U.S. patent number 3,640,530 [Application Number 04/815,052] was granted by the patent office on 1972-02-08 for exercise apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to SAID Henson by said Fisher. Invention is credited to Milton W. Fisher, Glen E. Henson.
United States Patent |
3,640,530 |
Henson , et al. |
February 8, 1972 |
EXERCISE APPARATUS
Abstract
An exercise apparatus comprising a pair of relatively rotatable
friction members, one of which is driven from a rotatable spool
through a ratchet and pawl assembly. A rope wound on the spool
drives the members when the rope is pulled and a centrifugal brake
clamps the members to increase the friction force responsive to the
speed at which the rope is pulled. In one form, the frame is
rockable against springs. A follower moves along a helical groove
in the spool and carries a marker for indicating the relative force
exerted on the rope during each pull. A spring windup mechanism
returns the rope for repeated pulling operation.
Inventors: |
Henson; Glen E. (Independence,
MO), Fisher; Milton W. (Fort Lauderdale, FL) |
Assignee: |
SAID Henson by said Fisher
(N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
25216725 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/815,052 |
Filed: |
April 10, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/116; 482/123;
73/379.06 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
21/015 (20130101); A63B 21/153 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
21/012 (20060101); A63B 21/015 (20060101); A63B
21/00 (20060101); A63b 021/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;272/79-83,72
;73/379-381 ;128/25 ;273/47 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Apley; Richard J.
Claims
Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and
desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:
1. Exercising apparatus comprising:
a first movable member;
a second member;
means mounting said first member in juxtaposition with the second
member for 360.degree. rotation relative to the second member and
for shifting movement toward and away from said second member, said
members having mutually engageable surfaces for generating
frictional resistance when the first member is rotated relative to
the second member with said surfaces in mutual engagement;
force responsive drive means;
mechanism operably coupling the drive means with the first member,
said drive means being adapted to be acted upon by the user to
rotate the first member at speeds corresponding to the amount of
force exerted by the user on said drive means; and
centrifugal force responsive structure operably coupled with said
first member and responsive to the speed of rotation of the latter
for urging said first member toward the second member to increase
said frictional resistance as said speed of rotation of the first
member increases and to withdraw the first member from the second
member to decrease said resistance as said speed of rotation
decreases, whereby the resistance to the force exerted by said user
is correlated to the amount of said force.
2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said first member includes a
pair of spaced apart discs, said second member being received
between the discs, said mounting means including an elongated
rotatable shaft, said discs being mounted on said shaft with one
disc being movable longitudinally of the shaft and the other disc
being fixed against said longitudinal movement, and wherein said
centrifugal force responsive means includes a pair of elongated
levers pivotally secured to the shaft for rotation therewith and
having ends operably engageable with said one disc in disposition
to shift the latter longitudinally of the shaft toward said other
disc upon outward pivoting of the levers, and weight means carried
by each lever respectively in position to effect outward pivoting
of the levers responsive to centrifugal force during rotation of
the shaft, said drive means being operably coupled by said
mechanism with the shaft for rotating the shaft, whereby the levers
clamp the discs upon the second member responsive to the speed of
rotation of the shaft.
3. The invention of claim 2, wherein is provided spring means
operably associated with said discs for normally holding the latter
apart to prevent clamping of said other member until said
centrifugal force is sufficiently great to overcome the force of
said spring means.
4. The invention of claim 2, wherein said drive means includes a
flexible element and a windup spool for said element.
5. The invention of claim 4, wherein said drive means includes a
ratchet wheel coupled with said spool, a dog coupled with said
shaft and engageable with said wheel upon rotation of the spool in
one direction for rotating the shaft, and spring means secured to
the spool for rotating the latter in the opposite direction to wind
said element thereon, whereby said spool may be rotated to drive
the member through the ratchet means by pulling on the element.
6. The invention of claim 1, wherein said second member is
constructed of frictionable fiber material.
