Exercise apparatus

Abstract

An exercise apparatus comprising a rigid movable booster bar having two flexible elastic elements attached to the booster with an attachment. The attachments are spaced from each other and configured to allow winding the elastic element upon the booster bar by rotating the booster bar. Each flexible elastic element comprises at least two stages of flexible shock cords, with the stages disposed serially along the length of the flexible element, with adjacent stages having a different elastic stiffness.

1 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a rigid movable booster bar;   two flexible elastic elements, each attached to the booster bar at a near end with an attachment, the attachments spaced from each other and configured to allow winding the elastic element upon the booster bar by rotating the booster bar, to allow a gripping region on the booster bar,   
     each flexible elastic element comprising at least two stages of flexible shock cords, with at least two stages having a different stiffness, 
     the stages attached to each other end to end so that they are disposed serially along the length of the flexible element, 
     a distal end of each flexible element configured for a moving or fixed attachment to allow stretching of the flexible element. 
   
   
       2 . An exercise apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the stages comprise one or more flexible shock cords. 
   
   
       3 . An exercise apparatus as in  claim 2  wherein two stages with different stiffness have a different number of shock cords. 
   
   
       4 . An exercise apparatus as in  claim 2  wherein two stages with different stiffness comprise shock cord strands of a different stiffness. 
   
   
       5 . An exercise apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein a distal end of each flexible element is attached to a fixed object. 
   
   
       6 . An exercise apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein a distal end of each flexible element is attached to an opposing member. 
   
   
       7 . An exercise apparatus as in  claim 6  wherein the opposing member is movable. 
   
   
       8 . An exercise apparatus as in  claim 6  wherein the opposing member is fixed. 
   
   
       9 . An exercise apparatus as in  claim 6  wherein the opposing member is a flexible strap with the distal ends attached to either end of the strap. 
   
   
       10 . An exercise apparatus as in  claim 9  wherein the flexible strap is elastic or non-elastic. 
   
   
       11 . An exercise apparatus as in  claim 6  wherein the opposing member is a nonflexible bar or platform. 
   
   
       12 . An exercise apparatus as in  claim 11  wherein the opposing member is configured the same as the booster bar. 
   
   
       13 . An exercise apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the stages are attached to each other by one or more of knots, sewing, glue, fusion, clamps, ties, tape wrapping, and molded structures.