A leg exercise machine includes a frame having a seat connected thereto for supporting a user in a seated position thereon. A foot engaging member is adapted for engaging the feet of a user and receiving force from the user leg. The foot engaging member is pivotally mounted on the frame by a four-bar linkage which includes first and second lever arms pivotably mounted on the frame. The pivotal mounting of the lever arms provides for back and forth movement along a path of travel and about an instantaneous (changing) axis of rotation for changing the angle of inclination of the foot engaging member so that a force substantially normal to the foot engaging member is directed substantially up the leg and tibia during corresponding movement of the user. The second lever arm is operatively connected to a weight stack for transmitting the pivotal back and forth movement of the leg engaging member to movement of the weight stack to thereby exercise the legs of a user.

A torso exercise machine includes a seat connected to a frame for supporting a user thereon. An upper body engaging member receives force from an upper body part for exercising the torso. The upper body engaging member is pivotally mounted to the frame for pivotal movement along an eccentric path of travel while generating an instantaneous axis of rotation substantially along the torso and spine of the seated user. The eccentric path of travel of the upper body engaging member is illustrated as being obtained by pivotally mounted the upper body engaging member to the frame by a four-bar linkage. A resistance weight opposes movement of the user while the user exercises. A range limiter is provided to reduce the normal range of back and forth movement of the upper body engaging member.

A leg extension exercise machine having a movement arm engaged by the legs for moving the movement arm between a retracted position and an extended position. The movement arm has a vertically adjustable foot bar for holding the feet and preventing downward movement of the feet during the exercise. Resistance to the exercise is provided by a weight arm having one or more weight plates mounted thereon and pivotally connected to the movement arm. The prop is pivotally mounted to the fixed frame of the machine for movement between an extended position holding the weight arm in a raised position to facilitate entry to and exit from the machine by the exerciser. The prop arm is moveable by the exerciser into a retracted position for storage by means of a handle.

An improved calf exercise machine includes a frame with a seat for supporting an exerciser in an exercise position with the legs extended horizontally, a lever pivotally connected to the frame in front of and below the seat, and an engagement plate secured to the lever and adapted to be engaged and acted upon by the upper portions of the feet of the exerciser via an outward toe extension movement followed by a rearward toe retraction motion. This movement arcuately rotates the lever about its pivot axis, with a corresponding flexion and then extension of the calf muscles. Weight holding hubs connected to the lever hold a selected number of weighted plates to provide a desired weight resistance to pivotal extension of the lever via the outwardly directed foot movement. This machine optimally isolates the calf muscles during calf flexion/extension. Additionally, this calf exercise machine is safer than prior calf exercise machines because the exercise motion is performed from a seated position, and the seat design minimizes wear and tear on the exerciser's body, due to improved distribution of the weight resistance exercised against.

A leg press machine has a movement arm mounted by parallel links for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis in opposition to one or more resistance weight stacks on opposite sides of the movement arm. The linkage is connected to a drive lever below the movement arm which in turn is connected to the bottom of a weight stack rod to raise the latter and associated weights as the movement arm is pivoted by the legs. The movement arm is stabilized by the linkage and a counterweight connected to the linkage.