Assisted-resistance-control, free-form, exercise apparatus and method

An apparatus operating as an exercise system, the apparatus comprising:

• an anchor, shaped to fix with respect to an exercise environment;
• a pulley system having a pulley rotating about an axis in a bracket;
• a load assembly comprising a resistance member having an anchor end connected to the anchor and a pulley end connected to the bracket;
• a tether having first and second ends and extending around the pulley;
• handles, comprising first and second handles, separate and distinct from one another and secured to the first and second ends of the tether;
• the pulley being free to position at an equilibrium position defined by and between the anchor and the handles:
• a limiter comprising a strand formed to present a closed loop linked to the anchor to restrain the resistance member from moving away from the anchor in the event of a failure of the load assembly;
• the resistance member comprises at least one elongation member, tubular in cross section having an inner and an outer diameter at each point along a length thereof;
• and
• the load assembly further comprises adapters, each having a shank received within the inner diameter and a groove extending along a portion of the shank to receive the limiter therein.

An apparatus comprising:

• an anchor fixed with respect to an exercise environment;
• a handle secured to pull against the anchor, applying a force resisted by the anchor;
• a load assembly comprising an elongation member connected between the handle and the anchor to generate the force in response to movement of the handle with respect to the anchor;
• a link connecting the elongation member to the anchor;
• a limiter comprising a stranded material, substantially non-extendible beyond a pre-selected length, sized and positioned to be co-extensive with the elongation member during operation of the apparatus;
• the limiter, further connected to form a closed loop directly around the link to restrict the elongation member from moving away from the anchor in the event of a failure of the load assembly;
• the elongation member comprises a tube formed of an elastic material and defining a longitudinal direction;
• and
• the apparatus further comprises an adapter secured within the tube, the adapter having a shank portion having a groove extending longitudinally therein, the groove being sized to maintain a circular cross section in the tube by receiving the limiter therein.