IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0043] Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same, FIGS. 1-6 depict a lateral slide exercise machine shown generally at 1. The lateral slide exercise machine 1 may include first and second handle members 3 supported by a handle frame section 4. The lateral slide exercise machine 1 may also include a base section 7. In one embodiment, the handle frame section 4 terminates on one end at the base section 7. The handle frame section 4 may be fixedly connected to the base section and supported thereby. Alternately, the handle frame portion 4 may be selectively removably connected with respect to the base section 7. The base section 7 may be generally elongate in configuration for use in providing a stable base for operation of the slide member, to be discussed in a subsequent paragraph. The lateral slide exercise machine 1 may also include a rail assembly 10 that slopes upward at selectively varying heights, which is supported by a center rail support member 13. The rail assembly 10 may include first and second rails 11, 12 positioned substantially parallel with respect to each other. For clarity the first rail 11 or inner rail 11 may reside closer to the handle frame section 4 and the second or outer rail 12 may reside opposite the handle members 3 and the handle frame section 4. In the preferred embodiment, a slide member 19 is included that rides along the first and second rails 11, 12 in a lateral motion. The slide member 19 may include first and second foot rests 22, 23 disposed on opposite sides of the center rail support member 13, which will be discussed in subsequent paragraph. Resultantly, an associated user may place each foot on one of the foot rests 22, 23. By gripping the handle members 3, the associated operator may generate lateral motion of the slide member 19 with respect to the rails 11, 12. In this embodiment, the operator is facing a forward direction that is substantially perpendicular to the lateral motion of the slide member 19. A first axis is defined as coincident to the direction that the associated operator is facing and perpendicular to the lateral motion of the slide member 19.

[0044] With continued reference to FIG. 1 and now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the base section 7 may be constructed from first and second U-shaped members fastened together at a center region of the base section 7. The first and second U-shaped members may be structural tubing, although any structural support material may be used for constructing the first and second U-shaped members. The base section 7 is intended to support the rail assembly 10. Therefore, any configuration of base section 7 may be chosen with sound engineering judgment as is appropriate for supporting the rail assembly 10. The first side of the base section 7 may include handle frame supports 25, shown in FIG. 1. In this way, the handle frame section 4 is affixed and extended from the base section 7.

[0045] Turning now to the center rail support member 13, FIGS. 1-3 show member 13 extending upward substantially perpendicular with respect to the base section 7. In one embodiment, the center rail support member 13 may be welded to the base section 7. However, any means of affixing the center rail support member 13 to the base section 7 may be chosen with sound engineering judgment. The center rail support member 13 may include a foundation portion 28 and telescoping portion 29. The portions 28, 29 may have fashioned therein corresponding holes for use in receiving a pin 32 that locks the position of the telescoping portion 28 in place with respect to the foundation portion 29. In this manner, the telescoping portion may have a plurality of sets of holes, while the foundation portion may have one set of holes for use in selectively manually adjusting the height of the center rail support member 13. At the top end 35 of the telescoping portion 29, the rail assembly 10 may be rotationally connected with respect to the telescoping portion 29 of the center rail support member 13. In this manner, when the center rail support member 13 is selectively manually adjusted, the angle of inclination or slope of the rail assembly 10 changes respectively. This will be discussed further in the following paragraph.

[0046] With continued reference to FIGS. 1-4, the rail assembly 10 will now be discussed. The rail assembly 10 may be comprised of first and second rails 11, 12 as previously discussed. Additionally, the rail assembly 10 may include first and second sets of rails 11, 12 pivotally joined together at a center rail pivot member 38. In this manner, facing the direction that an associated operator would face gripping the handle members 3, the first rail set 40 slopes down and to the left and consequently the second rail set 41 slopes down and to the right. The sets of rails 40, 41 may independently be rigid members. That is to say that each individual set of rails 40, 41 may be rigid. However, the rail sets 40 and 41 move or pivot with respect to each other as an entire rail system. It is noted that rails 11, 12 are curvilinear. In one embodiment, the rails 11, 12 may be concavely curved. That is to say that the first set of rails 40 may be concavely curved and that the second set of the rails 41 may be concavely curved. Any degree of concavity may be chosen with sound engineering judgment including substantially linear rails. Keeping in mind that the center rail support member 13 extends up and down and that the rails 40, 41 pivot with respective to the degree of up and down center rail support member adjustment, the slope of the rails is therefore adjusted in accordance with the adjustment of the center rail support member 13. This functions to alter the degree of difficulty that the associated operator experiences when using the machine 1.

[0047] With reference now to FIGS. 1-6, the slide member 19 may include a generally rectangular slide base member 42. It should be noted that any configuration of slide base member may be chosen with sound engineering judgment. The slide base member 42 may subsequently include generally parallel telescoping legs 44. The telescoping legs 44 may include locking clamps 46 for use in securely holding the selectively adjustable telescoping legs 44 in place once the desired length of extension has been determined. This functions to additionally adjust the degree of difficulty experienced by the operator during use. The ends 48, 49 of the slide base member 42 may include foot rests 22, 23 respectively. The foot rests 22, 23 may be fixedly attached with respect to the slide base member 42 for use in receiving the feet of the associated operator. It is noted that the foot rests 22, 23 reside on the top of the slide base member 42. The foot rests may also include foot securing means (not shown), such as but not limited to, straps or toe clips to aid in preventing the operator's foot from slipping. The foot rests may also have a non-skid material positioned thereon. Rollers 51 are rotatably connected to the underside of the slide base member 42. The rollers 51 are positioned on the slide member 19 such that the rollers 51 ride on the rails 11, 12 allowing the slide member 19 to move laterally back and forth during operation. Any type of rollers 51 may be used as chosen with sound engineering judgment. The rollers 51 may include top and bottom sets of roller members that grip the top and bottom sides of the rails 11, 12. This prevents the slide member 19 from coming off of the rails during use.

[0048] With reference now to all of the FIGURES, operation of the lateral slide exercise machine will now be discussed. An associated operator may adjust the height of center rail support member by pulling out the pin and manually moving the center rail support member to the desired height. The operator would then reinsert the pin into the respective hole. In this manner, the center rail support member has discrete levels of adjustment. The operator may then tilt the slide member to one side and place one foot on the first foot rest. Subsequently the operator would place the other foot on the other foot rest and proceed to balance themselves and the slide member on the rails. Gripping the handle members the operator would then engage the slide member laterally by forcing the each side of the slide down with the respective foot and leg. The higher the adjustment of the center rail support member, the more difficult it is engage the slide member.

[0049] In another embodiment of the present invention, another exercise can be performed. The operator may turn sidewise, such that his or her torso is perpendicular to the handle frame section 4. The operator rests his or her arm or hand on one of the handle members 3. Each foot is positioned on one of the foot rests 22, 23. The operator then proceeds with a rocking motion front to back shifting his or her weight from the ball of the foot to the heel. This exercise strengthens and tones the gluteus muscles.

[0050] The preferred embodiments have been described, hereinabove. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

[0051] Having thus described the invention, it is now claimed: