Recoiling exercise bench

An adjustable, recoiling aerobic exercise bench which reduces the generation and transmission of impaction forces on a user's joints while performing conventional and power step exercises includes a resilient platform slidingly disposed in left and right housings which function to support the platform above and relative to an exercise floor surface. Lateral platform recoiling assemblies are disposed between the platform ends and inside lateral walls of the housings and are adapted to generate lateral, resistive, restoring forces when the platform is moved downward during operation of the device. A vertical platform recoiling assembly which includes a plurality of rigid tubular spring retainers and telescoping springs, is mounted beneath the undersurface of the platform and is of sufficient length so as to make contact with the exercise floor surface to generate a vertical platform resistive restoring force when the platform is downwardly compressed. The ends of the platform are freely movably mounted within the housings to permit longitudinal movement of the platform ends therein when a vertical force is applied to the platform.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Technical Field 
This invention relates to an improved, adjustable, recoiling aerobic 
exercise step bench. Adjustable height, aerobic step benches are widely 
accepted as a preferred means to facilitate aerobic training through 
exercise. 
2. Background Information 
Various types of step benches are available for use in an aerobic exercise 
program, in both the home and professional gym environments. Many of these 
devices provide for variation of the exercise intensity by providing 
adjustability of the bench height. However, recently the fitness industry 
has popularized a new aerobic stepping technique termed "power stepping." 
The conventional step aerobic exercises involve a simplistic step-up and 
step-down exercise technique. Power stepping technique is a substantially 
higher intensity and aggressive variation of the conventional technique 
and is best described as the vertical or lateral catapulting of the user's 
body off of the bench platform. The exerciser increases the lower limb 
range of motion and the speed of the muscle contraction and thereby the 
explosive force generated by the leverage of the joints and by the muscles 
of the lower limbs and buttocks. This power stepping is similar to the 
leap of a basketball player from a crouch prior to initiating a vertical 
leap toward a basket. Power stepping dramatically increases the aerobic 
intensity of the exercise as compared to a conventional bench stepping 
technique. However, the generation and transmission of the impaction 
forces to the exerciser's lower limb and spinal joints is proportionately 
increased with the power stepping technique. 
It is well-documented that activities which generate and transmit impaction 
forces to the body's joints, such as jogging, are detrimental to the 
exerciser's joints. The avoidance or dampening of the generation or 
transmission of the impaction forces with respect to these types of 
exercising is therefore a desirable effect. 
Various, related prior art exercise benches are known. However, none of 
these benches effectively address the problems associated with the 
generation and transmission of impaction forces to the exerciser's joints 
during their operation, especially during power stepping exercises. 
Certain prior art devices can reduce the potential for the generation and 
transmission of impaction forces; however, their inherent designs prohibit 
adaptation for use in a exercise bench. 
There is, therefore, a need for a recoiling, aerobic exercise bench which 
effectively reduces the impaction forces generated by the operation of the 
bench and/or transmitted to the user's body joints while permitting 
variation in the intensity of the exercise by providing adjustability of 
the bench height. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a 
recoiling, adjustable aerobic bench which is an improvement over existing 
devices due to effectively reducing the physiologic stress associated with 
the generation of joint impaction forces while performing the conventional 
aerobic bench stepping exercise technique or the power stepping aerobic 
exercise technique. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a recoiling, 
adjustable bench device which remains stable and restricts creeping of the 
device along the exercise floor surface as the user reciprocally steps on 
and off of the device. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a recoiling, 
adjustable bench device which may be selectively and incrementally 
adjusted in its height to thereby permit sequential increases in the 
intensity of the associated exercise. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a bench device which may be 
manufactured in two sizes: a shorter, compact size for home or apartment 
use and a longer size for use in the professional gym setting. 
A still further objective of the invention is to provide a bench device in 
which the ends of an arcuate platform are slidably mounted or "floating" 
in a pair of spaced end supporting members to permit a flattening movement 
of the platform when experiences vertical forces thereon and to prevent 
tipping of the bench. 
Still a further object of the invention is to provide a bench device which 
is simple to manufacture, affordable, light-weight, yet durable and 
reliable. 
