Exercise devices – User manipulated force resisting apparatus – component... – Utilizing force resistance generated by user only
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-12
2002-03-12
Donnelly, Jerome W. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
User manipulated force resisting apparatus, component...
Utilizing force resistance generated by user only
C482S140000, C482S127000, C482S907000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06354983
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exercise wheel that may fix the travel thereof and prevent damage resulting from reverse rotation of torsion springs.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIGS. 5 through 7
of the drawings illustrate a conventional exercise wheel that includes a housing
20
′, a main gear
43
′, two wheel pairs
30
′, and two grip rods
50
′. The housing
20
′ includes a compartment with a downwardly facing opening and aligned holes
26
′ on two sides thereof into which the grip rods
50
′ are mounted. Two stop rods
21
′ are mounted inside the housing
20
′. One of the sides of the housing
20
′ has a hole
22
′ and two positioning holes
23
′, and two notches
24
′ are defined in a lower edge of the side of the housing
20
′.
A main stem
251
′ of an adjusting member
25
′ is extended through the hole
22
′, a positioning peg
252
′ of the adjusting member
25
′ is extended through one of the positioning holes
23
′, and a stop stem
253
′ of the adjusting member
25
′ is extended through the notch
24
′. A spring
254
′ is mounted around the main stem
251
′ for biasing the adjusting member
25
′.
A main shaft
40
′ is extended through aligned holes
26
′ in the housing
20
′ and the main gear
43
′. Two torsion springs
42
′and
44
′ are mounted on both sides of the main gear
43
′ and around the main shaft
40
′ and an end cap
41
′,
45
′ is mounted to each outer end of the main axle
40
′. Each wheel pair
30
′ is mounted in the housing
20
′ by an axle
27
′ and includes two rollers (not labeled) connected by a shaft (not labeled) that has teeth
31
′ formed on an outer periphery thereof for meshing with teeth (not labeled) of the main gear
43
′. Each torsion spring
42
′,
44
′ includes a first end
421
′ securely attached to an associated stop rod
21
′ and a second end
422
′ securely attached to the main gear
43
′.
When in use, the user bends downward and grasps the grip rods
50
′ attached to two ends of the main shaft
40
′ to make the wheel pairs
30
′ roll on the ground. During rolling of the wheel pairs
30
′, the torsion springs
42
′ and
44
′ are tensioned by the main gear
43
′ via transmission by the teeth of the main gear
43
′ and the teeth
31
′. The second end
422
′ of each torsion spring
42
′,
44
′ bears against and is thus stopped by the stop stem
253
′ of the adjusting member
25
′ to thereby limit the forward travel of the exercise wheel.
Nevertheless, when the user operates the main gear
43
′ in the reverse direction, the torsion springs
42
′ might be damaged, as the torsion springs are twisted in the wrong direction, as shown in FIG.
8
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an exercise wheel that may limit the forward travel of the exercise wheel.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an exercise wheel that may prevent damage to the torsion springs when the exercise wheel is operated in the wrong direction.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, an exercise wheel comprises:
a housing having two sides;
two grip rods secured to the two sides of the housing, respectively;
a chassis housed by the housing and including two first stops each having a first side and a second side;
a main shaft supported by the chassis;
a main gear mounted around the main shaft and including a second stop;
two wheel assemblies rotatably mounted to the chassis and each including a shaft with a toothed portion for meshing with the main gear; and
two torsion springs mounted around the main shaft and respectively located on both sides of the main gear, each said torsion spring including a first end securely attached to the chassis and a second end securely attached to the main gear;
wherein the second stop of the main gear bears against the first side of each said first stop of the chassis when the exercise wheel is in an initial state, thereby preventing rotational movement of the exercise wheel in a reverse direction; and
wherein rotational movement of the exercise wheel in a forward direction is allowed until the second stop of the main gear is stopped by the second sides of the first stops of the chassis.
The main gear further comprises a peripheral stop surrounding at least one of the torsion springs to thereby avoid radial outward expansion of the torsion springs. The first side of each second stop of the chassis comprises a buffering portion.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, an exercise wheel comprises:
a housing having two sides;
two grip rods secured to the two sides of the housing, respectively;
a chassis housed by the housing;
a main shaft supported by the chassis;
a main gear mounted around the main shaft;
two wheel assemblies rotatably mounted to the chassis and each including a shaft with a toothed portion for meshing with the main gear; and
two torsion springs mounted around the main shaft and respectively located on both sides of the main gear, each said torsion spring including a first end securely attached to the chassis and a second end securely attached to the main gear;
the main gear further comprising a peripheral stop surrounding at least one of the torsion springs to thereby avoid radial outward expansion of the torsion springs.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6017297 (2000-01-01), Collins
patent: 6146318 (2000-11-01), Kuo
patent: 6196955 (2001-03-01), Chuang
patent: 6254518 (2001-07-01), Yu
patent: 6264587 (2001-07-01), Lee
Baxley Charles E.
Donnelly Jerome W.
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