7. The invention of claim 1, wherein is included lock means
engageable with said one member for holding the latter against
rotational movement relative to the other member, said lock means
including time delay means operable to automatically release the
lock means to permit said movement upon the expiration of a
predetermined interval of time.
Description
This invention relates to exercising apparatus, and more
particularly, to apparatus wherein a rope is pulled against a
yieldable resistive force during the exercise operation.
Various devices have been utilized for permitting repetitive
exercise. These have generally involved structures in which a rope
is wrapped around a member for resisting the pull on the rope by
the friction generated between the member and the rope. While these
devices have met with general acceptance and some may be quite
helpful in permitting isotonic and isometric repetitive exercises,
they have certain limitations for use in a well rounded, body and
endurance conditioning, program.
It has generally become recognized that such a program should
provide for the working of the various muscles under loads which
are tailored for the various exercises carried out and for the
ability of the muscles to perform throughout all of the various
body positions assumed during the exercise. Isometric exercises are
adequate for strengthening a muscle at a given position but it has
been learned that this type of exercise has very little effect
toward strengthening the muscle throughout the entire range of
muscle contraction. Similarly, isotonic exercises work the muscle
under load throughout its contracting range but the load is uniform
throughout the range and must accordingly be sufficiently small
that it can be overcome even when the muscle and body are in
positions of least ability.
Ideally, an exercising device should provide a resistance to the
muscle which matches the user's specific muscular capacity
throughout the entire range of movement. This means that the load
must be variable and must automatically work the muscle at its
maximum ability at every position throughout the entire range of
motion if maximum conditioning is to be achieved. Exercise which
involves maximum effort through a complete range of motion has been
termed isokinetic exercise.
Apparatuses have heretofore been suggested for accomplishing
isokinetic exercise. These have involved complicated motor driven
machinery wherein a particular movement is preprogrammed in the
machine and the exerciser serves as a pacer to permit the user to
carry out the exercise at the speed set up in the program. Such
machines have been complicated, are extremely expensive and do not
lend themselves to ready portability and home use.
Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide
an exercise apparatus which automatically accommodates the
resistance afforded by the apparatus to the user's immediate and
specific muscular capacity throughout the entire range of motion
during the exercise.
It is another important object of the invention to provide
apparatus which provides automatic braking action responsive to the
pull of the rope so that the harder the rope is pulled, the greater
the resisting force, thereby insuring maximum effort through the
entire exercise range.
Still another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus
to permit isokinetic exercising which utilizes a relatively simple
braking device responsive to centrifugal force generated in the
apparatus during the use thereof so that the apparatus may be
relatively economically fabricated and maintained.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide an
exercising apparatus utilizing a novel rope rewinding device so
that the apparatus is automatically readied for continued
repetitive exercise programs.
Another object of this invention is to provide an optional, timed
lock to permit initial isometric exercising upon the initiation of
an isokinetic exercise repetition.
Still another object of this invention is to provide novel means
for insuring level, uniform winding of the rope upon the rewind
spool.
A further object of one form of the present invention is to provide
simple, easily fabricated, yet highly reliable means for recording
the relative force exerted by pulling on the rope throughout the
entire range of motion so that a user may accurately observe
progress from the conditioning program.
A very important object of this invention is to present a
relatively lightweight and highly portable exercise apparatus which
is suitable for home as well as institutional use and which lends
itself to virtually every conceivable pulling, lifting and pushing
exercise which may form a part of a beneficial body conditioning
program.
