USRE37132EExpiredUtility
Energy absorbing exercising and training machine
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Aug 1, 1989Filed: Dec 17, 1996Granted: Apr 10, 2001
Est. expiryAug 1, 2009(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
A63B 69/3608A63B 21/225A63B 23/0211A63B 2023/003A63B 2208/0204A63B 2208/02
42
PatentIndex Score
14
Cited by
37
References
81
Claims
Abstract
An energy absorbing exercising and training machine for exercising a person's ability to accelerate a portion of his body through a path of motion. The machine comprises a flywheel rotatably connected to a frame by means of a pair of journal bearings. A harness assembly is provided for connection to the portion of the person's body to be exercised. The flywheel and the harness assembly are interconnected to allow the flywheel to rigidly engage relative to the harness assembly upon acceleration of the harness assembly relative to the flywheel in a first direction along a path of motion of the body portion being exercised and to also allow the flywheel to disengage and freely rotate relative to the harness assembly upon deceleration of the harness assembly relative to the flywheel.
Claims
exact text as granted — not AI-modifiedNow that the invention has been described. What is claimed is:
1. An exercising and training machine for exercising a person's ability to accelerate a portion of the person's body through a non-continuous path of motion, comprising in combination:
flywheel characterized as having a large amount of inertia;
frame;
bearing means for rotatably connecting said flywheel relative to said frame allowing said flywheel to freely rotate in both directions relative to said frame;
harness assembly for connection to the portion of the person's body to be exercised;
means for interconnecting said flywheel and said harness assembly allowing said flywheel to rigidly engage relative to said harness assembly upon acceleration of said harness assembly relative to said flywheel in a first direction along the path of motion of the body portion being exercised and against only the inertia of said flywheel and to disengage and freely rotate relative to said harness assembly upon deceleration of said harness assembly relative to said flywheel such that the body portion being exercised may be accelerated in said first direction along the path of motion against only the inertia of said flywheel and upon deceleration of the body portion, said flywheel disengages relative to said harness assembly thereby precluding said flywheel from exerting a force on the body portion along the path of motion.
2. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said interconnecting means comprises an over-running clutch having an outer race connected to said flywheel and having an inner race connected relative to said harness assembly and wherein said bearing means comprises a journal bearing mounted to said frame through which a shaft is rotatably journalled.
3. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said interconnecting means further comprises a universal joint interconnecting said shaft and said harness assembly.
4. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said universal joint comprises a constant velocity universal joint.
5. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said journal bearing comprises means for reciprocatably connecting said shaft relative to said frame and wherein said inner race of said over-running clutch comprises means for reciprocatably mounting said shaft therethrough, whereby said shaft may reciprocate relative to said frame and said flywheel.
6. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 5 , further including a spring-loaded stop connected to said shaft to prevent said shaft from sliding out of said journal bearing and said inner race of said over-running clutch when the exercising and training machine is utilized with said shaft positioned vertically and said harness assembly depending therebelow.
7. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 2 , further including a cammed clutch interconnecting said flywheel and said shaft allowing said flywheel to rigidly engage said shaft during a predefined arc of rotation of said shaft in a second direction opposite to said first direction.
8. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 7 , wherein said cammed clutch comprises:
a first clutch plate;
means for non-rotatably, reciprocatably mounting said first clutch plate to said shaft;
a second clutch plate;
means for rigidly connecting said second clutch plate relative to said flywheel;
cam roller rotatably mounted relative to said frame; and
cam mounted to said first clutch plate for engagement by said cam roller during said predefined arc of rotation,
whereby said first clutch plate is cammed into frictional engagement with said second clutch plate when said cam roller engages said cam thereby interconnecting said shaft and said flywheel during said predefined arc of rotation.
9. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 8 , wherein said cammed clutch further comprises a wearable clutch positioned between said first clutch plate and said second clutch plate.
10. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said shaft is positioned vertically relative to said frame with said harness assembly depending therebelow and wherein said frame is adjustably elevated by means of a stand, thereby allowing adjustment of the height of said harness assembly.
11. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the body portion being exercised comprises a torso and wherein said harness assembly comprises a torso harness assembly.
12. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said torso harness assembly comprises are inverted substantially V-shaped configuration for fitting over the shoulders and onto the upper torso of the person's body.
13. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said shaft is positioned vertically relative to said frame with said harness assembly depending therebelow and wherein said frame comprises a carriaged frame horizontally and reciprocatably mounted relative to an upstanding stand allowing said carriaged frame to horizontally reciprocate.
14. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 13 , the body portion being exercised comprises a torso and wherein said harness assembly comprises a torso harness assembly.
15. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 14 , wherein said torso harness assembly comprises an inverted substantially V-shaped configuration for fitting over the shoulders and onto the upper torso of the person's body.
16. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 13 , further including means for moving and carriaged frame sideways as said shaft is rotated.
17. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 16 , wherein said moving means comprises a flexible member connected relative to said shaft and whose trailing ends are rigidly connected to opposing sides of said upstanding stand such that rotation of said shaft in one direction moves said carriaged frame in one sideways direction and rotation of said shaft in the other direction moves said carriaged frame in the other sideways direction.
18. An exercising and training machine for exercising a person's ability to accelerate a portion of the person's body through a non-continuous path of motion, comprising in combination:
shaft;
flywheel characterized as having a large movement of inertia;
frame;
bearing means for rotatably connecting said flywheel relative to said frame, said bearing means comprising a journal bearing mounted to said frame through which said shaft is rotatably journalled;
harness assembly for connection to the portion of the person's body to be exercised;
a universal join interconnecting said shaft and said harness assembly; and
over-running clutch having an outer race connected to said flywheel and having an inner race connected relative to said shaft allowing said flywheel to rigidly engage relative to said harness assembly upon acceleration of said harness assembly relative to said flywheel in a first direction along the path of motion of the body portion being exercised and to disengage and freely rotate relative to said harness assembly upon deceleration of said harness assembly relative to said flywheel such that the body portion being exercised may be accelerated in said first direction along the path of motion and upon deceleration of the body portion, said flywheel disengages relative to said harness assembly thereby precluding of said flywheel from exerting a force on the body portion along the path of motion.
19. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 18 , wherein said universal joint comprises a constant velocity universal joint.
20. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 18 , wherein said journal bearing comprises means for reciprocatably connecting said shaft relative to said frame and wherein said inner race of said over-running clutch comprises means for reciprocatably mounting said shaft therethrough, whereby said shaft may reciprocate relative to said frame and said flywheel.
21. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 20 , further including a spring-loaded stop connected to said shaft to prevent said shaft from sliding out of said journal bearing and said inner race of said over-running clutch when the exercising and training machine is utilized with said shaft positioned vertically and said harness assembly depending therebelow.
22. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 18 , further including a cammed clutch interconnecting said flywheel and said shaft allowing said flywheel to rigidly engage said shaft during a predefined arc of rotation of said shaft in a second direction opposite to said first direction.
23. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 22 , wherein said cammed clutch comprises:
a first clutch plate;
means for non-rotatably, reciprocatably mounting said first clutch plate to said shaft;
a second clutch plate;
means for rigidly connecting said second clutch plate relative to said flywheel;
cam roller rotatably mounted relative to said frame; and
cam mounted to said first clutch plate for engagement by said cam roller during said predefined arc of rotation,
whereby said first clutch plate is cammed into frictional engagement with said second clutch plate when said cam roller engages said cam thereby interconnecting said shaft and said flywheel during said predefined arc of rotation.
24. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 18 , wherein said shaft is positioned vertically relative to said frame with said harness assembly depending therebelow and wherein said frame is adjustably elevated by means of a stand, thereby allowing adjustment of the height of said harness assembly.
25. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 24 , wherein the body portion being exercised comprises a torso and wherein said harness assembly comprises a torso harness assembly.
26. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 25 , wherein said torso harness assembly comprises an inverted substantially V-shaped configuration for fitting over the shoulders and onto the upper torso of the person's body.
27. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 18 , wherein said shaft is positioned vertically relative to said frame with said harness assembly depending therebelow and wherein said frame comprises a carriaged frame horizontally and reciprocatably mounted relative to an upstanding stand allowing said carriaged frame to horizontally reciprocate.
28. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 27 , the body portion being exercised comprises a torso and wherein said harness assembly comprises a torso harness assembly.
29. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 28 , wherein said torso harness assembly comprises an inverted substantially V-shaped configuration for fitting over the shoulders and onto the upper torso of the person's body.
30. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 29 further including means for moving and carriage frame sideways as said shaft is rotated.
