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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

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.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A resistance apparatus for use with exercise devices, the resistance apparatus comprising; an axle;an outer housing for rotatably mounting the axle therein;at least one inner housing, with an opening configured to receive the axle therethrough, wherein at least a portion of the opening is configu

1. A resistance apparatus for use with exercise devices, the resistance apparatus comprising; an axle;an outer housing for rotatably mounting the axle therein;at least one inner housing, with an opening configured to receive the axle therethrough, wherein at least a portion of the opening is configured for selective engagement by a slidable engagement member of the axle, whereby the selective engagement rotatably mounts the inner housing inside the outer housing permitting rotation of the inner housing along with the axle within the outer housing; andat least a first tensioned member disposed within the inner housing, wherein the first tensioned member includes a first end and a second end, and the first end of the tensioned member engages an engagement area of the inner housing and the second end of the tensioned member engages an engagement area of the outer housing, and wherein the tensioned member creates a rotational restoring force between the inner housing and the outer housing. 2. The resistance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the axle includes a groove along an axial direction that receives the slidable engagement member, wherein the slidable engagement member is slidably mounted within the groove, wherein the slidable engagement member includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the slidable engagement member is configured to mate with a selecting area of the inner housing so as to mechanically couple the axle to the inner housing, wherein the second portion of the slidable engagement member extends beyond the outer housing. 3. The resistance apparatus of claim 1, wherein an outer portion of the inner housing comprises a given number of helical grooves circumscribing the outer portion. 4. The resistance apparatus of claim 3, wherein the outer housing includes a groove that is disposed within the outer housing parallel to the axle, wherein a void is formed between the helical grooves and the groove disposed on the outer housing to accommodate a cylindrical roller therebetween, and whereby the given number of helical grooves in combination with the groove and the cylindrical roller defines a number of rotations of the inner housing within the outer housing. 5. The resistance apparatus of claim 4, whereby the given number of helical grooves in combination with the groove and the cylindrical roller pretensions the tensioned member, wherein the pretensioned tensioned member exerts a restorative force when at a resting position. 6. The resistance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tensioned member is a clock spring with the first end coupled to the engagement area of the inner housing and the second end coupled to the engagement area of the outer housing. 7. The resistance apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: at least one pulley mechanism rotatably coupled to an end portion of the outer housing and fixably mated to the axle, wherein when the pulley mechanism is rotated, the pulley mechanism exerts a rotational force on the axle thereby rotating the axle. 8. The resistance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first tensioned member operates within a force versus displacement curve. 9. An inner housing for use within a resistance apparatus, wherein the inner housing comprising: an outer portion that is substantially circular;an inner portion with an opening configured to receive an axle therethrough, wherein at least a portion of the opening is configured for selective engagement by a slidable engagement member of the axle so that the inner portion is engagably mounted on the axle; andat least a first tensioned member disposed within the inner portion, wherein the first tensioned member includes a first end and a second end, and 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 being configured to engage an engagement area of an outer housing that maintains the inner housing, and wherein the tensioned member creates a rotational restoring force between the inner housing and the outer housing. 10. The inner housing of claim 9, wherein the outer portion includes a given number of helical grooves circumscribing the outer portion, wherein the helical grooves are configured to accommodate a cylindrical roller therebetween. 11. The inner housing of claim 10, whereby the given number of helical grooves, in part, are used to pretension the tensioned member, wherein the pretensioned tensioned member exerts restorative a force when at a resting position. 12. A resistance apparatus for use with exercise devices, the resistance apparatus comprising; an axle;an outer housing for rotatably mounting the axle therein;at least one inner housing, with an opening for receiving the axle therethrough, wherein receiving the axle through the opening engagably mounts the inner housing on the axle, whereby the inner housing is rotatably mounted inside the outer housing permitting rotation of the inner housing along with the axle within the outer housing,wherein the axle includes a groove along an axial direction that receives an engagement member slidably mounted within the groove, wherein the engagement member includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the engagement member is configured to mate with a selecting area of the inner housing so as to mechanically couple the axle to the inner housing, wherein the second portion of the engagement member extends beyond the outer housing; andat least a first tensioned member disposed within the inner housing, wherein the first tensioned member includes a first end and a second end, and the first end of the tensioned member engages an engagement area of the inner housing and the second end of the tensioned member engages an engagement area of the outer housing, and wherein the tensioned member creates a rotational restoring force between the inner housing and the outer housing. 13. The resistance apparatus of claim 12, wherein an outer portion of the inner housing includes a given number of helical grooves circumscribing the outer portion. 14. The resistance apparatus of claim 13, wherein the outer housing includes a groove that is disposed within the outer housing parallel to the axle, wherein a void is formed between the helical grooves and the groove disposed on the outer housing to accommodate a cylindrical roller therebetween, and whereby the given number of helical grooves in combination with the groove and the cylindrical roller defines a number of rotations of the inner housing within the outer housing. 15. The resistance apparatus of claim 14, whereby the given number of helical grooves in combination with the groove and the cylindrical roller is used to pretension the tensioned member so that the tensioned member exerts a restorative force when at a resting position. 16. The resistance apparatus of claim 12, wherein the tensioned member is a clock spring with the first end coupled to the engagement area of the inner housing and the second end coupled to the engagement area of the outer housing. 17. The resistance apparatus of claim 12, further comprising: at least one pulley mechanism rotatably coupled to an end portion of the outer housing and fixably mated to the axle, wherein when the pulley mechanism is rotated, the pulley mechanism exerts a rotational force on the axle thereby rotating the axle. 18. The resistance apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first tensioned member operates within a force versus displacement curve.