Abstract: A hand protector for use in punching bag exercises comprising a concave shield and a grip mounted in the open mouth of the shield. The shield is shaped and sized to receive a human hand when the hand is wrapped around the grip in the manner to form a fist.

Abstract: A balance training and exercise device comprises a rigid, shallow disc adapted to accommodate a user's feet or knees. A user moves in such a manner as to move the disc forwards or backwards, or to rotate the disc. A thickened firm, resilient pad can be placed within the disc, and the user can perform the same movements while standing atop the pad. Arm strengthening means can also be used in combination with the disc.

Abstract: A universal exercise device comprising a U-shape rigid frame with legs upper portions lying generally in a plane, a bight portion joining the legs at lower portions thereof and handles at an upper portion of the legs. At least one resilient resistance member spans the legs and to yieldably resist elongation when pressed while otherwise holding the frame against the elongation of the resilient resistance member. The lower portions of the legs can be bent outwardly to form generally L-shaped legs with the bight portion lying outside the plane of the upper leg portions or can lie within the plane of the upper leg portions. The legs can be joined together at an upper portion with a crosspiece or free at the upper portions thereof. The crosspiece can be U-shaped and project out of the plane of the legs either forwardly or rearwardly with respect to the bight portion.

Abstract: An abdominal exercise device comprises a center bar, a handle assembly attached to a first end portion of the center bar and that is adapted to be grasped by a user, an abdominal press assembly mounted to the center bar between first and second end portions thereof and having an abdominal contact surface that is spaced from the center bar and is adapted to rest against an abdominal region of a user; and a stabilizer mounted to the second end portion of the center bar and that is adapted to stabilize the center bar when the abdominal contact surface rests against a user. The user can perform a leg lift exercise, a crunch exercise, or both exercises in unison.

Abstract: A balance training and exercise device comprises a rigid, shallow disc adapted to accommodate a user's feet or knees. A user moves in such a manner as to move the disc forwards or backwards, or to rotate the disc. A thickened firm, resilient pad can be placed within the disc, and the user can perform the same movements while standing atop the pad. Arm strengthening means can also be used in combination with the disc.

Abstract: A universal exercise device comprising a U-shape rigid frame with legs upper portions lying generally in a plane, a bite portion joining the legs at lower portions thereof and handles at an upper portion of the legs. At least one resilient resistance member spans the legs and to yieldably resist elongation when pressed while otherwise holding the frame against the elongation of the resilient resistance member. The lower portions of the legs can be bent outwardly to form generally L-shaped legs with the bite portion lying outside the plane of the upper leg portions or can lie within the plane of the upper leg portions. The legs can be joined together at an upper portion with a crosspiece or free at the upper portions thereof. The crosspiece can be U-shaped and project out of the plane of the legs either forwardly or rearwardly with respect to the bite portion.

Abstract: A dumbbell assembly (10) includes a pair of receptacles (12, 14, 60, 82) which are containers adapted to receive and secure weighted plates (28). The receptacles (12, 14, 60, 82) are integrally molded or rigidly secured to opposite ends of a handle bar (18, 88). In one embodiment, the handle bar (18) includes a tube (24) housing at least one spring (16) and a pair of shafts. The spring (16) biases a push platter (46) away from the tube (24) and toward an outer end (36) of the receptacle (12). The weighted plates (28) are admitted into the receptacles through apertures in sidewalls thereof and retained between the spring-biased push platter (46) and the outer end 36 of the receptacle 12. In another embodiment, each end of a handle bar (88) is integrally molded or rigidly secured to a receptacle (82), which is a grooved solid shell with mated first and second portions (90, 92).

Abstract: A slide is confined for travel along a guide having a surface which can be interengaged by one or more friction pads on the slide. An operating lever rigid to the slide and projecting outwardly therefrom may be grasped at its outer end for the purpose of operating the slide, and because the slide is loosely confined on the guide, the user-applied force on the lever rocks the slide in a direction to press the friction component or components tightly against the cooperating surface of the guide to produce frictional resistance as the slide travels along the guide. The pads may be adjustably positioned in any one of a number of locations for achieving variation in resistance generated by the exerciser, and the lever is itself extensible for adjustment of the moment arm between the end of the lever and the surface of the surface engaged by the friction pads. A variety of embodiments are disclosed including a rectilinear form and a curvilinear form.