U.S. patent application number 10/191828 was filed with the patent office on 2004-01-15 for exercise-aid device.
Invention is credited to Lee, Chin-Tsun.
Application Number | 20040009848 10/191828 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32233817 |
Filed Date | 2004-01-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040009848 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee, Chin-Tsun |
January 15, 2004 |
Exercise-aid device
Abstract
An exercise-aid device comprises a base, a transmission
mechanism, and a pair of cranks. The transmission mechanism
comprises a motor, a first shaft, and a second shaft. The motor
includes an output shaft with a worm. A drive gear is mounted on
the first shaft and meshes with the worm. A follower gear is fixed
to a side of the drive gear to turn therewith. A driven gear is
mounted on the second shaft and meshes with the follower gear. Each
crank has a pedal mounted thereto and is securely attached to an
end of the second shaft to turn therewith. The worm and the drive
gear provide a first-stage reduction. The follower gear and the
driven gear provide a second-stage reduction, thereby providing a
torque sufficiently high for driving said pedals to turn even if
two feet of a user are placed on the pedals.
Inventors: |
Lee, Chin-Tsun; (Yung Kang
City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Charles E. Baxley, Esquire
5th Floor
59 John Street
New York
NY
10038
US
|
Family ID: |
32233817 |
Appl. No.: |
10/191828 |
Filed: |
July 10, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/57 ;
482/63 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/0605 20130101;
A63B 22/0694 20130101; A63B 21/0058 20130101; A63B 2208/0233
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/57 ;
482/63 |
International
Class: |
A63B 069/16; A63B
022/06 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An exercise-aid device comprising: a base; a transmission
mechanism comprising a motor, a first shaft, and a second shaft,
said first shaft and said second shaft being rotatably supported by
said base, said motor including an output shaft rotatably supported
by said base, a worm being provided on said output shaft, a drive
gear being mounted on said first shaft to turn therewith, said
drive gear meshing with said worm, a follower gear being fixed to a
side of said drive gear to turn therewith, said follower gear being
mounted on said first shaft, a driven gear being mounted on said
second shaft to turn therewith, said driven gear meshing with said
follower gear; and a pair of cranks each having a pedal mounted
thereto, each said crank being securely attached to an end of said
second shaft to turn therewith; said worm and said drive gear
providing a first-stage reduction, said follower gear and said
driven gear providing a second-stage reduction, thereby providing a
torque sufficiently high for driving said pedals to turn.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a device that aids in
exercising of legs of a seated user.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Modem people have few physical activities, and the body of a
seated person often feels tired after a period of time. The blood
circulation is thus not smooth, and one would feel uncomfortable.
Although various exercisers are available, they, however, cannot be
used in working hours, as the exercisers would distract and exhaust
the user. It is, therefore, a need in a device that aids in
exercising a seated user without distracting and exhausting the
user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a device
that may exercise the legs of a seated user in a manner that the
legs of the user are exercised without any effort from the user.
The user would be more vigorous, for the body circulation is
improved. The user would not be distracted from the exercising of
his or her legs, for no effort is required.
[0006] An exercise-aid device in accordance with the present
invention comprises a base, a transmission mechanism, and a pair of
cranks. The transmission mechanism comprises a motor, a first
shaft, and a second shaft. The first shaft and the second shaft are
rotatably supported by the base. The motor includes an output shaft
rotatably supported by the base. A worm is provided on the output
shaft. A drive gear is mounted on the first shaft to turn
therewith. The drive gear meshes with the worm. A follower gear is
fixed to a side of the drive gear to turn therewith. The follower
gear is mounted on the first shaft. A driven gear is mounted on the
second shaft to turn therewith. The driven gear meshes with the
follower gear. Each crank has a pedal mounted thereto and is
securely attached to an end of the second shaft to turn
therewith.
[0007] The worm and the drive gear provide a first-stage reduction.
The follower gear and the driven gear provide a second-stage
reduction, thereby providing a torque sufficiently high for driving
said pedals to turn even if two feet of a user are placed on the
pedals. Thus, the exercise-aid device exercises the legs of a
seated user in a manner that the legs of the user are exercised
without any effort from the user.
