Patent ID: 7494450

Claim:
A variable unloading and resistance exercise device for use by a person when performing a cardiovascular exercise, comprising: a cardiovascular exercise machine in which at least a portion of the person's weight is supported by at least one lower extremity of the person's body in moving contact with a movable weight bearing element of the machine disposed so as to be located beneath the person for performing the cardiovascular exercise; a support element and structure for supporting the support element above the movable weight bearing element of the cardiovascular exercise machine; and a plurality of resiliently yieldable exercise elements suspended from the support element at different locations over the movable weight bearing element, including at least one exercise element disposed at a first elevation so as to be located at least generally in front of the person and graspable in a hand of the person when performing the cardiovascular exercise, and at least one exercise element disposed at a second elevation lower than the first elevation so as to be located at least generally beside the person and graspable in a hand of the person when performing the cardiovascular exercise, such that when performing the cardiovascular exercise the person can alternatingly grasp the exercise elements disposed at the first and second elevations and resiliently extend them in a sufficient number of directions for performing different resistance exercises in different ways involving several muscle groups of the person, including downwardly for reducing the portion of the person's weight supported by the movement of the at least one lower extremity of the person's body in moving contact with the movable weight bearing element of the machine and sidewardly, wherein the support element comprises a frame including at least one member supported over the cardiovascular exercise machine and supporting the exercise elements and configured to be movable along the frame through a range of positions over the movable weight bearing element of the cardiovascular exercise machine for positioning the exercise elements at different locations thereover, and wherein the at least one exercise element supported by said at least one member is suspended therefrom for movement relative thereto.