Other objects of the invention will become evident when the following 
description of this invention is considered with the accompanying 
drawings. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention overcomes inadequacies of conventional aerobic bench 
devices by providing an easy to manufacture, light-weight, yet durable and 
stable recoiling, adjustable climbing exercise bench which effectively 
reduces the generation and transmission of impaction forces to the joints 
of the foot, knee, hip, pelvis and spine of a user while performing 
conventional or power stepping aerobic exercises, and including a 
provision for variably increasing the intensity of the exercise by the 
selective raising or lower of the bench platform height. 
Accordingly, in general terms the device includes: a resilient, upwardly 
arched platform, slidingly mounted within a channel of a left and right 
housing, a means for vertically and horizontally anchoring the platform, 
i.e., maintaining a stationary position of the platform with respect to a 
exercise floor surface; lateral recoiling assemblies disposed within the 
housing channels adapted to generate a lateral resistive restoring force 
to the elongation of the platform during operation of the device; vertical 
recoiling assemblies having top ends secured to the platform undersurface 
and bottom ends in constant contact with the exercise floor surface and 
adapted to generate a vertical resistive restoring force to counter the 
downward displacement of the platform during operation of the device; a 
stop member mounted on each of vertical recoiling assembly and adapted to 
limiting the downward compression of the platform during operation of the 
device; and risers for variably adjusting the height of the device. 
In more detail, the preferred embodiment of the present invention 
comprises: a substantially resilient, upwardly arched platform including 
substantially rounded end retainer bars rigidly attached at the left and a 
right platform ends and slidingly mounted within left and right channels 
formed within a left and right housing so as to retain the platform above, 
an exercise floor surface, the housings having a lateral wall inclined 
from vertical at an acute angle so as to improve stability of the device 
during use; an elastomeric strip disposed within the left and right 
channels of the housings, between the end retainer bars and inside lateral 
walls of the housings, so as to form a lateral recoiling assemblies 
adapted to generate lateral, resistive, restoring forces against the 
platform during operation of the device housing end caps adapted to 
horizontally retain the platform within the channels of the housings; a 
plurality of rigid tubular spring retainers, being of sufficient length 
and adapted to maintain constant contact with the exercise floor surface 
during operation of the device; a non-skid shoe mounted to the bottom end 
of the spring retainer so as to protect the floor surface and resist 
tipping or creeping of the device during use; a spring of predetermined 
compressibility mounted within the spring retainers and adapted to resist 
downward movement of the platform and thereby to generate a vertical 
recoiling of the platform during operation of the device; a shock 
absorbing rubber cylindrical collar, including a circular bore, slidingly 
disposed on the spring retainers so as to limit the downward; a plurality 
of attachable risers adapted to be selectively mountable to the left and 
right housings by the interengagement of groove mounting elements provided 
on the undersurface of the housings with a corresponding tongue mounting 
provided on a top surface of the risers so as to permit the risers to be 
slidably engaged in a locking position with the housings, and including 
additional risers having corresponding grooves and tongues on their bottom 
and top surfaces so as to permit the selective mounting of risers to 
risers; and also including a plurality of risers adapted to be mountable 
to the bottom end of the spring retainers to permit a uniform, incremental 
adjustment in the platform height of the bench device. 
In a further embodiment, the present invention comprises: first and second 
end members; an arcuate flexible platform having a top surface and a pair 
of ends; and retention means for retaining each of the platform ends 
within a respective one of the end members and for permitting outward 
movement of said platform ends within said end members when a vertical 
force is applied on the top surface of said platform.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
While the present invention is open to various modifications and 
alternative constructions, the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings 
will be described herein in detail. It is to be understood, however, there 
is no intention to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed. 
On the contrary, it is intended that the invention cover all 
modifications, equivalents and alternative constructions falling within 
the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended 
claims. 
As shown in FIGS. 1-3, a recoiling adjustable aerobic exercise bench 20 
includes a resilient platform 22 of predetermined length and width 
sufficient to permit a full range of exercise movements associated with 
conventional and power step aerobic exercising. Platform 22 is preferably 
upwardly arched in cross-section with respect to the exercise floor 
surface 42 and with the apex 21 positioned intermediate the length of the 
platform 22. The platform 22 can be made using other cross-sectional 
configurations so long as the platform 22 cooperates with other components 
of the bench 20 to permit recoiling of the platform 22 during use of the 
bench 20. Platform 22 is preferably fabricated from a resilient and 
flexible plastic, although virtually any other resilient and flexible 
material, such as plywood, a laminated wood panel, and some metals or 
various woods, may be used. 
