U.S. patent application number 09/910918 was filed with the patent office on 2003-01-30 for resistance regulator for a magnetic brake.
This patent application is currently assigned to FWU CHYI INDUSTRY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Wu, Chin-Yeh.
Application Number | 20030022765 09/910918 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25429494 |
Filed Date | 2003-01-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030022765 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wu, Chin-Yeh |
January 30, 2003 |
RESISTANCE REGULATOR FOR A MAGNETIC BRAKE
Abstract
A resistance regulator for a magnetic brake includes a
resistance-designating mark unit and an indicator, which can rotate
relative to each other so as to move a pull rope that is adapted to
be connected to the brake. The mark unit has a small-resistance
mark and a plurality of equidistant large-resistance marks. The
indicator is directed toward a selected one of the large-resistance
and small-resistance marks. Each adjacent pair of the
large-resistance marks are spaced apart from each other at a
distance that is smaller than the distance between the
small-resistance mark and a leading one of the large-resistance
marks.
Inventors: |
Wu, Chin-Yeh; (Chang-Hua
City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow,
Garrett & Dunner, L.L.P.
1300 I Street, N.W.
Washington
DC
20005-3315
US
|
Assignee: |
FWU CHYI INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
|
Family ID: |
25429494 |
Appl. No.: |
09/910918 |
Filed: |
July 24, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/92 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/0051
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/92 |
International
Class: |
A63B 021/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A resistance regulator for a magnetic brake, said regulator
comprising: a base with a fixed post extending upwardly therefrom;
a rotating shaft unit including a hollow shaft body sleeved
rotatably on said post, a reel sleeved fixedly on said shaft body,
a pull rope wound around said reel and having one end that is
fastened to said reel, and another end that is adapted to be
coupled with the brake in such a manner that said pull rope is
biased to unwind from said reel, and a side indicator disposed
fixedly on said shaft body and located above said reel so as to
rotate about said shaft body; a regulator body fixed on said base
and including a surrounding wall disposed around said rotating
shaft unit, a resistance-designating side mark unit disposed on
said surrounding wall and having a small-resistance mark and a
plurality of equidistant large-resistance marks which represent
different resistance resistances that are larger than that of said
small-resistance mark of said side mark unit, said small-resistance
mark and said large-resistance marks of said side mark unit being
arranged circumferentially on said surrounding wall, each adjacent
pair of said large-resistance marks of said side mark unit being
spaced apart from each other at a distance that is smaller than a
distance between said small-resistance mark of said side mark unit
and a leading one of said large-resistance marks of said side mark
unit, said side indicator being directed toward a selected one of
said large-resistance and small-resistance marks of said side mark
unit so as to be adapted to indicate a resistance of the brake, and
a top wall with a spring-biased ball that is biased to project
upwardly and partially therefrom; a rotary knob unit including a
central piece mounted fixedly on said post of said base and having
a top surface, a resistance-designating top mark unit disposed on
said top surface of said central piece and having a
small-resistance mark and a plurality of equidistant
large-resistance marks which represent different resistances that
are larger than that of said small-resistance mark of said top mark
unit, said small-resistance mark and said large-resistance marks of
said top mark unit being arranged circumferentially on said top
surface of said central piece and corresponding respectively to
said small-resistance mark and said large-resistance marks of said
side mark unit, each adjacent pair of said large-resistance marks
of said top mark unit being spaced apart from each other at a
distance that is smaller than a distance between said
small-resistance mark of said top mark unit and a leading one of
said large-resistance marks of said top mark unit, a peripheral
piece sleeved rotatably on said central piece and connected fixedly
to said shaft body of said rotating shaft unit, said peripheral
piece having a top surface, and a top indicator fixed on said top
surface of said peripheral piece and directed toward a selected one
of said small-resistance and large-resistance marks of said top
mark unit; and a ring plate sleeved fixedly on said shaft body of
said rotating shaft unit and having a first positioning unit and a
plurality of second positioning units that correspond respectively
to said small-resistance and large-resistance marks of said side
and top mark units, said peripheral piece of said rotary knob being
rotatable relative to said base and said regulator body so as to
engage said spring-biased ball of said regulator body with a
selected one of said first and second positioning units in said
ring plate, thereby aligning said top and side indicators with
corresponding ones of said small-resistance and large-resistance
marks of said top and side mark units.
