U.S. patent application number 11/943403 was filed with the patent office on 2009-04-30 for loading apparatus for exercise machine.
Invention is credited to Chih-Chen Juan.
Application Number | 20090111658 11/943403 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40583602 |
Filed Date | 2009-04-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090111658 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Juan; Chih-Chen |
April 30, 2009 |
LOADING APPARATUS FOR EXERCISE MACHINE
Abstract
A loading apparatus for an exercise machine mainly includes a
motor and a controller. The motor is connected to an exercise
apparatus, on which a user may take exercise, of the exercise
machine through a transmission device. The controller has a
circuitry, which has at least a resistor, has opposite ends
connected to the motor and a switch in the circuitry. Whereby, when
a user takes exercise on the exercise apparatus of the exercise
machine, it will turn a rotor of the motor through the transmission
device to generate an induced current. The induced current flows
through the circuitry and back to the motor to drive the rotor
turning reversely. It provides the exercise apparatus a brake to
make user taking exercise with a loading.
Inventors: |
Juan; Chih-Chen; (Taichung
County, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROWDY AND NEIMARK, P.L.L.C.;624 NINTH STREET, NW
SUITE 300
WASHINGTON
DC
20001-5303
US
|
Family ID: |
40583602 |
Appl. No.: |
11/943403 |
Filed: |
November 20, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 23/0476 20130101;
A63B 22/0605 20130101; A63B 21/0058 20130101; A63B 22/0694
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/5 |
International
Class: |
A63B 21/005 20060101
A63B021/005 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 29, 2007 |
TW |
96140630 |
Claims
1. A loading apparatus, which is mounted on an exercise machine
having an exercise apparatus, comprising: a motor having a rotor
connected to the exercise apparatus of the exercise machine through
a transmission device; and a circuitry, which has at least a
resistor, having opposite ends electrically connected to the motor;
Whereby when the exercise apparatus of the exercise machine is
moved, the rotor of the motor will be turned through the
transmission device to generate an induced current flowing through
the circuitry, and the circuitry will flow the induced current back
to the motor to drive the rotor turning reversely.
2. The loading apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the
circuitry has a switch.
3. The loading apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the
circuitry has a variable resistor.
4. The loading apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the
circuitry includes a plurality of resistors in parallel connection
and a switch.
5. The loading apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the
circuitry includes a plurality of resistors in series connection
and a switch.
6. The loading apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising
a power supply connected to the circuitry.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an exercise machine, and
more particularly to a loading apparatus for the exercise
machine.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In present days, people go to gyms to take exercise on
exercise machines, such as treadmill, exercise bike, stepper,
elliptical trainer, and the like, for body building or weight loss.
Some people buy the exercise machines to take exercise at home.
[0005] Conventional exercise machines are equipped with a loading
apparatus to provide user taking exercise under different loading
levels. Common loading apparatus includes friction type and magnet
type. The friction type loading apparatus, like the brake, has
brake pad pressing the flywheel to provide the exercise machine
loading, and changes the loading by exerting the brake pad with
different pressures. The magnet type loading apparatus provides
magnets on the flywheel and a lever with magnet thereon. The lever
is moved toward or away from the magnets on the flywheel to change
the magnetic force between the magnets that may provide the
exercise different loadings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a loading apparatus of an exercise machine, which the principle of
generating loading is different from the prior devices.
[0007] The secondary objective of the present invention is to
provide a loading apparatus of an exercise machine, which needs no
additional power to generate loading.
[0008] According to the objectives of the present invention, a
loading apparatus for an exercise machine mainly includes a motor.
The motor is connected to an exercise apparatus, on which a user
may take exercise, of the exercise machine through a transmission
device. A circuitry has opposite ends connected to the motor.
Whereby, when a user takes exercise on the exercise apparatus of
the exercise machine, it will turn a rotor of the motor through the
transmission device to generate an induced current. The induced
current flows through the circuitry and back to the motor to drive
the rotor turning reversely.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a sketch diagram of the first preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a sketch diagram of a second preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a sketch diagram of a third preferred embodiment
of the present invention; and
[0013] FIG. 5 is sketch diagram of a fourth preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a part of an exercise bike, which includes a
frame 10, a crank 12 and a loading apparatus of the present
invention.
[0015] The loading apparatus of the first embodiment of the present
invention includes a motor 14 and a controller 16. As shown in FIG.
