The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 02, 1997
Filed:
Sep. 25, 1996
Kenneth W Stearns, Houston, TX (US);
Stearns Technologies, Inc., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
An exercise machine (10-10l) is provided having a platform (12-12l) on which a user (14-14l) is supported in a reclining position with the weight of the user (14-14G) being utilized as a resistance which may be selectively varied to the various exercises which may be performed on the exercise apparatus (10-10l). A lever (20-20l) is pivotally connected (30-32l) to the platform (12-12l) with the lever being actuated by the user for raising one end of the platform (12-12l) with respect to a pivot point with resistance to such raising being varied by the pivotal mounting of the lever (20-20l) on the platform (12-12l). Two of the various embodiments (FIGS. 13-16) include a base support (41F, 41G) having a rail (42F, 42G) on which a lever (20F, 20G) has a roller (47F, 47G) mounted for riding movement thereon and pivotally connected (32F, 32G) to a lower leg (62F, 62G) for pivotal movement. Other embodiments (FIGS. 17-18 include a lever (20H-20l) having telescoping members with an inner one (54H-54l) for such telescoping member being selectively fixed to a rail (41H-41l). Such inner telescoping member (54H-54l) reciprocates within an outer telescoping member (56H-56l) as the platform is raised and lowered. Another embodiment of the invention includes a lower body frame which may be rotated with lower limbs, an upper body frame which may be rotated with upper limbs and a weight stack-cable system for resisting rotation of the lower body frame and/or the upper body frame.