Patent Application
20240216746
The present invention relates to exercise devices and, more particularly, to a resistance exercise device.
Presently, there are many resistance exercise devices on the market. Most operate by pulling or pushing of a lever. However, the lever only provides resistance in one direction. When resetting the device, pulling, or pushing the lever back to its original position, no resistance is provided. This results in a less efficient work out.
Some devices can provide resistance in both directions. Though they utilize compression pads, essentially acting as brake pads. This results in wear and tear of moveable pieces which lose resistance over time if not replaced. There also some with no friction but have a period of no-resistance when changing direction.
As can be seen, there is a need for a resistance exercise device that can generate resistance in both directions without replacement parts.
In one aspect of the present invention, a method of providing bidirectional rotational resistance to a lever through a rotational force reaction of one or more discs includes the following: coupling the one or more discs to the lever so that a first torque imparted in a first rotational direction on the lever determines a rate of change of each disc's angular momentum in the first rotational direction in such a way as to oppose a second torque imparted in a second rotational direction on the lever, wherein the first and second rotational directions are opposites; and further including the following: operatively associating a spindle to the lever by way of a spindle clutch; radially connecting a rod to the spindle for each disc; and rotatably connecting each disc to a respective rod by way of a disc clutch; and operatively associating a fixed gear and a disc gear between the rod and the disc, wherein the fixed gear and the disc gear comprise a planetary gear multiplier system.
In another aspect of the present invention, a bidirectional rotational resistance assembly including the following: a lever coupled to the one or more discs so that a first torque imparted in a first rotational direction on the lever determines a rate of change of each disc's angular momentum in the first rotational direction in such a way as to oppose a second torque imparted in a second rotational direction on the lever, wherein the first and second rotational directions are opposites.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, the bidirectional rotational resistance assembly further includes a spindle operatively associated with the lever by way of a spindle clutch; a rod radially connected to the spindle for each disc; each disc rotatably connected to a respective rod by way of a disc clutch; and a fixed gear and a disc gear operatively associated between the rod and the disc, wherein the fixed gear and the disc gear comprise a planetary gear multiplier system.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description, and claims.
The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims with reference to the drawings.
A general overview of the various features of the invention will be provided, with a detailed description following. Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a resistance exercise device. The device may generate resistance in both directions of exercise motions.
The present invention may comprise portions or parts of a resistance-based exercise apparatus wherein an exercise bar may move in two directions and resistance is generated in each direction.
The present invention may utilize a resistance assembly to provide a resistive reaction to moments and forces produced by at least one spinning disc. In some embodiments, reciprocally powered wheels with damper vanes are utilized for resistance.
Resistance may be achieved by moving or compressing a fluid or reversing a weight's movement or reversing a wheel's spin. The present invention may also utilize resistance by counter-moment of spinning discs. Advantageously, discs will not have to reverse direction for resistance to be achieved in an opposite direction.
During the power motion, the resistance assembly resists the user's movement due to the disc rotation. The reactions can be seen in the demonstration of a person in swivel chair holding out a spinning, horizontal wheel. The spinning forces, or angular momentum of the wheel, urges the chair to rotate in a direction that generates its own angular momentum to conserve momentum. An external force stopping the chair would not stop wheel spin, and the wheel spin would not cause the chair to resist the external force. If the wheel accelerates, the chair would resist, similar to a motorcycle resisting gravity in a sudden-start wheelie. In the application, the user likewise accelerates the disc in the power phase.
In all embodiments, the user will move their limbs along a first plane, such as the vertical plane, though it is understood that in some embodiments the user could have its resistance mechanism laid horizontally—i.e., the resistance principle could be used in horizontal and linear user movements. Some orientation may introduce an unwanted rotational force due to a possible gravity effect (uphill rotations adding a local weight-like force while downhill ones subtract). This force may counter resisting force. To rid this extra force, rotating parts downstream of the user lever may be set on a horizontal plane.
A user may operate the present invention by a circular motion. A hip or shoulder may line up with a user lever, though it understood other joints may be engaged with the resistance of the present invention. The user lever may comprise an adjustable sleeve or bracket to accommodate a user's hand or foot (not shown). The device may provide one user lever for each limb of the user. In some embodiments, a single limb will work more than one disc/disc rod. In some drawings the disc rods are not labeled, and the user's exercise bar basically doubles as a disc rod, but it is still one user bar per limb even when there are a few discs.
