A RESISTANCE MECHANISM FOR AN EXERCISING DEVICE

MECANISME RESISTANT POUR MACHINE D'EXERCICE

English Abstract

A resistance mechanism for an exercising device
includes a frame, a bi-directional electric motor
installed on the frame and provided with an output axle, a
pulley fixedly mounted on the output axle and formed with
two parallel circular grooves, an idle wheel rotatably
arranged on the frame, a first belt having one end
connected with one of the grooves of the pulley and wound
thereon in a direction, a second belt having one end
connected with another one of the grooves of the pulley
and wound thereon in an opposite direction and engaged
with the idle wheel, and an oscillating arm having one end
pivotally connected with the axle of the exericsing device
and another end fixedly connected with another end of the
first belt and another end of the second belt, whereby a
resistance force will be applied to the axle when
theelectric bi-directional motor is turned on.

French Abstract

Cette invention concerne le mécanisme résistant d'un appareil de conditionnement physique, qui est composé d'un cadre, d'un moteur électrique réversible monté sur ledit cadre et comportant un arbre de sortie portant une roue motrice solidaire à deux gorges parallèles, d'une roue à gorge de renvoi montée sur le cadre, d'une première courroie dont une des extrémités est attachée au fond d'une des gorges de la roue motrice et qui s'enroule sur celle-ci dans une direction, d'une seconde courroie qui passe autour de la roue à gorge de renvoi et dont une des extrémités est attachée au fond de l'autre gorge de la roue motrice pour s'y enrouler dans la direction opposée, et d'un bras oscillant articulé par un bout à l'essieu de l'appareil et solidaire par l'autre bout de la seconde extrémité de la première courroie, cette disposition constructive faisant en sorte qu'une force résistante soit appliquée à l'essieu lorsque le moteur électrique réversible est mis en marche.

Claims

11
CLAIMS:
1. In an exercising device having an axle operatively
connected with a resistance mechanism, said resistance
mechanism comprising:
a frame;
a bi-directional electric motor installed on said
frame and provided with an output axle;
a pulley fixedly mounted on said output axle and
formed with two parallel circular grooves;
an idle wheel rotatably arranged on said frame;
a first belt having one end connected with one of
said grooves of said pulley and wound thereon in a
direction;
a second belt having one end connected with
another one of said grooves of said pulley and wound
thereon in an opposite direction and engaged with said
idle wheel; and
an oscillating arm having one end pivotally
connected with said axle of said exericsing device and
another end fixedly connected with another end of said
first belt and another end of said second belt;
whereby a resistance force will be applied to said
axle when said electric bi-directional motor is turned on.

Description

2201 421
TITLE: A RESISTANCE MECHANISM FOR AN EXERCISING DEVICE
This invention is related to a resistance mechanism
and in particular one for an exercising device.
It has been found that the prior art resistance
mechanism for an èxercising device generally includes a
pin 951, a vertical shaft 960 formed with a plurality of
holes 961 adapted to receive the pin 95, and a plurality
of weights 962 mounted on the vertical shaft 961 (see
FIGS. 7 and 8). The mechanism utilizes the pin 951 to
adjust the number of the weights 962 to be lifted by an
user. However, such a mechanism is too bulky and
difficult to adjust and furthermore, the direction of the
resistar.ce produced by the mechanism cannot be changed
thereby rendering it very inconvenient to use.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention
to provide an improved resistance mechanism for an
exercising device which can obviate and mitigate the
above-mentioned drawbacks.
This invention is related to an improved resistance
mechanism for an exercising device.

2201 421
It is the primary object of the present invention to
provide a mechanism which can provide resistance to an
exercising device in two opposite directions as desired.
It is another object of the present invention to
provide a resistance mechanism for an exercising device
which is simple in construction.
It is still another object of the present invention
to provide a resistance mechanism for an exercising device
which is cheap to manufacture.
It is still another object of the present invention
to provide a resistance mechanism for an exercising device
which is easy to operate.
It is a further object of the present invention to
provide a resistance mechanism for an exercising device
which is facile to maintain.
The foregoing objects and summary provide only a
brief introduction to the present invention. To fully
appreciate these and other objects of the present
invention as well as the invention itself, all of which
will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the

2201 421
following detailed description of the invention and the
claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings
identical reference numberals refer to identical or
similar parts.
The invention is further described hereafter, by way
of example only, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a front view of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the present
invention;
FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate another preferred embodiment
of the present invention; and
FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a prior art resistance
mechanism for an exercising device.
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the
principles of the invention, reference will now be made to

2201 421
the embodiment illustrated in the drawings. Specific
language will be used to describe same. It will,
nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the
scope of the invention is thereby intended, such
alterations and further modifications in the illustrated
device, and such further applications of the principles of
the invention as illustrated herein being contemplated as
would normally occur to one skilled in the art to whic~
the invention relates.
With reference to the drawings and in particular to
FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, the resistance device for an
exercising device according to the present invention
mainly comprises a frame 100, a bi-directional electric
motor 1, a pulley 2, an idle wheel 3 and an oscillating
arm 4.
The frame 100 includes a rectangular base 101, an
inverted U-shaped member 102, and a mounting 104 having
one end installed on the inverted U-shaped member 102 and
another end on the rectangular base 101.
The oscillating arm 4 has a front end 41 pivotally

