FR2536663A1 - EXERCISERS - Google Patents

Abstract

THIS EXERCISER INCLUDES A COLUMN 10 EQUIPPED AT ITS BASE WITH A FOOTREST 14 AND ON WHICH A SLIDER 18 CARRYING A HANDLE 20 IS SLIDING FITTED. A FLAT RIBBON 24 EXTENDS UPWARD FROM CURSOR 18, ALONG COLUMN 10, PASSES AROUND A GUIDANCE ELEMENT 61 AT THE TOP OF THE COLUMN, THEN EXTENDS DOWN TO A SECOND GUIDANCE ELEMENT 62 PLACES AT THE BASE OF THE COLUMN AND RAISES UP TO THE CURSOR WHERE IT ENDS, AT LEAST ONE OF THE ENDS OF THE TAPE BE ATTACHED TO THE CURSOR BY A TRACTION SPRING. THUS, THE VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF THE HANDLE UP AND DOWN ALONG THE COLUMN CAUSES THE RIBBON SLIDES IN FRICTION IN THE GUIDANCE ELEMENTS 61, 62 WHICH OPPOSE THIS MOVEMENT AN ADJUSTABLE RESISTANCE.

Description

This invention relates to exercisers.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, an exerciser comprises a base designed to be mounted or maintained at ground level or in the vicinity of ground level, guide means extending upward from the base and arranged to guide of a handle so that it can move towards the

  up and down with respect to the base and resisting means

  tants arranged to oppose such movements towards the

  up and / or down the handle.

  The base can, for example, be screwed to the Ce- floor

  during, in a preferred embodiment, the base is constituted by a footrest on which the user can place the feet to hold the footrest firmly on

  the ground This means that the device can be made

  tative of the fact that it does not have fixings which hold it

  hold in a determined position In a mode of use

  the user is seated on a tan-

  say it keeps the base stationary with the feet Preferably, the handle is designed so that the user can grasp it with both hands; by moving the handle up and down against the opposition of the resistance means, the user can exercise the abdominal muscles and the back muscles, the abdominal muscles being exercised during the downward movements and the

  back muscles during upward movements.

  The resistant means may comprise an elongated flexible friction element and tensioning means arranged

  in an area or at an action point to act on the element

  flexible friction element in order to maintain tension in the part of the friction element adjacent to the zone or point of action, and a guide assembly which guides the flexible friction element, the arrangement being

  such as the movements printed on the handle by a user

  exercise exerciser translate into a movement of

  back and forth from at least part of the flexible friction element in the general direction of its own length and that any movement imparted to the handle by a user

253 & 653

  of the exerciser which results in a movement of the flexible friction element against the tension maintained

  by the tensioning means also results in a sliding

  friction element of the friction element around at least one guide element which constitutes at least one part

tie of the guide assembly.

  Preferably, the flexible friction element is guided

  dice around the guide assembly to form a loop

almost complete.

  In a preferred embodiment, the tensioning means are connected, on the one hand, to one end of the loop which

  is not connected to the handle and, on the other hand, to the poi-

  gnée With such an arrangement, the tensioning means do not necessarily have to undergo length changes that are so small; they just have to maintain a tension

  despite slight variations in length With such an agency-

  ment, there is a greater resistance to the movement of the handle in one direction than in the other. Advantageously, the tensioning means effectively connect the two ends of the loop and the handle is associated with a latching mechanism by means of which it is possible to attach it selectively to one or other of the ends of the loop This allows the greatest resistance to act

  in either direction, at the option of the user.

  In another embodiment, one can use

  two flexible friction elements, each of which passes

  turn its own guide assembly while one can

  use a single tensioning device to maintain the tension

  sion in the parts of the two friction elements adjja-

  centes at the respective points or zones of action of the tensioner on the friction elements For example, the tensioner can simply be constituted by an elastic device which

  connects the respective ends of the two elements together

friction elements.

