The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 26, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 05, 2000
Clint D. Kolda, Cottage Grove, WI (US);
Graber Products, Inc., Madison, WI (US);
Abstract
A resistance unit for an exercise device includes a resistance mechanism, such as a fluid-type resistance mechanism, located within a housing. A rotatable shaft is interconnected with an input member. An input roller is engaged with the shaft, and is adapted for rotation in response to a force exerted by a person during exercise, such as rotation of a bicycle wheel. The resistance mechanism imparts resistance through rotation of the shaft, which results in resistance to the external force, such as rotation of the bicycle wheel. A combination fan/flywheel member is mounted to the shaft. The combination fan/flywheel member maintains inertia of the rotating shaft, and includes blade structure which directs air toward the housing of the resistance mechanism upon rotation of the combination fan/flywheel member along with the shaft. The combination fan/flywheel member includes a series of radially spaced blades which extend between and interconnect an inner hub section and an outer ring section defined by the combination fan/flywheel member. The housing of the resistance mechanism is constructed so as to present spaced cooling fins facing the combination fan/flywheel member, to facilitate the dissipation of heat from the housing by movement of air by the combination fan/flywheel member onto the housing during operation. Cooling of the housing prevents adverse effects associated with heat buildup, e.g. a loss of fluid viscosity and shortened seal life in a fluid-type resistance unit.