Exercise Machine for Providing Resistance to Ambulatory Motion of the User

• US 20100298104A1
• Filed: 04/20/2010
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph Turner
• Original Assignee: Joseph Turner
• Inventors: TURNER, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,845,497 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/93
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/025 on rollers or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00069 Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/015 including rotating or oscillating elements rubbing against fixed elements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0618 moving in a horizontal plane without substantial friction, i.e. using inertial forces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/153 wound-up and unwound during exercise, e.g. from a reel
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4007 to the chest region, e.g. to the back chest
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0405 involving a bending of the knee and hip joints simultaneously A63B23/0476 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/047 Walking and pulling or pushing a load for exercising the player ability for rugby or American football A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/02 for large-room or outdoor sporting games

Abstract

An exercise machine that provides a generally consistent resistive force against a user who walks, steps, or runs away from the machine as part of a strength training exercise program. The machine is built upon a movable frame having transport wheel assemblies that allow the exercise machine to be placed on an indoor floor surface or on the ground outdoors. The frame of the device further supports three parallel spinning assemblies that together allow a length of linear strap attached to the user to run out from the machine and thereafter be retracted or rewound back into the machine. The spinning assemblies include a flywheel assembly, a spool assembly, and a spring assembly, each co-axially arranged on a spin axle extending across the frame. The spring assembly is fixed against the frame and incorporates a coil spring that tightens with the rotation of the spin axle in a first direction (allowing the linear run-out strap to extend out from the spool assembly). The coil spring in the spring assembly thereafter tends to direct the rewinding of the strap back onto the spool assembly. The coaxial flywheel assembly provides both an initial stationary inertia and a subsequent rotational inertia. The flywheel acts as a governor to balance the changing forces associated with the resistive force increasing in the spring assembly. Positioned on the spin axle between the flywheel assembly and the spring assembly is a spool assembly that allows the strap to unwind and subsequently to be wound back onto the spool. A guide strap may be provided around the spool to maintain the linear run-out strap within the spool assembly. A resistance adjustment assembly presses a brake pad against the perimeter surface of the flywheel to adjust the force required to direct rotation of the system. A weight horn bracket is provided to add additional disc weights if necessary.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus for providing a resistive force against the ambulatory motion of a user moving away from the device, the exercise apparatus comprising:

(a) a support frame;

(b) a rotatable shaft supported and fixed to the frame at first and second rotation bearings;

(c) a coil spring assembly having a center end fixed relative to the rotatable shaft and a peripheral end fixed relative to the support frame;

(d) a flywheel assembly having a center fixed on the rotatable shaft, the flywheel assembly having a flywheel rotatable in conjunction with the rotatable shaft;

(e) a spool assembly having a center fixed on the rotatable shaft and comprising a winding drum; and

(f) a length of lead line windable on the spool assembly;

wherein drawing the length of lead line out from being wound on the spool assembly directs a first rotational motion of the rotatable shaft and the flywheel assembly, and winds the coil spring assembly, and wherein releasing the length of lead line drawn out from the spool assembly allows for a second rotational motion opposite the first in a manner that rewinds the length of lead line on the spool assembly.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a resistance adjustment assembly in sliding frictional contact with a perimeter rim of the flywheel.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the resistance adjustment assembly is fixed on the support frame adjacent the flywheel assembly and the resistance adjustment assembly comprises:

an adjustment knob having a movable contact point;

a brake lever arm in contact with the movable contact point on the adjustment knob; and

a brake pad pivotally positioned on the brake lever arm and oriented for contact with the flywheel.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising:

a force transducer positioned between the movable contact point of the adjustment knob and the brake lever arm; and

a display device connected to the force transducer for displaying an indication of the degree of force exerted by the resistance adjustment assembly on the flywheel assembly.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a guide roller assembly positioned on the support frame for guiding the length of lead line out from and in to the spool assembly.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the guide roller assembly comprises at least two rollers positioned to retain the length of lead line between them while permitting the length of lead line to move lengthwise through the guide roller assembly.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a guide strap positioned around the winding drum of the spool assembly, the guide strap at least partially enclosing the length of lead line when the length of lead line is wound on the spool assembly.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a guide roller assembly positioned on the support frame for guiding the length of lead line out from and in to the spool assembly and for retaining the ends of the guide strap.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the guide roller assembly comprises at least two rollers positioned to retain the length of lead line between them while permitting the length of lead line to move lengthwise through the guide roller assembly and at least two retention pins to retain the ends of the guide strap.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one transport wheel rotatably positioned on the support frame, the at least one transport wheel facilitating the movement of the apparatus across a surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a weight horn assembly positioned on the support frame, the weight horn assembly comprising a post for receiving and retaining at least one removable weight to increase the overall weight of the apparatus and thereby assist in preventing its lateral motion during use.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support frame further comprises a handle structure extending generally above the rotating components of the apparatus during use, the handle structure for facilitating the positioning and placement of the apparatus on a surface for use.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support frame further comprises a plurality of base pads for facilitating the retention of the apparatus on a surface for use.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a harness secured to the user and connected to a loose end of the length of lead line.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a clip positioned on the loose end of the length of lead line, the clip removably connectable to the harness.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the length of lead line comprises a flat elongated strap having a loop at each end thereof, the loop at a first end for retention on the winding drum of the spool assembly and the loop at a second end for attachment to the user.

17. An indicator device for providing an indication of a degree of adjustable frictional force between a rotating circular structure and a fixed frictional contact surface, the indicator device comprising:

(a) a hand adjustable shaft having a movable force point end;

(b) a pivoting lever arm in contact with the hand adjustable shaft;

(c) a friction shoe pivotally attached to the pivoting lever arm and having a friction surface positioned for contact with the rotating circular structure;

(d) a force transducer positioned between the movable force point end of the hand adjustable shaft and the pivoting lever arm, the force transducer providing an output indicative of the force exerted on the rotating circular structure; and

(e) a display device for reading the output of the force transducer and displaying a visual indication of the degree of force exerted on the rotating structure.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the force transducer comprises an electronic load sensor and the display device comprises a digital electronic display.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the force transducer comprises a hydraulic cylinder and the display device comprises a hydraulic pressure gauge.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the rotating circular structure comprises a disc shaped flywheel having a perimeter face and the friction surface of the friction shoe makes contact with the perimeter face of the flywheel.