US20020107121A1

US20020107121A1 - Resistance device for a physical exerciser

Info

Publication number: US20020107121A1
Application number: US09/776,728
Authority: US
Inventors: Te Hsiang Chen
Original assignee: YATE INDUSTRIAL Co Ltd
Current assignee: YATE INDUSTRIAL Co Ltd
Priority date: 2001-02-06
Filing date: 2001-02-06
Publication date: 2002-08-08

Abstract

A resistance device for a physical exerciser includes a cylindrical housing formed with two diagonally opposite chambers at two opposite sides thereof, a fastener fixedly mounted on an inner side thereof, and a groove formed on an inner side thereof and arranged under the fastener, a pair of actuating rods inserted into a respective one of the chambers and provided with a hook and connected with a spring by a pin, an upper end of the spring being connected with the fastener, a pair of buttons pivotally connected with a top of the cylindrical housing, a tubular axle fitted within the cylindrical housing and provided with a first set of teeth and a second set of teeth which are positioned together beside each other and operate in opposite circular direction, an axle formed with a spiral groove extending through an outer surface thereof, a core member fitted within the tubular axle and having a radial hole aligned with the spiral groove, a pin inserted through the spiral groove so that a lower portion of the pin is fitted into the radial hole of the core member, and a cover fixedly mounted on a cylindrical housing.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is related to a resistance device for an exercising device and in particular to one which can be readily adjusted and assembled.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It has been found that the conventional resistance device for an exercising bicycle utilizes a cable to connect with an adjuster mounted on a front portion of the exercising bicycle. The adjuster includes an axle provided with a knob so that when the knob is turned, the axle will be rotated to tighten or release the cable thereby adjusting the resistance to the exercising bicycle. However, a relatively large effort is required for adjusting such an adjuster thereby making it unfit for practical use.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved resistance device for a physical exerciser which can obviate and mitigate the above-mentioned drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a resistance device for a physical exerciser includes a cylindrical housing formed with two diagonally opposite chambers at two opposite sides thereof, a fastener fixedly mounted on an inner side thereof, and a groove formed on an inner side thereof and arranged under the fastener, a pair of actuating rods inserted into a respective one of the chambers and provided with a hook and connected with a spring by a pin, an upper end of the spring being connected with the fastener, a pair of buttons pivotally connected with a top of the cylindrical housing, a tubular axle fitted within the cylindrical housing and provided with a first set of teeth and a second set of teeth which are positioned together beside each other and operate in opposite circular direction, an axle formed with a spiral groove extending through an outer surface thereof, a core member fitted within the tubular axle and having a radial hole aligned with the spiral groove, a pin inserted through the spiral groove so that a lower portion of the pin is fitted into the radial hole of the core member, and a cover fixedly mounted on a cylindrical housing.

The foregoing object and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts. Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the present invention; [0009]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention; [0010]
FIG. 3 illustrates the engagement between the actuating rods and the teeth of the tubular axle; and [0011]
FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the working principle of the present invention. [0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings. Specific language will be used to describe same. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. [0013]
With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, the resistance device for an exercising device according to the present invention generally comprises a cylindrical housing [0014] 1, a pair of actuating rods 2, a pair of buttons 3, a core member 5, a tubular axle 4 and a cover 8. The cylindrical housing 1 is formed with two diagonally opposite chambers 11 at two opposite sides thereof. Each of the chambers 11 has an open top 111, a fastener 112 fixedly mounted on the inner side thereof, and a groove 113 formed on the inner side thereof and arranged under the fastener 112. The top of the cylindrical housing 1 has a raised portion 12 formed with two holes 121. The center of the cylindrical housing 1 is provided with a center shaft 13.
Each of the actuating [0015] rods 2 is inserted into a respective one of the chambers 11.
The actuating [0016] rod 2 is provided with a hook 21 at the inner side and connected with a spring 23 at the lower end by a pin 22. The pin 22 is also fitted in the groove 113 and the upper end of the spring 23 is connected with the fastener 112 of the cylindrical housing 1, so that the actuating rod can slide in the chamber 11.
Each of the [0017] buttons 3 is provided with two lugs 31 at two ends thereof. The two buttons 3 are pivotally connected with two sides of the raised portion 12 of the cylindrical housing 1 by screws 32 extending through the holes 311 of the lugs of the buttons 3 into the holes 121 of the raises portion 12, so that the buttons 5 can be moved with respect to the cylindrical housing 1.
The [0018] tubular axle 4 is fitted within the cylindrical housing 1 and provided with a first set of teeth 41 and a second set of teeth 42 which are positioned together beside each other and operate in opposite circular direction. The first set of teeth 41 is engaged with the hook 21 of a corresponding actuating rod 2, while the second set of teeth 42 with the hook 21 of the other actuating rod 2 (see FIG. 3). Further, the axle 4 is formed with a spiral groove 43 extending through its outer surface.
The [0019] core member 5 has a center hole adapted to sleeve over the center shaft 13 and is fitted within the tubular axle 4. The core member 5 has a radial hole 51 aligned with the spiral groove 43. A pin 52 is inserted through the spiral groove 43 so that the lower portion of the pin 52 is fitted into the radial hole 51 of the core member 5. An end of the core member 5 is formed with a hole 53 having a slot adapted to receive a nipple 61 of a cable 6.
The [0020] cover 8 is fixedly mounted on the cylindrical housing 1 to keep dust or the like from entering therein.
As the [0021] button 3 is depressed, the corresponding actuating rod 2 will be forced to go downwardly thereby causing the actuating rod 2 to push the corresponding teeth 41 (or 42) and therefore rotating the tubular axle 4. As the tubular axle 4 is rotated, the pin 52 will move along the spiral groove 43 thereby moving the core member 5 within the tubular axle 4 and therefore tightening or releasing the cable 6 depending on the rotation direction of the tubular axle 4 (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 5).
Referring to FIG. 3, the [0022] hook 21 of one of the actuating rod 2 is engaged with the first set of teeth 41, while the hook 21 of the other actuating rod 2 with the second set of teeth 42, so that when the button 3 is depressed, the actuating rod 2 is forced to go downwardly to drive the teeth 41 or 41 thereby rotating the tubular axle 4.
When the [0023] tubular axle 4 is rotated in the direction as show in FIG. 4, the pin 52 will move along the spiral groove 43 of the tubular axle 4 thereby moving the core member 4 to go backward and therefore releasing the cable 6. However, as the tubular axle 4 is rotated in an opposite direction, the pin 52 will move along the spiral groove 43 of the tubular axle 4 in an opposite direction thereby moving the core member 4 to go forward and therefore tightening the cable 6. Hence, the resistance to an exercising device can be easily adjusted by the present invention.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. [0024]
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. [0025]

Claims

I claim:

1. A resistance device for a physical exerciser comprising:

a cylindrical housing formed with two diagonally opposite chambers at two opposite sides thereof, each of said chambers having an open top, a fastener fixedly mounted on an inner side thereof, and a groove formed on an inner side thereof and arranged under said fastener,

a pair of actuating rods inserted into a respective one of said chambers and provided with a hook and connected with a spring by a pin, said pin being fitted in said groove, an upper end of said spring being connected with said fastener;

a pair of buttons pivotally connected with a top of said cylindrical housing;

a tubular axle fitted within said cylindrical housing and provided with a first set of teeth and a second set of teeth which are positioned together beside each other and operate in opposite circular direction, said first set of teeth being engaged with said hook of a corresponding actuating rod, said second set of teeth being engaged with said hook of said actuating rod;

an axle formed with a spiral groove extending through an outer surface thereof;

a core member fitted within said tubular axle and having a radial hole aligned with said spiral groove;

a pin inserted through said spiral groove so that a lower portion of said pin is fitted into said radial hole of said core member, an end of said core member formed with a hole having a slot adapted to receive a nipple of a cable; and

a cover fixedly mounted on a cylindrical housing to keep dust or the like from entering therein.