EXERCISER FOR RUNNERS

EXERCISER FOR RUNNERS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Related Applications

This application is a continuation-in-part of United States Patent Application Serial No. 327,869 filed December 7 1981 and of United States Patent Application Serial No. 373,557 filed April 30, 1982.

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to exercise apparatus and particularly to apparatus for use in conditioning runners and sprinters.

Description of the Prior Art

The use of machines, racks and various other types of devices for the purpose of exercising is old. Included among prior art exercise devices are platforms or benches for performing sit-ups, parallel bars for performing dips, and weights. Exercise structures have evolved from the use of these devices primarily on a trial-and-error basis. in recent years, the trial and error approach to development of exercise structures has been giving way to more systematic studies conducted in a more scientific manner by researchers with strong academic backgrounds on appropriate groups, often times young men and women in schools and universities. From these studies have been identified certain principles that serve as guidelines for formulating programs intended to develop the body with specific objectives in mind. Some athletes aspire to be runners, other aspire to be swimmers, or wrestlers, etc. In general, manufacturers of 1 exercise apparatus provide equipment with which one or

2 more exercises can be performed without much regard to

3 relating the value of an exercise to a specific activity. ^ This is in spite of the fact that several important 5 principles have come to be recognized as operative regard- 5 ing the development of athletic prowess. Four of these ₇ principles are particularly germane to the objects of this g invention:

9 I_Q 1. The greatest rate of strength increase due to

-_jL3_ exercise is very specific to the range of motion in which

3_2 "the exercise is performed.

13

-JΛ 2. Rate of increase of strength is most rapid when

-_{j j} a program of stress imposed by the exercise approaches the

•_jc maximum capacity of the performer.

17 18 3. The rate of increase of running speed is most 19 rapid when a program of strength building exercises is 20 combined with speed building exercises.

21

22 4. Heavy resistance exercises, performed specifically

23 in the range of motion where stress imposed by running is

2 greatest, are very effective in protecting against injuries

25 (to the hamstring, groin, Achilles' tendon, etc.) — often 2g experienced by sprinters.

27

23 It is an object of this invention to provide, an

29 apparatus which enables the user to perform a number of

30 exercises which particularly benefit the muscle groups -, involved in sprinting by applying adjustable resistance to 2 the motion of said groups in the range of motion where 3 stress in sprinting is greatest.

34 c In addition to these well known principles, another

₃g principle states that increasing flexibility improves ₇ athletic performance in general and running speed in

38 ¹ particular. For this reason, it is common practice for

2 athletes to attempt to increase flexibility during practice

3 or before an athletic event by engaging in flexibility ^ exercises such as bending over to touch the toes, separating -> one foot from the other as far as possible (the splits) ° and placing the foot flat on the ground while bending ' forward to stretch the muscles of the calf and ankle ° (achilles heel). These commonly practiced exercises 9 involve forcing the limb as far as possible in a direction

10 so as to cause a particular muscle group to stretch. For

H- example, in bending over to touch the toes, the exerciser

1 i_s forcing the muscles of the hamstring, buttocks, and

13 small of the back to stretch. As the stretching is repeated 1 - to the point where pain is experienced and the exercise is

¹5 repeated in successive sessions, the subject muscle groups 6 are stretched and the body therefore becomes more flexible. 7 It is a further object of this invention to incorporate S means in said apparatus which enable the user to perform 9 novel flexibility exercises which are much more effective 0 than those performed according to current practice. 1 Maximum stress on the hamstring occurs when the foot 3 strikes the ground almost directly under the center of 4 gravity of the body. In the next instant, violent con¬ 5 tractions of the hamstring and buttocks propel the body 6 forward by pushing the foot backward. Thus, one important 7 exercise to improve speed would involve contractions of 8 the hamstring and buttocks when the hip is almost straight. 9 0 At the instant the foot strikes the ground, the knee 1 is almost straight. As the hamstring contracts, the lower 2 part of the guadricep also contracts thereby straightening 3 the knee. Consequently, another important exercise would 4 impose stress on the lower guadricep as the knee is 5 straightened from a slightly bent position. 6 7 The third muscle group that contracts violently when 8 the foot strikes the ground is the calf and achilles heel. Therefore, still another important exercise would impose stress on the calf and achilles heel as the ankle bends from a "flatfooted" position to a position of standing on the ball and toes of the foot.

