Abstract: Exercise treadmills with stationary, forwardly placed supporting surface engaging foot means of fixed form and with rearwardly placed supporting surface engaging support means which are movable relative to the frame of the treadmill to change the angular relation of the frame and the treadmill tread belt relative to the supporting surface. The change in incline of the treadmill tread belt is by either electrical power means involving an extensible jack mechanism or by manually operable means including a gas cylinder with an extensible piston rod movable by gas flow within the cylinder which is in turn controlled by manually operable valve means. When gas can flow within the cylinder, change in incline of the treadmill tread belt is accomplished by the treadmill user moving relatively forwardly or rearwardly on the treadmill belt.

Abstract: Exercise apparatus incorporating lift assistance mechanism for pull-up and/or dip stand exercising including one or more interchangeable extensible, elastomeric links of various extensil resistances, arranged to upwardly bias a pivotally mounted lift bar, and having arranged in parallel therewith a hydraulic shock absorber type fluid cylinder functioning to limit the extent of downward movement of the lift bar when the cylinder is extended to its maximum length and limiting the rate of upward movement of the lift bar in the event of the user falling off. The elastomeric link is preferably longitudinally bifurcated with two lengthwise parts so that if one part breaks the other part is likely to remain intact and provide some degree of extensil resistance. Other exercise components can be included as well as parts of the apparatus, such as push-up handles, and padded cross bars for sit-up exercising and the like.

Abstract: A foot pad for a stair climber type exerciser having a relatively soft cushioning pad overlying a rigid base member. The pad has a length of at least about one foot, a width of at least about four inches, and an undulating contoured surface extending from about one-quarter to at least about two-thirds of the way from the front to the rear of the pad. It also has an overall top surface convexity fore-and-aft enabling easier weight shift, from the user's heel to the ball of the foot as the attitude of the pedal changes during cyclical pivotal movement of the part of apparatus on which the foot pad is mounted. The cushioning pad disclosed is formed of molded polyvinylchloride with a hardness of about Durometer 70 Shore A.

Abstract: Longitudinally extensible and shortenable pump poles designed for hand and arm action in dual-action exercise apparatus such as cross country ski exercises and dual-action climbers, treadmills and the like, such pump poles being fixedly attached to the apparatus base rearwardly thereof and manipulated concurrently with or independently of reciprocating leg action. Each pump pole has inner and outer telescoping tubes and an air pressurizable chamber providing greater resistance to pole shortening movement than occurs during pole lengthening movement. Hand and arm movement by the user when reciprocating the pole handles simulates the hand and arm movement of a person actually moving over ground.