2201 421
connected with an axle 90 which is rotatably supported by
a bracket 98. The bracket 98 is fixedly mounted on the
lower side of the upper portion of the inverted U-shaped
member 102. Both ends of the axle 90 are each provided
with a first bevel gear 91 which is meshed with a second
bevel gear 92. The second bevel gear 92 is fixedly fitted
on a vertical shaft 96 which has a lower end rotatably
mounted on the rectangular base 101 and an upper end
fixedly engaged with an end of a lever 96. The other end
of the lever 96 is fixedly connected with a lower end of a
pectoral rod 91. A backrest 97 is arranged on the
mountin~ 104 between the two pectoral rods 91. The
oscillating arm 4 is provided with a rod member 43
exten~;ng horizontally outwardly therefrom.
lS The idle wheel 3 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 31
which is fastened on the mounting 104 so that the idle
wheel 3 can be freely rotated with respect to the shaft
31. The position of the center of the idle wheel 3 is
higher than the uppermost position that the rear end 42 of
the oscillating arm 4 can reach.

2201421
The bi-directional electric motor 1 is fixedly arranged
on the rectangular base 101 and can rotate in both
directions.
The pulley 2 is formed with two parallel circular
grooves 21 and 22 and fixeldy mounted on an output shaft
11 of the electric motor 1. A first belt 5 is connected
at one end with first groove 21 of the pulley 2 and wound
round the first groove 21 in aounter-clockwise direction
(with respect to FIG. 1). The other end of the first belt
5 is secured to the rod member 43 mounted on the rear end
42 of the oscillating arm 4. A second belt 6 is connected
at one end with the second groove 22 of the pulley 2 and
wound round the second groove 22 in clockwise direction
(with respect to FIG. 1). The second belt 6 is engaged
with the idle wheel 3 and its the other end is secured to
the rod member 43 of the oscillating arm 4.
When the bi-directional electric motor 1 is turned on
to rotate in clockwise direction, the pulley 2 will be
rotated in the same direction thereby further winding up
the first belt 5 round the first groove 21 of the pulley 2

2201 421
and therefore pulling the rear end 42 of the oscillating
arm 4 to go downwardly. Meanwhile, the belt 6 on the
second groove 22 of the pulley 2 will be wound off since
the belt 6 is wound thereround in counterclockwise
direction. Hence, the pectoral rods 91 will be disposed
in the position as shown in FIG. 1. As the rear end 42 of
the oscillating arm 4 is located at the lowest position,
the output axle 11 of the bi-directional electric motor 1
will be kept stationary and will tend to rotate in clockwise
direction thereby providing a resistance against the
movement of the pectoral rods 91. On the contrary, when
the electric motor 1 is turned on to rotate in
counterclockwise direction, the pulley 2 will be rotated
in the same direction thereby further winding the second
belt round the second groove 22 of the pulley 2 and
therefore pulling the rear end 42 of the oscillating arm 4
to go upwardly. Meanwhile, the belt 5 on the first groove
21 of the pulley will be wound off since the belt 5 is
wound thereround in clockwise direction. Hence, the
pectoral rods 91 will be turned to the position as shown

220 1 42 1
in FIG. 4. As the rear end 42 of the oscillating arm 4 is
located at the uppermost position, the output axle 11 of
the bi-directional electric motor 1 will be kept stationary
and will tend to rotate in counterclockwise direction
thereby providing a resistance against the movement of the
pectoral rods 91. Thus, only when the user exerts a
larger force on the pectoral rods 91 than the resistance
applied to the pectc,ral rods 91 by the motor 1 will the
user be able to rotate the pectoral rods 91 (see FIGS. 1,
2, 3 and 4~.
The motor 1 may be computer-controlled so as to
adjust the resistance applied to the axle 90 as desired.
However, this technique may be of any conventional design
well known to those ~killed in the art and is not
considered a part of the invention.
FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate another preferred embodiment
of the present invention. As illustrated, a first chain
wheel 111 is fixedly mounted on the output axle 11 of the
electric motor 1 and the pulley 2 is fastened on a shaft
112 which is journalled at two ends by two bearings 113

2201 421
mounted on the rectangular base 101. A second chain wheel
23 is fixedly secured to the shaft 112 and connected with
the chain wheel 111 via a chain 81. A third chain wheel
71 is fixedly mounted on an output axle of another
electric motor 7 installed on the rectangular base 101 and
connected with a chain wheel 12 mounted on the output axle
11 of the first electric motor 1 via a chain 82.
It will be understood that each of the elements
described above, or two or more together may also find a
useful application in other types of methods differing
from the type described above.
While certain novel features of this invention have
been shown and described and are pointed out in the
annexed claim, it i8 not intended to be limited to the
details above, since it will be under~tood that various
omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the
forms and details of the device illustrated and in its
operation can be made by those skilled in the art without
departing in any way from the spirit of the present
invention.

2201 421
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully
reveal the gist of the present invention that others can,
by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for
various applications without omitting features that, from
the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential
characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this
invention.

Representative Drawing