Referring to FIG. 2 left end 24 and right end 26 of platform 22 include 
left and right platform retainer bars 28 and 30, respectively. The bars 
28, 30 are substantially round in cross section and have a diameter large 
enough to keep them retained in channels 32, 34. The left and right 
channels 32 and 34, respectively, are integrally formed in the interior of 
left and right housings 36 and 38, respectively, and are of a sufficient 
size to permit longitudinal sliding movement of the platform ends therein 
upon the platform experiencing a downward force. The housings are 
preferably trapezoid in cross-section, with the bottom dimension greater 
than the top dimension, to provide increased stability. The bars 28 and 30 
are, preferably, securely attached to platform ends 24 and 26, 
respectively, by an conventional means, but may alternately be integrally 
formed at the platform ends 24 and 26. Housings 36 and 38 include 
laterally and downwardly sloping lateral walls 37 and 39 which function to 
improve stability and prevent creeping of the bench 20 along exercise 
floor surface 42 during use. 
Bottom surfaces 106, 107 of the left and right housings 36 and 38, 
respectively, include grooves 104 and 105. The grooves 104, 105 are sized 
to accommodate complimentary tongues 108 and 109 on the top surfaces of 
risers 102 and 103. A plurality of risers 102 and 103 may be used to 
provide for adjustment of the height of the platform 22 above the floor 
42. The tongue and groove features of the housings and risers 102 and 103 
may have virtually any cross-sectional shape so long as they function to 
reliably fasten risers 102 and 103 to each other and the risers 102 and 
103 to the housings 36 and 38. The grooves are preferably integrally 
formed in bottom surface 106 and 107 of the housings and on top surface 
112 of the risers 102 and 103 so as to permit adjustment of the height of 
the housings 36 and 38 of the bench 20. Housings 36 and 38 and the risers 
102 and 103 preferably are made from a substantially rigid material such 
as plastic, wood or metals sufficiently strong enough to vertically 
support and laterally secure platform 22 at a pre-determined distance 
above the floor surface 42 during use. 
As best seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, end caps 54, 55 are connected to open 
ends 56, 57 located at front edges 58, 59 and back edges 60, 61 of the 
housings 36 and 38 by any conventional means, such as by press fitting or 
by gluing. The end caps are sized and shaped to cover the openings and may 
be made from any material sufficiently rigid enough to prevent the left 
and right end retainer bars 28 and 30 from sliding laterally out of the 
channels 32 and 34 of housings 36 and 38, respectively, during use. 
Referring to FIGS. 2, 7 and 8, lateral recoil assemblies 52, 53 include 
left and right elastomeric strip 44 and 46, respectively. The strips are 
of pre-determined compressibility and memory, disposed within lengthwise 
channels 32 and 34 of housings 36 and 38 and between inside lateral walls 
48, 49 of the channels 32 and 34 and the retainer bars 28 and 30 of 
platform 22, respectively. In FIG. 8, the strips 44, 46 are shown 
compressed and in FIG. 7 are shown relaxed. The strips function to resist 
the lateral forces generated by movement of arched platform 22 when 
platform 22 is downwardly compressed as shown in the direction of arrow 86 
in FIG. 8. The strips also function to recoil platform 22 to its original 
shape as shown in FIG. 7. Elastomeric strips 44 and 46 may alternatively 
comprise springs, air cylinders or equivalents, so long as the strips 
function to provide lateral platform resistive and/or restoring forces to 
the platform 22 during operation of the bench 20. Alternatively, lateral 
recoiling means 52 and 53 may be eliminated if platform 22 has sufficient 
resiliency recovery to return to its original shape after outward movement 
of its ends within channels 32 and 34. 
