Abstract: The present invention relates to a resistance type exercise device that uses frictional forces between members to provide resistance for a variety of different exercises. In operation, when a pull cord is withdrawn from the exercise device, a cord wheel converts the translational movement to rotational motion. A brake lever contacting a brake drum fixedly attached to the cord wheel provides a friction resistive force to the rotational motion. A recoil cord causes the recoil cord 900 to stretch and wrap around a bearing lug, placing the recoil cord in tension. The potential energy stored in the tensioned recoil cord is used to rewind the cord wheel and restore the pull cord back to its at rest position.

Abstract: A dual-function treading exerciser includes a treading platform, an upright frame, and a movable handle assembly. The frame includes an upright frame body and two fixed handles connected fixedly to an upper portion of the frame body. The movable handle assembly includes two pulling devices and a rotary shaft journalled on the frame. Each pulling device includes a housing with a receiving chamber, a pulley disposed rotatably in the chamber, a pull cord wound on the pulley, a handgrip fastened to an end of the cord and movable rearwardly to unwind the cord from the pulley, and a biasing unit for biasing the cord to wind around the pulley when the cord is pulled rearwardly and is subsequently released.

Abstract: A body exerciser includes a main body structure, a gravity mechanism, and a restoring mechanism. Thus, the body exerciser may be used to exercise the user's two hands, thereby achieving an exercising effect. In addition, by operation of the restoring mechanism, each of the two pull cords may be scrolled on each of the reels actually, thereby preventing the two pull cords from becoming loosened.

Abstract: A rotational drive device that provides both variable levels of adjustable rotational resistance and also selective direction in which the resistance acts. The device has two mutually rotatable members each having a grasping handle. One member has a shaft serving as an axle for rotatably supporting the second member. A nut threads to the end of the shaft. When tightened, the nut imparts axially compressive forces urging the two rotatable members towards one another. The base rotatable member has a ramped member facing a corresponding opposed ramped member rotatably supported on the shaft. When the ramped members are rotated relative to one another, overall axial length of the base member is adjusted. This adjustment selectively modifies resistance to rotation of the rotatable members. A clutch device selectively transmits resistance forces when one rotatable member is rotated relative to the other in a first direction, in a second direction, and in both directions.

Abstract: A portable personal training and exercise device having a base assembly, a pole assembly and cable and pulley assembly. The base assembly has a tilt mechanism for holding the pole assembly in different orientations. The cable and pulley assembly is attached to the pole assembly and has two coaxial pulleys rotatably mounted on a common single stationary shaft. Each pulley is spring biased for rewinding a cord onto the pulley. The cable and pulley assembly also has a tension adjustment unit for adjusting the resistance of the pulleys, and two multi-direction guide units mounted on the housing of the cable and pulley assembly for allowing the pulley cords to be pulled in multiple directions with reduced friction. A user may pull the cords of the pulleys for exercising various muscles of the user and adjust the resistance force of the cords at an appropriate level suitable to the user.

Abstract: A body exerciser includes a main body structure, a gravity mechanism, and a restoring mechanism. Thus, the body exerciser may be used to exercise the user's two hands, thereby achieving an exercising effect. In addition, by operation of the restoring mechanism, each of the two pull cords may be scrolled on each of the reels actually, thereby preventing the two pull cords from becoming loosened.

Abstract: An exercise device with a true pivot point includes a plurality of arms that are joined at a joint assembly. A first arm is fixed in relation to the joint assembly and is also stabilized by a base member at an end opposite the joint assembly. In one embodiment, the base member is a foot pedal and in another embodiment the base member is a frame that includes a seat for the user. A second arm (or in some cases a pair of arms) rotates about an axis of rotation which is defined by the joint assembly. A resistance mechanism is contained in the joint assembly which includes a one-way clutch interconnected with the second arm to allow the second arm to rotate freely in a first direction. Rotation by the second arm in direction opposite the first, however, engages the resistance mechanism to create a user-selected resistance to rotation.