While the thrust with the hamstring is being performed, the muscles of the lower abdomen and upper part of the quadriceps of the same leg are relaxed and stretching to their fullest extent. At the instant the hamstring thrust is complete, and the foot is about to leave the ground, these stretched lower abdominal and upper guadricep muscles are suddenly called upon to contract in order to reverse the direction of the swing. From this consideration, it is apparent that a second important exercise would be one which causes contraction of the lower abdominal muscles when the back is arched. When one foot strikes the ground, the knee of the other leg starts its swing upward and forward. It is well known that the best sprinters have high knee action. Thrusting the knee as high as possible requires strong contraction of the abdominal muscles and quadriceps in that range of motion where the sprinter is in a jack-knife position. Stressed contractions with the body and legs "jack-knifed" is therefore a third important exercise.

The use of sit-up benches is common in exercise centers. Many of these benches are built to tilt (lower the head) so as to increase resistance of the exercise. The practice of sit-ups has been disapproved in recent years because it has been discovered that, when sit-ups are performed on conventional sit-up boards, the end of the spine becomes the fulcrum point of rotation for the exercise with the result that severe pressure on the fifth lumbar disc can cause injury to the lower back. It is one objective of this invention to provide means for shifting this pressure point away from the end of the spine and ^•

Sprinting is a twisting action where the angular momentum generated by the hips and legs twisting in one direction is counter balanced by the arms and shoulders twisting in the opposite direction. Consequently, it is well recognized that total body strength including the arms and shoulders is important for top sprinters. Exercises for the arms and upper back in the afore- described ranges of motion can be performed with the apparatus of this invention.

As the muscle group becomes stronger, it is desirable to increase the resistance to motion of the exercise in accordance with the principle of maximum ^*exertion for greatest rate of strength gain. Most exercise machines have means for lifting various amounts of weight to provide added resistance while others have springs, or use com- pressed air or hydraulics. Weights are expensive. Springs wear. Therefore, while the use of weights and springs together with said apparatus is intended to be an embodi- ment of this invention, a preferred embodiment will be presented which uses the weight of the apparatus and the performer with adjustable leverage to apply variable resistance.

The most effective way to reach the market with this type of equipment is by mail orders generated by TV or news advertisements or by consigning large numbers to chain stores. Therefore, the preferred situation in the interest of reducing shipping and storage costs is to sell the apparatus dissembled and packaged in compact containers. This requires that the buyer be able to assemble the apparatus with a few common tools and that the apparatus be very sturdy for this purpose.

OMPI_ It is therefore a further objective of this invention that said apparatus be capable of being packaged in a compact flat package and easily assembled by the user.

SUMMARY

in accordance with this invention, an apparatus is provided upon which may be performed exercises and which imposes resistance in that range of motion where great stress is experienced in sprinting. The apparatus may be used in a prone position by a person who is either prone or vertical to perform one group of exercises or in an erect position by an erect person to perform another group of exercises. In one embodiment, resistance to the exercise motion is imposed by a lever where the resistance may be adjusted by adjusting the position of a sliding seat and the length of the lever arm. In another embodiment, handles of adjustable length are attached at various positions on the apparatus which enable the user to perform novel flexibility exercises which have been found to be superior to commonly practiced exercises. In its preferred embodiment, the apparatus consists of flat frame sections and panels that may be packaged in flat compact containers for economy in shipping and storing.

This invention will be more fully understood in light of the following detailed description taken together with the drawings. It should be understood that the drawings are not drawn to scale.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Figures la through Ih are a series of views of a sprinter in full stride from which may be deduced the range of motion where stress imposed on a particular muscle group is greatest. Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the parts of the dissembled apparatus of this invention which may be packaged in a flat container for economy in shipping and storing.

Figure 3 shows the assembled apparatus in one embodi- ment of the invention wherein the apparatus lies in the prone position.

Figure 4 shows the same apparatus in the erect position.

Figure 5 shows a lever arm which may be attached to the apparatus to provide adjustable resistance.

Figure 6 shows the apparatus in the prone position with lever arm attached.

Figures 7 and 8 show the apparatus in the erect position with the lever arm attached.

Figure 9 shows an exploded view of a second embodiment of the apparatus including alternate construction of the lever arm assembly.

Figure 10 also shows a lever platform astraddle the lever arm upon which the performer stands to perform deadlifts and calf flexing exercises.

Figure 11 shows details of the removable sliding seat of the assembly shown in Figure 10.

Figure 12 "shows the dead lift bar assembly.

Figure 13, shows the assembly of Figure 9 with deadlift bar 30a attached, lever platform 27 in place, and sliding seat assembly 29 in position for calf exercises.

Figure 14 shows details of the stretch handle assembly. 1 Figure 15 shows the stretch handles attached to the

2 assembly of Figure 13 and a person exercising by pulling

3 on the stretch handles. 4

5 Figure 16a illustrates an exercise board for use in

6 exercising calf muscles. 7

8 Figure 16b illustrates the board of Figure 16a together

9 with rotatable mounting handles combined with the structure 10 of Figure 13.

11

12 Figure 16c^" illustrates the stretch handle assembly

13 used with the exercise board of Figures 16a and 16b. 14

15 DETAILED DESCRIPTION 16.

17 Turning now to a more detailed description of the

18 invention, there is presented in Figures la through lh a

19 series of views of a sprinter in full stride. 20

21 These Figures show the left foot striking the ground

22 to initiate hamstring contraction when the hip is nearly

23 straight (Figure la), the contraction of the lower quadri-

24 cep to straighten the knee from a slightly bent position

25 (Figure lb), and contraction of the calf muscles and

26 achilles heel (Figure lc). When the leg and back are

27 arched, the leg reverses direction of swing by means of a

28 vigorous contraction of the lower abdomen (groin) muscles

29 as shown in Figure la: the knee is thrust as high as

30 possible by severe contraction of the abdominal muscles

31 and upper part of the guadricep when the hip is in the

32 jack-knife position (Figure If). Figures la through lh

33 also illustrate vigorous twisting of the arms and shoulders

34 suggesting the requirement for upper body strength. 35

36 Figure 2 shows the parts of the disassembled apparatus

37 of one embodiment of this invention. Two general "H" 38

OMPI shaped side frames 11 are presented as weldments of rectangular tube. Each of the two frames 11 is comprised of several components. Thus, looking for the moment at the "H-shaped" right-most frame (the left frame is identical to the right frame), extensions lib and lie protrude substantially perpendicularly from bar 11a (shown as horizontal when the apparatus is shown in the erect position in the exploded view of Figure 2) and support the apparatus on the floor when the apparatus is used in the erect (i.e. vertical) position. When the apparatus is used in the prone (i.e. horizontal) position as shown, for example, in Figure 3, the portion 11a will be vertical. Member lid is welded to member 11a and to member lie such that members Ha and lie are substantially parallel and form with member lid an approximate "H" shape with the cross-bar lid connecting parallel members 11a and lie at? points closer to one end than the other. Member lie is oriented such that the end llg of member lie will be in the same plane as the end surface of member lib. Thus when the apparatus i_s placed in the prone position as shown in Figure 3, portion lib and end llg of member lie serve to support the structure. Handle llf is placed on member lie a selected distance (typically a few inches) from face llg. The actual placement of handle llf can be determined by experiment and is not critical although handle llf should be closer to end llg than to the other end of member lie. Member lie is substantially parallel to member 11a whereas member lid is substantially perpendicular to members lie and 11a. If desired, member lid can be somewhat angled relative to members lie and 11a or slightly curved. However, as will be seen shortly, member lid is oriented either vertically or horizontally depending on which exercises are to be performed.

An end bar 12 is shown as consisting of a one inch diameter circular-cross-sectioned bar (12a) welded to

OMPI

, V/IPO short lengths of rectangular tube 12b and 12c at each end. Bar 12a is preferrably round to allow ease of grasping by hand but can be other shapes if desired.

Two padded end panels 15a and 15b are also shown. End panels 15a and 15b support the back and legs of a user when the apparatus is used for exercising in the manner to be described shortly. Panels 15a, 15b also are bolted or otherwise joined to the two frames 11 and thus provide support for the structure and prevent the left and right frames 11 from coming together or spreading apart while exercises are being conducted on the apparatus. Each of these panels is typically 12" x 30" and 1" or 2" thick. These panels are padded for comfort in use.

