Abstract:
A resistance apparatus for use with exercise devices includes an axle and outer housing for rotatably mounting the axle therein. At least one inner housing includes an opening for receiving the axle therethrough so that the inner housing is fixably mounted on the axle. The inner housing is rotatably mounted inside the outer housing to permit rotation of the inner housing along with the axle within the outer housing. At least a first tensioned member is disposed within the inner housing. The first tensioned member includes a first end and a second end. The first end of the tensioned member engages an engagement area of the inner housing. The second end of the tensioned member engages an engagement area of the outer housing. The tensioned member creates a rotational restoring force between the inner housing and the outer housing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present patent application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/043,823, entitled “RESISTANCE APPARATUS FOR EXERCISE DEVICES”, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,871,359, filed on Mar. 6, 2008 and is related to commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/750,093, entitled “Foldable Exercise Device”, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,806,812, filed on May 17, 2007, the entire teachings of which are being hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to the field of exercise equipment, and more particularly relates to an apparatus for providing resistance while using an exercise device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Personal health and fitness has become increasingly popular over the recent years. As a result, health club memberships and personal fitness equipment sales have increased. Personal fitness equipment is especially popular because it allows individuals to exercise on their own time while in the convenience and privacy of their own homes. Exercise equipment generally uses weights as the primary source of resistance. However, other sources of resistance such as flexible bands or hydraulics can also be used. Flexible bands are often found on exercise equipment so that a user is not required to maintain and store bulky weights. 
     Items such as springs are generally not used as a source of resistance for exercise equipment. This is because many spring motors have a very short life expectancy and are not suitable for repetitive use. Additionally, spring motors generally do not exert any resistance at their resting position. Therefore most spring motors would not provide an experience similar to that of using free-weights or stacked weights. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, a resistance apparatus for use with exercise devices is disclosed. The resistance apparatus includes an axle an outer housing for rotatably mounting the axle therein. At least one inner housing includes an opening for receiving the axle therethrough so that the inner housing is fixably mounted on the axle. The inner housing is rotatably mounted inside the outer housing to permit rotation of the inner housing along with the axle within the outer housing. At least a first tensioned member is disposed within the inner housing. The first tensioned member includes a first end and a second end. The first end of the tensioned member engages an engagement area of the inner housing. The second end of the tensioned member engages an engagement area of the outer housing. The tensioned member creates a rotational restoring force between the inner housing and the outer housing. 
     In another embodiment a resistance apparatus for use with exercise devices is disclosed. The resistance apparatus includes a first resistance cartridge and at least a second resistance cartridge. The resistance apparatus also includes an axle. The first resistance cartridge and the at least second resistance cartridge are co-axially aligned with respect to each other and are fixably mounted to the axle. The axle includes a groove along the axial direction that receives an engagement member slidably mounted within the groove. The engagement member selectably engages at least one of the first resistance cartridge and the at least second resistance cartridge. 
     In yet another embodiment an inner housing for use within a resistance apparatus is disclosed. The inner housing comprises an outer portion that is substantially circular. An inner portion includes an opening for receiving an axle therethrough so that the inner portion is fixably mounted on the axle. At least a first tensioned member is disposed within the inner portion. The first tensioned member includes a first end and a second end. The first end of the tensioned member engages an engagement area on an inner area of the outer portion. The second end of the tensioned member is adapted to engage an engagement area of an outer housing that maintains the inner housing. The tensioned member creates a rotational restoring force between the inner housing and the outer housing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying figures where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a resistance apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side angled cross-sectional view of a portion of the resistance apparatus of  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a side angled cross-sectional view of another portion of the resistance apparatus of  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side exploded view of a housing that maintains a tensioned member according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom angled exploded view a housing that maintains the housing and tensioned member of  FIG. 4  according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom angled view of the housing of  FIG. 5  comprising the housing and tensioned member of  FIG. 4  according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. 
     The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term coupled, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. 
     The materials used to construct the present invention are metal, however, other materials including plastics, metal alloys, composites, ceramics, and other inorganic or organic materials or combinations thereof may be used. 