  In another variant, the flexible friction element remains approximately stationary but, with the movements of the handle, the guide assembly moves relative to the friction element to produce a sliding friction of the friction element around

  at least one guide member that is part of the assembly

seems to guide.

  In another embodiment, the tensioner is connected between the handle and the friction element and it acts

  between the handle and the point of action of the handle on the

  element of friction In this case also, the tensioner does not necessarily have to be subjected to changes which are so small, but it must maintain tension despite

  slight variations in length.

  Preferably, in this latter arrangement, use is made

  two tensioners, each connected between the handle and an

  corresponding part of the friction element Thus, in

  regulating the effect of the appropriate tensioner on the friction element

  correspondingly, one can increase or decrease the re-

  resistance to movement of the handle towards this end.

  Thus, the invention can provide an exerciser which

  takes first and second means, movable relative to each other, on which a user of the device can exert forces and -resistant means arranged so,

  in at least one mode of use of the exerciser, to op-

  pose to the movement of the first and second means in comparison

  each other and in at least one mode of use

  tion of the exerciser, to oppose the movement of the first

  and second means away from each other.

  Likewise, the invention can provide an exerciser which comprises first and second means which are guided by

  so that you can move relative to each other

  with a predetermined path and dissimilar resistant means

  energy patters arranged to oppose the movements of

  first and second means in rapprochement and / or away from it-

of each other.

  Different forms of resistant means can be used.

  similar to those described above For example, we can

  could use a hydraulic shock absorber arrangement of a

253 666 L

  any suitable type One way in which a hydraulic shock absorber can be made is by using a flexible-walled hose containing liquid and plugged at its ends and a wheel or roller arrangement which clamps the hose and moves along the hose according to the movements of the handle (or of the first and second means) Thus the liquid must flow through the pinched part and this absorbs energy. In a variant of this embodiment, the arrangement with a wheel or roller can pinch a solid strip of elastomeric material so that energy is absorbed by a hysteresis phenomenon and also, possibly, by

  Friction Yet another embodiment of the invention

  tion can use friction elements that rub

  on an elongated guide along which the handle or the pre-

  mier and second means are mounted sliding.

  Other characteristics of the invention will appear

  reading the description which follows of some modes

  of realization and variants, considered in the light of the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a front view of an exerciser implementing the invention; Fig 2 is a side view of the exerciser of Fig 1; Fig 3 is a perspective view showing how the exerciser is used;

  Fig 4 is a side view showing the arrangement

  trimmed from parts of the exerciser; Figs 5 and 6 are side views showing two modified forms of the exerciser; Fig 7 is a simplified side elevation view of a second embodiment of the invention; Fig 8 is an enlarged side view of the cursor; Fig 9 is a front view of the cursor;

  Fig 10 is a front view of the cursor with the neck

  circle removed; Figs 11 and 12 are front and side views of the cover;

  Fig 13 is an isometric schematic view of the element

  retaining element of the friction element; and Fig. 14 is a rear view of the guide means showing the clamping arrangement. The exerciser shown in the drawings comprises a chassis which is constituted by a vertical column 10 in a tube with a square section in the lower end of which

  is telescopically mounted an extension 12 of equal column

  in square section tube The extension 12 of co-

  lonne is attached to a footrest bar 14 which gives the device the shape of an inverted T and a spring plunger or spring guy 16 is mounted on the lower end

  from column 10 to lock the column and extend it

  column in a relative position given in engagement

  giant in one of the holes in a row of holes formed in

  the column extension 12 A cursor 18 is adapted to the

  tower of column 10 and it comprises a pair of handles which project from its opposite sides in directions parallel to the footrest bar 14 Means which will be described in detail later are provided to oppose the movement from cursor 18 up and towards

the bottom of column 10.

