Abstract: An exercise device having a body extension mechanism including a press plate mechanism and an articulating seat structure. The press plate mechanism is pivotally connected to a frame forwardly of the articulating seat structure, which is also connected with the frame. The press plate mechanism is operably connected with the articulating seat structure by a transfer link so that when a user actuates the press plate mechanism, the movement of a back support of the articulating seat structure is coordinated with the movement of the press plate mechanism. Resistance for the exercise device is provided by a weight stack that is operably connected with the body extension mechanism through an arrangement of pulleys so that when the user actuates the press plate mechanism a portion of the weight stack is lifted.

Abstract: An arbor guide shoe assembly for slidably interconnecting an arbor top plate or bottom plate with a pair of spaced rails. The guide shoe assembly has a rail contacting channel which defines a plurality of operable rail capturing distances, and an elongate slot for orienting the guide shoe assembly with a plurality of orientations with respect to the counterweight arbor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for attaching cardiac devices onto a natural heart by employing arrays of gripping elements, such as hooks or barbs. The gripping elements are designed to penetrate and lodge themselves in the epicardial tissue in order to secure the device to at least a portion of the surface of the heart muscle. The gripping elements, although designed to penetrate the surface of the heart, have limited depth penetration so as to avoid puncture of blood vessels. The attachment mechanisms disclosed herein can also permit both attachment and detachment of device.

Abstract: An exercise ball device has a ball having two retainer rings, two elastic cables, two end hooks disposed on one end of the elastic cables, two U-shaped handles having holes on the top of the arc sides, two stoppers hanged up on two handles, two hook components having two inelastic belts, and two buckles disposed on one end of the inelastic belts.

Abstract: A dumbbell type apparatus comprises a hand gripping surface mounted on an axle and engaging a pair of spaced apart circular wheel-weights rotationally engaged with the axle. The weights provide peripheral outfacing surfaces for rolling the apparatus on a floor surface. Each of the weights has a non-concentrically placed center of mass, whereby with the hand gripping surface held in one hand, the apparatus may be rotated causing the wheel-weights to spin and to thereby exercise the arm holding the apparatus.

Abstract: An exercise ball device has a big ball having a hole, an elastic cable penetrating a hole of a big ball, two end hooks disposed on two ends of the elastic cable, and two small ball having retainer rings to receive one of the end hooks.

Abstract: An exercise device includes a pair of opposing axially-aligned elongated members each having a first end and a second end, first and second wheels being rotatably connected to each of the first ends of pair of the elongated members, respectively, and a connecting bar having each end operatively connected to the second end of each elongated member, the connecting bar being adapted for cooperation with the elongated members to selectively vary the distance between the elongated members, thereby controlling the width between the first and second wheels.

Abstract: An exercise ball device has an elastic cable, two end hooks disposed on two ends of the elastic cable, a ball having a retainer ring to receive one of the end hooks, a treadle having a hole, and a soft cushion having a retainer ring to receive the other one of the end hooks, which penetrated a hole on a treadle.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for stretching a human body in a substantially horizontal attitude. The apparatus places the body under a predetermined tensile load, uniformly distributed over the length of the body. The apparatus applies the loading force gradually in order avoid shock loads on the body. The apparatus may be operated easily and safely by the user, without assistance from another person.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sporting apparatus (1) to carry out exercises according to the natural physiological trajectory of each person, comprising a support structure (2), or frame, provided with lateral elements (11), with base or resting elements (4) for said lateral elements (11), and with at least a transverse element (19) for fixing said lateral elements (11), the sporting apparatus (1) further providing two sliding elements (3), or poles, substantially vertically provided in correspondence of said lateral elements (11) of the frame (2), said sliding elements (3) being hinged above the same lateral elements (11), and being freely oscillating along said base (4) or resting elements of said lateral elements (11), and provided with guide means (6, 7) to guide the sliding of a weight (9) bearing bar (8); and a counterweight transverse element (10), provided above said sliding elements (3), in such a way to join the same, thus creating a single oscillating structure.

Abstract: A hand exerciser includes a hollow sphere that has four openings and a cruciform member is supported in the sphere. Two handle disks and two massage disks are rotatably connected to four ends of the cruciform member and respectively engaged with the openings. A rod extends from a center of the cruciform member and a spring is mounted to the rod and a tube is rotatably mounted to the rod and biased by the spring. A weight is connected to a lateral rod extending from the tube. The eccentric force by the weight when the sphere is rotated applies a force to the hands holding the handle disks or the massage disks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-generating wrist ball which includes a ball-shaped housing, a revolution ring, a flywheel and a generating and lighting mini-module. The ball-shaped housing has a plurality of protruding arched pieces to enhance the light-concentrating effect and to increase the stability when the fingers hold the wrist ball. The generating and lighting mini-module includes at least two rotor aggregates within flywheel and at least two stator aggregates corresponding to said rotor aggregates being fixed on the revolution ring. The wrist ball is self-generating in operational state by means of the impulse excitation created at the rotational moment of the wrist ball. In addition, the effect of magnetic field line can be enhanced by means of magnets and magnetic metal plates of the rotor aggregates and the stator aggregates. Furthermore, the same magnetic poles of both magnets are arranged in opposite way to prevent the flywheel from interference in rotation.

