Patent Document:

referring first to fig1 and 2 , and especially fig1 numeral reference 1 deontes a pair of vertical rods each comprising two pipes telescopically connected to each other with their upper ends being bent to form handles 2 . explanation will hereinafter be given on one vertical rod for simplicity . the vertical rod is provided at its lower end with a wheel 3 which includes a hub 4 provided on its one side with a brake 5 . in this embodiment , as the brake use is made of a drum brake for automobiles ; however , this invention is not limited thereto . it is , therefore , understood that the brake of any type that can apply a braking force to a wheel may be employed . the brake 5 is actuiated by manipulation of a brake lever 7 connected thereto by way of a wire 6 , said lever being attached to the handle 2 . it will be noted that the wire 6 is passed through the inside of the vertical rod 1 to shorten its length as much as possible , since it otherwise will interfere with such manipulation . as shown in fig2 numeral reference stands for a one - way clutch mounted on the other side of the hub 4 . as the one - way clutch , use may be made of a free wheel comprising a combination of a rachet and a pawl . this one - way clutch is fixed at its inner side to the hub 4 and a stop pin 9 is inserted in between the teeth of a sprocket positioned on the outer side thereof , whereby the reversal of motion of the wheel is prevented . numeral reference 10 denotes a step mounted on the upper portion of the wheel 3 . in this embodiment , a l - shaped pipe 11 is fixed to the lower portion of the vertical rod 1 to use as the step its horizontal portion , and the hub 4 is supported at its end by the lower end thereof . thus , the hub is supported at its both ends . said stop pin 9 is also locked at the lower portion of the l - shaped pipe 11 by a nut 12 . numeral reference 13 stands for a lock nut for preventing expansion and contraction of the vertical rod . referring now to fig3 and 4 , and especially to fig3 numeral reference 1 denotes a pair of vertical rods each comprising two pipes telescopically connected to each other with their upper ends being bent to form handles 2 . explanation will hereinafter be given on one vetical rod for simplicity . a wheel 3 is mounted on the lower end of the vertical rod 1 , and a horizontally extending step 4 is fixed to the portion of the vertical rod 1 which lies just above said wheel 3 . in this embodiment , a l - shaped pipe 5 is fixed to the lower portion of the vertical rod 1 to use its horizontal portion as the step 4 , and the axle 6 of the wheel is supported at its one end by the lower end of the pipe 5 and at its other end by the lower end of the vertical rod 1 . said wheel 3 is rotatively supported at its hub on the axle 6 through bearings 8 and 8 , and an annularly recessed portion 9 is formed in said hub 7 in coaxial relation to the axis of the axle 6 and hence the axis of the wheel 3 . the outer side of said recessed portion 9 is closed by a side plate 10 fitted over the axle and secured to the lower end portion of the vertical rod 1 . a pair of semicircular brake shoes 11 are disposed in the recessed portion 9 to operate against the outer periphery 9a which forms a brake drum . the brake shoes 11 and a brake cam 12 are of a known inside expanding type braking device , in which one end of each brake shoe 11 is pivoted by pin ( not shown ) provided on the inner side of the plate 10 , while the other end of each shoe is in abutting contact with the brake cam 12 rotatively attached to the side plate 10 . the outer end of the brake cam 12 is also caused to project outwardly through the side plate 10 . to this projection 12a is fixed a lever 13 . the lever 13 is connected to a brake lever 15 pivotally mounted on the handle 12 by way of an inner cable 14a of a push - pull cable 14 . reference 11a denotes a brake lining secured to the outer periphery of the brake shoe . a one - way clutch 16 is mounted on the inner periphery 9b of the recessed portion 9 . the one - way clutch 16 is similar to an ordinary one - way clutch interposed between the rear wheel sprocket and the rear axle of a bicycle etc ., in which one of the opposite faces of an inner race 16a is secured to the inner periphery 9b of the recessed portion 9 and an outer race 16b surrounds the inner race with a series of needles 16c disposed between the races . as in the common form of bicycle hub one - way clutch , the needles are somewhat flattened in cross - section and the spacing between the races is less than the maximum needle diameter . this construction allows relative rotation between the inner and outer races in one direction only . the outer race 16b of the one - way clutch 16 is provided on its outer periphery with a number of radially extending portions 16d in engagement with member 17 . these members which hold the outer race in position are threaded through the side plate 10 , and are designed to be horizontally movable from the side plate 10 toward the inside of the recessed portion 9 . in this connection , it will be noted that the one - way clutch is designed such that the wheel is permitted to rotate only at the time of the forward movement . numeral reference 18 denotes a lock nut for preventing expansion and contraction of the vertical rod 1 . the operation of the sliding type athletic apparatus according to the present invention will now be described mainly with reference to the second embodiment mentioned hereinbefore . the handles 2 are first gripped to draw the brake levers 15 , so that the levers 13 rotate in a counterclockwise direction ( in fig3 ) through the inner cables 14a of the push - pull cables 14 , followed by rotation of the brake cams 12 . the brake shoes 11 expand and rotate diametrically by said brake cams , so that the brake linings 11a come in abutting contact with the outer peripheries 9a of the recessed portions 9 to brake the wheels . in this state , one &# 39 ; s feet are placed on both steps , and the brake levers 15 are gradually unloosed while taking one &# 39 ; s balance , so that the levers 13 , brake cams 12 and brake shoes 11 rotate in the direction reverse to that above mentioned . as a result , the brake lining 11a are out of engagement with the outer peripheries of the recessed portion 9a to release the braking of the wheels . at the same time , one wheel 3 is kicked rearward in the same manner as in roller skates , so that the wheel 3 is apt to rotate rearward . in this case , however , the one - way clutch 16 is actuated such that it is in engagement with the members 17 thereby to restrain such rotation . hence , the other wheel 3 is caused to rotate forward due to the resultant counter action . when the wheel 3 rotates in the forward direction , the one - way clutch 16 is released while the one - way clutch and members 17 are located inwardly of the brake shoe 11 , with the result that there in no fear that these components come in collision with the brake shoe 11 and the wall surface of the recessed portion 9 . thus , the sliding type athletic apparatus of the present invention can be caused to slide forward by alternately kicking a pair of the wheels 3 rearward in the same manner as aforesaid . furthermore , the one - way clutch 16 is kept immovable even at the time of the rearward movement of the wheel 3 by removing the members 17 . therefore , a practiced hand can take a variety of exercises with this apparatus . the sliding type athletic apparatus according to the present invention is effective in building up the sense of physical equilibrium and permitting a wide variety of exercises . moreover , the apparatus can be made small by forming a recessed portion in one side of the hub of each wheel and arranging a braking device and a one - way clutch in said recessed portion thereby to restrain any increase in the horizontal width . depending upon height , each vertical rod can be adjusted by unloosing the lock nut . although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown in the foregoing specification , it will , of course , be understood that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention . it is , therefore , intended that the following claims cover all such modifications and changes as may fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention .

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