Flywheel
AssigneeProform Fitness Products, Inc.
InventorWilliam T. Dalebout
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flywheel for a stationary exercise machine having a frictional resistance strap is formed of heat-sensitive plastic, and includes a band of heat-dissipating material disposed about the periphery or rim of the flywheel for frictional contact with the resistance strap. The strap extends around the flywheel rim over the band to provide an adjustable resistance to the flywheel's rotation. The band dissipates the frictionally generated heat arising from movement of the flywheel within the strap.
Claims24
A flywheel of the type used in exercise machines which employ an adjustable frictional resistance strap to provide a resistance to flywheel rotation through sliding frictional contact therewith, said flywheel comprising:
- a central hub for rotatably mounting to a exercise machine;
- an intermediate structure connected at a radially interior edge to said hub proximate an outer diameter thereof to extend radially away therefrom;
- a rim secured about a radially outer edge of said intermediate structure and including a mass for substantially increasing the inertia of said flywheel;
- a support surface about said perimeter;
- said hub, said intermediate structure, and said rim comprising non-metallic plastic-like material;
- and
- a band formed of a heat dissipating material secured about said support surface, said band having an outer surface suitable for said sliding frictional contact with said adjustable frictional resistance strap.
A flywheel of the type used in exercise machines which employ an adjustable frictional resistance strap to provide a resistance to flywheel rotation through sliding frictional contact therewith, said flywheel comprising:
- a central hub for rotatably mounting to a said exercise machine;
- an intermediate structure disposed about and connected to said hub and extending radially away therefrom;
- a rim secured to said intermediate structure to form a perimeter of said flywheel;
- a support surface about said perimeter;
- said hub, said intermediate structure, and said rim comprising non-metallic plastic-like material;
- a band formed of a heat dissipating material secured about said support surface, said band having an outer surface suitable for said sliding frictional contact with said adjustable frictional resistance strap;
- and
- circumferential slots in said rim adjacent said support surface for retaining said band thereon.
A flywheel of the type used in exercise machines which employ an adjustable frictional resistance strap to provide a resistance to flywheel rotation through sliding frictional contact therewith, said flywheel comprising:
- a central hub for rotatably mounting to a said exercise machine;
- an intermediate structure disposed about and connected to said hub and extending radially away therefrom;
- a rim secured to said intermediate structure to form a perimeter and including a mass for substantially increasing the inertia of said flywheel;
- a support surface about said perimeter;
- said hub, said intermediate structure, and said rim comprising non-metallic plastic-like material;
- a band formed of a heat dissipating material secured about said support surface, said band having an outer surface suitable for said sliding frictional contact with said adjustable frictional resistance strap;
- and
- said support surface means formed of two substantially symmetrical halves each having a hub structure and a side wall connected to and extending radially away from said hub structure and a rim structure connected to said side wall, said rim structure of one half and said rim structure of the other half together forming said rim;
- and
- means to secure one rim structure with the other rim structure.
A flywheel body for a stationary exercise cycle, said flywheel comprising:
- a first body half including a first central hub structure, a first rim structure and a first wall structure radially joining said first hub structure to said first rim structure;
- a second body half including a second central hub structure, a second rim structure and a second wall structure radially joining said second hub structure to said second rim structure;
- wherein said first and second flywheel body halves are joined to form said flywheel body;
- and
- wherein said first and second rim structures each include a radially extending annular side member, an annular rib extending approximately transversely and inwardly from said side member toward said other body half, a band support member having a surface thereon and extending inwardly from said side member toward said other body half, said first and second surfaces forming a band support surface recessed from the radial periphery of said first and second annular side members, said side members each including a slot therein adjacent said band support surface for supporting and retaining a band disposed therein on said band support surface therein.
A resistance system for an exercise machine comprising:
- a frame;
- a flywheel body rotatably mounted on said frame for rotation by a user, said flywheel being formed of a non-metallic plastic-like material and comprising:
- a central hub for said rotatable mounting of said flywheel to said frame,
- support structure connected to said hub and extending radially away therefrom,
- a rim secured to said support structure to define a perimeter and including a mass for substantially increasing the inertia of said flywheel,
- a support surface disposed about the perimeter of said rim;
- a band formed of a heat dissipating material secured about said support surface of said flywheel body, said band having an outer surface suitable for sliding frictional contact with a resistance strap of said exercise machine;
- and
- a resistance strap positioned about said flywheel body in contact with said band, said resistance strap having one end connected securely to said frame and another end adjustably connected to said frame for operation to vary the tension of said resistance strap and the sliding frictional force exerted thereby against said band.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.