  A characteristic mode of use has been shown

  in Fig 3 As can be seen in this figure, the utility

  reader sits on a chair and places his feet on the footrest bar 14 while he grasps the handles 20

  with both hands He can then perform exercises in

  placing cursor 18 up and down along

  the column against the resistant means mentioned above

  above During downward movements, the user

  exercises the abdominal muscles while during the movements

  upwards, it exercises the back muscles If the utility

  reader keeps arms straight during these movements,

  as shown in Fig 3, the column should pivot from-

  then its vertical position, shown in solid lines in Fig 3, to a slightly inclined position which is shown in phantom in Fig 3 This pivoting is possible because the footrest bar 14 has only one small cross-section so that it can easily turn slightly under the feet of the user Since the user may tend to lift slightly

  the feet above the footrest bar 14 when-

  as it moves the cursor 18 down along the column, toe clips 22 are provided to ensure that the user's feet remain more or less in contact with

the footrest bar 14.

  In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the bar 14 is replaced by a footrest in the form of soles so as to be able to receive the feet of the user. The column 10 is articulated to the support in the form of soles but the pivoting movement is preferably limited to

  pivoting towards the user.

  In the construction shown in Figs 1 to 4, the

  means for opposing the vertical movements of the cur-

  sor 18 have a flat ribbon 24 in nylon canvas

  straps The ribbon 24 extends upwards from the cur-

  sor 18, on the side of the column 10 remote from the user, passes around an upper guide element 26 mounted at the top of the column 20 then around a guide element

  lower 28 mounted at the base of column 10 and extends fi-

  upwards from the guide element

  lower 28 to the cursor 18 again on the side of the

  lonne 10 away from the user At the cursor 18, the two ends of the ribbon 24 are joined so that the ribbon forms an endless loop, by a tensioning device which is shown in detail in Fig 4 Each of the ends tape is trapped between the two wings of a respective folded metal plate 30, in which

  it is fixed in place by means of one or more ri-

  vets (not shown) which extend across the plate.

  In the vicinity of its folded edge, each plate 30 has

  two small holes in which the ends are hung

  mites of a pair of tension springs 32 so that the springs 32 connect the ends of the ribbon 24 together. In use, one or other of the ends of the ribbon 24 is attached to the slider 18 in a manner which provides practically no elasticity, by a mechanism which we de-

  will now write in more detail.

  The cursor 18 is formed by a section of dry tube.

  square tion that fits around the column 10 The tube has an inner jacket made of nylon canvas with straps to promote smooth sliding up and down along the column 10 A stopper 34 is movably mounted on the slider 18 and has upper and lower stop teeth 36 which can engage in oblong openings 37 formed in the plates 30 The stop member 34 can be moved forward and

  backwards with respect to the cursor 18; in addition to

  tail, the stop member 34 comprises a part in the form of

  strip, which is folded in an oblong form or in rec-

  tangle, which surrounds the cursor square tube 18 Large

  sides of the rectangle are in contact with the side surfaces

  slider 18 and are received between guides 38, upper

  laughing and lower, fixed to these lateral surfaces so that the movements of the stop member 34 are limited to

  horizontal movements forward and backward.

  A compression spring (not visible in the drawings) is mounted between the short front side of the rectangle and the square tube of the slider 18 to urge the stop member forward,

  so that the stop teeth 36, which are positioned behind

  first column 10 (i.e. on the side of the column away from the user) and are turned to the cursor

  18, are normally requested in contact with the cursor.

  The vertical spacing between the stop teeth 36 is slight.

  ment less than the vertical spacing between the oblong openings 37 formed in the plates 30 in which they engage so that only one of the stop teeth

  36 can be engaged in the respective opening 37 at a mo-

  Any given user can press with the

2 3,663

  hand on the stop member 34 so as to move it backwards against the action of its return spring

  so that the previously engaged stop tooth 36

  card of the corresponding opening 37 and the user can then move the cursor 18 vertically with respect to the tape 24 so that the other stop tooth 36 can

  engage in the other opening 37 The reason for this

  cement will appear clearly later.

