Patent ID: 6095955
Filing Date: 2000-08-01
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
An atmospheric pressure resistance device for an exercise apparatus, comprising:a plurality of resistance elements each having a vacuum chamber that can be increased or reduced in size, the resistance elements each having an air passage connected to a respective vacuum chamber; each of the air passages having an open or closed state and having no intermediate state;a movable force transmission device connected to the resistance elements, the force transmission device arranged such that a user can apply exercise force(s) to all the resistance elements simultaneously;a resistance adjusting device operable to selectively open and/or close one or more of the air passages of the resistance elements, such that when the air passage of a resistance element is closed, the respective vacuum chamber is substantially isolated from the atmosphere and when the air passage of a resistance element is open, the respective vacuum chamber is in communication with the atmosphere; andthe resistance adjusting device arranged such that resistance to motion of the force transmission device is controllable by adjusting the number of vacuum chambers open to the atmosphere while the remaining vacuum chamber or chambers remains isolated from the atmosphere to provide resistance to motion of the force transmission device.