Abstract: An abductor machine has a pair of movement arms including thigh pads engageable by the user's thighs to move the movement arms outwardly about vertical axes while the user is seated with the thighs located between the thigh pads. The movement arms are connected to a weight stack by a transmission including connecting rods interconnecting the movement arms and a cam, and a cam follower which is connected to an actuating lever which in turn drives the weight stack pin. The lateral position of the thigh pads is adjustable to suit the size of the user's thighs. The thigh pads are also self-adjustable about vertical axes. An adjustable backrest is also provided to change the posture of the user so that the exercise may be concentrated on different portions of the abductor muscles. Once adjusted, the backrest is locked in position.

Abstract: A machine for exercising leg muscles including a movement arm rotatable about a horizontal axis, a seat for receiving a user with the legs engageable with the movement arm to rotate it in one direction about the axis, and a weight stack including a resistance weight and a vertical stack pin connectable to the resistance weight. A sprocket is connected to the movement arm to rotate with the movement arm, and a drive connection including a chain or cable is established between the sprocket and the bottom of the stack pin to raise the stack pin when the movement arm is rotated in one direction. In one embodiment a drive lever is pivotally connected to the bottom of the stack pin to raise the stack pin when the movement arm is rotated in one direction in opposition to the resistance weight. The chain is connected to an intermediate portion of the drive lever. The movement arm is provided with a convenient handle for rotating the movement arm while the user is seated.

Abstract: A leg press machine has a movement arm mounted by parallel links for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis in opposition to one or more resistance weight stacks on opposite sides of the movement arm. The linkage is connected to a drive lever below the movement arm which in turn is connected to the bottom of a weight stack rod to raise the latter and associated weights as the movement arm is pivoted by the legs. The movement arm is stabilized by the linkage and a counterweight connected to the linkage.

Abstract: A triceps exercise machine has a movement arm pivotable about a horizontal axis against the resistance of a weight stack. The machine includes a vertically adjustable seat, a shoulder restraint, and adjustable handgrips secured to the movement arm, all of which position the elbows of the user in general alignment with the axis of rotation of the movement arm. In the start position the arms are fully folded and positioned close to the user's sides. The user then proceeds to force the handles downwardly until the arms are fully extended. Movement of the movement arm is transmitted to the weight stack by a cam fixed to the movement arm and a cam follower which is connected to the bottom of a weight stack pin by a linkage mechanism.

Abstract: A lateral raise exercise machine having a movement arm pivotable about an axis extending in a horizontal plane but inwardly at an angle of about 25.degree. relative to the forward-rearward direction, a weight stack having at least one resistance weight, and transmission including a belt and pulley and a linkage interconnecting the movement arm and the weight to raise the weight when the movement arm is raised to a first position. The movement arm has a handle bar, mounted for adjustment about an axis which generally coincides with the axis of the humerus of the exerciser. A forearm pad is fixed to the handle bar to be adjustable together with the handle bar relative to the movement arm.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for exercising the muscles of the upper legs and lower torso wherein the exerciser is placed on his/her side in a generally horizontal position on a support including a movable portion which rotates about a vertical axis in response to forces generated by the exerciser. At least two vertically extending pads are secured to the movable support portion to receive the exerciser therebetween. The pads serve to position and retain the exerciser as well as to transmit forces from the exerciser to the movable support portion to rotate the same. A weight stack is connected to the rotatable support portion by a drive mechanism located below the support portion and connected to the bottom of a weight rod included in the weight stack. During the exercise, the movable support portion is rotated by the exerciser from a start position in one direction against the resistance of the weight stack and then returned to the start position whereupon the exercise is repeated.

Abstract: A machine for exercising the pectoral muscles having a pair of synchronous movement arms pivotable about oblique axes by the user moving the arms from the user's sides to outstretched convergent positions. A constrained linkage connects the movement arms to a vertical drive rod which drives a lever at the base of the machine. The lever drives a weight stack pin upwardly to lift one or more resistance weights keyed to the pin. The user is supported by a seat and backrest and linkages are provided to adjust the seat vertically and the backrest horizontally relative to the movement arms.

