Passive exercising apparatus

A passive exercising apparatus comprising a first stationary horizontal platform connected to a second platform forming a lengthwise extension of the first platform and connected thereto for relatively pivotal or rotative movement. A drive mechanism is supported below the second platform and includes adjustable linkages enabling the second platform to be selectively pivoted up and down or back and forth around its central longitudinal axis so as to vary the type of exercise obtained.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The invention relates broadly to exercising apparatus and more specifically 
to passive exercising apparatus of the type in which selected portions of 
a person's body are moved relative to other portions while the body rests 
on platforms that move relative to each other. 
BACKGROUND ART 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,674,017 teaches a passive exercising apparatus which moves 
the torso with respect to the legs or from a prone to a sitting position. 
The apparatus of the patent incorporates a first stationary table and a 
second table which pivots relative to the first. While such an apparatus 
is useful for invalids as well as overweight persons desiring to lose 
weight, it does not allow the body to be twisted or to be simultaneously 
twisted and pivoted to enhance exercising of stomach and back muscles. 
Also, the apparatus disclosed in this patent is not able to pivot any 
portion of the body below a horizontal plane. While the passive exercising 
apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 2,598,204 allows portions of the body to be 
pivoted below a horizontal plane, such apparatus does not provide for 
twisting of the body or for simultaneously twisting and pivoting. U.S. 
Pat. No. 2,494,746 also teaches a passive exercising apparatus which 
imparts vertical and horizontal reciprocating as well as circular motion 
to a table. However, this last mentioned apparatus cannot be adjusted so 
as to selectively deliver either a pivoting or twisting motion, or both 
pivoting and twisting motions simultaneously. U.S. Pat. No. 3,472,222 
teaches twisting the head only but otherwise lacks the ability to pivot or 
twist major portions of the body. U.S. Pat. No. 3,735,754 teaches use of 
four reciprocating platforms but with no ability to pivot or twist the 
body. 
While other prior art might be described, the foregoing is believed to be 
sufficiently representative of the state of the art and a need for a 
further improved passive exercising apparatus meeting the described 
deficiencies of the prior passive exercising machines. The provision of 
such an improved passive exercise machine thus becomes a primary object of 
the invention. Other objects will become apparent as the description 
proceeds. 
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
The apparatus of the invention incorporates a fixed table supported on a 
frame and a movable table supported on adjustable length linkages operated 
by either one or the other of two sets of crank arms of different length. 
One set of crank arms is 180.degree. out of phase with the other set. The 
crank arms are driven through a motor drive mounted on a frame which can 
be rotated 90.degree. to bring the two sets of crank arms into either of 
two modes of operation. The fixed table connects to and supports the 
movable table through a connection which can both pivot and rotate. One 
mode of operation enables the movable table to be pivoted about a fixed 
longitudinal central axis and in a relatively high or relatively low 
pivoting motion dependent on how the linkages are connected. In another 
mode of operation, the linkages can be connected so as to either pivot the 
movable platform around a fixed horizontal axis at one end of the fixed 
platform or pivot the movable platform around a central longitudinal axis 
to twist the body or simultaneously pivot and twist the selected portion 
of the body. Combined foot rest and hand holds provide variations on the 
described exercises.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
Making reference to the drawings, exercise machine 20 of the invention 
comprises a fixed table 22 formed of sheet metal or other relatively rigid 
sheet material, vertical frame supports 24 and a connecting lower brace 
26. Fixed table 22 has mounted thereon a suitable cushion 30 and an 
adjustable foot rest 32. Table 22 is connected to another movable table 34 
also formed of sheet metal or comparable rigid sheet material. The 
connection between fixed table 22 and movable table 34 comprises a shaft 
40 fixedly secured beneath table 34 and having a fork 42 which receives a 
mating shaft portion 46 connected to a circular rod 48 mounted for 
rotation in bearings 50, 52 supported beneath the fixed table 22. Fork 42 
and mating portion 46 are connected together for pivotal movement through 
pin 44. Thus, movable table 22 is able to both pivot around the axis of 
shaft 40 which passes through the longitudinal central axis of table 34 or 
pivot around the horizontal axis passing through pin 44 which is 
perpendicular to the axis of shaft 40. A hinge mounted cover 60 extending 
for the width of the movable table 34 provides back support when the 
movable table is raised, and covers the connection between the fixed table 
22 and movable table 34. (See FIGS. 1 and 4). 
The drive mechanism 70 (FIG. 3) comprises a variable speed motor 72, gear 
box 74 and motor control 76. Motor 72 through gear box 74 drives sprocket 
80 through connecting chain 82 to rotate the relatively long crank arms 
84, 86, each provided with a set of link pin holes 88. Shaft 90, which 
mounts and drives the relatively long crank arms 84, 86, mounts a sprocket 
92 which drives chain 94 connected to drive sprocket 96 on shaft 98 spaced 
apart from and parallel to shaft 90. Shaft 98 in turn mounts and drives a 
pair of relatively short crank arms 100, 102 having link pin holes 89. 
Crank arms 100, 102 are effectively 180.degree. out of phase with 
relatively long crank arms 84, 86. That is, when relatively long crank 
arms 84, 86 are up, relatively short crank arms 100, 102 are down. Motor 
72 and gear box 74 are mounted on a "Lazy Susan" type platform 106 which 
can be rotated 90.degree. relative to supporting frame members 108, 110 
and releasably locked by screws, or the like, not shown. Thus, drive 
mechanism 70 can assume either the crosswise position as in FIGS. 1, 2 and 
3 or the relatively lengthwise position as in FIGS. 4 and 5. 
