Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
An exercise apparatus comprising a base, a platform supported for lateral movement relative to the base, a frame having a portion extending upwardly from the base, means supported by the upwardly extending portion of the frame to restrict lateral movement of the waist of the user, hand grips supported by said upwardly extending frame portion forwardly and outwardly of the torso of the user, means for tilting the platform forwardly relative to the base, parallel links extending between laterally spaced pivots on the platform and laterally spaced pivots on the upwardly extending frame portion forwardly of the user, said parallel links coacting with resilient means connected in force transfer relationship between the platform and the upwardly extending frame portion to bias the platform towards a central position relative to the base and the frame, and means damping lateral movement of the platform.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
An exercise apparatus comprising a base, a platform supported for lateral movement relative to the base, a frame having a portion extending upwardly from the base, means supported by the upwardly extending portion of the frame to restrict lateral movement of the waist of the user, hand grips supported by said upwardly extending frame portion forwardly and outwardly of the torso of the user, means for tilting the platform forwardly relative to the base, parallel links extending between laterally spaced pivots on the platform and laterally spaced pivots on the upwardly extending frame portion forwardly of the user, said parallel links coacting with resilient means connected in force transfer relationship between the platform and the upwardly extending frame portion to bias the platform towards a central position relative to the base and the frame, and means damping lateral movement of the platform.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
An exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for tilting the platform also tilts the frame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
81 words
An exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the platform is supported for lateral movement by cross members forming linear tracks for the platform on the frame, wherein the extent of the parallel links between the pivots on the frame and the platform varies to accommodate lateral movement of the platform and, wherein means are provided to define the maximum extent of the links between said pivots whereby the extent of lateral movement of the platform on the tracks is limited.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
An exercise apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the upper ends of the parallel links extend upwardly above the pivots on the upwardly extending portion of the frame wherein the pivots also permit axial motion of the links, and wherein said resilient means are compression springs acting between said pivots and stops secured to the links upwardly of said pivots, the stops providing means to defined the maximum extent of the links.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
An exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means damping lateral movement of the platform is a frictional damper.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An exercise apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the means damping lateral movement of the platform is a friction damper acting between the platform and the frame.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
An exercise apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the damping means comprises a belt extending from the platform around rollers journalled in the frame at each end of the track and back to the platform, and means to tension the belt to develop friction in the roller journals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
An exercise apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the parallel links, seen in front elevation, are located to extend parallel to the legs of a user standing on the platform, from toes to hips.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
An exercise apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the parallel links are the stem portions of L-shaped members, the lower portions of which extend rearwardly through and are journalled in the platform to form the pivots on the latter.