  Each of the guide elements 26 and 28 comprises a pair of flanges 40 between which is fixedly mounted a cylindrical guide 42. In addition, a respective adjustable cylindrical guide 44 is mounted between each pair of flanges so that it can be adjusted angularly around 'a

  eccentric axis relative to its own axis A lever res-

  pectif 46 is attached to each of the adjustable guides 44 to allow it to be moved to the desired position during

  adjustment and a tightening button 48 is provided for immobili-

  ser the guide 44 in the desired position As can be seen in the drawings, the effect of the guides 44 is to increase the total wrap angle of the ribbon 24 around the guides 42 and 44 of each guide element to a value greater than 180; the exact value of this total wrapping angle can be modified by adjusting the position of the guides 44 as

described above.

  In use, the springs 32 maintain tension

  approximately constant T 1 i on one of the parts of the ru-

  ban 24 assembled with the cursor 18 For example, if the back tooth

  upper rêt 36 is received in the upper opening 37, the part of the ribbon 24 which extends downwards from the

  curesur is only controlled by the springs 32 and the tension

  sion existing in this part is equal to Tl If the cursor 18 is now moved downwards, the tape 24 is forced to move over the surfaces of the guides 42 and 44 The friction which occurs between the tape and the guides guide elements 26 and 28 means that the tension T 2 which exists in the part of the strip 24 which extends upwards from the slider 18 is greater than the tension A, T 1; the ratio between these tensions is theoretically given by the formula: T 2 From T 1 in which g is the coefficient of sliding friction of the ribbon 24 around the guides 42 and 44 and e is the total angle of wrapping of the ribbon around the element guides

guide 26 and 28.

  The force opposing the downward movement of the cur-

  sor 18 is the quantity by which T 2 exceeds T Theoretically,

  this quantity is equal to T 1 (e @ e 1).

  Conversely, when the cursor 18 is moved towards the

  high, the voltage T 2 is lower than the voltage Tl; the rela-

  Theoretical tion is given by the formula: T 1 From T 2 Thus, in this case, the force which opposes the downward movement of the cursor 18 is the quantity by which T 1 exceeds T 2; theoretically, this quantity is equal to:

T 1 IE_

(e-1 her

  In other words, the force opposing the displacement-

  ment upwards of the cursor 18 is theoretically greater than the force which opposes the downward movement, by a factor equal to e

  By releasing the upper stop tooth 36 and engaging

  managing the lower stop tooth 36 in the opening 37 the relationship between the forces opposing the movements of the cursor 18 in both directions can be reversed, since then the tension which exists in the part of the tape

  24 which extends upwards from the cursor is now

  bare approximately constant by the springs 32.

  In practice, the voltage T 1 may not be strict-

  constant during operation, the fact that the total length of the ribbon 24 in webbing may change slightly since the ribbon is subjected to different tensions 253 d 663 in the different parts of its length, but variations in tension T 1 will not be important since the elasticity of the springs 32 is much greater

than that of ribbon 24.

  In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the ends of the strip 24 are anchored directly to the slider 18 without the interposition of any spring,

  such as the springs 32 and without the use of a rear member

  rêt such as that designated by the reference 34 in Figs. 1 to 4 The ribbon 24 extends from the cursor 18, passes around the upper and lower guide elements 26 and

  28 then back to the cursor 18; it is divided in half

  place of its length in two parts which are connected between

  them by a tensioning device This tensioning device comprises

  takes two tension springs 132 which, as well as the

  lots 32, are hung in small holes formed in

  folded plates 130 riveted to the ends of the ribbon 24.

  In use, springs 132 maintain tension

  T 1 approximately constant in the parts they represent

  link to the ribbon 24 If we move the cursor 18 down, for example, the ribbon is forced to slide on

  the surfaces of the guides 42 and 44 The friction which occurs

  duit between the ribbon and the guides of the upper guide element 26 means that the tension T 2 which exists in the

  part of the ribbon 24 which extends upwards from the cur-

  sor 18 is greater than the voltage T 1; the relationship between these tensions is theoretically given by the formula: T 2 gu 2 e in which e is now the total wrapping angle of the tape only around the guides of the guide element

higher 26.

