Exercise devices – User manipulated force resisting apparatus – component... – Utilizing resilient force resistance
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-09
2001-07-31
Donnelly, Jerome (Department: 3733)
Exercise devices
User manipulated force resisting apparatus, component...
Utilizing resilient force resistance
C482S904000, C482S129000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267711
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
Gymnastic devices; adjustable utility frames; pulleys; hangers; spring loaded connectors
2. Description of the Prior Art
Occasionally a descriptive term in this application may be shortened so as to recite only a part rather than the entirety thereof as a matter of convenience or to avoid needless redundancy. In instances in which that is done, applicant intends that the same meaning be afforded each manner of expression. Thus, the term acentric pulley assembly (
19
) might be used in one instance but in another, if meaning is otherwise clear from context, expression might be shortened to pulley assembly (
19
) or merely assembly (
19
). Any of those forms is intended to convey the same meaning.
The term emplace or any of its forms when used in this application means the joining of two objects or parts so as to unite them in a reasonably easily removable way, such as the fitting of a length of elastic exercise cord (
27
) within a pulley wheel's circumferential groove (
36
) from which it (
27
) may be removed, discussed ante.
Where the term is employed, rigid emplacement connotes the meaning that the object is removable but only with some degree of difficulty, such as might be encountered in separating two parts—for example, an aperture engaging pin (
15
) from a guide rail latching aperture (
3
) in which it (
15
) is held in position by expansion of a spring (
16
). The word emplace is also consistent in meaning with the word “detachable” as occasionally used in connection parlance but not in this application, since it is derived from the root attach The term attach or fasten or any of their forms when so used means that the juncture is of a more or less permanent nature, such as might be accomplished by nails, screws, welds or adhesives. Employment of the words connect or join or any of their forms is intended to include the meaning of both in a more general way.
The word comprise may be construed in either of two ways herein. A generic term used to describe a given one of a number of specific elements is said to comprise it, thereby characterizing the specific element with equivalency in meaning for the generic term. Thus, an exercise tethering point (
300
) may be said to comprise a pulley wheel (
35
), meaning that in the particular case, the wheel (
35
) is the tethering point (
300
). However, the word comprise may also be used to describe a feature which is part of the structure or composition of a given element. Thus, a door connecting bracket tongue (
56
) may be said to comprise a machine threaded retracting bolt aperture (
57
), meaning that the structure of the tongue (
56
) is such as to have the retracting bolt aperture (
57
) as a feature of its structure. The meaning in the respective cases is clear from context, however. Accordingly, modifying words to clarify which of the two uses is the intended one seem unnecessary.
The word multiply or any of its derivatives is also employed in two different ways, either as a verb or an adjective. Thus, it is explained herein that the number of tethering point (
300
) arrangements is multiplied by reason of the number of axes of rotation a pulley assembly (
19
) comprises—the verb sense, in that the assembly's diversity permits an operator (
200
) to multiply the number of setups he or she elects to exercise from. Used as an adjective, however, it is said herein that a multiply elbowed door connection bracket (
52
) comprises door edge wrapping configuration (
54
)—meaning merely that it (
52
) is shaped with a number of elbows exceeding that of an alternative embodiment.
The term identically oriented parallel means that two given objects are faced in the same direction in parallel disposition, such as a pair of rail frames (
44
), discussed ante, would be if mounted upon a wall (
106
) or door face (
101
). Where two such objects are situated so as to face one another, the terminology facially opposing is used, such as when a pair of rail frames (
44
), ante, is installed within a door jamb (
104
), thus distinguishing such disposition from that of identical orientation.
As employed herein, the word encircle or circumscribe or any of their variant root forms describes a path about the perimeter of an object, but when used in conjunction with appropriate modifiers, such as to a predetermined degree or the like, means that the path may not necessarily be a complete one. For example, when it is said that a crossbar tethering leg ring (
22
) encircles a crossbar (
5
) to a predetermined degree and the degree thereof is unexpressed, the line of circumscription may be either partial or complete. When the degree is expressed—such as with the adverb partially, the progression of the line around the object is, by definition herein, less than complete. For the sake of specificity herein, terminology indicating that encirclement is partial, is defined herein to mean that the line progression comprises a range up to and including 300 degrees—that is, 60 degrees short of complete encirclement. Terminology indicating that encirclement is substantial, is defined to mean that the line progression comprises a range between 301 degrees and complete encirclement.
The terminology axial or any of its variant forms when applied to the concept of rotation is intended to designate rotation upon a longitudinal axis. This would be demonstrated if an elongated object such as a pulley axle (
33
) were observed to spin, in which case rotation would be indicated herein to be axial. The same would be true of a pulley wheel (
35
) upon that axle (
33
). When for an elongated object such as that referred to supra, rotation is at right angles or transverse to the longitudinal axis, the rotation would be characterized herein to be in axial transversion. Such would be the rotation of a swivel (
24
) upon an axle impaling one of its (
24
) ends.
There is a distinct difference between exercising assemblies which employ weights attached to inelastic cords strung through a pulley and those which employ a length of elastic cord tethered from a given point. As an operator (
200
) pulls upon an inelastic cord to which a weight is attached, sufficient initial effort must be expended to overcome the weight's resting inertia. As the effort continues and the weight gathers momentum, less effort is required. Even after the effort is terminated, the weight continues for a short distance in its path, reaches maximum height and then begins to fall, pulling the cord with it, in response to gravity. It is sometimes said to have “gone ballistic”.
The tension exerted upon an elastic cord as it is stretched, increases beginning from its initial state of rest completely up to the point of maximum effort. The cord immediately begins retracting upon reversing the effort. Many consider the acceleration gradient imposed by an elastic cord to be highly beneficial.
Weights also have other disadvantages such as the necessity to store them to avoid clutter and the inconvenience of having to change them for one's different exercises or accommodate an additional exercising operator. Employing proper equipment, elastic cords of lesser or greater resistance and strung upon a pulley assembly may be easily changed, or alternatively, left in place by a first operator (
200
) without interfering with the efforts of a second one (
200
) who uses an independently pulleyed cord of different resistance.
Elastic cord assemblies have traditionally been attached to a wall (
106
) to provide what are referred to herein as exercise tethering points(
300
). However, many people have limited wall (
106
) space available for such installation. The bulky character of the traditional exercise assemblies and the want of sufficient installation space for them have led to portable models which provide for various isometric or isotonic exercises. While portability avoids installation problems and enables use away from home, many feel there is no real substitute for an anchoring vertical surface mounted construction.
There has been a
Bonneville Loyd W.
Donnelly Jerome
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