Lower back exercising machine

Claim 1

A machine for exercising the muscles associated with the lower back of a user and comprising (a) a frame defining a structural base of a generally A-frame configuration and including, (1) horizontal frame means having front and rear end portions, (2) a rear frame member including a lower end connected to the rear end portion of said horizontal frame means and extending upwardly and forwardly therefrom, and (3) a front frame member including a lower end connected to the front end portion of said horizontal frame means and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, the upper ends of said rear and front frame members being connected to one another and defining the apex of said A-frame structural base, (b) a seat supported on the upper end portion of said front frame member and adjacent the apex of said A-frame structural base for supporting the user with the legs extending downwardly and forwardly from said seat, (c) a generally inverted U-shaped user-actuated lever having a pair of substantially vertically extending legs, the lower ends of said legs being pivotally supported by a limited arc support means attached to said frame adjacent the apex of said A-frame structural base at a position above the level of said seat and at substantially level of the waist of the user, the upper end portion of said user-actuated lever being positioned for engagement with the back of the user and at a position spaced above the waist of the user, said upper end portion of said user-actuated lever being movable in a limited arcuate path of movement between a first position with the spine of the user in a substantially forwardly bent position, and a econd position with the spine in a substantially straight position, (d) resistance means supported by said A-frame structural base, and (e) means operatively connecting said user-actuated lever with said resistance means for providing a resistance when corresponding movement of said user-actuated lever means takes place between said first and second positions while providing a full range exercising of the muscles of the lower back of the user.