Abstract: The present invention is in the field of exercise equipment. The device utilizes two seperate cables each rotatably wound about sheaves with resistance provided by means of friction braking mechanisms. It offers the user an adjustable incline bench seat, a variable resistance control means and the device is colapseable for compact storage and portability.

Abstract: A walking machine includes a base, two swivel devices, two footboards movable in sideway directions, a connection transmission device, two recovery transmission devices, and a damping device. The footboards are driven by two feet of an exerciser to actuate the two swivel devices such that two support arms of the swivel devices actuate the two recovery transmission devices, thereby causing two transmission elements of the recovery transmission devices to act on the damping device via the connection transmission device.

Abstract: A damping assembly for an exercising device includes a shaft with a base member and a rotatable member respectively mounted thereto. The base member has a first annular surface and the rotatable member has a second annular surface which is engaged with the first annular surface with a friction member clamped therebetween. A driving member is connected to the rotatable member and is connected to a power transferring member. An adjustable member is movably mounted to the shaft and a bearing is mounted to the shaft and located between the adjustable member and the rotatable member. The friction between the rotatable member and the base member can be adjustable by moving the adjustable member to compress the rotatable member toward the base member.

Abstract: A pull cord exerciser including a main body and a cord reel pivotally disposed in the main body. A pull cord is wound on the cord reel. The cord reel is equipped with a restoring member for driving the cord reel to wind the pull cord which is pulled out. A frictional member is coaxially fitted with the cord reel. A one-way bearing is connected between the frictional member and the cord reel. When pulling the pull cord, the cord reel drives the cord reel to rotate. During the pulling travel, by means of the one-way bearing, the frictional member is one-way driven to create a frictional resistance between a frictional face of the frictional member and the main body so as to achieve an exercising effect.

Abstract: An Exerciser including a main body and at least one cord reel rotatably disposed on the main body. A pull cord is wound around the cord reel. The cord reel is equipped with a restoring mechanism for driving the cord reel to wind back the pulled out pull cord. The cord reel is connected with a shaft which is further connected with a one-way mechanism. Only when the pull cord is pulled to rotate the cord reel, the one-way mechanism one-way drives a resistance wheel which creates a resistance for achieving exercising effect. The main body is equipped with a friction adjustment device for adjusting the resistance against the resistance wheel so as to vary the extent to which a user is exercised.

Abstract: An arm exercising device for strengthening a user's biceps and triceps. The device has an upper arm support platform which is attached to the user's upper arm. The upper arm platform is hinged to a hand driven arm. The hand driven arm holds a handle so that the handle can slide along the hand driven arm as the exerciser pulls and pushes the hand driven arm with respect to the upper arm platform. Friction is provided at a pivot point between these two members so that the user's bicep is exercised during the pulling in of the hand driven arm and the tricep is exercised as the hand driven arm is pushed outwardly. The device can also be attached between a user's chest and an arm and used to exercise deltoid and lateral muscles.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improvement for a freestanding apparatus for demonstrating correct rotational movements of the body for different sports activities and for training an individual to perform such movements in the correct order and relative relationship. In an apparatus comprising a vertical support having upper and lower rotational resistance assemblies which are vertically adjustable to be positioned at the user's pectoral and hip levels where the assemblies include mechanisms whereby the degree of resistance to rotational movement may be adjusted, the improvement comprises an optional accessory for the upper assembly providing adjustable upper arm supports which permit selective restriction of rotation of a user's shoulders relative to the upper torso.

Abstract: An exercise machine mounted above one end of a bed, occupied by a bedridden patient or other supine user, has one or more double-ended ropes, each rope having a handle or a stirrup on each of its ends and a central loop tractively encircling a torque drum. Each torque drum is mounted for rotation against adjustably variable braking torque, which may be canceled in one direction of angular rotation by a one-way clutch. The handles and stirrups have adjustable rope engaging features, achieving infinitely variable rope lengths. Pulleys guide the ropes for substantially horizontal pulling reciprocation by the supine user, whose position may be braced or stabilized by torso-positioning rigid arms, such as adjustable telescoping spacer tubes, extending from the exercise machine to the user.

