Variable resistance exercise device

Abstract

A variable resistance exercise device is used by swimmers to hold them in place while swimming and to give the swimmer progressive resistance during the swim. The device is also usable on land and has a housing with an upper pulley and a lower pulley as well as an upper roller and a lower roller. A tension cord is attached to a shaft, the working length of the cord being changeable, and passes over the upper roller and the lower pulley while a rope is attached to the cord and passes over the upper pulley and has an attachment hook on its end for attaching to a swimmer or an exercise accessory. The attachment hook can also be attached to a lower rope that passes over the lower roller and has a hook on its end.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A variable resistance exercise device comprising: 
 a housing;    an upper pulley rotatably attached to the housing;    a lower pulley rotatably attached to the housing;    an upper roller rotatably attached to the housing;    a resilient tension cord having a working length, a first end attached to the housing, and a second end, the tension cord passing over the upper roller and the lower pulley;    a first rope having a third end attached to second end of the cord and a fourth end, the first rope passing over the upper pulley; and    a first hook attached to the fourth end of the first rope and located external of the housing.    
     
     
         2 . The variable resistance exercise device as in    claim 1    further comprising means for varying the working length of the tension cord.  
     
     
         3 . The variable resistance exercise device as in    claim 2    wherein the means for varying the working length is comprised of: 
 a first opening having a slot, and a corresponding second opening located on the housing;  
 a shaft having a pin passing through a third opening, the shaft receivable within the first opening and the second opening with the pin receivable within the slot; and  
 wherein the first end of the tension cord is attached to the shaft is windable about the shaft.  
 
     
     
         4 . The variable resistance exercise device as in    claim 3    further comprising a pair of caps, each attached to an end of the shaft.  
     
     
         5 . The variable resistance exercise device as in    claim 1    further comprising: 
 a first opening having a slot, and a corresponding second opening located on the housing;  
 a shaft having a pin passing through a third opening, the shaft receivable within the first opening and the second opening with the pin receivable within the slot; and  
 wherein the first end of the tension cord is attached to the shaft is windable about the shaft.  
 
     
     
         6 . The variable resistance exercise device as in    claim 5    further comprising a pair of caps, each attached to an end of the shaft.  
     
     
         7 . The variable resistance exercise device as in    claim 1    further comprising: 
 a second hook attached to the housing;  
 a lower roller rotatably attached to the housing;  
 a second rope having a looped fifth end removably attachable to the first hook, and a a sixth end, the second rope passing over the lower roller; and  
 a third hook attached to the sixth end of the second rope.  
 
     
     
         8 . The variable resistance exercise device as in    claim 1    further comprising a pliable cover attached to the first rope for removably covering the first hook.