2. The resistance regulator as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a rotary cap, which is shaped as a hollow cylinder that
has an open lower end and a transparent upper end wall and which is
disposed around said peripheral piece, one of said peripheral piece
and said rotary cap having an internal spline portion, the other
one of said peripheral piece and said rotary cap having an external
spline portion that engages said internal spline portion, thereby
permitting synchronous rotation of said peripheral piece and said
rotary cap.
3. The resistance regulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of
said peripheral piece and said ring plate has a rectangular hole,
said shaft body of said rotating shaft unit having a rectangular
upper end that engages fittingly said rectangular holes in said
peripheral piece and said ring plate, thereby preventing rotation
of said peripheral piece and said ring plate relative to said shaft
body.
4. The resistance regulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
surrounding wall includes an elongated circumferentially extending
window that is formed therethin, said rotating shaft unit including
a rotary ring which is disposed fixedly around said shaft body and
which has an outer surface that has a light-colored area and a
deep-colored area, said light-colored area and said deep-colored
area defining a vertical line unit therebetween that constitutes
said side indicator and that is movable in said window in said
surrounding wall in a longitudinal direction of said window when
said peripheral piece rotates relative to said central piece, said
surrounding wall having an outer surface, said large-resistance and
small-resistance marks of said side mark unit being indicated on
said outer surface of said surrounding wall and being located
immediately over said window.
5. The resistance regulator as claimed in claim 4, wherein said
regulator body further includes a transparent shield, which is
fixed on said surrounding wall and which covers said window in said
surrounding wall.
6. The resistance regulator as claimed in claim 4, wherein said
ring plate further includes a leading positioning unit that is
shaped as a circular hole, and a slot that has two closed ends and
a plurality of alternate wide and narrow portions, said wide
portions being wider than said narrow portions and constituting
said second positioning units, respectively, said first positioning
unit being located between said leading positioning unit and said
second positioning units and being spaced apart angularly from said
leading positioning unit at an angle of about 45.degree., each of
said wide portions of said slots being generally oval, a leading
one of said wide portions being spaced apart angularly from said
first positioning unit at an angle of about 21.degree., each
adjacent pair of said wide portions being spaced apart angularly
from each other at an angle of about 12.degree..
7. The resistance regulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
surrounding wall includes an elongated circumferentially extending
window that is formed therein, and a transparent shield that is
fixed to said surrounding wall and that covers said window, said
rotating shaft unit including a rotary ring which is disposed
fixedly around said shaft body and which has an outer surface that
is formed with a deep-colored area and a light-colored area, said
deep-colored area and said light-colored area defining a vertical
line unit therebetween that constitutes said side indicator and
that is movable in said window in said surrounding wall in a
longitudinal direction of said window when said peripheral piece
rotates relative to said central piece, each of said
large-resistance and small-resistance marks of said side mark unit
being formed from a white colorant and being indicated on said
transparent shield.
8. The resistance regulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
surrounding wall includes an elongated circumferentially extending
window, which is formed therethin and which has two closed ends,
and a transparent shield that is fixed to said outer surface of
said surrounding wall and that covers said window, said rotating
shaft unit including a rotary ring that is disposed fixedly around
said shaft body and that has an outer surface, said side indicator
being configured as a dark-colored area that is indicated on said
outer surface of said rotary ring, said dark-colored area being
movable in said window in said surrounding wall in a longitudinal
direction of said window when said peripheral piece rotates
relative to said central piece, so as to move a selected one of
said large-resistance and small-resistance marks of said side mark
unit into said dark-colored area.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a resistance regulator, more
particularly to a resistance regulator, which is connected to a
magnetic brake by means of a pull rope that can move so as to
adjust the magnitude of the resistance applied by the brake.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional flywheel brake
assembly for an exercise bike is shown to include a wheel shaft 1,