In the first embodiment of my invention, the sliding seat is seen to consist of two panels 13a and 13b and two separators, 14a and 14b. The sliding seat comprised of two panels 13a and 13b is mounted over the extensions lid of frames 11 as shown in Figure 3. As shown in Figure 3 the sliding seat panels 13 are separated from each other by spacers 14a and 14b such that seat panels 13a and 13b will slide along members lid. Figure 6 illustrates one use of seat panels 13a and 13b wherein a person exercising on the apparatus in the prone position is able to move his or her chest pivoting about the waist in the vertical direction and wherein the seat panels 13a and 13b are slideably located along arms lid in the proper position for the size of the person using the apparatus or to change the leverage of the lift. The operation of the structure shown in Figure 6 will be described shortly.

A lever arm subassembly shown in Figure 5 provides means for imposing adjustable resistance to the exercise motion. The structure shown in Figure 5 comprises two levers 24 suitable for being rotatably mounted on the ends lib of frames 11 as shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 so as to provide to the user an exercise which can be varied de- pending upon the strength and experience of the user. As shown in Figures 5 and 6 together, a rotatable end 25 (known as a "shoe") is mounted on the end of shaft 24. Shaft 24 is rotatably mounted on arm lib attached to frame 11. Because arm lib normally rests on the floor when the apparatus is either erect or prone, the shaft 24 is normally approximately horizontal when the apparatus is at rest. Shaft 24 rotatably moves about pivot point 22 and is connected to a bearing support 22 (Figure 5) so as to be rotatable. A user lies on the apparatus by placing his thighs on seat 13a. The distance of seat 13a to the end bar 12a is adjusted to control isolation of a particular muscle group when performing, for example, arched situps (i.e. situps beginning with the back arched) arid hyper- extensions. (By isolation of a particular-muscle group is meant that its functioning is enhanced relative to other "secondary" muscle groups.) A strap 23 is then placed around the neck of the exerciser. The ends of strap 23 are attached to lever 24 at selected points 24a and 24b determined to control the amount of effort required to lift. By varying the pivot point 22 (this point is easily adjustable by sliding collars 18 along arms 24 and tightening set screws 20 when collars 20 are properly located) on lever arm 24 as well as the point on which strap 23 is attached to lever arm 24, the user can control the amount of effort required to raise arm lib off the floor. The user causes arm lib to be raised off the floor merely by raising his or her torso from the rest position to the horizontal position. The lever arm can also be used when the apparatus is set in the vertical position as shown in Figure 4 by attaching the strap to the thigh of one's leg or to one's waist and then raising one's waist and thigh while holding on to the proper portion of the apparatus, thereby to rotate the lever arm and raise the apparatus from the floor. This usage is shown in Figures 7 and 8. 1 In Figure 3 is shown the apparatus assembled from the

2 parts of Figure 2 and standing in the prone position. It

3 is observed that the two side frames lie are held together

4 by bolting to the end bar 12a and to fixed padded end

5 panels 15a and 15b. If the side frames lie are constructed

6 of tubing of rectangular, round or other cross-section,

7 then supports 12b, 12c of the end bar 12a may telescope ° into each side frame lie such that the height of the end 9 bar 12a above the sliding seat 13a, 13b and end panels 0 . 15a, 15b is adjustable as shown in Figure 3. The distance 1 from the end bar 12a to the sliding seat 13a, 13b is 2 adjustable. 3 4 To exercise the hamstring and buttocks in the desired range of motion, the performer lies with the sliding seat 6 13a, 13b at waist position and his heels hooked under the 7 end bar 12a. To perform the exercise the performer 8 straightens his hips, thereby lifting his upper body. It 9 is obvious that in the performance of this exercise, the 0 greatest strain is on the hamstrings when the hips are 1 nearly straight, as desired for greatest benefit to sprinters. 2 3 in order to exercise the lower abdomen the performer 4 sits on the adjustable seat 13a and 13b and hooks his toes 5 under the end bar 12a. Then he leans back as far as 6 possible so that his back is arched and his shoulders 7 approach the floor. The performer then draws himself up 8 toward a sitting position. Performing this situp with the 9 back arched and the shoulders lowered, maximum stress is 0 imposed on the lower abdominal muscles in the range of 1 motion where great strain is imposed by sprinting. This 2 exercise is excellent for preventing soreness in the groin 3 which is common to sprinters. 4 5 The seat 13a, 13b with adjustable distance from the 6 end bar 12a is an embodiment of this invention which 7 allows the user to position the seat 13a, 13b under the 8 upper part of the leg (away from the tailbone) thus relieving damaging pressure on the fifth lumbar disc as discussed in the background of the invention. The ability to adjust the position of the seat 13a, 13b permits use of the machine by exercisers with various lengths of the leg.