  Likewise, the friction which occurs in the lower guide element 28 means that the tension T 3 which exists in the part of the strip 24 which extends downwards from the slider 18 is less than the tension T 1; the value of the tension T 3 is theoretically given by the formula: T 1. T 3 in which 0 is the total angle of wrapping of the ribbon

  24 around the guides of the lower guide element 28.

  The force opposing the downward movement of the cur-

  sor 12 is the quantity whose voltage T 2 exceeds the tension

  sion T 3 Conversely, when the cursor 18 is moved upward, the voltage T 3 is greater than the voltage T 1 and the voltage T 2 is less than the voltage T 1 and the force which opposes the movement of the cursor 18 is the quantity

  the voltage T 3 exceeds the voltage T 2.

  FIG. 6 shows yet another embodiment in which a strip 124 of flat webbing of material

  synthetic textile extends from an upper anchor point

  laughter 126 along column 10, on the far side of the user, to a lower anchor point 128 Au

  during this path, the ribbon 124 passes through a device

  guide rod 140 fixed to the cursor 18; this gui-

  dage comprises three semi-cylindrical guides 142 which are rigidly mounted on the rear face of the slider and two semi-cylindrical guides 144 which are mounted on an adjustment plate 146 As shown in FIG. 6, the guides 142 and 144, in combination, force the ribbon 124 to follow a zigzag path so that if the cursor 18 is moved up or down, the ribbon 124 is forced to slide frictionally around the guides 142 and 144 To adjust the total angle of wrapping of the ribbon around the

  guides, the adjustment plate 146 can be moved closer

  ching or away from the cursor 18 by means of an adjustment screw-148 which-is itself carried by a bracket which is fixed to the rear of the cursor 18 and which surrounds

the adjustment plate 146.

  At each of its upper and lower ends,

  the tape 124 is attached to the anchor point 126 and, respectively

  tively, at the anchor point 128 by a respective pair of tension springs 152 Thus, if the user applies (for example) a force directed downwards to the cooker 18, the tension which exists in the upper part of the strip 124 s increases, with an increase resulting from the length of the upper springs 152 while the tension that exists

  in the lower part of the ribbon decreases with a contraction

  corresponding length of the lower springs

  152 When the ratio of these two tensions reaches a certain

  high value, the ribbon 124 begins to slide around the guides 142 and 144 absorbing energy while the cursor is moving Similar events occur when the cursor is moved upward, if the spring constants of the springs 152 mounted at the top and at the base of the

  ribbon 124 are equal, the forces opposing the displacement

  cement of cursor 18 up and down are equal.

  If, on the other hand, the springs mounted at one end (for example, at the upper end) are stronger than those mounted at the other end (lower end), the force that opposes the downward movement is greater than the force opposing the upward movement It may even be possible to completely remove the springs

  152 at one end In the case where the forces which oppose

  pose to displacement in both directions are not equal it is possible to construct column 10 so that it

  can be turned end to end relative to the extension

  ment 12 of column so that the strongest resistance can

  act either up or down.

  In another variant of the embodiment shown

  tee in Fig 6, stops can be provided to limit

  ter the elongation of the springs 152 at one end of the strip 124 or both The effect of this arrangement is that when

  the springs 152 located at one end of the strip have gone

  long enough for the stopper to come into action, the tension that exists in the part of the tape remote from the stopper remains more or less constant at a determined value

  by the springs associated with this part of the ribbon - being donated -

  born that ribbon 124 can no longer move along now

  gitudinally The tension that exists in the part of the ru-

  ban associated with the stopper then rises until the ru-

  ban begins to slide around guides 142 and 144; when

  this happens, the resistance to displacement is higher

  only if there were no stops.

