US3885789A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Exercising device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-06-21
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Granted: 1975-05-27
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Expires: 1994-06-21
Abstract
Abstract An exercising device having a housing which is attached to a stationary surface. A cord with a hand grip on its free end can be pulled out of the housing against the internal resistance of the exercising device. The amount of internal resistance can be varied by means of a control knob. An automatic rewind mechanism draws the cord back into the housing when the cord is released. The device has, as a specific feature, a manually adjustable resisting force mechanism. This mechanism includes the combination of a stationary capstan around which the cord is wrapped, and a variable force friction nip mechanism which (a) retards the cord as it is pulled out of the housing, and (b) maximizes the capstan''s frictional resistance by keeping the cord tightly wound around the capstan as the cord is being pulled out of the housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael E Deluty
- 👤 Morton A Levine
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:39
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B21/00; A63B21/15; A63B21/151; A63B21/153; A63B21/00058; A63B21/00069; A63B21/012; A63B21/018; A63B21/40; A63B21/4041; A63B21/4043
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
251 words
An exercising device comprising: a. a housing having a hollow interior and a cord opening; b. a cord retractor reel mounted for rotation within said housing; c. rewind means for continuously urging said retractor reel in the rewind direction; d. a flexible cord fixed to and wrapped around said retractor reel, said cord running from said reel out of said housing through said cord opening; and e. manually adjustable variable resistance friction nip means mounted within said housing between said cord retractor reel and said cord opening for applying frictional force to said cord, said friction nip means including a support member contacting one side of said cord, a pivoted jamming arm mounted on the other side of said cord, resilient means for continuously urging the free end of said pivoted jamming arm in the unwind direction against the other side of said cord to frictionally wedge said cord between said support member and said jamming arm as said cord is pulled out of said housing, said jamming arm pivoting in the rewind direction to unwedge said cord as said cord is retracted into said housing; f. said rewind means and said variable resistance friction nip means both cooperating to apply force to said cord to oppose an exteriorly applied manual force pulling said cord in the unwind direction, said friction nip means releasing force on said cord, and said rewind means retracting said cord in the rewind direction in the absence of an exteriorly applied manual force on said cord.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
251 words
An exercising device comprising: a. a housing having a hollow interior and a cord opening; b. a cord retractor reel mounted for rotation within said housing; c. rewind means for continuously urging said retractor reel in the rewind direction; d. a flexible cord fixed to and wrapped around said retractor reel, said cord running from said reel out of said housing through said cord opening; and e. manually adjustable variable resistance friction nip means mounted within said housing between said cord retractor reel and said cord opening for applying frictional force to said cord, said friction nip means including a support member contacting one side of said cord, a pivoted jamming arm mounted on the other side of said cord, resilient means for continuously urging the free end of said pivoted jamming arm in the unwind direction against the other side of said cord to frictionally wedge said cord between said support member and said jamming arm as said cord is pulled out of said housing, said jamming arm pivoting in the rewind direction to unwedge said cord as said cord is retracted into said housing; f. said rewind means and said variable resistance friction nip means both cooperating to apply force to said cord to oppose an exteriorly applied manual force pulling said cord in the unwind direction, said friction nip means releasing force on said cord, and said rewind means retracting said cord in the rewind direction in the absence of an exteriorly applied manual force on said cord.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The exercising device of claim 1 further having means for resiliently urging said support member and said pivoted jamming arm towards each other along a path which is substantially perpendicular to said cord.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The exercising device of claim 2 wherein a line drawn along the support member path intersects with the jamming arm pivot point.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The exercising device of claim 1 further having means for permitting said support member to move within limits along a path which is substantially parallel to said cord.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The exercising device of claim 1 further having means for retaining the free end of said pivoted jamming arm on the rewind side of an imaginary line drawn perpendicular to said cord from the jamming arm pivot point.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
291 words
An exercising device comprising: a. a housing having a hollow interior and a cord opening; b. a cord retractor reel mounted for rotation within said housing; c. rewind means for continuously urging said retractor reel in the rewind direction; d. a capstan mounted within said housing, said capstan being fixed against rotation in the unwind direction in its operative mode; e. a flexible cord fixed to and wrapped around said retractor reel, said cord running from said reel to and being wrapped at least one full turn around said capstan, said cord running from said capstan out of said housing through said cord opening; and f. manually adjustable variable resistance friction nip means mounted within said housing between said cord retractor reel and said capstan for applying frictional force to said cord, said friction nip means including a support member contacting one side of said cord, a pivoted jamming arm mounted on the other side of said cord, resilient means for continuously urging the free end of said pivoted jamming arm in the unwind direction against the other side of said cord to frictionally wedge said cord between said support member and said jamming arm as said cord is pulled out of said housing, said jamming arm pivoting in the rewind direction to unwedge said cord as said cord is retracted into said housing; g. said rewind means, said capstan, and said variable resistance friction nip means all cooperating to apply force to said cord to oppose an exteriorly applied manual force pulling said cord in the unwind direction, said friction nip means releasing force on said cord, and said rewind means retracting said cord in the rewind direction in the absence of an exteriorly applied manual force on said cord.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
291 words
An exercising device comprising: a. a housing having a hollow interior and a cord opening; b. a cord retractor reel mounted for rotation within said housing; c. rewind means for continuously urging said retractor reel in the rewind direction; d. a capstan mounted within said housing, said capstan being fixed against rotation in the unwind direction in its operative mode; e. a flexible cord fixed to and wrapped around said retractor reel, said cord running from said reel to and being wrapped at least one full turn around said capstan, said cord running from said capstan out of said housing through said cord opening; and f. manually adjustable variable resistance friction nip means mounted within said housing between said cord retractor reel and said capstan for applying frictional force to said cord, said friction nip means including a support member contacting one side of said cord, a pivoted jamming arm mounted on the other side of said cord, resilient means for continuously urging the free end of said pivoted jamming arm in the unwind direction against the other side of said cord to frictionally wedge said cord between said support member and said jamming arm as said cord is pulled out of said housing, said jamming arm pivoting in the rewind direction to unwedge said cord as said cord is retracted into said housing; g. said rewind means, said capstan, and said variable resistance friction nip means all cooperating to apply force to said cord to oppose an exteriorly applied manual force pulling said cord in the unwind direction, said friction nip means releasing force on said cord, and said rewind means retracting said cord in the rewind direction in the absence of an exteriorly applied manual force on said cord.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The exercising device of claim 6 further having means for resiliently urging said support member and said pivoted jamming arm towards each other along a path which is substantially perpendicular to said cord.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The exercising device of claim 6 further having means for permitting said support member to move within limits along a path which is substantially parallel to said cord.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The exercising device of claim 6 further having means for retaining the free end of said pivoted jamming arm on the rewind side of an imaginary line drawn perpendicular to said cord from the jamming arm pivot point.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The exercising device of claim 9 wherein said retaining means includes a stop mounted in said housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
The exercising device of claim 6 further having manual locking means coOperating with said capstan for selectively locking said capstan against rotation in the unwind direction in the operative mode, and for selectively unlocking said capstan to permit free wheeling in both directions in the inoperative mode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The exercising device of claim 11 wherein said manual locking means includes a ratcheting mechanism which is engaged in the operative mode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The exercising device of claim 6 wherein the axis of said capstan is parallel to and spaced from the axis of said cord retractor reel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |