Swim stroke exercise device

• US 6,790,163 B1
• Filed: 08/10/2000
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keith Van De Laarschot
• Original Assignee: Keith Van De Laarschot
• Inventors: Van De Laarschot, Keith, Schaefer, Mark D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen R.
• Application Number:
  US09/636,473
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• Field of Search: 482/51-53, 482/57, 482/70, 482/71, 482/55-56, 482/111, 482/95-96, 482/114-120, 434/254
• US Class Current: 482/56
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0056 using electromagnetically-controlled friction, e.g. magnetic particle brakes
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0058 using motors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/008 using hydraulic or pneumatic force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/025 Spiral springs with turns lying substantially in plane surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/153 wound-up and unwound during exercise, e.g. from a reel
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0257 prone
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/10 Swimming instruction apparatus for use without water

Abstract

A swim stroke exercise device including an adjustable resistance mechanism is provided. The resistance mechanism is attached to one end of the exercise device and includes a roller assembly having a roller clutch and a drive shaft extending from one end and a spring rewind assembly attached opposite the drive shaft. The drive shaft supports a drive pulley including a number of concentric engagement areas having different diameters. Adjustably disposed above the roller assembly, a resistance device includes an output shaft terminating in a mag pulley opposite the resistance device formed similarly to the drive pulley with a number of concentric engagement areas having different diameters that are aligned with the engagement areas on the drive pulley. The concentric engagement areas allow a belt trained about the pulleys to be moved to various positions on both the drive pulley and mag pulley to increase or decrease the amount of resistance provided to the drive shaft by the clutch. A separate adjustment mechanism is also connected directly to the clutch to vary the resistance provided by the clutch. An elongate member is attached to the roller assembly and is pulled to simulate a swimming motion against the resistance provided by the resistance device and the spring rewind assembly. When pulling ceases on the elongate member, the spring rewind assembly retracts the elongate member without interference from the resistance mechanism due to the roller clutch.

Claims

1. An exercise machine for simulating a swimming motion comprising:

a support frame having a rear end including a body support and a front end;

a resistance mechanism located on the front end of the support frame, the mechanism including at least one roller assembly secured to the front end of the support frame, a first pulley disposed on a drive shaft extending from the roller assembly, a resistance device attached to the front end of the support frame and spaced from the first pulley, a second pulley attached to an output shaft extending from the resistance device, and a drive member operably connecting the first and second pulleys;

wherein the roller assembly comprises a sprong assembly disposed on the drive shaft and connected to the roller assembly, wherein the spring assembly includes a spring operably attached to the roller assembly to provide a rewind biasing function for the roller assembly; and

at least one elongate member attached to the roller assembly at one end and having a handle disposed at the opposite end, the elongate member extending from the roller assembly through a rotatable member secured to the front end of the support frame and spaced above the resistance device, towards the rear end of the support frame.

2. The exercise machine of claim 1 wherein the drive shaft and roller assembly are connected by a roller clutch disposed around the drive shaft within the roller assembly, the roller clutch including a ball bearing assembly.

3. The exercise machine of claim 1 further comprising a second roller assembly connected to the front end of the support frame opposite the first roller assembly and connected thereto by the drive shaft;

and

a second elongate member extending from the second roller assembly through a second rotatable member secured to the front end of the support frame opposite the first rotatable member and ending in a second handle.

4. The exercise machine of claim 1 wherein the resistance device is adjustably mounted to the front end of the support frame above the roller assembly.

5. The exercise machine of claim 4 wherein the resistance device is selected from the group consisting of a fluid resistance device, an electrically biased resistance device, and a magnetic particle clutch.

6. The exercise machine of claim 1 wherein the first pulley includes a number of concentric engagement areas, each area having a different diameter.

7. The exercise machine of claim 1 wherein the second pulley is formed from a number of concentric engagement areas, each area having a different diameter.

8. The exercise machine of claim 1 wherein the resistance mechanism includes a remote adjustment mechanism operably connected to the resistance device.

9. A resistance mechanism for an exercise device having a support frame including a front end and a rear end, the mechanism comprising:

at least one roller assembly attached to one of the front end of the support frame;

a drive shaft connected to one end of the roller assembly;

a first pulley disposed on the drive shaft;

a spring rewind assembly disposed on the drive shaft and connected to the roller assembly;

a resistance device adjustably mounted to the support frame above the roller assembly, the resistance device including an output shaft and a second pulley disposed on the output shaft;

a resilient member operably connecting the first pulley and the second pulley; and

a resistance adjustment mechanism spaced from and operably connected to the resistance device.

10. The resistance mechanism of claim 9 wherein the drive shaft and roller assembly are connected by a roller clutch disposed around the drive shaft within the roller assembly, the roller clutch including a ball bearing assembly.

11. The resistance mechanism of claim 9 further comprising a second roller assembly disposed on the support frame opposite the first roller assembly and connected thereto by the drive shaft.

12. The resistance mechanism of claim 9 wherein the first pulley includes a number of concentric engagement areas, each area having a different diameter.

13. The resistance mechanism of claim 9 wherein the second pulley is formed from a number of concentric engagement areas, each area having a different diameter.

14. The resistance mechanism of claim 9 wherein the resistance device is selected from the group consisting of a magnetic particle clutch, a fluid resistance mechanism, and an electrically biased resistance device.

15. An exercise device for simulating a swimming motion, comprising:

support structure including a body support arrangement for supporting the body of a user in a simulated swimming position;

a pair of flexible elongated members adapted to be pulled to an extended position by a user to simulate a swim stroke;

a shaft a biased retraction member having a spring rewind assembly mounted on the shaft and interconnected with each flexible elongated member for retracting the elongated member when the user ceases pulling on the flexible elongated member;

a one-way clutch mechanism interposed between the shaft and each retraction member, wherein each one-way clutch mechanism functions to couple its respective retraction member to the shaft when the user pulls on the flexible elongated member and to decouple its respective retraction member from the shaft upon retraction of the flexible elongated member; and

a resistance mechanism interconnected with the shaft for imparting resistance to the shaft and each retraction member when the retraction member is coupled to the shaft by the one-way clutch upon pulling of the flexible elongated member by the user.

16. An exercise device for simulating a swimming motion comprising:

support structure including a body support arrangement for supporting the body of a user in a simulated swimming position;

a pair of flexible elongated members, each of which defines a first and a second end, wherein the first end of each elongated member is adapted to be grasped by the user when in the simulated swimming position; and

a resistance arrangement interconnected with the support structure, comprising a pair of rollers mounted on a drive shaft, wherein each roller is engaged with the second end of one of the elongated member;

a biasing arrangement having a spring rewind assembly mounted on the drive shaft and interconnected with each roller for urging rotation of each roller in a first direction of rotation to coil each elongated member about its respective roller toward the second end of the elongated member; and

a resistance device interconnected with each roller, wherein the first end of each elongated member is adapted to be pulled by the user when simulating a swim stroke to rotate its respective roller in a second direction of rotation to uncoil the elongated member from the roller, and where the resistance device imparts resistance to the roller upon rotation of the roller in the second direction of rotation to provide resistance to the user.