Exercise device

Abstract

An exercise device ( 10 ) for working and stimulating the legs of disabled children is disclosed. The exercise device ( 10 ) includes a portable housing ( 12 ), a crankshaft ( 14 ) rotatably mounted in the housing ( 12 ), and a power source ( 16 ) coupled to the crankshaft ( 14 ). The power source ( 16 ) and the crankshaft ( 14 ) cooperate to provide the exercise device ( 10 ) an active operating mode, wherein rotation of the crankshaft ( 14 ) is resisted, and a passive operating mode, wherein rotation of the crankshaft ( 14 ) is assisted.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An exercise device for working and stimulating the legs of a child, the device comprising: 
 a portable housing adapted to securely support the child therein;    a crankshaft rotatably mounted in the housing and adapted to be rotated by the legs of the child; and    a power source associated with the housing and coupled to the crankshaft and operable to cooperate with the crankshaft to provide an active operating mode, wherein rotation of the crankshaft is resisted, and a passive operating mode, wherein rotation of the crankshaft is assisted.    
     
     
         2 . The exercise device as claimed in  claim 1 , 
 said housing including a stern end and a bow end,    said crankshaft being rotatably mounted generally toward the bow end of the housing,    said housing further including a seat slidably mounted generally toward the stern end of the housing,    said seat being slidable between a stern-ward position, wherein the seat is adjacent the stern end of the housing, and a bow-ward position, wherein the seat is adjacent the crankshaft.    
     
     
         3 . The exercise device as claimed in  claim 2 , 
 said housing including a locking mechanism associated with the seat and being operable to lock the seat in the stern-ward position, the bow-ward position, and at least one position intermediate thereto.    
     
     
         4 . The exercise device as claimed in  claim 2 , 
 said seat including at least one adjustable belt being operable to secure the child in the seat.    
     
     
         5 . The exercise device as claimed in  claim 2 , 
 said seat including an adjustable handgrip removably and rotatably coupled to the seat.    
     
     
         6 . The exercise device as claimed in  claim 5 , 
 said adjustable hand grip including a column removably coupled to the seat, and a wheel slidably and rotatably coupled to the column.    
     
     
         7 . The exercise device as claimed in  claim 1 , 
 said crankshaft including at least one shoe plate rotatably coupled to the crankshaft.    
     
     
         8 . The exercise device as claimed in  claim 7 , 
 said at least one shoe plate including an adjustable strap being operable to secure a foot of the child in the shoe plate.    
     
     
         9 . The exercise device as claimed in  claim 1 , 
 said power source exerting a resistance force on the crankshaft operable to resist rotation thereof when in the active operating mode,    said power source exerting an assistance force on the crankshaft operable to assist rotation thereof when in the passive operating mode,    said resistance and assistance forces each including quantity, speed, direction, and duration components.    
     
     
         10 . The exercise device as claimed in  claim 9 , 
 said resistance and assistance forces exerted by the power source each being selectively variable with respect to the quantity, speed, direction, and duration components.    
     
     
         11 . The exercise device as claimed in  claim 9 , 
 said power source including a micro-controller operable to sense an interrupt force, wherein the interrupt force is a force acting in a direction opposite of the direction of the resistance force when the power source is in the active operating mode and opposite the assistance force when the power source is in the passive operating mode,    said micro-controller further operable to compare the interrupt force sensed thereby with a threshold force, wherein the threshold force is a preset selectable value.    
     
     
         12 . The exercise device as claimed in  claim 11 , 
 said power source further including an interrupt switch operable to switch power communication between the power source and the crankshaft into and out of an activated position, wherein power is supplied from the power source to the crankshaft,    said micro-controller being in communication with the interrupt switch and being further operable to output a control signal that causes the interrupt switch to switch said power communication out of the activated position when the interrupt force exceeds the threshold force.    
     
     
         13 . The exercise device as claimed in  claim 12 , 
 said power source including a shut off switch operable to switch said power communication into and out of the activated position.    
     
     
         14 . The exercise device as claimed in  claim 10  further comprising: 
 a remote controller associated with the power source and operable to remotely select variations of the quantity, speed, direction, and duration components.  
 
     
     
         15 . The exercise device as claimed in  claim 14 , 
 said remote controller being further operable to switch power communication between the power source and the crankshaft into and out of an activated position, wherein power is supplied from the power source to the crankshaft.    
     
     
         16 . The exercise device as claimed in  claim 15  further comprising: 
 an alarm in communication with the remote controller and being operable to activate when the remote controller switches power communication between the power source and the crank shaft out of the activated position.  
 
     
     
         17 . The exercise device as claimed in  claim 10 , 
 said power source being an electric motor.    
     
     
         18 . An exercise device comprising: 
 a housing;    a crankshaft rotatably mounted in the housing; and    a power source contained in the housing and being in power communication with the crankshaft,    said power source cooperating with the crankshaft to provide a passive operating mode, wherein the power source exerts an assistance force on the crankshaft operable to assist rotation thereof,    said power source being further operable to sense an interrupt force, wherein the interrupt force is a force acting in a direction opposite the assistance force, and terminate rotation of the crankshaft when the interrupt force exceeds the assistance force.    
     
     
         19 . The exercise device as claimed in  claim 18 , 
 said assistance force being selectively variable.    
     
     
         20 . The exercise device as claimed in  claim 19 , 
 said power source including a micro-controller operable to sense the interrupt force and compare the interrupt force sensed thereby with a threshold force, wherein the threshold force is a preset selectable value.    
     
     
         21 . The exercise device as claimed in  claim 20 , 
 said power source further including an interrupt switch operable to switch power communication between the power source and the crankshaft into and out of an activated position, wherein the assistance force is supplied from the power source to the crankshaft,    said micro-controller being in communication with the interrupt switch and being further operable to output a control signal that causes the interrupt switch to switch said power communication out of the activated position when the interrupt force exceeds the threshold force.    
     
     
         22 . The exercise device as claimed in  claim 21 , 
 said power source further including a soft-start function, wherein said power source gradually increases the assistance force when power communication is switched into the activated position until the selected assistance force is achieved.