Exercising device

Claim 2

An exercise device comprising: a table; actuating means movable relative to the table; actuated means pivotally connected between the table and the actuating means; means associated with said actuated means to prevent movement of the actuating means in at least one direction from a first position to a second position until a force of predetermined magnitude is exerted on the actuating means; means to vary the magnitude of force required to move the actuating means; and means associated with the actuated means to control the rate of movement of the actuating means from the first position to the second position when a force exceeding the predetermined magnitude is exerted on the actuating means, said actuating means comprising, a first elongated member, a second elongated member angularly disposed relative to the first elongated member; and surfaces on said elongated member against which force may be applied.

Claim 3

The combination called for in claim 1 with the addition of an indicator operably connected to the actuated means to indicate the magnitude of force exerted on the actuating means.

Claim 4

The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the actuated means comprises a fluid pump having inlet and outlet ports, and conduit means in fluid communication with said ports; and the means to prevent movement of the actuated means comprises pressure control means in the conduit means to prevent fluid flow from the outlet port of the pump until a force of predetermined magnitude is exerted on the actuating means.

Claim 5

The combination called for in claim 3 with the addition of a fluid return line in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ports of the pump; and a check valve in the return line arranged to permit fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port.

Claim 6

The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the actuated means is a pump; said pump having an outlet passage, and the means to control the rate of movement of the actuating means comprises a variable flow passage valve associated with the outlet passage of the pump.

Claim 7

The combination called for in claim 1 wherein the actuated means comprises a cylinder having a piston and piston rod slidably disposed therein; and with the addition of means for pivotally connecting the said piston rod to the actuating means; means for pivotally connecting the cylinder relative to the frame; and a pressure gauge in fluid communication with the inside of the cylinder.

Claim 8

An exercise device comprising: a frame; a cylinder; a piston slideably disposed in said cylinder; a piston rod secured to said piston extending outwardly from one end of said cylinder; means for pivotally securing the cylinder relative to the frame; an elongated member to apply force to the rod; means for pivotally securing the piston rod relative to the elongated member; means for pivotally connecting the elongated member to the fraMe; a conduit in fluid ommunication with the inside of said cylinder on one side of said piston; a pressure relief valve in said conduit constructed and arranged to prevent flow of fluid therethrough until a force of predetermined regulated magnitude is exerted on the piston; and a valve having a variable size flow passage therethrough in fluid communication with said pressure relief valve to regulate the rate of fluid flow through the pressure relief valve.

Claim 9

An exercise device comprising: a frame; a cylinder; a piston slideably disposed in said cylinder; a piston rod secured to said piston extending outwardly from one end of said cylinder; means for pivotally securing the cylinder relative to the frame; an elongated member to apply force to the rod; means for pivotally securing the piston rod relative to the elongated member; means for pivotally connecting the elongated member to the fraMe; a conduit in fluid ommunication with the inside of said cylinder on one side of said piston; a pressure relief valve in said conduit constructed and arranged to prevent flow of fluid therethrough until a force of predetermined regulated magnitude is exerted on the piston; and a valve having a variable size flow passage therethrough in fluid communication with said pressure relief valve to regulate the rate of fluid flow through the pressure relief valve.

Claim 10

An exercise device comprising, a general frame; an elongated member; means to pivotally connect the elongated member to said frame; a cylinder; a piston slidably disposed in said cylinder; a piston rod attached to said piston and extending outwardly from one end of the cylinder; means for pivotally connecting the cylinder to the frame; means for pivotally connecting the piston rod to the elongated member; conduit means in fluid communication with the inside of the cylinder on opposite sides of the piston; valve means in the conduit; gripping means on the elongated member; foot support means on the elongated member between the gripping means and the means to pivotally connect the elongated member to the frame.

Claim 11

An exercise device comprising, a general frame; an elongated member; means to pivotally connect the elongated member to said frame; a cylinder; a piston slidably disposed in said cylinder; a piston rod attached to said piston and extending outwardly from one end of the cylinder; means for pivotally connecting the cylinder to the frame; means for pivotally connecting the piston rod to the elongated member; conduit means in fluid communication with the inside of the cylinder on opposite sides of the piston; valve means in the conduit; gripping means on the elongated member; foot support means on the elongated member between the gripping means and the means to pivotally connect the elongated member to the frame.

