Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6500097
-
Patent Number
6,500,097
-
Date Filed
Monday, June 19, 200023 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, December 31, 200221 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
- (Pleasanton, CA, US)
- (Palm Beach, FL, US)
-
Examiners
Agents
- Knobbe, Martens Olson & Bear LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 482 51
- 482 54
- 482 66
- 482 69
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A rotary-type exercise device in which the user jogs, runs, or walks within a cylindrical treadwheel. A safety harness attached to a horizontal stationary beam within the treadwheel above the user prevents the user from falling. A remote control baton controls a braking system for braking and selectively varying the rolling resistance of the treadwheel. Another embodiment provides a harness tied to the hull of a space station to simulate gravity when the exercise device is used in an outer-space, gravity-free environment. Additional embodiments include safety rails. Another embodiment forms the treadwheel in two mating semi-cylindrical sections for facilitating transportation and shipping of the treadwheel. An electronic console continuously apprises the user of his horizontal velocity, time, distance and load factor.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
My invention described herein relates to significant improvements for rotary exercise devices. An exemplary prior art rotary exercise device is disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,385,047.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides the advantages of the treadwheel or mill wheel type exercise device while enabling novice runners, elderly runners, and anyone with balance problems to use the treadwheel device for promoting overall cardiovascular and pulmonary fitness. The invention also enhances sprint performance.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, a safety harness is worn by the user and attached to an overhead horizontal beam. This harness ensures that the user does not fall within or fall out of the rotating exercise wheel should the user lose his balance while exercising. Other embodiments include safety rails for novices and physically challenged users.
The preferred embodiments of the invention further incorporate a wireless handheld controller in the form of a baton. A control button on this baton permits the user to control an electromagnetic brake to provide a selected amount of resistance to the treadwheel to selectively increase or decrease the drag on the treadwheel or to cause it to brake to a stop.
In another embodiment, the safety harness is used to simulate gravity in an outer space environment. In this embodiment, the vest garment is strapped below the bottom of the safety harness to the hull of a space station.
One embodiment of the invention substantially facilitates transporting and shipping by making the exercise wheel in two semi-cylindrical sections. These sections may be easily transported or shipped and quickly and easily assembled on location into a complete treadwheel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a partial sectional perspective view of one embodiment of the invention as seen from within the treadwheel;
FIG.
2
(
a
) is an end elevational view of another embodiment of the invention;
FIG.
2
(
b
) is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG.
2
(
a
);
FIG. 3
is a perspective view of the handheld remote control baton that is carried by the person exercising and used for controlling the braking system of the preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 4
is a side elevational view showing one embodiment of the braking system of this invention, as well as the support rollers and axle array mounted on the base;
FIG. 5
is a top elevational view of the embodiment of the braking system of
FIG. 4
, with the rotary exerciser mill wheel removed;
FIG. 6
is a partially sectioned view of another embodiment of the safety harness of this invention wherein the rotary exerciser device is to be located in an outer space location with the vest secured by bungee cords to produce “artificial gravity”;
FIG. 7
is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention showing a parallel bar safety rail;
FIG. 8
is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention showing an L-shaped bar safety rail, the console being located off to one side so that user may easily grasp the safety bar;
FIG. 9
is a side elevational view illustrating utilizing the invention for weight training;
FIG. 10
is a side elevational view illustrating one embodiment of the read-out provided at the console;
FIG. 11
is a cross-sectional view taken along lines
11
—
11
of
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 12
is a side elevational view of a two-piece treadwheel;
FIG. 13
is a partially exploded bottom view of the treadwheel shown in
FIG. 12
; and
FIG. 14
illustrates one embodiment of a transducer for providing velocity and distance signals to the console. The transducer and electromagnetic clutch wheels are one in the same.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A detailed description of a rotary exercise device is found in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,389,047. This patent is incorporated by reference in its entirety in this application.
