Bed exercise machine

An exercise machine mounted above one end of a bed, occupied by a bedridden patient or other supine user, has one or more double-ended ropes, each rope having a handle or a stirrup on each of its ends and a central loop tractively encircling a torque drum. Each torque drum is mounted for rotation against adjustably variable braking torque, which may be canceled in one direction of angular rotation by a one-way clutch. The handles and stirrups have adjustable rope engaging features, achieving infinitely variable rope lengths. Pulleys guide the ropes for substantially horizontal pulling reciprocation by the supine user, whose position may be braced or stabilized by torso-positioning rigid arms, such as adjustable telescoping spacer tubes, extending from the exercise machine to the user.

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What is claimed:

1. An exercise device for providing exercise for a user, comprising:

a mounting board, for removably anchoring the exercise device to a structure,

a torque drum rotatably mounted on said mounting board,

a length of rope having both ends extending so as to be presented near the user's legs, each rope end being provided with a limb-extremity engaging unit,

said rope length having between said ends a central loop tractively encircling said torque drum by at least one complete turn, for rotating said drum in response to tension force applied to each said rope end alternately,

each limb-extremity engaging unit being adjustably connected to its rope end by a wrapping stem, having a first end engageable to a limb, a second end and a rope-retainer, around which stem at least one turn of the rope end may be wrapped, andengaged into said rope-retainer to secure the rope around said stem,

a first length of said rope tractively encircling a first said torque drum and having handles as said engaging units; and

a second length of said rope tractively encircling a second said torque drum and having stirrups as said engaging units,

whereby both arms and legs of the user can be exercised simultaneously.

2. An exercise device for providing exercise for a user, comprising:

a mounting board, for removably anchoring the exercise device to a structure,

a torque drum rotatable mounted on said mounting board,

a length of rope having both ends extending so as to be presented near the user's legs, each rope end being provided with a limb-extremity engaging unit,

said rope length having between said ends a central loop tractively encircling said torque drum by at least one complete turn, for rotating said drum in response to tension force applied to each said rope end alternately,

each limb-extremity engaging unit being adjustable connected to its rope end by a wrapping stem, having a first end engageable to a limb, a second end and a rope-retainer, around which stem at least one turn of the rope end may be wrapped, andengaged into said rope-retainer to secure the rope around said stem,

wherein said limb extremity engaging units are handles, further including two separate swiveling pulleys, each mounted on said mounting board and engaging said rope length between said central loop and one said rope end thereof, said pulleysbeing positioned to redirect said rope ends in a range of different directions over which said handles can be moved by the user, from laterally extended positions to downward positions to outward positions away from said mounting board, all withoutreleasing tension on said rope length.

3. An exercise device, comprising:

a mounting board, for removably anchoring the exercise device to a structure,

at least one torque drum rotatably mounted on said mounting board,

a length of rope having both ends extending so as to be presented near the user's legs, each rope end being provided with a limb-extremity engaging unit,

said rope length having between said ends a central loop tractively encircling one said torque drum by at least one complete turn, for rotating said drum in response to tension force applied to each said rope end alternatively,

manual adjustment means cooperatively joining each said torque drum with said mounting board of said device and operatively connected to change frictional drag force between said drum and said mounting board, thus adjusting the amount of tensionforce in said rope required to produce rotation of said drum, and

a one-way clutch operatively connected between each said torque drum and the mounting board, engaged to apply said adjusted frictional drag force resisting rotation of said one torque drum in a first angular direction, and disengaged to minimizeforces resisting rotation of said one torque drum in a second opposite angular direction.

4. An exercise device, comprising:

a mounting board, for removably anchoring the exercise device to a structure,

at least one torque drum rotatably mounted on said mounting board,

a length of rope having both ends extending so as to be presented near the user's legs, each rope end being provided with a limb-extremity engaging unit,

said rope length having between said ends a central loop tractively encircling one said torque drum by at least one complete turn, for rotating said drum in response to tension force applied to each said rope end alternatively,

manual adjustment means cooperatively joining each said torque drum with said mounting board of said device and operatively connected to change frictional drag force between said drum and said mounting board, thus adjusting the amount of tensionforce in said rope required to produce rotation of said drum, and

a computer having an input keypad and a display, and a sensor mounted on said mounting board and positioned for sensing angular motion of one said torque drum,

said sensor producing an output signal delivered to said computer, whereby resistance force values determined by adjustment of said manual adjustment means and entered via the keypad enable the computer to determine and display energy consumed byusing the device.

5. An exercise device, comprising:

a mounting board, for removably anchoring the exercise device to a structure,

at least one torque drum rotatably mounted on said mounting board,

a length of rope having both ends extending so as to be presented near the user's legs, each rope end being provided with a limb-extremity engaging unit,

said rope length having between said ends a central loop tractively encircling one said torque drum by at least one complete turn, for rotating said drum in response to tension force applied to each said rope end alternatively,

manual adjustment means cooperatively joining each said torque drum with said mounting board of said device and operatively connected to change frictional drag force between said drum and said mounting board, thus adjusting the amount of tensionforce in said rope required to produce rotation of said drum, and

a spring detent installed between the mounting board and the manual adjustment means, producing an audible click corresponding to each predetermined increment of manual adjustment, whereby repeatable adjusted force settings can be obtainedwithout visual observation of the adjustment means.

6. A variable torque device, comprising:

a mounting board, for removably anchoring the variable torque device to a structure,

a torque drum rotatably mounted on said mounting board,

manual adjustment means cooperatively joining each said torque drum with said mounting board and operatively connected to change frictional drag force between said drum and said mounting board, thus adjusting the torque required to producerotation of said drum relative to said board, and

a spring detent installed between the mounting board and the manual adjustment means, producing an audible click corresponding to each predetermined increment of manual adjustment,

whereby repeatable adjusted torque settings can be obtained without visual observation of the adjustment means.

7. An exercise device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the mounting board encloses said at least one torque drum.

8. An exercise device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mounting board encloses said at least one torque drum.

9. An exercise device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the mounting board encloses said at least one torque drum.

10. An exercise device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the mounting board encloses said torque drum.