Abstract: A device for selectively applying tractive forces to a user's back. In some embodiments, the device is an isometric exercise device. In some embodiments, the device is a portable, collapsible device. In some embodiments, the device enables a user to selectively adjust and control the magnitude and/or application region of the tractive forces while the device is being used. In some embodiments, the user-exerted tractive force is applied to handle portions of the device and transmitted to a lower extremity engaging portion of the device. In some embodiments, the device is configured such that a user can connect and remove the user's lower extremities from the device without requiring the manual manipulation of the mounts used to selectively retain the user's lower extremities. In some embodiments, the device is adjustable for use by a wide variety of differently sized individuals.

Abstract: An elastic exercising wand which can be squeezed, bent, twisted or pulled to benefit certain muscles; and having an elastic band snugly encircling its length under which the exercising operator may repetitively flex the hand or fingers in expansion exercises against its elastic resistance. A tension adjusting ring and attached anchoring hook are optionally present to control the band's resistance and provide tethering means, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an exercise apparatus that includes a frame housing a weight stack. A sliding assembly is coupled to the frame and weight stack. The sliding assembly includes, but is not limited to, a guide column, a sliding element disposed on the guide column, a pulley attached to the sliding element, a first mount disposed at one end of the guide column, a second mount coupled to the sliding element, and a first cable disposed in the pulley. The first cable has a first end attached to one end of the guide column, an intermediate portion disposed in the pulley, and a second end terminating in a handle. A second cable may have a first end attached to the sliding element or the first mount and a second end attached to the weight stack. In one embodiment, the guide column, first mount, and second mount are rotatable independently of each other.

Abstract: An improved therapeutic spa, hot tub, or hydrotherapy system includes one or more jet assemblies to form streams of water which translate in at least two degrees of freedom over a substantial portion of the user's body. The jet assemblies preferably move in patterns under automatic computer control as well as manual feedback by the user. The system preferably includes a body support, such as in the form of a chair. The support is at least partially water permeable so that the streams of water impinge the user through the body support. The jet assemblies preferably include unitary nozzles, pumps, and motors.

Abstract: A cover glass frame as a second frame body mounting thereto a cover glass is fitted onto an objective lens frame, which is a first frame body mounting thereto a tip end lens and an objective lens as optical members, in a manner to be movable in a direction of optical axis, and is fixed after having been adjusted in position in the direction of optical axis. The objective lens frame and the cover glass frame thus fitted and fixed are fitted into and joined to a cylindrical member to constitute an imaging unit, which is then arranged in a tip end portion of an insertion part of an endoscope. Thereby, focus adjustment can be performed on the optical members, which are assembled into the imaging unit, and a tip end side portion of the insertion part of the endoscope can be made small in outer diameter to prevent entry of vapor into the imaging unit even when autoclave sterilization is carried out.

Abstract: The present invention provides a collapsible exercise apparatus, generally comprising a riser assembly, a carriage assembly, riser assembly support means, and peripheral attachments. The riser assembly further comprises a pair of parallel riser members and the carriage assembly further comprises a riser-engaging end. The riser-engaging end is received between the riser members in a carriage assembly-receiving track. The user may thus selectively incline the carriage assembly in the carriage assembly-receiving track in this operational state for exerting muscular effort against varying degrees of the user's own body weight resistance to achieve some level of physical activity or as part of an otherwise regular exercise regimen. To enable easy horizontal transferability, for example, during shipping or when not in use, the carriage assembly is easily nested within the carriage assembly-receiving track. Additionally, no tools are required to assemble or collapse the exercise apparatus.

Abstract: A training method and apparatus for athletes that separates running into vertical and horizontal components. The athlete is positioned on a horizontal component training device in an upright position. The athlete contacts the horizontal component training device at a leg pad, a mid-torso location, and an upper torso location. The athlete sequentially trains for acceleration at least the hip flexor and the hip extensor muscles of each leg supramaximally against the leg pad through a sports specific motion. The athlete also sequentially trains the stretch-shortening cycle of at least the hip flexor and the hip extensor muscles of each leg supramaximally against the leg pad through a sports specific motion to train the stretch shortening component of hip flexion and hip extension. Training for acceleration is preferably against hydraulic resistance and training the stretch-shortening cycle is preferably against isotonic resistance.

Abstract: A multi-directional swivel body builder constitutes a bent shank, two sections of joint tube having a ring groove and a lock hole at its far end. The joint tube houses a retaining spring having a turnover leaf and a lock post fitted into the lock hole of the joint tube. The joint tube is inserted into the sleeve tube of the handle. The sleeve tube provides a plurality of adjusting holes. When the joint tube slides in place in the sleeve tube, the catch lug on the inner wall of the sleeve tube will enter the ring groove of the joint tube and press the retaining spring so to allow the handle to move freely along the ring groove for proper angular adjustment. The far end of the handle links with an end wheel. When waving the end wheels with two hands, the bent shank will rotate in cycle.