Exercise devices – Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof – Bicycling
Reexamination Certificate
2003-04-17
2004-06-15
Crow, Stephen R. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof
Bicycling
C482S065000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06749544
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an exercise apparatus, more particularly to an exercise apparatus with a resistance adjustment device for adjusting magnitude of resistance to rotation of a flywheel.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, a conventional exercise apparatus
10
is shown to include a front support frame
11
having two fixed upright rods
111
, a rear support frame
12
, a bottom connecting rod
13
interconnecting the front and rear support frames
11
,
12
, a seat assembly
14
mounted adjustably on the rear support frame
12
, a handle assembly
15
mounted on the front support frame
11
, a flywheel
16
mounted rotatably between the upright rods
111
of the front support frame
11
, a pedal unit
17
mounted on the rear support frame
12
for actuating rotation of the flywheel
16
, and a resistance adjustment unit
20
for adjusting magnitude of resistance to rotation of the flywheel
16
.
The adjustment unit
20
includes a fixed seat
21
mounted fixedly between the upright rods
111
and located above the flywheel
16
, a pivot shaft
22
mounted on the fixed seat
21
, two brake arms
23
,
24
sleeved rotatably on the pivot shaft
22
, two brake shoes
25
connected respectively to the brake arms
23
,
24
and flanking the flywheel
16
, an adjustment knob
26
disposed operably on the front support frame
11
, and a cable
27
disposed between the adjustment knob
26
and the brake arms
23
,
24
. When the knob
26
is operated to loosen or tighten the cable
27
, the brake arms
23
,
24
are actuated to move the brake shoes
25
away from or toward the flywheel
16
so that adjustment of the magnitude of the resistance to the rotation of the flywheel
16
can be effected.
Although the adjustment unit
20
of the conventional exercise apparatus
10
can achieve its intended purpose, it has the following disadvantages:
1. The adjustment unit
20
is not designed to have an instant brake function. During pedaling exercise, two pedals
171
(only one is visible in
FIG. 1
) of the pedal unit
17
cannot stop rotation unless the flywheel
16
stops so that injury to users due to movement of the pedals
171
cannot be avoided.
2. Since each of the brake shoes
25
is connected to the respective one of the brake arms
23
,
24
by means of a single screw-and-nut fastener
251
, the brake shoes
25
can easily deflect so that contact with the flywheel
16
is not complete, thereby leading to ineffective adjustment of the magnitude of resistance to flywheel rotation.
3. Since tolerances exist during production and assembly of the brake arms
23
,
24
, and since the brake shoes
25
are directly connected to the brake arms
23
,
24
, when positions of the brake arms
23
,
24
deflect, the brake shoes
25
cannot accommodate the position deviation. As such, the brake shoes
25
cannot contact the flywheel
16
completely.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a resistance adjustment device for an exercise apparatus that permits adjustment of magnitude of resistance to flywheel rotation at different speeds and that can permit an instant brake so as to enhance safety.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a resistance adjustment device for an exercise apparatus which includes brake shoes that can be brought into complete contact with a flywheel so as to effectively brake the flywheel.
According to this invention, a resistance adjustment device is to be adapted for use with an exercise apparatus. The exercise apparatus includes a front support frame having two fixed upright rods, a rear support frame, a handle assembly mounted on the front support frame, a flywheel mounted rotatably between the upright rods of the front support frame, a seat assembly mounted on the rear support frame, and a pedal unit for actuating rotation of the flywheel. The resistance adjustment device comprises first and second swing arms, two biasing units, two brake devices, a first adjustment unit, and a second adjustment unit. The first and second swing arms are adapted to be connected pivotally and respectively to the upright rods of the front support frame, are adapted to flank the flywheel, and are rotatable toward and away from the flywheel. Each of the biasing units is adapted to be disposed between a respective one of the upright rods and a respective one of the first and second swing arms so as to bias the first and second swing arms to rotate away from the flywheel. The brake devices are connected respectively to the first and second swing arms, and are located on two sides of the flywheel. The first adjustment unit has an adjustment knob adapted to be mounted rotatably on the front support frame, a tubular first guiding member connected fixedly to the first swing arm, a first fixing member connected fixedly to the second swing arm, and a first cable fastened to the adjustment knob at one end and to the first fixing member at another end. The first cable has an intermediate portion extending through the first guiding member. The second adjustment unit includes a brake lever adapted to be mounted operably on the handle assembly, a tubular second guiding member connected fixedly to the second swing arm, a second fixing member connected fixedly to the first swing arm, and a second cable fastened to the brake lever at one end and to the second fixing member at another end. The second cable has an intermediate portion that extends through the second guiding member. When the adjustment knob is operated, the first cable can be loosened and pulled so that the first and second swing arms can move the brake devices away from and toward the flywheel, thereby adjusting magnitude of resistance to rotation of the flywheel. When the brake lever is operated, the second cable can be swiftly pulled so that the first and second swing arms can move the brake devices toward the flywheel so as to clamp the flywheel to effect an instant brake.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4235436 (1980-11-01), Lee
patent: 4289309 (1981-09-01), Hoffmann
patent: 4291872 (1981-09-01), Brilando et al.
patent: 4438921 (1984-03-01), Szymski
patent: 6612970 (2003-09-01), Forcillo
Christie Parker & Hale LLP
Crow Stephen R.
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