Multi-purpose torso exercise apparatus

An apparatus of a type on which a person exercises, comprising:

• (a) a support frame designed to rest upon a substantially horizontal surface, wherein said support frame includes a first end and a second end;
• (b) a chair member rotatably mounted to said support frame between said first end and said second end, wherein said chair member is rotatable between a first orientation, facing in a substantially horizontal direction toward said first end, and a second orientation, facing in a substantially horizontal direction toward said second end, and wherein said chair member includes a seat member and a back member that define an oblique angle therebetween, and said back member includes a pair of wing members defining an elongate vertical slot therebetween;
• (c) a first transverse member, mounted to said support frame proximate said first end and designed to provide a support behind which a person seated in said chair member may anchor his feet;
• (d) a second transverse member, mounted to said support frame proximate said second end and designed to provide a support against which a person seated in said chair member may brace his feet;
• (e) a rotational resistance means, operatively connected to said support frame between said first end and said second end, for providing resistance to rotation in a given direction up to a given load;
• and
• (f) a rotational arm means, operatively connected to said rotational resistance means, for receiving a rotational force in the given direction from a person seated in said chair member.

An exercise apparatus comprising:

• (a) a support frame designed to rest upon a substantially horizontal surface;
• (b) a chair member mounted to said support frame;
• (c) a rotational arm means, rotatably mounted relative to said frame for receiving a rotational force in a given direction from a person seated in said chair member;
• and
• (d) a rotational resistance means operatively connected to said rotational arm means, for providing resistance to rotation of said rotational arm means in the given direction up to a given load, wherein said rotational resistance means includes (i) a fixed friction member rigidly secured to said support frame and having a conical internal surface;
• (ii) a rotatable friction member having a conical external surface in contact with said conical internal surface of said fixed friction member, wherein rotation of said rotatable friction member relative to said fixed friction member is resisted by a frictional force between said conical external surface and said conical internal surface;
• (iii) a shaft member coaxially aligned relative to said fixed friction member and said rotatable friction member, and passing rough centrally located openings therein, wherein said shaft member has a first end and a second end, and said first end is rigidly secured to said rotational arm means, and a portion of said shaft member passing through said rotatable friction member has teeth about its circumference, and upon rotation of said shaft member in a first shaft direction, one of said teeth engages one of a plurality of ratcheting member pivotally mounted on said rotatable friction member, thereby causing said rotatable friction member to rotation in conjunction with said shaft member and relative to said fixed friction member, and upon rotation of said shaft member in a second shaft direction, opposite said first shaft direction, said ratcheting members pass over said teeth, and said shaft member rotates relative to said rotatable friction member and said fixed friction member;
• and (iv) a frictional force adjustment knob secured relative to said second end of said shaft member by interengaging threads on said knob and said second end, wherein rotation of said knob in a first knob direction relative to said shaft member increases the frictional force between said conical internal surface and said conical external surface, and rotation of said knob in a second knob direction relative to said shaft member, opposite said first knob direction, decreases the frictional force between said conical internal surface and said conical external surface.