rotatable slides 20A, 20B and 20C. Two configurations of many are shown in Figs. 1 and 2. To adjust the angular orientation, the pull handle 1 18 is pushed downwardly causing the head 109 of pin 108 to be moved out of a selected index hole 106. The plate 82 can then be rotated with respect to plate 80. When the desired angular orientation is achieved, the pull handle 1 18 is released allowing the head 109 to be moved into a newly selected index hole 106. In order to allow one rail to slide along the edge of an adjacent rail, the handle 130 of the latching mechanism 120 is lifted, thereby releasing the end portion 124 from frictional engagement with the wall 174 of the rail 1.2. As described above, in normal operation, the rotatable slide 20B is locked to rail 12B and is latched to rail 12C to prevent the rotatable slide 20B from sliding. If desired, the rotatable slides 20A and 20C have the latching mechanism 120 manipulated to a released position allowing the rotatable slides 20A and 20C to slide on rails 12B and 12C, respectively, to a selected position. When the rails are in the selected position, the latching mechanism 120 is manipulated to the locked position thereby locking the rails in the selected position.

For some exercises it may be desirable to provide resistance against movement of the shuttle in both directions along the rail of which it is slidably mounted. When it is desired to have a tension resistance on either end of shuttles 14, resilient cords 176 are attached to a shuttle 14. An example of this is shown in Fig. 2. In a preferred embodiment, three resilient cords are provided. The amount of resistance can be selected by hooking up a selected number of resilient cords 176 to the shuttles 14.

In the depicted embodiment, the angular orientation of the hand grip 16 and toe hold 18 can be rotated by lifting the adjustment pin 54 to allow the pin 54 to move into a selected index hole 56. When the desired rotation is accomplished, the pin 54 is released and the pin 54 rests in a selected index hole 56.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 , 2 and 3, many configurations of the full body exercise equipment 10 can be selected. This equipment provides exercise for the whole body and is very effective in increasing muscle mass, improving balance and coordination, increasing range of motion and cardiovascular capacity.

Referring to Figs. 24-37 an alternative embodiment of the exercise machine of Figs 1-23 is shown. The alternative embodiment includes many features that are similar to the features of the embodiment of the exercise machine described above. In particular, the exercise machine 300 and exercise machine 10 include a first rail including a first end and a second end, a second rail including a first end and a second end, a third rail including a first end and a second end, a fourth rail including a first end and a second end, wherein the second end of the first rail is pivotally connected to the second end of the third rail; wherein the second end of the fourth rail is pivotally connected to the second end of the second rail; wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth rails are generally positioned in-the same horizontal plane, a first extremity support shuttle slidably connected to the first rail, a second extremity support shuttle slidably connected to the second rail, a third extremity support shuttle slidably connected to the third rail, a fourth extremity support shuttle slidably connected to the fourth rail, wherein the movement of each of the first, second, third and fourth extremity support shuttles is independent of each other.

The exercise machine 300 and exercise machine 10 are both configured such that the first end of the third rail is pivotally connected to the first end of the fourth rail. In addition, in both embodiment the first and second extremity support include a handle and the third and fourth extremity support both include a foot support. In both embodiments, the exercise machines include angle adjustment mechanisms (rotatable slides) that enable the user to change and set the angles of the first rail relative to the third rail, and the fourth rail relative to the second rail. In the depicted embodiments, the angle adjustment mechanism can be operated without the use of a hand tool.

In both embodiments, the exercise machines include resistance bands that connect to the first, second, third and fourth extremity support shuttles that provide resistance to movement of extremity support shuttles along the rails in one or both directions along the rail.

In the depicted embodiment, the exercise machine 300 includes shuttle braking assemblies that are configured to prevent the shuttles from unintentionally sliding down the rail due to the biasing force (force generated by the resilient cords). In the depicted embodiment, the braking systems are configured such that the brakes are automatically engaged when the person's extremity is disengaged with the shuttle.

Referring to Figs. 24-29, in the depicted embodiment, when the person releases the handle 302, 303 of the shuttle, the braking mechanism engages and stops the shuttle in place on the rail. Likewise, when the person lifts his or her foot support 304, 305, the braking mechanism engages and stops the shuttle in place on the rail. In the depicted embodiments, the braking systems are spring actuated.

When the user grabs the handle and rotates it into a position for normal use against the force of a spring 308, the brake is disengaged. When the user releases the handle, the handle pivots back to its non-use position due to the spring 308 force and the brake is engaged. The brake includes a rubber stopper 306 with a non-circular cross-section that enables it to cam against the internal surface of the rail to stop the shuttle from sliding relative to the rail. See FIG. 27.

