Abstract: A lumbar exercise machine having an adjustable pad assembly for engaging the legs above and below the knees while the legs extend generally forward with the feet against a foot rest and the knees bent so that the thighs and calves form an obtuse angle. A lock mechanism is provided to secure the pad assembly in the aforementioned position with the femurs restrained against movement so that the hips, buttocks and thighs cannot move during the exercise. The exerciser then moves his back against a movement arm in opposition to a resistance mechanism connected to the movement arm. The machine is adjustable to properly position a particular user for the exercise. One machine for home use utilizes dead weights plus the user's weight as the resistance mechanism while another machine for commercial use utilizes a compound weight stack as the resistance mechanism.

Abstract: A leg extension exercise machine having a movement arm engaged by the legs for moving the movement arm between a retracted position and an extended position. The movement arm has a vertically adjustable foot bar for holding the feet and preventing downward movement of the feet during the exercise. Resistance to the exercise is provided by a weight arm having one or more weight plates mounted thereon and pivotally connected to the movement arm. The prop is pivotally mounted to the fixed frame of the machine for movement between an extended position holding the weight arm in a raised position to facilitate entry to and exit from the machine by the exerciser. The prop arm is moveable by the exerciser into a retracted position for storage by means of a handle.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for testing the muscle strength of a subject wherein both static and dynamic strength tests are conducted on the subject during which forces exerted by the muscles are measured by devices which are connected to a computer and a display screen for displaying the strength of the muscles at different positions of a subject's body part. In the dynamic strength test, the subject moves a movement arm by exerting the muscles to be tested. The movement arm is connected to a resistance weight to oppose movement by the subject. In the static strength test, the movement arm is fixed in position and the subject exerts a body part against the movement arm upon exertion of the muscles to be tested. Force and angle measuring devices are connected to the movement arm and the computer for enabling the muscle strength to be displayed in terms of torque at various angular positions of the body part.

Abstract: A leg press machine includes a movement arm including a footboard and a pair of links pivotally mounting the footboard to a frame for movement by an exerciser's feet. A resistance arm is mounted to the fame and connected by a link to one of said pair of links. One or more free weight plates are mounted to the resistance arm which provides a predetermined resistance to the movement arm. The frame has a rack for mounting weight plates at a height at the level of the waist-chest area of the exerciser to facilitate movement of the weight plates between the rack and resistance arm. A prop is provided on the frame for holding the weight arm in the raised position to facilitate entry to and exit from the machine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for exercising the abdominal muscles where the exerciser is seated and the legs are spread apart and held in that position during the exercise which is accomplished by bending the upper torso forwardly and rearwardly through exertion of the abdominal muscles against a resistance offered by a weight stack. The machine includes a movement arm having a resistance pad engageable by the chest of the exerciser as the exerciser moves forwardly to perform positive work and rearwardly to perform negative work. The movement arm includes two parts one of which includes the resistance pad and is mounted to the other part by means of a spring mechanism so that the pad is spring mounted and may be moved to a raised position to allow easy entrance and exit from the machine. A cam fixed to the movement arm is connected to the weight stack pin by means of an actuating lever located below the weight stack.

Abstract: A lumbar exercise machine having an adjustable pad assembly for engaging the legs above and below the knees while the legs extend generally forward with the feet against a foot rest and the knees bent so that the thighs and calves form an obtuse angle. A lock mechanism is provided to secure the pad assembly in the aforementioned position with the femurs restrained against movement so that the hips, buttocks and thighs cannot move during the exercise. The exerciser then moves his back against a movement arm in opposition to a resistance mechanism connected to the movement arm. The machine is adjustable to properly position a particular user for the exercise. One machine for home use utilizes dead weights plus the user's weight as the resistance mechanism while another machine for commercial use utilizes a compound weight stack as the resistance mechanism.

Abstract: A machine for exercising and/or testing the lumbar muscles including a movement arm mounted for rotational movement about a generally horizontal axis against a resistance provided by a weight stack. Movement of the movement arm is transmitted to the weight stack by means of a transmission including a cam fixed to the movement arm, a pulley belt fixed to the periphery of the cam and trained about one or more pulleys mounted with respect to the stationary frame of the machine. The pulley belt is connected to an actuating lever connected to the weight stack pin to drive the same. One of the pulleys is mounted for movement towards and away from the pulley belt to increase or decrease tension in the pulley belt to thus control the drive between the movement arm and the weight stack.

Abstract: An adductor machine including a pair of movement arms movable about a vertical axes between an open position extending laterally from the seat and a closed position extending forwardly of the seat. The movement arms are movable to the closed position by the user engaging with the inner sides of his thighs, pads respectively located on the movement arms. Movement of the movement arms is transmitted to move a resistance in the form of one or more weights in a weight stack. Such transmission is accomplished by a linkage and cam follower arrangement operatively connected between the movement arm and a weight stack pin included in the resistance weight stack. An auxiliary actuating mechanism is provided to move the movement arms between the open and closed positions independently of engaging the pads with the legs. This actuating mechanism includes a handle engageable with the cam included in the transmission to operate the cam independently of a linkage which extends between the movement arms and the cam.

Abstract: A machine for exercising muscles of the human body which includes a movement arm pivotable about a horizontal axis by the user against a resistance provided by a weight stack. A drive shaft is connected to the movement arm and extends vertically downwardly below the weight stack where it is connected to a lever which in turn is connected to the lower end of a pin included in the weight stack. When the movement arm is rotated and pivoted in one direction it will move the drive shaft and the lever to raise the pin in the weight stack. The weight stack includes upper and lower stacks of weights independently connectable to the stack pin.

Abstract: An exercise machine or apparatus having a movement arm to be moved upon exertion of a body part against a resistance including a weight that pivots about an axis as the movement arm is moved by the exerciser. To change the resistive force imposed by the weight, the weight is moved relative to its pivotal axis to thereby increase or decrease the effective resistive force. The movement arm is operatively connected to the resistance by a cam connected to the movement arm and engaged with a follower which in turn is connected to the weight to pivot the weight about its pivotal axis. The cam is operatively connected to the movement arm by a strain gauge and a releasable lock mechanism.