and a flywheel 2 disposed fixedly around the wheel shaft 1 and
disposed rotatably within a housing 2'. An aluminum ring 3 is fixed
in the housing 2'. Two mounting plates 4 have upper ends 4' that
are mounted pivotally in the housing 2' such that the mounting
plates 4 can turn toward or away from each other. Each of the
mounting plates 4 is provided with a plurality of fixed magnets 5
(only two are shown), and is biased by a spring 6, which is
confined between the aluminum ring 3 and the respective mounting
plate 4, to a position so that the magnets 5 are adjacent to an
inner surface of the flywheel 2. Accordingly, the magnets 5 attract
the flywheel 2 so as to provide a resistance to rotation of the
flywheel 2, thereby functioning as a magnetic brake. When it is
desired to reduce the resistance to the rotation of the flywheel 2,
a pull rope 14 is drawn so as to move a movable piece 7 radially
and inwardly in a radial slot 8 in the housing 2' such that the
mounting plates 4 rotate toward each other, thereby increasing the
distance between the flywheel 2 and the magnets 5. When it is
desired to increase the resistance to the rotation of the flywheel
2, the pull rope 14 is operated such that the magnets 5 are biased
by the springs 6 to move toward the inner surface of the flywheel
2, thereby reducing the distance between the magnets 5 and the
flywheel 2. FIG. 3 shows a conventional resistance regulator 10 for
operating the pull rope 14, which includes an upper casing 11, a
lower casing 12 that is connected fixedly to the upper casing 11, a
vertical rotating shaft 13 journalled on the lower casing 12, and a
reel 13' sleeved non-rotatably on the rotating shaft 13. The pull
rope 14 is wound around the reel 13', and has one end that is
fastened to the reel 13', and another end that is coupled with the
brake assembly such that the springs 6 (see FIG. 1) bias the pull
rope 14 to unwind from the reel 13'. A rotary knob 15 is connected
fixedly to the rotating shaft 13 so that rotation of the rotary
knob 15 results in winding or unwinding of the pull rope 14
relative to the reel 13'. An indexing disc 161 is sleeved fixedly
on the rotating shaft 13, and has an outer periphery with a
serrated annular flange 164 that projects integrally and upwardly
and that defines a plurality of positioning grooves 164'. A movable
plate 162 is disposed movably relative to the upper and lower
casings 11, 12, and is biased to move downwardly by a spring 163 so
as to engage a downwardly extending integral tongue 165 of the
movable plate 162 with a selected one of the positioning grooves
164', thereby determining the magnitude of the resistance. As such,
the magnets 5 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) can move toward the inner surface
of the flywheel 2 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) step by step. To indicate the
magnitude of the resistance, the resistance regulator 10 further
includes a rotary disc 17 and a fixed disc 17'. The rotary disc 17
is sleeved fixedly on the rotating shaft 13, and has a
circumferential face that is marked with six equidistant numerals
"1" to "6". The fixed disc 17' is fixed on the lower casing 12, and
has a top surface that is marked with six equidistant numerals "1"
to "6". A rotary knob 15 can be rotated about the fixed disc 17' so
that a triangular indicator 151 of the rotary knob 15 is aligned
with a selected one of the numerals "1" to "6" on the fixed disc
17'. As such, the rotary disc 17 rotates relative to the upper
casing 11 to a position, where a triangular indicator 111 of the
upper casing 11 is aligned with a corresponding one of the numerals
"1" to "6" on the rotary knob 17. The numerals "1" on the rotary
disc 17 and the fixed disc 17' represent zero resistance that means
no magnetic attractive force is produced between the flywheel 2
(see FIG. 1) and the magnets 5 (see FIG. 1).
[0005] In a situation where the manufacturing precision of the
brake assembly is comparatively low, it is likely that when the
rotary knob 15 is rotated to a position, where the indicators 111,
151 are aligned with the numerals "2", "3", or even "4", the brake
assembly is still disposed at a zero resistance state. When the
rotary knob 15 is rotated to move the top and side indicators 151,
11 between any adjacent pair of the numerals "1", "2", "3", "4",
"5", "6", the magnets 5 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) move a constant small
distance (L) (see FIG. 2). As a result, when the brake assembly is
associated with the aforesaid resistance regulator 10, there is a
need for a relatively high precision during manufacture and
assembly of the magnetic brake in order to maintain effective
adjustment of the regulator 10. Furthermore, it is difficult to
read the numerals "1" to "6" for selection during resistance
adjustment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An object of this invention is to provide a resistance
regulator which is connected to a magnetic brake by means of a pull
rope and which has a resistance-designating mark unit and an
indicator that cooperate with each other so that the regulator can
adjusted effectively even if the manufacturing precision of the
brake is comparatively low.
[0007] Another object of this invention is to provide a resistance
regulator with a resistance-designating mark unit and an indicator,
which cooperate with each other so that a selected
resistance-designating mark can be read easily.
[0008] According to this invention, a resistance regulator for a
magnetic brake includes a resistance-designating mark unit and an
indicator, which can rotate relative to each other so as to move a
pull rope that is adapted to be connected to the brake. The mark
unit has a small-resistance mark and a plurality of equidistant
large-resistance marks. The indicator is directed toward a selected
one of the large-resistance and small-resistance marks. Each
adjacent pair of the large-resistance marks are spaced apart from
each other at a distance that is smaller than the distance between
the small-resistance mark and a leading one of the large-resistance
marks. As such, there is no need for high precision during the
manufacture and assembly of the brake in order to maintain
effective adjustment of the regulator.
[0009] In one preferred embodiment, the indicator is configured as
a vertical line unit which is defined between a light-colored area
and a deep-colored area of an outer surface of a rotary ring that
is disposed rotatably on a base. The mark unit is formed on an
outer surface of a surrounding wall of a cylindrical regulator
body, which is fixed on the base. The surrounding wall is disposed
around the rotary ring, and is formed with an elongated
circumferentially extending window, within which the vertical line
unit is visible. Because the deep-colored area is conspicuous in
the window so that the vertical line unit can be seen clearly, the
selected one of the large-resistance and small-resistance marks
that is aligned with the vertical line unit can be read easily,
thereby facilitating efficient adjustment of the resistance
regulator. Alternatively, the mark unit can be formed from a white
colorant, and is indicated on a transparent shield, which is fixed
to the surrounding wall and which covers the window. Because the
white mark unit is conspicuous in the deep-colored area, it can
also be read easily.
[0010] In another preferred embodiment, the indicator is configured
as a dark-colored area that is disposed between two light-colored
areas and that is sized so that only a selected one of the
large-resistance and smallresistance marks can be disposed therein.
The darkcolored area is formed on an outer surface of a rotary ring
which is disposed rotatably on a base and which is disposed within
a surrounding wall of a cylindrical regulator body that is fixed on
the base. The surrounding wall includes an elongated
circumferentially extending window, within which the dark-colored
area is movable, and a fixed transparent shield that covers the
window. The mark unit is indicated on the shield, and is formed
from a white colorant. As such, because the white colorant is
conspicuous within the dark-colored area, it can be discerned
easily.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] These and other features and advantages of this invention
will become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments of this invention with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a conventional flywheel
brake assembly for an exercise bike, which is provided with a
magnetic brake;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the conventional flywheel
brake assembly;
[0014] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional
resistance regulator for the magnetic brake;
[0015] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a first preferred
embodiment of a resistance regulator for a magnetic brake according
to this invention;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the first
preferred embodiment, illustrating the relationships among a base,
a hollow rotating shaft unit, and a cylindrical regulator body of
the first preferred embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the first
preferred embodiment, illustrating a connection between a rotary
knob and the base and a connection between the rotary knob and a
rotary cap;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a top view of a ring plate of the first preferred
embodiment, illustrating angular intervals of a plurality of
positioning units;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a flywheel brake assembly,
which is associated with the first preferred embodiment,
illustrating how several magnets are moved toward a flywheel step
by step;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a front view of the first preferred embodiment,
illustrating the cooperation between a resistance-designating side
mark unit and a side indicator which is configured as a vertical
line unit that is movable within a window;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, illustrating
longitudinal movement of the vertical line unit in the window;
[0022] FIG. 11 is an assembled perspective view of the first
preferred embodiment, illustrating the arrangement of a
resistance-designating top mark unit with respect to a top
indicator;
[0023] FIG. 12 is another assembled perspective view of the first
preferred embodiment, illustrating the arrangement of the side mark
unit with respect to the side indicator;
[0024] FIG. 13 is an assembled perspective view of a second
preferred embodiment of a resistance regulator for a magnetic brake
according to this invention, including a modified assembly of a
side mark unit and a side indicator; and
[0025] FIG. 14 is a partly exploded perspective view of a third
preferred embodiment of a resistance regulator for a magnetic brake
according to this invention, illustrating another modified assembly
of a side mark unit and a side indicator.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, a first preferred embodiment
of a resistance regulator according to this invention is associated
with a magnetic brake shown in FIG. 8, and is shown to include a
base 20, a rotating shaft unit 30, a regulator body 40, a rotary
knob 50, a rotary cap 60, and a ring plate 70.