Figure 4 shows the apparatus in the erect position. it is seen that the performer may stand so as to grasp hand bars llf in each hand with his back against the fixed padded end panel 15b. His elbows are resting on the side rails lie. He may lift one or both legs in order to exercise the quadriceps and abdomen in^'the desired range of motion for sprinters. The objective is to develop strength to pull the knees high.

In order to develop upper body strength, three exercises may be performed with the apparatus in the erect position. The first is performed by kneeling at the rear of the erect apparatus, grasping the end bar 12a with both hands and performing pullups. This exercise develops the biceps and upper back. The second exercise is performed by placing both hands on the side rails lie and then pushing oneself up by straightening the arms. This exercise develops the triceps and pectorals (muscles of the chest). in the third exercise, the performer performs a head stand with his head on the floor and a hand on each lower side rail. His body is inverted with his feet resting on the end panel 15b. Then he pushes himself to a hand stand position by straightening his arms. This exercise develops the trapezius and deltoids (shoulders) and the triceps.

In Figure 5 is shown a lever arm assembly which may be attached to the apparatus and used to impose a variable resistance to the motion of the exercise with the apparatus in either the erect or prone position. The lever arm assembly is seen to consist of a short tee section 18 formed by a short pipe fastened at its middle to the end 1 of a short bar 19. The lever 24, a U-shaped structure,

2 slides into the tee 18 where its position is adjustable

3 and clamped by screws 20. The lever 24 is seen to be

4 attached to the lower end of leg lib of the apparatus

5 close to the floor and opposite the end rail 12a through a

6 bearing 22 (end rail 12a is shown, for example, in Figure 3,

7 previously described). The operation of the attachment is ° illustrated in Figure 6 wherein it is seen that in the

9 performance of either the hipthrust or the arched situp, 0 the perfomer may loop a cable 23 attached to the lever arm 1 24 about his or her neck such that, in the course of the 2 performance of the exercise, the cable is pulled, causing the lever arm to turn about its pivot point. This causes 4 the lever arm 24 to lift one end of the apparatus and the performer, thereby imposing resistance. The resistance 6 can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the adjustable 7 seat 13a, 13b, and the point of attachment of the cable 23 8 to the lever arm 24. The lever arm is fitted with two shoes 25, whose shape is such that as the lever arm is turned during the exercise, the point of contact between the floor and shoe 25 moves along the shoe. By this 2 means, it is seen that the leverage (distance between point of contact^"with the floor and axis of turning) is changed so that the resistance throughout the entire range o motion is determined by the shape of the shoe. 6 By rotating the shoes 25 on each lever arm 24, the 8 lever arm assembly may be used with the apparatus in 9 either the erect or prone position. When used in the erect position (as shown in Figures 7 and 8), the performer 1 may attach the cable to his waist (to perform dips) or 2 loop the cable about his knee to perform leg raises. If 3 one realizes that some performers perform dips and situps with as much as 150 pounds, and weights presently are quite expensive and sold by the pound, then the convenience 6 and economy of the leverage assembly is apparent. 7 8 A second embodiment is presented as an exploded view in Figure 9 and as an assembly in Figure 13. It is seen that this embodiment includes the end bar assembly 12 and the end panels 15 of Figure 2. The two welded frames 26 are identical to frames 11 of Figure 2 except that a brace 26a has been added to each frame. In this embodiment, the lever arm assembly of Figure 5 is replaced by lever-platform 27 with lever assembly 28 (see also Figure 10). Additional assemblies that have been added include a removable sliding seat 29 (see also Figure 11) a deadlift bar assembly 30 (see also Figure 12), two stretcher handle assemblies 33a and 33b (see also Figure 14) and four wheel assemblies 31a-31d. Of importance, the wheels are bolted to short lengths of rectangular tube which telescope into openings of the main assembly as indicated in Figure 13 such that the entire apparatus may be rolled to a desired exercise area.