As best seen in FIGS. 4, 6, 7 and 8, a vertical recoil assembly 62 includes 
a rigid tubular spring retainer 64 formed by the rigid upper tube 66, 
which telescopes over rigid lower tube 68 of a smaller diameter. A top end 
70 of the upper spring retainer tube 66 is mounted on undersurface 76 of 
platform 22. Preferably at least two vertical recoil assemblies 62 are 
fastened to the undersurface 76 of the platform. For example, assemblies 
62 may be mounted intermediate the length of platform 22, at front edge 72 
and at back edge 74, with a connecting plate or bar 75 spanning the 
platform 22 width and rigidly connecting spring retainers 64 at the top 
ends 70 so as to evenly distribute the downward compression forces, shown 
by arrow 86, exerted by the platform 22 into the vertical recoil assembly 
62 during use of the bench 20. Bottom end 78 of the upper retainer tube 66 
receives and engages with a top end 80 of the lower retainer tube 68 in a 
conventional manner, such as with complimentary inner and outer lips, or 
flanged ends, respectively. The length of the telescoping upper tube 66 
and lower tube 68 is sufficient to maintain bottom end 82 of the lower 
retainer tube 68 in constant contact with the exercise floor surface 42 
through a non-skid shoe 88. Shoe 88, of a predetermined length, functions 
to protect the exercise floor surface 42 and resist creeping o the bench 
20 along the floor surface 42. Shoe 88, of course, may be made of 
different lengths, and/or made to be adjustable in height so as to provide 
for the selective, uniform and incremental raising of the bench 20 to 
thereby provide for variation in the intensity of the exercise by 
providing for adjustment of the vertical distance of motion permitted the 
platform 22 during use. Spring retainer 64 is preferably formed of metal 
but may be formed from any substantially rigid material including numerous 
plastics. 
In each assembly 62 a spring 90, of pre-determined load capability, spring 
constant and size is mounted within the tubular spring retainer 64. Spring 
90 functions to resist the downward compression, shown at arrow 86 in FIG. 
8, of platform 22 and to restore platform 22 to its original shape as at 
arrow 84 during operation of the bench 20. Air cylinders or other 
equivalent means may be used as substitutes for the springs 90, so long as 
they function to resist compression of platform 22 and restore platform 22 
to its original configuration during operation of the bench 20. 
Referring to FIG. 4, rubber, shock absorbing cylindrical collar 96, 
including a circular bore 98 is slidingly disposed around the lower 
retainer shaft 68 of the assembly 62. The collar functions to limit 
downward travel of the upper retainer shaft 66 on the lower shaft 68 by 
the abutment of the bottom end 78 of the upper tube 66 with a upper end 
surface 100 of collar 96 when the platform 22 is fully compressed. The 
maximum length of downward travel of spring retainer 64 is determined by 
the vertical dimension of collar 96. A plurality of cylindrically shaped 
rubber stoppers 101, shown in FIG. 6, may be selectively mounted between 
any two or more coils of spring 90 so as to stiffen springs 90 and thereby 
permit adjustment of the compressionability of spring 90 and to 
accommodate exercisers 118 of different body weight. Spring 90 may 
alternatively be substituted with an elastomeric material, air cylinder or 
other equivalent means so as to eliminate the need for spring retainer 64, 
collar 96 and stopper 101 so long as the vertical recoil assembly 62 has 
recoiling properties sufficient to function as a platform resistive and 
restoring force during operation of the bench 20. Spring 90 may be made 
from any compressible shock absorbing material suitable for spring 
construction. Stopper 101 may be made from any substantially stiff 
material. 
As best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the left risers 102 and right risers 103 
include tongues 108, 109 integrally formed in top surfaces 112 and 
complimentary grooves 110, 111 integrally formed in bottom surface 114 of 
the risers 102 and 103 so as to permit the selective attachment of risers 
102 to the bottom surface 106, 107 of the housings. Selective attachment 
of a additional left and right risers 102 and 103 to the bottom surface 
114 of attached risers 102 and 103 may also be accomplished in a similar 
fashion and as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. Also, non-skid shoes 88 of 
varying dimensions may be attached to the bottom ends 82 of spring 
retainer 64 so as to provide for the incremental raising or lowering of 
the platform 22 of the bench 20. The risers 102 and 103 attached to the 
bottom surface 114 of the risers 102 and 103, combined with the plurality 
of variable height, non-skid shoes 88 attached to the bottom ends 82 of 
spring retainers 64 provide for the incremental raising or lowering of the 
platform 22 of the bench 20. The risers 102 and 103 and shoes 88 may be 
formed of any substantially rigid material such as rubber, plastic, wood 
or metal. 
