Water rower with tank containing water absorbent beads

Abstract

A water rower is disclosed. The rower may comprise a water tank with internal paddlewheel, a strap having a first end and a second end, a handle attached to the first end, a clutch attached to the second end configured to transfer a linear force from the rowing strap into an annular force that rotates the paddlewheel, a desired resistance encountered by the paddlewheel at the beginning of a drive phase of a rowing stroke, and a plurality of water absorbent beads. The desire resistance may be the resistance encountered by the paddlewheel were the tank to include a predetermined volume of water. That resistance is instead generated by the plurality of water absorbent beads contained within the water tank.

Description

UNITED STATES UTILITY PATENT APPLICATIONFORWATER ROWER WITH TANK CONTAINING WATER ABSORBENT BEADSInventor:Victoria PriceMarrero, LAPrepared By:David M. SteinStein Intellectual Property Services, LLC 71 Oaklawn Drive Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 231-6089 david@steinipservices.netFIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is generally related to water rower exercise machines, and, more particularly, to a water rower having a tank containing water absorbent beads.CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED INVENTIONS

[0002] Not applicable.STATEMENTS AS TO THE RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0003] Not applicable.REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING,” A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK.

[0004] Not applicable.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In the fields of exercise and exercise equipment, water rower machines have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their providing a full-body, low impact workout. When operating such machines, which are configured to simulate the action of rowing a boat, about 50 to 75% of each stroke is accomplished by leg muscles, with the remainder being performed with upper body muscles. Of the four primary categories of rowing machines - air, magnetic, water, and hydraulic - air and water are by far the most popular. Air and water rowers boast the simplest designs and are more affordable than their magnetic and hydraulic counterparts.

[0006] While an air rower includes an enclosed flywheel with fins configured to cause drag with the surrounding air while spinning, a water rower includes a water tank containing a paddlewheel having several pedals suspended from a central pivot point. The paddlewheel is connected to a rowing strap via a 1 : 1 drive system such that the paddlewheel spins with each pull of a handle at the opposite end of the rowing strap. Thus, when a user simulates a rowing stroke while grasping the handle, the force of the stroke is transferred to the paddlewheel, causing it to spin and encounter resistance from the water present in the water tank. The faster a user rows a water rower, the more water is displaced, which increases the drag resistance. Adjusting the water level in the tank affects the resistance encountered by the paddlewheel, and thus the feel of the strokes. More water increases the resistance, while less decreases the resistance.

[0007] Generally, most commercially available water rowers have a similar configuration. A seat, which may be stationary or mounted on rollers, is attached to a horizontal rail. Footrests that receive a user’s feet are attached at the opposite end of the rail from the seat. A cylindrical water tank is mounted on, or sometimes beneath, the rail. A rowing strap interfaces with a wheel inside the water tank at one end via a 1:1 drive system that includes a pulley. As discussed above, the paddlewheel inside the water tank is comprised of a central pivot point from which a plurality of pedals is suspended. The opposite end of the rowing strap terminates in a handle member, which is grasped by the user and pulled to simulate a rowing stroke.

[0008] In most configurations, the water tank of a water rowing machine is mounted horizontally, that is, such that the wheel inside rotates about a vertical axis. However, in some designs, it may be desirable to mount the water tank in a vertical configuration, such as designs focused on minimizing the size of a water rower, as well as adding additional difficulty for the user, as with each pull the user must work against not only the viscosity of the water in thetank, but also against the force of gravity pulling the water downward as it is disturbed by the centrifugal force of the spinning paddlewheel. Additionally, one configuration of water rower may include vertically mounted water tanks allow for the inclusion of two vertically mounted tanks, each of which contains a paddlewheel connected to an exterior strap terminating in a handle such that a user experiences two independent sources of resistance with each stroke, rather than a singular source of resistance split between both hands / arms. For example, the THUNDER ROW® water rowers used inside of HOTWORX® sauna utilize two vertically mounted water tanks due to the limited space available inside of the HOTWORX® saunas. However, water rowers with vertically mounted water tanks have unique issues not encountered by rowers with horizontally tanks. For example, vertically mounted water tanks are more prone to leaking, especially in configurations where the water tank is manufactured as two separate pieces joined together about the circumference of the tank. An additional disadvantage is that, at certain fill levels, the faster a user rows, the easier each stroke becomes, resulting in an inconsistent and / or uneven workout across varying stroke speeds.

[0009] In a horizontally mounted tank, at water levels wherein the water reaches the bottoms of the paddles when the paddlewheel is at rest, the contact between the water and the paddlewheel typically remains consistent as the paddlewheel spins, regardless of the speed at which the user spins the wheel via his or her rowing strokes. Even between strokes, when the lack of centrifugal force of the paddlewheel allows the water to begin settling towards the bottom of the tank, the horizontal configuration allows for evenly distributed contact between the paddles of the wheel and the water, and the horizontal configuration allows the water settles back to the bottom of the tank much quicker than in a vertically mounted tank. However, in a vertically mounted tank, as the paddlewheel slows between the user’s strokes, the water settles to the bottomof the tank, and does not maintain evenly distributed contact with all the paddles of the wheel. If a user maintains slower strokes such that the water within the tank has time to settle to the bottom of the tank between strokes, the resistance of each stroke spikes at the beginning of each stroke. However, as a user increases their stroke speed, the water may not have time to settle to the bottom of the tank before the next stroke begins, resulting in less resistance than in slower strokes.

[0010] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a water rower having at least one vertically mounted water tank that minimizes or eliminates water leaking from the water tank and delivers consistent resistance at higher stroke speeds. Is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for improving a water rower having at least one vertically mounted water tank by replacing the water in the water tank with a material, such as water absorbent beads, that eliminates leaking and delivers consistent resistance across lower and higher stroke speeds.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a water rower may comprise a water tank having an internal paddlewheel, a strap having a first end and a second end, a handle attached to the strap at the first end, a clutch member attached to the strap at the second end and configured to transfer a linear force from the strap into an annular force that rotates the paddlewheel, a desire resistance encountered by the paddlewheel at the beginning of a drive phase of a rowing stroke, and a plurality of water absorbent beads. The desired resistance may be the resistance encountered by the paddlewheel at the beginning of a drive phase of a rowing stroke performed by a suer pulling on the handle when the water tank contains a predetermined quantity of water. The water absorbent beads produce the desired resistance against thepaddlewheel at the beginning of a drive phase of a rowing stroke performed by a user pulling on the handle.

[0012] In further embodiments of the present invention, the tank and paddlewheel contained therein may be vertically mounted. The plurality of water absorbent beads, which may have a dry mass 130 grams, may have been constituted by soaking them in water until the average diameter of the water absorbent beads is from about 5.00 mm to about 5.18 mm. In certain embodiments, the tank of the water rower may have a diameter of 445 mm, a width of 139 mm, and a total internal volume of 14 L.

[0013] Other embodiments of the present invention may comprise a method for improving an existing water rower, comprising the steps of: 1) providing a water rower comprising a water tank having an internal paddlewheel, a strap having a first end and a second end, a handle attached to the strap at the first end, a clutch member attached to the strap at the second end and configured to transfer a linear force from the rowing strap into an annular force that rotates the paddlewheel; 2) adding a predetermined quantity of water to the water tank; 3) measuring a desired resistance encountered by the paddlewheel at the beginning of a drive phase of a rowing stroke performed by a user pulling on the handle; 4) removing the quantity of water from the water tank; and 5) adding a plurality of water absorbent beads to the water tank until the resistance encountered by the paddlewheel at the beginning of a drive phase of a rowing stroke performed by a user pulling on the handle is approximately equal to the desired resistance. In such embodiments, the water tank and paddlewheel therein may be mounted vertically, and the water absorbent beads, which may have a dry mass of about 130 grans, may be constituted by soaking them in water until the average diameter of the beads is from about 5.00 mm to about 5.18 mm. The water tank may havea diameter of 445 mm, 139 mm, and a total internal volume of 14 L, and the volume of the predetermined quantity of water may be 1.5 gallons.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0014] Figure 1 is an isometric view of a currently available water rower with vertically mounted water tanks.