Figure 13 shows the apparatus assembled from the parts shown in Figure 9. It is seen from Figure 13 that by positioning the sliding detachable seat 29 on the top rails lid, the same exercises can be performed as discussed in connection with Figures 2, 3 and 4. If desired, lever assembly 28 shown in Figures 9 and 10 is used in the same manner as the lever assembly discussed in Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 by attaching a loop to said lever assembly 28c (Figure 10).

However, the lever assembly 28 together with the lever platform assembly 27 and the deadlift bar assembly 30 present means to perform additional exercises such as the toe rise to strengthen the calf muscles and one legged shallow deadlifts which are very valuable for improving sprinting.

The lever assembly 28 shown in detail in Figure 10 is seen to consist of a bar 28a attached to legs lib and

_OMPI rotatable about its support with a short length of rectangular tube 28b welded to its center. A long rectangular tube 28c slides into short tube 28b. A lever platform 27 is slidably located astraddle tube 28c. The lever platform 27 is seen to consist of two incline blocks 27a fastened to a base board 27b on whose underside are fastened two groove angles 27c and pedestal blocks 27d.

The removable sliding seat 29 is shown in Figure 11 to consist of four groove angles 29a with clamping pins 29b fastened to a seat board 29c. Groove angles 29a are located on board 29c to allow seat 29 to be slidably placed on rails 26a or lid and held in the proper position by groove angles 29a and screws 29b.

The deadlift bar assembly 30 shown άn Figure 12 consists of bar 30a whose ends may be attached with quick release attachments to any link of chain 30b. The other end of the chain is attached to clamps 30c. The clamps 30c are seen in Figure 13 to be attachable to the braces 26a (rectangular tubes) of frame 26 as shown in Figure 13.

order to exercise the calf muscles, the exerciser assembles the apparatus as shown in Figure 13. He sits on the slidable seat 29 and places his feet on the incline blocks 27a and places the deadlift bar 30a across the top of his knees (in his lap). The chain 30 is taut by virtue of the link selection at each end of the deadlift bar 30a and the position of his feet on the incline blocks 27a. AS the exerciser contracts his calf muscles, he lifts the frame and his own body weight off the ground except at the pivot point located at the lever bar 28a. The frame weighs about 110 pounds and the exerciser weighs between 120 to 200 or more pounds. By selecting the position of attachment of the clamps 30c to the brace 26a, the position of the sliding seat 29 on braces 26a and the position of the lever platform 27 on the lever tube 28c, the exerciser

- V

_ O can adjust the amount of resistance from less than 100 pounds to hundreds of pounds because of the mechanical advantage of the lever assembly.

Shallow one legged (or two legged) deadlifts can be performed in a similar manner by standing on the lever platform 27 and grasping the deadlift bar 30a and straightening the leg so as to lift the frame. Additional resistance may be added by placing conventional bar bell weights on handles llf as shown in Figure 13. Adding a given weight W to the handles llf as shown increases resistance by several-fold because of the leverage arrange- ent as discussed above.

As discussed in the background of this invention, flexibility is a very important requirement for runners, especially sprinters. The flexibility exercises performed with the apparatus of this invention are much more effective than flexibility exercises performed according to current practice. The improvement is based on the discovery that the most effective way to increase stretch is to stretch the muscle group as far as possible and then to pull in the reverse direction with the muscles stretched. A simple illustration would be to bend over and pull on your shoe laces in order to stretch or elongate the muscles of the back. According to an embodiment of this invention, the exerciser can stretch and pull wherein the amount of stretch may be increased in a controlled manner by the use of the apparatus of this invention. Said apparatus 33 is shown in detail in Figure 14 and is seen to consist of a stretch screw 33a with a handle 33b on one end. The thread 33a is only partially threaded and said screw 33a threads into a partially threaded bolt 33c welded to a clamp 33d. A partially threaded nut 33e is also located on the screw 33a. When the handle is rotated in one position, the screw 33a slips through bolt 33c. When the handle is rotated to a perpendicular position, the screw 33a will not slip through. Although only one such structure is shown in Figure 14, in use two identical such structures may be used, one for each hand. Alternatively, one such structure can be used with both hands holding on to handle 33b.

