Pivoting backrest for exercise apparatus

Abstract

An exercising machine includes a seat having a seat back that is normally oriented in a substantially vertical orientation and a seat bottom on which the user of the machine can sit while performing a variety of different exercises. The seat and the exercising machine are designed so that the said user can sit on the seat bottom in a position facing forwardly away from the seat back or facing rearwardly toward the seat back. The seat back is movable between its substantially vertical orientation and a substantially horizontal orientation by pivoting either the top or the lower end thereof forwardly and a locking mechanism is provided for maintaining the seat back in its selected position. When the seat back is in the horizontal position, the user can sit on the seat bottom facing rearwardly and perform various exercises such as pulling exercises using the top edge or the lower end of the seat back as a horizontal restraint. The top edge and/or the lower end of the seat back is padded for the comfort of the user. The seat bottom may also be movable to accommodate the user.

I claim:  
     
         1 . In an exercising machine including a seat having a seat back that is normally oriented in a substantially vertical orientation and a seat bottom on which the user of said machine can sit while performing a variety of different exercises and wherein said user can sit on said seat bottom in a position facing forwardly away from said seat back or facing rearwardly toward said seat back wherein the improvement comprises said seat back being movable between said substantially vertical orientation and a substantially horizontal orientation and wherein said user can sit on said seat bottom facing rearwardly and perform various exercises when said seat back is in said substantially horizontal orientation.  
     
     
         2 . The improvement as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said seat back is movable into said horizontal orientation by moving the top of said seat back forwardly.  
     
     
         3 . The improvement as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said top of said seat back is padded for the comfort of the user.  
     
     
         4 . The improvement as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said seat back is movable into said horizontal orientation by moving the lower end of said seat back forwardly.  
     
     
         5 . The improvement as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said lower end of said seat back is padded for the comfort of the user.  
     
     
         6 . The improvement as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said seat back is mounted for pivotal movement between its substantially vertical and substantially horizontal orientations.  
     
     
         7 . The improvement as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said seat bottom is movable forwardly and rearwardly.  
     
     
         8 . The improvement as claimed in  claim 1  further including means for locking said seat back into one of said two orientations.