Abstract: An apparatus for shifting the body weight of a runner from a runner's legs to a wheeled frame for enhancing the runner's performance and minimizing leg strain comprises a loop of elastic rod-shaped material stretchable during standing and during running movement. A base bend of the elastic is secured to a pelvic harness at the top of the back of each leg, and another bend of the elastic is secured to the wheeled frame. A third bend is supported on pulleys mounted on a height adjustable tee on the wheeled frame. This brings about a significant shift of the runner's weight from the runner's legs to the wheeled frame.

Abstract: It is the object of the current invention to provide a removable exercise pole with a base connected with a housing pole that is extended by means of a telescoping upper extension pole. The pole is held in place by a compressive tensioning mechanism that also allows for manual adjustment. The pole is held in constant tension so that horizontal forces may be resisted. A capture plug that may be selectively mounted on an overhead horizontal surface serves to locate the pole on the overhead surface.

Abstract: A bar support member that can be used to hold a weight bar in a desired position on a piece of exercise equipment. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention can be used to provide a safety stop or spotter for supporting the weight bar in the event that the user cannot return the weight bar to its original bar support member.

Abstract: A shoulder press exercise machine has a main frame, a user support pivotally mounted on the frame for supporting a user in a seated position, at least one exercise arm movably mounted on the frame and movable between a start position in which handles are located in front of the shoulders of a user on the user support frame and an end position in which the handles are located above the head of the user. A connecting linkage connects movement of the exercise arm to movement of the user support, so that movement of the exercise arm from the start to the end position simultaneously rotates the user support. A load resists movement of at least one of the moving parts of the machine. The combined motion of the user, user support frame and exercise arm between the start and end position substantially replicates the natural movement of the upper part of a human body when performing a free weight shoulder press exercise.

Abstract: A training device for strengthening the swing muscle groups of a golfer while enhancing proper muscle memory, wherein the device includes a hollow ball having a meridian line that divides the ball into two visually distinct hemispheres, and further including a pair of elongated slots for receiving the user's fingers, each of the pair of slots being disposed on opposite sides of and angled toward the meridian line to insure the proper relative positioning of the user's hands.

Abstract: A training device (10) for strengthening the swing muscle groups of a golfer while enhancing proper muscle memory wherein, the device (10) includes a hollow ball (21?) having a meridian line (22) that divides the ball (21) into two visually distinct hemispheres (23), (24) and further including two pairs of elongated apertures (27A), (27B), (27C) and (27D) which are dimensioned to receive the user's hands and which extend into the hollow interior of the ball (21?).

Abstract: A ball exerciser includes a deformable rolling body having an outer surrounding wall surface and at least one lateral mount wall, a rigid stationary coupling member secured to the lateral mount wall and having a stationary coupling end distal from the lateral mount wall, a movable coupling member having a movable coupling end disposed to be swivelable and frictionally rotatable relative to the stationary coupling end about a rolling axis, a grip including a grip segment which is spaced apart from the lateral mount wall and which is coupled to the movable coupling end so as to permit the grip segment to swivel with the movable coupling member.

Abstract: A device for exercising and strengthening the muscles of the spinal column and vertebrae joints and for the spine recreation, designed taking in account that our backbone bio kinematics operate better moving in the horizontal position based on “four legs”, comprises: a bearing framework with fore and rear pivot points, two hand striding units and two foot striding units pivotally mounted to corresponding fore and rear pivot points and depending downwardly therefrom; a kinematic transmission connecting the left and right pairs of the striding units with possibility to swing the hand and foot striding units in opposite direction, provides the user with a steady balance and allows to imitate a natural walking or running-type motions with the extremities based on the foot and hand supports while keeping his/her torso suspended freely above the foot and hand supports and with the spine in a substantially free horizontal position whereby the only support for the users body is the foot and hand supports; The

Abstract: An exercise device for weightlifting or weight training for use with resistance type weightlifting exercises. The device is a V-shaped, solid, weighted exercise bar with two wings and an apex. The wings contain handle grips and are capable of having weight plates, discs and collars attached. The apex contains a projecting post that extends in an outward direction and holds weight, whereby the weight balances and counterbalances the weight on the wings. The total weight on the apex can be heavier, lighter or equal to the total weight on the wings. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the apex and wings are capable of accepting standard weight plates and discs using conventional weightlifting collars to hold the weights in place. In an alternative embodiment the apex and wings are permanently set with weights. Included are corresponding weight training methods for use with the exercise device.

Abstract: An exercising system has a frame defining a space in which a user is positioned for performing a large number of different exercises. Frame members have holes within which flexible bars are positioned, spanning across the machine, for low-impact exercising using the bars. In a preferred embodiment the bar-supporting frame members, or some of them, are adjustable in position so as to provide a nearly unlimited number of positions for different users and for different exercises. A few of the many exercises facilitated by the system are described.

