# US 4,397,462 A · Pneumatic exercising device

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- Number: US 4,397,462 A
- Document ID: US4397462A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/277,930
- Filed: 1981-06-26
- Granted: 1983-08-09
- Earliest claimed: 1981-06-26
- Inventors: Russell F. Wilmarth
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4397462A

## CPC

- A63B 21/0087: {of the piston-cylinder type (using hydraulic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0083)}
- A63B 21/00069: {Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve}
- A63B 21/00072: {by changing the length of a lever}
- A63B 21/4029: {Benches specifically adapted for exercising (for bench press exercises A63B21/078)}
- A63B 21/4047: {Pivoting movement (weight pivoting A63B21/0615)}
- A63B 23/03525: {Supports for both feet or both hands performing simultaneously the same movement, e.g. single pedal or single handle (A63B21/0724 takes precedence)}
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)

## Abstract

A pneumatic exercising device uses a lever arm operated by the exerciser which works against a pneumatic cylinder. The pneumatic cylinder is connected to a much larger reservoir, the pressure in which can be adjusted as desired by means of an auxiliary pump. The reservoir is contained in one of the support members for the exercise device. A preferred embodiment is a bench press wherein the height of the lever arm above the bench is adjustable by setting the height of the lever arm fulcrum on a vertical support therefor, which vertical support is hollow and contains the air reservoir, the pneumatic cylinder being connected thereto by a length of flexible hose. The air reservoir is preferably sized so that the pressure remains essentially constant as does the force offered by the lever arm.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A pneumatic exercise device comprising:
a. a frame having a base supporting an upright elongate hollow support member which support member has therein an integral airtight accumulator of fixed capacity;
b. an external bracket supported by said support member and being adjustable in position along the length thereof;
c. a lever arm pivotally mounted to said bracket for rotation thereabout in a plane of the longitudinal axis of said support member, one end of said lever having means to be grasped by the user of said device;
d. a pneumatic cylinder including a piston and piston rod, one end of which cylinder is pivotally mounted to said lever arm and acts thereagainst, the capacity of said pneumatic cylinder being less than 1/30th of the capacity of said airtight accumulator;
e. a length of flexible conduit connecting the compression slide of said pneumatic cylinder with said accumulator; and
f. a pump adapted to compress and admit ambient air to said accumulator and permitting the pressure in such accumulator to be controllably increased.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 including a bleed valve for controllably exhausting air from said reservoir.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein said lever arm extends to either side of the pivot point thereof and ends in a handle on the end of the arm opposite the arm to which said pneumatic cylinder is attached.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The device of claim 3 wherein the other end of said pneumatic cylinder is pivotally attached to said support member and is adapted to compress upon the upward movements of said handle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The device of claim 4 as a bench press and having an asssociated bench adapted to accommodate an operator in a supine position.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The device of claim 3 wherein the point of attachment of said pneumatic cylinder to said lever arm can be changed along the length thereof to vary the stroke of said pneumatic cylinder.