These and other objects of this invention will be further explained
or will become apparent from the specification, claims and
drawings.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a front, top perspective view on a reduced scale
illustrating an exercise apparatus embodying the principles of this
invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, front elevational view thereof with the
cover removed, parts being broken away to reveal details of
construction;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view thereof with the cover
removed;
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view thereof with the cover removed,
parts being broken away to reveal details of construction;
FIG. 5 is a detailed cross-sectional view through the spool shaft
illustrating the ratchet and pawl assembly;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the rotating
member and lock assembly, one side of the frame having been removed
to reveal details of construction;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view through the
spool assembly;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the brake
structure illustrating the components thereof in their clamped
positions;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, vertical cross-sectional view through a
modified form of exercising apparatus having components for
recording the relative force exerted during pulling of the rope;
and
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 9,
parts being broken away to reveal details of construction.
Referring initially to FIGS. 1-8, apparatus embodying the
principles of this invention is broadly designated with the
reference numeral 20 and includes a support 22. The latter may
comprise a casting including an upwardly extending base portion 24
having an uppermost substantially flat surface 26. Support 22 is
thus configured in a generally inverted dish shape to present a
compartment 28 beneath surface 26 as is illustrated best in FIG. 6.
A pair of outwardly extending wings 30 (FIGS. 1 and 6) are integral
with portion 24 and present surfaces upon which the user of
apparatus 20 may place his feet during exercising procedures as
will be subsequently explained.
A pair of spaced apart upwardly extending rigid frame members 32
and 34 are secured to respective opposite sides of the upwardly
extending portion 24 and are interconnected adjacent the uppermost
ends of members 32 and 34 by a transversely extending rod 36. A
transversely circular shaft 38 extends between members 32 and 34
and is journaled therein by suitable bearings in each frame
member.
A relatively large gear 40 is pinned to shaft 38 so that the gear
40 rotates with shaft 38. The innermost surface of gear 40 facing
frame member 34 is suitably configured to carry thereon a plurality
of dogs 44 illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7. To this end, a stub shaft
46 for each dog 44 is carried by gear 40 and projects outwardly
therefrom for pivotally coupling the corresponding dog 44 thereto
for swinging movement about its respective shaft 46. Each shaft 46
has mounted thereon a torsion spring 48 (FIG. 5) engaging the gear
40 and the corresponding dog 44 for biasing the latter in a
counterclockwise direction as illustrated in FIG. 5. The outermost
ends of the dogs 44 are bevelled as shown in FIG. 5 for cooperating
with a series of spaced apart integral projections 50 extending
radially inwardly from an annular dish shaped enlargement 42 formed
at one end of a rope windup spool 54. The latter is journaled over
shaft 38 and is provided with an axially extending enlarged bore
56. A torsion spring 58 is wound on shaft 38 and is contained
within bore 56 as illustrated in FIG. 7. One end of spring 58 is
secured to frame member 34 and the opposite end thereof is secured
to enlargement 42 for exerting a biasing force tending to rotate
spool 54 about shaft 38 in one direction.
It should be pointed out at this juncture that dogs 44 are disposed
with respect to the stub shafts 46 and projections 50 so that
rotation of spool 54 in one direction causes a corresponding
rotation of gear 40 by virtue of the engagement of the end of one
of the dogs 44 between a pair of projections 50. This rotation of
spool 54 with respect to the frame winds spring 58 which
subsequently, upon the release of the rotational forces from spool
54, causes the latter to be turned in an opposite direction about
shaft 38. The turning of spool 54 in such opposite direction does
not, however, turn gear 40 since the projections 50 merely swing
the dogs 44 against the bias of force 48 and the orientation of the
dogs 44 is such that no driving force may be imparted through the
latter to gear 40.
The outer intermediate surface 60 of spool 54 is provided with an
elongated continuous radially outwardly extending ridge 62. Ridge
62 is disposed in a helical fashion throughout a substantial
portion of the length of surface 60 thereby presenting an elongated
helically extending groove 64 in surface 60. It is to be noted that
groove 64 is arcuate to substantially complementally embrace the
outer arcuate surface of an elongated flexible element in the
nature of a rope 66 having one end thereof secured to spool 54
proximal portion 52. The groove 64 serves as a guide to insure
uniform winding of rope 66 on the spool as will be subsequently
more fully explained.
