Exercise device
First Claim
1. An exercise cycle for providing exercise to an operator;
- said cycle comprising;
(a) a housing having an inner surface;
(b) a rotatable pedal axle mounted substantially perpendicularly to said housing inner surface;
(c) pedal means mounted on said pedal axle for rotation of said axle;
(d) a rotor mounted on said pedal axle;
(i) said rotor having a friction surface oriented facing said housing inner surface and being spaced apart therefrom to form a fluid receiving space therebetween;
(ii) said rotation of said rotor causing movement of said rotor friction surface with respect to said housing inner surface;
(iii) said rotor being substantially circular with at least one chordal segment removed therefrom, leaving a chordal extension thereon;
(e) said housing inner surface having a relief portion and a non-relief portion therein;
(i) said rotor chordal extension periodically aligning with, and becoming out of alignment with, said housing relief portion as said rotor is rotated by said pedal means; and
(f) fluid level adjustment means for selectively adjusting an amount of fluid positioned in said fluid receiving space;
(g) whereby fluid is selectively positionable in said fluid receiving space;
said fluid, when sufficiently viscous, causing frictional drag and resistance to rotation of said rotor with respect to said housing; and
(h) whereby when said operator pedals said cycle, said rotor is rotated with energy required to overcome said resistance; and
(i) whereby an amount of energy required to pedal said cycle may be selectively increased or decreased by adjustment of said amount of fluid in said receiving space; and
(j) whereby a relative amount of energy required to cause rotation of said rotor varies as said rotor is rotated and said chordal extension of said rotor periodically moves through alignment with said housing relief portion and said housing nonrelief portion.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An exercise device includes a rotor which rotates upon action of an operator. Resistance to rotation of the rotor is provided by fluid trapped between the rotor and a non-rotating portion of the device. A friction relief mechanism provides periodic variation in the amount of resistance to rotation as the rotor is rotated. A fluid level adjustment mechanism permits control of the amount of fluid positioned between the rotor and the non-rotating portion of the device. As the amount of fluid between the rotor and the non-rotating portions of the assembly is increased, the total amount of energy required to complete a single revolution of the rotor is generally increased. In a preferred embodiment, the device is an exercise cycle operated by pedaling. The friction relief mechanism operates so that when the pedaler has pedals positioned at vertical extremes, resistance to pedaling is least; and when the pedals are positioned substantially halfway between the vertical extremes, resistance to pedaling is at a maximum. This periodic variation in the amount of energy required for rotation, caused by the friction relief mechanism, generally matches a profile of a normal bicycle pedaler'"'"'s muscle capabilities and output.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An exercise cycle for providing exercise to an operator;
- said cycle comprising;
(a) a housing having an inner surface; (b) a rotatable pedal axle mounted substantially perpendicularly to said housing inner surface; (c) pedal means mounted on said pedal axle for rotation of said axle; (d) a rotor mounted on said pedal axle; (i) said rotor having a friction surface oriented facing said housing inner surface and being spaced apart therefrom to form a fluid receiving space therebetween; (ii) said rotation of said rotor causing movement of said rotor friction surface with respect to said housing inner surface; (iii) said rotor being substantially circular with at least one chordal segment removed therefrom, leaving a chordal extension thereon; (e) said housing inner surface having a relief portion and a non-relief portion therein; (i) said rotor chordal extension periodically aligning with, and becoming out of alignment with, said housing relief portion as said rotor is rotated by said pedal means; and (f) fluid level adjustment means for selectively adjusting an amount of fluid positioned in said fluid receiving space; (g) whereby fluid is selectively positionable in said fluid receiving space;
said fluid, when sufficiently viscous, causing frictional drag and resistance to rotation of said rotor with respect to said housing; and(h) whereby when said operator pedals said cycle, said rotor is rotated with energy required to overcome said resistance; and (i) whereby an amount of energy required to pedal said cycle may be selectively increased or decreased by adjustment of said amount of fluid in said receiving space; and (j) whereby a relative amount of energy required to cause rotation of said rotor varies as said rotor is rotated and said chordal extension of said rotor periodically moves through alignment with said housing relief portion and said housing nonrelief portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- said cycle comprising;
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9. An exercise device, for providing physical exercise to an operator, in combination with a sufficiently viscous fluid for operation of said device;
- said combination including;
(a) a housing having an inner surface; (b) a rotor rotatably mounted on said device; (i) said rotor having actuation means associated therewith for engagement by said operator to generate rotation of said rotor; (ii) said rotor having a friction surface;