Abstract: A series of open dumbbell shaped connectors, each with a male end and each with a female end, sized so that a male end may be snapped into a female end to form a series that may be connected at each to a handle, with the series having sufficient resistance to movement of the handles that forearms and wrists may be reasonably exercised to develop and maintain muscle tone by a user twisting and coiling the series.

Abstract: A dynamic tensioner that exhibits direction responsive, adjustable, rotational resistance. The tensioner is particularly suited for use in exercise equipment to provide physiological sculpting. A ratcheting mechanism is combined with an adjustable resistance bearing to provide a specific resistance in a first rotational direction, and almost no resistance in the opposite rotational direction, based on the position of a selector switch. Two of the tensioners can be used to provide adjustable resistance in both rotational directions. When two of the tensioners are used, the ratcheting mechanisms can be set to work oppositely to allow adjustable resistance in both directions, or set to work together for increased adjustable resistance in one direction and free movement in the opposite direction. Various embodiments of the adjustable resistance bearing are envisioned. An exercise bar and an exercising leg or arm brace, using the dynamic tensioner of the present invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exerciser is mounted on a belt to be worn by a person while walking, sitting or running. A housing is mounted on the belt at the user's back. Two cords are wound on separate grooves in a disc rotatably mounted in the housing and wound in opposite directions. A handle is mounted at the free end of each cord. Each cord is conducted through low friction guideways mounted on the belt to the user's sides. Pulling on one handle unwinds that cord from the disc and winds the other cord on the disc. Pulling alternately on the handles rotates the disc in first one direction and then the other. Friction elements between the disc and the housing resist rotation. The amount of friction and the force required to pull the handles is adjustable as is the length of the cords.

Abstract: To provide controlled amounts of resistance to movement in exercise equipment or in orthotic devices, a control module has cooperating resistance elements. The force between the elements is varied in accordance with the position of the elements with respect to each other. For example the control module can connect two splints of a knee brace so that the resistance to flexion and extension are programmed in accordance with the position of the leg and thigh with respect to each other.

Abstract: To provide controlled amounts of resistance to movement in exercise equipment or in orthotic devices, a control module has cooperating resistance elements. The force between the elements is varied in accordance with the position of the elements with respect to each other. For example the control module can connect two splints of a knee brace so that the resistance to flexion and extension are programmed in accordance with the position of the leg and thigh with respect to each other.

Abstract: To provide controlled amounts of resistance to movement in exercise equipment or in orthotic devices, a control module has cooperating resistance elements. The force between the elements is varied in accordance with the position of the elements with respect to each other. For example the control module can connect two splints of a knee brace so that the resistance to flexion and extension are programmed in accordance with the position of the leg and thigh with respect to each other.

Abstract: A body exerciser including a base, a connecting seat, a pendulum device, and a beam device. The base is provided with lugs and opposed curved slide tracks at a lower side thereof. The extent of movement of the connecting seat is controlled by a hydraulic lever. The pendulum device is pivotally provided at the lugs of the base and includes a gravity pendulum. The axle of the gravity pendulum is provided with unidirectional sprockets. A pair of pedals are respectively mounted at both ends of the axle. The beam device includes a frame connected to the pendulum device for linking-up movement. The frame has slide wheels at both ends respectively for mounting on the slide tracks of the base. The frame is provided with idle sprockets and chains for driving the unidirectional sprocket. One end of the chain is connected to a spring and secured to the frame. The other end of the chain projects from the frame and connected to a fastening ring to which an attachment ring of a cable may be fastened.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus which isometrically works the upper body muscles while the person is engaged in an aerobic activity such as walking or while the person remains in a standing or sitting stationary position. The exercise apparatus includes a belt member having a first end, a second end, and a body section disposed between the first and second ends. The first and second ends are securable to each other for fastening the belt member around the torso of a person. A pulley housing is mounted to the body section of the belt. A pulley wheel is rotatably mounted within the pulley housing. An adjustable tension mechanism is attached to the pulley housing and the pulley wheel for selectively adjusting an amount of force needed to rotate the pulley wheel within the pulley housing.

