Exercise bench

Claim 1

In an improved exercise bench of the type having (i) a frame; (ii) a platform supported by said frame, said platform comprising generally planar head and foot sections, each having first and second ends, said head and foot sections being pivotally connected to one another at their respective first ends by first pivot means having a generally horizontal pivot axis transverse to the length of said platform; and (iii) means for exercising a user's legs pivotally affixed to said frame at the end thereof adjacent said second end of said foot section; the improvement comprising: (a) means for selectively translating said first pivot means in a generally vertical direction to a position above or below the plane defined by said head and foot sections when they are horizontal, said translating means being coupled to said first pivot means; (b) means for securing said first pivot means in at least one translated position in said generally vertical direction; (c) a support means disposed below the plane defined by said head and foot sections when they are horizontal, said support member being adjustably coupled to said first pivot means securing means to support said first pivot means in a predetermined vertical position; (d) second pivot means interconnecting said frame and said second end of said foot section; and (e) means for adjusting the distance between said second ends of said foot and head sections whenever said first pivot means is vertically translated, said distance adjusting means being coupled to said platform, whereby, a user of said improved exercise bench can select the vertical position of said first pivot means, thereby selectively determining the spatial relationship between said head section and said foot section, so as to enhance the degree of exercise provided to said user by said leg exercise means and to decrease the risk of injury to said user.