Exercise apparatus

Claim 1

Apparatus for rexercising and developing lower extremity muscles, said apparatus comprising, in combination: track means comprising two parallel, generally smoothly curved tracks, each track having spaced distal ends and a track midsection; support means for supporting said tracks on a surface so that the tracks are concave with each said track midsection adjacent to said surface and the distal ends of each track projecting upwardly therefrom and elevated with respect to said track midsection, said tracks being fixedly positioned relative to each other by said support means and defining fixed, parallel, smoothly curved paths of movement disposed in parallel planes; and platform means for supporting the feet of an individual, said platform means comprising a single, unitary platform having a support surface for supporting said feet and roller wheels connected to said single, unitary platform rotatable about axes fixed relative to said support surface, said roller wheels engaging both of said tracks and movable with respect to said tracks along said fixed, parallel, smoothly curved paths of movement in said parallel planes, and said single, unitary platform maintaining said feet closely adjustment to and a fixed distance from roller wheels, aligned with the body of the individual, and disposed at right angles to said parallel planes, said tracks being so configured as to allow the primary axis of a user's body to remain essentially normal to the portions of the tracks in registry with said platform means during use of the apparatus whereby reactive forces from said tracks will be directed substantially along said primary axis regardless of placement of said platform means on said tracks when the individual moves sideways along said tracks on said platform means.