Cross-training exercise apparatus

Claim 1

An exercise apparatus comprising: a base having a front; a pair of foot supports pivotally and slidably joined to the base to accommodate a pivotal movement of each foot support relative to the base between forward and rearward positions and to accommodate a sliding movement of each foot support relative to the base between raised and lowered positions; means associated with the base and joined between the foot supports for coordinating the pivoting of the foot supports between forward and rearward positions so that pivotal movement of one foot support relative to the base in one of a forward and rearward direction effects a corresponding pivotal movement of the other foot support relative to the base in the other of the forward and rearward direction; and means associated with the base and joined between the foot supports for coordinating the sliding movement of the foot supports between raised and lowered positions so that sliding movement of one foot support relative to the base in one of an upward and downward direction effects a corresponding sliding movement of the other foot support relative to the base in the other of the upward and downward directional wherein the base has a lower section adapted to rest upon an underlying support surface and an elevated section joined to so as to be elevated above the underlying support surface, and the apparatus includes means interposed between each foot support and the elevated section for pivotally and slidably joining each foot support to the elevated section to accommodate pivotal movement of each foot support relative to the elevated section between forward and rearward positions and to accommodate a sliding movement of each foot support relative to the elevated section between raised and lowered positions and wherein the interposed means includes a three-member linkage assembly interposed between each foot support and the elevated section wherein each three-member linkage assembly includes a first elongated member having one end which is slidably joined to the elevated section for sliding movement relative thereto, a second elongated member having one end which is pivotally joined to the first elongated member at the end thereof opposite the one end of the first elongated member, and a third elongated member having one end which is pivotally joined to the second elongated member at the one end of the second elongated member opposite the first elongated member and having an opposite end which is pivotally joined to the elongated section; and each of the foot supports is affixed to a corresponding linkage assembly adjacent the location at which the second elongated member is pivotally joined to the first elongated member so that each foot support can be pivoted and slidably moved relative to the elongated section as aforesaid by way of its corresponding three-member linkage assembly.