A transversely circular shaft 68 extends between frame members 32
and 34 in horizontally spaced relationship from shaft 38 and the
ends of shaft 68 are journaled for rotation in the respective
members 32 and 34 by suitable bearings. A sprocket 70 is rigidly
secured to shaft 68 and is operably engaged with gear 40. Friction
resistive means broadly designated by the reference numeral 72 is
carried by shaft 68 and includes a first member in the form of a
disc 74 carried on the outer ends of a pair of spaced apart
elongated rods 76 and 78 extending parallel to shaft 68. The rods
76 and 78 each respectively extends through a corresponding
outwardly projecting leg 80 of a pair of L-shaped brackets 82
rigidly secured to shaft 68 on opposite sides thereof (one of which
is removed in FIG. 8 for clarity) and rotatable with the latter.
The rods 76 and 78 are threadably received in suitable apertures
through frustoconical disc 84 also received over shaft 68. A second
frustoconical disc 86 is positioned opposite disc 84 so that the
surfaces of the discs at the smaller ends of the conical frustums
are in mutual engagement. Disc 86 is also received over shaft 68
and rods 76 and 78 as illustrated best in FIG. 2. Springs 88 are
interposed on each of the rods 76 and 78 intermediate bracket legs
80 and corresponding nuts 90 threaded on the outermost ends of the
respective rods 76 and 78.
By virtue of the construction of the discs 84 and 86 together with
their association with guide rods 76 and 78, a force exerted
parallel to shaft 68 against the largest planar surface of disc 84
causes the latter to move to the left as viewed in FIG. 2. Since
disc 84 threadably receives the rods 76 and 78, such movement may
occur only against the yieldable bias of the springs 88 as the
latter are compressed between nuts 90 and bracket legs 80. Movement
of disc 84 to the left causes the latter to push against disc 86 to
force disc 86 to slide on rods 76 and 78 in the same direction.
This, in turn, moves the smaller disc 74 to the left.
The movement of disc 74 clamps the same against an elongated
stationary friction member 92 in the nature of a block of
frictionable fabric material. Preferably, member 92 may be
constructed from fiber impregnated with a zinc wire mesh and is of
the same material having advantageous friction characteristics such
as is used in brake linings for automobiles or the like.
Member 92 is provided with a pair of suitably positioned
spaced-apart apertures receiving shaft 68 and rod 36 respectively
so that member 92 is held stationary at all times irrespective of
the rotation of shaft 68. It is to be pointed out, however, that
the apertures extending transversely through member 92 are
sufficiently large to permit limited axial shifting of member 92
longitudinally with respect to shaft 68.
This shifting of member 92 toward the left as shown in FIG. 2 is
limited by a member in the form of a disc 94 rigidly secured to
shaft 68 on the opposite side of member 92 from disc 74. Another
disc 96 of substantially greater diameter than disc 94 is disposed
adjacent the latter and is rigidly secured to shaft 68 by a pin 43.
Disc 96 has a notch 98 in the outermost periphery thereof as
illustrated best in FIG. 4.
Referring now particularly to FIG. 8, a collar 100 is rigidly
secured to shaft 68 and is also rigidly secured to the brackets 82
(only one of which appears in FIG. 8). A pair of opposed L-shaped
levers 102 are pivotally secured between brackets 82 on pins 104
with the short legs 106 of the respective levers 102 lying
generally parallel with the proximal planar surface of disc 84.
Weights 108 are secured at the outermost ends of the longer legs
110 of each lever respectively. The pins 104 extend substantially
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of shaft 68 to permit the
outward swing of the legs 110 of the levers at an angle with
respect to the axis of shaft 68 under the influence of centrifugal
force when the shaft is rotated. To this end, the weights 108
increase the effect of the centrifugal force in swinging the levers
generally to the positions illustrated in FIG. 8. It is to be noted
that such outward swinging of levers 102 result in the legs 106
pressing against the proximal surface of disc 84 for pushing the
latter longitudinally along shaft 68. This also results in the
shifting to the left as viewed in FIG. 8 of disc 86 and member 74
thereby clamping member 92 between disc members 74 and 94.
