U.S. patent application number 09/846761 was filed with the patent office on 2002-11-07 for wheel support for an exercise device.
Invention is credited to Fon, Su-Jung.
Application Number | 20020165068 09/846761 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25298873 |
Filed Date | 2002-11-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020165068 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fon, Su-Jung |
November 7, 2002 |
Wheel support for an exercise device
Abstract
A wheel support for an exercise device includes at least one
support plate attached to a base. The support plate has a through
hole defined to securely mount a first bearing. The first bearing
is adapted to hold a crank. A flywheel is rotatably mounted in the
support plate. The positions of the first bearing and the flywheel
on the support plate are set prior to assembly so that a jig is
unnecessary to manufacture the wheel support for an exercise.
Inventors: |
Fon, Su-Jung; (Taichung,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PEARNE & GORDON LLP
526 SUPERIOR AVENUE EAST
SUITE 1200
CLEVELAND
OH
44114-1484
US
|
Family ID: |
25298873 |
Appl. No.: |
09/846761 |
Filed: |
May 1, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/57 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/225 20130101;
A63B 22/0605 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/57 |
International
Class: |
A63B 069/16; A63B
022/06 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A wheel support for an exercise device, the wheel support
comprising: a support plate adapted to be vertically secured on the
exercise device for supporting the wheel, and having a first
bearing and a second bearing respectively mounted in the support
plate.
2. A wheel support for an exercise device comprising: two support
plates each having a through hole defined to correspond to each
other to receive a first bearing, and a slot defined toward the
through hole for receiving therethrough an axle of a wheel.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a wheel support, and more
particularly to a wheel support for an exercise device.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] With reference to FIG. 3, a conventional wheel support for
an exercise device in accordance with the prior art comprises a
base (30) and an inverted U-shaped frame (40) welded vertically on
the base (30). A crank (32) is rotationally mounted through the
frame (40), and two pedals (322) are respectively mounted on the
opposite ends of the crank (32). A heavy flywheel (34) is driven by
the crank (32) to cause the user to exercise.
[0005] The frame (40) includes a first rod (42) and a bearing (43)
secured on the first rod (42) to hold the middle portion of the
crank (32). The first rod (42) has two ends with one end welded to
the base (30) such that the first rod (42) is vertical and
perpendicular to the base (30). A second rod (44) has two ends with
one end welded to the free end of the first rod (42) and the other
having two separated support plates (46). Each support plate (46)
has two ends, and one end of each support plate (46) is welded to
opposite sides of the second rod (44). The other end of each
support plate (46) is welded to the base (30). Each of the support
plate (46) has a slot (462) defined to correspond to each other to
allowing the flywheel (34) to be rotatably mounted on and between
the two support plates (46). A drive sprocket wheel (324) is
secured on the crank (32), and a driven sprocket wheel (342) is
connected to the center of the flywheel (34). The driven sprocket
wheel (342) aligns with the drive sprocket wheel (324) and is
rotated by the drive sprocket wheel (324) with a chain (36) mounted
around the driven sprocket wheel (342) and the drive sprocket wheel
(324) so that the flywheel (34) is rotated when the user presses
the pedals (322).
[0006] However, the frame (40) includes the first rod (42), the
bearing (43), the second rod (44) and the two support plates (46).
All the elements of the frame (40) need to be welded one after one
so that a welding jig is necessary to prevent the elements from
warping or distorting because welding always causes stress at the
joints. Furthermore, the distance between the crank (32) and the
flywheel (34) is not uniform so that the maker must modify the
length of the chain (36) to match the distance between the crank
(32) and the flywheel (34). It takes a lot of time, and the cost is
very high.
[0007] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the disadvantages of the conventional wheel support for an exercise
device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The main objective of the present invention is to provide an
improved wheel support for an exercise device. The wheel support
includes at least one support plate attached to a base. The support
plate has a through hole defined to securely receive a first
bearing. The first bearing is adapted to mount a crank. A flywheel
is pivotally mounted in the support plate. The positions of the
first bearing and the flywheel on the support plate are determined
prior to the assembly so that a jig is unnecessary to manufacture
the wheel support in accordance with the present invention for an
exercise device.
[0009] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed
description with appropriate reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wheel support in
accordance with the present invention for an exercise device;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
wheel support in accordance with the present invention for an
exercise device; and
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional wheel support
for an exercise device in accordance with the prior art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] With reference to the drawings and initially to FIG. 1, a
wheel support for an exercise device in accordance with the present
invention comprises a base (30) and two support plates (10)
vertically secured on two opposite sides of the base (30). The two
support plates (10) are parallel to each other. Each of the support
plates (10) has a through hole (100) defined to correspond to each
other, and a first bearing (12) is securely received in the two
through holes (100) in the two support plate (10). Each of the
support plates (10) has a slot (14) defined in the front edge of
the support plate (10) and extending toward the through hole (100)
to allow a flywheel (34) to be mounted between the two support
plates (10). The flywheel (34) includes an axle (341) centrally
extending through and secured in the flywheel (34). The axle (341)
is mounted in the slot (14) and has two opposite ends respectively
extending through the two support plates (10). A driven sprocket
wheel (342) is secured on one end of the axle (341), and the axle
(341) is hold in place on the support plate (10) by means of nuts,
for example. A crank (32) has a middle portion securely received in
the first bearing (12). A drive sprocket wheel (324) is mounted
around and secured on the crank (32). The drive sprocket wheel
(324) is aligned with the driven sprocket wheel (342) and drives
the driven sprocket wheel (342) by a chain (36).
[0014] The wheel support for an exercise device in accordance with
the present invention is manufactured using two parallel support
plates (10) attached to the base (30) by welding, for example. The
through hole (100) and the slot (14) are defined in the support
plate (10) by a press so that the distance between the first
bearing (12) mounted in the through hole (100) in the support plate
(10) and the flywheel (34) is fixed. Therefore the jig is
unnecessary and the rate of manufacturing is raised.
[0015] With reference to FIG. 2, another embodiment of the wheel
support uses only one support plate (10) attached to the base (30).
The first bearing (12) and a second bearing (16) are mounted in the
support plate (10) a specific distance apart so that the structure
of the wheel support is simplified.
[0016] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its
preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other
possible modifications and variations can be made without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter
claimed.
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