Modular Resistance Force System Improvements

Abstract

A modular resistance force system includes one or more resistance mechanisms. Each of the one or more resistance mechanisms includes a resistance element disposed about a portion of the axle, a resistance element housing configured to house the resistance element and a resistance substance disposed between the resistance element and the resistance element housing. When the resistance element housing is selectively engaged to rotate relative to the resistance element, that rotation causes a sheering force in a resistance material that is between the fixed and rotating surfaces. Gearing allows specific resistance mechanisms to be engaged to turn with the total of engaged resistance forces creating the sum total of the resistance force created by the modular force system to provide resistance exercise to the user.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A modular resistance force system for use in exercising products, the modular force resistance system comprising:
 a main housing for the resistance force system comprising inside;   a spool mechanism comprising; a spool, a spool gear; a power spring element, a one way bearing, that all rotate around a first axis and said spool gear configured to rotate about a first axis in only one direction;   a resistance mechanism disposed about a second axis of a fixed axle comprising; a resistance housing, a fixed resistance element and a resistance substance wherein the resistance substance is disposed between the resistance housing and the resistance element;   a clutch gear configured to interconnect the spool assembly with the resistance mechanism; wherein the spool assembly is configured to rotate both the clutch gear and the resistance mechanism and said inner resistance element is configured to resist rotation about the fixed axle such that a resistance between the outer resistance housing and the fixed resistance element puts the resistance substance into shear.   
     
     
         2 . The modular resistance force system of  claim 1  wherein the webbing is one of or any combination of the following: fabric webbing; rope; cable; chain; chord; or wire. 
     
     
         3 . The modular resistance force system of  claim 2 , wherein the shear is mechanically communicated to the webbing of the spool mechanism and a user interface located outside the main housing and;
 said user interface is configured to pull webbing off of the spool mechanism, such that a user requires additional force to move the webbing and user interface between two points.   
     
     
         4 . The modular resistance force system of  claim 3 , wherein a user first pulls the user interface away from the spool mechanism and second releases the tension on the user interface;
 and the spool mechanism is configured such that the power spring turns the spool mechanism in a second rotational direction thus recoiling the webbing to the initial position ready for another repetition of an exercise.   
     
     
         5 . The modular resistance force system of  claim 4  wherein the user interface is a handgrip or an ankle strap connected to the webbing. 
     
     
         6 . The modular resistance force system of  claim 1 , where in the clutch gear is a plurality of clutch gears and the resistance mechanism is a plurality of resistance mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The modular resistance force system of  claim 6 , further comprising resistance-engaging devices that selectively engage the clutch gears to produce resistance from one or more of the resistance mechanisms. 
     
     
         8 . The modular resistance force system of  claim 7 , wherein the resistance element housing further comprises protrusions, and the one or more resistance engaging devices cause the corresponding resistance element housing to rotate by engaging the protrusions. 
     
     
         9 . The modular resistance force system of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of resistance mechanisms comprise:
 a first resistance mechanism configured to apply a first resistance force when a first resistance element and a first resistance element housing of the first resistance mechanism rotate relative to each other;   and a second resistance mechanism configured to apply a second resistance force when a second resistance element and a second resistance mechanism housing of the second resistance mechanism rotate relative to each other, and the first force and the second force are divergent.   
     
     
         10 . The modular resistance force system of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of resistance mechanisms comprise a first resistance mechanism and a second resistance mechanism, and the first resistance mechanism is coupled via a joining element to the second resistance mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . The modular resistance force system of  claim 2 , further comprising power spring configured to rotate the spool around said first axis in a second rotational direction opposite a first rotational direction; and webbing that is configured to wind back onto spool assembly when said tension is released from the webbing. 
     
     
         12 . The modular resistance force system of  claim 4 , wherein the handgrip comprises two parts and each part is attached at a first end to the webbing and removably attached to the other handgrip part, on second end, such that the handgrip stays connected to the webbing even when the handgrip is two separate handgrips. 
     
     
         13 . The modular resistance force system of  claim 12 , wherein the two parts of the handgrip attach and detach from each other using male and female threading parts. 
     
     
         14 . The modular resistance force system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing removably attaches two arms to a bottom of said main housing and, the two arms are configured as movable between positions to anchor the product by standing on them or to allow easier carrying of the product. 
     
     
         15 . The modular resistance force system of  claim 14 , wherein the two arms are configured to move from a position parallel to ground to a position adjacent to opposite sides of the main housing. 
     
     
         16 . A modular resistance force system for use in exercising products, the modular force resistance system comprising:
 a housing containing a crank arm on a first axis configured to be co-axial with and connected to at least one crank sprocket;   a resistance sprocket on a second axis connected to an outer resistance housing;   an inner resistance element on a fixed axis element of said second axis;   a resistance substance disposed between said inner resistance element and said outer resistance housing;   a drive configured to rotate second sprockets when crank arm rotates the first sprocket;   inner resistance element is configured to resist rotation about a fixed axle such that a resistance between the outer resistance housing and the fixed resistance element puts the resistance substance into shear.   
     
     
         17 . The modular resistance force system of  claim 16 , wherein the drive is a chain or belt. 
     
     
         18 . The modular resistance force system of  claim 16 , wherein the crank sprocket connected to the crank arm is a plurality of crank sprockets. 
     
     
         19 . The modular resistance force system of  claim 16 , wherein the resistance sprocket connected to the outside resistance housing is a plurality of resistance sprockets. 
     
     
         20 . The modular resistance force system of  claim 16 , wherein at least one or resistance sprocket or crank sprocket is replaced with at least one spur gear.