Manifestly, the clamping of member 92 between the members 74 and 94
results in the generation of frictional forces from the sliding of
the corresponding surfaces of members 74 and 94 against member 92
as shaft 68 rotates. The friction force thus generated resists the
rotation of shaft 68. The frustoconical configuration of disc
members 84 and 86 insures that the force resulting from levers 102
for moving the disc members along a path of travel toward the
stationary member 92 will be applied substantially centrally of
member 74 so that the resistive force of the frictional engagement
between members 74 and 92 will be substantially uniform throughout
the entire path of rotary travel of member 74.
In the embodiment of the invention chosen for illustration in FIGS.
1-8, lock means is provided for holding the rotatable disc members
from rotating for a predetermined time interval. Such lock means is
broadly designated by the reference numeral 112 and comprises a
U-shaped element 114 having opposite ends pivotally received over
rod 36. Torsion springs 116 for each end of member 114 engage the
corresponding frame members 32 and 34 to bias the member 114 in a
counterclockwise direction as illustrated in FIG. 4. A bracket 118
is secured to the upper surface of portion 24 of support 22 and
extends upwardly therefrom. A lever 120 is pivotally secured
intermediate its ends to the upper end of bracket 118. An inturned
leg 122 (FIGS. 2 and 3) at one end of lever 120 is disposed to
engage notch 98 in disc 96. The opposite end of lever 120 receives
an elongated bent rod 124 which is, in turn, hooked into member 114
as shown most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3. Springs 126 and 128 are
interposed on either side of lever 120 and are secured to the
lowermost end of rod 124 between washers 130 to permit limited
relative movement of lever 120 with respect to rod 124 either
upwardly or downwardly against the bias of springs 128 and 126
respectively.
To this point, it will be clear that when member 114 is swung to
the position thereof illustrated in FIG. 6. Lever 120 is rotated to
a position which results in engagement of leg 122 in notch 98. This
prevents rotation of disc 96 and shaft 68. By the same token, when
member 114 is moved to the position illustrated in FIG. 4, lever
120 is disengaged from notch 98 and shaft disc 96 and,
consequently, 68 are free to rotate. Means for holding member 114
in the locking position for a limited interval of time and for
automatically releasing the locking mechanism is broadly designated
by the reference numeral 132 and includes an L-shaped rod 136
received through an aperture in the bight of member 114. Rod 136
extends downwardly and is rigidly secured in the top of a bulb 138
of resilient material such as rubber or the like, having a
lowermost annular rim 140 adapted to sealingly engage a smooth
surface 142 formed in upwardly projecting relationship from surface
26 of support 22. A bracket 144 secured to support 22 extends
upwardly therefrom and pivotally mounts a lever 146 which is
loosely received over rod 136 for maintaining bulb 138 in general
alignment over surface 142 at all times. A handle or knob 148 is
secured to the outermost end of L-shaped rod 136 and projects
outwardly from a cover 150 which may be placed over the operating
mechanism of apparatus 20.
Accordingly, when it is desired to lock the resistive components of
apparatus 20 so that the device may be used for isometric
exercising at the beginning of an isokinetic exercise, the user may
push knob 148 downwardly. A slot 152 in cover 150 permits downward
movement of rod 136 which also results in the swinging of member
114 to the position illustrated in FIG. 6. Bulb 138 is squeezed by
this action whereupon a vacuum is created within the bulb by the
sealing action of rim 140 on surface 142. The position of member
114 moves lever 120 to a position where leg 122 engages the outer
rim of disc 96. When notch 98 is rotated to the location of leg
122, the latter enters the notch to lock disc 96 and shaft 68 from
further rotation. The vacuum holds member 114 in the position for
locking shaft 68 against rotation only until the restoring
characteristics (an inherent function of the material and its form)
of the material from which bulb 138 is constructed slowly expand
the bulb to its original condition whereupon the vacuum is lost.
