Mechanical exercising device

Claim 2

A mechanical exercising device comprising: A. a horizontal platform; B. a horizontal back support pivotally mounted on said platform for rotation on a transvErse horizontal axis through a vertical arc of up to about 120 degrees; C. power means operable by the user for operating said back support; D. at least one flat rigid elongated limb support mounted on said platform for pivotal rotation through a vertical arc of up to about 120 degrees about a horizontal axis, and for pivotal rotation through an arc of up to about 90 degrees in the plane of the limb support about an axis perpendicular thereto; E. power means operable by the user for operating said limb support through its pivotal rotation about a horizontal axis; and F. further power means operable by the user carried by the limb support for operating said limb support through its pivotal rotation in the plane of the limb support.

Claim 3

A mechanical exercising device comprising: A. a platform; B. a back support pivotally mounted on said platform for rotation on a transverse horizontal axis through a vertical arc; C. power means for operating said back support; D. at least one limb support mounted on said platform for pivotal rotation through a vertical arc about a horizontal axis, and for pivotal rotation through an arc in the plane of the limb support about an axis perpendicular thereto; E. brace means associated with said limb support for cradling a limb therein: F. means associated with said brace means for restraining the extremity of a limb cradled within the brace means; G press means associated with said brace means for exerting pressing force against the joint of a limb cradled within the brace means; H. power means for operating said limb support through its pivotal rotation about a horizontal axis; and I. further power means carried by the limb support for operating said limb support through its pivotal rotation in the plane of the limb support.

Claim 4

A mechanical exercising device comprising: A. a platform; B. a back support pivotally mounted on said platform for rotation on a transverse horizontal axis through a vertical arc; C. power means for operating said back support; D. at least one limb support mounted on said platform for pivotal rotation through a vertical arc about a horizontal axis, and for pivotal rotation through an arc in the plane of the limb support about an axis perpendicular thereto; E. brace means associated with said limb support for cradling a limb therein: F. means associated with said brace means for restraining the extremity of a limb cradled within the brace means; G press means associated with said brace means for exerting pressing force against the joint of a limb cradled within the brace means; H. power means for operating said limb support through its pivotal rotation about a horizontal axis; and I. further power means carried by the limb support for operating said limb support through its pivotal rotation in the plane of the limb support.

Claim 5

a resilient pad on said bar, and

Claim 6

a resilient pad on said bar, and

Claim 7

a holder for said pad,

Claim 8

a holder for said pad,

Claim 9

force applying means for exerting controlled vertical pressure against said holder, and

Claim 10

force applying means for exerting controlled vertical pressure against said holder, and

Claim 11

means for vertically adjusting said bar.

Claim 12

means for vertically adjusting said bar.

Claim 13

A mechanical exercising device according to claim 2 further characterized in that said brace means comprise: A. a pair of rigid parallel generally horizontal spaced apart side bars supported by and spaced above said limb support; B. generally U-shaped members connecting said side bars adjacent their opposite ends; C. carriage means connecting said U-shaped members for longitudinal movement along said limb support; and D. sliding guide means for guiding the longitudinal movement of said carriage means relative to the limb support.

Claim 14

A mechanical exercising device according to claim 3 further characterized in that: A. said means for restraining the extremity of a limb in said brace means is supported by said side bars adjacent one end of said brace; B. said press means for exerting force against the joint is supported by said side bars spaced from said restraining means; and C. the support for said press means being pivotally mounted to permit movement of the press means for insertion into and removal of a limb from the brace means.

Claim 15

swivel mounting means between said holder and force applying means; and B. knee support means are provided suspended from said side bars, said knee support comprising:

Claim 16

swivel mounting means between said holder and force applying means; and B. knee support means are provided suspended from said side bars, said knee support comprising:

Claim 17

A mechanical exercising device according to claim 4 further characterized in that: A. said means for restraining a limb extremity is pivotally mounted, B. said restraining means and press means are movable relative to each other to accommodate limbs of different lengths, and C. force applying means mounted on the support for said press means are connected to said restraining means to apply pivoting force thereto.

Claim 18

A mechanical exercising device according to claim 2 further characterized in that said brace means comprise: A. a pair of rigid parallel generally horizontal spaced apart side bars supported by and spaced above said limb support; B. generally U-shaped members connecting said side bars adjacent their opposite ends; C. carriage means connecting said U-shaped members for longitudinal movement along said limb support; and D. locking means for fixing the longitudinal position of said carriage means relative to the limb support.

