DOWNHILL SKI SIMULATOR

SIMULATEUR DE SKI AVAL

English Abstract

A downhill ski simulator which simulates the positions required to perform the sport of downhill skiing.
The apparatus comprises a ski or ski like support means with foot harnesses that move forward and
back on two tubular tracks which also provide side to side rotation. The two tracks are mounted on a
single side hill plane that is in turn mounted on a single forward tilt plane. Poles pivot in controlled
forward and back motion providing the user with an aid to balance. Adjustment for ski spacing is
provided. Stops or limits are provided for all motion. Motion control and resistance is accomplished by
means of a closed loop hydraulic cylinder with integral flow control valve.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

A downhill ski simulator comprising:
an apparatus that provides a skier with practice motion similar to the motion required for effective
downhill skiing.
Two foot harnesses attached to two tubular bases attached to each ski or ski like support means on the
underside. Each tubular base slides over and along a tubular track providing forward and back sliding
motion and also side to side rotating motion.
a stable starting position is provided to enable the user to enter the device in a rigid mode before the
various ranges of motion are freed to simulate skier positions.
a single side hill tilt frame that supports the two tubular tracks at the track ends only and rotates on an
axis that is coincident with the centerline of the side hill tilt frame and also the center line between the
two tracks.
a single forward tilt plane that supports the side hill tilt frame through bearings at the ends of the axis of
rotation ofthe side hill tilt frame. The forward tilt frame rotates about an axis that is coincident with the
center of travel of the skis or ski like support means along the tubular track and also the center of the
forward tilt frame.
mechanical adjustment of the two tubular tracks that maintains the centering over the centerline of the
apparatus when adjusted to suit the optimum spacing of skis suitable for different sizes and shapes of
skiers.
poles are mounted on a pivot in the position forward of the skier to simulate the proper position. While
the poles pivot they are at the same time restricted in their travel to be forward and back and limits in the
travel are placed to provide firm resistance and limits as an aid to balance.
a plurality of support means are provided to support the apparatus on the floor or ground to provide
sufficient height for the apparatus to move through the desired range freely. The support means
provides a wide enough base to prevent the apparatus from tipping as a user moves it through all the
ranges of motion.
stop limits in the various movements are supplied to limit the range as required. Limits may be fixed or
may be adjustable.



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Description

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10 SPECIFICATION
FIELD OF ART
This invention relates to an apparatus which sim~ tes the positions required to pelrolm effective
downhill skiing. The user fastens into the apparatus into two foot harnesses which form part of the
appal~ s. The skis are fixed on entry and then they are freed up to slide back and forth, to rotate side
15 to side, to tilt side hill to side hill and to tilt forward and back. Poles are attached for balance.

PRIOR ART
Cross country ski apparatus are available that provide forward to back sliding motion to ~im~ te cross
country skiing.
Downhill ski exercise machines are available that provide side to side sliding action to provide exercise
20 in preparation for skiing and are the closest thing to ski action.



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ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

This invention replicates the positions and motions of sidehill and downhill tilting that are part of the
sport of downhill skiing.

The appalalus may be equipped with actual ski bindings mounted on skis or ski like support means

5 The width of the skis are ~dj~lsted to the width most appropliate for the user. The user enters actual ski
bindings mounted on skis or ski like support means.

The app~lus is ideal to be used in prepal ~lion for skiing in conjunction with instructors of skiing and
or suppliers of ski equipment.

In addition to the use as a tool for instructors of skiing, the appa,~ s serves as a training m~çhine for
10 strength and flexibility Muscles, tendons and joints specific to the sport of downhill skiing are
strçn~h~tled and stretched through their useful range.

In addition to the uses of instructing and training the app~lus serves as a means of ev~ ting ski boots
for suitable flexibility and ~ ess required for effective and proficient downhill skiing.

As an important byproduct of all of the above, the use of the ~imlll~tor before skiing and between
15 sessions of skiing will put the user in better condition sport specific and thereby reduce the potential for
. .
m~ury when sklmg.




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GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The user fastens into the two foot halllesses which may be actual ski billdillgs O in which case he or she
will wear actual downhill ski boots. Figure 1 illustrates the skis and ski bindings option of the .~im~ tor
He or she is then ~ttarlled to the app~al-ls which is then at the starting position in the app~aL~Is.
5 Starting position is with the skis retracted back and the skis level or lower at the back.

