Resistance mechanism for exercise equipment

Claim 1

A resistance mechanism for exercising equipment comprising: an elongated frame structure having a first end and a second end; a positive displacement fluid pump mounted at the first end of the frame structure, the pump having a rotor shaft a fluid passage from the reservoir to the inlet of the pumping chamber, a fluid passage from the outlet of the pumping chamber to the reservoir and indicator means for gauging the level of resistance of the resistance mechanism; actuator means for actuating the pump and forcing fluid through the fluid passage from the pumping chamber to the reservoir, said actuator means including a manual input means for an exerciser to exert a dynamic input force on the actuator means displacing the actuator means to operate the pump; and, regulating means for regulating the flow of fluid through the fluid passage from the pumping chamber to the reservoir, wherein the resistance mechanism is constructed and arranged to increase the level of resistance to a physical input according to the rate of displacement of the actuator means, wherein the frame structure includes a horizontal central member with a seat positioned thereon facing the pump and displaceable in part between the first end and the second end of the frame structure, wherein the pump rotor shaft includes a sprocket and the actuator means comprises a hand grip tow bar connected to an elongated chain that engages the sprocket, the chain being wrapped around the sprocket at the first end of the frame structure and connected to an elongated tension spring anchored at the second end of the frame structure.