Abstract:
A trolley for transporting objects hanging from an I-beam normally securely grips or latches to the I-beam via a pair of brake pads that are urged upward against the bottom of the beam by a torsion spring. The torsion spring is released by pulling a lever downward. Applying lateral force to the trolley, preferably by applying a lateral force to the same lever, pulls the trolley along the I-beam as the wheels engaging the upper portion of the I-beam can rotate freely once the brake pads are released. Releasing the lever after the trolling is pulled to the desired location causes the brakes to again firmly grip the I-beam.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority to the U.S. provisional application having Ser. No. 60/736,518 entitled “Trolley Brake”, filed on Nov. 10, 2005 by the Applicant, James K. Britcher, which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0002]     The present application also claims priority to the U.S. provisional application having Ser. No. 60/754,588 entitled “Kick Bag Trolley Beam System”, filed on Dec. 19, 2005 by the Applicant, James K. Britcher, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention relates to a system and apparatus for transporting objects along an overhead beam or track, and in particular to a transport mechanism having a braking means particular suitable for the transport of punching or kick bags in a gymnasium or Dojo.  
         [0004]     Prior methods of using an overhead transport system are well known.  
         [0005]     Typically, a rolling trolley is suspended from an overhead rail or track. The trolley includes wheel that engage the track and a brake mechanism for locking the wheels or otherwise preventing the movement of the trolley after the objected suspended therefrom has been moved to the desired location on the rail.  
         [0006]     Such trolleys have been developed and are used for transporting industrial equipment. Other uses suggested in the literature are for transporting patients and food. It should be appreciated that while there are many ways to configure such a trolley and braking system, the development of this art has only evolved to the point to meet the needs of the particular industry and application. In particular, such a system would be expected to take into account the weight and size of the object being transported, whether machinery is used to power the trolley, the need for automation.  
         [0007]     The current invention addresses the recently discovered and unmet need for a trolley and system adopted to the transport kick/punching bags that are used in a gymnasium or dojo.  
         [0008]     Such kick/punching bags are suspended from above so that the can swing freely when punched or kicked. Typically, a gymnasium is used for multiple purposes. As such, it would be convenient to be able to store the kick/punching bags when not needed, but have them available with a means for rapid deployment throughout the facility, spacing them apart to safely accommodate a large number of athletes.  
         [0009]     Overhead rail transport systems are generally capable of supporting such bags in a clustered arrangement for storage, and generally transporting them to the dispersed location for use. It has been discovered by the inventor that the state of the art such trolley and their brake and release mechanism are not suitable to support kick/punching bags that are used in a gymnasium or dojo.  
         [0010]     In particular, there is a need for the rapid deployment and return of the bags, it is desirable that the Athletes themselves can deploy them. However, such deployment must be done safely, taking into account that the age and skill of the athletes can vary considerably, as it is unlikely that they will receive or recall the type of safety training that would be given in industrial or commercial establishments. Given that such bags frequently weight more than an adult and are going to subject to repeated impact from the athletes it is of parameter important that they do not move or slip once they are moved to the desired location.  
         [0011]     Accordingly, there is a need for a system for conveying and supporting kick/punching bags that is particularly adapted to disperse then from a clustered arrangement for storage in a gym or Karate dojo to a different arrangement where they are accessible to the athletes.  
         [0012]     It is therefore a first object of the present invention to provide such a transport system wherein the kick/punching bags is readily released from a locked position on the rail.  
         [0013]     It is a further object of the invention to provide such a system wherein it is relatively easy to transport the bag along the rail.  
         [0014]     It is still another object of the invention to provide a system where the bag will not move or come loose once it is moved.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0015]     In the present invention, the first object is achieved by providing a combination of supporting posts, suspended rails and rolling trolleys that support the punching/kick bags. Each trolley supports the punching bag from a lower fixture and also has an upper fixture to securely grips or latches to the suspended rails. In particular, the trolley is configured such the user/athlete applies lateral force to the trolley via a lever to pull the bag along the rail. Pulling the lever also releases a brake such that when the bag reaches the desired to location releasing the lever causes the brakes to again firmly grip the rails.  
         [0016]     Most preferably, a second aspect of the invention is characterized in that the brake mechanism is resilient to lateral motion of the trolley inducing by the swinging mass of the bag suspended below. Such a trolley deploys a pair of spaced apart wheels that engage one portion of the rail and a pair of brake pads disposed to apply frictional force to the underside of the rail opposite the pair of wheel. In particular, the brakes are configured to latch via a single cog mechanism that tightens the brakes as the punching/kick bag swings.  
         [0017]     Accordingly, such a rail/I-beam, trolley and brake system provides for the secure gripping of the bag to the an I-beam when the brake is locked to resist momentum transfer when the bag swings as well as the facile unlatching from the and ease of transport along I-beam to an alternative position.  
         [0018]     The above and other objects, effects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is an elevation of a trolley system supporting a kick bag above the floor.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  an external elevation view of the trolley of  FIG. 1   
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the trolley of  FIG. 1   
         [0022]      FIG. 4A  is a cross-sectional elevation of the I-beam trolley of  FIG. 1  orthogonal to the view in  FIG. 2   
         [0023]      FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional plan view of the I-beam trolley of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 5A  is a vector diagram illustrating the operative principle of the braking system in the engaged state.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5B  is a vector diagram illustrating the operative principle of the braking system in the released state.  
         [0026]      FIG. 5C  is a vector diagram illustrating the operative principle of the braking system in the engaged state when the bag swings to the left.  
         [0027]      FIG. 5C  is a vector diagram illustrating the operative principle of the braking system in the engaged state when the bag swings to the right.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0028]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , wherein like reference numerals refer to like components in the various views, there is illustrated therein a new and improved I-Beam Trolley, generally denominated  100  herein.  
         [0029]     In accordance with the present invention, the kick bag  10  is suspended from the I-beam trolley  100 . The trolley rollingly engages I-beam  15 . I-beam  15  is suspended above the floor  1  at a first position by a post  2 . The other side of the I-beam  15  is shown as being held by a vertical surface  3  which is optionally another post, a wall or a overhead descending fixture or support. The I-beam is stiffened by an integral truss  20 .  
         [0030]     The I-beam trolley in  FIG. 1  through  4  comprises a trolley body made of plates  110 , having wheels  120  that engage the horizontal extending track or ledge  11  of I-beam  15 . When the bag  10  has been moved to the desired location, and is not intended to move when kicked, the trolley  100  is prevented from rolling via wheel  120  by a braking mechanism that applies a lateral force against the bottom surface  12  of I-beam  15  via the upper surface or brake pad  131  of at least one break plate  130 . The break plates  130  and  130 ′ are each preferably disposed below each pair of wheels  120 . The break plates  130  and  130 ′ are ordinarily engaged between a latched locking mechanism when the athlete is not moving the bag along the rail, as the latch must be released to disengage the brake. The force applied to release the latch also pulls the trolley along the beam  15 .  
         [0031]     In particular break plates  130  and  130 ′ are generally disposed to extend out laterally at the distal end of break arms  125 . and    125 ′ respectively. Each break arm has a hole or rotary bearing receiving portion  126  between the distal and proximal ends so that pivoting about this rotary axis urges the brake plate against bottom surface  12 . The hole or rotary bearing receiving portion  126  engages shaft  145  that extends between each of the side plates  110  that comprise trolley body  11 O. The proximal ends of each break arm  125  and  125 ′ have laterally extending pin  132  and  132 ′ respectively. A rotary cam  140  has a pair of spiral grooves  142  and  142 ′ for engaging laterally extending pins  132  and  132 ′ respectively. Cam  140  is central disposed about rotary shaft  141 . Either shaft  141  or cam  140  has lever arm  150  extending at right angles from shaft  141 . Lever arm  150  is pulled downward to release or unlatch the break mechanism. A torsion spring  160  is axial disposed about shaft  141  being coupled at opposite ends to the plate  110  and the cam  140  or lever  150 . The torsion spring  160  urges the cam  140  to rotate in the counter clockwise direction in this embodiment. As the spiral groove  142  and  142 ′ radiate outward from the center of cam  140 , rotating the cam  140  by lever arm  150  urges the pins  132  and  132 ′ to greater separation in the vertically disposed plane common with cam  140 . As the brake arms have a common pivot point on shaft  145  that is disposed between break plates  130 , it should be appreciated that such movement of the cam  140  caused by the spring  160  causes the break plates  132  and  132 ′ to swing toward each other. As shown in the schematic diagram in  FIG. 5A , break plate  132 ′ rotates upward in the clockwise direction with respect to the pivot axis, and break plate  132  rotating counterclockwise. Thus, such cooperative motion of the break plates causes both break pads  131  and  131  ′ to press against the underside or bottom surface  12  of I-beam  15 . Brake pads are preferably rubber. Further, the wheels  120  are preferably “DELRIN”® grade plastic.  
         [0032]     It should now be appreciated that noted that each break plate is disposed vertical downward and on the opposite side of the I-beam from each of the opposing pairs of wheels  120 . It has been found that this configuration offers the maximum stability, as will be further explained with reference to  FIG. 5 .  
         [0033]     When it is desired to move the trolley, and hence transport for example punching bags along I-beam  15 , the break is released by pulling downward on release lever  150 . Typically, a rope or cable  151  is attached to the end of release lever  150 . Thus, continued pulling of either cable  151  or lever  150  results in the trolley rolling freely on the I-beam or track. Thus, when the user or athlete has positioned the bag  10 , the mere release of the lever  150  relocks the bag  10  in a secure fixed position. Accordingly, the release and movement of the bags is simple and intuitive, requiring little instruction, yet provides a reliable method of assuring that the bags are secure before the athlete uses it for practice and exercise.  
         [0034]     Preferably, the cam  140  has two arcuate grooves  142  and  142 ′ as shown in  FIG. 2  for actuating dual break plates  130  and  130 ′, each of which is urged to contact the dual break plates  130  and  130 ′ straddling both sides of the hanging fixture  230 , which is suspended from the underside of trolley  100 , provide the benefit of resisting movement in response to an momentum in any direction. Such momentum is generated by hanging a punching or kick bag from hanging fixture  230 , which in this embodiment is shown as hanging from the shaft  145  that acts as a pivot axis for break arms  125  and  125 ′. More preferably, the grooves are portion of a spiral curve having the shape of logarithmic spiral, equiangular spiral or growth spiral, which is similar to a spiral following the so-called “golden ratio” has a ratio of the base to height of about 1.6180.  
         [0035]     As will be first explained with reference to  FIG. 5 , the brake mechanism is resilient to lateral motion of the trolley inducing by a swinging mass suspend below. Accordingly, the trolley is particularly adapted for transporting punching bags to disperse then from a clustered arrangement for storage in a gym or Karate dojo to a well dispersed arrangement where they are accessible to the athletes.  
         [0036]     As shown in  FIG. 5 A , the two brakes arms  125  and  125 ′ pivot about a common axis  145 . This common axis  145  is between the brakes point or region of contact with the bottom of the I-beam, under each pair of wheels. As the pivoting movement is controlled by cam  140  the spring  160  urges the cam  140  the counter clockwise. The lever end of each brake arm is connected to the cam  140  by a pin that slide within opposing spiral slots  142  of the cam  140 . Thus, as the torsion spring  160  urges the cam  140  counterclockwise, each of the lever arm ends are driven outward from the center of the cam, and applying an upward force at the brake pad end of each arm against the underside of the beam. it should be noted in  FIGS. 5A and 5B  that as force, represented as a vector by the downward arrow on the bag, is opposed by the rail at the contact point with the wheel, shown by upward pointing arrows above the rail.  
         [0037]     As shown in  FIG. 5B , the brakes are both released by rotating the cam  140  in the counter clockwise direction, as this causes the cam connected end of each brake arm to move toward each other being driven by the opposing spiral slots  142  in the cam  140 .  
         [0038]     Not wishing to be bound by theory,  FIGS. 5C and 5D  illustrate how it is currently believed that the cam  140  mechanism further secures the brake system as the bag oscillates. First, it should be appreciated that as the bag swings up, the loading on the wheels  120  will be reducing. However, the bag still loads the trolley  100 , as shown by the vector that swings with the bag. To the extent that one wheel pair exerts move lateral force to roll than the other, the associated and opposing break pad must exert a correspondingly higher force. The direction of these forces is best understood by considering that the load on the bag is directed in the direction the bag swings, as shown by the arrow that points into the bag. The expected force exerted by the wheel is now illustrated including the horizontal and vertical load components represented as decomposed vectors by the arrows originating at the point at the upper portion of the rail opposite each break pads. This force, when transferred to the wheel is no longer normal to the rail, with the horizontal component inducing the bag to more but for the resistance from the break pads. As the bag swings to the right in  FIG. 5C , the right wheel is unloaded so the majority the lateral force is coming from the left wheel. The cam  140  takes advantage of this imbalance to actually tighten, as the break lever associated with the right (rear) break can now imparts a greater upward force to the cam, not being loaded by the right wheel. The greater force urges the cam clockwise, applying more force to the opposite lever arm and compensating for the effect of momentum that otherwise weakens that break.  
         [0039]     The same benefit is realized when the bag swings to the left as shown in  FIG. 5D . When the bag swings to the left the left wheel is unloaded so the right brake pad must resist the force directed to the left. The break lever associated with the left (front) break pad can now imparts a greater upward force to the cam, not being loaded by the left wheel. This larger force in turn also drives the cam  140  counter clockwise urging the opposite break arm outward along the groove to exert more force on the rail or track.  
         [0040]     It should now be appreciated that the cyclic unbalance of the break mechanism, that results from the swinging bag, rather than loosening the brake mechanism, actually tightens it. Further, the spiral grooved path in the cam is of sufficient length to accommodate variation in the thickness of the brake pad as well as the wear that can be expected to occur.  
         [0041]     While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.  
         [0042]     Thus it should be understood, that although the trolley mechanism  100  has been described in the contest of being adapted to roll along and grasp an I-beam, the term I-beam is intended to embrace equivalents that include for example . . . I-beam includes any shaped beam that form a linear or curvilinear track, being stiffened by connected horizontal and vertical disposed elongated plates, such as T-shapes, U shapes, squares and rectangular shaped channels and the like. One such equivalent track includes has horizontal groves that engage a matching member on the break plate  4  or more wheels. Alternatively, the wheels  120  may engage a different portion of such a rail system or I-beam.  
         [0043]     It will also be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, having the benefit of this disclosure, that such wheels can be replaced with gear and bicycle chain or roller bearings that are part of the trolley. Further, one of ordinary skill in the art, having the benefit of this disclosure, will also appreciate that Wheels, gear and bicycle chain, or roller bearings can be on the I-beam, instead of the trolley. Further, it should be understood that the hanging fixture for attaching the bag need not be attached directly to the trolley, but can have its own rollers and be pushed or pulled by the trolleys motion.