U.S. patent number 3,622,153 [Application Number 04/854,516] was granted by the patent office on 1971-11-23 for double crank portable exerciser.
Invention is credited to John H. Thompson.
United States Patent |
3,622,153 |
Thompson |
November 23, 1971 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
DOUBLE CRANK PORTABLE EXERCISER
Abstract
Two grooved bearing plates rotatably secure a tubular shaft of a
double crank between them. The plates are spaced apart vertically
to determine the crank friction load. A lubricant wick lies in one
groove in contact with the crankshaft. A pair of U-shaped legs are
held in splayed relationship between top and bottom clamping
plates. Elongate fasteners extend through all plates and the legs
to unitize the devices.
Inventors: |
Thompson; John H. (Glendale,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
25318906 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/854,516 |
Filed: |
September 2, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/60;
482/63 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
22/0005 (20151001); A63B 22/0605 (20130101); A63B
22/001 (20130101); A63B 22/0694 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
23/04 (20060101); A63b 069/16 (); A63b
023/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;272/79,73 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Dror; Richard
Claims
I claim:
1. An exercise device comprising a double crank having a bearing
shaft, opposed arms, and a right-angled portion on each arm; a pair
of spaced support members; means including a crank bearing assembly
disposed in an elevated position by said support members and
rotatably mounting the crank, and first and second clamping plates
for orienting the support members, the bearing assembly being
supported on one of the clamping plates; and means removably
connecting said bearing assembly with said support members,
including fastening means extending through the bearing assembly,
the clamping plates and the support members.
2. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first clamping
plate has spaced parallel flanges supporting the bearing assembly
above the support members and said second clamping plate has spaced
parallel flanges abutting the support members.
3. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the clamping plates
are substantially identical dimensionally and oppositely oriented
in the device.
4. a device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the bearing
assembly comprises first and second bearing plates and plate
spacers, said plates having oppositely opening grooves for
receiving the crank-bearing shaft, and including a lubricating
fabric wick embraced between said first and second bearing plates
and extending across said crank-bearing shaft.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to exercise devices principally used for arms
and legs and more particularly to portable devices utilizing a
double crank by which both arms or both legs may be simultaneously
exercised.
Many crank type exercisers are in use. Some are motor driven such
that the exercise is passive. Others use friction devices to load
the crank against turning. Some crank devices which are primarily
for leg exercise have auxiliary devices to exercise trunk and arms
attached to the basic crank exerciser. Like many of the exercisers
of this type, the latter is expensive, heavy, and requires
mechanical maintenance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide an exerciser by means of
which both isometric and isotonic exercises may be done, without
change in the device, to either build muscular structure or
exercise joints.
Another object of the invention is to provide an exerciser that is
simple to fabricate, assemble, and use.
A further object is to provide an exerciser that can be packaged
and shipped in a flat condition so as to save shipping space, yet
which is subassembled such that the friction load for the crank may
be preestablished at the factory.
A still further object is to provide an exerciser by which the
rotating part may be lubricated with simple wick reservoir.
Another object is to provide an exerciser in which fabrication
costs are decreased by use of substantially identical parts which
perform different functions in the device.
The invention contemplates an exercise double crank having a
bearing shaft from which crank arms extend perpendicularly at each
end, each of said arms terminating in a grip extending normal to
the arm. First and second grooved bearing plates support the shaft
within the facing grooves of the plate. Spacers between the plates
predetermine the friction load on the crank. A wick is interposed
between the groove of a plate and the bearing shaft of the crank.
The wick is preferably impregnated with a lubricant. A first
clamping plate has extending flanges against which the second
grooved plate bears. U-shaped legs support the first clamping
plate. A second clamping plate has flanges which extend at right
angles to the flanges of the first clamping plate. The second
clamping plate bears tangentially against the outer periphery of
the central portion of the U-shaped legs. Elongate screws pass
through the first and second bearing plates, the spacers
therebetween, the first clamping plate, the legs, and the second
clamping plate. Nuts bearing against the second clamping plate
secure the structure as a unit.
Lock nuts on the screws which bear against the second bearing plate
clamp the bearing plates against the spacers, determining the
friction load upon the crank. The lock nuts are adjustable
independently of the fastening of the elongate screws to the
clamping plates such that the crank friction may be determined upon
fabrication prior to complete assembly. Preferably, the grooved
bearing plates are substantially identical, but oppositely oriented
in the assembled device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exerciser embodying the features
of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the device as shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken
along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal sectional view taken
along the line 4--4 of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the device of FIG. 1 oriented
against a vertical wall structure for arm exercise.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The figures illustrate an exercise device 10 which comprises a
double crank 11 having a bearing shaft 15 (FIG. 3) held between
first and second bearing plates 12 and 13, and from which shaft
ends perpendicular arms 16 and 17 extend. Each arm has a grip or
foot rest 18 and 19, respectively, which extends at right angles to
the arm. The crank is preferably constructed of a tubular material
and plastic or rubber caps 21 seal the open ends of the tube.
