Multi-function exercising apparatus

Abstract

Exercising apparatus capable of enabling a user to select any one of a plurality of different exercises to be performed by the user for exercising different muscles or muscle groups of the user's body. The apparatus includes a body supporting member for supporting the body of the user in a predetermined position according to the exercise selected to be performed; a body-engageable member engageable by a selected part of the user's body, when supported on the body supporting member, and displaceable in a predetermined direction by a force applied by the selected body part to the body-engageable member, according to the exercise selected to be performed; and a resistance member coupled to the body-engageable member for imposing a resistance to the displacement of the body-engageable member when the selected part of the user's body applies the force to the body-engageable member. The body-engageable member is presettable with respect to the body supporting member to enable selection of the body part to engage the body-displaceable member, and the direction of application of the force applied by the body part to the body-engageable member, according to the exercise selected to be performed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Exercising apparatus capable of enabling a user to select any one of a plurality of different exercises to be performed by the user for exercising different muscles or muscle groups of the user's body, said apparatus comprising: 
 a body-engageable member engageable by a selected part of the user's body, when supported on a body supporting member, and displaceable in a predetermined direction by a force applied by the selected body part to the body-engageable member, according to the exercise selected to be performed;    and a resistance member coupled to said body-engageable member for imposing a resistance to the displacement of said body-engageable member when said selected part of the user's body applies said force to the body-engageable member;    said body-engageable member being presettable with respect to the user's body, when supported on the body supporting member, to enable selection of the body part to engage said body-engageable member, and the direction of application of said force applied by said body part to the body-engageable member, according to the exercise selected to be performed.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a body supporting member for supporting the body of the user in a predetermined position according to the exercise selected to be performed.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said body supporting member is a bench capable of supporting the user's body in a sitting position or in a reclining position, according to the exercise selected to be performed.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said resistance member is coupled to said body-engageable member by a direction selector mechanism also presettable to select the direction of displacement of said resistance member by said body-engageable member, according to the exercise selected to be performed.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said body-engageable member is coupled to said direction selector mechanism to pivot about a first pivotal axis; and said resistance member is coupled to said direction selector mechanism to pivot about a second pivotal axis which is parallel to said first pivotal axis.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said body-engageable member is coupled to said direction selector mechanism to pivot about a first pivotal axis; and said resistance member is coupled to said direction selector mechanism to pivot about a second pivotal axis which is perpendicular to said first pivotal axis.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said body-engageable member is coupled to said direction selector mechanism to pivot about a pivotal axis; and the position of said body-engageable member is angularly presettable with respect to the direction selector mechanism about said pivotal axis.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said apparatus further comprises a pair of vertically-extending columns on opposite sides of said body supporting member; and a carriage, carrying said body-engageable member and said resistance member coupled thereto, movable vertically along said columns to preset said body-engageable member with respect to said body supporting member according to the exercise selected to be performed.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein said carriage includes a pivotal mounting for pivotally mounting said resistance member, and said body-engageable member to which it is coupled, to enable presetting both said resistance member and said body-engageable member with respect to said body supporting member according to the exercise selected to be performed.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein said body-engageable member is also presettable angularly about a vertical axis with respect to said resistance member according to the exercise selected to be performed.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes two of said body-engageable members engageable by two limbs of the user's body, and two of said resistance members each coupled to one of said body-engageable members for imposing a resistance to its displacement.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein each of said resistance members is coupled to its respective body-engageable member by a direction selector mechanism also presettable to select the direction of displacement of the respective body-engageable member with respect to the resistance member for imposing said resistance to the displacement of said body-engageable member according to the exercise selected to be performed.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said two body-engageable members are presettable at least vertically with respect to said body supporting member according to the exercise selected to be performed.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said two body-engageable members are presettable at least angularly about a vertical axis with respect to said body supporting member according to the exercise selected to be performed.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said two body-engageable members are presettable vertically with respect to said body supporting member, and angularly about a vertical axis with respect to said body supporting member, according to the exercise selected to be performed.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said apparatus further comprises a pair of vertically extending columns on opposite sides of said body supporting member;    and each of said body-engageable members, and the resistance member to which it is coupled, is carried on a carriage movable vertically along one of said columns to vertically preset said body-engageable members with respect to said body supporting member according to the exercise selected to be performed.    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein each of said carriages includes a pivotal mounting for pivotally mounting said resistance member, and said body-engageable member to which it is coupled, about a vertical axis to enable presetting both said resistance members and said body-engageable members with respect to said body supporting member according to the exercise selected to be performed.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein each of said carriages further includes a direction selector mechanism coupling a body-engageable member with its resistance member, said direction selector mechanisms being presettable to select the direction of displacement of each resistance member by its respective body-engageable member.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein each of said body-engageable members is coupled to its direction selector mechanism to pivot about a first pivotal axis; and each resistance member is coupled to its direction selector mechanism to pivot about a second pivotal axis which is parallel to said first pivotal axis.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein each of said body-engageable members is coupled to its direction selector mechanism to pivot about a first pivotal axis; and each resistance member is coupled to its direction selector mechanism to pivot about a second pivotal axis which is perpendicular to said first pivotal axis.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein each body-engageable member is coupled to its direction selector mechanism to pivot about a pivotal axis; and the position of said body-engageable member is angularly presettable with respect to the direction selector mechanism about said pivotal axis.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein each of said direction selector mechanisms includes a clutch controllable to selectively couple its body-engageable member to its resistance member via a first gear assembly which moves said resistance member in the same direction as said body-engageable member, or via a second gear assembly which moves said resistance member in the opposite direction as said body-engageable member.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein each of said columns includes a screw threadeadly received in a nut carried by the respective carriage for vertically moving said carriages with respect to the body supporting member by the rotation of said screws.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes a pair of presettable body-engageable members each coupled to a separate resistance member.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes a pair of presettable body-engageable members both coupled to the same resistance member.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein said resistance member is coupled to both body-engageable members by a pulley wheel carried by the resistance member and movable vertically by a cable having one end coupled to one of said body-engageable members, and the opposite end coupled to the other of said body-engageable members.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said resistance member includes one or more weights.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said body-engageable member includes a bar or pair of bars to be grasped by the user's hand or hands, or to be engaged by the user's leg or legs.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said body-engageable member includes a pusher plate or pair of pusher plates to be pushed by the user's hand or hands, or by the user's leg or legs.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said body-engageable member includes a roller carried by a pivotal arm, or by each of a pair of pivotal arms, to be engaged by said selected part of the user's body.