[0027] The base 20 has an annular chamber 21, a fixed post 22 that
extends upwardly therefrom and that is formed with a threaded hole
221, and a notch 23.
[0028] The rotating shaft unit 30 includes a hollow shaft body 31
that is sleeved rotatably on the post 22 of the base 20, a reel 32
that is sleeved fixedly on the shaft body 31, and a pull rope 33
that is fastened to the reel 32 at one end and that is coupled with
the brake shown in FIG. 8 in a known manner at another end so as to
be biased to unwind from the reel 32. The pull rope 33 extends
outwardly from the base 20 via the notch 23. A rotary ring 34 is
disposed fixedly around the shaft body 31 above the reel 32, and
has an outer surface, which is formed with a deep-colored area 35
and a light-colored area 35'. In this embodiment, the deep-colored
area 35 is deep red. A side indicator is disposed on the outer
surface of the rotary ring 34, and is configured as a vertical line
unit 35" that is defined between the deep-colored area 35 and the
light-colored area 35'. The shaft body 31 has a rectangular upper
end 36.
[0029] The regulator body 40 is shaped as a hollow cylinder, and
includes an open lower end, a top wall 40', a surrounding wall 40"
extending downwardly from a periphery of the top wall 40', and an
elongated circumferentially extending window 41 formed in the
surrounding wall 40". The surrounding wall 40" is disposed around
the rotating shaft unit 30, and has a lower end that is fixed to
the base 20 by known high-frequency welding techniques. A
resistance-designating side mark unit 42 is disposed on an outer
surface of the surrounding wall 40", and includes two
small-resistance marks and six large-resistance marks. The
small-resistance and large-resistance marks are located immediately
over the window 41. The small-resistance marks are configured as
two numerals "1", "2". The large-resistance marks are configured as
six numerals "3" to "8", each adjacent pair of which are spaced
apart from each other at a distance that is smaller than the
distances between the numerals "1" and "2" and between the numerals
"2" and "3". The numerals "1" to "8" represent different
resistances that increase in magnitude from "1" to "8",
respectively. A transparent shield 43 is fixed to the surrounding
wall 40" so as to cover the window 41. A minus mark "-" and a plus
mark "+" are indicated on the outer surface of the surrounding wall
40", and are located below and adjacent to the ends of the window
41. The top wall 401 is formed with two diametrically opposed
restricting cavities 44, each of which receives a spring 45 and a
ball 46 in such a manner the ball 46 is biased by the spring 45 to
project partially and upwardly therefrom.
[0030] The rotary knob 50 includes a peripheral piece 501 that is
formed with an external spline portion 51, and a central piece 52
that is fixed to the base 20 by means of a lock bolt 53, which
extends through a central hole 521 in the central piece 52 to
engage the threaded hole 221 in the post 22. The peripheral piece
50' is sleeved rotatably on the central piece 52. A
resistance-designating top mark unit 54 is disposed along a
periphery of a top surface of the central piece 52, and includes
two small-resistance marks and six equidistant large-resistance
marks, which are configured as numerals "1" to "8". In the top mark
unit 54, each adjacent pair of the numerals "3" to "8" are spaced
apart from each other at a distance that is smaller than both the
distances between the numerals "1" and "2" and between the numerals
"2" and "3". The top mark unit 54 further includes a minus mark "-"
54" that is disposed in front of the numeral "1" and that indicates
the turning direction for decreasing the resistance during
resistance adjustment, and a plus mark "+" 54" that is disposed
behind the numeral "8" and that indicates the turning direction for
increasing the resistance during resistance adjustment. A top
indicator 55 is disposed on a top surface of the peripheral piece
50', and is configured as a triangular mark.
[0031] The rotary cap 60 is sleeved on the rotary knob 50, and is
constructed as a hollow cylinder that has an open lower end, a
transparent top wall 61, and an internal spline portion 62 that
engages the external spline portion 51, thereby permitting
synchronous rotation of the rotary cap 60 and the peripheral piece
50'.