As can be seen in FIG. 4, bearing plates 12 and 13 have
semicylindrical grooves 22, 23, respectively, which receive bearing
shaft 15 of the crank. Limit pins 24, which may be rivets (FIG. 3),
extend from the shaft outside each plate to limit its axial
movements. A fabric wick 25 is disposed between the inner surface
of groove 22 and the bearing crank. The wick extends outwardly from
the shaft between the plates 12 and 13 on either side. Preferably,
the wick is impregnated with a lubricant such as machine oil.
Four spacers 28, which may be lock washers of suitable thickness,
separate the bearing plates and in part determine the friction
loading on the shaft. Elongate screws 31 extend through the bearing
plates at spaced points and are shown at the plate corners. The
screws extend through the spacers between the plates and downwardly
below the bottom or second bearing plate. Each of the four screws
has a locknut 33 which clamps the bearing plates about the spacers.
Lock washers 34 may be used between the locknut and the surface of
the second bearing plate. The above-described crank, bearing
plates, spacers and lubricating wick comprise a subassembly held
together by the screws and lock nuts. This subassembly may be
shipped in a relatively shallow box when the crank 11 is turned
90.degree. from the position shown in FIG. 2 such that the crank
arms are substantially parallel with the bearing plates. A pair of
generally U-shaped support members such as legs 35, 36 and first
and second clamping plates 37, 38 may be disposed about the
subassembly within the shallow box without the need of increasing
the depth of the box in order to encompass the entire device.
By adjusting the locknuts 33 at the site of fabrication, the
appropriate friction loading on the shaft of the crank may be
established prior to shipping and final assembly, with no need of
adjustment by the ultimate user.
The screws 31 extend through the first clamping plate 37 at four
spaced points and are shown at the plate corners. Two screws extend
through the intermediate shank 39 of each leg and through the
second clamping plate 38. Wing nuts 40 on each screw secure the
clamping plates with respect to the leg shank and are locked by
lock washers 41 between the shank and the first clamping plate.
The bearing plates 37 and 38 are substantially identical, but
oppositely oriented in the assembly. Flanges 42, 43 of the upper or
first plate support the bearing plate subassembly and mask the
locknuts 33. Similar flanges 44, 45 of the second or bottom
clamping plate 38 orient the legs as shown in FIG. 3. The axial
paths of the screw holes through the legs deviate from the plane of
the leg structure such that the legs are splayed with respect to
one another to give wider support base. Preferably, the legs are of
bent tubing and the open ends thereof are closed by rubber or
plastic feet 47.
In the orientation of FIGS. 1 and 2, the exerciser may be used by a
seated user. In the field of geriatrics knee and ankle joints often
lose mobility because of the inability of the person to manipulate
the legs while bearing the full weight of the body. Loss of
mobility also occurs in certain postoperative situations.
Therefore, the device of the invention affords means for exercising
the joints without imposing body weight upon the exerciser. A foot
of the seated user is placed on each foot rest 18, 19. The crank
may then be turned in either direction by foot pressure. With the
main portion of the body weight of the user supported by a chair
the user may easily manipulate the crank to exercise joints and leg
muscles in a manner not possible if the leg muscles also must
support the body weight.
The periphery of each of the foot rests 18 and 19 rubs against the
sole of the foot of the user since such periphery is revolving
about the axis of the crank. Thus, the exerciser massages the soles
of the feet by the relative movement thereof as well as exercising
the joints. Circulation is thus promoted for a more relaxed
feeling.
In those instances where the exerciser is used as a muscle builder
rather than for muscle and joint manipulation, isometric exercise
may be achieved by opposing the motion of the knees. For example,
pressing the hands upon the knee caps resists the upward motion of
the knees in their reciprocation induced by the crank motion. By
alternately opposing the motion and then releasing the hand load,
an isometric-isotonic pattern of exercising can be established in
keeping with presently approved exercise practice.
FIG. 5 illustrates the exerciser 10 placed with its support members
against a vertical wall surface 51. With a hand holding each grip
18, 19, the user leans toward the wall and turns the crank. A
portion of the body weight is imposed upon the exerciser legs 35,
36 which causes them to bear against the wall with sufficient force
to hold the exerciser at the proper elevation such that arm
manipulation may be achieved. By varying the body pressure against
the grips the exercise may be varied in strenuousness suitable with
the purpose of the user. By opposing motion of one hand by the
other an isometric-isotonic exercise pattern may also be
established wherein the crank is held motionless by opposing hand
loading and released for turning by moving the hands in the proper
directions.
* * * * *