Figure 13 shows the stretch assembly 33 clamped at one position on the frame. Figure 15 shows an exerciser seated on the adjustable seat 29 with his feet on the end bar 12a, knees straight and grasping the handles 33b of the stretch assembly 33. With the stretch screw in the locked orientation, he pulls for about 10 seconds. Then he lays back to straighten his back, then grasps the handles and rotates them so that he can push the stretch screw through the bottom hole, then rotates the handles so as to lock the screw. He repeats the 10^* second pull. Every time he pulls he will find that he can stretch further. He sets an objective by positioning bolt 33e. Variations of this exercise include the relocation of the stretch assembly to point A (Figure 15) or removing the sliding seat 29 and standing on one leg while the other foot is placed against the end bar 12a.

Figure 16a illustrates a knee board assembly which replaces the bar and chain assembly 30a, 30b of Figure 13 and which is especially useful for performing exercises for the calves and the buttock muscles (called the "gluteous" muscles). Development of the buttocks is important to assist runners in developing their acceleration. The structure comprises a flat board 41 of suitable thickness, in one embodiment three-quarter inches, and padded, if desired, containing two slots 42a and 42b which, for convenience, are angled as shown from edge 41a. However, these slots can, if desired, be placed on the ends of board 41 or placed in any desired orientation along a selected edge of board 41. Slots 42a and 42b are designed to receive the upper portion of vertical shafts 43a and 43b of support members 46a and 46b, respectively. Support members 46a and 46b, shown also in Figure 12, are called "stretch handles" and comprise, in addition to shafts 43a and 43b, respectively, clamps 44a and 44b adjustably attached to the bottoms of shafts 43a and 43b in a manner to be described shortly, and handles 45a and 45b which are attached to the top of shafts 43a and 43b, respectively. Clamps 44a and 44b attach respectively onto braces 26a of the structure illustrated in Figure 13.

Stretch shafts 43a and 43b together with handles 45a and 45b are shown in more detail in Figure 16c. For simplicity, only one of the two stretch handles, shafts and clamps is shown; the other stretch handle shaft is identical to the one shown.

As shown in Figure 16c, the stretch handle 45a is rigidly attached to the top of shaft 43a. Shaft 43a comprises a cylindrical threaded rod two longitudinal surfaces of which have been ground flat to remove the thread leaving, therefore, two longitudinal portions of cylindrical area which are threaded running the length of the shaft 43a and are separated by two parallel flat longitudinal surfaces 43c (only one of which is shown) likewise running the length of the shaft 43a. While two flat surfaces are used in the structure of Figure 16c, of course other versions of this rod can also be fabricated using only one or more flat or smooth surfaces and one threaded region of the shaft running the length of the shaft. The function of partially threaded shaft 43a (and the shaft 43a as shown in Figure 16c shall hereafter be referred to as a "partially threaded shaft") is to allow a user to freely move shaft 43a along its longitudinal axis 49 through the opening 48f in flange 48e perpendicularly attached to support member 48h (a part of clamp 44a) while also allowing the user to rotate the shaft 43a a selected number of degrees and thereby lock the shaft in a fixed position relative to opening 48f thereby to allow the user to set the handle 45a at the position desired. The user will set handle 45a at a position selected to allow the user to do any one of a number of different exercises using the combination of board 41 and handles 45a, 45b as illustrated in Figure 16a. Of course, while one group of exercises is performed with the board and handle, (parti- cularly those exercises wherein the board is used to restrain a portion of the body such as knees and hips) another group of exercises is done without board 41 using solely the handles 45a, 45b and their associated shafts 43a and 43b. A typical exercise to be performed using only the handles is the one-legged deadlift wherein the exerciser stands on platform 27 with one foot only (the other foot is lifted off the ground (and pulls upward on handles 45a and 45b attached to braces 26a (Figure 16b) thereby to pivot the whole exercise rack about an axis co-extensive with pivot bar 28a as shown in Figures 13 and 16b. This exercise is known as the one-legged deadlift. While doing this lift, this exercise structure allows the user to maintain his or her back vertically so that all of the weight, of the lift is borne by the thigh and knee. Consequently, the thigh and knee muscles become the primary muscles and the back muscles and arm muscles are merely the secondary muscles associated with the exercise.

