Exercise machine for training watersports athletes

Abstract

An exercise machine adapted for training watersports athletes has a pair of spaced-apart vertical columns each with hollow tubular body with a weighted plunger attached to a cable for vertical reciprocation while a user performs power and return stroke movements on an instrument attached to the other end of the cable. The plunger is hydraulically coupled to an air channel fed by an air-through valve sized to control air movement into the air channel by the rising plunger during a power stroke to approximate water resistance to an oar, paddle or arm in the water. The air channel has a release opening for releasing air balanced against the weight of the falling plunger to approximate lifting an oar, paddle, or arm out of the water on a return stroke. The exercise machine can be used to practice a wide range of watersports training exercises for swimming, paddleboarding, canoe paddling, rowing, etc.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]This invention disclosure concerns an exercise machine for training watersports athletes, and particularly one that combines exercise training for a number of watersports movements such as surf paddling, swimming, rowing, paddleboarding, and canoe paddling together in a single compact system.BACKGROUND ART[0002]Conventional exercise machines are commonly designed to have the user pull or lift against a selectable weight resistance in one or only a few types of athletic movements of the arms, shoulders, abdomen or legs. As a result, exercise gyms typically have a large number of exercise machines installed on the gym floor occupying a lot of floor space, thereby incurring high equipment and space rental costs. Additionally, few machines are designed for training watersports athletes, and none are known to accurately simulate the stroke resistance that watersports athletes will encounter in outdoor conditions in water. A conventional type of rowing machine has a u...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]The exercise machine of the present invention enables watersports athletes to practice a number of training exercises for a wide range of watersports, including surf paddling, swimming, rowing, paddleboarding, and canoe paddling, using a single compact machine. The water-resistance simulating mechanisms are designed to generate a weight resistance approximating water resistance to an oar, paddle or arm in the water during a power stroke and lifting the oar, paddle, or arm out of the water during a recovery stroke. Watersports athletes of various types can practice training exercises on one machine installed on the gym floor, thereby greatly saving on equipment and space rental costs. The exercise machine is compact enough to be used in a home or office.

[0014]Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be explained in the following detailed description with reference to the appended drawings.

Problems solved by technology

As a result, exercise gyms typically have a large number of exercise machines installed on the gym floor occupying a lot of floor space, thereby incurring high equipment and space rental costs.

Additionally, few machines are designed for training watersports athletes, and none are known to accurately simulate the stroke resistance that watersports athletes will encounter in outdoor conditions in water.

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