Exercise to simulate horizontal ladder exercise

Apparatus to provide exercise on a single station device equivalent to traveling suspended along underneath a horizontal ladder.

A common gymnastic piece of apparatus comprises a ladder supported horizontally above the ground. The user launches himself underneath the ladder and with one hand grasps the first, rung of the ladder. Suspended from the first rung, the user swings himself toward the next rung. After he grasps it, he releases from the first rung and then swings his body so his free arm reaches for the third rung.

Repeated sequentially the user travels the length of the ladder, underneath it and suspending himself by-his arms, alternately engaging his arms to successive rungs. This is a common apparatus in gymnasiums, provided for exercise of upper body muscles. The movement of the body along the ladder is caused by movements of the user\'s arms and torso. It requires substantial area of the gymnasium to be dedicated to this one type of exerciser.

It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus enabling equivalent exercise, but requiring only the space and area respective to a single small group of rungs, without requiring the fixed rungs. It thereby makes available the advantages of this exercise in installations when space and rental considerations would otherwise preclude it.

A reactive exerciser is mounted to or suspended from a support stand that stations it well above a ▪ground▪ surface. The ground surface is one above which the user of the exerciser is supported by himself out of contact with the ground while using the device. Any floor of sufficient area is suitable for this. For most installations, the exerciser itself will be supported on a tower-like stand which rests on a floor.

This exerciser utilizes a pair of hand grips each mounted to a respective pivoted lever, each lever is so disposed and arranged that directly or through linkage it is capable of unidirectionally driving a rotor in the same direction. They are so interconnected that each lever periodically oscillates between a forward and a rearward position, the position of each of them being reciprocal to the other, so that the exertions of the suspender (dangling) users drives the rotor.

With this apparatus mounted above the surface, the user can engage grips on the levers as with a conventional ladder, and thereafter will exert himself in a manner very similar to traveling suspended under a ladder but without himself moving forwardly or rearwardly. In effect, the apparatus substitutes for a stationary ladder, but simulates movement along a ladder.

The above and other features of this invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Exerciser 10 is shown in FIG. 1 mounted to a tower-like stand (sometimes called a base) 11 that rests on a ▪ground▪ surface 12. In the illustration, surface 12 may be the floor of a room.

Base 11 comprises upright legs fixed to a frame 13 on the floor. Rungs 14 are fixed to legs 15,16 to enable a user to climb to an operating level. As can be seen, this lever is high enough that when the user utilizes the exerciser, his feet will clear the ground. It is essential of this invention that the user be a freely unsupported body suspended (dangling) from the exerciser out of contact with the ground surface.