Abstract: A machine for exercising leg muscles including a movement arm rotatable about a horizontal axis, a seat for receiving a user with the legs engageable with the movement arm to rotate it in one direction about the axis, and a weight stack including a resistance weight and a vertical stack pin connectable to the resistance weight. A sprocket is connected to the movement arm to rotate with the movement arm, and a drive connection including a chain or cable is established between the sprocket and the bottom of the stack pin to raise the stack pin when the movement arm is rotated in one direction. In one embodiment a drive lever is pivotally connected to the bottom of the stack pin to raise the stack pin when the movement arm is rotated in one direction in opposition to the resistance weight. The chain is connected to an intermediate portion of the drive lever. The movement arm is provided with a convenient handle for rotating the movement arm while the user is seated.

Abstract: A rowing exercise machine including a seat, a chest pad located forwardly of the seat, a movement arm to be pivoted about a horizontal axis by the exerciser while the chest pad limits forward movement of the exerciser, and a weight stack connected to the movement arm to impose a resistance to movement of the movement arm by the exerciser in one direction. A vertical pin is connectable to the resistance weight while being connected to the movement arm by a transmission including a vertical drive rod whose upper end is connected to the movement arm by a first linkage and whose lower end is connected to the pin by a second linkage located below the level of the seat. The chest pad is adjustable by a parallelogram linkage which mounts the chest pad relative to a fixed frame.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for exercising the muscles of the upper legs and lower torso wherein the exerciser is placed on his/her side in a generally horizontal position on a support including a movable portion which rotates about a vertical axis in response to forces generated by the exerciser. At least two vertically extending pads are secured to the movable support portion to receive the exerciser therebetween. The pads serve to position and retain the exerciser as well as to transmit forces from the exerciser to the movable support portion to rotate the same. A weight stack is connected to the rotatable support portion by a drive mechanism located below the support portion and connected to the bottom of a weight rod included in the weight stack. During the exercise, the movable support portion is rotated by the exerciser from a start position in one direction against the resistance of the weight stack and then returned to the start position whereupon the exercise is repeated.

Abstract: A machine for exercising the bicep muscles of the arms includes a movement arm rotatable about a horizontal axis by exertion of the bicep muscles of a user who is in seated position while gripping the handle of the movement arm and pivoting the forearm upwardly about the elbow. The backs of the upper arms rest on a roller pad while the forearms engage a forearm pad that moves along an arc with the movement arm about a horizontal axis to properly position the forearms and prevent forward movement of the user's body during rotation of the movement arm. A compound weight stack provides a yieldable resistance to the movement arm and is connected thereto through a drive lever and linkage positioned below the level of the weight stack.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for exercising and/or testing the cervical muscles of the neck wherein a seated person is secured against a backrest to isolate movement of his head and neck from the remainder of his body. For exercising the cervical muscles between opposite positions of full extension and flexion, the muscles are used to move the head rearwardly against a pivotable movement arm to move the latter against a yieldable resistance weight connected to the movement arm to bias the movement arm in one direction. The head is then moved forwardly and the process is repeated until the movement arm can no longer be moved by said muscles. The number of repetitions is measured and recorded throughout the exercise.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for exercising the lumbar muscles including a movement arm which is moved about either a vertical or a horizontal axis depending on how a support for the movement arm is oriented relative to a primary support. In one position of the support the movement arm is moveable about a horizontal axis with the person seated in a generally upright position while in another position of the support, the movement arm is moveable about a generally vertical axis with the person positioned on his/her side. During exercise, the position of the persons head is fixed relative to the movement arm, and the pelvis is also fixed against movement.