[0015] Figure 2 is an isometric exploded view of a vertically mounted water tank for a currently available water rower.

[0016] Figure 3A is a side view of a currently available vertically mounted water rower water tank containing water.

[0017] Figure 3B is a side view of a vertically mounted water rower water tank containing a plurality of water absorbent beads, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 4A is a side view of a user operating a water rower in the catch phase of a rowing stroke.

[0019] Figure 4B is a sequence of side views of a user operating a water rower through the drive phase of a rowing stroke.

[0020] Figure 4C is a side view of a user operating a water rower in the finish phase of a rowing stroke.

[0021] Figure 4D is a sequence of side views of a user operating a water rower through the recovery phase of a rowing stroke.

[0022] Figure 5 is a flowchart of a method for improving a water rower having a vertically mounted water tank according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Figure 1 is an isometric view of a currently available water rower 100. In most configurations, horizontal rail 105 may be mounted between two leg members 110, one at each end of rail 105. Seat 115 may be mounted on top of rail 105, and in some embodiments, may be attached to rail 105 via one or more rollers 120 such that seat 115 glides back and forth along rail 105 as a user performs a rowing stroke. Footrests 125 may be mounted to rail 105 or, in some embodiments, to support member 130. While performing a rowing stroke, a user of water rower 100 grasps handle members 135, straightens their legs, pivots their body in a backward-leaning direction, and pulls handle members 135 towards themselves to simulate rowing stroke. Handle members 135 are each attached to one end of each of rowing straps 140, and the opposite ends of rowing straps 140 terminate at water tanks 145. To facilitate the directional changes necessary for rowing straps 140 to reach water tanks 145 along the underside of rail 105, each of rowing straps 140 may traverse two pulley systems - tandem pulleys 150 and single pulley 155. While some currently available water rowers include a single handle member 135, a single rowing strap 140, and a single tank 145, the exemplary rower 100 illustrated in Figure 1 employs two handle members 135, two rowing straps 140, and two water tanks 145 in order to provide a user with a more challenging workout by supplying an independent source of resistance for each hand / arm, rather than a single source of resistance divided between each of the user’s hands / arms.

[0024] Figure 2 is an isometric exploded view of water tank 145 first illustrated in Figure 1. Water tank 145 may be any water tank known in the art suitable for use in a water rowing machine. In some embodiments, water tank 145 may comprise two tank halves 160 joined at seal 165 and containing paddlewheel 170. Rowing strap 140 may connect to clutch member 175,which interfaces with paddlewheel 170 through an opening in one of tank halves 160 such that each stroke by the user (by pulling handles 135 in a rowing motion) spins paddlewheel 170 due to the force exerted upon clutch member 175 via rowing strap 140. Clutch member 175 may further include a recoil shim and strap, as is common in the art. When assembled, water is added to tank 145 up to a designated level to provide resistance with each spin of paddlewheel 170 when a user pulls handles 135 while performing a rowing stroke.

[0025] Initially, the object of the experimentation leading to the present invention was to identify a material to replace the water present within water tanks 145 during normal operation. Despite seal 165, the vertical configuration of tanks 145 may lead to water leaking from tanks 145, which lessened the effectiveness of rower 100 and created a potential slip / safety hazard. First, quantities of sand were attempted, but the resistance users encountered at the beginning of each rowing stroke was too great, resulting in an undesirably high and abrupt spike of resistance at the start of each rotation of the paddlewheel that interrupted the consistency of the user’s rowing strokes. Certain gels were considered, as the higher viscosity would minimize leaking compared to water, but widespread distribution and implementation was challenging.

[0026] Next, it was decided to experiment with water absorbent beads. For the purposes of this invention, “water absorbent beads” describes any of a category of products known in the art made of superabsorbent polymers dried and hardened into balls or spheres. Superabsorbent polymers may essentially consist of three major components: sodium hydroxide, acrylic acid and water. Superabsorbent polymers are understood to be polymers having chemical bonds called cross-links, which hold sections of the polymer together and prevent it from dissolving in water. The cross-linked polymer chains form pores such that when superabsorbent polymers are placed in water or other liquid, the liquid molecules move into the pores until thepores are filled. Accordingly, the cross-linked polymer expands in volume as it absorbs the water or other liquid. Thus, water absorbent beads are configured to absorb and retain water while maintaining their spherical shapes. Water absorbent beads may be known by many generic names throughout the art, such as jelly beads, water orbs, hydro orbs, polymer beads, gel beads, or by such trade names as Orbeez® and Imbiber Beads®. Such products may be prepared by any method known in the art, such as the method disclosed by Yamasaki, et al. in U.S. Patent No. 4,446,261.

[0027] Water absorbent beads can increase up to 200-300 times their original size when soaked in water and are marketed for several uses, such as children’s sensory toys, plant medium, and decorative applications. Inventor experimented with different quantities of water absorbent beads uses in place of water with the tanks of water rowers, such as water rower 100 as illustrated in Figure 1.

[0028] In any water rower, the resistance experienced by a user with each rowing stroke is dependent upon the amount of water present in the tank or tanks. Comparing a water rower machine to rowing an actual boat floating on a body of water, the resistance produced by the level of water in the rowing tank(s) is analogous to the weight of the boat. The higher the water level or water volume present in a water rower tank, the heavier the “boat,” and thus the higher the resistance encountered by a user of the rower with each rowing stroke.

[0029] Accordingly, in order to replace the water in the tank or tanks included in a water rower such as water rower 100 illustrated in Figure 1, a desired resistance must first be selected. In some embodiments of the present invention, the desired resistance may be equal to the resistance generated by a given volume of water in a tank of a water rower.EXAMPLES

[0030] Examples are provided below to facilitate a more complete understanding of the invention. The following examples illustrate the exemplary modes of making and practicing the invention. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to specific embodiments disclosed in these Examples, which are for purposes of illustration only, since alternative methods can be utilized to obtain similar results.EXAMPLE 1

[0031] Aspects of this invention are drawn to a water rower wherein the quantity of water in the tank of the rower has been replaced by a quantity of water absorbent beads. Figure 3A is a side view of a water tank 145 of water rower 100. Water tank 145 may have a fill level indicator 180 designating a volume of water 185 that yields a desired resistance against paddlewheel 170 when rower 100 is in operation. Volume of water 185 may be selected based upon many factors, such as the preferences of the user rowing on water rower 100, or to yield a pre-determined desired resistance based upon an exercise program. For example, the Thunder Row® water rower 100 illustrated in Figure 100, may be used in certain exercise programs performed with infrared saunas at various HOTWORX® locations. For such applications, water tanks 145 may have a diameter of 445 mm, a width of 139 mm, a total internal volume of 14 L, and a volume of water 185 of 1.5 gallons. In some embodiments, the paddlewheel may comprise of 12 paddles extending outward from a central pivot point, and have diameter of 330 mm and a width of 160 mm.