Abstract: To provide controlled amounts of resistance to movement in exercise equipment or in orthotic devices, a control module has cooperating resistance elements. The force between the elements is varied in accordance with the position of the elements with respect to each other. For example the control module can connect two splints of a knee brace so that the resistance to flexion and extension are programmed in accordance with the position of the leg and thigh with respect to each other.

Abstract: A passive exercise apparatus includes an interface member for coupling to a user's limb. An arm member is coupled to the interface member by a wrist joint. The wrist joint has rotational motion about three axes. A first link is coupled to the arm member by a sliding joint. The sliding joint allows translational motion of the arm member relative to the first link. A second link is rotatably coupled to the first link by a first rotary joint. A third link is rotatably coupled to the second link by a second rotary joint. A first brake is coupled to the first rotary joint for resisting movement of the first rotary joint. A second brake is coupled to the second rotary joint for resisting movement of the second rotary joint. A third brake is coupled to the arm member for resisting movement of the arm member. The user is capable of interfacing with the apparatus to exercise a six degree of freedom motion.

Abstract: An adjustable clothes hanging and exercising apparatus includes a T-shape supporter which has a horizontal tube and a vertical tube integrally and perpendicularly connected with a lower central portion of the horizontal tube. A left arm supporter has a first end and a second end, wherein one of the first and second ends is detachably connected with the left section of the horizontal tube. A right arm supporter has a first end and a second end, wherein one of the first and second ends is detachably connected with the right section of the horizontal tube. An adjustable device which comprises an adjustable bar having a top end rotatably connected with a bottom end of the vertical tube. A base bar has a top end detachably connected with a bottom end of the adjustable bar. A base supporter is detachably connected with a bottom end of the base bar.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus comprises a frame (1), a loading assembly (2) for variable adjustment of the rotation resistance about a shaft (3) associated with the assembly, and a gripping device (8) connected to the shaft. In the exercise apparatus according to the invention, the gripping device (8) is part of a series of such devices. Coupling means (9, 10) are arranged for quick-release coupling of the different gripping devices (8) to the shaft (3) in the loading assembly (2), which by frictional engagement generates the rotation resistances, which are independently adjustable in the two directions of rotation (6, 7) of the shaft (3).

Abstract: A method is described of assessment of a physiological state of a body joint of an animal, wherein a first body portion is connected to a second body portion and is moveable relative to the second body portion through muscular contraction. The method includes the steps of fixing the first body portion with a stationary support, restraining the second body portion with a movable restraining member capable of motion within a plane, applying a first selected level of resistance to the motion of the movable restraining member which is constant regardless of the force applied to the movable restraining member, and contracting the muscle in an effort to produce maximum relative movement within the plane. The rate of change of position of the second body portion is then measured during a plurality of contracting steps.

Abstract: A portable exercise device for use by a human in a seated position in a seat is provided herein. The exercise device includes a pair of grips, a flexible member interconnecting the grips, a pivot and a connector. Each of the grips is suitable for interacting with a human hand or foot. The pivot, i.e., a roller contacts the flexible member and allows for movement of flexible member over the pivot. The connector retains the pivot proximate the human while the human is in the seated position. The connector is typically attached to a seatbelt and exercise device functions somewhat similar to a stationary cycle. Alternately, the connector is attached to one of the feet of the human and the exercise device is useful for exercising the upper body of the human. A tubular housing can be used for positioning the pivot above the seat and storing the grips, flexible member, pivot and connector when the exercise device is not in use.

