Abstract: A bench type exerciser device has a pad (6) which is swivel-mounted on a rotatably mounted lever (5). This lever (5) is swingably connected, via a connecting member (17), to one end of an arcuate lever arm (13), the other end of which is hinged to a lockable lever (10) which is threadingly mounted about the shaft (2). A lockable sliding element (14) is connected to the arcuate lever arm (13), to which is hinged one end of a pneumatic spring (16) while the other end of the pneumatic spring is fixedly hinged to the shaft (2). The pad (6), which is affixed to the lever (5), serves to exercise the back muscles of a person who is lying prostrate on a reclining surface (18) and who must lift, with his back, the pad (6) against a resisting force. The lockable lever (10) serves to alter the initial position of the rotatably mounted lever (5), so that the starting angle of the body of the exercising person can be individually chosen.

Abstract: The body exercising apparatus has a swivel axle (2) arranged in a housing (1), a swivelling lever (3) being attached to the swivel axle. This lever comprises a threaded spindle 7 arranged parallel to a supporting arm (10), which is mounted with its ends in the supporting arm (10) and on which an adjusting nut (5) is arranged. On this one end of a gas spring (4) is hinged, the other end of which is hinged on another adjusting nut (6) which is arranged on a threaded spindle (11) arranged inside the frame (1). Both threaded spindles are disposed in driving connection above cog wheels (16,17) which are arranged in the area of the swivel axle (2). By rotating one of the threaded spindles (11) by means of a hand wheel (30) the distances from the swivel axle (2) of the two spring ends hinged to the two adjusting nuts are altered by the movement of the two adjusting nuts (5,6).

Abstract: A catching device for a free-falling body comprising a material web which is held at opposite sides at support bars or ledges which are supported at a spacing from the floor. The support bars are held resiliently damped at a portable base frame carrying tensioning devices for stretching or tensioning the material web.