Connections between relatively long crank arms 84, 86 and relatively short 
crank arms 100, 102 are made through use of linkages which connect 
respective crank arms to respective bearing connections beneath movable 
table 34. Such linkages include a pair of relatively short linkages 120, 
122 extending from shafts 124, 126 mounted in bearings 128, 130 and shown 
in an inoperative position in FIG. 5 connected together by a bolt and wing 
nut fastener 134. Another set of similar short linkages includes linkage 
140 mounted on shaft 142 supported in bearing 144 and linkage 146 
supported on shaft 148 mounted in the bearing 150. Short linkages 140 and 
146 are in a stored position as seen in FIG. 5. Each of the linkages 120,. 
122, 140, 146 shown in a stored position in FIG. 5 have a series of link 
pin holes as illustrated in FIG. 2. 
Another set of relatively long linkages comprises linkage 160 mounted on 
shaft 162 supported in bearing 164. A comparable linkage also seen in FIG. 
5 comprises linkage 170 mounted on shaft 172 supported in bearing 174. It 
will be noted that shafts 124, 126 on the relatively short linkages 120, 
122 rotate on laterally spaced parallel axes X1 and X2 which are parallel 
to the central longitudinal axis X5 of table 34. In contrast, shafts 162 
and 172 on the relatively long linkages 160, 170 rotate on axes X3, X4 
which are perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis X5 of the movable 
table 34. Linkages 160, 170 when not in use as in FIG. 1 are held out of 
position by rod 161. 
Operation of motor 72 is controlled by a suitably located switch 180. 
During operation cushion 31 mounts on table 33 supported by sets of 
rollers 35 mounted to travel in a pair of parallel tracks 37 (FIG. 7) 
secured to the upper surface of table 34. Thus, cushion 31 and the portion 
of the body supported thereon are able to move relative to table 34 when 
table 34 is pivoting up and down. A removable support stand 39 provides 
end support for the mode of operation depicted in FIG. 1. 
The passive exercising apparatus of the invention provides a wide variety 
of exercises which can be varied by locating drive mechanism 70 either in 
the relatively crosswise position as in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 or in the 
relatively lengthwise position as in FIGS. 4 and 5. For example, when 
drive mechanism 70 is in the relatively crosswise position as in FIGS. 1, 
2 and 3 the linkages are connected as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 which 
effectively provides a pivoting action of table 34 relative to the fixed 
table 22 with end support being furnished by stand 39. Thus, the user by 
placing the upper portion of his body on cushion 31 and the lower portion 
on cushion 30 can obtain an effective twisting action of the upper portion 
relative to the lower portion. Alternatively, the user may place the upper 
portion of his body on cushion 30 and the lower portion on cushion 31 and 
obtain a relative twisting action of the lower portion relative to the 
upper portion of the body. The relative position of the linkages on the 
respective long and short crank arms 84, 86, 100, 102 can be varied by 
proper choice of the location of the connecting pins 190 (FIG. 2) in the 
respective holes provided in the various crank arms and linkages. A 
relatively high pivotal action or relatively low pivotal action can thus 
be obtained in the mode of operation depicted in FIG. 2 for example. 
In the mode of operation depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5 in which the drive 
mechanism 70 is in a relatively lengthwise position, only the relatively 
long linkages 160, 170 are employed and the relatively short linkages 120, 
122, 140, 146 are stored as in FIG. 5. In one form of passive exercise as 
best seen in FIG. 4, the respective long linkages 160, 170 are mounted in 
their extreme positions on the relatively long crank arms 84, 86 thus 
providing a maximum amount of upward tilting of movable platform 34 as 
seen in FIG. 4. The user can employ this mode of operation either by 
placing the upper part of his body on the cushion 31 and the lower portion 
of his body on cushion 30 or alternatively by placing the lower portion of 
the body on cushion 31 and the upper portion on cushion 30. In either 
event as table 34 moves up and down cushion 31 moves back and forth 
relative to table 34 by means of table 33 gliding on rails 37 through the 
support provided by rollers 35. When the user supports the upper portion 
of his body on cushion 30 his feet can be supported in the combination 
foot and hand rests 41, 43 so as to effectively obtain a knee bending 
action. By appropriate adjustment of the linkages on the crank arms, the 
movable platform 34 can be caused to move above or below the horizontal 
plane and effect corresponding relatively small or relatively large bends 
of the body portions being exercised. 
A twisting action of table 34 is readily obtained in the mode of operation 
as seen in FIG. 4 by adjusting the respective relatively long linkages 
160, 170 in different positions on the respective relatively long crank 
arms 84, 86. Thus, a combined vertical up and down pivoting action with a 
twisting type action is readily obtainable. 
In summary, it can be seen that a substantially improved passive exercising 
apparatus has been provided in which any of a variety of pivotal, twisting 
or combined pivotal and twisting motions can be obtained. Thus, the 
invention apparatus, unlike the prior art apparatus adapts to a 
substantially wide range of exercising conditions, up and down pivoting 
with no twisting above or below the fixed platform, up and down pivoting 
with twisting above or below the fixed platform, a straight sit-up-type 
exercise or a sit-up-type exercise in which the person's head is on the 
fixed platform and the hands grasp the hand holds 41, 43 or, 
alternatively, the feet are supported on the linkages for relatively small 
pivoting with no twisting either above or below the horizontal plane, 
further variation can be obtained by lying either face down or face up.