Pulley apparatuses and cable retention devices
View Patent ↗A pulley apparatus includes a pulley wheel, support member, and retention member configured to prevent a cable from inadvertently entering gaps defined between the support member and the pulley wheel. The retention member extends inwardly from the support member towards the pulley wheel to overlap at least a portion of the gaps. A cable retention device includes the retention member and can extend inwardly from the support member and overlap at least a portion of the gap. The retention member can include a sloped surface for funneling the cable toward the pulley wheel and a bottom surface to overlap the gap.
1. A pulley apparatus comprising:
a pulley wheel;
a support member disposed on opposite sides of the pulley wheel so that gaps are defined between the support member and the pulley wheel, wherein the pulley wheel is rotatable with respect to the support member about an axis of rotation; and
retention members that extend inwardly from the support member towards the pulley wheel, wherein the retention members overlap at least a portion of the gaps with respect to the axis of rotation to thereby prevent a pulley cable from inadvertently entering the gaps;
wherein the pulley wheel comprises a radially outer surface and the retention members each comprise a sloped surface that axially overlaps the radially outer surface and funnels the pulley cable towards the radially outer surface when the pulley cable is installed onto the pulley apparatus.
2. The pulley apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the retention members are attached to the support member.
3. The pulley apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the retention members each have a bottom surface projecting inwardly towards the pulley wheel, wherein the bottom surface overlaps the gap with respect to the axis of rotation.
4. The pulley apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the radially outer surface has a groove that is configured to receive and retain the pulley cable.
5. The pulley apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises opposing support brackets and opposing covers that are disposed on the opposing support brackets.
6. The pulley apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the retention members are mounted between the opposing covers and the opposing support brackets.
7. The pulley apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the retention members extend only partially around a circumference of the pulley wheel.
8. A pulley apparatus comprising:
a pulley wheel;
a support member disposed on opposite sides of the pulley wheel so that gaps are defined between the support member and the pulley wheel, wherein the pulley wheel is rotatable with respect to the support member about an axis of rotation; and
retention members that extend inwardly from the support member towards the pulley wheel, wherein the retention members overlap at least a portion of the gaps with respect to the axis of rotation to thereby prevent a pulley cable from inadvertently entering the gaps;
wherein the pulley wheel comprises a radially outer surface and the retention members each comprise a sloped surface that funnels the pulley cable towards the radially outer surface when the pulley cable is installed onto the pulley apparatus;
wherein the radially outer surface has a groove that is configured to receive and retain the pulley cable; and
wherein the groove has opposing sloped groove surfaces and wherein the sloped surfaces of the retention members are substantially aligned with the opposed sloped groove surfaces so that the sloped surfaces of the retention members and the opposed sloped groove surfaces together funnel the pulley cable onto the outer surface of the pulley wheel when the pulley cable is installed onto the pulley apparatus.
9. A pulley apparatus comprising:
a pulley wheel;
a support member disposed on opposite sides of the pulley wheel so that gaps are defined between the support member and the pulley wheel, wherein the pulley wheel is rotatable with respect to the support member about an axis of rotation; and
retention members that extend inwardly from the support member towards the pulley wheel, wherein the retention members overlap at least a portion of the gaps with respect to the axis of rotation to thereby prevent a pulley cable from inadvertently entering the gaps;
wherein the support member comprises opposing support brackets and opposing covers that are disposed on the opposing support brackets;
wherein the retention members are mounted between the opposing covers and the opposing support brackets; and
wherein the opposing support brackets comprise radially outer edges, and wherein the retention members comprise mounting grooves that receive the radially outer edges of the opposing support brackets to thereby mount the retention members onto the opposing support brackets.
10. The pulley apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the opposing covers comprise radially inner flange surfaces, and wherein the retention members further comprise top surfaces that abut the radially inner flange surfaces of the opposing covers to thereby mount the retention members are mounted between the opposing covers and the opposing support brackets.
11. A pulley apparatus for an exercise machine, the pulley apparatus comprising:
a pulley wheel, a support member, and a pulley cable,
a retention member configured to extend inwardly from the support member towards the pulley wheel and overlap at least a portion of a gap defined between the support member and the pulley wheel;
wherein the retention member includes a bottom surface configured to project inwardly toward the pulley wheel;
wherein the retention member includes a sloped surface that funnels the pulley cable towards a radially outer surface of the pulley wheel when the pulley cable is installed on the pulley wheel; and
wherein the sloped surface is aligned with a sloped groove surface of the pulley wheel.
12. The pulley apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the retention member extends radially along a perimeter of the support member.
13. The pulley apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the retention member is C-shaped.
14. A pulley apparatus for an exercise machine, the pulley apparatus comprising:
a pulley wheel, a support member, and a pulley cable;
a retention member configured to extend inwardly from the support member towards the pulley wheel and overlap at least a portion of a gap defined between the support member and the pulley wheel;
wherein the retention member includes a bottom surface configured to project inwardly toward the pulley wheel;
wherein the retention member includes a sloped surface that funnels the pulley cable towards a radially outer surface of the pulley wheel when the pulley cable is installed on the pulley wheel; and
wherein the support member comprises opposing support brackets;
wherein the sloped surface is aligned with a sloped groove surface of the pulley wheel and
wherein the retention member includes a mounting groove in which a radially outer edge of the support bracket is disposed.
15. The cable retention device of claim 14 , wherein the retention member includes an alignment portion configured to align the retention member on the support member.
16. The cable retention device of claim 15 , wherein the alignment portion has a bottom surface that is parallel with the bottom surface of the retention member.