Variable resistance exercise apparatus
OwnerCharles G. Clark, Jack D. Clarkinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for muscular exercise where the user conducts a repetitive motion under load. The apparatus is coupled to the user to exercise the desired muscle group. When muscle is undergoing a shortening motion it is subjected to a load. At the completion of the shortening motion the load is automatically increased for the muscle-lengthening step. At the completion of the muscle-lengthening portion of the exercise the added load is automatically removed for the next muscle contraction step.
Claims12
An apparatus for physical exercise where a user conducts a repetitive cyclic movement while subjected to a load which is reduced in magnitude during parts of each cycle wherein the muscles of the user go through a lengthening and shortening, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a frame;
- (b) a coupling means which cooperates with the frame for coupling the user to the apparatus;
- (c) a loading means which cooperates with the coupling means to exert a force on the user during the exercise which constitutes a lengthening of the muscles;
- (d) an unloading means which cooperates with the frame and the loading means to reduce the force exerted on the user during a portion of the exercise which constitutes a shortening of the muscles;
- and
- (e) means for sensing the position of the coupling means to signal the unloading means to remove a portion of the load during a portion of the exercise cycle when the muscles are being shortened and to signal the loading means to reapply a portion of the load during a portion of the exercise cycle when the muscles are being lengthened.
An apparatus for physically exercising muscles by applying a load on a user during a repetitive motion, said load being one magnitude when the exercised muscle is lengthening and a reduced magnitude for part of the exercise when the muscle is shortening said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a frame;
- (b) a coupling means which cooperates with the frame for coupling the user to the apparatus to exercise the desired muscle group;
- (c) a loading means which cooperates with coupling means to exert a force on the user during the exercise which constitutes the lengthening of the muscles;
- (d) an unloading means which cooperates with the frame and the loading means to reduce the force exerted on the user during a portion of the exercise which constitutes a shortening of the muscles;
- and
- (e) means for automatically sensing the position of the coupling means to signal the unloading means to remove a portion of the load during that portion of the exercise cycle when the muscles are being shortened and to signal the loading means to reapply automatically a portion of the load during a portion of the exercise cycle when the muscles are being lengthened.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.