Variable reactive force exercise device

Claim 2

A variable, reactive force, exercise device comprising: means for generating a magnetic field; an armature having at least one open conductor loop and being rotatable along a rotational path cutting across magnetic flux lines of said field; operator means for enabling an operator of said exercise device through the exertion of physical force to rotate said armature; an electrical load; at least two electrical contact brushes, said load being electrically coupled between said brushes and said brushes being positioned to couple said load electrically to said loop at least at one point in said loop's rotational path where said loop is at said a predetermined orientation relative to the magnetic flux lines of said magnetic field; and control means for selectively varying the relative orientation of said loop to said magnetic flux lines at least at one point in said loop's rotational path where said loop is coupled to said load whereby the physical force required to rotate said armature varies as a function of said control means.

Claim 3

A variable, reactive force, exercise device comprising: a rotatably mounted armature having at least one open conductor loop; means for at least partially enclosing said armature; operator means for enabling an operator of said device through the exertion of physical force to rotate said armature with its said conductor loop; means for generating a magnetic field, the position of said generating means being fixed relative to said enclosure means and wherein said rotating loop cuts across magnetic flux lines of said magnetic field; at least two electrical contact brushes positioned in a fixed orientation relative to each other for being coupled with and thereby closing said loop where said loop is rotated to a predetermined position relative to the position of said magnetic flux lines; an electrical load connected between said brushes; and control means for selectively positioning said brushes to vary, accordingly, said predetermined position of said loop relative to said magnetic flux lines where said loop is closed by being coupled with said brushes whereby the physical force required to rotate said armature varies as a function of said control means.

Claim 4

A variable, reactive force, exercise device comprising: a rotatably mounted armature having at least one open conductor loop; means for at least partially enclosing said armature; operator means for enabling an operator of said device through the exertion of physical force to rotate said armature with its said conductor loop; means for generating a magnetic field, the position of said generating means being fixed relative to said enclosure means and wherein said rotating loop cuts across magnetic flux lines of said magnetic field; at least two electrical contact brushes positioned in a fixed orientation relative to each other for being coupled with and thereby closing said loop where said loop is rotated to a predetermined position relative to the position of said magnetic flux lines; an electrical load connected between said brushes; and control means for selectively positioning said brushes to vary, accordingly, said predetermined position of said loop relative to said magnetic flux lines where said loop is closed by being coupled with said brushes whereby the physical force required to rotate said armature varies as a function of said control means.

Claim 5

A variable, reactive force, exercise device comprising: a rotatably mounted armature having at least one open conductor loop; means for at least partially enclosing said armature; operator means for enabling an operator of said device through the exertion of physical force to rotate said armature with its said conductor loop; means for generating a magnetic field positioned relative to said loop wherein said rotating loop cuts across magnetic flux lines of said magnetic field; at least two electrical contact brushes positioned in a fixed orientation relative to each other and relative to said enclosure means for being coupled with and thereby closing said loop where said loop is rotated to a predetermined position relative to the position of said magnetic flux lines; an electrical load connected between said brushes; and control means for selectively positioning said magnetic field generating means relative to said enclosure means to vary, accordingly, said predetermined position of said loop relative to said magnetic flux lines where said loop is closed by being coupled with said brushes whereby the physical force required to rotate said armature varies as a function of said control means.

Claim 6

A variable, reactive force, exercise device comprising: a rotatably mounted armature having at least one open conductor loop; means for at least partially enclosing said armature; operator means for enabling an operator of said device through the exertion of physical force to rotate said armature with its said conductor loop; means for generating a magnetic field positioned relative to said loop wherein said rotating loop cuts across magnetic flux lines of said magnetic field; at least two electrical contact brushes positioned in a fixed orientation relative to each other and relative to said enclosure means for being coupled with and thereby closing said loop where said loop is rotated to a predetermined position relative to the position of said magnetic flux lines; an electrical load connected between said brushes; and control means for selectively positioning said magnetic field generating means relative to said enclosure means to vary, accordingly, said predetermined position of said loop relative to said magnetic flux lines where said loop is closed by being coupled with said brushes whereby the physical force required to rotate said armature varies as a function of said control means.

Claim 7

A variable, reactive force, exercise device of claim 1, wherein said electrical load comprises a short circuit.

Claim 8

A variable, reactive force, exercise device of claim 2, wherein said electrical load comprises a short circuit.

Claim 9

A variable, reactive force, exercise device of claim 3, wherein said electrical load comprises a short circuit.

Claim 10

A variable, reactive force, exercise device of claim 1, wherein the magnitude of the electrical resistance associated with said electrical load is selectively variable.

Claim 11

A variable, reactive force, exercise device of claim 7, wherein the magnitude of the magnetic field generated by said magnetic field generating means is selectively variable.

Claim 12

A variable, reactive force, exercise device of claim 1, wherein said control means is manually operable.

Claim 13

A variable, reactive force, exercise device of claim 2, wherein said control means is manually operable.

Claim 14

A variable, reactive force, exercise device of claim 3, wherein said control means is manually operable.

Claim 15

A variable, reactive force, exercise device of claim 1, further comprising: measuring means for instantaneously measuring the induced current flowing through said load and for integrating said current over time; and display means for visually displaying said current data and said time integrated current data to the operator.

Claim 16

A variable, reactive force, exercise device of claim 2, further comprising: measuring means for instantaneously measuring the induced current flowing through said load and for integrating said current over time; and display means for visually displaying said current data and said time integrated current data to the operator.

Claim 17

A variable, reactive force, exercise device of claim 3, further comprising: measuring means for instantaneously measuring the induced current flowing through said load and for integrating said current over time; and display means for visually displaying said current data and said time integrated current data to the operator.

Claim 18

A variable, reactive force, exercise device of claim 1, further comprising: measuring means for instantaneously measuring a secondary magnetic field generated around said load upon operation of said device; and display means for visually displaying said measured secondary magnetic field data to the operator.

Claim 19

A variable, reactive force, exercise device of claim 2, further comprising: measuring means for instantaneously measuring a secondary magnetic field generated around said load upon operation of said device; and display means for visually displaying said measured secondary magnetic field data to the operator.

Claim 20

A variable, reactive force, exercise device of claim 3, further comprising: measuring means for instantaneously measuring a secondary magnetic field generated around said load upon operation of said device; and display means for visually displaying said measured secondary magnetic data to the operator.

Claim 21

A variable, reactive force, exercise device of claim 2, wherein said enclosure means includes a cylindrical metal housing, and wherein said control means includes: a circular metal end plate having a cylindrical edge for frictionally engaging an inside surface of one end of said housing and being rotatable thereon, a circular insulative support disc having means for slidably securing said brushes on one side of said disc and said disc being fixed on the other side to an interior surface of said end plate, and a handle fixed to an outer edge of said end plate on a surface opposite to said interior surface on which said disc is fixed.

Claim 22

A variable, reactive force, exercise device of claim 2, wherein said enclosure means includes a cylindrical metal housing, said housing having a circumferential groove extending along approximately one quarter of a circumference thereof and wherein said control means includes: a circular insulative support disc having means for slidably securing said brushes on one side of said disc, a cylindrical sleeve having one edge fixed to said support disc, and a handle extending outboard said housing and engaging said sleeve through said groove in said housing for rotation of said sleeve by movement of said handle.

Claim 23

A variable, reactive force, exercise device comprising: an armature having a conductor which forms an open loop; means for generating a magnetic field; means for enabling an operator of said exercise device, through the exertion of physical force, to rotate said armature within said magnetic field to move said loop through a rotational path centered about said armature and thereby induce a current within said conductor; an electrical load; means for coupling said electrical load to said conductor to close said loop at a selective orientation of said loop in said rotational path relative to said magnetic field; and means for varying the force required by said operator to rotate said armature, comprising means for varying said selective orientation of said loop relative to said magnetic field.

Claim 24

A variable, reactive force, exercise device comprising: an armature having a conductor which forms an open loop; means for generating a magnetic field; means for enabling an operator of said exercise device, through the exertion of physical force, to rotate said armature within said magnetic field to move said loop through a rotational path centered about said armature and thereby induce a current within said conductor; an electrical load; means for coupling said electrical load to said conductor to close said loop at a selective orientation of said loop in said rotational path relative to said magnetic field; and means for varying the force required by said operator to rotate said armature, comprising means for varying said selective orientation of said loop relative to said magnetic field.