The exercise device described in the '047 patent is an excellent device for athletes. The preferred embodiments of the present invention retain many of the structural and functional features of the '047 device while particularly enabling novices, the elderly or patients with balance problems to enjoy the distinct advantages of the rotary wheel exercise device. Another advantage is that the exercise device of this invention rehabilitates leg and back injuries by virtue of providing a gently rotating running surface. The curved running surface also simulates “hill training” to enhance sprint performance and anaerobic endurance.
Referring to the Figures, the preferred embodiments of the invention include a base
10
. As shown in FIGS.
2
(
a
),
4
,
5
and
11
, base
10
mounts a plurality of support rollers
20
a,
20
b,
21
a,
21
b,
22
a,
22
b,
23
a,
23
b
on which freely rotate a cylindrical treadwheel or mill wheel
30
. As shown, the axles
32
on which the support rollers rotate are parallel to the axis of the treadwheel
30
. The four roller/axle assemblies are spaced along the base to give even support to the treadwheel
30
. The roller/axle assemblies are advantageously mounted on pillow blocks
31
at various heights. Each axle has two rollers with a space
25
between them.
Advantageously, as shown in
FIG. 11
, the treadwheel
30
includes rib
26
and flanges
27
,
28
. This rib and the flanges provide extra strength for the treadwheel
30
. In addition, rib
26
and flanges
27
,
28
form a pair of parallel tracks to both prevent the treadwheel
30
from jumping off the support rollers, and keep the treadwheel centered by virtue of the rib
26
which tracks the space
25
between the rollers.
The support roller/axle assemblies advantageously allow for bi-directional rotation of the treadwheel
30
. This allows athletes to build the muscles involved in forward and backward running.
Treadwheel
30
is advantageously constructed of a strong, durable lightweight material such as aluminum, fiberglass, or a plastic having these desired properties. The inner surface of the treadwheel
30
advantageously includes a runner
130
of non-skid material, such as rubber, to provide the runner with good footing while using the exercise device. The diameter of the treadwheel is sufficient to allow a normal size adult to walk, run, or jog within the treadwheel
30
to rotate the treadwheel
30
. It will be apparent that larger and smaller diameter treadwheels can also be employed in this invention to respectively accommodate exceptionally tall and short adults and children.
An overhead safety harness
40
is attached to a horizontal beam
45
suspended within the interior of mill wheel
30
and above the safety harness and the user. In one embodiment of the invention as shown in
FIG. 1
, beam
45
is supported from the ceiling of the room in which the rotary exercise device is located. In another embodiment shown in FIGS.
2
(
a
) and
2
(
b
), beam
45
is supported by stanchion supports
50
,
51
located on opposite sides of beam
45
. Each of the stanchion supports
50
,
51
advantageously include, as shown in FIG.
2
(
b
), a pair of generally vertical legs
60
,
61
supporting a pair of members
65
,
66
joined to form an inverted “V”.
A significant feature of this invention is the overhead safety harness
40
shown in FIGS.
1
and
2
(
b
). This harness offers particular advantages for novice runners, elderly runners, and anyone with balance problems by preventing the runner from falling if they lose their balance while running within the treadwheel
30
. Referring to FIGS.
1
and
2
(
b
), the safety harness
40
advantageously includes a vest
70
to fit the individual. The respective shoulder portions
71
,
72
of the vest
70
are attached to one end of respective flexible straps
75
,
76
. The opposite ends of the straps
75
,
76
are attached to the overhead horizontal beam
45
.
Another significant feature of the invention is a braking system advantageously controlled by a hand-held baton
100
(see FIGS.
2
(
b
) and
3
) that remotely controls an electromagnetic clutch
105
shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5
. As shown, clutch
105
is attached by a belt
110
to a pulley
115
attached to support rollers
23
a,
23
b.
It will be apparent that other embodiments of the invention include drives other than a belt for coupling the clutch
105
to one or more of the support rollers. During the exercise workout, the clutch provides a selectively variable resistance to build the user's muscle mass and power.