Claim 19

A mechanical Exercising device according to claim 2 further characterized in that said limb supports are leg supports and a pair of said supports are mounted on said platform in parallel side-by-side relation for pivotal rotation through vertical arcs on aligned transverse horizontal axes parallel and adjacent to the axis of rotation of the back support.

Claim 20

A mechanical exercising device according to claim 7 further characterized in that said brace means comprise: A. a pair of rigid parallel generally horizontal spaced apart side bars supported by and spaced above each of said leg supports; B. generally U-shaped members connecting said side bars adjacent their opposite ends; C. carriage means connecting said U-shaped members for longitudinal movement together along said leg supports; and D. sliding guide means for guiding the longitudinal movement of said carriage means relative to the leg supports.

Claim 21

A mechanical exercising device according to claim 8 further characterized in that: A. said means for restraining the extremity of a limb in said brace means comprises a shoe holder pivotally supported by said side bars adjacent one end of said brace; B. a knee press is supported by said side bars spaced from said shoe holder; and C. the support for said knee press is pivotally mounted to permit movement of the knee press for insertion of a leg into the brace and removal therefrom.

Claim 22

A mechanical exercising device according to claim 7 further characterized in that said brace means comprise: A. a pair of rigid parallel generally horizontal spaced apart side bars supported by and spaced above each of said leg supports; B. generally U-shaped members connecting said side bars adjacent their opposite ends; C. carriage means connecting said U-shaped members for longitudinal movement together along said leg supports; and D. locking means for fixing the longitudinal position of said carriage means relative to the leg supports.

Claim 23

A mechanical exercising device according to claim 9 further characterized in that: A. said shoe holder is fitted with a shoe rigidly attached and is pivotally mounted for movement about an axis extending generally along the axis of the ankle of said shoe; B. the supports for said shoe holder and for said knee press are longitudinally movable relative to each other along said side bars to accommodate legs of different lengths; and C. force applying means are mounted on the support for said knee press and connected to said shoe holder adjacent the toe end thereof to apply pivoting force thereto.

Claim 24

A mechanical exercising device according to claim 9 further characterized in that: A. said knee press comprises:

Claim 25

A mechanical exercising device comprising: A. a platform; B. a back support pivotally mounted on said platform for rotation on a transverse horizontal axis through a vertical arc; C. power means for operating said back support; D. at least one limb support mounted on said platform for pivotal rotation through a vertical arc about a horizontal axis, and for pivotal rotation through an arc in the plane of the limb support about an axis perpendicular thereto; E. power means for operating said limb support through its pivotal rotation about a horizontal axis; and F. further power means carried by the limb support for operating said limb support through its pivotal rotation in the plane of the limb support; G. said power means comprise reversible direct current electric motors; H. said power means for said back support is connected through speed reducing means to a threaded shaft-threaded sleeve coupling to said back support; I. said power means for operating said limb support through its pivotal rotation about a horizontal axis is connected through speed reducing means to a threaded shaft-threaded sleeve coupling to said limb support; and J. said further power means for said limb support is connected through speed reducing means to a direct gear coupling to said limb support.

Claim 26

A mechanical exercising device comprising: A. a platform; B. a back support pivotally mounted on said platform for rotation on a transverse horizontal axis through a vertical arc; C. power means for operating said back support; D. at least one limb support mounted on said platform for pivotal rotation through a vertical arc about a horizontal axis, and for pivotal rotation through an arc in the plane of the limb support about an axis perpendicular thereto; E. power means for operating said limb support through its pivotal rotation about a horizontal axis; and F. further power means carried by the limb support for operating said limb support through its pivotal rotation in the plane of the limb support; G. said power means comprise reversible direct current electric motors; H. said power means for said back support is connected through speed reducing means to a threaded shaft-threaded sleeve coupling to said back support; I. said power means for operating said limb support through its pivotal rotation about a horizontal axis is connected through speed reducing means to a threaded shaft-threaded sleeve coupling to said limb support; and J. said further power means for said limb support is connected through speed reducing means to a direct gear coupling to said limb support.

Claim 27

A mechanical exercising device according to claim 1 further characterized in that: A. said limb supports are leg supports and a pair of said supports are mounted on said platform in parallel side-by-side relation for pivotal rotation through vertical arcs on aligned transverse horizontal axes parallel and adjacent to the axis of rotation of the back support; and B. a longitudinally movable knee rest is mounted on each of said leg supports.

Claim 28

A mechanical exercising device according to claim 14 further characterized in that said knee rest comprises: A. a flat horizontally extending knee supporting platform; B. transversely extending roller means supporting said platform for movement on said leg support; C. guide means engaging the side edges of said leg support; and D. further means engaging said leg support for retaining said knee rest thereon.