Abstract: Universal muscular conditioning devices provide for the placement of two bidirectionally acting, frictionally resistant elements on opposite sides of a joint, in order to require a wearer of the device(s) to provide additional muscular exertion against the frictional resistance and thereby build muscular and joint strength. One embodiment includes a wrap which may be adjustably secured about the joint(s) or limb(s) of differently sized persons, thus eliminating the need for numerous such devices to fit different users. The wrap includes a plurality of pockets or sleeves, into which two of the frictionally resistive elements may be placed opposite one another, to the lateral and medial sides of the joint and essentially coaxial with the joint center.

Abstract: A multiple exercise device includes a slant board which may be elevated to different angular orientations ranging between completely vertical to completely horizontal. A rowing arm assembly is mounted on each side of the slant board with the pivotal action of the rowing arms being resisted by a friction brake. A foot platform is mounted at the lower end of the slant board and a shoulder resistance assembly is also mounted to the slant board.

Abstract: An upper body exercise device comprising a base (10) on which two adjustably resistant recoilers (20) are mounted is contained in a waist pouch (30). Two extension members (40) extend outwardly and downwardly from the base (10) and pulleys (50) are attached to the outer ends (44) of the extension members. Cords (60) from the recoilers (20) are threaded through the pulleys (50) and handles (70) are provided at the ends. The extension members (40) displace and direct frictional force created by the recoilers (20), and the pouch (30) makes the device easy to put on and take off. The recoilers (20) preferably provide adjustably resistant force against tension applied to the cords (60) and a slight restoring force sufficient to recoil the cords (600 when tension is released. This avoids safety problems with other mechanisms that provide a restoring force equal to the displacing force.

Abstract: A device for exercising the limbs of an individual. The inventive device includes a mounting assembly for securing to the frame of a door. A rotatable arm is coupled to the mounting assembly and is frictionally retarded against rotation thereof relative to the mounting assembly. A limb engaging assembly is mounted to a distal end of the arm, whereby an individual can rotate the arm to exercise the engaging limb.

Abstract: An exercise device having a coupling assembly attaching a pair of elongated handles, is provided for reversible rotation thereabout. Each of the handles includes a tubular housing within which a torque adjustment apparatus is disposed. The coupling assembly permits reversible frictional adjustment of the angle formed by the elongated handles to provide exercise of the musculature of the chest and shoulders as the user moves the arms toward or away from each other. The user can adjust the level of resistance to arm movement by adjustment at the coupling assembly. The coupling assembly includes a first spatulate member having a first elongated arm fixed thereto for rotational movement thereabout, a conical member is fixed at a base to the first spatulate member at an angle to the first elongated arm. An integral anti-rotation boss having an integral threaded rod is fixed to the conical member opposite its base.

Abstract: A portable exerciser having an adjustable constant resistance to employment thereof. The exerciser includes a shaft and a housing slidably disposed on the shaft. A gear in the housing engages the shaft and a member frictionally engages the gear so that movement of the housing relative to the shaft rotates the gear against the friction force applied by the member.

Abstract: An exercise device having a coupling assembly attaching a pair of symmetrical, elongated arms mounted at right angles to each other. A pair of elongated handles, each one of which is mounted on one of the elongated arms, is provided for reversible rotation thereabout. Each of the handles has a tubular housing which includes a distal wall and a side wall, the distal wall having a coaxially disposed opening formed therein, the side wall having a pair of opposite longitudinal grooves formed on the inside thereof. Three openings are formed in the side wall.A tubular socket member, adapted for rotation about a coupling assembly conical member includes a plurality of keys mounted longitudinally on its exterior wall, for registration with the tubular housing longitudinal grooves to enable cooperative rotational movement of the socket member.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device that uses the linear relationship between the electric current and the torque of the D.C. motor to simulate the effect of a weight stack of exercise machines. The motor produces a stable clockwise torque through the output shaft when a constant current is passing through it. When the user exerts a counterclockwise force which causes the motor to turn in a counterclockwise direction so that the electric current to the motor is controlled and maintained to deliver a stable torque from the motor against the counterclockwise force. Thus, the invention can replace conventional weight stacks used in exercise machines. The improvements and modifications made to the design have been focused on the problems of the system's inertia and friction during the cable rewinding on light loads.