[0032] Figure 3B is a side view of a water tank 145 of water rower 100 with a plurality of water absorbent beads 190 replacing water 185, according to an embodiment of the present invention. While the use of water absorbent beads 190 within water tank(s) 145 eliminates the leaking present when volume of water 185 is present in water tank 145 (as illustrated in Figure3 A), the volume of water absorbent beads 190 may be selected to yield the same desired resistance as a given volume of water 185 in order to recreate a substantially similar rowing experience, but with no water leaking from tank 145. For example, as discussed above, Thunder Row® machines used in certain HOTWORX® exercise routines use a volume of water 185 of 1.5 gallons to yield a desired resistance for certain activities. Through experimentation, different volumes of dry water absorbent beads were soaked in different quantities water to determine: 1) the appropriate volume of constituted water absorbent beads necessary to replace water 185 to generate the same desired resistance against paddlewheel 170 when rower 100 is in use; and 2) the desired size, or a range of desired size, of the water absorbent beads after having been soaked in a quantity of water such that water absorbent beads 190 yielded the desired resistance without losing their integrity (i.e., popping or breaking), thereby releasing water into tank 145. After such experimentation, it was determined that soaking 130 g of water absorbent beads in 44 ounces of distilled water for approximately 6 hours yielded a plurality of water absorbent beads 190 having an average diameter between 5 mm and 5.18 mm such that, when water absorbent beads 190 were placed into tank 145 in place of water 185, the resistance against paddlewheel 170 with each rowing stroke during normal operation of rower 100 successfully duplicated the rowing experience of the aforementioned HOTWORX® exercise routine while simultaneously eliminating water leakage from tanks 145. Such experimentation determined that an average diameter of water absorbent beads 190 less than 5 mm did not generate the desired resistance, and that diameters greater than 5.18 mm caused the water absorbent beads 190 to lose their integrity during rowing, thereby releasing water into tanks 145.

[0033] In order to further verify the results of the aforementioned experimentation,Thunder Row® machines at twenty HOTWORX® studios were altered pursuant to the methoddescribed above. That is, the water 185 was removed from water tanks 145 and replaced with a plurality of water absorbent beads 190. Said water absorbent beads 190 were constituted by soaking 130 g of dry water absorbent beads in 44 oz of distilled water for 6 hours to yield an average water absorbent bead diameter of from 5 mm to 5.18 mm. In order to gauge customer satisfaction before widespread deployment of water rowers containing water absorbent beads, users of the aforementioned Thunder Row® machines at the twenty HOTWORX® studios were asked to fill out surveys with questions selected to ensure that the water rowers containing water absorbent beads in place of water delivered a satisfactory rowing experience substantially similar to the currently used water rowers containing water. The surveys revealed an unexpected result from the use of water absorbent beads, beyond the intended elimination of water leakage from the vertical tanks. Customer feedback revealed that, water rowers with vertically mounted tanks, such as water rower 100 in Figure 1, were prone to a resistance “kickback” at lower row rates, but became “easier” (i.e., the resistance decreased) at higher row rates, resulting in an overall uneven rowing experience. However, customers further reported that the use of water absorbent beads eliminated the varying resistance across slower and faster strokes, and delivered an even, overall more satisfactory workout, as the resistance remained consistent over slower and faster stroke rates.

[0034] Whether in an actual rowboat or on a rowing machine, a proper rowing stroke consists of four distinct phases: catch, drive, finish, and recovery. Figures 4A - D are side views of a user operating water rower 100 during each of these four phases. Figure 4A shows the user in the catch phase, in which the user has rolled seat 115 forward, has their knees bent ready to push backward against footrests 125 is grasping handles 135, and is leaning slightly forward with his or her body at an approximate 11 o’clock position. Figure 4B is a sequence of side viewsshowing the user working through the drive phase. The user initiates the drive phase by extending their legs to push the upper body away from the front of the rower. Once the user’s hands have transitioned past their feet, the user pivots their upper body about their hips, moving their upper body from the 11 o’clock position to a 1 o’clock position. Finally, the user bends their arms, pulling handles 135 towards their torso. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the desired resistance may be the resistance encountered by the paddlewheel 170 at the beginning of the first drive phase of a rowing workout. Figure 4C shows the user in the finish phase, with their legs straightened, their torso leaning backwards to for a 1 o’clock position, shoulders relaxed, elbows near their body, and forearms and wrists parallel to the floor. Finally, Figure 4D is a sequence of side views showing the user working through the recovery phase, which is essentially the opposite of the drive phase. Specifically, the user first straightens their arms, then pivots their upper body about their hips back to the 11 o’clock position, then bends their legs to return to the catch position illustrated in Figure 4A.