Abstract: An exercise dumbbell includes a handle member and weight plates maintained in spaced relationship at opposite ends thereof. Weight selectors are rotatable into and out of engagement with different combinations of the weight plates to secure a desired amount of mass to the handle. The weight selectors occupy respective upwardly closed notches in the weights to secure the weights to the handle member. Different arrangements may be used to bias the weight selectors toward desired orientations relative to the weight plates, and/or to lock the weight selectors in desired orientations relative to the weight plates.

Abstract: A highly versatile exercise apparatuses is disclosed. More particularly, the invention relates to a cable crossover exercise apparatus including a central weight stack and opposed extension arms. The invention also relates to a functional lift exercise apparatus including a central weight stack and substantially parallel extension arms. The invention further relates to a cable type exercise apparatus employing a pulley assembly with a 4:1 load ratio.

Abstract: A dynamic gauntlet including at least two of a base, a hand piece, and a thumb piece. At least one of the base, hand piece and thumb piece is constructed of an elastomeric material and includes an anchor having an attachment element extending toward the at least one other of the base, hand piece and thumb piece, which includes an attachment area. The attachment element is secured to the attachment area in a variety of pre-selected locations, thereby providing variable tension in the anchor to reconfigure the hand or digits. A method of the invention includes applying at least two of the base, the hand piece and the thumb piece to a wrist, arm or hand, and securing an anchor attachment element of one or more of these components to a pre-selected location on an attachment area of these components to reconfigure the hand or digits in a desired configuration.

Abstract: An aspect of the invention involves a method of using a collapsible exercise device including providing a collapsible exercise device; positioning a first end of an adjustable incline at a desired height with respect to a vertical support member so that the adjustable incline is at a desired inclination; moving first and second combination pulley-support and pull-up bars to a desired position; moving first and second pulleys connected to the first and second combination pulley-support and pull-up bars to a desired location; and moving a support platform along the adjustable incline through cable movement through the first and second pulleys on the combination pulley-support and pull-up bars.

Abstract: On some embodiments, a vertical stack of weights is disposed beneath a base member, and at least one selector rod is rotatably mounted on the base member and selectively rotated into engagement with a desired number of the vertically stacked weights. On other embodiments, a horizontal stack of weights is disposed on opposite sides of a base member, and at least one selector rod is movably mounted on the base member and selectively moved into engagement with the desired number of horizontally stacked weights. On still other embodiments, these two types of arrangements are implemented in combination. Various methods may be performed using various combinations of these arrangements to provide adjustable resistance to exercise. In one such method, a base member is lifted by grasping a handle that extends longitudinally between first and second weight engaging ends of the base member.

Abstract: Weight equipment for doing crunches, situps, and back extensions. A specially devised weight plate fits the upper chest and front shoulders, and has two handles placed at each hand's natural path (without necessitating the twisting of the wrists as they are moved to the upper part of chest. The equipment is intended to come in a collection of different weights in a weight rack that can be used at community gyms and fitness centers.

Abstract: A dumbbell is described including a handle having a grip and at least one end, an inner plate mounted on the handle adjacent the grip, in a fixed rotational orientation, a support plate rotationally mounted on the handle adjacent the inner plate, at least one collar rotationally mounted on the handle adjacent the support plate, and rotationally fixed with the support plate, a selector knob rotationally mounted on the handle adjacent the at least one collar, and rotationally fixed with the collar, a weight plate removably mounted on the handle adjacent the at least one collar, and a means for selectively securing the support plate to the inner plate to resist the rotation of the support plate, collar and selector knob with respect to the inner plate and handle.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an exercise and training device for runners and provides a means to train them to stay in the most efficient position for optimum muscle use and to improve speed and lateral quickness. The device comprises an upper thigh strap, a foot stirrup and a length of resilient elastic material adjustably secured therebetween and adjusted to maintain the user's knee at a 90° angle during running.

Abstract: An exercise assisting instrument assists the user's knee-bending exercise, and lightens a burden and maintains safety of the user. It has a base 10, supporting columns 20, lifting mechanisms 30 consisting of lifting arms, lever arms 40, and a chair 50. A three-member linkage system is formed by the supporting columns 20 and the lifting mechanisms 30, so that the chair 50 may move upward and downward. Further, it is equipped with an upward movement assisting device 33, which provides a force in the raising direction to the hinge point 30a of the lifting arms, so that stand-up movement of the user is assisted and lightening the user's burden is possible. Moreover, a locking device 11 and a stopper 13 are equipped, so the user's safety may be improved.

Abstract: A method for preventing serious injuries to a person participating in a physical activity, such as pole-vaulting, which occurs at least partially over a hard surface. The method includes: detecting predetermined criteria indicative of a condition which requires deployment of the material into the deployed position; and moving a material from a retracted position to a deployed position upon detection of the predetermined criteria, wherein the material substantially does not impede the physical activity while in the retracted position and cushions the person from falling onto the hard surface while in the deployed position.