Manifestly, springs 116 assist in restoring bulb 138 to the vacuum
losing position and they continue to swing member 114 to its
original position removing leg 122 of lever 120 from notch 98. This
releases shaft 68 for rotation.
In operation, the user may stand upon the wings 30 and grasp a
T-shaped handle 154 which is attached to the end of rope 66 remote
from spool 54 by a releasable fastener 156. The cover 150 may be
molded for convenient storing of handle 154 in the position
illustrated in FIG. 1.
Upward pulling on the handle unwinds rope 66 and results in the
turning of spool 54 about shaft 38. The ratchet means which couples
spool 54 with the remaining drive components, namely gear 40 and
sprocket 70 produces a resultant rotation of shaft 68. The clamping
of members 74 and 94 against the fixed member 92 resists rotation
of shaft 68 and therefore resists the unwinding of rope 66 to
create the load necessary for conducting the exercise. The greater
the force exerted on rope 66 by the user, the further levers 102
swing outwardly in response to centrifugal force. Consequently, the
swinging of levers 102 increase the clamping force on the movable
members with respect to the fixed member 92 thereby increasing the
frictional resistance along the path of travel of the movable
members. Consequently, the load throughout the entire range of
motion during an exercise is automatically adjusted to the ability
of the user to move the load at any particular position throughout
the exercise. This insures that the muscles are conditioned by
maximum work at all positions throughout the entire range of
motion.
As soon as rope 66 has been pulled to the extent desired for one
repetition of the exercise, the user may release his pull on the
rope whereupon spring 58 automatically rewinds the rope upon spool
54. Apparatus 20 is thereby returned to a ready position for the
next successive repetition. Obviously, apparatus 20 is designed to
permit continued successive repetitions of the exercise as may be
desired by the user for carrying out his conditioning program.
As previously explained, the user may preset the locking mechanism
to permit isometric exercising prior to isokinetic exercises. The
lock will automatically release after a predetermined interval of
time (such interval being, of course, governed by the restoring
characteristics of bulb 138) to permit movement of the rope
following the isometric exercise.
From the foregoing, it is apparent that rope 66 is a component of a
drive means adapted to be operated by the user of the apparatus and
the drive means is responsive to the amount of force applied by the
user. The drive means is operably coupled through mechanism
including gear 40 and sprocket 70 to a movable member 74. Means
including shaft 68 journaled in frame members 32 and 34 mounts
member 74 for 360.degree. rotation relative to a stationary,
friction member 92, and for shifting movement toward and away from
the friction member. Centrifugal force responsive structure which
includes the weighted, pivoted levers 102 are mounted on shaft 68
for rotation therewith and, acting through the frustoconical discs
84 and 86, serve to move member 74 toward or away from the
stationary friction member 92 responsive to the speed of rotation
of the shaft and, hence, the rotatable member 74. The latter is, of
course, shifted toward member 92 to increase the frictional
resistance to rotation from the mutually engageable surfaces of
members 92 and 74 when the force on rope 66 increases and away from
member 92 to decrease the resistance force when the pull on rope 66
is lessened. Thus, the resistance to the force exerted by the user
is correlated to the amount of such force. The rotatable member
engageable with the fixed friction member 92 is, in the preferred
embodiment, augmented by the rotatable backing disc or member 94
which permits a clamping of the friction member 92 between the
members 74 and 94 under the control of the centrifugally responsive
levers 102.
A carrying handle 158 is preferably provided at the top of cover
150 for permitting ready portability of apparatus 20. Further, the
compartment 28 may, if desired, be provided with a releasable
bottom member (not shown) to permit storage of accessory items
useful in the conditioning program and a spare rope or the
like.