In the depicted embodiment a similar spring actuated braking system is employed to stop the shuttles that support the user's lower extremity. In the depicted embodiment, when the user inserts his or her foot into a foot support 304, 305, the foot depresses a button 310 that releases the brake. When the user removes his or her foot from the foot support, the button automatically moves up due to a springs 314 and 315 and the brake is engaged. A pivot arm linkage is connected between the button 310 and the rubber stopper 312 such that when the button is depressed a rotational torqueing force is applied to the rubber stopper 312 thereby disengaging the brake. The brake is automatically engaged when the button is released due to the spring forces and the rubber stopper 312 rotates into engagement with the inside surface of the rail. See FIG. 31.

Referring to Fig. 30, an alternative embodiment of a shuttle is shown. The shuttle is generally similar to the shuttle shown in Figs. 4-6. However, the mounting interface for the handle/foot support is different and the construction of the resilient cord interface is also different. In addition, the support pad has a different construction as well. The pad 316 is plush and conformable and can be adapted for use for people with limb injuries/amputations. It should be appreciated that many pad and extremity securing accessories can be adapted for use to customize the machine for rehabilitation use depending on the patient's special needs.

Referring to Figs. 31 -34, alternative embodiments of end components are shown. In the depicted embodiment the end components on each end serve to direct the resilient cords from the underside of the rail to the top side of the rail such that they can be easily connected and disconnected from the shuttles. The handle end components 318 and wheel end component 320 include similar features in that they both include a roller 322, 324 that acts as a pulley for each of the resilient cords. Each also includes a shroud 326, 328 that covers the roller 322, 324. In the depicted embodiment, a resilient cord dispensing component 330 is mounted adjacent the shroud 326, 328. The resilient cord dispensing component includes a guide member securing the ball 184 of the resilient cord in place while not in use and guides the resilient cord while in use.

While the fundamental novel features of the invention have been shown and described, it should be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the arts, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, all such modifications or variations are included in the scope of the invention as defined by the claims hereinafter appended.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An exercise machine comprising:

a first rail including a first end and a second end;

a second rail including a first end and a second end;

a third rail including a first end and a second end;

a fourth rail including a first end and a second end;

wherein the second end of the first rail is pivotally connected to the second end of the third rail;

wherein the second end of the fourth rail is pivotally connected to the second end of the second rail;

wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth rails are generally positioned in the same horizontal plane;

a first extremity support shuttle slidably connected to the first rail;

a second extremity support shuttle slidabJy connected to the second rail; a third extremity support shuttle slidably connected to the third rail;

a fourth extremity support shuttle slidably connected to the fourth rail; wherein the movement of each of the first, second, third and fourth extremity support shuttles is independent of each other.

2. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the first end of the third rail is pivotally connected to the first end of the fourth rail.

3. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the first extremity support shuttle includes a hand grip member that when released actuates a brake mechanism that limits the movement of the first extremity support shuttle.

4. The exercise machine of claim 1 , further comprising angle adjustment mechanisms that enable the user to change and set the angles of the first rail relative to the third rail, and the fourth rail relative to the second rail.

5. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the first and second extremity supports both include a handle.

6. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the third and fourth extremity supports both include a foot support.

7. The exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising resistance bands that connect to the first, second, third and fourth extremity support shuttles that provide resistance to movement of extremity support shuttles along the rails in at least one direction along the rail.

8. The exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising resistance bands that connect to the first, second, third and fourth extremity support shuttles that provide resistance to movement of extremity support shuttles along the rails in both directions along the rail.

9. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the machine is configured such that the resistance and the angle of the rails relative to each other can be adjusted by the users without tools.

10. A method of exercising, the method comprising:

supporting one's left upper extremity on a first shuttle that slides on a first rail;

supporting one's right upper extremity on a second shuttle that slides on a second rail;

supporting one's left lower extremity on a third shuttle that slides on a third rail;

supporting one's right lower extremity on a fourth shuttle that slides on a fourth rail;

wherein at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth rails is arranged such that the rail is an angle relative to another rail;

wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth shuttles is configured to move independent of each other;

wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth shuttles is configured to move generally in the same horizontal plane; executing a first exercise continuously for less than ten minutes, wherein the first exercise includes driving at least one of the first, second, third and fourth shuttle in a reciprocating motion.

1 1 . The method of claim 10, further comprising executing a second exercise continuously for less than ten minutes, wherein the second exercise includes driving at least one of the first, second, third and fourth shuttles in a reciprocating motion; wherein the first and second exercises are different with respect to the repeating movements or the resistance.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein in the first exercise both the first and second shuttles are held stationary while both the third and fourth shuttles are alternatingly driven forward and backwards.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein in the first exercise both the first and third shuttles are driven in an outward direction while the second and fourth shuttles are moved in an inward direction in a crawling like motion.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein in the first exercise the first, second, third and fourth shuttles are driven simultaneously outwardly and subsequently the first, second, third and fourth shuttles are driven simultaneously inwardly.

15. The method of claim 10, Wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth rails are arranged such that the rails are an angle relative to each other.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the shuttles are biased such that they provide resistance against movement along the rail in at least one direction.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the shuttles are biased such that they provide resistance against movement along the rail in both directions along the rail.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of engaging a braking of the first shuttle by releasing the first shuttle.