Exercise devices – Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof – Bicycling
Reexamination Certificate
2003-03-13
2004-11-30
Crow, Stephen R. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof
Bicycling
Reexamination Certificate
active
06824503
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a new and improved crank and a base of a treading exercise apparatus, and more particularly, to a single crank having two supporting shafts that are rotatably and coaxially positioned on corresponding posts of a base. Since the unbalanced force created by the treading movement on the crank is effectively supported, a stable treading movement can be achieved. Meanwhile, the related components can be well protected from damage, thereby elongating the service life thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
The so-called treading exercise apparatuses include all in-place exercise means for treading movement. This apparatus is well known so that no further descriptions of its basic configuration and operational principles are given hereinafter. However, the local components of the crank related to the invention are described as follows:
Referring to
FIG. 2
, the assembly of the crank
10
and the base
11
of a conventional treading exercise apparatus is shown. The crank is constructed as a horizontal shaft
12
in the middle thereof on which a bearing
13
, a bushing
14
and a resistance flywheel
15
(or toothed plate) are received so that the crank
10
rotates on a middle post
16
of the base
11
. Meanwhile, both sides of the first shaft
12
are constructed as a correspondingly symmetric L-shaped treadle rod
25
relative to the shaft
21
on which a treadle pad
26
is rotatably received for treading movement in alternating succession.
The above-mentioned configuration of the crank
10
and the base
11
has been used for over decades and doesn't have tremendous change. However, a rubbing sound is apparently created from the position of the crank
10
after a long period of usage. For more serious situation, the crank
10
operates with difficulties. Even when the bearing
13
and the bushing
14
of the crank
10
are replaced by new ones or oiled, people can be free of mechanical noise only for a short period. Thereafter, the noise arises again, thereby giving much trouble to the user.
In fact, the above-mentioned problem arises due to the unbalanced application of force on both sides of the crank when the operator uses both feet to perform treading movement (that is, one foot exerts force while the other is in relaxed state. Of course, the crank is operated by this principle.). If the load of the crank
10
is supported only by the horizontal shaft
12
and the middle post
16
of the base
11
, the bearing
13
and the bushing
14
must be considerably loaded.
Thus, it's inevitable that the bearing
13
and the bushing
14
are seriously damaged after a long period of usage. For the serious situation, noise arises; for the more serious situation, the bearing
13
and the axle hole of the middle post
16
are worn off. At this time, it's also useless to replace with an excellent bearing
13
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks and to provide a crank and a base of a treading exercise apparatus in which a single crank is specially designed to have two supporting shafts that are rotatably and coaxially positioned on corresponding posts of a base. Since the unbalanced force created by the treading movement on the crank is effectively supported, a stable treading movement can be achieved. Meanwhile, the related components can be well protected from damage, thereby elongating the service life thereof.
REFERENCES:
patent: 950100 (1910-02-01), Gough
patent: 2484153 (1949-10-01), Chaudoir, sr.
patent: 4169591 (1979-10-01), Douglas
patent: 4973046 (1990-11-01), Maxwell
patent: 6106440 (2000-08-01), Olbrish, Jr.
Wang Leao
Wu Peter
Chiu Kuo-Hsiung
Crow Stephen R.
Troxell Law Office PLLC
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