Isometric exercising device with indicator

Jan. 28, 1969

G. M. BROWN 3,424,005

ISOMETRIC EXERCISING DEVICE WITH INDICATOR

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INVENTOR.

GFOF GF M BROKF

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United States Patent Office

3,424,005

Patented Jan. 28, 1969

3,424,005

ISOMETRIC EXERCISING DEVICE WITH INDICATOR

George M. Brown, R.F.D. 2, Box 144, Canterbury, Conn. 06331

Filed Jan. 6, 1966, Ser. No. 519,102

U.S. Cl. 73—379 9 Claims

Int. Cl. GOH 5/06; A63b 21/20

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A resilient bar is pivotally mounted to a stationary support adjacent one end, and its opposite end is similarly restrained so that one can flex the bar laterally in performing various isometric exercises. An electromechanical device at one pivoted end of the bar senses angular displacement thereof and provides a signal for operating a visual indicating means to give the user a quantitative frame of reference for evaluating his efforts.

that the subject 18 can exert a force generally laterally of the bar. As shown, a vertically upwardly directed force is being exerted on the bar 16 by the shoulders and arms of the individual. This force is reacted through the individual’s legs and back downwardly to the floor 12. In such an exercise the bar is subjected to a substantial bending moment and. being of resilient material it will flex considerably. While this form of exercise is one which the present invention is especially suitable, it should, of 1 course, be recognized that other forms of exercise might be adapted for use with the generally horizontally disposed bar 16.

In accordance with the present invention, the resilient bar 16 is pivotally supported at either end by a pivot pin 20 best shown in FIG. 3. The pivot pin 20 comprises part of the bar mounting means of FIG. 3, and said means will also be seen to include a fixed portion 22 which is adjustably attached to the support 10 by a thumbscrew 24. The screw 24 can be inserted in a suitable opening provided therefor in the fixed portion 22 and threadably received in any one of a plurality of threaded openings 26, 26 in the support 10 as shown.

The mounting means of FIG. 3 further comprises a bar retaining portion or lever 28 which is pivotally connected to the fixed portion 22 by the aforementioned pivot pm 20 as shown. The pivoted end 30 of the bar retaining portion 28 extends outwardly some distance beyond the support 10 while the free end 32 of said portion 28 extends inwardly and defines a suitable sleeve for receiving one end of the bar 16. As so constructed, the bar retaining portion 28 functions as a lever and will be seen to move angularly with respect to the fixed portion 22 in response to the lateral flexing of the bar 16 as the latter is subjected to a bending load as shown in FIG. 1.

. The mounting means shown in FIG. 3 is generally similar to that provided at the opposite end of the bar 16 as indicated generally in FIG. 1. More particularly, the left-hand mounting means shown in FIG. 3, and the righthand mounting means will be seen from FIG. 1 to include a bar retaining portion or lever which is pivotally connected to a fixed portion, the latter being adjustably attached to the support 10 by a thumbscrew as described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 3.

. Turning now to the construction of the left-hand mounting means in greater detail, means for sensing relative angular movement between the bar retaining portion 28 and the stationary support 10 is provided. Preferably, and as shown said means comprises a rack gear 36 affixed to the free end of the lever 28 in generally perpendicular relation to the axis of the bar 16. A resistance type potentiometer 38 is rotatably mounted in the corresponding end of the fixed portion 22 and a pair of meshing spur gears 40 and 42 drivingly connect the rotary potentiometer 38 to the rack gear 36 so as to cause the electrical resistance of the potentiometer 38 to vary in response to angular displacement of the lever 28. As so constructed a convenient electromechanical device is provided for sensing relative movement between the fixed and movable portions of the FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercising apparatus 60 ^{bar r}‘}^ountin8 means. Finally, a dust cover 44 is removably , .. . . attached to the fixed portion 22 to provide a mounting

- means for the left-hand portion of the bar which is generally similar in appearance to that on the right-hand portion as best shown in FIG. 1.

This invention relates to isometric exercising devices and deals more particularly with an apparatus which combines the advantages of isometric exercising with at least some of the rewards of conventional exercising in that the user is able to obtain some indication of the magnitude of the forces which he is exerting on a substantially immovable object.

A recent development in physical fitness exercising involves the concept of applying a force to a relatively immovable object without necessarily achieving any perceptible movement of the object. Such a system of exercises has been referred to as the isometric contraction system. A typical exercise usually involves a push or a pull on such an object and is generally sustained for a period of from six to twelve seconds per exercise. It will be apparent that the actual forces exerted can be estimated only from the personal experience of the individual performing the exercises and to the uninitiated at least this defect may discourage many from adopting this system of exercising in developing physical fitness.

. It is the general object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which permits the individual to exert these isometric contractions or forces and at the same time to obtain some indication of the magnitude of the forces which he is exerting not only to sustain his interest in this form of exercising, but also to give him some indication of his rate of progress as a result of following the isometric contraction system over an extended period 50 of time.

The drawing shows a preferred embodiment of the invention and such embodiment will be described, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the construction disclosed, and that the drawing and 55 description are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawing: T~~ according to the present invention showing one from of exercise which can be accomplished therewith;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the electrical components of the apparatus in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the ap- 65 ^{In further} accordance with the present invention visual paratus shown in FIG. 1. .--j.·—*.·------ · .... &gt;

Turning now to the drawing in greater detail, FIG. 1 shows a pair of vertically arranged standards or supports 10, 10 which are rigidly supported between the floor 12 &lt; pole 16 is mounted generally horizontally on the supports 10, 10 by suitable means best shown in FIG. 3 so ,, .,. “ ... ------------ ,,χ. xo vAWMUg upuii sail and the ceiling of a room. A resilient fiberglass bar or 70 ably, and as shown, the indicating means

ΛIA In IQ mruii^tarl 1λ —r-11_ . .. zi -i ® indicating means is provided for use in conjunction with the motion sensing means just described so that one exerting a. force on the bar 16 is given a visual indication of the relative force which he is exerting upon said bar. Prefer-------s comprises a galvanometer 46 which is electrically connected to the potentiometer 38 to cause deflection of a needle relative

3,424,005 to a fixed scale as best shown in FIG. 1. Preferably, and as shown, in FIG. 1 the housing for the galvanometer also includes a suitable battery 48 for providing a reference voltage to feed a reference C current to the potentiometer 38. As indicated in the schematic electrical diagram shown in FIG. 2, the reference voltage or potential can be preset by a zero adjusting control 50 and when so set the reference potential will of course be varied in response to the resistance offered by the potentiometer 38 to cause deflection of the needle of the galvanometer 46 in response j to the deflections caused by lateral forces exerted on the bar 16.