Abstract: An abdominal exerciser has a base (10), a pulling frame (20), seat assembly (30), a step device (40) and multiple actuating linkages. The pulling frame (20), the seat assembly (30) and the step device (40) are pivotally connected to the base (10) and to each other by the multiple actuating linkages. Thereby, the abdominal the step device (40) and the seat assembly (30) are pivoted toward the pulling frame (20) by the actuating linkage when the pulling frame (20) is pulled down to cause a person to bend to exercise and tone the abdominal muscles.

Abstract: An exercise machine for exercising muscles in the back of an exerciser, includes: a frame; a seat assembly attached to the frame; a movement arm pivotally attached to the frame and movable along a stroke path between an upper forward position and a lower rearward position; a resistance-imparting unit operatively connected with the movement arm to provide resistance to the movement arm as it moves from the forward position to the rearward position; a pair of handles to be grasped by the exerciser; and a pair of extension members, each of which is attached to a respective handle such that each handle is free to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the extension member. The extension members are attached to the movement arm such that each extension member is free to at least partially rotate relative to the movement arm about vertical, longitudinal and transverse axes.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus that includes a frame, a rest member on the frame for receiving a user's feet, and a first and a second arm that are pivotably interconnected to each other such that the arms are pivotably movable between a start or rest position and an extended position. The first arm is coupled to the frame. A seat is provided for supporting the user and carried by the second arm. An inclined base support member is disposed under the second arm and is for supporting the second arm during the movement between start and extended positions. A carriage may be associated with the inclined base support member.

Abstract: A therapeutic bed mattress. In one embodiment, the bed mattress includes a mattress frame (1A), rope elements (26) are secured substantially to an upper surface of the bed frame. The rope elements are secured between at least two sides of the bed frame. At least one vibration member (16) is attached to and below the rope elements. The vibration member includes a shaft (12), a pulley (13) attached axially to one end of the shaft, and a counterweight (11) attached to the shaft. At least one motor (10) including an output shaft (12) and a motor pulley (14) axially attached to the output shaft vibrates the rope elements. At least one belt (9) is secured between the pulley of the vibration member and the motor pulley of the motor, such that when the motor is powered, the output shaft of the motor rotates the motor pulley which rotates the belt such that the pulley of the vibration member is rotated to rotate the shaft of the vibration member and the counterweight, in order to vibrate the rope elements.

Abstract: A readily applicable exercise device is provided constructed of four hinge-like or living hinge devices and four generally shaped blocks. Each said block has a rounded groove in the center for finger placement and grip. This design allows the fingers, placed on opposite sides of the machine, to be stretched equally on both sides and in a number of different variations to focus on specific muscles or tendons within the fingers and hand.

Abstract: Exercise equipment including a housing having a structural surface defining an arcuate path, multiple pairs of pulleys positioned along the arcuate path, each pair of pulleys having passed between them a cable the proximal end of which is located outside the curved path, the distal end of the cable being coupled to a source of resistance within the housing such that when the proximal end of the cable is pulled by a user, the resistance exerts a counterforce to the cable. Alternatively, a single cable may be provided which exits through a movable trolley which is fixable at different positions along the arcuate path.

Abstract: A balance board comprising a platform (4) to support a user, a ground contacting rocker member (8) having a rounded surface (16) to permit pivoting of the platform about a first axis (10), and an interconnecting member (14) extending between the rocker member and the platform to permit pivoting of the platform about a second axis (11) substantially perpendicular to the first axis and about a third axis (12) substantially perpendicular to the first and second axes. The interconnecting member and the rocker member cooperate to define a central pivot region, for pivoting of the platform about the three axes. Preferably, the balance board includes stop members (30) to adjust the pivoting movement of the platform about at least one of the axes to make balancing of the platform adjustable depending on the skill level of the user. The balance board is used as an exercise device to improve and develop the balancing ability of a user.

Abstract: A weight plate having rotatable handles is disclosed. By rotating, the handles provide a sure grip to the user, while allowing the user to perform various exercises without adjusting his or her grip on the device. The handles also facilitate the safe loading and unloading of the device on plate-loaded exercise equipment. The weight plate may thus be used as a stand-alone exercise device, as a weight plate loaded onto a barbell or dumbbell bar, or as a weight plate used on plate-loaded exercise equipment.

Abstract: A method for protecting the ankle against injury, limit subtalar joint motion of the ankle by controlling the motions of segments of the subtalar joint fore and aft of the subtalar joint while permitting motion of the foot about the ankle joint with an improved athletic shoe, ankle orthosis. A supporting structure a part of or connected to the shoe or orthosis is preferably in the form of a heel-sole counter provided about the heel and at least a portion of the foot forward of the subtalar joint which includes a split toe sole extension. The supporting structure has a semi-rigid shape retaining character which is not collapsible vertically and which together with the shoe or orthosis limits torsional movement of the foot about the longitudinal axis of the subtalar joint as seen in a top plan view thereof by an upwardly extending portion thereof which acts as a torsion bar that is, in turn, secured to the lower leg.

Abstract: A weightlifting system with a safety cage includes a rear frame member and a pair of opposed side frame members that are movably coupled to opposite ends of the rear frame member. The side frame members are movable relative to each other and the rear frame member between at least a first position in which the side frame members are adjacent each other and adjacent the rear frame member and a second position in which the side frame members are spaced from each other and from the rear frame member to define an exercise space therein capable of accommodating an exerciser.

Abstract: This invention concerns a massage vibrator for the relief of various aches and pains in the head, face and body by means of stimulating energy channels and parts of the body surface. It has a central body (11), enclosing a vibration generator (16), at least one pair of springy arms (14) on one part of the central body and an active terminal head (15) at the end of each of these said arms, The terminal heads of each pair of arms are applied to the area to be stimulated and the vibrations produced by the vibrator are transmitted, through the springy arms, to the terminal heads (15) in order to exercise a massaging vibratory action at the point desired.

Abstract: An exercise accessory device, kit and associated method of using the kit for assembling the device for attachment to an exercise machine is disclosed, in which the exercise machine having at least two upper pulleys connected to a resistive force element via a system of wire ropes. The device comprises a top and bottom brace, a pair of bolts and nuts, a pair of semicircular beams, a pair of track pulleys, a pair of handle grips, and a pair of cables. The top and bottom braces are attachable to a respective top and bottom portions of the exercise machine. The pair of semicircular beams is pivotally attached to the top and bottom braces in which the pair of semicircular beams defines a perimeter of an imaginary sphere between the top and bottom braces in which the semicircular beams are locked in place to the top and bottom braces with the pair of bolts and nuts. Each semicircular beam has an inside edge comprising a slide rail with a plurality of holes traversing into the inside edge of each semicircular beam.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus utilizes a weight-laden frame which is grasped by the hands of a user during an exercise routine for lifting the frame from the floor during a lift phase of the exercise routine and for subsequently returning the frame to the floor during a lowering phase of the routine. To enhance the strength gains of the user, the user walks while holding the apparatus in spaced relationship with the floor following the lift phase of the routine. The frame of the apparatus is sized so that walking movements of the user are unobstructed by the frame and so that if the apparatus is dropped while the user walks while holding the apparatus, no part of the apparatus strikes the legs or feet of the user.

Abstract: A sterile drape serving to preserve the sterile integrity of an operating field is disclosed. The drape has a rigid optically clear window which allows a visible light beam, such as a laser beam, to exit a targeting device without refraction or distortion that could result in misalignment of the visible light beam relative to a targeted object. The rigid optically clear window is made of a material having an ability to transmit light and which ability remains substantially unchanged after the drape has undergone a gamma radiation sterilization process. The drape is positioned so that the optically clear window is located across the device window. The optically clear window is adjusted with respect to the device window so that a secondary light beam caused by distortion due to misalignment of the windows disappears and only the visible light beam travels toward the targeted object.

