Abstract:
A gyroscopic wrist exerciser has a transparent plastic housing and a gyroscopic rotor mounted on an axle rotating on a primary axis of rotation about the axle. Ends of the axle are extended into a circumferential housing groove disposed on an inside surface of the transparent plastic housing to rotate in a secondary axis of rotation about the circumferential groove to provide precession of the gyroscopic rotor. A permanent magnet cooperating with a coil produces an electric current proportional to the speed of the rotor. A microcontroller connected to and powered by the coil has three separate outputs, namely a first output, a second output and a third output which receive degrees of voltage depending upon an input voltage from the coil. A first LED chip, a second LED chip, and a third LED chip are connected to the microcontroller at the three outputs.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is in the field of gyroscopic wrist exercisers. 
       DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART 
       [0002]    The precession driven gyroscopic wrist exerciser was first invented by Archie L. Mishler and patented Apr. 10, 1973 in U.S. Pat. No. 3,726,146. For those unfamiliar with the gyroscopic wrist exerciser mechanism, the Mishler reference abstract provides an excellent primer regarding the kinematic physics. Jerrold W. Silkebakken further improved precessional stability adding a sectioned ring within the race patented Apr. 24, 1979 in U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,580. 
         [0003]    Color changing gyroscopic wrist exercisers have been describing in U.S. Pat. No. 7,846,066 issued Dec. 7, 2010 to Chuang, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Chuang teaches her light emitting control circuit and a wrist training ball using a light emitting device where the electricity generating circuit generates electric power by rotational kinetic energy of the wrist training ball and outputs the electric power to the light emitting control circuit. The light emitting control circuit is made by components not having a programmable controller. Chuang teaches that the color changing components can be mounted on a printed circuit board which is in turn mounted on the rotor. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    A gyroscopic wrist exerciser has a transparent plastic housing and a gyroscopic rotor mounted on an axle rotating on a primary axis of rotation about the axle. Ends of the axle are extended into a circumferential housing groove disposed on an inside surface of the transparent plastic housing to rotate in a secondary axis of rotation about the circumferential groove to provide precession of the gyroscopic rotor. A permanent magnet cooperating with a coil produces an electric current proportional to the speed of the rotor. A microcontroller connected to and powered by the coil has three separate outputs, namely a first output, a second output and a third output which receive degrees of voltage depending upon an input voltage from the coil. A first LED chip, a second LED chip, and a third LED chip are connected to the microcontroller at the three outputs. 
         [0005]    A first LED chip is connected to the microcontroller at the first output. A second LED chip is connected to the microcontroller at the second output. A third LED chip is connected to the microcontroller at the third output. The gyroscopic wrist exerciser optionally includes a translucent plastic grip. A rotor groove formed as a circumferential groove around an external periphery of the rotor, wherein the rotor groove further comprises an LED bulb mounting hole. 
         [0006]    An LED bulb can be mounted within the LED bulb mounting hole, and the LED bulb includes a first LED chip, a second LED chip and a third LED chip encapsulated within the LED bulb. The first LED chip, the second LED chip and the third LED are formed in an LED chip package which is encapsulated within the LED bulb. The microcontroller is preferably encapsulated within the LED bulb at a base of the LED bulb. The groove lens has a groove lens body and a groove lens sidewall, and the groove lens caps the LED bulb mounting hole to present a substantially flush outer surface. 
         [0007]    The microcontroller is configured to produce a varied output depending upon voltage input from the coil. At a minimum voltage the first chip activates producing a first LED maximum output, and the second LED chip begins at a second LED lower range shut off output, and the third LED chip begins at a third LED lower range shut off of no light intensity. An increase of rotational speed and voltage to a lower middle voltage range provides a drop in intensity of the first LED chip, and increasing the intensity of the second LED chip and a minor increase in the intensity of the third LED chip. 
         [0008]    A middle voltage range produces a first LED lower output at the first LED chip, wherein the second LED chip proceeds to a second LED midrange maximum output, while the third LED chip moves to a third LED medium range output. An upper middle voltage range produces decreasing intensity of the first chip, decreasing intensity of the second chip and increasing intensity of the third chip. A voltage maximum produces a first LED upper range shut off output of the first LED chip, a second LED upper range shut off output from the second LED chip, and a third LED upper range maximum output from the third LED chip. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of the RGB light intensity over voltage. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the light generation module. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an LED bulb of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a cross-section diagram showing mounting of the bulb into the groove of the rotor. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the entire device. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is another perspective view of the entire device. 
       
    
    
       [0015]    The call out list of elements is a useful guide in referencing the elements of the drawings. For ease of reference, a call out list of elements is provided below.
     21  Minimum Voltage     22  Lower Middle Voltage Range     23  Middle Voltage Range     24  Upper Middle Voltage Range     25  Voltage Maximum     31  First Led Maximum Output     32  First Led Lower Output     33  First Led Upper Range Shut Off Output     34  Second Led Lower Range Shut Off Output     35  Second Led Midrange Maximum Output     36  Second Led Upper Range Shut Off Output     37  Third Led Lower Range Shut Off     38  Third Led Medium Range Output     39  Third Led Upper Range Maximum Output     41  First Led Chip     42  Second Led Chip     43  Third Led Chip     51  Permanent Magnet     52  Coil     53  Voltage High Of Coil     54  Voltage Low Of Coil     61  Multiple Chips     62  Led Chip Package     63  Lens     64  Body     65  First Lead     66  Second Lead     67  Integrated Chip Package Microcontroller     69  First Contact     68  Second Contact     71  Groove Lens Hollow     72  Groove Lens Body     73  Groove Lens Sidewall     74  Groove Lens Protrusion     75  Rotor     76  Catch Groove     77  Led Bulb Mounting Hole     78  Groove of Rotor     79  Insertion Force     81  Ends Of Axle     82  Outer Housing Groove     88  Outer Housing Of Gyroscopic Wrist Exerciser   
 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0058]    The gyroscopic wrist exerciser has an outer housing  88  having ends of axle  81  set into an outer housing groove  82  which is a circumferential groove.  FIGS. 5 ,  6  show the outer housing as transparent. Within an outer housing  88 , in number of components are mounted inside. Most immediately the mounting ring receives ends of axle  81 , and the mounting ring  83  is mounted within the circumferential groove of the outer housing groove  82  so as to maintain ends of axle  81  within the circumferential groove. 
         [0059]    A gyroscopic wrist exerciser includes a color changing LED system integrated into a plastic head. As the gyroscopic wrist exerciser rotor increases in speed, the gyroscopic wrist exerciser outputs more voltage to the LED circuit. The LED circuit senses the increasing voltage and activates a series of LEDs in proportion to the voltage output. The LED circuit a have three LEDs mounted on a printed circuit board in conjunction with an LED controller. 
         [0060]    A rainbow color transition can be produced by three LEDs. For example, at low voltage, the LED circuit could activate a red LED. Then at a medium voltage the LED could activate a green LED and then the LED circuit could activate a blue LED. The light color would start as red at low rpm range and then with increased RPM the light output can become yellow when the red LED and the green LED are both on. When the medium rpm range is reached a green LED can be output. With further increasing speed, the green LED would mix with the blue LED so that the output would become cyan. As a high range is reached, the green LED would decrease in intensity so that only the blue LED is active. 
         [0061]    Other modifications of this can be a red LED at low rpm which does not shut off, but is complemented by a green LED at medium rpm and a blue LED at high rpm. This would start with a red color which would transition to a yellow color and then end with a white color when all three LEDs are active. The three LEDs can be mounted within a single LED bulb. Alternatively, three separate bulbs with three separate LED chips can be utilized. 
         [0062]    The microcontroller for the three LEDs can be miniaturized and built into the LED bulbs, or the microcontroller can be mounted to a printed circuit board which also receives the three LEDs. In operation, the color of the LED provides a visual indicator as to the speed of the rotor. An integrated circuit such as a PIC12F675 can control the various intensities of outputs of a single rainbow RGB LED bulb that has three LED chips. The integrated circuit is can be programmed in C+ or can also be programmed in basic. David Prutchi of Impulse Dynamics in Haifa Israel presents in the Dec. 7, 2004 issue of EDN magazine, a Rainbow LED that indicates voltage with color change using a PIC12F675 microprocessor and a multicolor LED bulb. The microcontroller can be miniaturized and incorporated into the head of the multicolor LED bulb. A variety of LED bulbs have a built-in microcontroller to provide automatic color cycling. These color cycling LED bulbs have an integrated multicolor SMD chip and controller chip embedded in a standard T1-3/4 package. A standard T1-3/4 package is not much larger than a regular LED bulb. Although the microcontroller can be made as a programmable microprocessor having a large power requirement when the rotor is heavy and larger than handheld sized, the microcontroller can also be made as a passive integrated circuit formed as a package and integrated into a standard T1-3/4 package. 
         [0063]    The analog input and output can be shown in  FIG. 1  as a differential voltage configuration chart having RGB functionality denoting the three basic colors. The chart shows light intensity on a vertical axis and shows voltage on a horizontal axis. The first chip  41  activates at a minimum voltage  21  producing a first LED maximum output  31 . The second LED chip  42  begins at a second LED lower range shut off output when at voltage minimum  21 . The third LED chip  43  begins at a third LED lower range shut off of no light intensity. The lower middle voltage range  22  provides a drop in intensity of the first chip or bulb, and increasing the intensity of the second chip or bulb and a minor increase in the intensity of the third chip or bulb. The voltage minimum  21  has a color red which shifts to yellow and the lower middle voltage range  22 . 
         [0064]    The middle voltage range  23  produces a mostly green color with minor input from the red chip  41  and the blue chip  43 . The middle voltage range  23  produces a first LED lower output  32  at the first chip  41 . The first chip  41  then proceeds to the first LED lower output  32  which is dimmer. The second LED chip  42  proceeds to a second LED midrange maximum output  35 , while the third LED chip  43  moves to a third LED medium range output  38 . 
         [0065]    As the speed of the rotor increases, the voltage also from the middle voltage range  23  to the upper middle voltage range  24  which corresponds to a cyan color. The upper middle voltage range  24  produces decreasing intensity of the first chip, decreasing intensity of the second chip and increasing intensity of the third chip  43 . The voltage maximum  25  at a maximum or near maximum rotational velocity of the rotor produces a first LED upper range shut off output  33  from the first chip  41 . The voltage maximum  25  at a maximum or near maximum rotational velocity of the rotor produces a second LED upper range shut off output  36  from the second LED chip  42 . The voltage maximum  25  at a maximum or near maximum rotational velocity of the rotor produces a third LED upper range maximum output  39  from the third LED chip  43 . 
         [0066]    A block diagram of the present invention can be shown  FIG. 2  where the permanent magnet  51  is mounted on the housing of the gyroscopic wrist exerciser. The coil  52  provides a voltage high  53  and voltage low  54  of the coil, which are connected to an integrated circuit  55 . The integrated circuit  55  provides a first output  56  to the first LED chip  41 , provides a second output  57  to the second LED chip  42 , and provides a third output  58  to the third LED chip  43 . The integrated circuit can also be made as a passive circuit and an integrated circuit rather than a programmable microprocessor which requires a large power supply. The integrated circuit can be formed in a package integrated to the bulb of the LED. The permanent magnet  51  preferably has a protective cover  59  mounted over the permanent magnet. 
         [0067]    The preferred physical construction of the bulb LED is to have multiple chips  61  on a chip package  62  encased in a lens formed as a bulb. The first lead  65  makes electrical connection between the chip package  62  and in the integrated chip package  67 . The second lead  66  also makes electrical connection between the LED chip package  62  and the integrated chip package  67 . The third lead also makes electrical connection between the LED chip package and integrated chip package. Both the integrated chip package  67  and the LED chip package  62  are encased in the lens  63  or the body  64  which is a hard plastic encapsulating the LED chip package and the integrated chip package  67 . The integrated chip package is electrically connected to a pair of prong contacts, namely a first contact  69  and the second contact  68 . 
         [0068]    The LED bulb is mounted in an LED bulb mounting hole  77 . The mounting hole includes a circumferential catch groove  76  cut into the rotor  75 . The rotor  75  is preferably made of transparent material. The mounting hole  77  receives a groove lens body  72  which forms a groove lens hollow  71  approximately matching the top profile of the LED bulb. The circumference of the groove lens sidewall  73  is also preferably round to fit into the round LED bulb mounting hole  77 . The groove lens fits as a cap over the LED bulb to obtain control over the light dispersal and also to protect the LED bulb. The catch groove  76  receives a circumferential groove lens protrusion  74  which protrudes around the round periphery of the groove lens sidewall  73 . The rotor  75  is formed with the groove  78  which is used for receiving a driving wheel for starting the rotor. The groove  78  passes around the circumference of the rotor. The groove lens body  72  and the rotor  75  are both clear. In an alternate embodiment, the groove lens body  72  can be formed with the rotor  75 . An insertion force from a finger or a tool can be used for pressing the groove lens into the LED bulb mounting hole  77 . The housing of the gyroscopic wrist exerciser is also preferably clear. 
         [0069]    The changing lights can be used for designating a workout routine. The workout routine can be on a DVD for instructing a variety of routines. In a step routine, the user can be instructed to operate the gyroscopic wrist exerciser at a low speed for two minutes, then operate the gyroscopic wrist exerciser at a medium speed for two minutes and then operate the gyroscopic wrist exerciser at high speed for two minutes. The user could be instructed to operate the gyroscopic wrist exerciser at the green zone for two minutes, then operate the gyroscopic wrist exerciser at the blue zone for two minutes, and then operate the gyroscopic wrist exerciser at the red zone for two minutes. 
         [0070]    The LED color change can be a set pattern and cumulative over time rather than speed dependent. In the timer embodiment of the microcontroller, the microcontroller has a set pattern of light generation, such as beginning with the red, then changing to blue than changing to green so that as long as the gyroscopic wrist exerciser is operating, the LED color change will be occurring. The LED color change microcontroller is preferably embedded within the bulb of the LED. The set pattern could be a flashing pattern through each of the red blue and green colors for several seconds. Thus set pattern could also be slower such as mixing a variety of the different colors as stated above. The LED color change of the set pattern would be triggered by presence of a voltage supply rather than a particular amount of voltage. 
         [0071]    The LED color change can also be random so that a variety of different colors are produced at random. The microcontroller would be programmed to provide a variety of different colors produced at random. The microcontroller responsible for random color production is preferably embedded within the bulb of the LED. 
         [0072]    The foregoing describes the preferred embodiments of the invention. Modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.