[0035] The customer surveys and subsequent feedback reported that, for water rowers with vertically mounted water tanks, such as water rower 100 as shown in Figure 1, at slower stroke users encountered a “kickback” phenomena, i.e., a significant and / or jarring spike in resistance, at the beginning of the drive phase of a rowing stroke because all or most of water 185 had time to re-settle at the bottom of tanks 145 during the recovery phase. However, customers noted that at faster stroke rates, the resistance encountered during the drive phase of a rowing stroke was noticeably less than at slower stroke rates because water 185 (as illustrated in Figure 3 A) did not fully settle back to the bottom of water tanks 145 at the end of the recovery phase of a first rowing stroke, resulting in less resistance encountered by a user during the drive phase of a second rowing stroke. Through this feedback and experimentation, it was discovered that the useof water absorbent beads in place of water in water tanks 145, as illustrated in Figure 3B, eliminated this inconsistent workout, delivering consistent resistance across slower and faster stroke rates. While customers reported that the use of water absorbent beads 190 delivered a similar feel to the use of water 185 in water tanks 145, the more solid nature of beads 190 (compared to water), as well as the tendency of the surfaces of beads 190 to temporarily adhere to the sides of water tanks 145 before falling and re-settling to the bottoms of tanks 145 resulted in the water absorbent beads 190 settling to the bottoms of water tanks 145 much slower than water 185. Accordingly, the use of water absorbent beads 185 eliminated the aforementioned kickback phenomena present when water 185 was used in water tanks 145. Thus, substitution of water absorbent beads 190 in water tanks 145, as illustrated in Figure 3B, resulted in more consistent resistance encountered by a user throughout all phases of each rowing stroke at both slower and faster stroke rates, thereby delivering a more consistent and satisfying workout.EXAMPLE 2

[0036] Other aspects of this invention are drawn to a method for improving a water rower by replacing a quantity of water in the water rower tank with a quantity of water absorbent beads. Figure 5 is a flowchart 500 of a method for improving a water rower having a water tank containing a paddlewheel, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. After providing a water rower, which in some embodiments may have a vertically mounted water tank, in step 505, a desired resistance may be selected in step 510. Next, a quantity of water may be added to the tank in step 515, after which the resistance encountered by the paddlewheel at the beginning of the drive phase as a user performs a rowing stroke is measured in step 520. If the desired resistance has not yet been reached (i.e., the measured resistance is less than the desired resistance), steps 515 and 520 and be repeated until the measured resistance is equal to the desiredresistance. Once the measured resistance has reached the desired resistance, the water may be removed from the tank in step 525. In step 530, a quantity of water absorbent beads may be soaked in a quantity of water, which may be distilled water, until the average diameter of the water absorbent beads is an average of 5.0 mm to 5.18 mm. Next, a quantity of the soaked water absorbent beads may be added to the tank in step 535, after which the resistance encountered by the paddlewheel at the beginning of the drive phase as a user performs a rowing stroke is measured in step 540. If the desired resistance has not yet been reached (i.e., the measured resistance is less than the desired resistance), steps 535 and 540 may be repeated until the measured resistance is equal to the desired resistance.

[0037] While the embodiments of the present invention are described herein with reference to various implementations and exploitations, it will be understood that these embodiments are illustrative and that the scope of the invention(s) is not limited to them. In general, embodiments of a water rower having a vertical tank containing water absorbent beads as described herein may be implemented using devices and materials consistent with any appropriate desired structure. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible.

