Exercising machine with spring-return pedals and pull lines

Claim 2

An exercising machine including: a base; a pedal; and a reel, said pedal and said reel being mounted for turning independently of each other upon said base; a flexible line having a handle and connected to said reel; a brake operatively connected to said reel and said pedal for hindering turning of said reel in a direction tending to unwind said line from said reel and for hindering turning of said pedal in one direction; first resilient means for turning said reel in a direction tending to wind said line around said reel; second resilient means for moving said pedal in a direction opposite to said one direction; and means for limiting the extent of reciprocation of said pedal in both directions.

Claim 3

The exercising machine as claimed in claim 1 further including means for adjusting the force exerted by said brake hindering movement of said reel and said pedal.

Claim 4

An exercising machine including; a base; a reel mounted for rotation upon said base; a flexible line wound upon and joined at one end to said reel and at the other end joined to a handle; a brake pad mounted for rotation upon said base; first clutch means for causing said brake pad to turn with said reel upon roTation thereof in a direction causing unwinding of said line but allowing said brake pad to remain stationary upon rotation in the opposite direction; first resilient means for urging said reel to turn in the opposite direction; a pedal mounted for reciprocation between two stop points upon said base; second clutch means for causing said brake pad to turn with said pedal upon turning of said pedal in one direction but allowing said brake pad to remain stationary upon turning of said pedal in the opposite direction; and second resilient means for urging said pedal to turn in the opposite direction.

Claim 5

An exercising machine including; a base; a reel mounted for rotation upon said base; a flexible line wound upon and joined at one end to said reel and at the other end joined to a handle; a brake pad mounted for rotation upon said base; first clutch means for causing said brake pad to turn with said reel upon roTation thereof in a direction causing unwinding of said line but allowing said brake pad to remain stationary upon rotation in the opposite direction; first resilient means for urging said reel to turn in the opposite direction; a pedal mounted for reciprocation between two stop points upon said base; second clutch means for causing said brake pad to turn with said pedal upon turning of said pedal in one direction but allowing said brake pad to remain stationary upon turning of said pedal in the opposite direction; and second resilient means for urging said pedal to turn in the opposite direction.

Claim 6

The exercising machine as claimed in claim 3 further including a friction wheel movable into and out of firm contact with said brake pad so that the force required to turn said pad may be varied.

Claim 7

The exercising machine as claimed in claim 4 wherein said second clutch means includes an axle spaced apart from said pedal and rigidly mounted upon said base, a sprocket wheel rotatably positioned about said axle, said brake pad also being positioned about said axle, a spring clutch and a roller chain having one end connected to said pedal and the other end connected to said second resilient means anchored to said base, the length of said chain engaging teeth of said sprocket wheel so that upon application of force to cause said pedal to turn in one direction, said sprocket wheel is caused to turn in a forward direction and said resilient means is caused to deform and upon withdrawal of said force, said resilient means reverts to its normal unstressed condition thereby causing said pedal and said sprocket wheel to turn in the opposite direction, said spring clutch engaging said brake pad with said sprocket wheel upon turning of said sprocket wheel in said forward direction and causing said brake pad to turn with said sprocket wheel but disengaging said brake pad from said sprocket wheel upon turning of said sprocket wheel in the opposite direction.

Claim 8

The exercising machine as claimed in claim 4 wherein said first clutch means includes an axle spaced apart from said pedal and rigidly mounted upon said base, said reel and said brake pad being rotatably positioned about said axle and a spring clutch so that upon application of force to said handle to cause said reel to turn in a direction causing unwinding of said line, said brake pad is caused to turn and said first resilient means is caused to deform and upon withdrawal of said force, said first resilient means reverts to its normal unstressed condition thereby causing said reel to turn in the opposite direction, said spring clutch engaging said brake pad with said reel upon turning of said reel in a direction causing unwinding of said line but disengaging said brake pad from said reel upon turning of said reel in the opposite direction.

Claim 9

The exercising machine as claimed in claim 4 further including a friction wheel rotatably mounted to a plate, a threaded stud rotatably mounted within said housing and threadably received in an opening of said plate, a knob connected to said stud facilitating manual rotation of said stud, said knob when rotated in one direction causing said friction wheel to move into firm engagement with said brake pad and retard turning of said pad and upon rotation of said knob in the opposite direction causing said friction wheel to move away from said brake pad.

Claim 10

The exercising machine as claimed in claim 4 wherein said first clutch means includes an axle spaced apart from said pedal and rigidly mounted upon said base, said reel and said brake pad being rotatably positioned about said axle and a first spring clutch so that upon application of force to said handle to cause said reel to turn in a direction causing unwinding of said line, said brake pad is caused to turn and said first resilient means is caused to deform and upon withdrawal of said force, said first resilient means reverts to its normal unstressed condition thereby causing said reel to turn in the opposite direction, said first spring clutch engaging said brake pad with said reel upon turning of said reel in a direction causing unwinding of said line but disengaging said brake pad from said reel upon turning of said reel in the opposite direction; a sprocket wheel rotatably positioned about said axle, a second spring clutch and a roller chain having one end connected to said pedal and the other end connected to said second resilient means anchored to said base, the length of said chain engaging teeth of said sprocket wheel so that upon application of force to cause said pedal to turn in one direction, said sprocket wheel is caused to turn in a forward direction and said second resilient means is caused to deform and upon withdrawal of said force, said second resilient means reverts to its normal unstressed condition thereby causing said pedal and said sprocket wheel to turn in the opposite direction, said second spring clutch engaging said brake pad with said sprocket wheel upon turning of said sprocket wheel in said forward direction and causing said brake pad to turn with said sprocket wheel but disengaging said brake pad from said sprocket wheel upon turning of said sprocket wheel in the opposite direction; said exercising machine further including a friction wheel rotatably mounted to a plate, a threaded stud rotatably mounted within said housing and threadably received in an opening of said plate, a knob connected to said stud facilitating manual rotation of said stud, said knob when rotated in one direction causing said friction wheel to move into firm engagement with said brake pad and retard turning of said pad and upon rotation of said knob in the opposite direction causing said friction wheel to move away from said brake pad.