Patent ID: 8025608

Claim:
An exercise apparatus for permitting a user to exercise by pulling on a continuous rope comprising: a. a frame, said frame comprising: i. main chassis where rope control mechanisms are attached; ii. a platform that remains positioned beneath the user during use; and iii. a boom member, said boom member forming a lower end and an upper end; and iv. a boom pulley located along the boom; b. a length of rope, wherein said rope forms a loop; c. a plurality of pulleys, wherein each of said plurality of pulleys, and said boom pulley, are configured to rotate while in contact with said rope during use; d. a braking mechanism that applies resistance to the rope as the rope is pulled by the user; and e. a governor that controls the braking mechanism during use, said governor comprising: i. a governor tube, wherein the governor tube spins during use, and wherein changes in the pulling force applied by the user cause acceleration or deceleration of the spinning governor tube; ii. a main hub connected to the governor tube, wherein the main hub spins during use; iii. a plurality of mounting brackets, each connected to the governor tube, said mounting brackets comprising an upper end and a lower end; iv. one or more weights, wherein each weight is connected to the upper end of the mounting brackets; v. wherein the weights are allowed to rotate about an axis, said axis separating the upper end and the lower end of the mounting bracket; vi. wherein the weights are subjected to centrifugal force caused by the acceleration or deceleration of the spinning main hub during use; vii. wherein acceleration of the main hub causes the weights to rotate the mounting bracket about its axis; and viii. wherein the rotation of the mounting bracket about its axis activates the braking mechanism.