[0032] The ring plate 70 is disposed between the regulator body 40
and the peripheral piece 50', and has a peripheral portion with two
positioning sets, each of which includes a zero-resistance
positioning hole 71 that corresponds to the numerals "1" of the
side and top mark units 42, 54, a first positioning unit that is
shaped as a circular hole 72 and that corresponds to the numerals
"2" of the side and top mark units 42, 54, six second positioning
units that form cooperatively a slot 73 and that correspond
respectively to the numerals "3" to "8" of the side and top mark
units 42, 54, and a maximum-resistance designating hole 74. Each of
the ring plate 70 and the peripheral piece 50' has a rectangular
hole 75, 56 (see FIG. 6), which engages fittingly the rectangular
upper end 36 of the shaft body 31, thereby permitting synchronous
rotation of the ring plate 70 and the peripheral piece 50' with the
shaft body 31.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 7, the slot 73 has two closed ends, and
alternate wide and narrow portions 731, 732. Each of the wide
portions 731 is generally oval. Each adjacent pair of the wide
portions 731 are spaced apart angularly from each other at an angle
of about 12.degree.. The holes 71 and 72 are spaced apart angularly
from each other at an angle of about 45.degree.. The hole 72 is
spaced apart angularly from a leading one of the wide portions 731
at an angle of about 21.degree..
[0034] FIG. 8 shows a flywheel brake assembly that is associated
with the resistance regulator of this invention and that is coupled
with the pull rope 33 (see FIG. 4) in a known manner. The flywheel
brake assembly includes a rotating shaft 1", a flywheel 2", an
aluminum ring 3", two mounting plates 4", and several magnets
5".
[0035] Referring to FIGS. 4, 8, 9 and 10, when the rotary cap 60 is
rotated so as to move the vertical line unit 35" from the numeral
"1" of the side mark unit 42 to the numeral "2", the magnets 5"
move toward an inner surface of the flywheel 2" by a distance (L1).
When the vertical line 35" moves from the numeral "2" to the
numeral "3", the magnets 5" move toward the inner surface of the
flywheel 2" by a distance (L2) that is smaller than the distance
(L1). When the vertical line 35", moves between any adjacent pair
of the numerals "3" to "8", the magnets 5" move relative to the
flywheel 2" by a distance (L3) that is smaller than the distance
(L2). Because the distances (L1), (L2) are larger than the distance
(L3), there is no need for high precision during the manufacture
and assembly of the magnetic brake. Note that although there are
two small-resistance marks on each of the side and top mark units
42, 54, one small-resistance mark is sufficient to achieve the
object of this invention with respect to the manufacturing
precision of the brake.
[0036] In FIGS. 11 and 12, the resistance regulator is adjusted to
a second resistance, where the vertical line unit 35" is aligned
with the numeral "2" of the side mark unit 42 and where the top
indicator 55 is aligned with the numeral "2" of the top mark unit
54. Because the deep-colored area 35 is conspicuous in the window
41, a selected one of the numerals "1", "2", "3", "4", "5", "6",
"7", "8" can be read easily.
[0037] FIG. 13 shows a second preferred embodiment of a resistance
regulator according to this invention, which is similar to the
first preferred embodiment in construction except for the position
and the color of the side mark unit 42'. In this embodiment, the
side mark unit 42' is indicated on the transparent shield 43', and
is formed from a white colorant, which is conspicuous in the
deep-colored area 35A.
[0038] FIG. 14 shows a third preferred embodiment of a resistance
regulator according to this invention, which is similar to the
second preferred embodiment in construction except for the side
indicator 35A. In this embodiment, the side indicator 35A is
configured as a dark-colored area that is disposed on the outer
surface of the rotary ring 34' between two light-colored areas 35B
and that is movable in the window 41' in a longitudinal direction
of the window 41'. In this embodiment, the side indicator 35A is
dark red, and is sized such that only the selected one of the
numerals "1", "2", "3", "4", "5", "6", "7", "8" can be disposed
therein.
[0039] With this invention thus explained, it is apparent the
numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing
from the scope and spirit of this invention. It is therefore
intended that this invention be limited only as indicated in the
appended claims.
* * * * *