The exercise device provides a continuous loop of rope which is slowly fed downwardly from the greater extent of a davit-like housing, and through an open space in which the climber will perform the climbing exercise. The rope then continues through a friction pulley configuration driven by a variable speed gear motor, and then upwardly through the davit-like housing to again travel through the open space. The speed of the motor can be controlled in a feed-forward manner where the user sets the speed, as in one training configuration where the speed of the rope is to be exceeded by the climber, or where the progress of the climber movement may be determined by sensors which determine how close to a pre-determined height the climber has progressed.

A exercise device for exercising muscles of the upper body. The exercise device includes a generally U-shaped housing with a base portion adapted for resting on a floor, a main portion upwardly extending from a rear of the base portion, and an upper portion outwardly extending from an upper end of the housing. A pulley system is housed in the housing. A continuous rope extends through the pulley system and through holes in the upper and base portions of the housing. Movement of the rope is resisted by a friction member adjustably engaging portions of the rope wrapped about a cylindrical pulley.

A exercise device for strengthening of the arms and back. The exercise device includes a frame having a base wall and a forked member that is attached to and extends upward from an upper side of the base wall. The forked member includes a pair of arms. A wheel is positioned between the arms and is rotatably coupled to the frame. An elastic band is positioned on and extending around a periphery of the wheel. A tension adjuster adjusts rotation of the wheel. The tension adjuster is attached to the frame for adjusting the rotation of the wheel. Exercise is provided by pulling on the elastic band and rotating the wheel.

A portable, stable rope-pulling exercise machine. The machine has a stable support frame, a number of rope pulleys and rope guides mounted on the frame, an endless rope extending around the pulleys and guides to form a path which includes a horizontally extending rope pulling portion, and hydraulic braking assembly coupled to the pulley system for controlling the rate of movement of the rope based upon the strength of the user when said user is pulling the rope. The machine allows a user to pull a rope continuously as in a simulated tug-of-war. The short frame allows the device to be installed anywhere. A seat with a footrest allows a user to gain leverage when exercising with the rope.

A combination horizontal and vertical rope-pulling device that uses a hydraulic braking assembly that is mounted on a vertical frame to support an endless rope that is placed over a number of pulleys. A pivoting boom is attached at the top of the frame. In the vertical mode, the rotating boom is positioned at an angle extending rearward from the vertical frame. The rope passes over a number of pulleys to simulate a vertical rope for climbing. In the horizontal mode, the rotating boom is rotated down so that it is parallel to the vertical frame. The rope follows the downward run of the boom and around the pulleys. In this way, the user can use the machine as a horizontal rope-pulling machine.