[0038] For example, plural instances may be provided for components, operations, or structures described herein as a single instance. Boundaries between various components, operations, and functionality are depicted somewhat arbitrarily, and particular operations are illustrated within the context of specific illustrative configurations. For example, certain drawings contained herein illustrate particular arrangements of water rowers according to certain embodiments of the present invention. But these arrangements are for illustrative purposes only, and the present invention is in no way limited to said arrangements. Water rowers and associated tanks are available in multiple sizes, and the present invention is intended to cover any arrangementand / or configuration of as may be required for a given deployment of a water rower having a water tank, whether that water tank be mounted vertically, horizontally, or at an angle. In general, structures presented as separate components in the exemplary configurations may be implemented as a combined structure. Similarly, structures presented as a single component may be implemented as separate components or steps. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the inventive subject matter.

[0039] Reference Signs ListNumber Description100 Currently Available Water Rower105 Horizontal Rail110 Leg Member115 Seat120 Roller125 Footrest130 Support Member135 Handle Member140 Rowing Strap145 Water Tank150 Tandem Pulleys155 Single Pulley160 Tank Half165 Seal170 PaddlewheelClutch MemberFill IndicatorVolume Of WaterPlurality Of Water Absorbent BeadsFlowchart Of A Method For Improving A Water RowerProviding A Water Rower Having At Least One TankSelect A Desired ResistancePlace A Quantity Of Water Into The TankMeasure Resistance at Paddlewheel At The Beginning OfThe Drive Phase Of A Rowing StrokeRemove WaterSoak A Quantity Of Water Absorbent Beads In Water UntilThe Water Absorbent Beads Reach An Average DiameterOf5.0 To 5.18 MMAdd Quantity Of Water Absorbent Beads To TankMeasure Resistance at Paddlewheel At The Beginning OfThe Drive Phase Of A Rowing Stroke

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A water rower, comprising: a water tank having an internal paddlewheel; a strap having a first end and a second end; a handle attached to the strap at the first end; a clutch member attached to the strap at the second end and configured to transfer a linear force from the rowing strap into an annular force that rotates the paddlewheel; a desired resistance encountered by the paddlewheel at the beginning of a drive phase of a rowing stroke; and a plurality of water absorbent beads, wherein the desired resistance is determined by measuring the resistance encountered by the paddlewheel at the beginning of a drive phase of a rowing stroke performed by a user pulling on the handle when the water tank contains a predetermined quantity of water; and wherein the plurality of water absorbent beads produces the desired resistance against the paddlewheel at the beginning of a drive phase of a rowing stroke performed by a user pulling on the handle.

2. The water rower of claim 1, wherein the water tank and internal paddlewheel are vertically mounted.

3. The water rower of claim 2, wherein the plurality of water absorbent beads has been soaked in water until the average diameter of the water absorbent beads is from about 5.00 mm to about 5.18 mm.

4. The water rower of claim 3, wherein the water tank has a diameter of 445 mm, a width of 139 mm, and a total internal volume of 14 L.

5. The water rower of claim 4, wherein the dry mass of the plurality of water absorbent beads is about 130 g.

6. A method for improving a water rower, comprising the steps of:Providing a water rower comprising: a water tank having an internal paddlewheel; a strap having a first end and a second end; a handle attached to the strap at the first end; a clutch member attached to the strap at the second end and configured to transfer a linear force from the rowing strap into an annular force that rotates the paddlewheel; adding a predetermined quantity of water to the water tank; measuring a desired resistance encountered by the paddlewheel at the beginning of a drive phase of a rowing stroke performed by a user pulling on the handle; removing the quantity of water from the water tank; and adding a plurality of water absorbent beads to the water tank until the resistance encountered by the paddlewheel at the beginning of a drive phase of a rowing stroke performed by a user pulling on the handle is approximately equal to the desired resistance.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the water rower and internal paddlewheel are vertically mounted.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of water beads has been constituted by being soaked in water until the average diameter of the water absorbent beads is from about 5.00 mm to about 5.18 mm.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the water tank has a diameter of 445 mm, a width of 139 mm, and a total internal volume of 14 L, and the volume of the predetermined quantity of water is 1.5 gallons.

10. The water rower of claim 9, wherein the dry mass of the plurality of water absorbent beads is about 130 g.

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