Friction type exercising device

Exercising equipment comprising a track system, means for supporting said track system with one end higher than the other, a pair of foot-supporting members, first guide means for supporting said members on said track system for movement along said track system toward and away from said one end, an elongate flexible tension bearing element attached to each foot supporting member, and second guide means for supporting said tension bearing element, wherein said second guide means includes means for producing frictional resistance to movement of said foot supporting members comprising a pair of transversely spaced guide members fixed relative to said track system near said one end, each of said guide members having at least a partially cylindrical surface fixed against rotation relative to said track system and said tension bearing element, wherein said tension bearing element extends upwards from one foot-supporting member to one of said guide members, is deflected about the cylindrical surface of said one guide member to extend transversely of said track system to the other guide member, and is deflected about the cylindrical surface of said other guide member downwards to the other foot-supporting member and wherein said tension-bearing element is freely moveable, at least along the part of the element which extends from one foot-supporting member to the other in the longitudinal direction thereof.

Exercising equipment comprising a frame having a track assembly, a rear frame member, and means for pivotably connecting said track assembly and rear frame member for moving said track assembly and said rear frame member between a collapsed position to lie approximately in the same plane and an exercising position in which one end of said track assembly is supported by said rear frame member higher than the other such that said track assembly is at an inclined angle to ground, a pair of foot-supporting members, first guide means for supporting said foot supporting members on said track assembly for movement along said track assembly toward and away from said one end, an elongate flexible tension bearing element engaging each of said foot-supporting members, and second guide means for directing said element from one foot-supporting member toward said one end and for deflecting said element back toward said other foot supporting member to provide reciprocating movement of said foot-supporting members, wherein said second guide means includes means for producing frictional resistance to movement of said foot support members comprising at least one guide member with at least a partially cylindrical surface which is angularly stationary and fixed against rotation relative to said track system and said tension bearing element, and wherein said element engages said surface, tension in said tension bearing element, produced by weight on said foot-supporting members, causes said element to bear against said surface, and movement of said members along said track assembly causes said element to slide frictionally against said fixed surface such that energy is frictionally dissipated by said guide member and tension bearing element during exercise.

Exercising equipment comprising a track system, means for supporting said track system with one end higher than the other, a pair of foot-support members, first guide means for supporting said members on said track system for movement along said track system toward and away from said one end, an elongate flexible tension-bearing element engaging each of said foot-supporting members, and second guide means for directing said element from one foot-supporting member towards said one end and for deflecting said element back towards said other foot-supporting member to provide reciprocating movement of said foot-supporting members, wherein said second guide means include means for producing frictional resistance to movement of said foot-support members comprising at least one guide member angularly fixed relative to said track system and having at least a partially cylindrical surface, about which said tension-bearing element extends, which is fixed against rotation relative to said track system and said tension-bearing element, wherein said element engages said surface, tension in said tension-bearing element, produced by weight on said foot-supporting members, causes said element to bear against said surface, and movement of said members along said track system causes said element to slide frictionally against said fixed surface such that energy is frictionally dissipated in said guide member and tension-bearing element during exercise.