said rotor friction surface facing said housing inner surface and being spaced apart therefrom to form a fluid receiving space therebetween;(iii) said rotation of said rotor causing movement of said rotor friction surface with respect to said housing inner surface; (c) fluid for being positioned in said fluid receiving space; (d) fluid level adjustment means for selectively adjusting an amount of fluid positioned in said fluid receiving space; and (e) friction relief means providing a variable amount of frictional resistance to rotation of said rotor, during a single revolution of said rotor, while said fluid level adjustment means is maintained substantially unadjusted; (i) said fluid relief means being periodic in operation so as to repeat with successive revolutions of said rotor; (f) whereby said fluid is selectively positionable in said fluid receiving space to cause resistance to rotation of said rotor with respect to said housing; and (g) whereby a relative amount of energy required to cause rotation of said rotor, at a selected fluid amount and fixed rotation rate, varies as said rotor is rotated, and repeats in a periodic cycle; and
,(h) whereby when said operator rotates said rotor, energy is required to overcome said resistance and said operator receives exercise by providing said energy. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
- said combination including;
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12. An exercise device for providing physical exercise to an operator, said device comprising:
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(a) a housing having an inner surface; (b) a rotor rotatably mounted on said device; (i) said rotor having actuation means associated therewith for engagement by said operator to generate rotation of said rotor; (ii) said rotor having a friction surface;
said rotor friction surface facing said housing inner surface and being spaced apart therefrom to form a fluid receiving space therebetween;(iii) said rotation of said rotor causing movement of said rotor friction surface with respect to said housing inner surface; (c) fluid level adjustment means for selectively adjusting an amount of fluid positioned in said fluid receiving space; and
,(d) friction relief means providing a variable amount of frictional resistance to rotation of said rotor, during a single revolution of said rotor, while said fluid level adjustment means is maintained substantially unadjusted; (i) said fluid relief means being periodic in operation so as to repeat with successive revolutions of said rotor; (e) whereby fluid is positionable in said fluid receiving space;
said fluid, when sufficiently viscous, causing frictional drag and resistance to rotation of said rotor with respect to said housing;(f) whereby, when said operator rotates said rotor;
energy is required to overcome said resistance and said operator receives exercise by providing said energy;(g) whereby an amount of energy required to rotate said rotor may be selectively increased or decreased by adjustment of said fluid in said receiving space; and
,(h) whereby a relative amount of energy required to cause rotation of said rotor, at a selected fluid amount and fixed rate of rotation, varies as said rotor is rotated, and said amount of energy repeats, in a periodic cycle, as said rotor is rotated through successive revolutions. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. An exercise device for providing physical exercise to an operator, said device comprising:
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(a) a housing having an inner surface; (b) a rotor rotatably mounted on said device; (i) said rotor having actuation means associated therewith for engagement by said operator to generate rotation of said rotor; (ii) said rotor having a first friction surface and a second friction surface;
said first friction surface facing said housing inner surface and being spaced apart therefrom to form a first fluid receiving space therebetween;(iii) said rotation of said rotor causing movement of said rotor first friction surface with respect to said housing inner surface; (c) a cover having an inner surface; (i) said rotor second friction surface facing said cover inner surface and being spaced apart therefrom to form a second fluid receiving space therebetween; (ii) said rotation of said rotor causing movement of said rotor second friction surface with respect to said cover inner surface; (d) fluid level adjustment means for selectively adjusting an amount of fluid positioned in said first and second fluid receiving spaces; and
,(e) friction relief means providing a variable amount of frictional resistance to rotation of said rotor, during a single revolution of said rotor, while said fluid level adjustment means is maintained substantially unadjusted; (i) said fluid relief means being periodic in operation so as to repeat with successive revolutions of said rotor; (f) whereby fluid is positionable in said fluid receiving spaces;
said fluid, when sufficiently viscous, causing frictional drag and resistance to rotation of said rotor with respect to said cover and housing;(g) whereby when said operator rotates said rotor, energy is required to overcome said resistance and said operator receives exercise by providing said energy; (h) whereby an amount of energy required to rotate said rotor may be selectively increased or decreased by adjustment of said amount of fluid in said receiving spaces; and
,(i) whereby a relative amount of energy required to cause rotation of said rotor, at a selected fluid amount, varies as said rotor is rotated; and
said amount of energy repeats, in a periodic cycle, as said rotor is rotated through successive revolutions.
