Abstract: A squat exercise apparatus may comprise a support structure, a user adjustable resistance source and lift arms supported by the support structure and operably coupled to the user adjustable resistance source. In one implementation, the lift arms may be pivotable relative to the support structure about three orthogonal axes. In one implementation, shoulder pads carried by the lift arms may automatically pivot in response to pivoting of the lift arms relative to the support structure. In one implementation, at least one weight movement arm may have an adjustable length. In one implementation, a weight movement arm rest may be pivotable between a weight movement arm engaging position and a retracted position, wherein interacting portions of the weight movement arm rest and the weight movement arm are magnetically attracted to one another to magnetically retain the weight movement arm rest in the weight movement arm engaging position.

Abstract: A squat exercise apparatus may comprise a support structure, a user adjustable resistance source and lift arms supported by the support structure and operably coupled to the user adjustable resistance source. In one implementation, the lift arms may be pivotable relative to the support structure about three orthogonal axes. In one implementation, shoulder pads carried by the lift arms may automatically pivot in response to pivoting of the lift arms relative to the support structure. In one implementation, at least one weight movement arm may have an adjustable length. In one implementation, a weight movement arm rest may be pivotable between a weight movement arm engaging position and a retracted position, wherein interacting portions of the weight movement arm rest and the weight movement arm are magnetically attracted to one another to magnetically retain the weight movement arm rest in the weight movement arm engaging position.

Abstract: A cable and pulley system for a multi-station exercise machine involving a tensioned cable led over a series of pulleys, at least one of which is a cradled pulley normally nested in a cradle and radially held in the cradle by the force of the tension on the tensioned cable and radially movable out of the cradle by a greater force applied to the cradled pulley by a second pull cable mechanically connected to the cradled pulley and functioning to move the cradled pulley radially out of its cradle when sufficient tensional force is applied to the second cable to overcome the tension applied to the cradled pulley by the tensioned cable. Additional exercise stations can be added to operate with additional cables and cradled pulleys without changing the manner of operation of other cables and exercise stations.

Abstract: A first end of a lever pivots about a fixed axis as a second end is raised and lowered by the user. A carriage is disposed on the lever and is designed to travel the length of the lever between the first and second ends. A belt is coupled to a weight and to the carriage through a series of pulleys. The lever is shaped so that the weight neither raises nor lowers as the carriage travels from one end of the lever to the other. The distance that the weight travels in response to movement of the second end is thus proportional to the position of the carriage on the lever. By moving the carriage to numerous positions between the first and second ends of the lever, the torque needed to lift the weight and the distance by which the weight moves may be varied correspondingly in numerous increments over a very large range. A number of different user interfaces may be coupled to the lever for creating an equal number of different weight training machines.