Where used here to describe the preferred embodiment, the terms "integral" 
and "integrally formed" mean that the parts referred to are portions of a 
single unit, preferably a plastic, wood or metal material, and formed 
using an injection molding, blow molding, extrusion molding or casting 
molding fabrication process. However, other forms of attachment may be 
suitable, consistent with minimizing production cost and enhancing 
reliability. The term "rigid" means that the parts referred to are 
preferably made of tubular-shaped plastic or metal materials. The terms 
"rigidly attached" or "rigid attachment" means that the parts referred to 
are screwed, glued or otherwise fastened together. 
Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, operation of the bench 20 of the present 
invention will be described. A person 118 is shown stepping onto, and off 
from, the platform 22 of the bench 20 after adjustment of the platform 22 
height by the selective attachment or detachment of left and right risers 
103, 103 to the undersurfaces 106 of the housings 34 and 36, respectively. 
The attachment of risers 102, 103 to the housings and the selective 
attachment of shoes 88 to the bottom end 82 of spring retainers 64 is 
accomplished so as to select the desired exercise intensity, according to 
the platform 22 height. The platform 22 is shown in FIG. 9 in a relaxed 
position wherein no weight is borne on the platform 22 and in FIG. 10 is 
shown in a fully compressed position. It may be seen that platform 22 
distorts or flattens, under the user's body weight, by the flattening of 
the platform 22 arch toward the floor surface 42 and by the lateral 
movement of the edges of the platform 22 into the channels 32 and 34 of 
housings 36 and 38 and against the elastomeric strips 44 and 46 supported 
by the inside wall 48, 49 of the channels 32 and 34. The combined 
operation of the housings 36 and 38, the channels 32 and 34, the recoiling 
elastomeric strips 44 and 46, the telescoping recoiling spring retainers 
64 and springs 90 permit the lateral and vertical distortion of the 
platform 22 while preventing the creeping of the bench 20 along the floor 
surface 42. 
In use, the exerciser's 118 stepping maneuvers are assisted by the 
recoiling response of the platform 22. Immediately upon stepping onto the 
platform 22, the exerciser 118 initiates an upward thrusting of his or her 
body, the bottoming out of the spring retainer downward travel 94 being 
prevented by springs 90, collar 96, stoppers 101, and shoes 88. The 
springs 90 are preferably of sufficient compression strength so as to 
counter the exerciser's 118 weight. The compression strength and operation 
of the springs may be modified by the selective attachment of rubber 
stoppers 101 between any two coils of springs 90. Also, abutment of the 
upper spring retainer shafts 66 into the top end surface 100 of collars 96 
contribute to the operation of the device by further limiting and 
modifying the vertical travel of the platform 22, and in conjunction with 
the rapidity of the exerciser's movements, provide a springing assistance 
to the exerciser's 118 stepping maneuvers as the exerciser 118 performs 
power step exercises on platform 22, thereby effectively reducing the 
generation and the transmission of impaction forces to the body joints of 
the exerciser 118. 
A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 11, and is 
indicated generally at 120. Exercise bench 120 is similar to exercise 
bench 20 described hereinabove in that it includes an arcuate platform 
121, a right housing 122, a left housing 123 and a vertical recoil 
assembly 124. 
Platform 121 includes a top surface 125, spaced apart longitudinal 
generally parallel side edges 126, and spaced apart ends 127 normal to 
edges 126 (FIG. 12). Top surface 125 includes a non-skid coating 128. 
Longitudinal edges 126 include bevels 129 extending away from top surface 
125 and along the platform 121 intermediate right housing 122 and left 
housing 123. Bevels 129 increase the spring rate and strength of platform 
121 thereby permitting a constant platform strength and spring rate even 
if the platform thickness is reduced. 