2, the crank 12 is connected to the motor 18 through a transmission
device 18 that exerting the crank 12 may turn the motor 14. The
transmission device 18 includes a gear 20 mounted with the crank 12
and a worm 24 on a spindle 22 of the motor 14. The motor 14, same
as a common motor, includes a case 26, a stator 28, a rotor 30, and
a brush (not shown). The stator 28 includes magnets mounted on an
interior side of the case 26, and the rotor 30 has wires (not
shown) wound thereon and the spindle 22. The wires are connected to
two electrodes 32, 34 on the case 26 through the brush, and the
electrodes 32, 34 are connected to a circuitry 42 in the controller
16 through two wires 36, 38. The controller 16 includes a switch 40
and the circuitry 42 with a resistor R, as shown in FIG. 2.
[0016] When user exerts the crank 12 to turn the rotor 30 of the
motor 14 through the transmission device 18, the motor 14 becomes a
power generator to generate an induced electromotive force for an
induced current. The induced current flows to the controller 16 via
the brush, the electrode 32, and the wire 36, and will flow back to
the motor 14 through the circuitry 42, the wire 38, and the
electrode 34 to drive the rotor 30 turning reversely. When the
resistor R in the circuitry 42 has a great resistance, the
potential difference between the electrodes 32, 34 is greater, and
the induced current is small that the power of driving the rotor 30
turning reversely is small. As a result, the loading apparatus of
the present invention provides a small loading to user who takes
exercise on the exercise machine. On the contrary, when the
resistor R of the circuitry 42 has a small resistance, the current
flows back to the motor 14 through the circuitry 42 is great that
the power of driving the rotor 30 turning reversely is great,
therefore, the loading apparatus of the present invention provides
user a great loading.
[0017] When the switch 40 is turned to OFF, which means the
resistance of the circuitry 42 is infinity and no induced current
will flows back to the motor through the circuitry 42, the loading
apparatus of the present invention is inoperative, and the loading
apparatus of the present invention provides user a constant loading
when the switch 40 is turned to ON. To provide different loading
levels, the resistor R may be simply a variable resistor.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 3, the loading apparatus of the second
preferred embodiment of the present invention may provide different
loading levels. In this embodiment, the loading apparatus, same as
discussed above, includes a motor 44 and a controller 46. The
different part is that a circuitry in the controller 46 includes
six resistors R1.about.R6 in parallel connection. The resistances
of the resistors R1.about.R6 are different. The controller 46 also
includes a switch 48, which may switch one of the resistors
R1.about.R6 for the circuitry. As shown in FIG. 3, the switch 48
switches the resistor R3 that the loading apparatus of the present
invention may provide a specific loading level, and when the switch
48 switches the other resistor, such as R4, the loading apparatus
of the present invention will provide a different loading level
[0019] FIG. 4 shows a loading apparatus of the third embodiment of
the present invention, which includes a power supply 50 connected
to a circuitry of a controller 52. The power supply 50 includes a
plug 54 to be connected to an AC power and a rectifier 56. A switch
58 in the circuitry may switch resistors R1.about.R6 or the power
supply 50 (FIG. 4 shows the resistor R3 is switched to the
circuitry). When the switch 58 is switched to the power supply 50,
it may drive the motor 60 turning and, therefore, the crank 64 will
be turned trough the transmission device 62. In this status, the
loading apparatus of the present invention is inoperative. This is
for some specific user, such as spine injury patients, diabetics,
or others, to take exercise by the moving crank 64.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 5, the loading apparatus of the fourth
embodiment of the present invention, which is similar to the third
embodiment, except that the resistors R1.about.R6 of the circuitry
are in series connection. The resistances of the resistors
R1.about.R6 may be same or may be different. As shown FIG. 5, when
the switch 66 is switched to the position, the total resistance of
the circuitry is R3+R4+R5+R6. The switch 66 may be switched to
change the loading level.
[0021] The loading apparatus may be mounted on any exercise
machines, such as treadmill, exercise bike, stepper, elliptical
trainer, and other exercise machines. These exercise machines surly
have an exercise apparatus, such as the crank for exercise bike,
the running belt and rollers for treadmill, and pedals for stepper,
on which user takes exercise. Through a specific transmission
device, the exercise apparatus of the exercise machine may be
connected to the motor of the present invention, and user may
operate the switch of the controller to change the loading
level.
[0022] The primary character of the present invention is usage of
the kinetic energy of user taking exercise on the exercise machine
to drive the motor generating an electrical power and transmit it
back to the motor through a circuitry with resistance that the
motor may provide a reverse force to give the exercise machine a
brake. The resistance of the circuitry may be changed to change the
loading level. The loading apparatus may provide the exercise
apparatus of the exercise machine a brake without any power input.
It is competitive in the market.
[0023] The description above is a preferred embodiment of the
present invention and the equivalence of the present invention is
still in the scope of the claim of the present invention.
* * * * *