Vibrating device for exercise equipment

• US 7,294,095 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2004
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard Charnitski
• Original Assignee: Richard Charnitski
• Inventors: Charnitski, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): BAKER, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US10/838,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20050250626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 482/148, 482/51, 482/52, 482 95- 98, 482/99, 482/102, 482/120
• US Class Current: 482/91
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/00 Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms apparatus for passive exercising A61H1/00; generating or transmitting mechanical vibrations in general B06B
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00 Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices electric or electronic controls therefor A63B24/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00061 Replaceable resistance units of different strengths, e.g. for swapping
• 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 21/00076 on the fly, i.e. varying the resistance during exercise
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00196 using pulsed counterforce, e.g. vibrating resistance means A61H1/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/154 using special pulley-assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/155 Cam-shaped pulleys or other non-uniform pulleys, e.g. conical
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0355 A single apparatus used for either upper or lower limbs, i.e. with a set of support elements driven either by the upper or the lower limb or limbs

Abstract

An exercising device has a flexible tension member connected to a user interface that is connected to a mechanism for generating a resistive force which is overcome by the user moving the user interface to obtain exercise. The exercising device has a driving member rotating about a first axis and a circular oscillating surface rotatably connected to the driving member to circle about the first axis while also rotating about a second substantially parallel axis through the center of the circular oscillating surface. The first and second axes are offset a distance d. The flexible member wraps at least part way around the circular oscillating surface to rotate the oscillating surface as the user interface moves during use of the exercise device. The offset d provides an oscillatory motion to the user interface to increase the effectiveness of the exercise.

Claims

1. An exercising device for a user, the exercise device having a flexible tension member connected to a user interface that is connected to a mechanism for generating a resistive force which is overcome by the user moving the user interface to obtain exercise, comprising:

a circular oscillating surface circling about a first axis and rotating about a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis, the second axis passing through a center of the oscillating surface,

a structure rotating about the first axis and connected to the oscillating surface to constrain the oscillating surface to circle about the first axis, the first and second axes being offset a distance d, the flexible member wrapping at least part way around the circular oscillating surface to rotate the oscillating surface about the second axis as the user interface moves during use of the exercise device.

2. The exercising device of claim 1, wherein the oscillating surface comprises a sprocket.

3. The exercising device of claim 1, wherein the oscillating surface comprises a disk and the oscillating surface comprises a pulley.

4. The exercising device of claim 1, wherein the oscillating surface comprises a sprocket and the flexible tension member comprises a chain.

5. The exercising device of claim 1, wherein the circular oscillating surface encircles the first axis.

6. The exercising device of claim 1, wherein the circular oscillating surface encircles the first axis and further comprising a bearing interposed between the oscillating surface and the axis about which the oscillating surface rotates.

7. The exercising device of claim 1, wherein the oscillating surface comprises a sprocket and the flexible tension member has opposing ends each connected to a first end of a bar, the bar having a user interface thereon.

8. The exercising device of claim 1, wherein the oscillating surface comprises a sprocket and the flexible tension member has at least one foot rest and at least one hand grip fastened thereto.

9. The exercising device of claim 8, wherein the motor rotates the oscillating surface at a speed of below about 100 Hz.

10. The exercising device of claim 1, wherein the flexible tension member forms a continuous loop having two parallel members each of which has a foot rest and a hand grip fastened thereto.

11. The exercising device of claim 1, wherein the resistive device comprises at least one weight urged by gravity to apply the resistive force to the flexible tension member.

12. The exercising device of claim 1, wherein the resistive mechanism comprises a hydraulic motor.

13. The exercising device of claim 1, wherein the resistive mechanism comprises a spring.

14. The exercising device of claim 1, further comprising at least two pulleys with the flexible tension member wrapping at least part way around each pulley.

15. The exercising device of claim 1, wherein the flexible tension member is connected to a releasable fastener which can be inserted into one of a plurality of apertures to vary the amount the flexible member wraps around the circular surface.

16. The exercising device of claim 1, further comprising means for varying the amount the flexible member wraps around the circular surface.

17. The exercising device of claim 1, wherein the first axis comprises an axle and there are a plurality of oscillating surfaces each of which comprises a disk connected to the axle to rotate with the axle, each oscillating surface engaging a separate flexible tension member in communication with a user interface.

18. The exercising device of claim 1, wherein the distance d is less than about 0.5 inches.

19. The exercising device of claim 1, further comprising a resilient member interposed between the flexible tension member and the user interface.

20. The exercising device of claim 1, further comprising a one of a vibration isolator or damper interposed between the motor and a frame of the exercise device to reduce vibration of the frame.

21. An exercising device for a user, the exercise device having a user interface connected to a mechanism for generating a resistive force which is overcome by the user moving the user interface to obtain exercise, comprising:

a motor;

a rotating part driven by the motor to rotate about a first drive axis;

a circular oscillating surface rotatably mounted to the rotating part and having a second axis passing through the center of the circular oscillating surface and offset from the first drive axis by a distance d and;

a flexible tension member having a first end connected to the resistive force mechanism and a second end connected to the user interface, the tension member wrapping at least partway around the oscillating surface to rotate the oscillating surface as the user interface moves during use of the exercise device.

22. The exercising device of claim 21, wherein the motor rotates the oscillating surface at a speed of below about 100 Hz.

23. The exercising device of claim 21, further comprising a laterally stiff elongated member having one end rotatably mounted about the second axis and having the circular oscillating surface rotatably mounted at an opposing end.