[0008] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an exercise-aid
device in accordance with the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the exercise-aid device in
accordance with the present invention, the cover being shown in
broken lines for showing interior of the device.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the exercise-aid device in
accordance with the present invention taken along a transverse
direction.
[0012] FIG. 4 is another sectional view of the exercise-aid device
taken along another plane.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating use of the
exercise-aid device in accordance with the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a modified
embodiment of the exercise-aid device in accordance with the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, an exercise-aid device in
accordance with the present invention generally comprises a base 1,
a transmission mechanism 2, and a pair of cranks 3. The base 1
includes axle holes 11, 12, and 13 in which bearings are mounted
for assembly with the transmission mechanism 2 and the cranks 3. A
cover 14 is mounted on top of the base 1 for covering the
transmission mechanism 2. A display 17 is mounted on the cover 14
and includes a sensor (not labeled) for detecting the turns of the
rotational movements of the cranks 3. Further, the display 17 may
display time, turns, average rpm, and consumed calories. Further,
the display 17 allows setting of circulating display, countdown
display, zeroing, and sound, thereby providing the user with
required information.
[0016] The transmission mechanism 21 includes a motor 2, a drive
gear 22, a follower gear 23, and a driven gear, providing a
two-stage reduction. The motor 21 is electrically connected to a
power supply (not labeled) and a control (not labeled). The power
supply is electrically connected to an A.C. or D.C. power source
and has a voltage-stabilizing function. The control includes the
functions of controlling the rotational speed of the motor 21,
compensating the torque, providing protection when without service
of electricity, and automatically cutting off power when in
abnormal conditions.
[0017] A first-stage reduction provided by the transmission
mechanism 2 includes a worm 211 on an output shaft (not labeled) of
the motor 2 and the drive gear 22 mounted on a shaft 25 that is
rotatably supported in the axle holes 12 of the base 1. Thus, the
worm 211 and the drive gear 22 meshed with the worm 211 and having
proper number of teeth together provide a first-stage
reduction.
[0018] The output shaft of the motor 21 is rotatably held in the
axle holes 11 of the base 1. A second stage reduction provided by
the transmission mechanism 2 includes a follower gear 23 that is
fixed to a side of the drive gear 22 to turn therewith and a driven
gear 24 mounted on a shaft 26 that is rotatably held in the axle
holes 13 of the base 1. The follower gear 23 is mounted on the
shaft 25. The number of teeth of the driven gear 24 is larger than
that of the follower gear 23 meshed with the driven gear 24,
thereby providing a second-stage reduction. The motor 21 may be a
small-size, high rotational speed motor in which the rotational
speed is reduced through two-stage reduction to an appropriate
speed to thereby provide a larger torque.
[0019] Each crank 3 is fixed to an end of the shaft 26 to turn
therewith and has a pedal 31 mounted thereto. A number of knurls 32
are provided on the pedal 31 to provide a massaging function while
cycling.
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 3 through 5, since the small-size motor
21 provides a sufficiently high torque through two-stage reduction,
the overall size of the exercise-aid device in accordance with the
present invention is relatively small and can thus be used under
the desk of the seated user. After activating the motor 21, the
worm 211, the drive gear 22, the follower gear 23, and the driven
gear 24 turn, thereby driving the pedals 31. The legs of the user
are exercised without any effort from the user. The two-stage
reduction of the transmission mechanism 2 provides a sufficiently
high torque for driving the pedals 31 even if the user's legs are
placed on the pedals 31. No labor work is required for the user to
cycle the pedals 31, and the user would not be distracted from the
cycling that requires no effort from him or her. The blood
circulation of the body is improved, and the user would be more
vigorous, for the legs, pelvis, and butt of the user are exercised.
The knurls 32 on which the user's feet are stepping on provide a
massaging function while cycling.
[0021] The drive gear 22 and the shaft 25 may be integrally formed
with each other, so are the driven gear 24 and the shaft 26.
[0022] FIG. 6 illustrates a modified embodiment of the invention,
wherein the base 1 further includes a battery unit 4 and a
charging-protecting circuit (not labeled). Thus, the exercise-aid
device can be used without electrical connection to an A.C. power
source.
[0023] 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 scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
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