Patent ID: 6394935
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
A therapeutic exercise apparatus comprising:(a) a supporting frame having a forward end and a rearward end; (b) a weight supported on said supporting frame adjacent said rearward end for vertical movement from a lower resting position to an upper position, said weight having at least one weight sheave rotatably mounted on said weight; (c) a vertical post fixed to said supporting frame adjacent said forward end, said vertical post having an upper end and a lower end; (d) an upper pulley block slidably mounted on said post, said upper pulley block having at least one sheave rotatably mounted on said upper pulley block; (e) a lower pulley block slidably mounted on said post below said upper pulley block, said lower pulley block having at least one sheave rotatably mounted on said lower pulley block; (f) a first locking means for releasably locking said upper pulley block in a fixed position on said vertical post adjacent the upper end of said post; (g) a second locking means for releasably locking said lower pulley block in a fixed position on said vertical post adjacent the lower end of said post; (h) a pulley apparatus comprising a plurality of guide sheaves mounted on said frame and cord means trained around said guide sheaves, said weight sheave and the sheave on each of said upper and lower pulley blocks, said cord means having a first cord end extending forwardly from said upper pulley block and a second cord end extending forwardly from said lower pulley block; (i) an upper fixture connected to said first cord end for functioning as an anchor to prevent said first cord end from being pulled rearwardly from said first pulley block,said upper fixture being adapted to be connected to a handle; and (j) a lower fixture connected to said second cord end for functioning as an anchor to prevent said second cord end from being pulled rearwardly from said second pulley block, said lower fixture being and adapted to be connected to a handle so that when said weight is at said lower resting position and one of said upper and lower pulley blocks is in a fixed position on said vertical post to constitute a fixed pulley block and the other of said upper and lower pulley blocks is free to slide on said vertical post to constitute a free pulley block, the pulling of the corresponding one of said first and second cord ends extending from said free pulley block forwardly from said frame causes said free pulley block to slide on said vertical post toward said fixed pulley block and causes said weight to be lifted from said lower resting position toward said upper position.