The modified form of apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 is
broadly designated by the reference numeral 220 and is constructed
generally similar to apparatus 20. In this case, frame members 232
and 234 are interconnected by a cross member 235 which is rigidly
secured to and may be integral with members 232 and 234. The
members 232 and 234 are each provided with an arcuate corner 237 to
permit tilting of the frame about pivot means 239. It is to be
understood that there is a pivot means 239 for members 232 and 234
respectively, each pivot means 239 securing each respective frame
member to a corresponding one of a pair of upwardly extending
brackets 241 which are secured to support 222. A pair of springs
243 extend between the respective frame members and support 222 to
hold the frame members in the positions illustrated in FIG. 9. A
pedestal 245 may be provided integral with each member 232 and 234.
Pedestals 245 provide a rest limiting the clockwise swinging about
the respective side pivots 239 as illustrated in FIG. 9. Spool 254
is mounted for rotation on shaft 238 which is journaled in members
232 and 234. It is to be noted that the longitudinal axis of shaft
238 is spaced horizontally and vertically from the horizontal axis
of swinging of members 232 and 234 about pivot means 239. As a
result of such spacing, the upward pull on rope 266 produces a
moment in the frame tilting the latter in a counterclockwise
direction as viewed in FIG. 9 and against the bias of springs
243.
An elongated rigid helical rod 247 is bent to complementally ride
in the helical groove 264 of spool 254 and to project forwardly
from the frame. A socket 249 carried at the outermost end of rod
247 receives one end of a marker 251 and a spring 253 in socket 249
yieldably urges marker 251 outwardly so that the point of the
latter engages an indicator card 255. The latter may be removably
positioned on the inner face of a swingable door 257 by means of a
holder 259. Toggle means 261 releasably maintains door 257 in the
position illustrated in FIG. 9 yet permits the same to swing about
hinge means 263 to an open position whereupon the indicator card
255 may be removed or replaced. Door 257 may include a panel
constructed of transparent material, if desired, and card 255 may
comprise a sheet of tracing or otherwise partially translucent
paper or the like so that any markings made on the paper are
immediately visible externally of apparatus 220.
A rod 265 extends transversely of apparatus 220 between members 232
and 234 and is received in a bend 267 in rod 247. Means such as a
cover 269 secure rod 247 to rod 265 yet permit the sliding of rod
247 longitudinally along rod 265. Rod 247 is configured to shift
longitudinally of spool 254 when the latter is rotated. Such
shifting carries the marker 251 therealong.
The remaining components of apparatus 220 are substantially similar
to those previously described with respect to apparatus 20 and need
not be further described at this point. When the user pulls on rope
266 during the exercise operation, the moment imparted to the frame
comprising members 232, 234 and 235 tilts the frame about pivot
means 239. The extent of tilting will, of course, be in direct
relation to the amount of force exerted on rope 266.
Further, the pulling on rope 266 will result in the rotation of
spool 254 which also shifts rod 247 and marking means 251
longitudinally of spool 254 during the exercise operation. This
will result in a trace being marked on indicator card 255 which
trace will reveal to the user the relative force exerted in pulling
the rope throughout the exercise operation. The indicator card, so
marked, serves to record for the user the magnitude of his
exertions during the exercise and may thus serve to tell the user
of progress which he makes throughout the conditioning program.
A rope guide in the nature of a rigid ring 271 is welded to rod 247
and projects laterally from the trailing side of the latter in
alignment with groove 264. The rope 266 is threaded through ring
271 as illustrated in FIG. 10. Inasmuch as rod 247 travels in
groove 264, ring 271 holds the rope 266 in alignment with the
groove to positively insure that the rope is wound within the
groove without any possibility for one turn of the rope overlapping
another turn. This cooperates with the nature of the groove itself
in positively insuring level winding of the rope during repeated
operations of apparatus 220.
* * * * *