Portable exercise device

• US 6,662,651 B1
• Filed: 08/15/2002
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Javelin Sports, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Javelin Sports, Inc.
• Inventors: Roth, Wilfred
• Primary Examiner(s): NOORI, MAX H
• Application Number:
  US10/219,146
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 733/790.1, 733/790.2, 733/790.3, 733/790.8, 733/790.9, 737/88, 737/94, 738/62, 738/33, 738/56
• US Class Current: 73/379.02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/224 Measuring muscular strength
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6806 Gloves
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/154 using special pulley-assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/1663 for anchoring between a door and the door frame
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4017 to the upper limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force

Abstract

A portable exercise device (20) having a force measuring system (28) and a length adjuster (30). The exercise device includes a pulley/securing device assembly (22) and a cord (24) having a gripping structure (26) at each of its ends. The pulley/securing device assembly has a pulley (38) for engaging the cord and a securing device (34) for securing the exercise device to a door (46). The force measuring system engages one of the gripping structures and determines magnitude of a tensile force (68) applied to that gripping member. The force measuring system is in communication with an electronic display (88′) that displays the magnitude of the tensile force to a user (27). The force measuring system may be powered by batteries (104, 104′) contained in the housing of the force measuring system, contained in a handgrip (52) of the gripping structure, or located aboard the electrified glove, may be powered by a power generating system (132) driven by the pulley during, or may be powered by a piezoelectric sensor (72) used to measure the force applied to the cord. The length adjuster includes a body (162) having a plurality of slots (164) that threadedly receive a portion of the cord and allow a user to create, and adjust the size of, an excess loop (190) to change the effective length of the cord.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a) an exercise device that provides a resistive force to a user; and

b) a force measuring system for measuring said resistive force, said force measuring system including;

i) a generally trangular-shaped force-carrying element comprising;

A) a first leg and a second leg that generally converge with one another to form a crotch having a center, each of said first and second legs having a distal end spaced from said crotch; and

B) a third leg extending between said distal ends of said first and second legs to keep said distal ends spaced from one another; and

ii) a sensor, operatively coupled to said first and second legs between said crotch and said third leg, for sensing a change in distance between said first and second legs when said resistive force is applied to said third leg along a line extending through said center of said crotch.

2. A system for measuring a force, comprising:

a) a generally triangular-shaped force-carrying element comprising;

i) a first leg and a second leg that generally converge with one another to form a crotch having a center, each of said first and second legs having a distal end spaced from said crotch; and

ii) a third leg extending between said distal ends of said first and second legs to keep said distal ends spaced from one another, wherein said third leg comprises a handgrip that includes a battery compartment; and

b) a sensor, operatively coupled to said first and second legs between said crotch and said third leg, for sensing a change in distance between said first and second legs when a force is applied to said third leg along a line extending through said center of said crotch.

3. A system for measuring a force, comprising:

a) a generally triangular-shaped force-carrying element comprising;

i) a first leg and a second leg that generally converge with one another to from a crotch having a center, each of said first and second legs having a distal end spaced from said crotch; and

ii) a third leg extending between said distal ends of said first and second legs to keep said distal ends space d from one another, wherein said third leg comprises a handgrip having a gripping surface that includes electrical contacts; and

b) a sensor, operatively coupled to said first and second legs between said crotch and said third leg, for sensing a change in distance between said first and second legs when a force is applied to said third leg along a line extending through said center of said crotch.