In still another embodiment not shown, a motor is coupled to the support rollers
23
a
and
23
b
so that the support rollers are both driven and braked to provide a controllable driven running surface.
Baton
100
incorporates a transmitter of wireless radio frequency or light waves (such as nonvisible infrared signals) to a console controller unit
125
supported by the base
10
(see FIG.
2
(
b
)). Advantageously, console
125
responds both to commands entered into its entry pad and to wireless signals received from baton
100
. Console
125
is connected to clutch
105
to provide the requisite control over the braking force applied by this device. Clutch
105
responds to control signals from console
125
to provide a controlled resistance and a controlled brake for the treadwheel
30
by providing a controlled braking torque to rollers
23
a
and
23
b
which, in turn, apply a braking drag on the mill wheel
30
.
A typical workout routine using the invention and baton control
100
is as follows:
1. The user sets up a workout program on console
125
shown in FIG.
2
(
b
).
2. Signals from the console
125
cause clutch
105
to fully engage to place a treadwheel
30
in an initial braked condition.
3. The user then gets onto the inside circular treadmill track
130
of mill wheel
30
.
4. The user then actuates a control button
135
on baton
100
which sends wireless lightwave or RF signals to console
125
to release clutch
105
.
5. The user controls the speed and resistance of the treadwheel by actuating button
135
one or more times to signal the clutch
105
to apply greater or less resistance to rotation of the treadwheel
30
.
6. In an emergency, the baton
100
control can be used to the clutch
105
to brake and thus prevent rotation of treadwheel
30
. In one embodiment, continuously pressing down on the button
135
will brake the treadwheel. In an alternative embodiment, button
135
must be continuously depressed to turn off the braking force on treadwheel
30
. This latter embodiment has the advantage that in a panic, the user need only drop the baton to release pressure on button
135
thus causing clutch
105
to brake automatically treadwheel
30
.
Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG.
6
. This embodiment has particular utility in the gravity-free environment of space, such as the space station currently being constructed by NASA. The treadwheel with running track
130
would be installed in the space station. Safety harness
150
is then used to simulate the force of gravity on earth. Flexible bungee-like cords
155
,
156
attached to opposite bottom sides of the vest
160
are connected below the vest
160
to the hull
165
of the space station producing artificial gravity.
FIGS. 7 and 8
illustrate two embodiments of rotary exercising devices having safety rails. These rails may be provided both on exercise devices having the safety harness already installed and an exercise device, as shown in
FIGS. 7-8
that does not have a safety harness. In
FIG. 7
, the safety rail
200
is formed by two parallel bars
205
,
206
located on opposite sides of the treadwheel
30
. The console
125
is advantageously supported by one of the parallel bars.
In the embodiment of
FIG. 8
, the safety bar
210
is formed by an L-shaped member
211
having one end rotatably mounted to the base
215
of the rotary exercise device. In the position shown in
FIG. 8
, the cantilever horizontal bar
216
is positioned in front of the runner with the console advantageously attached at one side of the horizontal bar
216
so that the user may easily grasp the safety bar. Rotation of this bar in the clockwise direction of arrows
220
moves both this bar
216
and console
120
to be swiveled out of the way of the runner.
A feature of rotary exercise devices constructed in accordance with this invention is that they facilitate building leg muscle mass and power. Enhanced exercise is achieved by weight training exercising, in which, as shown in
FIG. 9
, the runner can both hold hand weights
225
,
226
and wear a weighted belt
227
.
The console
125
, shown in detail in
FIG. 10
, advantageously includes four LED or similar read-outs showing the load factor selected by the user on read-out
250
, the duration of the exercise shown on read-out
255
, the speed of the runner on read-out
260
, and the distance traveled by the runner on read-out
265
. This information, particularly the substantially instantaneous readout of velocity, provides the “biofeedback” information needed by the runner in order to improve his or her stride technique and sprint performance. Also, a coach or trainer standing by, may give sprint technique instruction to an athlete while he or she is running full speed. In one embodiment of the invention, the console includes a computer which is programmable to provide a programmed workout in the exercise device.
