A manually powered treadmill includes a frame; a first rotatable element coupled to the frame; a second rotatable element coupled to the frame; a plurality of bearings coupled to the frame; a running belt at least partly supported by the plurality of bearings, where at least a portion of the running belt defines a curved running surface; and a safety device coupled to at least one of the first rotatable element and the second rotatable element. The safety device is structured to substantially prevent rotation of the at least one of the first rotatable element and the second rotatable element in a first rotational direction and permit rotation of the at least one of the first rotatable element and the second rotatable element in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.

An exercise machine reversible resistance system for reversing the directional force of resistance against an exercise implement before, during, or after the performance of a routine of one or more exercises. The exercise machine reversible resistance system generally includes a frame, an elongated member movably positioned upon the frame, wherein the elongated member has a first run and a second run, a resistance device that applies a resistance force to the elongated member in a single direction, an exercise implement movably connected to the frame and a clutch connected to the exercise implement. The clutch is adapted to selectively engage the first run or the second run of the elongated member for selective control of the resistance direction of the exercise implement.

This disclosure addresses an exercise device adapted to enable the user to perform a salmon ladder exercise. The ladder includes a frame with at least one pair of support protrusions that receive an exercise bar. A bearing surface that receives the shaft of a catch array rotatably mounted in the frame. The device further includes a braking mechanism that applies a variable suppression force to the catch array shaft, the variable suppression adjusting the force required to rotate the catch array shaft in the bearing surface.

A resistance adjustable exercise device, including a resistance assembly to provide resistance to movement, a handle assembly connected to at least a portion of the resistance assembly to move the resistance assembly in at least one of a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction, and a control unit disposed on at least a portion of the handle assembly to adjust at least one of a first resistance level and a second resistance level of the resistance assembly.

Exercise machines having a user support and at least one user engagement actuator assembly wherein motion of the at least one user engagement actuator assemblies is resisted in both the push and pull directions by the resisted rotation of a one-direction flywheel that is operatively engaged with a braking mechanism. The resistance of the push direction can be less, greater, or equal to the resistance of the pull direction. Each user engagement actuator assembly can be configured to create various unique push and pull exercise stations. Multiple exercise stations can be mounted on each machine that can be operated independently or concurrently.

An exercise system for exercising a body's oblique muscle group relies upon a wheel mechanism having an outer wheel portion arranged at a first radial distance and an inner wheel portion arranged at a second radial distance, where the outer and inner wheel parts include respective sets of handgrips. A weight system is arranged to be coupled to and decoupled from the wheel mechanism. A coupling mechanism couples the weight system to and decouples the weight system from the wheel mechanism, in a first circumferential direction, or in a second circumferential direction. The hand grips allow a user to grasp the wheel mechanism and turn it in the first or the second circumferential directions against a respective force that the wheel mechanism is turned against that is defined by the aggregate selected weight when coupled to the wheel mechanism, in one of the first and second circumferential directions.

Provided are apparatuses for augmenting human speed, human-driven compliant mechanisms, artificial limbs to augment human movement, and the like. The apparatuses can include variable stiffness mechanisms including springs that can be configured to selectively store and subsequently release energy generated by human movement. The apparatuses can selectively release the captured energy supplied by the human to provide force and power output beyond the physical capability of the human.

Wearable assistance devices and methods of operating and using the same are provided. A wearable assistance device includes a first body interface and a second body interface. The assistance device also includes one or more elastic members operatively coupling the first body interface to the second body interface and extending along a body segment (e.g., back, elbow, knee, etc.) of the user so as to provide an assistive force to or assistive torque about the body segment or another body segment. The assistance device further includes a clutch mechanism operatively connected to at least one of the one or more elastic members, the clutch mechanism configured to selectively adjust the assistive force or assistive torque provided by the one or more elastic members to/about the body segment or the another body segment.

This disclosure addresses an exercise device adapted to enable the user to perform a salmon ladder exercise. The ladder includes a frame with at least one pair of support protrusions that receive an exercise bar. A bearing surface that receives the shaft of a catch array rotatably mounted in the frame. The device further includes a braking mechanism that applies a variable suppression force to the catch array shaft, the variable suppression adjusting the force required to rotate the catch array shaft in the bearing surface.

A treadmill includes a treadmill frame having a front end and a rear end opposite the front end; a pulley coupled to the treadmill frame; a running belt disposed about the pulley, the running belt defining a non-planar running surface; a motion restricting element coupled to the frame and configured to limit rotation of the pulley to only one rotational direction; and a brake coupled to the running belt and adapted to selectively restrict the speed of rotation of the running belt depending upon an established limit for a speed of the running belt.