Tension exercise apparatus

Abstract

An exercise apparatus includes at least one tension-type exercise device having a handle assembly attached to an elongated resilient member for being stretched between a base on which an exerciser is standing, and a handgrip to thereby create an exercising counterforce. In this invention, the handle assembly comprises an elongated shaft, a sliding handle plate and an attaching device for attaching the sliding handle plate to the elongated shaft at various positions along the elongated shaft. The elongated resilient member is attached to the handle assembly at the sliding handle plate. Thus, the handle assembly allows adjustment of an effective length of the elongated resilient member to thereby adjust for the size and/or strength of the exerciser.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An exercise apparatus comprising: 
 a base for being supported on a floor and for supporting an exerciser;    an elongated resilient element having first and second ends;    a platform handle assembly movable relative to said base for attaching the first end of said elongated resilient element to the platform; and    a hand handle assembly for attaching to said second end of said elongated resilient element, said hand handle assembly including a handgrip for being gripped by said exerciser and being pulled away from said base by said exerciser for thereby stretching said elongated resilient element and creating a counterforce on said hand-handled assembly towards the base;    wherein at least one of the platform and hand handle assemblies comprises an elongated shaft, a sliding-handle plate, and an attaching device for attaching said sliding-handle plate to said elongated shaft at various positions along said elongated shaft, and wherein said elongated resilient element is attached to said sliding-handle plate of said at least one of the platform and hand handle assemblies;    whereby said counterforce can be varied as a function of said hand-grip distance from said base by changing the position at which the sliding-handle plate is attached to said elongated shaft.    
     
     
         2 . An exercise apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein said elongated shaft is a U-shaped member, having two arms, with said sliding-handle plate being attached to and extended between the U-arms.  
     
     
         3 . An exercise apparatus as in  claim 2  wherein said elongated resilient element is comprised of multiple elastic members.  
     
     
         4 . An exercise apparatus as in  claim 3  wherein said base is comprised of multiple elements that are pivotal relative to one another.  
     
     
         5 . An exercise apparatus as in  claim 2  wherein is included multiple exercise devices of the type set forth in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         6 . An exercise apparatus as in  claim 5  wherein there are at least three exercise devices, one for the exerciser's left hand, one for the exerciser's right hand, and one to be used by both hands of the exerciser.  
     
     
         7 . An exercise apparatus as in  claim 6  wherein said exercise apparatus further includes an exercise pole for extending through a handgrip of at least one of the exercise devices.  
     
     
         8 . An exercise apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein each of said platform handle assembly and said hand handle assembly comprises an elongated shaft, a sliding-handle plate, and an attaching device for attaching said sliding-handle plate to said elongated shaft at various positions along said elongated shaft, and wherein said elongated resilient element is attached to the sliding-handle plate of each of said platform and hand handle assemblies.  
     
     
         9 . An exercise apparatus as in  claim 8  wherein said elongated shaft is a U-shaped member, having two arms, with said sliding-handle plate being attached to and extended between the U-arms.  
     
     
         10 . An exercise apparatus as in  claim 9  wherein said elongated resilient element is comprised of multiple elastic members.  
     
     
         11 . An exercise apparatus as in  claim 10  wherein said base is comprised of multiple elements that are pivotal relative to one another.  
     
     
         12 . An exercise apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein said base is comprised of multiple elements that are pivotal relative to one another.  
     
     
         13 . An exercise apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein is included multiple exercise devices of the type set forth in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         14 . An exercise apparatus as in  claim 13  wherein there are at least three exercise devices, one for the exerciser's left hand, one for the exerciser's right hand, and one to be used by both hands of the exerciser.