Referring now to the Figures,
When moving in the powered direction, i.e., the direction in which the user is presently applying force, the disc rod 16 moves its disc gear 14 along the stationary gear ring 12, forcing the disc gear 14 to rotate. In this rotary direction the power connection 30, located on the disc spindle 20, locks and rotates the disc 18. When the user completes his power motion, the user lever 10 comes to a stop. The power connection 30 on the center spindle 24 disengages, like a bicycle pedal crankshaft when coasting. The disc rod 16 loses its power. Its respective disc gear 14 stops moving along the stationary gear ring 12 and stops rotating. Its respective power connection 30, on the disc spindle 20 disengages, allowing the disc 18 to continue its spin. As a result, during the power motion, the resistance assembly resists the user's movement due to imparting disc 18 rotation.
After power connections 30 disengage, the disc's rotation forces the now unpowered disc rod 16 to reverse direction, or, depending on its deceleration, move slowly in the original direction. The disc rod 16 will not force movement of the user lever 10 because the power connection 30 between them has disengaged.
Rotation of the disc gear 14 during the unpowered phase will counter rotation of the respective disc 18. The unpowered phase may be when the clutch is disengaged and applies to a side of the machine that is not presently in the power phase. In some embodiments, the disc gear 14 may be relatively small to prevent motion nullification in the disc rod 16 and for a low augmentation of rotation in the disc's unpowered phase. The disc gear 14 may be small for good rotation multiplication.
At this point, the user may reverse direction of the user lever 10. This would be a recovery movement in most exercises, but the present invention offers resistance from the disc 18 on the opposite side of the user lever 10 acting in the same manner as the disc that was previously powered. When the user reverses again to repeat the original power motion, both power connections 30 on the side of the user lever 10 in the power motion engage or close the original power motion, repeating the process.
At the end of the user lever 10 and each disc rod 16 is a counterweight 26. Disc counterweights 22 are situated opposite discs, at the other end of disc spindles 20. None of these weights may be essential but they could smooth the operation.
As long as the user applies force to the user lever 10, force will be applied to the disc 18, creating a force-reaction. After the user completes the power stroke, the behavior of the disc rod depends on the amount of disc's rotational deceleration. If deceleration is low enough to be powerless, the rod may reverse direction to conserve the disc's rotational momentum. If deceleration is high enough to null this effect, the rod may continue in its original direction. In the first case, the user's reengagement will face resistance from reversing the rod. In the second case, resistance will come from accelerating the disc. These resistances are in addition to the force reaction created by the user's exertion. When the discs are unpowered, movement of the disc rod in the original direction might assist the user in the power phase of the counterstroke, so a slow deceleration would be preferable.
Put another way, if the user releases the user lever 10, moment reaction of a spinning (but unpowered) disc 18 may keep the clutches engaged. Moving the user lever 10 with force in this new direction (and by connection, the disc rod 16) would disengage the power connectors 30. Even if the power connection remained, the moment reaction would have little influence; the force reaction of the disc 18 on an opposite side of the spinning disc 18 would overpower any assistance it gives.
The user may accelerate the disc gear 14 to high speed on each stroke to get a strong force reaction. This will be less achievable if disc 18 decelerates when unpowered. In this event, the reverse motions of the disc rods 16 sustain, and resistance will come mainly from sending the disc rods 16 back in the original direction on the next engagement. If high deceleration of disc 18 takes place, an associated disc rod 16 bar will decelerate when unpowered, giving little resistance. However, high deceleration of disc 18 will allow the user to accelerate them on every stroke. The work needed to accelerate the disc 18 and the associated force reaction will provide resistance. If the disc 18 decelerates little, it is important that the power connection 30 between the user lever 10 and the disc rod 16 has a hub that stays disengaged when the disc rod 16 reverses in its unpowered phase. Engagement of the unpowered disc rod 16 would assist the user in moving the opposite disc rod 16 during its power phase. This assistance in the high-deceleration scenario would be minimal due to the slow movement of the unpowered bar and the force reaction of the powered disc 18. Also, if deceleration of the unpowered disc 18 creates a negative force, its disc rod 16 would decelerate in the unpowered phase, further minimizing the assist.
These and other embodiments of the present invention may use a planetary gear multiplier system 32 seen in
In some embodiments, this setup may feature pairs of discs rotating in opposition, each disc rotating in one direction with a clutch to allow coasting as shown in
Alternatively, one set of power connections may be utilized at equal distance from the third embodiment of the user lever 210 not at any distance shown in the drawing. An effective spot may then be determined by trial and error.
In the two pair connection arrangement of
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
