Exercise apparatus using weight and pneumatic resistances

An exercise apparatus comprising a frame including at least a pair of bar supports, the bar supports being spaced apart from each other by a sufficient distance to support a weight bar, and at least one pneumatic resistance device attached to the frame, the pneumatic resistance device including a pneumatic actuator having a cylinder and a piston rod that extends from the cylinder along a stroke axis, at least a first pulley coupled to the piston rod and a cable extending at least in part between the first pulley and a coupler, the coupler being adapted to be selectively coupled to the weight bar so as to selectively connect the pneumatic resistance device with the weight bar.

An exercise apparatus comprising a user interface adapted to be moved by a user towards and away from a stationary position of the user's body and along a path without having to rotate the user interface about a pivot point on which is not defined by the exercise machine, a weight coupled to the user interface, and a pneumatic resistance device coupled to the user interface, the pneumatic resistance device including at least one valve to regulate the amount of resistance that the pneumatic resistance device applies to oppose movement of the user interface in at least a direction away from or towards the stationary portion of the user's body.

An exercise apparatus comprising a user interface adapted to be moved by a user towards and away from a stationary position of the user's body, a weight selectively coupled to the user interface, and a pneumatic resistance device selectively coupled to the user interface independent of whether the user interface is also coupled to the weight, the pneumatic resistance device including at least one valve to regulate the amount of resistance that the pneumatic resistance device applies to oppose movement of the user interface in at least a direction away from or towards the stationary portion of the user's body, wherein the pneumatic resistance device comprises a frame, a pneumatic actuator having a cylinder and a piston rod that extends from the cylinder along a stroke axis, the pneumatic actuator being disposed on the frame, a pulley wheel rotatably connected to the piston rod, and a cable wrapped about at least a portion of the pulley wheel and having a first cable end and a second cable end, the second cable end being fixed to the frame and the first cable end being coupled to the user interface.

An exercise apparatus comprising a user interface adapted to be moved by a user towards and away from a stationary position of the user's body, a weight selectively coupled to the user interface, a pneumatic resistance device selectively coupled to the user interface independent of whether the user interface is also coupled to the weight, the pneumatic resistance device including at least one valve to regulate the amount of resistance that the pneumatic resistance device applies to oppose movement of the user interface in at least a direction away from or towards the stationary portion of the user's body, a frame to which the pneumatic resistance device is connected, and at least one pair of supports that is repositionably connected to the frame and is configured to support the user interface.

An exercise apparatus comprising a frame defining an exercise station being sized to accommodate an exercise bench, at least one pneumatic resistance device attached to the frame, at least one foot actuator for establishing a level of resistance provided by the pneumatic resistance device, the foot actuator being provided near the frame at a location where a user can actuate the foot actuator while the user is positioned to exercise at the exercise bench, and a second pneumatic resistance device attached to the frame, a pneumatic control system supplying and removing air pressure from the pneumatic resistance devices, and at least a second foot actuator for establishing a level of resistance provided by the pneumatic resistance devices, the second foot actuator being provided near the frame at a location where a user can actuate the foot actuator while the user is positioned to exercise at the exercise bench, wherein the first and second foot actuators cooperate with the pneumatic control system such that actuation of the first foot actuator causes air pressure within the pneumatic resistance devices to increase and actuation of the second foot actuator causes air pressure within the pneumatic resistance devices to decrease.

An exercise apparatus comprising a user interface adapted to be moved by a user towards and away from a stationary position of the user's body, a weight coupled to the user interface, and a pneumatic resistance device coupled to the user interface, the pneumatic resistance device including at least one valve to regulate the amount of resistance that the pneumatic resistance device applies to oppose movement of the user interface in at least a direction away from or towards the stationary portion of the user's body, wherein the pneumatic resistance device comprises a frame, a pneumatic actuator having a cylinder and a piston rod that extends from the cylinder along a stroke axis, the pneumatic actuator being disposed on the frame, a pulley wheel rotatably connected to the piston rod, and a cable wrapped about at least a portion of the pulley wheel and having a first cable end and a second cable end, the second cable end being fixed to the frame and the first cable end being coupled to the user interface.

An exercise apparatus comprising a user interface adapted to be moved by a user towards and away from a stationary position of the user's body and along an undefined path, a weight coupled to the user interface, and a pneumatic resistance device coupled to the user interface, the pneumatic resistance device including at least one valve to regulate the amount of resistance that the pneumatic resistance device applies to oppose movement of the user interface in at least a direction away from or towards the stationary portion of the user's body, wherein the pneumatic resistance device comprises a frame, a pneumatic actuator having a cylinder and a piston rod that extends from the cylinder along a stroke axis, the pneumatic actuator being disposed on the frame, a pulley wheel rotatably connected to the piston rod, and a cable wrapped about at least a portion of the pulley wheel and having a first cable end and a second cable end, the second cable end being fixed to the frame and the first cable end being coupled to the user interface.

An exercise apparatus comprising a user interface adapted to be moved by a user towards and away from a stationary position of the user's body and along an undefined path, a weight coupled to the user interface, and a pneumatic resistance device coupled to the user interface, the pneumatic resistance device including at least one valve to regulate the amount of resistance that the pneumatic resistance device applies to oppose movement of the user interface in at least a direction away from or towards the stationary portion of the user's body, wherein the pneumatic resistance device comprises a frame, a pneumatic actuator having a cylinder and a piston rod that extends from the cylinder along a stroke axis, the pneumatic actuator being disposed on the frame, a pulley wheel rotatably connected to the piston rod, and a cable wrapped about at least a portion of the pulley wheel and having a first cable end and a second cable end, the second cable end being fixed to the frame and the first cable end being coupled to the user interface, and wherein the piston rod is connected to the pulley wheel at a location offset from a center of the pulley wheel.