  In the embodiment shown in Figs. 7 to 14, the means which serve to oppose the vertical movements of the cursor 18 again comprise a flat ribbon

  24 in nylon canvas with straps and the slider 18 is made

  killed by a section of rectangular section tube internally covered with nylon webbing with straps and surrounding

  column 100 The ribbon 24 extends between a guide element

  upper bore 61 and a lower guide element 62.

  Each guide element 61, 62 has a small internal cylindrical guide 63 and an external cylindrical guide

  64 of larger diameter The ribbon 24 passes around each

* one of the larger diameter guides 64 and on both

  small guides 63 and its two ends are located at the

- cursor calf 18.

  Each guide element 61, 62 also comprises clamping devices which serve to immobilize the guide elements 61, 62 on the column 10, as shown in FIG. 14 The guide element 61 or 62 comprises a sleeve

  split 81 with rectangular section which surrounds column 10.

  The sleeve 81 is tightened by means of a tightening bolt 82 which passes through a flange 83 located on one side of the slot and

  is screwed into a nut 84 fixed on the other side of the slot.

  Thus, one can fix the guide elements 61, 62 on the column 10 at any desired position, which ensures that the tape 24 can be kept taut even after a certain degree of wear. In this embodiment, as shown in the

  Fig 7, the extension 12 is locked in place by comparison

  port to column 10 by means of a pin 85 which passes through the column and passes into an appropriate opening of a

  line of openings 86 formed in the extension 12.

  The cursor 18 has a longitudinal opening 65 through which the longitudinally central portion of the ribbon 24 passes practically without any obstacle. This opening is delimited by a cover 66 which fits on two flanges 67, 68 which extend towards the user. from the cursor 18 The handle 20 extends through the two flanges 67, 68 The manner in which each of the two ends of the ribbon 24 is mounted in the cursor has been shown in FIGS 10 and 13. Each end of the ribbon 24 which extends from the corresponding small roller 63 passes around a retaining member 69 and is folded back on itself, the folded end being fixed to the body of the tape The retaining member 69 is constituted by a metal plate flat whose two ends are cut in a fork One of the two fingers thus formed at each end, finger 71, is bent at 90

  so that it is perpendicular to the plane of the tan- plate

  say the other, finger 72 remains undeformed and protrudes

  outwards The two non-deformed fingers 72 are dis-

  placed in corresponding slots 73 formed in the flanges 67, 68 so that each retaining member is slidably mounted between the two flanges 67, 68 Thus, the ends of the tape 24 are prevented from moving out of the

  cursor 18 but they are free to move inward

to a limited extent.

  The tensioning means comprise two drawing springs

  tion 74, 75 each associated with a respective end of the ru-

  ban 24 Each spring 74, 75 has one end attached to a

  retaining member 69 and at the corresponding end of the ru-

  ban and its other end attached to a voltage selector

76 and, respectively, 77.

  The voltage selector 76 comprises a rod 78 which

  has a head 79 and a portion 81 of larger diameter

  meter through which the rod 78 extends The spring 78

  is attached to the rod 78 between the head 79 and the part 81.

  The end of the rod 78 is mounted with clearance in a hole formed in the flange 67 while the part of the rod located between the spring 74 and the head 79 is positioned in one of the notches of a series of notches 82 formed in the other flange 68 Thus, by adjusting the position of the selector 76, which is done by choosing a different notch 82 to position the rod 78 there, it is possible to modify

  the tension exerted by the spring 74.

  The construction of the selector 77 and the spring 75 and their action on the other end of the strip are similar to those which have been described above with reference to the selector 76 and the spring 74 although the notches are

  formed in the other flange 67 and that the end of the selector

  tor is mounted with play in the flange 68.

