US 5,039,091 AGranted

Exercise machine having flywheel with variable resistance

OwnerMichael R. Johnsoninventor

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Abstract

An exercise machine that enables an exerciser to perform golf club swings, baseball bat swings, canoeing strokes, football kicks, tennis serves, ball throwing, weight lifting, bike exercise, and numerous other athletic motions with preselected amounts of resistance. The machine incorporates a free wheeling flywheel having variable resistance in one direction so that backswings are accomplished with no substantial resistance. The flywheel is positionable and lockable at a height selected by the user, and is further positionable and lockable at any preselected angle relative to a horizontal axis and at any preselected angle relative to an axis orthogonal to the horizontal axis. Attachments that simulate golf clubs, baseball bats and the like are secured to the axle of the flywheel and are swung or otherwise manipulated by the exerciser to increase the strength of muscles specifically used during the selected athletic motion.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An exercise machine, comprising:

a pair of laterally spaced apart triangular support members;
each of said support members including a vertical back frame member, a horizontal top frame member that projects forwardly with respect to said back frame member, and a diagonally disposed frame member that extends in interconnecting relation between a forwardmost end of said top frame member and a lowermost end of said back frame member;
a rotatably mounted flywheel member having an adjustable resistance positioned intermediate said triangular support members in general and intermediate said diagonally disposed frame members in particular;
said flywheel member having an axle that defines its axis of rotation;
a non-rotatably mounted housing for said flywheel member;
a first transversely disposed mounting pintel having an inner end secured to a first side of said housing and an outer end movably secured to an associated diagonally disposed frame member;
a second transversely disposed mounting pintel having an inner end secured to a second side of said housing and an outer end movably secured to an associated diagonally disposed frame member;
a preselected accessory means that simulates a piece of athletic equipment being secured to said flywheel axle;
means for adjusting the resistance of said flywheel member;
said flywheel housing being rotatable about an axis of rotation collectively defined by said first and second mounting pintels;
stop means for holding said flywheel housing and hence said flywheel member in a preselected position of rotation about said axis of rotation;
whereby an exerciser may preselect an accessory means and an angular position for said flywheel member and perform at least one exercise by moving said accessory means against the resistance offered by said flywheel member.

9 more elements

An exercise machine, comprising:

a pair of laterally spaced apart triangular support members;
each of said support members including a vertical back frame member, a horizontal top frame member that projects forwardly with respect to said back frame member, and a diagonally disposed frame member that extends in interconnecting relation between a forwardmost end of said top frame member and a lowermost end of a back frame member;
a rotatably mounted flywheel member, having an adjustable resistance, positioned intermediate said triangular support members in general and intermediate said diagonally disposed frame members in particular;
said flywheel member having an axle that defines its axis of rotation;
a non-rotatably mounted housing for said flywheel member;
a frame disposed in surrounding relation to said flywheel member;
said frame member including a top wall, a bottom wall, and a pair of transversely spaced apart first and second side walls that interconnect opposite ends of said top and bottom walls;
a first mounting pintel disposed in interconnecting relation to said first frame side wall and an associated diagonally disposed frame member;
a second mounting pintel disposed in interconnecting relation to said second frame side wall and an associated diagonally disposed frame member;
a third mounting pintel disposed in interconnecting relation to said frame top wall and said flywheel housing;
a fourth mounting pintel disposed in interconnecting relation to said frame bottom wall and said flywheel housing;
said first and second mounting pintels collectively defining a horizontal axis of rotation about which said frame and hence said flywheel and flywheel housing are conjointly rotatable;
said third and fourth mounting pintels collectively defining a second axis of rotation about which said frame and hence said flywheel and flywheel housing are conjointly rotatable;
said second axis of rotation being disposed orthogonally with respect to said horizontal axis of rotation.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/600,385Filed 19 Oct 1990
Granted: 13 Aug 1991
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

A63B 21/157
Arrangements for force transmissions: ratchet-wheel links; Overrunning clutches; One-way clutches
A63B 21/00069
Mechanical means for varying the resistance: setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing…
A63B 21/222
Resisting devices with rotary bodies: by overcoming gyroscopic forces, e.g. by turning the spin axis
A63B 21/225
Resisting devices with rotary bodies: with flywheels