Abstract: An adjustment system for positioning a pad on a user arm for an exercise machine is disclosed. The user arm is coupled to a rotating cam which is attached to one end of a cable. The other end of the cable is attached to a weight system which pulls the rotating cam to bias the user arm in one position. The adjustment system has a selector hub mounted on one end of the user arm. The selector hub has an arcuate surface having a plurality of holes. A pull pin assembly is rotatably positioned around the selector hub. The pull pin assembly includes a pin which may be inserted in the plurality of holes to lock the pin assembly in a fixed position. A linkage bar has one end pivotably mounted to the pull pin assembly and an opposite end pivotably attached to one end of a support linkage bar. The support linkage bar is rotatably mounted on the user arm. The opposite end of the support linkage bar is coupled to a perpendicular rod with a pad.

Abstract: This is a multiple function exercise device that enables simultaneous exercise of several muscle groups. The device includes a chest pad that is stationary to the support frame and a seat that moves in a path of motion that enables the user's chest to remain on the chest pad as the user's legs are extended, thereby causing movement of the seat. This combination provides activation of the leg and hip extensor muscles and the trunk flexor muscles at the same time. In another embodiment, a resistance arm is added that is pivotally attached to the frame and mechanically linked to the seat, thereby causing movement of the arm as the seat moves. This allows the additional activation of the triceps muscles, or elbow extensors of the upper arm, while also working the leg and hip extensor muscles and the trunk flexor muscles all in a single movement. The advantage to such a movement is the time saving effect of working a large group of muscles at one time as opposed to several exercises one after the other.

Abstract: An orthosis can comprise a first body member that can conform to a portion of a patient's body and a second body member that can conform to another portion of a patient's body. A closure unit having a first connector member with a first plurality of support posts can be operatively connected to the first body member, while a second connector member with a second plurality of support posts can be operatively connected to the second body member. An elongated flexible pull member can operatively extend between the respective first and second support posts so that when tightened by a patient, a pull member slides across the support posts to provide a mechanical force advantage to draw the first body member and the second body member against the patient's torso. A closure unit can be of a modular configuration for subjective mounting on various components of an orthosis to provide a highly adaptable closure unit.

Abstract: An exercise vest includes a plurality of weight receiving vest pockets, all disposed on the outer surface of the vest at locations spaced from the wearer's spine, shoulders and upper torso. Weight receiving modules are disposed in respective vest pockets and include individual pouches for receiving the weights. The module and vest each include at least one foam padding layer to provide at least two layers of such padding between the weights and the body of the wearer.

Abstract: A storable exercise apparatus for home use. The apparatus includes an upright tower, a base structure, a bench frame, and a bench attached to the bench frame. A set of flexible pull lines coupled to a resilient spring system are carried within the tower structure. The user exercises by pulling the pull lines against the bias of the spring system. The grips for the pull lines are mounted at the top of the tower and generate significant tipping force on the tower when the apparatus is in use. To prevent tipping, the bench frame has pivotal and load-transmitting connections with the tower structure; the tower is stabilized by the weight of the user on the bench. The bench may be placed in either a raised or lowered position, and can be stored by collapsing and pivoting it so that it abuts the tower vertically.

Abstract: A massaging device includes a motor, and a rotatable head attached to the motor. A hinged handle is attached to the motor for providing an adjustable grip. Resilient beaters are arranged radially around the head. The beaters are respectively connected to keys by narrowed necks. The keys are detachably secured in longitudinal slots on the head, so that the beaters are detachable from the head. When the head is set spinning by the motor, the beaters are rotated for massaging the body to relax muscles or reduce cellulite. The beaters are easily removable from the slots for exchanging them with replacement beaters. Each beater is comprised of a resilient core, such as foam, completely enclosed by a flexible non-tacky cover, such as a neoprene or vinyl sheet. Although many resilient materials, such as foam, tend to be sticky enough to grab hair if exposed, the beaters do not grab hair because the resilient cores are completely enclosed by the non-tacky covers.