Patent ID: 7578773

Claim:
An exercise device, comprising: first and second housings telescopically coupled together and defining a longitudinal axis of the device; a pneumatic cylinder generally inside said first housing, said pneumatic cylinder having proximal and distal ends and being fixed relative to said first housing; a piston at least partially inside said second housing, said piston being fixed relative to said second housing and being configured to selectively travel inside said pneumatic cylinder, wherein telescopic movement of said second housing relative to said first housing causes said piston to travel inside said pneumatic cylinder, wherein said piston includes a piston head and a piston shaft, said piston head being between said pneumatic cylinder distal and proximal ends and separating an interior space of said pneumatic cylinder into first and second isolated areas; a first check valve in fluid communication with said pneumatic cylinder distal end for adjusting an amount of resistance encountered by said piston head as said piston travels inside said pneumatic cylinder toward said pneumatic cylinder distal end, said first check valve positioned adjacent said pneumatic cylinder distal end; a second check valve in fluid communication with said pneumatic cylinder proximal end for adjusting an amount of resistance encountered by said piston head as said piston travels inside said pneumatic cylinder toward said pneumatic cylinder proximal end, said second check valve positioned adjacent said first check valve and said pneumatic cylinder distal end; a first interface pad coupled to said first housing for interaction with a body part; and a second interface pad coupled to said second housing for interaction with another body part; wherein said first and second check valves are positioned parallel to each other with respect to said longitudinal axis of the device; wherein said first and second check valves are situated between said pneumatic cylinder distal end and said first interface pad; wherein said first interface pad defines a hole through which said first and second check valves are accessible for adjustment.