Abstract: A pair of pivotable arms in a clamp in a personal trainer may be spring biased to a closed position as on a door frame. A lock retaining the clamp in the closed position includes a member manually actuatable to release the clamp from the door frame. A clasp on the clamp holds a first belt in a wrapped and frictional relationship. In one embodiment, the second end of the first belt is retained by a resistance unit which is disposed on a handle adapted to be manually gripped by the user. The resistance unit has bars which receive the belt in a frictional and tensioning relationship to retain the belt. Collars on the handle retain a harness shaped to envelope the user's face. The harness may be moved or rotated relative to the handle to exercise muscles in selective portions (e.g. neck or back) of the user's body. In another embodiment, a second belt engaged by the resistance unit extends beyond the resistance unit.

Abstract: An appendage interface assembly, such as a hand grip assembly (2) or a foot pedal assembly (120), is used with an exercise machine to reduce skeletal misalignment problems while increasing the muscle working benefits of the exercise. The assembly includes an assembly support (4, 122) securable to the exercise machine. A hand grip (22) or foot pedal (128) is pivotally mounted to the assembly support for movement about three orthogonal axes (26, 28, 30; 134, 174, 176). The foot pedal is mounted using a universal or ball joint (130). With the hand grip assembly, a yoke (12) is pivotally mounted to the assembly support, a hand grip support (16) is pivotally mounted to the yoke, and a hand grip (22) is pivotally mounted to the hand grip support by first, second and third pivots (14,18,24) for movement about the three axes. The hand grip or foot pedal can pivot freely or with a drag force hindering the pivotal motion or, if great enough, locking the hand grip or foot pedal to a fixed orientation.

Abstract: This novel invention employs state of the art technology together with a powerful D.C. motor to simulate the effect of the weight stack in an exercise machine. In order to reduce the friction loss and response time, a D.C. motor with a unique transmission mechanism is specially designed to accommodate the requirements of our system. A torque that simulates the weight stack is generated when a current is fed to the coils of the motor. To minimize the power disspation of the controller, an ingenious technique, termed VARIABLE CURRENT SOURCE METHOD, based on switching power supply is used to produce enough current without much power loss. As a result, the `weight` that the user experiences can be varied according to the amount of current the controller produces.

Abstract: An exercise dynamometer permits a patient to exercise against isodynamic, isokinetic, or isometric resistance to evaluate various musculoskeletal conditions of the patient's human spine. Sensing means are provided to determine the positioning of the patient, and to determine the angular position, velocity, and torque of the exercise movements. In a first embodiment, the patient's head, trunk, upper legs, knees, and feet are secured to a lumbar dynamometer to isolate lumbar and lower thoracic spinal rotation, flexion-extension, and/or lateral bending. During rotational exercise, the axis of movement of the dynamometer is coincident with the patient's spine. In a second embodiment, a patient's trunk and hips are secured to a neck dynamometer to restrict exercise to the cervical spine. The invention facilitates forward flexion-extension, or alternatively lateral bending of the cervical spine, about a first axis aligned with the patient's C1-C2 vertebrae and a second axis aligned with the patient's C7 vertebra.

Abstract: A dynamic resistance device for an exerciser, comprises a bracket; an actuating device which is mounted within said bracket, which includes a motor and an output shaft; a winch which includes a winding drum and a cable, the winding drum is extended coaxially with a first rotating shaft and a second rotating shaft, as the winding drum rotates, the first and second rotating shaft will rotate consequently, one end of the cable is fixed on the winding drum, and the cable is wound within a spiral slot of the winding drum; a reduction device includes a first timing wheel and a second timing wheel, the first and second timing wheel are connected with a timing belt, the timing wheel is fixed on the output shaft of the motor, and the second timing wheel is fixed on the first rotating shaft which is connected to winding drum; a fairleader includes a stopping plate and a rubber ball, stopping plate is bridged on the top of bracket and has a slot thereof, the cable can pass through the slot freely, the diameter of the ru

Abstract: A tilting universal gym having an angular pivoting base and support frame adapted to carry removable weights, and which allows the universal gym frame to be operated from a standing position as a hanging bar, and then tipped over to perform weight lifting exercises.