Claim 12

The combination called for in claim 8 with the addition of a pressure gauge in fluid communication with the inside of the cylinder.

Claim 13

The combination called for in claim 9 wherein the pressure gauge has an indicator; a first calibrated scale upon which the magnitude of force exerted on the gripping means is indicated; and a second calibrated scale upon which the magnitude of force exerted on the foot support means is indicated.

Claim 14

An exercise device comprising: a frame; a cylinder; a piston slideably disposed in said cylinder; a piston rod secured to said piston extending outwardly from one end of said cylinder; an upwardly extending member; means to pivotally secure the upwardly extending member relative to the frame; means to pivotally secure the piston rod to the upwardly extending member; shock absorbing means on the upwardly extending member; means to pivotally secure the cylinder to frame; a conduit in fluid communication with the inside of the cylinder on one side of said piston; a pressure relief valve in said conduit constructed and arranged to prevent flow of fluid therethrough until a force of predetermined magnitude is exerted on said piston; and a valve having a variable size flow passage therethrough in fluid communication with said pressure relief valve to regulate the rate of fluid flow through the pressure relief valve.

Claim 15

An exercise device comprising: a frame; a cylinder; a piston slideably disposed in said cylinder; a piston rod secured to said piston extending outwardly from one end of said cylinder; an upwardly extending member; means to pivotally secure the upwardly extending member relative to the frame; means to pivotally secure the piston rod to the upwardly extending member; shock absorbing means on the upwardly extending member; means to pivotally secure the cylinder to frame; a conduit in fluid communication with the inside of the cylinder on one side of said piston; a pressure relief valve in said conduit constructed and arranged to prevent flow of fluid therethrough until a force of predetermined magnitude is exerted on said piston; and a valve having a variable size flow passage therethrough in fluid communication with said pressure relief valve to regulate the rate of fluid flow through the pressure relief valve.

Claim 16

The combination called for in claim 11 with the addition of variable volume means in fluid communication with the conduit to compensate for the volume of piston rod moving in and out of cylinder.

Claim 17

The combination called for in claim 11 with the addition of a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the inside of said cylinder on the opposite side of the piston from said conduit; and means to vary the volume of the reservoir to accommodate the volume of fluid displaced from the cylinder as the piston rod moves into the cylinder.

Claim 18

The combination called for in claim 11 with the addition of a bypass conduit in fluid communication with the inside of the cylinder on opposite sides of the piston; and a valve in the bypass conduit.

Claim 19

An exercise device comprising a general frame; an upwardly extending member having a lower end pivotally mounted on said frame; shock absorbing means on an upper portion of said upwardly extending member; gripper means on said upwardly extending member, said gripper means being positioned to support hands of a user having a shoulder in engagement with said shock absorbing means; means between the upwardly extending member and the frame to exert a resistive force substantially equal to the force applied to the shock absorbing members; and means to regulate the rate of movement of the shock absorbing means when a force is applied thereto.

Claim 20

An exercise device comprising a general frame; an upwardly extending member having a lower end pivotally mounted on said frame; shock absorbing means on an upper portion of said upwardly extending member; gripper means on said upwardly extending member, said gripper means being positioned to support hands of a user having a shoulder in engagement with said shock absorbing means; means between the upwardly extending member and the frame to exert a resistive force substantially equal to the force applied to the shock absorbing members; and means to regulate the rate of movement of the shock absorbing means when a force is applied thereto.

Claim 21

An exercise device comprising, support means; an elongated member; meanS to pivotally connect an end of the elongated member to the support means; roller means rotatably secured to the other end of the elongated member; a hydraulic cylinder having a piston slidably disposed therein and a rod secured to said piston, said rod extending outwardly from an end of said cylinder; means to pivotally connect the cylinder and rod between the support and an intermediate portion of said elongated member; a pressure relief valve communicating with the inside of the cylinder on opposite sides of the piston; means to vary the pressure required to initiate fluid flow through the pressure relief valve from one side of the piston to the other; and a control valve having a variable flow passage in series with said pressure relief valve to control the rate of fluid flow from one side of the piston to the other.

Claim 22

An exercise device comprising, support means; an elongated member; meanS to pivotally connect an end of the elongated member to the support means; roller means rotatably secured to the other end of the elongated member; a hydraulic cylinder having a piston slidably disposed therein and a rod secured to said piston, said rod extending outwardly from an end of said cylinder; means to pivotally connect the cylinder and rod between the support and an intermediate portion of said elongated member; a pressure relief valve communicating with the inside of the cylinder on opposite sides of the piston; means to vary the pressure required to initiate fluid flow through the pressure relief valve from one side of the piston to the other; and a control valve having a variable flow passage in series with said pressure relief valve to control the rate of fluid flow from one side of the piston to the other.

Claim 23

The combination called for in claim 16 with the addition of second roller means on the elongated member disposed in spaced apart relation from the first named roller means.

Claim 24

An exercise device comprising, a base; an upwardly extending member; at least one shoulder receiving pad secured to an upper end of the upwardly extending member; means to pivotally secure the lower end of the upwardly extending member to the base; a hydraulic cylinder having a piston slidably disposed therein and a rod connected to the piston and extending outwardly of the cylinder; means to pivotally connect the cylinder to the base; means to pivotally secure the rod to the upwardly extending member; and valve means communicating with the inside of the cylinder on opposite sides of the piston, said valve being adapted to control the flow of fluid from one side of the piston to the other.

Claim 25

An exercise device comprising, a base; an upwardly extending member; at least one shoulder receiving pad secured to an upper end of the upwardly extending member; means to pivotally secure the lower end of the upwardly extending member to the base; a hydraulic cylinder having a piston slidably disposed therein and a rod connected to the piston and extending outwardly of the cylinder; means to pivotally connect the cylinder to the base; means to pivotally secure the rod to the upwardly extending member; and valve means communicating with the inside of the cylinder on opposite sides of the piston, said valve being adapted to control the flow of fluid from one side of the piston to the other.

Claim 26

An exercise device comprising a cylinder; a piston slidably disposed in said cylinder; a piston rod secured to said piston extending outwardly from one end of said cylinder; means associated with said piston rod to apply a force thereto; a conduit in fluid communication with the inside of said cylinder on one side of said piston rod; a pressure relief valve in said conduit constructed and arranged to prevent flow of fluid therethrough until a force of predetermined regulated magnitude is exerted on the piston; and a valve having a variable size flow passage therethrough in fluid communication with said pressure relief valve to regulate rate of fluid flow through the pressure relief valve, wherein the pressure relief valve comprises a valve body having a passage therethrough and inlet and outlet ports in fluid communication with said passage; a plunger slidably disposed in the passage; said plunger being movable from a first position wherein the passage is closed to a second position allowing flow of fluid through the passage; an orifice plate having an orifice therethrough extending across said passage in spaced apart relation from said plunger, said plunger and said orifice plate forming a pressure chamber in said passage, said plunger being incapable of movement to its second position until pressure in the pressure chamber exceeds a predetermined value; means for blocking fluid flow through the orifice in the orifice plate; means for retracting the means for blocking fluid flow through the orifice in the orifice plate when fluid pressure in the pressure chamber exceeds a predetermined regulated value.

Claim 27

An exercise device comprising a cylinder; a piston slidably disposed in said cylinder; a piston rod secured to said piston extending outwardly from one end of said cylinder; means associated with said piston rod to apply a force thereto; a conduit in fluid communication with the inside of said cylinder on one side of said piston rod; a pressure relief valve in said conduit constructed and arranged to prevent flow of fluid therethrough until a force of predetermined regulated magnitude is exerted on the piston; and a valve having a variable size flow passage therethrough in fluid communication with said pressure relief valve to regulate rate of fluid flow through the pressure relief valve, wherein the pressure relief valve comprises a valve body having a passage therethrough and inlet and outlet ports in fluid communication with said passage; a plunger slidably disposed in the passage; said plunger being movable from a first position wherein the passage is closed to a second position allowing flow of fluid through the passage; an orifice plate having an orifice therethrough extending across said passage in spaced apart relation from said plunger, said plunger and said orifice plate forming a pressure chamber in said passage, said plunger being incapable of movement to its second position until pressure in the pressure chamber exceeds a predetermined value; means for blocking fluid flow through the orifice in the orifice plate; means for retracting the means for blocking fluid flow through the orifice in the orifice plate when fluid pressure in the pressure chamber exceeds a predetermined regulated value.