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:
Apr. 27, 1999
Filed:
Jun. 26, 1998
Larry Koenig, Williamsburg, IA (US);
Jam'n Fitness Corp., Williamsburg, IA (US);
Abstract
Exercise apparatus for building strength in the lower extremities while reducing the risk of injury to knee joints. A bench provides a surface on which a user may lie in a prone position. A pivot support member stands beside the bench. A weight-bearing lever is pivotable upon the pivot support member at a horizontal pivot located alongside the bench for the user. A second pivotable lever which has a cushioned leg bar mounted to it is pivotable about a second pivot point on the pivot support member. An arm depends below and perpendicularly to the second pivotable lever. A roller bearing extends from the arm and is received by a bearing race fixed to the underside of the weight-bearing lever. As a user lying prone on the bench moves the leg bar upward by flexion of the leg muscles below the knee, the roller urges the weight-bearing lever upward. The Rolling Fulcrum.TM. operation of the apparatus causes the pivot support of the weight-bearing lever to move away from the pivot point thereby reducing the moment of the weight on the weight-bearing arm as the user's legs raise the leg bar upward. The bearing race limits the travel of the roller bearing along the weight-bearing lever, thereby limiting the arc over which the weight may travel so that the weight does not pass over the pivot point.