Dynamic tensioner incorporating stepless ratchet device

• US 6,736,766 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2000
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raymond J. Gallant
• Original Assignee: Raymond J. Gallant
• Inventors: Gallant, Raymond J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donnelly, Jerome W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mathew, Fenn C
• Application Number:
  US09/699,558
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 81/584, 81/591, 81/60, 81/631, 482/114, 482/115, 482/118, 482/119, 403/148, 403/149
• US Class Current: 482/114
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0004 Exercising devices moving as a whole during exercise bar bells or dumb bells A63B21/072; on wheels A63B22/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00072 by changing the length of a lever
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/015 including rotating or oscillating elements rubbing against fixed elements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4011 to the lower limbs means for physically limiting movements of body parts A63B69/0057
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4025 Resistance devices worn on the user's body A63B21/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4047 Pivoting movement weight pivoting A63B21/0615

Abstract

A rotational drive device that provides both variable levels of adjustable rotational resistance and also selective direction in which the resistance acts. The device has two mutually rotatable members each having a grasping handle. One member has a shaft serving as an axle for rotatably supporting the second member. A nut threads to the end of the shaft. When tightened, the nut imparts axially compressive forces urging the two rotatable members towards one another. The base rotatable member has a ramped member facing a corresponding opposed ramped member rotatably supported on the shaft. When the ramped members are rotated relative to one another, overall axial length of the base member is adjusted. This adjustment selectively modifies resistance to rotation of the rotatable members. A clutch device selectively transmits resistance forces when one rotatable member is rotated relative to the other in a first direction, in a second direction, and in both directions. When one direction is selected, the two members rotate with minimal resistance. The clutch has curved cam surfaces which bind in a smooth, stepless manner without causing chattering and vibration typical of pawl ratchets.

Claims

1. A stepless, ratchet action, rotational drive device that provides both variable levels of adjustable rotational resistance and also selective direction in which the resistance acts, comprising:

a first rotatable member having a body including an exposed face, an opposed internal face, a shaft projecting from said internal face, a first ramp element disposed upon said internal face, wherein said first ramp element has a plurality of ramps formed thereon, and a first engagement member disposed upon said body of said first rotatable member;

a second ramp element rotatably supported on said shaft, bearing an internal face facing away from said first rotatable member and an external face bearing a plurality of ramps formed thereon, wherein said ramps of said second ramp element face said ramps of said first ramp element;

a second rotatable member constrained to rotate about said shaft, having a body including an external face, an internal face facing said internal face of said first rotatable member, and a second engagement member disposed upon said body of said second rotatable member;

an anti-friction bearing disposed between said internal face of said second ramp element and said second rotatable member;

a clutch disposed to couple said first rotatable member selectively to said second rotatable member such that resistance forces are established between said first rotatable member and said second rotatable member selectively when said first rotatable member is rotated in a first direction relative to said second rotatable member, and when said first rotatable member is rotated in an opposed second direction relative to said second rotatable member; and

a retainer disposed to retain said second rotatable member on said shaft of said first rotatable member.

2. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein

said clutch is incorporated into said second rotatable member and is rotatably supported on said shaft of said first rotatable member, and said clutch further includes a compression transfer member which is disposed between said body of said second rotatable member and said internal face of said second ramp element, is constrained to move axially along and to rotate about said shaft of said first rotatable member, and transmits compressive forces between said first rotatable member and said second rotatable member,

wherein said clutch selectively couples said second rotatable member to and uncouples said second rotatable member from said compression transfer member.

3. The drive device according to claim 2, wherein said compression transfer member is a collar having a smooth walled throughbore, an outer lateral surface, a first end face facing said second rotatable member, and a second end face facing said second ramped member.

4. The drive device according to claim 3, wherein said clutch incorporates a base and a plurality of oscillatable cam members oscillatably mounted on said base, wherein said cam members each have a curved cam surface disposed selectively to bind on said outer lateral surface of said collar and to slide without binding on said outer lateral surface of said collar.

5. The drive device according to claim 4, further comprising a selector disposed to urge said cam members selectively

into a first position wherein said clutch operably couples said first rotatable member to said collar when said first rotatable member is rotated in a first direction relative to said second rotatable member and releases said first rotatable member from said collar when said first rotatable member is rotated in a second opposing direction relative to said second rotatable member, and

into a second position wherein said clutch operably couples said first rotatable member to said collar when said first rotatable member is rotated in the second opposing direction relative to said second rotatable member and releases said first rotatable member from said collar when said first rotatable member is rotated in the first direction relative to said second rotatable member.

6. The drive device according to claim 5, wherein said selector is disposed to urge said cam members into a third position wherein said clutch operably couples said first rotatable member to said collar both when said first rotatable member is rotated in the first direction relative to said second rotatable member and also when said first rotatable member is rotated in the second opposed direction relative to said second rotatable member.

7. The drive device according to claim 5, further comprising a detent device disposed to selectively immobilize said selector such that said selector maintains said cam members selectively in said first position and in said second position.

8. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein said body of said second rotatable member has a smooth walled throughbore enabling said shaft of said first rotatable member to pass through said throughbore.

9. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein said shaft has a proximal end anchored to said first rotatable member and a distal end bearing threads thereon, and said retainer comprises a threaded nut disposed to thread onto and from said threads of said shaft.

10. The drive device according to claim 9, wherein said base of said clutch includes a plurality of depressions, and said detent device comprises at least one ball dimensioned and configured to interfit with and engage each one of said depressions, and one spring for each ball, wherein each said spring is mounted within said selector and is disposed to urge said ball into one of said depressions of said base of said clutch.

11. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein said engagement member of said first rotatable member comprises a handle configured to cooperate with a person'"'"'s hand.

12. The drive device according to claim 11, wherein said engagement member of said second rotatable member comprises a handle configured to cooperate with a person'"'"'s hand.