One embodiment of a transducer
274
for supplying the velocity and distance signal to the console
125
is shown in
FIGS. 4 and 14
in which a pulley
275
is rotated by a belt
27
connected to a support roller. Each rotation of the pulley
275
translates into a signal pulse by virtue of infrared light source
280
and an infrared responsive detective
276
. This pulse is produced once each rotation when aperture
281
in pulley
275
is in alignment with source
280
and detector
276
. In one embodiment, the transducer
274
is independent of the electromagnetic clutch as shown, for example, in FIG.
4
. However, it will be apparent that in another embodiment of the invention, the transducer can, instead, be combined as part of the clutch so that each rotation of the clutch is detected for velocity and distance rather than using a separate transducer wheel
275
for this purpose.
An additional embodiment of this invention enables the treadwheel to be disassembled into two halves that are more easily shipped or transported. In this embodiment, treadwheel
300
is formed in two semi-cylindrical sections
305
and
310
and joined, as shown in
FIGS. 12 and 13
, by metal plates
315
, bolts
316
, washers
317
and nuts
318
. Alternatively, two-piece toggle clamps mounted on the outer flanges of the treadwheel halves can be used to quickly release and clamp together the mating sections
305
,
310
. In addition, mating joints in the form of dowels or pins in one half-section
305
can be used to fit into mating holes of the abutting section half
310
to provide aligned mating sections and prevent motion or slipping of the sections
305
,
310
after their assembly. Assembly of the treadwheel
300
is accomplished quickly and easily and the resultant complete treadwheel has, as shown, the outer flanges
27
′,
28
′ and rib
26
′ of the one-piece treadwheel
30
described above, so that this assembled treadwheel
300
functions in an identical manner to the one-piece wheel.
Claims
- 1. An exercise device that assists the user to maintain his/her balance while walking or running for exercise, said device comprising:a cylindrical lightweight treadwheel of a size sufficient to allow a normal-sized adult to run within said treadwheel to rotate said mill wheel; support rollers having axes parallel to the axis of said treadwheel, said support rollers being rotatably mounted so that said treadwheel rotates freely upon said support rollers; a base mounting said support rollers and said treadwheel without interfering with the rotation of said treadwheel and said support rollers; a vest-type safety harness worn by the user; a plurality of standing supports attached to said base on opposite sides of said treadwheel; a horizontal beam, supported by said standing supports, within said treadwheel above the head of the user; and at least two straps respectively connected between the shoulder portion of said safety harness and said horizontal beam.
- 2. An exercise device that assists the user to maintain his/her balance while walking or running, comprising:a cylindrical lightweight treadwheel of a size sufficient to allow a normal-sized adult to run within said treadwheel to rotate said treadwheel; support rollers having axes parallel to the axis of said treadwheel, said support rollers being rotatably mounted so that said treadwheel rotates freely upon said support rollers; a base mounting said support rollers and said treadwheel without interfering with the rotation of said treadwheel and said support rollers; a safety harness worn by the user; a horizontal beam supported within said treadwheel above the head of the user; and at least one flexible strap connected between said safety harness and said horizontal beam.
- 3. The exercise device of claim 2, comprising a stanchion assembly attached to said base on opposite sides of said treadwheel, said horizontal beam supported by said stanchion assembly.
- 4. The exercise device of claim 2, comprising a pair of straps attaching said safety harness to said horizontal beam, said horizontal beam supported from a ceiling or other member located above said treadwheel.
US Referenced Citations (22)
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2 267 702 |
Nov 1975 |
FR |
26372 |
Mar 1913 |
GB |
277765 |
Sep 1927 |
GB |
380005 |
Apr 1940 |
IT |