Referring to FIGS. 12-13, right housing 122 and left housing 123 each 
include a sloped inner wall 130 formed with a double-blind slot 131 and a 
bottom wall 144 for supporting the bench on a support surface. Each end of 
each slot 131 terminates at a shoulder 132 (FIG. 11) and is of a size and 
configuration sufficient to slidably receive a corresponding end 127 of 
platform 121 therein. Moreover, slot 131 provides a void 133 between each 
end 127 of platform 121 and the corresponding right or left housing 122 
and 123 for purposes which will become more apparent hereinbelow. 
Both right and left housings 122 and 123, respectively, include a hole 134 
which receives a rigid stretcher bar 135 therein (FIGS. 12-13). A set 
screw 136 retains an end of stretcher bar 135 within each hole 134. As 
should be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, stretcher bar 135 
may have a variety of configurations without departing from the spirit of 
the present invention, with a square bar being shown in the preferred 
embodiment. Stretcher bar 135 stabilizes the bench by preventing the lower 
portions of housing 122 and 123 from attempting to pivot outwardly when a 
downward force is exerted on the platform. 
Vertical recoil assembly 124 includes a trapezoidal-shaped leg 137 having a 
through aperture 138 for receiving stretcher bar 135 (FIG. 15). A pair of 
cutouts 143 (FIG. 15) is formed in leg 137 to increase its stability if 
used on an uneven support surface. A set screw 139 retains stretcher bar 
135 in an aperture 138 of leg 137. As should be apparent to one of 
ordinary skill in the art, stretcher bar 135 may be a rigid one-piece 
member extending between holes 134 in right housing 122 and left housing 
123. Alternatively, stretcher bar may be two bars, one bar extending 
between right housing 122 and leg 137, and a second bar extending between 
leg 137 and left housing 123 without departing from the spirit of the 
present invention. 
A spring member 142 is supported on leg 137 and is positioned intermediate 
leg 137 and the bottom surface of platform 121. While a variety of spring 
members may be utilized without departing from the spirit of the present 
invention, a foam block 140 is utilized in the preferred embodiment. Foam 
block 140 has a predetermined spring rate and may be easily interchanged 
with foam blocks of varying spring rates to provide exercise bench 120 
with a variety of resistance levels to the user. As shown specifically in 
FIG. 15, foam block 140 extends substantially along the entire length of 
leg 137, and the entire width of platform 121. 
A riser 141, one type of which is shown in FIG. 16, may be placed under 
each of the right and left housings 122 and 123, respectively, and under 
leg 137 to increase the operating height of exercise bench 120. Such an 
increase will increase the intensity of the workout. 
In operation, when a user steps onto exercise bench 120, the curvature of 
platform 121 will compress overcoming the internal spring resistance 
thereof as well as the resistance of vertical recoil assembly 124. As 
weight is applied to platform 121, it will collapse under the user's 
weight and flatten relative to its normal flexed position as previously 
described. Platform 121 will then elongate and the ends thereof will 
extend into voids 133 formed between platform ends 127 and the bottoms of 
slots 131. Shoulders 132 will prevent lateral movement of the platform 
within slots 131. Thus, the platform ends "float" within the spaced end 
supporting platforms and are not fixed as in most prior art exercise 
benches. 
A third embodiment of the exercise bench is indicated generally at 145, and 
is shown in FIGS. 17 and 17A. Bench 145 includes a substantially 
rectangular flat planar base 146 and a pair of identical end members 147. 
Each end member 147 includes an upstanding generally rectangular-shaped 
support 148 formed with a transversely extended through slot 149. A 
arcuate-shaped resilient platform 150 generally similar to platforms 22 
and 121 discussed above, has a pair of ends 151 which are slidably mounted 
in and extend through slots 149. The slidable mounting of platform ends 
151 in the slots of end member supports 148 provides for the sliding or 
"floating" mounting of the platform with respect to the base so that upon 
a vertical force being exerted on the top surface of platform 150, the 
ends will move slightly outwardly as the platform flattens, as shown by 
dot-dash lines 153 (FIG. 17A). Again, this increases the resiliency of the 
platform and has been found to prevent tipping of the platform when the 
vertical load is applied off center from the longitudinal centerline of 
the platform. A vertical recoil assembly 154, which may be similar to 
recoil assembly of FIGS. 1-10, preferably is mounted beneath the center of 
platform 150 and rests upon the top surface of base 146. 
