Exercise devices – User manipulated force resisting apparatus – component... – Utilizing force resistance generated by user only
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-14
2002-02-19
Donnelly, Jerome (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
User manipulated force resisting apparatus, component...
Utilizing force resistance generated by user only
C482S127000, C482S095000, C482S096000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06348027
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exercise wheel that has a stronger returning torque and improved stability while stopping further forward movement of the exercise wheel. The present invention also relates to an exercise wheel that is reduced in a manufacture cost thereof and that prevents radial outward expansion of the torsion springs to thereby prevent damage to the torsion springs resulting from operation of the exercise wheel in the wrong direction.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIGS. 6 and 7
of the drawings illustrates a conventional exercise wheel that includes a housing
1
′, two grip rods
2
′, a main gear
3
′, two roller pairs
4
′, and two torsion springs
5
′. The housing
1
′ includes a compartment with a downwardly facing opening and aligned holes
11
′ on two sides thereof into which the grip rods
2
′ are mounted. Two stop rods
12
′ are mounted inside the housing
1
′. The main gear
3
′ is mounted to the grip rods
2
′ and includes a peg
32
′ on each side thereof. Each roller pair
4
′ includes two rollers
41
′ connected by a shaft
42
′ that has teeth
421
′ formed on an outer periphery thereof for meshing with teeth
31
′ of the main gear
3
′. Each torsion spring
5
′ includes two ends
52
′ and
53
′ that are attached to an associated peg
32
′ and an associated stop rod
12
′, respectively.
When in use, the user bends downward and grasps the grip rods
2
′ to make roller pairs
4
′ to roll on the ground. During rolling of the roller pairs
4
′, the torsion springs
5
′ are tensioned by the main gear
3
′ via transmission of the teeth
421
′ and
31
′. When the main gear
3
′ is turned for one turn such that the end
52
′ of the torsion spring
51
′ bears against the stop rod
12
′, and the main gear
3
′ and the roller pairs
4
′ are thus stopped. The torsion springs
51
′ may return the exercise wheel to its initial position.
Nevertheless, assembly of the exercise wheel is time-consuming and costly, as a force must be provided to overcome the torsion springs
5
′ while assembling the main gear
3
′. In addition, when the user operates the main gear
3
′ in the wrong direction, the torsion springs
5
′ 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 maximum 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.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an exercise wheel that provides higher returning force to the wheel assemblies of the exercise wheel.
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 side walls, and
two wheel assemblies each comprising:
a shaft mounted between the side walls of the chassis,
two wheels mounted in the housing and connected by the shaft to thereby allow rotational movement of the wheels, and
a torsion spring having a coil portion mounted around the shaft, a first end securely attached to one of the wheels, and a second end securely attached to one of the housing and the chassis,
whereby rotational movement of the wheels in a forward direction is stopped when the torsion spring is twisted such that the coil portion of the torsion spring is in contact with an outer periphery of the shaft.
A tube may be mounted between the shaft and the coil portion of the torsion spring. A sleeve may be mounted around the coil portion of the torsion spring to prevent radial outward expansion of the coil portion when the wheels are moved in a direction opposite to the forward direction. Each wheel of each wheel assembly includes an engaging groove for engaging with an associated end of the sleeve.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, an exercise wheel comprises: a housing,
a chassis housed by the housing and including two side walls,
a grip rod extended through the housing and the side walls of the chassis, and
a wheel assembly comprising:
two wheels mounted between the side walls of the chassis and around the grip rod to thereby allow rotational movement of the wheels, and
a torsion spring having a coil portion mounted around the grip rod, a first end securely attached to one of the wheels, and a second end securely attached to one of the housing and the chassis,
whereby rotational movement of the wheels in a forward direction is stopped when the torsion spring is twisted such that the coil portion of the torsion spring is in contact with an outer periphery of the grip rod.
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: 3752475 (1973-08-01), Ott
patent: 6017296 (2000-01-01), Tang et al.
patent: 6146318 (2000-11-01), Kuo
patent: 6254518 (2001-07-01), Yu
patent: 20007533 (2000-08-01), None
Baxley Charles E.
Donnelly Jerome
LandOfFree
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