US4557480A — Portable exercise device

Claim 1

Independent Claim 446 words

A portable resistive type exercise device comprising; a hollow rectangular housing having a circular aperture formed therein to permit passage therethrough of a cord; a spring loaded reel mounted within the housing; a length of cord having a circular cross-section, and including a first terminal end attached to the reel, a second terminal end extending through said aperture, and an intermediate portion wound around the reel; a first and second trapezoidal-shaped friction block slidably mounted within the housing to have a longitudinal direction of motion, each block having a first flat face containing a central longitudinal groove for receiving the cord and an opposing second flat face with a central longitudinal slot for receiving a roller, said first flat faces and said second flat faces describing intersecting planes, the friction blocks being mounted such that said central longitudinal grooves are parallel and made to describe a circular aperture through which the cord may pass in frictional contact with the blocks, the blocks being aligned such that a widest portion of the blocks is distal to said aperture and a narrowest portion of the blocks is proximal to said aperture, the blocks being slidably interconnected by a pin extending from the first block and slidably mating with an aperture formed in the second block, the first block further including a biasing means formed thereto to initiate said frictional contact between the blocks and the cord; a plurality of rollers rotatably secured to the housing and slidably engaged with said longitudinal slots of the first and second blocks, the rollers being positioned to urge the blocks into compressional contact with the cord as the cord is drawn out through said aperture and as the blocks are urged by said cord toward said aperture; guide means for directing the cord from the reel through said central longitudinal groove of the friction blocks; a tension adjusting means for controlling the amount of travel of the first and second friction blocks, the tension adjusting means comprising a hollow bolt threaded through said aperture of the housing whereby the cord may pass therethrough, said bolt abutting the friction blocks about said longitudinal direction of motion to restrict said longitudinal motion and thereby the amount of compression exerted on the cord whereby the blocks exert a constant and fixed amount of tension on the cord at any given setting of the tension adjusting means, the blocks including sufficient contact area to provide resistance to the outward motion of the cord; mounting means for mounting the housing to a fixed object; and exercise interface means to allow a user to couple various muscle groups to the cord whereby said muscle groups may be exercised.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 446 words

A portable resistive type exercise device comprising; a hollow rectangular housing having a circular aperture formed therein to permit passage therethrough of a cord; a spring loaded reel mounted within the housing; a length of cord having a circular cross-section, and including a first terminal end attached to the reel, a second terminal end extending through said aperture, and an intermediate portion wound around the reel; a first and second trapezoidal-shaped friction block slidably mounted within the housing to have a longitudinal direction of motion, each block having a first flat face containing a central longitudinal groove for receiving the cord and an opposing second flat face with a central longitudinal slot for receiving a roller, said first flat faces and said second flat faces describing intersecting planes, the friction blocks being mounted such that said central longitudinal grooves are parallel and made to describe a circular aperture through which the cord may pass in frictional contact with the blocks, the blocks being aligned such that a widest portion of the blocks is distal to said aperture and a narrowest portion of the blocks is proximal to said aperture, the blocks being slidably interconnected by a pin extending from the first block and slidably mating with an aperture formed in the second block, the first block further including a biasing means formed thereto to initiate said frictional contact between the blocks and the cord; a plurality of rollers rotatably secured to the housing and slidably engaged with said longitudinal slots of the first and second blocks, the rollers being positioned to urge the blocks into compressional contact with the cord as the cord is drawn out through said aperture and as the blocks are urged by said cord toward said aperture; guide means for directing the cord from the reel through said central longitudinal groove of the friction blocks; a tension adjusting means for controlling the amount of travel of the first and second friction blocks, the tension adjusting means comprising a hollow bolt threaded through said aperture of the housing whereby the cord may pass therethrough, said bolt abutting the friction blocks about said longitudinal direction of motion to restrict said longitudinal motion and thereby the amount of compression exerted on the cord whereby the blocks exert a constant and fixed amount of tension on the cord at any given setting of the tension adjusting means, the blocks including sufficient contact area to provide resistance to the outward motion of the cord; mounting means for mounting the housing to a fixed object; and exercise interface means to allow a user to couple various muscle groups to the cord whereby said muscle groups may be exercised.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 150 words

The portable exercise device of claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes a slot located at the rear of the housing and opposite said cord aperture, said slot having a T-shaped cross section; a bracket means having a T-shaped cross section adapted for mating with said T-shaped cross section of said slot, said bracket means being adapted for attachment to a stationary medium; and a pin, slidably mounted within said housing and extending transversely across said slot and having a segment protruding from said housing, said pin further including a cut-out positioned intermediate the slot and the protruding segment such that when said cut-out is aligned with said slot said bracket may be inserted therein, and when said cut-out is not aligned with said slot, said bracket may not be inserted, said pin further including means for biasing said pin such that said slot is normally blocked by said pin.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 73 words

The portable exercise device of claim 2 wherein said bracket means includes a rigid bracket adapted for permanent mounting about a rigid surface, and further includes a temporary bracket for mounting between a door and door frame, said temporary bracket including a length of slightly flexible material, wider than a door and having a flange for engaging a door about its face, and sufficiently thin to allow a door to be closed thereon.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1988-12-09	1989-06-10	1989-12-10	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1992-12-09	1993-06-10	1993-12-10	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1996-12-09	1997-06-10	1997-12-10	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Portable exercise device

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