     Although the invention is described in terms of an exemplary embodiment, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art that various modifications, rearrangements, and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims appended hereto. 
     An advantage of the various embodiments of the present invention is that resistance apparatus comprising tensioned members is presented. The tensioned members do not fatigue very quickly, thereby giving the user a reasonable lifespan. Another advantage is that the tensioned members such as wound springs are torqued. This allows the user to experience instant resistance. State differently, the tensioned members provide resistance from a resting point all the way to and end point of rotation. The resistance apparatus can be configured so that additional tensioned members can be and selected, thereby providing a variable degree of resistance to the user. 
     Exercise Resistance Apparatus 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 1 , an exercise resistance apparatus  100  is illustrated. The resistance apparatus  100  provides resistance to a user during an exercise in both the positive and negative directions. For example, the resistance apparatus  100  can provide resistance to a user while the user is interacting with an exercise machine such as that discussed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/750,093, entitled “Foldable Exercise Device”, now [pending], the entire teaching of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The resistance apparatus  100 , in one embodiment, includes a first outer portion  102  and a second outer portion  104  that extends outwards in a lateral direction from the first outer portion  102 . The first outer portion  102  can be a single unit or be comprised of multiple resistance cartridges  106 ,  108 . In one embodiment where the first outer portion  102  includes multiple resistance cartridges  106 ,  108 , each of the resistance cartridges  106 ,  108  are mechanically coupled to at least one other resistance cartridge, thereby making the first outer portion  102  a single unit. It should be noted that the first and second outer portions  102 ,  104  can be comprised of materials such as (but not limited to) metals, metal-alloys, plastics, and composites. 
     Each of the resistance cartridges  106 ,  108  include a tensioned member  310  ( FIG. 3 ), discussed in greater detail below, that provides a given degree of resistance. For example, each resistance cartridge  106 ,  108  can provide 10 lbs of resistance or any other degree of resistance. Also, the resistance cartridges  106 ,  108  are not limited to providing the same degree of resistance. At least one pulley mechanism  112  is disposed at one end  114  of the first outer portion  102  of the resistance apparatus  100 . The pulley mechanism  112  is configured to maintain a connector  116  such as (but not limited to) rope, wire, cable, cord, or chain that when pulled rotates the pulley mechanism  112 . The connector  116  can be coupled to a grip  117  that allows the user to pull the connector  116 . In one embodiment, the pulley mechanism  112  is mechanically coupled to an end plate  118  of the first outer portion  102  or an end resistance cartridge  106 . 
     In one embodiment, one end  120  of the second outer portion  104  is mechanically coupled to an outer facing portion  122  of the pulley mechanism  112 . Therefore, when the pulley mechanism  112  rotates so does the second outer portion  104 . The second outer portion  104 , in one embodiment, houses an axle/shaft  224 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , which selectively engages each tensioned member  310  and also engages or is engaged by the pulley mechanism  112 . Therefore, when the pulley mechanism  112  rotates, the engaged axle  224  also rotates. As the axle  224  rotates, any tensioned member  310  engaged by the axle  224  also rotates, thereby providing resistance. 
     The axle  224 , in one embodiment, can selectively engage a tensioned member  310  by adjusting the position of a sliding member  226 . For example, the sliding member  226  includes an extending portion  228  that extends into the second outer portion  104  through a slot  130  and is coupled to or engages a portion  232  of the axle  224 . In one embodiment, the portion  232  of the axle  224  is an engagement member  234  disposed in a groove  236  (e.g., keyway) on the axle  224 . In one embodiment, the groove  236  is disposed on the axle  224  in the axial direction. 
     A lower area  238  of the extending portion  228  is either mechanically coupled to or engages the engagement member  234 . As the sliding member  226  moves in a lateral direction on the second outer portion  104 , the engagement member  234  also moves in a lateral direction within the groove  236  formed along the axle  224 . In this embodiment, as the engagement member  234  is positioned into the first outer portion  102 , the engagement member  234  sequentially engages each tensioned member  310  within the resistance cartridges  106 . The term “engages” means that the tensioned member is mechanically coupled to the axle  224  so as to rotate. In this embodiment, the axle  224  remains stationary in the lateral direction. For example, a first end  240  and a second end  242  of the axle  224  are coupled to one end  344  ( FIG. 3 ) of the first outer portion  102  and one end  246  of the second outer portion  104 , respectively. 
     However, it should be noted that the axle  224  can be configured to slide in and out of the first outer portion  102  for selectively engaging a tensioned member  310 . In this embodiment a separate engagement member  234  is not required since the axle  224  can include various portions (not shown) that engage a tensioned member  310  when the axle  224  is slid into the first outer portion  102 . It should also be noted that in another embodiment, the axle  224  remains within the first outer portion  102  and only the engagement member  234  extends into the second outer portion  104 . Also, in another embodiment, the second outer portion  104  is not required. For example, the axle  224  can be configured to include various areas (not shown) that selectively engage the tensioned members  310  of the resistance cartridges  106 ,  108 , to be mechanically coupled to turn with the axle  224 . 
     In this embodiment, the axle  224  remains within the first outer portion  102  and is coupled to an end portion (not shown). This end portion can be rotated, thereby rotating the axle  224 . As the axle  224  rotates the various areas (not shown) can sequentially or selectively engage one or more of the tensioned members  310  to provide varying degrees of resistance to the user. It should be noted that other components can be used such as cams and/or solenoids for selectively engaging one or more tensioned members  310 . 
       FIG. 2  also shows, in one embodiment, that the end plate  118  of the first outer portion  102  includes an inner area  248 . This inner area  248 , in one embodiment, includes a bearing  250 . The bearing  250  can be a ball bearing, a cylindrical roller, or any other type of bearing. The pulley mechanism  112  also includes an inner area (not shown) that comprises an extending member  254 . This extending member  254  is configured to be received at least partially within the bearing  250  so that the pulley mechanism  112  rotates smoothly. The extending member  254  of the pulley mechanism  110  is hollow and includes a groove  256 . This groove  256  maintains a portion  232  of the axle  224  such as the engagement member  234  that pushes against the groove  256  when the groove  256  of the pulley mechanism  112  is rotated. As the groove  256  pushes against the portion  232  of the axle  224 , the axle  224  rotates, thereby mechanically coupling the tensioned member  310  to the axis so as to turn together as a unit. This provides resistance to the user as the connector  116  is pulled from the pulley mechanism  112 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a top-angled cross-sectional view of the first outer portion  102 . In particular,  FIG. 3  shows a tensioned member  310  residing within a resistance cartridge  106 .  FIG. 3  also shows a plurality of other resistance cartridges  108 . These resistance cartridges  108  have been shown without tensioned members  310  for simplified illustration purposes only. For example, the first outer portion  102  can include empty resistance cartridges  108  so that a user can add tensioned members in the future. In one embodiment, the tensioned member  310  is disposed within a housing  358  herein referred to as a “torque setter  358 ”. 
       FIG. 3  further shows the axle  224  having engaged the tensioned member  310 . For example, a portion  232  of the axle  224  such as the engagement member  234  has engaged a groove  360  (also shown in  FIG. 4 ) within a hollow area  462  of the torque setter  358 . The torque setter  358  also includes helical grooves  364  circumscribing an outer portion  466  ( FIG. 4 ) of the torque setter  358 . In one embodiment, a rolling member such as roller pin  368  is disposed within a lateral groove  370  of the resistance cartridge  106 . As the torque setter  358  is disposed within the resistance cartridge  106 , a helical groove  364  on the outer portion  366  of the torque setter  358  rests on the roller pin  368 . The tensioned member  310 , torque setter  358 , and rolling member  368  are discussed in greater detail below. 
       FIG. 4  shows a top-angled exploded view of the torque setter  358  and tensioned member  310 . In one embodiment, the tensioned member  310  is a spring such as a clock spring. The types of spring, material, width, length, defines the spring constant k in Hook&#39;s law F=−kx, where x is the distance that the spring has been stretched or compressed away from the equilibrium position. The equilibrium position is generally the position where the spring would naturally come to rest. F is the restoring force exerted by the material. The resistance apparatus  100  can use any configuration of a wound spring to provide a given resistance. For example, a spring wound a specific number of times can be selected to provide a desired initial resistance such as 5 lbs, 10 lbs, 15 lbs, and the like. The tensioned member  310  includes a first end  472  and a second end  474 . In one embodiment using a wound spring as the tensioned member  310  one of the ends  472  is on the outside  476  of the tensioned member  410  and the other end  474  is within an inner area  478  of the tensioned member  310 . 
     In one embodiment, the outside end  472  has an open/hook type configuration that engages an attachment area  480  on an inside wall  482  of the torque setter  358 , as shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 . The inner end  474 , in one embodiment, has a bent/curled configuration that engages the recessed area/groove  586  disposed on an extending member  588  of the resistance cartridge  106 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . It should be noted that these end configurations are only for illustrative purposes and do not limit the present invention to such configurations. The tensioned member  310  is placed within the torque setter  358  by inserting an extending member  490  of the torque setter  358  disposed on an end wall  492  into the inner area  478  of the tensioned member  310 .  FIG. 4  also shows the helical grooves  364  on the outside portion  466  of the tensioned member  310 .  FIG. 4  shows the tensioned member  310  comprising a band  491 . In one embodiment, this is how the tensioned member  310  comes from the manufacturer. The band  491  is removed once the tensioned member  310  is placed within the torque setter  358 . 
       FIG. 5  is cross-sectional exploded of view of the resistance cartridge  108  comprising the torque setter  358 .  FIG. 5  shows the tensioned member  310  disposed within the torque setter  358 . Once the tensioned member  310  is within the torque setter  358 , the torque setter  358  can be inserted into the resistance cartridge  106 .  FIG. 5  shows a first portion  596  of the resistance cartridge  106 . In one embodiment, the first portion  596  of the resistance cartridge  106  includes an inner area  598  comprising an extending member  588 . The extending member  588  is hollow and has a diameter that is slightly larger than the diameter of the extending member  490  of the torque setter  358 . 
     The extending member  588  of the resistance cartridge  106  receives the extending member  490  of the torque setter  358 . The extending member  588  also includes a recessed  586  area or a groove that engages the inner end  474  of the tensioned member  310 .  FIG. 5  also shows the outer end  472  of the tensioned member  310  engaging the attachment area  480  of the torque setter  358 . Once the extending member  490  of the torque setter  358  is inserted into the extending member  588  of the resistance cartridge  106 , a captivating member  590  such as a washer is placed on an outside edge  551  of the resistance cartridge extending member  588 . Fasteners such as screws, bolts, rivets, and the like can be inserted into fastening areas  593  disposed on the captivating member  590  to couple the captivating member  590  to an outside edge  553  of the torque setter extending member  490 , thereby maintaining the torque setter  358  and tensioned member  310  within the resistance cartridge  106 . 
     After the torque setter  358  has been coupled to the resistance cartridge  106 , the tensioned member  310  can be tuned to a given degree of resistance. For example, the torque setter  358  can be rotated a number of times to further wind and place tension on the tensioned member  310 . The tensioned member  310  experiences tension as the torque setter  358  is wound because the outer end  472  of the tensioned member  310  is engaged by the attachment area  480  of the torque setter  358  and the inner end  474  is engaging the recessed area  586  of the resistance cartridge  106 , which remains stationary as the torque setter  358  rotates. Therefore, as the torque setter  358  is wound the tensioned member  310  becomes tighter according to Hook&#39;s Law. 
     Once the torque setter  358  has been wound a desired number of times, the rolling member  368  is placed within the lateral groove  370  of the resistance cartridge  106 . The lateral groove  370  is disposed on a lower portion  557  (or upper portion depending how the cartridge  106  is oriented) of the cartridge  106  as shown in  FIG. 6 . As discussed above, as the helical groove  364  of the torque setter  358  rests on the roller pin  368 . Therefore, the rolling member  368  becomes captive within the lateral groove  370  and follows the helical groove  364  pitch position in the lateral groove  370 . In one embodiment, the lateral groove  370 , has a width that substantially corresponds to the width of the helical grooves  364  on the outside portion  366  of the torque setter  358 . 
     The helical grooves  364  in combination with the lateral groove  370  and the rolling member  368  defines a limit of rotation of the torque setter  358  housing within the resistance cartridge  106  and hence, the range of the tensioned member operates within a force versus displacement curve. In one embodiment, to keep the force/resistance constant the range is limited to a substantially linear range of the curve. For example,  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  5 , and  6  show 4 helical grooves  364 , which allow the toque setter  358  to be rotated 4 times or 4 revolutions. As a user pulls the connector  116  from the pulley mechanism  112 , the pulley mechanism  112  rotates the axle  224 , thereby rotating the torque setter  358 . As the torque setter  358  is performing a revolution, the helical grove  364  moves over the rolling member  368  causing the rolling member  368  to travel in a lateral direction within the lateral groove  370 . Because the torque setter  358  only includes 4 helical grooves  364  in this example, the torque setter  358  only performs 4 revolutions. The rolling member  368  allows the torque setter  358  to rotate smoothly and also helps maintain the torque setter  358  within the resistance cartridge  106  by moving back and forth within the lateral groove  370 . 
     Additionally, because the torque setter  358  and tensioned member  310  have been wound a given number of times, the torque setter/tensioned member unit has a given torque range. For example, if the tensioned member  310  has a limit of 20 winds, the torque setter  358  can be wound 20 times and then the rolling member  368  inserted into the lateral groove  370 . In the above example, the 4 helical grooves  364  roll over the rolling member  368  four times, thereby placing the torque setter  358  and tensioned member  310  at  16  winds when the torque setter  358  is at a resting position. In this example, the torque range of the torque setter  358  and tensioned member  310  is 16/20 winds. In other words, the torque setter  358  begins at  16  winds and has a final position at  20  winds. Therefore, the tensioned member  310  is torqued even when resting so that a user experiences instant resistance similar to free-weights. 
     Continuing with the above example, torque setter  358  is configured so that 4 revolutions allow the connector  116  to be pulled out about 4 feet from the pulley mechanism  112 . If less length or more length is desired, the torque setter  358  can be made larger so that one revolution travels more distance. The torque setter  358  can also be made wider to accommodate additional helical grooves, which also allows for more revolutions. In one embodiment, each end  559 ,  561  of the helical groove  364  includes a stopping mechanism  563 ,  565  such as (but not limited to) a metal pin. These stopping mechanisms  563 ,  565  prevent damage to the resistance apparatus  100 . For example, if a user accidently lets go of the connector  116 , the tensioned mechanism  310  return to its resting position very quickly. A stopping mechanism  563  at the first end  559  of the helical groove  364  provides a reinforced stopping area that catches the rolling member  368  to stop the torque setter  358  from rotating beyond its resting position. The stopping mechanism  565  at the second end  561  prevents the torque setter  358  from traveling beyond the final rotation of the torque setter  358 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a bottom angled view of the resistance cartridge  106  comprising the torque setter  358  and the tensioned member  310 . In particular,  FIG. 6  shows the other side of the resistance cartridge  106  than what is shown in  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 6  also shows the axle  224  passing through the resistance cartridge  106  and the torque setter  358 . As can be seen from  FIG. 6 , the rolling member  368  is disposed within the lateral groove  370  of the resistance cartridge  106  and within the helical groove  364  of the torque setter  358 . As the axle  224  rotates the torque setter  358  the helical groove  364  causes the rolling member  368  to travel back and forth within the lateral groove  370 .  FIG. 6  also shows the captivating member  590  that couples to the outside edge  553  of the torque setter extending member  490  and outside edge  551  of the resistance cartridge  106 . The resistance cartridge  106  also includes various fastening areas  567  for coupling the resistance apparatus  100  to an exercise device, a floor, a wall, or any other object. It should be noted that the fastening areas  567  can be disposed at any location on the resistance cartridge  106 . 
     NON-LIMITING EXAMPLES 
     Although specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes can be made to the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is not to be restricted, therefore, to the specific embodiments, and it is intended that the appended claims cover any and all such applications, modifications, and embodiments within the scope of the present invention.