Abstract: A method is described of assessment of a physiological state of a body joint of an animal, wherein a first body portion is connected to a second body portion and is moveable relative to the second body portion through muscular contraction. The method includes the steps of fixing the first body portion with a stationary support, restraining the second body portion with a sleeve capable of motion within a plane, applying a first selected level of resistance to the motion of the sleeve which is constant regardless of the force applied to the sleeve, and contracting the muscle in an effort to produce maximum relative movement within the plane. The rate of change of position of the second body portion is then measured during a plurality of contracting steps.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus for providing improved muscle conditioning via push-ups or similar exercises. The apparatus comprises an elongated body with end supports and two rotatably affixed hand grips. The elongated body has a plurality of pairs of bushing lined holes. Each hole of each pair is equally spaced from the elongated body's vertical centerline. The hand grips are rectangularly shaped having a pin extension that slidably and rotatably fits in the body's bushing lined holes. The top horizontal portion of the rectangle is an ergonomically shaped handle. The pin and, consequently, the hand grip are locked into place in the body via a spring clip which engages the pin at its free end. The spring clip engages the underside of the body such that the hand grips cannot be withdrawn from the body until the clip is removed. While being used, the user grabs the ergonomically contoured handles and performs a push-up or similar exercise.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, an exerciser is described which comprises a simple structure comprised of elements which can be readily assembled while at the same time generate a large, distributed resistance load in which the user's limbs can be worked in both push-pull only, or push only movements. The exerciser comprises essentially two cranks journaled from opposite directions into independently operating friction brakes for independent operation of the cranks by the user. However, the friction brakes of each crank while independently operatable are interconnected by a common frictional biasing plates housed within a horizontally extending, central housing and having an activation rod that extends exterior. The biasing plates generates biasing pressure at a pair of push blocks centrally disposed within the housing to cause bidirectional movement of the latter toward fixed end blocks of the housing.

Abstract: An isoinertial lift machine is described which can be used to evaluate and train patients in the static and dynamic lift modes. The machine consists of an arm which can be positioned on a vertical column. At the end of the arm, various size attachments and handles can be attached. The arm also carries a force sensor that measures the forces applied to the handles. In the static mode, the arm is positioned at a desired height and locked in place. The patient lifts on the handle, and the force sensor registers the lifting force. Since the handle does not move during the lift, the mode is called static. In the dynamic mode, the arm/handle moves in the vertical direction during the lift. A resistance mechanism is used to resist the lifting force applied by the user at the handle. The resisting force is always pulling the arm down, both in the lifting and the lowering motion. The resisting force remains constant throughout the range of motion during lifting.

Abstract: A straight back side chair has a seat cushion and a back member, and includes a low resistance loading device that is operated through a system of cords and pulleys from handgrips. The pulleys are supported on arms that are mounted to the back of the chair and which can be selectively positioned for different types of exercise. The arms can be positioned laterally out from the sides of the chair for doing butterfly type exercise; pushed downwardly at an angle for curls; or positioned overhead above the back of the chair for permitting a person seated in the chair to do pull downs. When the chair is not in use as an excerciser, the arms are folded out of the way so it functions as a side chair and does not visually intrude on the usable space in a room or tend to give the room the look of a gymnasium. The force resistance device is very compact so that it takes little space beneath the seat, permitting a cushioned or padded seat to be used.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a progressive accommodating resistance exercise device including a retractable cable, resistance means for providing a resistance force opposing extension of the cable such that the resistance force is a function of the speed of cable extension for all resistance forces having a magnitude greater than the fixed cable retraction force, and adjustment means for varying the relationship between the resistance force and the speed of cable extension for all resistance forces greater in magnitude that the fixed cable retraction force. Means are also disclosed for minimizing the likelihood of joint hyperextension during use.