A fourth embodiment of the exercise bench of the present invention is 
indicated generally at 160, and is shown in FIGS. 18 and 18A. Bench 160 
includes a platform 161 similar to the previously described platforms, 
with its ends 162 being slidably mounted and trapped within a pair of end 
members, each of which is indicated generally at 163. Each end member 163 
includes an internal wedge-shaped block 164, preferably formed of a rigid 
plastic, which is mounted within the interior of a U-shaped housing 165. 
Block 164 can be slidably mounted through the open end 166 of housing 165 
and secured therein by a plurality of fasteners 167 or other types of 
retaining means. A pair of retaining or stretcher bars 168, only one of 
which is shown in FIG. 18, extend between and interconnect housings 165. 
Bars 168 may be separate members formed of plastic, metal, wood or the 
like, or could be molded integrally with housing 165 which in the 
preferred embodiment would be a rigid plastic. 
Again, in accordance with one of the main feature of the invention, 
platform ends 162 are slidably movably mounted within slots 169 formed in 
blocks 164. As shown in FIG. 18A, slots 169 have a sufficient depth to 
provide a void 170 between the end edges of platform 169 when it is in its 
normal at-rest state, in order to permit the ends to slide in slots 169 
upon a vertical force being applied to the platform and the platform 
moving towards a flatter condition. A vertical recoil assembly 172 will 
extend between the underside surface of the center of platform 165 and the 
supporting floor or surface to assist in absorbing vertical forces. 
A fifth embodiment of the improved exercise bench is indicated generally at 
175 and is shown in FIGS. 19 and 19A. Bench 175 includes a usual platform 
176, the ends 177 of which are retained within a U-shaped channel 178 or 
similar structure which, in turn, is seated within elongated slots 179 
formed in a plurality of spaced rollers 180. Rollers 180 preferably are 
formed of a rigid plastic material and have a cylindrical configuration. 
Rollers 180 are mounted in end members, indicated generally at 181, which 
include a top portion 182 formed with a concave recess 183, in which 
rollers 180 are placed. A pair of retaining or stretcher bars 184, only 
one of which is shown in FIG. 19, may be formed integrally with top 
portion 182 and extend longitudinally between the spaced end members to 
provide a rigid supporting base for bench 175. The mounting of rollers 180 
on the ends of platform 176 again provides the desired "floating" movement 
of the platform with respect to the end members. It is readily seen that 
when a vertical force is applied to platform 176, the platform will tend 
to flatten out and thus will move rollers 180 slightly outwardly within 
concave recesses 183, as shown by dot-dash lines in FIG. 19A. Again, it 
has been found that this floating movement of the platform ends within the 
spaced end members increases the resiliency of the platform, and more 
importantly, prevents the platform from tipping when the user steps on the 
platform at an off-center position. 
A resilient pad of material 185, preferably having a shape complementary to 
that of end members 181, is mounted on the bottom surfaces of members 181 
in order to provide a non-skid, anti-creep surface to the exercise bench. 
A vertical recoil assembly 187 preferably will be used with bench 175, as 
with the previous bench constructions discussed above. 
Again, each of the various embodiments shown in the drawings and discussed 
above provides for the floating or slidably movable mounting of the 
platform ends in the end members to assist in absorbing the force exerted 
on the platform, but most importantly, preventing the tipping of the bench 
when stepped upon in an off-center position by a user, since the platform 
ends will slide and move outwardly within the end members in relationship 
to the unbalanced forces exerted thereon by such an uncentered vertically 
applied force. The platforms for the various embodiments discussed above 
preferably have a length which is approximately two and one-half times the 
transverse width. 
Accordingly, the recoiling exercise bench is simplified, provides an 
effective, safe, inexpensive, and efficient device which achieves all the 
enumerated objectives, provides for eliminating difficulties encountered 
with prior devices, and solves problems and obtains new results in the 
art. 
In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, 
clearness and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be 
implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art, because such 
terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly 
construed. 
Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of 
example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact 
details shown or described. 
Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the 
invention, the manner in which the improved recoiling exercise bench is 
constructed and used, the characteristics of the construction, and the 
advantageous, new and useful results obtained; the new and useful 
structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts and combinations, are 
set forth in the appended claims.