Abstract: A method of testing muscles of the lower trunk of a subject human body including the steps of restraining the pelvis against movement, connecting to a movement arm to a resistance weight of known force less than the maximum static strength of the muscles to pivot the movement arm in one direction to lift the resistance weight and then in an opposite direction to relieve the force on the movement arm to cause the resistance weight to return to its starting position, repeating the steps until the muscles fatigue and, wherein there is further included the steps of counterbalancing the upper trunk by a counter-weight connected to the movement arm wherein the stroke of the resistance weight is limited to three inches in order to reduce kinetic energy of the weight.

Abstract: Apparatus for exercising rotary neck muscles having a compound cam for transmitting forces from the neck muscles through a movement arm and to a resistance weight to lift the weight. A pin mounted to move with the movement arm is receivable in one of a plurality of apertures in the cam to rotate the cam with the movement arm. The cam transmits drive to lift the resistance weight by a cam follower engageable with either of a pair of cam surfaces formed on the periphery of the cam depending upon the direction of rotation of the cam. Adjustable stop mechanisms are also disclosed for limiting the range of angular movement of the movement arm.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for testing and/or exercising the rotary neck muscles which are used to twist or turn the neck from side-to-side about a generally vertical pivot axis passing through the cervical vertebrae. The head is held by and between a pair of pads mounted on a rotatable frame fixed to a movement arm in the form of a vertical pivot shaft rotatable about the pivot axis. The movement arm is connectable to resistance weight stack to oppose pivotal movement of the movement arm in one direction. During exercise, the subject is seated against a backrest with a front pad assembly immobilizing the chest and shoulder areas of the subject. Additionally, the head pads prevent forward and rearward movement of the neck in extension and flexion so that only the rotary torsion muscles of the neck are exercised.

Abstract: Method for exercising and/or testing the cervical muscles of the neck wherein a seated person is secured against a backrest to isolate movement of his head and neck from the remainder of his body. For exercising the cervical muscles between opposite positions of full extension and flexion, the muscles are used to move the head rearwardly against a pivotable movement arm to move the latter against a yieldable resistance weight connected to the movement arm to bias the movement arm in one direction. The head is then moved forwardly and the process is repeated until the movement arm can no longer be moved by said muscles. The number of repetitions is measured and recorded throughout the exercise.

Abstract: Method for exercising or testing the rotary torso muscles in which the chest and shoulder area of the subject is secured against movement while the pelvis is also secured against movement to isolate the rotary torso muscles for testing or exercise. The subject while so secured and seated exerts a force with the rotary torso muscles to rotate a movement arm about a vertical axis against a resistance suitably chosen from a weight stack to be less than the maximum static strength of said muscles. The subject then returns to the starting position and repeats the exercise until the rotary torso muscles can no longer rotate the movement arm. The subject's static strength is measured by fixing the movement arm in several different angular positions and measuring the force exerted by said muscles on the movement arm in each of said positions.

Abstract: Method of testing muscles of the lower trunk of a subject human body including the steps of restraining the pelvis against movement, connecting to a movement arm a resistance weight of known force less than the maximum static strength of said muscles, having the subject move the resistance weight by exerting the muscles to pivot the movement arm in one direction to lift the resistance weight and then in an opposite direction to relieve the force on the movement arm to cause the resistance weight to return to its starting position, repeating the steps until the muscles fatigue and, wherein there is a further included the steps of counter-balancing the upper trunk by a counter-weight connected to the movement arm and wherein the stroke of the resistance weight is limited to three inches in order to reduce kinetic energy of the weight.

Abstract: Apparatus for exercising and/or testign the cervical muscles of the neck wherein a seated person is secured against a backrest to isolate movement of his head and neck from the remainder of his body. For exercising the cervical muscles between opposite positions of full extension and flexion, the muscles are used to move the head rearwardly against a pivotable movement arm to move the later against a yieldable resistance weight connected to the movement arm to bias the movement arm in one direction. The head is then moved forwardly and the process is repeated until the movement arm can no longer be moved by said muscles. The number of repetitions is measured and recorded throughout the exercise.