The skier or prospective skier begins in the starting position which is rigid for entry. There is a wedge at
the back of the appal~ s that braces the skis 1 onto the ski shelf 11 from the wedge bracket 12 at the
back ofthe app~ s and keeps the skis fixed for entry.

Next the skier next removes the wedge and the skis are able to move. Initially because the skis are
10 retracted to the back ofthe app~ s well behind the center of balance the weight ofthe skier tends to
keep the skis and the skier stationely sitting on the back ski shelf 11.

The skier may slide the skis ahead and may rotate the skis side to side at the ankle around the tubular
track 3. This rotated position is illustrated in Figure 2.

15 The user is able to tilt the side hill frame 4 which actually raises one ski and lowers the other just as he
or she would experience st~nding sideways on a hill. This tilt is illustrated in Figure 2.

As the user passes the center of balance he or she is able to tilt the rOl ~rd tilt frame 6 ahead and back
again as he or she changes their center of gravity ahead or behind their center of balance. The front to
back center of balance of the appa~ s is the shaft 7 in the middle of the ro~ ~ard tilt plane. The forward
20 tilt is illustrated in Figure 1.

Various limits or steps may be installed to limit the fol wa~d tilt plane 7 and or the side hill tilt plane 4.
Ski poles 8 are im~ ted using rigid tube strong enough to resist the efforts ofthe user to ...a~
balance. As the user and his or her skis are moved through the forward to back range the poles pivot 9


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213~8~6

at the bottom and the poles at the top move through the range with the user at ro~ ll distance ahead of
their body. The poles are shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2.
Adjll~tm~nt 14 is in~ ded to set the width of the ski spacing to the correct width for tall or short skiers
or lean or broad skiers. Separate adj~stment is provided for the front belween the skis and the back
5 between the skis. This is illustrated in Figure 2 and Figure 3.

One way that ski width adjllstment may be achieved is by a threaded rod passing through a threaded nut
embedded in the tubular track 3. In this method there is a requirement for a right hand thread on one
end of the rod and a left hand thread on the other end of the rod. And there must be a right hand
threaded nut to match the right hand thread and a left hand nut to match the left hand thread. In this
10 arrangement, turning the rod one way will move the skis closer and turning the rod the other way will
move the skis further apart.

Skis may be ...~in~Ained parallel or ~djll~ted v shaped for snowplow technique that is taught to beginl1el~.




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21~5806
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DESCR~PTION OF THE FIGURES
Figure 1 depicts the side view of the invention
Figure 2 depicts the front view of the invention
Figure 3 depicts the plan or top view of the invention.
5 Figure 4 depicts the hydraulic limit and motion control which may be between the ~Iw~d tilt frame
and the sidehill tilt frame and additionally between the base structure and the forward tilt
frame.


DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPONENTS
0. Foot harness (optional ski bindings)
10 1. Ski
2. Tubular slider under the ski
3. Tubulartrack
4. Sidehill tilt frame
5. Sidehill tilt shaft
15 6. Forward tilt plane
7. Forward tilt shaft
8. Pole
9. Pole pivot
10. Base
20 11. Ski steady shelf for entering sim~ tor
12. Bracket to wedge skis to steady shelf
13. Wedge to brace skis to ski steady shelf
14. Ski width adjustment
15. cylinder
25 16. stop valve
17. flow control valve


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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED E~IBODIMENTS

For pre ski conditioning, that a simple foot harness be attached to the skis or ski like support means so
that the user may use the app~ s wealin~, so~ exercise shoes that are normally used in exercise
activities at locations such as gyms and fitness centers.

5 For serious skiers and equipment testers that actual skis 1 with fully adjustable rental bindings O be used
on the apparatus. In this embodiment the user must wear actual ski boots. The real skis help provide the
look and feel of real skiing in the m~clline Rental bindings make the adjustm~nt easy through a wide
range of boot sizes.

To limit the motion of the two planes and also to provide resistance to movement which is adjustable, i10 is pr~;;relled to have a hydraulic cylinder 15 as depicted in figure 4 installed. Th
e control is achieved by
g the stop valve 16 to hold one position or to restrict hydraulic flow by adjusting the flow control
valve 17 and thereby providing l~sislal1ce to motion and improved exercise capability and fitness results
from the appa~ s.

The poles 8 are connected by a pivot pin 9 at the base ofthe app&l~ s and limits to travel are provided
15 part way up the pole. A return spring brings the pole back to the vertical starting position. In addition it
is prerel,ed to make the poles removable so that experienced athletes may train with their own ski poles
loose and pelro~"l a wider range oftraining.




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Representative Drawing