Don Wendell Walker

US Patent:

61204161, Sep 19, 2000

Filed:

Sep 24, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/930463

Inventors:

Don F. Walker - Santa Ana CA

International Classification:

A63B 6916

US Classification:

482 57

Abstract:

The invention is an exercise machine (20) for exercising many major muscle groups in the body without stressing the arm or knee joints. An inclined bench (24) mounts rigidly within a frame (22) and in specific relationship to a pair of horizontal axes about which a pair of arm levers (40) and a pair of leg levers (60) pivot, respectively. The arm pivot is located with respect to the bench at the user's shoulder joint, while the leg pivot is located with respect to the bench at the user's hip joint. The rotation of the arm and leg levers (40, 60) may be independent, or may be coupled. The rotation of the arm and leg levers are subject to a torque resistance applied by springs, cables and dead weights, frictional resisted loads, or viscous damping. In one embodiment, the rotation of the arm and leg levers are coupled via a linkage mechanism which drives a locomotive style crank for rotating a flywheel. The flywheel is subject to a braking force by an adjustable means to vary the amount of torque resistance applied to the arm and leg levers.