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15. An exercise device for providing physical exercise to an operator, said device comprising:
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(a) a stationary friction surface; (b) a rotor rotatably mounted in said device; (i) said rotor having actuation means associated therewith for engagement by said operator to generate rotation of said rotor; (ii) said rotor having a rotor friction surface;
said rotor friction surface generally facing said stationary friction surface and being spaced apart therefrom to form a fluid receiving space therebetween;(iii) said rotation of said rotor causing shearing movement of said rotor friction surface relative to said stationary friction surface. (c) fluid positioning means selectively positioning fluid in said fluid receiving space;
said fluid, when sufficiently viscous, causing frictional drag and resistance to said shearing movement; and
,(d) friction relief means providing a variable amount of frictional resistance to rotation of said rotor, during a single revolution of said rotor; (i) said fluid relief means being periodic in operation so as to repeat which successive revolutions of said rotor; (e) whereby when said operator rotates said rotor, energy is required to overcome said resistance and said operator receives exercise by providing said energy; and
,(f) whereby a relative amount of energy required to cause rotation of said rotor varies as said rotor is rotated, at a selected amount of fluid in said fluid receiving space; and
, said amount of energy repeats, in a periodic cycle, as said rotor is rotated through successive revolutions. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. An exercise device for providing physical exercise to an operator, said device comprising:
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(a) a stationary friction surface; (b) a movable friction surface mounted in said device; (i) said movable friction surface having actuation means associatdd therewith for engagement by said operator to generate movement of said movable friction surface relative to said stationary friction surface; (ii) said movable friction surface generally facing said stationary friction surface and being spaced apart therefrom to form a fluid receiving space therebetween; (iii) said movement of said movable friction surface causing shearing movement of said movable friction surface relative to said stationary friction surface; (c) fluid positioning means selectively positioning fluid in said fluid receiving space;
said fluid, when sufficiently viscous, causing frictional drag and resistance to said shearing movement; and
,(d) friction relief means providing a variable amount of frictional resistance to movement of said movable friction surface relative to said stationary friction surface, said friction relief means inlcluding periodicity means to generate a variation in said variable amount of frictional resistance according to a repeatable pattern; (e) whereby when said operator moves said movable friction surface, energy is required to overcome said resistance and said operator receives exercise by providing said energy; and
,(f) whereby a relative amount of energy required to cause movement of said movable friction surface varies, as said shearing movement occurs, at a selected amount of fluid in said fluid receiving space.
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18. An exercise, device for providing physical exercise to an operator, said device comprising:
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(a) a housing having an inner surface; (b) a rotor rotatably mounted on said device; (i) said rotor having a substantially oval-shaped outer periphery portion with first and second, generally equal and opposite, chordal relieved segments leaving first and second, generally equal and opposite, chordal extensions in said rotor; (ii) said rotor having actuation means associated therewith for engagement by said operator to generate rotation of said rotor; (iii) said rotor having a friction surface;
said rotor friction surface facing said housing inner surface and being spaced apart therefrom to form a fluid receiving space therebetween;(iv) said rotation of said rotor causing movement of said rotor friction surface with respect to said housing inner surface; (c) a fluid reservoir oriented for at least a portion of said rotor chordal extensions to dip into same, as said rotor is rotated; (d) viscous fluid received within said fluid reservoir in sufficient amount to be engaged by said chordal extensions as said rotor rotates; and
,(e) said viscous fluid being positionable in said fluid receiving space; (i) said fluid being transferred to said fluid receiving space, from said fluid reservoir, by said rotor chordal extensions as said rotor rotates; (ii) said fluid, when in said fluid receiving space and when sufficiently viscous, causing frictional drag and resistance to rotation of said rotor with respect to said housing; (f) whereby, when said operator rotates said rotor, energy is required to overcome said resistance and said operator receives exercise by providing said energy. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An exercise device for providing physical exercise to an operator, said device comprising:
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(a) a housing having an inner surface; (b) a rotor rotatably mounted on said device; (i) said rotor having actuation means associated therewith for engagement by said operator to generate rotation of said rotor; (ii) said rotor having a friction surface;
said rotor friction surface facing said housing inner surface and being spaced apart therefrom to form a fluid receiving space therebetween;(iii) said rotation of said rotor causing shearing movement of said rotor friction surface with respect to said housing inner surface; (c) a fluid reservoir oriented for at least a portion of said rotor to dip into same, as said rotor is rotated; (d) fluid level adjustment means for selectively adjusting a depth of a fluid in said fluid reservoir; (i) said fluid level adjustment means including a plunger mechanism for selectively adjusting a level of a fixed volume of fluid in said reservoir; (e) a wiper mechanism oriented to urge fluid on said rotor friction surface substantially toward an outer periphery of said rotor, as said rotor rotates; (f) a scraper mechanism for at least partially removing fluid from said outer periphery of said rotor and directing said fluid into said fluid reservoir, as said rotor rotates; (g) whereby fluid is selectively positionable in said fluid receiving space;
said fluid, when sufficiently viscous, causing frictional drag and resistance to rotation of said rotor with respect to said housing;(h) whereby when said operator rotates said rotor, energy is required to overcome said resistance and said operator receives exercise by providing said energy; (i) whereby a surface area of rotor which engages fluid in said fluid reservoir, as said rotor rotates, may be selectively increased or decreased by adjustment of said fluid level adjustment means; and
,(j) whereby an amount of energy required to rotate said rotor, may be selectively increased or decreased by adjustment of said amount of fluid in said receiving space. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification