Patent Publication Number: US-2003228961-A1

Title: Inner tangentially driving exerciser

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1) Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relating to an inner tangentially driving exerciser, more particularly to an exerciser providing a moving wheel for an exercising means to drive inner tangentially thereby lowering an operation position and achieving the safe effect, mainly comprises a driving apparatus relatively assembled at the position of a lower circular tangent point of an inner circle of a motion wheel to indirectly link the motion wheel through the function of an external force so as to allow the inner circular plane of the motion wheel to be thereby not only increasing the safety of application, but also lowering the operation position to facilitate the cooperative applications for various types of exercisers.  
       [0003] 2) Description of the Prior Art  
       [0004] The design of an exerciser, a toy or a transportation means absolutely requires a driving wheel for making movement; for example, a rear wheel of a bicycle has a wheel with an inner breadth plane connected with a hub through spoke rods; the center of the wheel is coaxially assembled by a passive gear through a chain or any other driving methods, to transmit an epicyclical couple to the wheel via the spoke rods for achieving a driving objective; or, for example, a wheel disposed on an exerciser might have spoke rods connected with a hub toward the center of the wheel or have a circular board body connected with a wheel tire frame on the outer circle, a hub connected at the center and similarly a coaxially jointed gear or belt wheel to transmit through an external force for driving the wheel.  
       [0005] However, the work efficiency of a transportation means and an exerciser requires different designs. For a transportation means, it is necessary to reach the highest converting efficiency of the dynamic force; however, the design of an exerciser is oriented to a reverse direction to lower the efficiency of the force transmission in order to increase the degree an exerciser&#39;s force exertion so as to achieve the exercise for muscles and bones. The design of a traditional wheel uses a central point as a supporting point and has the least resistance of the moment of force and that is not suitable for being applied onto an exerciser. Furthermore, the inner breadth plane of the wheel connects with the spoke rods to install elements and has an axel center. Therefore, after being applied to any transportation means or exerciser and the main body structure is connected with the wheel, the center of gravity of the platform will be either too high or not able to meet the cooperative requirement of various new style designs.  
       [0006] Furthermore, since the conventional wheel has spoke rods, the user&#39;s foot might be injured due to the tangentially press of the spoke rods or the toe tip might be twisted due to accidental insertion between the spoke rods when there is a miss during the exercise operation.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] Therefore, the primary objective of the present invention is to particularly design an exerciser with a hollow breadth plane; the driving method thereof utilizes a driving apparatus disposed at the position on a lower circle tangent point of an inner circle of a motion wheel and positioned by an inner hoop body and a railing device to efficiently, indirectly and tangentially drives the motion wheel so as to obtain an application of safely lowering an operation position.  
       [0008] The secondary objective of the present invention is to dispose a unidirectional engaging apparatus to unidirectionally and movably fasten a driving shaft of the driving apparatus thereby preventing the feedback action force of the motion wheel.  
       [0009] The third objective of the present invention is to make the driving apparatus move frictionally.  
       [0010] The fourth objective of the present invention is that the inner tangentially driving apparatus indirectly meshes and moves the motion wheel in a gear engaging method.  
       [0011] The fifth objective of the present invention is to provide a railing device for railing and positioning the entire driving apparatus by disposing a lateral guide wheel to achieve the railing objective.  
       [0012] The sixth objective of the present invention is to enlarge the epicyclical velocity inside the driving apparatus through a method of gear link and enlargement via a lapped assembly of the big and the small gears.  
       [0013] The seventh objective of the present invention is to adopt a planetary gear set as a mechanism inside the driving apparatus to enlarge the epicyclical velocity.  
       [0014] The eighth objective of the present invention is to lap the gears to enlarge the epicyclical velocity by disposing a unidirectional engaging apparatus between a passive gear and a spinning disk.  
       [0015] The ninth objective of the present invention is to use a planetary driving apparatus by disposing a unidirectional engaging apparatus between the sun gear and the spinning disk.  
       [0016] The tenth objective of the present invention is to place an eccentric shaft disposed on the driving apparatus at the same angular position to make the central line thereof in a rectilinear and coaxial relation suitable to be applied to other pedaling means.  
       [0017] The eleventh objective of the present invention is to use a pedal board disposed with a straddle slot to form a treadle-type exerciser since the eccentric shafts on the left and the right sides are in a rectilinear and coaxial relation.  
       [0018] The twelfth objective of the present invention is to mount a resilient and auxiliary board on the pedal-type exerciser at the upper aspect of the pedal board to provide a base for the user to exert a treadle force thereby making various kinds of reactions to an action force.  
       [0019] The thirteenth objective of the present invention is to dispose a pedal board with a swaying function on the eccentric shaft formed in an overlapped rectilinear relation to allow the user, after stepping on the pedal board, to use the body to balance and sway so as to form a sway exerciser operated by swaying motion.  
       [0020] The fourteenth objective of the present invention is to make the sway pedal board of the sway exerciser extend rearward to form a cantilever; the distal end of the cantilever is disposed with a swing wheel capable of freely steering thereby forming an application of twisting to drive forwardly.  
       [0021] To enable a further understanding of the structural features and the technical contents of the present invention, the brief description of the drawings below is followed by the detailed description of the preferred embodiment. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0022]FIG. 1 is a pictorial and schematic drawing of an exerciser of the present invention.  
     [0023]FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of the relative position of a railing device disposed on the exerciser of the present invention.  
     [0024]FIG. 3 is a basic structural drawing of a driving apparatus of the present invention.  
     [0025]FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing of the relation between the driving apparatus and a link wheel frame of the present invention.  
     [0026]FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of the relation between the driving apparatus and an engaging method of the present invention.  
     [0027]FIG. 6 is a structural and schematic drawing of the driving apparatus of the present invention using a lapped-gear method to enlarge the epicyclical velocity.  
     [0028]FIG. 7 is a mechanical drawing of the driving apparatus of the present invention using a planetary gear set to enlarge the epicyclical velocity.  
     [0029]FIG. 8 is another embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0030]FIG. 9 is a schematic drawing of the positional relation of an eccentric shaft of the driving apparatus of the present invention.  
     [0031]FIG. 10 is the first drawing of another embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0032]FIG. 11 is a schematic drawing of the steering of the first drawing of another embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0033]FIG. 12 is the second drawing of another embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0034] The present invention of an inner tangentially driving exerciser provides an exerciser using an inner circle tangent point to tangentially move the external portion of a wheel so as to design a hollow inner breadth plane on the wheel and to facilitate the lowering of the center of gravity.  
     [0035]FIG. 1 shows the driving method. As indicated, the exerciser of the present invention mainly comprises a driving apparatus ( 1 ) relatively disposed on a circle tangent point at the lower aspect inside the interior portion of an inner circle of a motion wheel ( 4 ). Two sides of the driving apparatus ( 1 ) are respectively disposed with a diagonal eccentric shaft ( 15 ) that connects outwardly with a pedal board ( 10 ); the eccentric shaft ( 15 ) is fixedly installed on a rotary disk ( 13 ). The entire driving apparatus ( 1 ) is fixedly fastened by an inner hoop body ( 2 ). On the inner hoop body ( 2 ), the upward positions at ten o&#39;clock and ten minutes past the hour are respectively disposed with a railing device ( 21 ). The indirect contact between the inner hoop body ( 2 ) and the motion wheel ( 4 ) functions a link wheel frame ( 3 ) disposed with the motion wheel ( 4 ). Three supporting points (P 1 , P 2 , P 3 ) are formed between the link wheel frame ( 3 ) and the inner hoop body ( 2 ) to define a planar principle thereby allowing the inner hoop body ( 2 ) to efficiently and precisely position at the center of the inner circle of the motion wheel ( 4 ). Therefore, the user treadles the pedal board ( 10 ) to make the driving apparatus indirectly provide the motion wheel ( 4 ) a dynamic force to drive epicyclically. Furthermore, a saddle seat ( 30 ) is disposed on the top portion of the motion wheel ( 4 ) relative to the inner hoop body ( 2 ) for the user to make figure operation, take a temporary rest during the exercising procedure, clamp it by two legs and use it as a seat pad so as to define a brand new exerciser.  
     [0036] Referring to FIG. 2, a railing wheel ( 211 ) of the railing device ( 21 ) uses a circular tangent method to tangentially press the inner web portion of the link wheel frame ( 3 ) and is movably fastened to a relative position on the inner hoop body ( 2 ) by a shaft hole ( 212 ), as also indicated in FIG. 1. The tangential press of the railing wheel ( 211 ) allows the inner hoop body ( 2 ) to make even friction thereby efficiently maintaining in the interior portion of the center of the motion wheel ( 4 ) and aligning with an invisible central point so as to prevent the inner hoop body ( 2 ) from deflection; furthermore, the railing wheel ( 211 ) moving in the web portion of the link wheel frame ( 3 ) also assures that the inner hoop body ( 2 ) won&#39;t deflect and stagger the link wheel frame ( 3 ). In addition, the rail device ( 21 ) can be indirectly and movably fastened on the inner hoop body ( 2 ) (not shown) via a wheel frame ( 214 ) by using the circular surface of a lateral guide wheel ( 213 ) to tangentially slide on the inner lateral side of the link wheel frame ( 3 ) for railing applications of other kinds of elements.  
     [0037] Referring to FIG. 3, the driving apparatus ( 1 ) of the present invention is mainly assembled by two lateral rotary disks ( 13 ) disposed with two eccentric shafts ( 15 ) at 180 degree diagonally on the outer sides. The eccentric shafts ( 15 ) receive an external force to transmit a dynamic force, such as a pedaling force for a bicycle. As indicated in a bird&#39;s eye and cross-sectional view, it is obvious that the driving apparatus ( 1 ) of the present invention basically comprises a driving shaft ( 14 ) movably fastened through an inner circular hole ( 22 ) disposed at the center of the inner hoop body ( 2 ); the rotary disk ( 13 ) and the driving shaft ( 14 ) are fixedly jointed for assembly; the center of the driving shaft ( 14 ) links a driving wheel ( 11 ) disposed with a engaging plane ( 12 ) on the outer circular surface thereof. A unidirectional engaging apparatus ( 16 ) is disposed between the driving wheel ( 11 ) and the driving shaft ( 14 ) to act as a unidirectional shaft bearing for one-way driving. The engaging apparatus ( 16 ) allows the eccentric shafts ( 15 ), for example, a treadle board or a rocker rod to be activated by an external force, to transmit a dynamic force toward the driving shaft ( 14 ) unidirectionally, and indirectly transmit the dynamic force toward the driving wheel ( 11 ) via the unidirectional engaging apparatus ( 16 ) to make the engaging plane ( 12 ) thereof indirectly mesh the motion wheel ( 4 ) to output the transmitted dynamic force.  
     [0038] After the two eccentric shafts ( 15 ) are alternatively pedaled to rotate and with enough driving inertia, the unidirectional engaging apparatus ( 16 ) make the driving shaft ( 14 ) and the driving wheel ( 11 ) release unidirectionally to avoid the inertia force from the driving wheel ( 11 ) to reversely transmit toward the driving shaft ( 14 ) thereby allowing the user&#39;s foot to obtain a static rest.  
     [0039] Referring to FIG. 4, the driving apparatus ( 1 ) meshes in a frictional method, wherein the entire driving apparatus ( 1 ) is movably fastened onto the inner hoop body ( 14 ); the rotary disk ( 13 ) receives and transmits the dynamic force obtained by the eccentric shafts ( 15 ) toward the driving shaft ( 14 ); then the driving shaft ( 14 ) transmits the epicyclical and dynamic force to the driving wheel ( 11 ) thereby make the engaging plane ( 12 ) move frictionally to a friction ring ( 31 ) disposed in the web portion of the link wheel frame ( 3 ) received in the interior portion of the motion wheel ( 4 ). The friction ring ( 31 ) is made of friction-resistant material capable of receiving a frictional material, such as frictional fabric or rubber material.  
     [0040] Referring to FIG. 5, an inner annular cog ( 17 ) is disposed in the web portion of the link wheel frame ( 3 ) disposed in relation to the motion wheel ( 4 ) of the driving apparatus ( 1 ) of the present invention and is engaged by a mesh cogged ring ( 18 ) disposed in the driving apparatus ( 1 ). Similarly, the eccentric shafts ( 15 ) transmit the dynamic force to the driving shaft ( 14 ) via the rotary disk ( 13 ), output the dynamic force toward the mesh cogged ring ( 18 ) and then indirectly transmit the driving dynamic force toward the motion wheel ( 4 ) through meshing the inner annular cogs ( 17 ). This method specifies the epicyclical opposite relationship thereby facilitating the application of transmitting heavier load.  
     [0041] Referring to FIG. 6, the driving apparatus ( 1 ) of the present invention adopts the method of enlarging the epicyclical velocity by using an enlarging mechanism to multiply the rotary speed obtained by the driving shaft ( 14 ) as it reaches the output end. The mechanism is a lapped gear set mainly comprising the driving shaft ( 14 ) movably fastened by the inner hoop body ( 2 ) in a same way and externally connected with the symmetrical eccentric shafts ( 15 ) through the rotary disk ( 13 ). The interior portion of the driving shaft ( 14 ) connects fixedly with a driving gear ( 5 ); the outer periphery of the driving gear ( 5 ) further drives a lapped gear ( 51 ) with a smaller wheel diameter; the lapped gear ( 51 ) synchronously links a bigger gear and then reversely meshes a passive gear ( 52 ) which is coaxial with the driving shaft ( 14 ) but has no active relationship. The passive gear ( 52 ) drives a spinning disk ( 50 ) to output the dynamic force to the engaging plane ( 12 ). The engaging plane ( 12 ), as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, indirectly transmits the dynamic force to the motion wheel ( 4 ). To intermittently stop pedaling and avoid the spinning disk ( 50 ) to reversely feedback the inertia force, a unidirectional engaging apparatus ( 521 ) divides the spinning disk ( 50 ) and the passive gear ( 52 ) for releasing the reverse inertia force. Furthermore, a shaft bearing ( 53 ) functions to separate and eliminate the rotary relationship between the passive gear ( 52 ) and the driving shaft ( 14 ).  
     [0042] Referring to FIG. 7, in order to enlarge the epicyclical velocity at the output end, the driving apparatus ( 1 ) of the present invention adopts an enlarging method of a planet gear ( 61 ) which is also movably fastened by the inner hoop body ( 2 ) in the same way. An inner cogged ring ( 63 ) is horizontally disposed in the interior portion of the inner hoop body ( 2 ) as a fixed ring body. After the eccentric shafts ( 15 ) drive the driving shaft ( 14 ) to rotate, the rotation first drives a planet disk ( 6 ) with a plurality of transverse planet gears ( 61 ) disposed movably and vertically to mesh the inner cogged ring ( 63 ) on the outward side and a sun gear ( 62 ) toward the central point. After being multiplied by the driving shaft ( 14 ) and all the gears, the rotation speed of the sun gear ( 62 ) increases the epicyclical velocity in multiplication. Similarly, the spinning disk ( 60 ) outwardly transmits the epicyclical dynamic force to the engaging plane ( 12 ); as the same, the motion speed of the engaging plane ( 12 ) obtains the circumferential speed through multiplying the epicyclical velocity of the sun gear ( 62 ) by the Ludolphian number π. In order to prevent the feedback of the driving inertia force, a unidirectional engaging apparatus ( 621 ) is disposed between the sun gear ( 62 ) and the spinning disk ( 60 ) as well to achieve the function of unidirectional engagement via a unidirectional engaging apparatus ( 621 ).  
     [0043] The planet gear ( 61 ) is capable of not only enlarging the epicyclical velocity of the sun gear ( 62 ) in high multiplication, but also using the planet disk ( 6 ) to connect with a plurality of planet gears ( 61 ) via the bisection angles. Therefore, the crossed and inward central points of all the planet gears ( 61 ) are also located on the central line of the driving shaft ( 14 ) such that during the force transmission, the evenly distributed planet gears ( 61 ) make the branch force evenly focus at the shaft center of the driving shaft ( 14 ) to avoid the loss of declined angles caused by declination thereby transmitting outwardly more complete dynamic force.  
     [0044] The structural design of using the planet gear ( 61 ) of the present invention to reversely enlarge the sun gear ( 62 ) makes the driving shaft ( 14 ) bear more couple; in other words, it is necessary to have more couple in order to enlarge the speed at the terminal end. Therefore, the action force exertion of an exerciser is more force consuming.  
     [0045] Referring to FIG. 8, on the exerciser of the present invention, the eccentric shafts ( 15 ) disposed on the driving apparatus ( 1 ) rearward connect with a left and a right pedal boards ( 71 ,  72 ); the two pedal boards ( 71 ,  72 ) and two eccentric shafts ( 74 ,  75 ) disposed on an inner spinning disk ( 77 ) at the rearward thereof form a principle of a quadruple crank mechanism that moves in parallel. When the user separately treadles the pedal boards ( 71 ,  72 ), the driving apparatus ( 1 ) transmits the dynamic force to the motion wheel ( 4 ) as well for driving forwardly. In addition, a driving wheel ( 73 ) is disposed on the outer periphery of the inner spinning disk ( 77 ) at the rear end; a spacing ring ( 76 ) spaces the epicyclical velocity between the motion wheel ( 4 ) and the spinning disk ( 77 ). The radius of the eccentric shaft ( 15 ) of the driving apparatus ( 1 ) equals the radius of the gyration of the eccentric shafts ( 74 ,  75 ) at the rear side such that the circumferential lines ( 150 ) of the gyration are the same thereby ensuring the parallel motion of the quadruple crank mechanism. Furthermore, the function of the spacing ring ( 76 ) is to space the motion wheel ( 4 ) and the driving wheel ( 73 ) according to their different epicyclical velocities thereby avoiding the frictional interference.  
     [0046] Referring to FIG. 9, the eccentric shafts ( 15 ) of the exerciser of the present invention are disposed on the same angular positions and assembled through a rectilinear and overlapping relation to be provided for other kinds of applications.  
     [0047]FIG. 10 shows the application, as indicated, the eccentric shafts ( 15 ) are symmetrically and coaxially disposed on the rotary disk ( 13 ) and connect with a pedal board ( 81 ) having a unshaped straddle slot ( 82 ). To the rearward, the pedal board ( 81 ) is disposed with a deflection wheel set ( 83 ) having a left wheel ( 831 ) and a right wheel ( 832 ). Therefore, the user stands thereon to treadle the pedal board ( 81 ) to form a proceeding force via the angular turning of the eccentric shafts ( 15 ). As the same, the driving apparatus ( 1 ) uses the function of the link wheel frame ( 3 ) to indirectly drive the motion wheel ( 4 ).  
     [0048] Through the method of treadling the pedal board ( 81 ), the rear aspect of the entire body steers via the deflection wheel set ( 83 ), as indicated in FIG. 11. Through the left wheel ( 831 ), the right wheel ( 832 ), a wheel holder ( 830 ) at the center and a supporting shaft ( 833 ) disposed at the center, the deflection wheel set ( 83 ) is joined and locked at the lower aspect of the pedal board ( 81 ). The deflection wheel set ( 83 ) is of a regular roller skating shoe; when it is stepped and pressed downwardly, the left wheel ( 831 ) deflects downwardly; with the supporting point function of the circular center of the supporting shaft ( 833 ), the wheel holder ( 830 ) deflects to the left thereby obtaining a steering application during the proceeding procedure.  
     [0049] On the upper surface of the pedal board ( 81 ), a resilient and auxiliary pedal board ( 84 ) is disposed for resilient application and indirect leg treadle. A resilient body ( 841 ) is disposed at the lower aspect of the auxiliary pedal board ( 84 ) to increase the assistance of a resilient reaction. Therefore, when the user treadles and at the instant when the front aspect of the pedal board ( 81 ) is driven upwardly, the absorbing function of the resilient body ( 841 ) allows the user to select the treadle method of exerting a pre-pressured and opposite reaction force to form various figure operation.  
     [0050] As indicated in FIG. 12, the eccentric shafts ( 15 ) of the present invention are disposed coaxially on the left and the right sides thereby making an assembly of a sway pedal board ( 91 ) so as to form a sway unicycle ( 9 ). A saddle seat ( 92 ) is assembled at the upper aspect of the motion wheel ( 4 ) via the inner hoop body ( 2 ) as well; the link wheel frame ( 3 ) is also activated by a driving apparatus ( 1 ) and the unidirectional engaging apparatus ( 16 ), as shown in FIG. 3, is disposed in the elements relatively linked by the driving apparatus ( 1 ). Therefore, the formed structure allows the user to treadle at a lower center of gravity. When the pedal board ( 91 ) is balanced, the user&#39;s leg portion sways rearward to achieve a very difficult technique application of swaying and driving forwardly.  
     [0051] The pedal boards ( 91 ) extend rearward to form extension arms ( 93 ) disposed respectively with a swing wheel ( 94 ) capable of freely deflecting. Therefore, the swing wheels ( 94 ) touch the ground in a frictional application to allow the user to stand on the pedal board ( 91 ) and twist the waist and the leg portions oppositely to drive the swing wheels ( 94 ) and the motion wheel ( 4 ) to achieve a driving function of twisting and tangential movement thereby providing more kinds of figure operations.  
     [0052] It is of course to be understood that the embodiment described herein is merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.