  In operation, theoretically, one of the springs 74, 75 exerts an approximately constant traction on the part of the strip 24 to which it is attached, according to the direction of movement. Thus, for a displacement of the handle downwards, the fingers 72 of the upper retaining member 69 abuts against the upper ends of the slots 73 so that the spring 74 has no effect while

  that the spring 75 exerts a tensile force T on the part

  tie of the ribbon 24 situated between the cursor 18 and the lower guide element 62 The tension which exists in the part of the ribbon 24 which extends upwards from the cursor 18 is given by the formula T = T ege in which g is 2 i

  the coefficient of sliding friction of the ribbon 24 above

  turn of the guides 63, 64 and e is the total angle of friction constant between the strip 24 and the guides 63, 64 of the two guide elements 61, 62 Thus, the opposing force

  at the downward displacement is T 2-T 1 = T (e g-1).

  On the other hand, for the movement of the handle 20 upwards, the spring 75 has no effect while the spring 74 exerts a tensile force T 3 (which, of course, may or may not be equal to T 1) on the part of the ribbon 24 located

  between the cursor 18 and the upper guide element 61.

  The tension which exists in the part of the ribbon which extends downwards from the cursor 18 is given by the formula T = T e G, etc.

4 3

  It will thus be understood that one can increase the resistance

  tance to moving the cursor downward by increasing the tensile force exerted on the strip 24 by the lower spring 75 This is obtained by placing the rod 78 in a notch 82 which is further from the end

  tape Likewise, resistance to movement can be increased

  cement of the cursor 18 upwards by increasing the force

  of traction exerted by the upper spring 74.

Claims (7)

  1 An exerciser characterized in that it comprises a base (12, 14) designed to be mounted or maintained at ground level or in the vicinity of ground level, guide means (10) extending upwards from of the base and arranged to guide a handle (20) so that it can move up and down relative to the base and resistant means (24, 26, 28, 32 or 132; 124, 126, 128 , 140, 152; 24, 61, 62, 74, 75) arranged to oppose such   up or down movements of the handle.   2 Exerciser according to claim 1, characterized in that   that the base (12, 14) includes a footrest (14).   3 Exerciser according to one of claims 1 and 2, charac-   characterized in that the resistant means include an element   elongated flexible friction (24; 124) and tensile means   daters (32; 132; -152; 74, 75) arranged in a zone or at an action point to act on the flexible friction element in order to maintain a tension in the part of the friction element adjacent to the zone or at the point of action, and a guide assembly (26, 28; 126, 128; 140; 61, 62) which guides the flexible friction element, the arrangement being such that the movements imparted to the handle (20 ) by a user of the exerciser result in a reciprocating movement of at least part of the flexible friction element in the general direction of its own length and that all   movement imprinted on the handle by an exercise user   scar which results in a movement of the rubbing element   highly flexible against the tension maintained by the tensioning means also results in a sliding friction of the friction element around at least one   guide element which constitutes at least part of the seems to guide.   4 Exerciser according to claim 3, characterized in that the flexible friction element (24) is guided around the guide assembly (26, 28) to form an almost complete loop, the tensioning means (32) being connected,   on the one hand, at one end of the loop which is not connected   strung to the handle and, on the other hand, to the handle.   Exerciser according to claim 4, characterized in that the tensioning means (32) effectively connect the two ends of the loop together and the handle (20) is associated with a latching mechanism (34) by means of which it is possible to selectively attach it to one   either end of the loop.   6 Exerciser according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises two elongated friction elements (24) each of which passes around a respective guide assembly (26, 28) and in that the tensioning means (32) act between respective points or zones of the two friction elements, points or zones which are both located in the   side of the respective guide assembly away from the poi-   gné (20), seen in the direction of the length of the element of respective friction.   7 Exerciser according to one of claims 1 to 3, charac-   characterized in that the tensioning means (74, 75) are mounted between the handle (20) and the friction element (24) and act between the handle and the point of action of the   handle on the friction element.   8 Exerciser according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises two tensioning devices (74, 75), each mounted between the handle (20) and a respective end of the friction element (24).