Another exercise develops the calves. In this exercise, the user sits on sliding board 29 supported by braces 26a and positions this board to allow the user to place his or her feet on foot rest 27a (part of platform 27 as shown in Figure 13). The user then adjusts the position of board i so that it rests over the bent knees by properly positioning handles 45a, 45b to hold board 41 directly above the knees. The user then lifts up with his or her knees on the bottom of the board by raising the heels of the feet off of foot rest 27a keeping the toes attached to foot rest 27a. While the lever 28c on which platform 27 is mounted remains rested on the ground, the rest of the apparatus lifts up and pivots around pivot rod 28a as described previously.

Another exercise involves the development of the muscles in the region of the lower abdomen to the pelvic girdle and the region from the upper part of the thigh to the hip pointers which are a part of the pelvic girdle. in this exercise, sliding seat 29 is placed on braces lid and positioned at a distance from end bar 12a such that the sliding seat supports the body under the top part of the thigh. In this position the user can perform situps in which he or she arches his or her back at the starting position for the situps. The ability to adjust the distance of seat 29 from end bar 12a has two important advantages. First, by putting the support 29 under the top of the thigh rather than the buttocks strain is taken off the lower lumber area of the back. Conventional situp apparatus having support under the buttocks is well known to lead to damage to the back. Second, by hooking one foot to end bar 12a and having the support 29 under the top of the thigh of the same leg, the upper thigh attach- ents to the hip pointer of that leg becomes the primary muscle group rather than the attachments of the lower abdominal muscles to the pelvic girdle. By this means, the user can select either one of the attachments to the hip pointers or the attachment of the abdomen to the pelvic girdle as the primary muscle group in the exercise simply by having one foot or the other foot or both feet hooked to the end bar 12a.

Similarly, when one desires to exercise the muscles of the lower back, or the upper part of the hamstrings, one simply positions the sliding seat 29 on braces lid as with the previously described situp exercise and performs hyperexteήsions simply by hooking one foot or both feet to the end bar 12a. In another exercise which develops the buttocks, using the structure illustrated in Figure 16b, the user slides sliding seat 29 along braces 26a to the proper position to achieve three pressure points. The first point is adjacent the hips of the user just below the user's abdomen on the front and above the groin. The second pressure point is below the belt line on the back low enough so that the muscles of the small of the back are not used and below the point where muscles support the back. The third point comprises one foot or both feet placed on the deadlift platform 27. Use of these pressure points isolate the gluteous muscles as the primary muscles being exercised. Board 41 is then mounted as shown in Figure 16b just adjacent the hips below the abdomen on the front. Handles 45a and 45b are attached to shafts 43a and 43b which in turn are attached to clamps 44a and 44b which are mounted on braces 26a to lock board 41 in the proper place. This exercise develops the gluteous maximus or buttocks by preventing the person doing the exercises from using his or her back to press against lap board 41. The result is that the buttocks of the user do the primary work. The feet during this exercise are placed upon incline ramps 27a of board 27. In carrying out this exercise, the object is to pivot the exercise machine off the ground about point 49 and pivot rod 28a by pushing against board 41.

it should be emphasized that, in any exercise, there is a range where resistance to motion is greatest. One feature of this invention is that with this apparatus, the major exercises intended to develop strength for sprinting may be performed wherein the maximum resistance is en- countered in the range where the stress of sprinting is greatest.

Another feature of this invention is that through the use of a sliding seat and lever arm assembly the resistance can be imposed and adjusted in the desired range of motion.

A third feature of this invention is that the apparatus in its dissembled form, may be packaged in a flat compact container.

The above description is intended to be illustrative only and not limiting. In view of the above description, other embodiments of this invention will be obvious to those skilled in the exercise arts.

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