Exercise apparatus

Abstract

An exercise apparatus comprising a housing which includes first and second gear members rotatably mounted within the housing. Wherein the first and second gear members each include a handle portion. The first and second gear members are connected to one another by a link member. The exercise apparatus also includes a friction control mechanism which controls a frictional force applied to the first and second gear members.

1 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a housing;   first and second gear members rotationally mounted within said housing, each gear including a handle portion;   a link member located within said housing; and   a friction control mechanism;   wherein said first and second gear members are linked to one another by said link member, and   wherein said friction control mechanism controls a frictional force applied to said first and second gear members.   
   
   
       2 . An exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first and second gear members are substantially co-planar and have substantially parallel axes of rotation. 
   
   
       3 . An exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said link member is a third gear member mounted between said first and second gear members. 
   
   
       4 . An exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said first, second and third gear members are substantially co-planar and have parallel axes of rotation. 
   
   
       5 . An exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said friction control mechanism is a brake shoe on either of said first or second gear members. 
   
   
       6 . An exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said friction control mechanism is a brake shoe on said third gear member. 
   
   
       7 . An exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said link member is a belt member fastened around a portion of said first and, second gear members. 
   
   
       8 . An exercise apparatus as claimed in  7 , wherein said first and second gear members are toothed cogs and said belt member is a chain fastened around said gear teeth of said first and second gear members. 
   
   
       9 . An exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said friction control mechanism further comprises a screw adjustment mechanism to vary said frictional force. 
   
   
       10 . An exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said friction control mechanism is a steel belt mounted in contact with said first or second gear members. 
   
   
       11 . An exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said friction control mechanism is a steel belt mounted in contact with said third gear member. 
   
   
       12 . An exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said friction control mechanism further comprises a screw adjustment mechanism to vary the frictional force. 
   
   
       13 . An exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said longitudinal axes of said handle portions of said first and second gear members are substantially parallel. 
   
   
       14 . An exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said handle portions are mounted to the first and second gear members such that they are free to rotate about their longitudinal axes. 
   
   
       15 . An exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said handle portions are hand grips. 
   
   
       16 . An exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first gear member includes a perpendicularly mounted first handle extension portion and said second gear member includes a perpendicularly mounted second handle extension portion, the handle extension portions mounted on opposing sides of said first and second gear members.