Body exerciser using distributed frictional brake means and central acting biasing means
First Claim
1. An exerciser which can be readily initialized for use while at the same time generate a large, distributed resistance load in which a user'"'"'s limbs can be worked in both push-pull, pull only or push only directions, comprisinga central, fixed housing having an axis of symmetry and a plane of action normal to said axis of symmetry,first and second cranks each having a lateral arm insertable within said fixed housing from opposite directions and having an axis of rotation coincident with said axis of symmetry for providing clockwise and counterclockwise rotation about said axis of symmetry, said cranks each having a forearm normal to said lateral arm and attached thereto through a ratchet mechanism,first and second independently operatable friction brakes each journaled to said each lateral arm of said first and second cranks wherein said each brake and lateral arm operate in concert, said each brake including a centrally positioned push block and a series of stackable, laterally slidable rotatable and stationary members in edge relationship relative to said axis of symmetry and in broad surface contact with each other, said rotatable and stationary members being distributed over a finite length of said lateral arm of each first and second cranks,a centrally positioned frictional biasing means in biasing contact with said push block of said each of said first and second friction brakes, said friction biasing means including centrally positioned wedge block having slanted side surfaces in operational contact with said push blocks of said brakes and an activation rod in operative contact with said wedge block for providing transverse movement to said wedge block relative to said housing, said transverse movement being converted into bi-directional longitudinal travel of said push blocks thereby generating bi-directional biasing squeezing pressure to said series of rotatable and stationary members of friction brakes whereby independent resistance to rotation of said lateral arm about said axis of symmetry is smooth over a full 360 degrees of rotation of either said first or second cranks individually or in tandem.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An exercisor is described comprising two cranks journaled from opposite directions into a pair of independently operating friction brakes within a central housing. However, while the friction brakes of each crank are independently operatable via a crank arm, they are interconnected by a common friction biasing mechanism. Such mechanism is also housed within the central housing between the friction brakes. The friction biasing mechanism includes a wedge block having slanted side surfaces in contact push blocks of the friction brakes. The wedge block is provided with transverse movement relative to the central housing by rotation of an activation rod (by the user), such rod having an axis of rotation that is normal to the axis of symmetry of the central housing. Such transverse movement, in turn, is converted to bi-directional travel of the push blocks toward the ends of the central housing where the cranks are positioned. As a result, there is generated within each friction brake a bi-directional pressure that resists rotation of the crank operatively attached to the friction brake in an uniform manner.
25 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An exerciser which can be readily initialized for use while at the same time generate a large, distributed resistance load in which a user'"'"'s limbs can be worked in both push-pull, pull only or push only directions, comprising
a central, fixed housing having an axis of symmetry and a plane of action normal to said axis of symmetry, first and second cranks each having a lateral arm insertable within said fixed housing from opposite directions and having an axis of rotation coincident with said axis of symmetry for providing clockwise and counterclockwise rotation about said axis of symmetry, said cranks each having a forearm normal to said lateral arm and attached thereto through a ratchet mechanism, first and second independently operatable friction brakes each journaled to said each lateral arm of said first and second cranks wherein said each brake and lateral arm operate in concert, said each brake including a centrally positioned push block and a series of stackable, laterally slidable rotatable and stationary members in edge relationship relative to said axis of symmetry and in broad surface contact with each other, said rotatable and stationary members being distributed over a finite length of said lateral arm of each first and second cranks, a centrally positioned frictional biasing means in biasing contact with said push block of said each of said first and second friction brakes, said friction biasing means including centrally positioned wedge block having slanted side surfaces in operational contact with said push blocks of said brakes and an activation rod in operative contact with said wedge block for providing transverse movement to said wedge block relative to said housing, said transverse movement being converted into bi-directional longitudinal travel of said push blocks thereby generating bi-directional biasing squeezing pressure to said series of rotatable and stationary members of friction brakes whereby independent resistance to rotation of said lateral arm about said axis of symmetry is smooth over a full 360 degrees of rotation of either said first or second cranks individually or in tandem.
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15. An exerciser for providing resistance loads over a full 360 degree arc in a smooth manner for a user'"'"'s limbs, comprising
a central, fixed housing having an axis of symmetry and a plane of action normal to said axis of symmetry that intersects at least a portion of said user'"'"'s body, first and second cranks manipulated by said user'"'"'s limbs for rotation about said axis of symmetry of said housing, each of said cranks having a lateral arm insertable within said fixed housing from opposite directions, a forearm normal to said lateral arm and a ratcheting mechanism connecting said forearm to said lateral arm, first and second independently operatable friction brakes each journaled to said each lateral arm of said first and second cranks interior of said housing and including a series of edge-stackable rotatable and stationary members squeezable together along broad surfaces in a manner that resists rotation of said lateral arms of said first and second cranks at essentially a constant magnitude of frictional pressure even though said cranks operate independently, centrally positioned frictional biasing means in biasing contact with said push block of said each of said first and second friction brakes, said friction biasing means including centrally positioned wedge block having slanted side surfaces in operational contact with said push blocks of said brakes and an activation rod in operative contact with said wedge block for providing transverse movement to said wedge block relative to said housing, said transverse movement being converied into bi-directional longitudinal travel of said push blocks thereby generating bi-directional biasing squeezing pressure to said series of rotatable and stationary members of friction brakes whereby independent resistance to rotation of said lateral arm about said axis of symmetry is smooth over a full 360 degrees of rotation of either said first or second cranks individually or in tandem.
Specification