31. The exercising and training machine as set forth in claim 30 , wherein said moving means comprises a flexible member connected relative to said shaft and shows trailing ends are rigidly connected to opposing sides of said upstanding stand such that rotation of said shaft in one direction moves said carriaged frame in one sideways direction and rotation of said shaft in the other direction moves said carriaged frame in the other sideways direction.
32. An exercising machine for exercising a portion of a person's body about a translationally movable axis of rotation, comprising in combination:
a harness for removable engagement with the portion of the person's body to be exercised, said harness comprising a torso harness;
a rotatable shaft;
means for operatively connecting said harness to said rotatable shaft to rotate therewith;
a carriaged frame assembly including a fixed framework and a carriaged framework;
means for rotatably connecting said rotatable shaft to said carriaged framework; and
said carriaged frame assembly comprising means for mounting said carriaged framework relative to said fixed framework to linearly and freely move as said harness and said rotatable shaft are linearly moved;
whereby, upon rotational exercising of the portion of the person's body about the axis of rotation of said rotatable shaft against a rotational resistance applied thereto, said carriaged framework, said harness and said rotatable shaft may linearly move relative to said fixed framework.
33. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 32 , wherein said mounting means comprises means for mounting said carriaged framework to linearly move relative to said fixed framework substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said rotatable shaft.
34. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 33 , wherein said mounting means comprises at least one rail extending between said fixed framework and said carriaged framework on which said carriaged framework moves relative to said fixed framework, said rail extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said rotatable shaft.
35. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 34 , wherein said carriaged frame assembly further includes means for slidably engaging said rail to permit resistance- free linear movement of said carriaged framework relative to said fixed framework.
36. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 34 , wherein said rail of said carriaged frame assembly extends substantially horizontally relative to said fixed framework and said carriaged framework such that said carriaged framework translationally moves substantially horizontally free of gravitational forces.
37. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 36 , further including a stand extending substantially vertically and means for mounting said fixed framework relative to said stand.
38. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 37 , wherein said means for mounting said fixed framework relative to said stand comprises means for adjustably vertically mounting said fixed framework relative to said stand.
39. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 37 , wherein said axis of rotation of said rotatable shaft extends substantially vertically.
40. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 39 , wherein said axis of rotation of said rotatable shaft extends substantially vertically beneath said carriaged frame assembly and wherein said harness is positioned beneath said carriaged frame assembly.
41. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 40 , wherein said torso harness comprises an inverted substantially V- shaped configuration for fitting over the shoulders and the upper torso of the person's body.
42. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 41 , wherein said resistance comprises a flywheel characterized as having a large amount of inertia.
43. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 42 , further including means for rotatably mounting said flywheel relative to said carriaged framework.
44. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 43 , further including an over- running clutch having an outer race connected to said flywheel and an inner race connected to said rotatable shaft allowing said flywheel to rigidly engage relative to said torso harness upon acceleration of said torso harness and to disengage relative to said torso harness upon deceleration of said torso harness.
45. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 44 , wherein said means for rotatably mounting said flywheel relative to said carriaged framework further comprises means for reciprocatably connecting said rotatable shaft relative to said carriaged framework.
46. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 45 , wherein said means for reciprocatably connecting said rotatable shaft relative to said carriaged framework comprises a spline bearing.
47. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 45 , further including a spring- loaded stop connected to said rotatable shaft to prevent said rotatable shaft from sliding out of said spline bearing and to at least partially compensate for the weight of said torso harness and said rotatable shaft.
48. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 46 , further including a clutch interconnecting said flywheel and said rotatable shaft allowing said flywheel to rigidly engage said rotatable shaft.
49. An exercising machine for exercising a portion of a person's body about an axis of rotation, comprising in combination:
a frame assembly;
a rotatable shaft whose axis comprises the axis of rotation;
a harness for removable engagement with the portion of the person's body to be exercised;
means for operatively connecting said harness to said rotatable shaft to rotate therewith;
means for rotatably connecting said rotatable shaft relative to said frame assembly allowing rotational movement of said rotatable shaft about the axis of rotation against a rotational resistance applied thereto;
means for reciprocatably connecting said rotatable shaft relative to said frame assembly for free reciprocable movement along the axis of said rotatable shaft;
whereby, upon rotational exercising of the portion of the person's body about the axis of rotation, said rotatable shaft may rotatably move against the rotational resistance and freely reciprocatably move relative to said frame assembly.
50. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 49 , wherein said means for reciprocatably connecting said rotatable shaft relative to said frame assembly comprises a spline bearing.
51. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 49 , further including a spring- loaded stop connected to said rotatable shaft to prevent said rotatable shaft from sliding out of said spline bearing.
52. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 49 , wherein said frame assembly comprises a carriaged frame assembly including a fixed framework and a carriaged framework, said carriaged frame assembly comprising means for mounting said carriaged framework relative to said fixed framework to move relative to said fixed framework whereby, upon rotational exercising of the portion of the person's body about the axis of rotation, said carriaged framework may move relative to said fixed framework.
53. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 52 , wherein said mounting means comprises means for mounting said carriaged framework to move relative to said fixed framework substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said rotatable shaft.
54. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 53 , wherein said mounting means comprises at least one rail extending between said fixed framework and said carriaged framework on which said carriaged framework translationally moves, said rail extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said rotatable shaft.
55. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 54 , wherein said carriaged frame assembly further including means for slidably engaging said rail to permit resistance- free translational movement of said carriaged framework.
56. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 54 , wherein said rail of said carriaged frame assembly extends substantially horizontally relative to said fixed framework and said carriaged framework such that said carriaged framework translationally moves substantially horizontally free of gravitational forces.
57. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 56 , further including a stand extending substantially vertically and means for mounting said fixed framework relative to said stand.
58. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 57 , wherein said means for mounting said fixed framework relative to said stand comprises means for adjustably mounting said fixed framework relative to said stand.
59. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 58 , wherein said axis of rotation of said rotatable shaft extends substantially vertically.
60. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 59 , wherein said axis of rotation of said rotatable shaft extends substantially vertically beneath said carriaged frame assembly and wherein said harness is positioned beneath said carriaged frame assembly.
61. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 60 , wherein said harness comprises a torso harness.
62. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 61 , wherein said torso harness comprises an inverted substantially V- shaped configuration adapted for fitting over the shoulders and the upper torso of the person's body.
63. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 62 , wherein said resistance comprises a flywheel characterized as having a large amount of inertia.
64. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 63 , further including means for rotatably mounting said flywheel relative to said carriaged framework.
65. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 64 , further including an over- running clutch having an outer race connected to said flywheel and an inner race connected to said rotatable shaft allowing said flywheel to rigidly engage relative to said torso harness upon acceleration of said torso harness and to disengage relative to said torso harness upon deceleration of said torso harness.
66. An exercising machine for exercising a portion of a person's body about a translationally moveable axis of rotation, comprising in combination:
a rotatable shaft whose axis comprises the axis of rotation;
a harness for removable engagement with the portion of the person's body to be exercised;
means for operatively connecting said harness to said rotatable shaft to rotate therewith;
a carriaged frame assembly including a fixed framework and a carriaged framework, said carriaged frame assembly comprising means for mounting said carriaged framework relative to said fixed framework to allow translational movement of said harness and said rotatable shaft during exercising and to preclude fixed coupling of said harness and said rotatable shaft relative to said fixed framework during exercising;
means for rotatably connecting said rotatable shaft relative to said carriaged framework allowing rotational movement of said rotatable shaft about the axis of rotation against a rotational resistance; and
means for reciprocatably connecting said rotatable shaft relative to said frame assembly for free reciprocable movement along the axis of said rotatable shaft;
whereby, upon rotational exercising of the portion of the person's body about the axis of rotation, said carriaged framework, said harness assembly and said rotatable shaft may translationally move and said rotatable shaft may rotatably move against the rotational resistance and freely reciprocatably move relative to said fixed framework.
67. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 66 , wherein said axis of rotation of said rotatable shaft extends substantially vertically.
68. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 67 , wherein said axis of rotation of said rotatable shaft extends substantially vertically beneath said carriaged frame assembly and wherein said harness means is positioned beneath said carriaged frame assembly.
69. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 68 , wherein said harness comprises a torso harness.
70. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 69 , wherein said torso harness comprises an inverted substantially V- shaped configuration for fitting over the shoulders and the upper torso of the person's body.
71. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 70 , wherein said resistance comprises a flywheel characterized as having a large amount of inertia.
72. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 71 , further including means for rotatably mounting said flywheel relative to said carriaged framework.
73. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 72 , further including an over- running clutch having an outer race connected to said flywheel and an inner race connected to said rotatable shaft allowing said flywheel to rigidly engage relative to said torso harness upon acceleration of said torso harness and to disengage relative to said torso harness upon deceleration of said torso harness.
74. An exercising machine for exercising a portion of a person's body about an axis of rotation, comprising in combination:
a frame assembly;
a stand including at least two upright cylindrical members positioned at opposing sides of said stand;
means for adjustably mounting said frame assembly between said cylindrical members of said stand, said mounting means comprising a rotatable lifting ring positioned on each of aid cylindrical members, said lifting rings being operable to ascend said cylindrical members when rotated in one direction and to descend said cylindrical members when rotated in another direction;
a rotatable shaft;
means for rotatably connecting said rotatable shaft relative to said frame assembly to depend downwardly therefrom;
a harness for removable engagement with the portion of the person's body to be exercised, said harness comprising a torso harness;
means for operatively connecting said harness to said rotatable shaft to rotate therewith against a rotational resistance beneath said frame assembly; and
whereby, the height of said frame assembly may be adjusted by selective rotation of said lifting rings so that said harness means is adjustably elevated from the ground on which said stand is positioned.
75. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 74 , wherein said frame assembly comprises a carriaged frame assembly including a fixed framework and a carriaged framework, said carriaged frame assembly comprising means for mounting said carriaged framework relative to said fixed framework to translationally move relative to said fixed framework whereby, upon rotational exercising of the portion of the person's body about the axis of rotation, said carriaged framework may translationally move relative to said fixed framework.
76. An exercising machine for exercising a portion of a person's body about an axis of rotation, comprising in combination:
a frame assembly, said frame assembly comprising a carriaged frame assembly including a fixed framework and a carriaged framework, said carriaged frame assembly comprising means for mounting said carriaged framework relative to said fixed framework to translationally move relative to said fixed framework whereby, upon rotational exercising of the portion of the person's body about the axis of rotation, said carriaged framework may translationally move relative to said fixed framework;
a stand including at least two upright cylindrical members positioned at opposing sides of said stand;
means for adjustably mounting said frame assembly between said cylindrical members of said stand, said mounting means comprising a rotatable lifting ring positioned on each of aid cylindrical members, said lifting rings being operable to ascend said cylindrical members when rotated in one direction and to descend said cylindrical members when rotated in another direction;
a rotatable shaft;
means for rotatably connecting said rotatable shaft relative to said frame assembly to depend downwardly therefrom, said means for rotatably connecting said rotatable shaft relative to said frame assembly further comprises means for reciprocatably connecting said rotatable shaft relative to said frame assembly;
a harness for removable engagement with the portion of the person's body to be exercised;
means for operatively connecting said harness to said rotatable shaft to rotate therewith against a rotational resistance beneath said frame assembly; and
whereby, the height of said frame assembly may be adjusted by selective rotation of said lifting rings so that said harness means is adjustably elevated from the ground on which said stand is positioned.
77. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 76 , wherein said means for reciprocatably connecting said rotatable shaft relative to frame assembly comprises a spline bearing.
78. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 77 , further including a spring- loaded stop connected to said rotatable shaft to prevent said rotatable shaft from sliding out of said spline bearing and to at least partially compensate for the weight of said torso harness and said rotatable shaft.
79. An exercising machine for exercising the torso of a person's body about an axis of rotation, comprising in combination:
a frame assembly;
a rotatable shaft;
means for rotatably connecting said rotatable shaft relative to said frame assembly;
a torso harness for removable engagement with the torso, said torso harness comprising a front arm and a rear arm configured for adaption to the front and rear, respectively, of the torso; and
means for operatively connecting said torso harness to said rotatable shaft to rotate therewith, said connection means including a universal joint interconnecting said rotatable shaft and said torso harness; and
whereby, upon rotation of the torso, said arms engage the front and rear of the torso to rotate said rotatable shaft against a rotational resistance applied thereto.
80. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 79 , further including a pair of said front arms and a pair of said rear arms that engage the left and right portions of the front and rear portions of the torso.
81. The exercising machine as set forth in claim 80 , further including pad members connected to said arms.Join the waitlist — get patent alerts
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