24. The exercising device of claim 21, wherein the distance d is less than about 0.5 inches.

25. The exercising device of claim 21, wherein the motor is a variable speed motor.

26. The exercising device of claim 21, wherein the distance d is about 0.1-0.3 inches and the oscillating surface rotates about the first axis at about 100 Hz or less.

27. The exercising device of claim 21, wherein the oscillating surface encircles the first axis.

28. The exercising device of claim 21, wherein the oscillating surface comprises a pulley rotating about the second axis.

29. The exercising device of claim 21, wherein the flexible tension member forms a continuous loop.

30. The exercising device of claim 29, further comprising a resiliently mounted tension pulley in contact with the continuous loop to maintain tension in the loop.

31. The exercising device of claim 21, wherein a resilient member is interposed between the user interface and the oscillating surface.

32. The exercising device of claim 21, wherein the flexible member is formed in a continuous loop and interfaces with a rotating user interface.

33. The exercising device of claim 21, wherein the user interface reciprocates.

34. The exercising device of claim 21, wherein the oscillating surface comprises a sprocket and the flexible tension member has opposing ends each connected to a first end of a bar, the bar having a user interface thereon.

35. The exercising device of claim 21, wherein the oscillating surface comprises a sprocket and the flexible tension member has at least one foot rest and at least one hand grip fastened thereto.

36. The exercising device of claim 21, wherein the flexible tension member forms a continuous loop having two parallel members each of which has a foot rest and a hand grip fastened thereto.

37. The exercising device of claim 36, wherein the motor rotates the oscillating surface at a speed of below about 100 Hz.

38. An exercising device for a user, the exercise device having a user interface connected to a mechanism for generating a resistive force which is overcome by the user moving the user interface to obtain exercise, comprising:

means for rotating a circular oscillating surface about two substantially parallel axes which are offset a distance d;

a flexible tension member having a first end connected to the resistive force mechanism and a second end connected to the user interface, the flexible tension member wrapping partway around the oscillating surface to rotate the oscillating surface about one of the axes during use of the exercise device.

39. The exercising device of claim 38, further comprising means for varying the amount the flexible member wraps around the circular oscillating surface.

40. The exercising device of claim 38, further comprising means for varying the distance d.

41. The exercising device of claim 38, wherein the oscillating surface encircles the first axis while rotating about the second axis which passes through the center of the circular surface.

42. The exercising device of claim 38, wherein the oscillating surface comprises a sprocket and the flexible tension member has opposing ends each connected to a first end of a bar, the bar having a user interface thereon.

43. The exercising device of claim 38, wherein the oscillating surface comprises a sprocket and the flexible tension member has at least one foot rest and at least one hand grip fastened thereto.

44. The exercising device of claim 38, wherein the flexible tension member forms a continuous loop having a foot rest and a hand grip fastened thereto.

45. The exercising device of claim 44, wherein the motor rotates the oscillating surface at a speed of below about 100 Hz.

46. A method for providing exercise to a user of an exercising device having a flexible tension member connected to a user interface that is connected to a mechanism for generating a resistive force which is overcome by the user to obtain exercise, comprising:

rotating a first part about a first axis;

rotating a circular surface about the first axis and about a second axis through the center of the circular surface, the first and second axis offset by a distance d;

wrapping the flexible member around part of the circular surface;

moving the flexible member along that circular surface and rotating the circular surface about the second axis as the circular surface rotates around the first axis during use of the exercise device to cause oscillatory motion in the flexible tension member.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising rotating the first part at about 100 Hz or less during use.

48. The method of claim 46, further comprising offsetting the first and second axes a distance d of about 0.1 to 0.3 inches.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein the circular surface comprises a sprocket and the flexible member is a chain.

50. The method of claim 46, further comprising rotating the first part at about 100 Hz or less during use of the exercise device.

51. The method of claim 46, wherein the circular surface comprises a pulley.

52. The method of claim 46, wherein the circular surface comprises a sprocket.

53. The method of claim 46, wherein the rotation of the first part occurs at a speed that is adjusted by the user.

54. The method of claim 46, further comprising forming the flexible tension member in a continuous loop and connecting it to a rotating user interface.

55. The method of claim 54, further comprising placing a tension pulley in engagement with the continuous loop.

56. The method of claim 46, further comprising forming the flexible tension member in a continuous loop and connecting it to a reciprocating user interface.

57. The method of claim 46, further comprising forming the circular surface so it encircles the first axis.

58. The method of claim 46, further comprising varying the amount that the flexible member wraps around the circular surface to wrap less than half a circumference of the circular surface.

59. The method of claim 46, further comprising varying the amount of offset d.

60. The method of claim 46, further comprising locating the curved surface between two pulleys each of which engages the flexible member.

61. The exercising device of claim 46, wherein the circular surface comprises a sprocket and the flexible member has opposing ends each connected to a first end of a bar, each bar having a user interface thereon.

62. The exercising device of claim 46, wherein the circular surface comprises a sprocket and the flexible member has at least one foot rest and at least one hand grip fastened thereto to form the user interface.

63. The exercising device of claim 46, wherein the flexible tension member forms a continuous loop having a foot rest and a hand grip fastened thereto.

64. The exercising device of claim 63, wherein the motor rotates the oscillating surface at a speed of below about 100 Hz.

65. The exercising device of claim 63, further comprising interposing one of a vibration isolator or damper between the rotating circular surface and a frame of the exercise device to reduce vibration of the frame.

66. The exercising device of claim 63, further comprising mounting the parts which oscillate and guide the flexible tension member, in vibration isolating and dampening devices.