# US 4,844,450 A · Swimming simulator

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- Number: US 4,844,450 A
- Document ID: US4844450A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 07/150,207
- Filed: 1988-01-29
- Granted: 1989-07-04
- Earliest claimed: 1988-01-29
- Inventors: Robert E. Rodgers, Jr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4844450A

## CPC

- A63B 69/10: Swimming instruction apparatus for use without water
- A61H 1/0244: {Hip (A61H1/0255 takes precedence)}
- A63B 21/154: {using special pulley-assemblies}
- A63B 22/0012: {the exercises for arms and legs being functionally independent}
- A61H 2201/1253: driven by a human being, e.g. hand driven
- A61H 2201/14: Special force transmission means, i.e. between the driving means and the interface with the user
- A61H 2201/1445: Overrunning clutches; One-way clutches
- A61H 2201/164: Feet or leg, e.g. pedal
- A61H 2201/1676: Pivoting
- A63B 21/0088: {by moving the surrounding air}
- A63B 21/225: {with flywheels}
- A63B 22/0056: {the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis (platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis A63B22/16)}
- A63B 2022/0038: {One foot moving independently from the other, i.e. there is no link between the movements of the feet}
- A63B 2022/0041: {one hand moving independently from the other hand, i.e. there is no link between the movements of the hands}
- A63B 2208/0257: prone
- A63B 2220/76: Wind conditions
- Y10S 482/901: having computer circuitry
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)
- A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N)
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

An exercise device for simulated swimming strokes is disclosed. A cabinet supported on a frame serves as a base and has a body supporting platform thereabove, one portion supporting the torso and parallel duplicate hinge portions supporting the legs of the user. The user's arms reciprocate cable means and the user's legs reciprocate pivotal push rods extending into the cabinetry for rotating power consuming means comprising independent arm and leg powered fly wheels respectively connected to arm and leg powered means.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An exercise device wherein the user simulates swimming with a variety of swimming strokes, comprising:
(a) a base;
(b) body support means above said base for supporting the body of a user in a generally horizontal position thereon;
(c) power consuming means;
(d) separate left and right independent arm powered means adapted to be engaged by a user with left and right arms for independent arm strokes applied thereto wherein said arm powered means provides arm generated power to said power consuming means;
(e) pivotal separate left and right leg powered means powered by left and right legs of a user wherein leg strokes of the user provide power to said power consuming means; and
(f) wherein said power consuming means comprises independent arm and leg powered fly wheels respectively connected with said arm and leg powered means.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said base includes a frame, a surrounding cowling and an extending member terminating beyond the user in a prone position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said extending member is adjustable in length for length reduction for storage.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 including separate flexible cable means connected to said arm powered means, wherein said body support means positions a user to reach overhead and independently power said separate flexible cable means connected to said arm powered means.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said arm powered means comprise left and right flexible cable means operatively connected to said power consuming means to operate an arm powered means.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5 including driven means for engagement with said cable means, wherein said cable means are elongate flexible cables having portions thereof positively engaged with said driven means to prevent slippage.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said driven means comprises a gear engaging overrunning clutch means to rotate said fly wheels.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7 including first and second overrunning clutches, one each for said left and right cable means.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said elongate flexible cables have an end portion which is flexible, an intermediate flexible toothed portion and an anchored flexible and extendable portion, wherein said end portion connects with handle means for user engagement and said toothed portion is guided into positive engagement with said power consuming means by a mating toothed gear.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fly wheels are mounted on separate mounting shafts.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said shafts are located within an enclosed housing positioning said shafts and fly wheels within the closed housing.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said arm powered means includes elongate cable means routed for hand use and extend into and along an extendable tubular member connected to said base.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said tubular member includes first and second telescoping portions enabling said base to telescope into a shortened storage length and also into a longer length for use.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said tubular member comprises:
(a) first horizontal hollow member;
(b) second horizontal hollow member;
(c) lock means joining said first and second horizontal members together in a fixed relationship;
(d) an upright hollow member having an opening therein to receive said elongate cable means therein, said upright hollow member routing said cable means along said first and second horizontal members to opertively connect with said power consuming means.

### Claim 15

An exercise device wherein the user simulates swimming with a scissor kick, comprising:
(a) horizontal support means for extending beneath a swimmer performing a scissor kick;
(b) left and right leg supports;
(c) pivotal mounting means for mounting said leg supports for repetitive leg driven movement by a user simulating a scissor kick from a horizontal position on said support means;
(d) adjustable left and right leg flywheel actuation means for initially setting the angle of the user's legs relative to the trunk of the user's body, said flywheel activation means driven by said left and right leg supports in repetitive motion;
(e) power consuming means responsive to said flywheel actuation means for consuming power from the legs of the user wherein said power consuming means responds to leg kick strokes of any length in a given range.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said power consuming means includes an endless belt in looped configuration driving a fly wheel through an overrunning clutch, said belt and said connectors being joined by left and right connector means enabling reciprocating means.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15 including means connected to said connectors and to said power consuming means for enabling rotation of a fly wheel driven by leg kick strokes of varied length and having continuous power transfer thereto through an overrunning clutch.
