Abstract: A toothed belt construction formed mainly of thermoplastic material and method of making the same are provided, the method including the steps of disposing at least one layer of the thermoplastic material about the outer peripheral surface of a building drum that has the outer peripheral surface thereof defined by alternating teeth and grooves, and then forcing the one layer of thermoplastic material toward the drum while the temperature of the one layer of thermoplastic material is above its softening temperature and below its melting temperature so as to cause at least part of the one layer of thermoplastic material to exude into the grooves to form at least part of the plurality of teeth of the belt construction.

Abstract: A method of making tooth belts by formation thereof about the outer peripheral surface of a building drum having a generally cylindrical configuration and a surface defining a series of parallel, tooth-shaped grooves. The belts are formed by wrapping a fabric circumferentially around the building drum and winding a cord of tensile material helically about the fabric. A layer of thermoplastic material is formed about the cord of tensile material, and a cord of shrink material is wrapped helically about the layer of thermoplastic material. The shrink material has a higher softening temperature than the thermoplastic material and will shrink at a temperature below its softening temperature. Pressurized steam is applied to the shrink material at a temperature below its softening temperature and between the softening temperature and the melting temperature of the thermoplastic material.

Abstract: A biasing device for an exercising machine is provided where one end of the biasing device is removably disposed on a lever arm of the exercising machine and the opposite end of the biasing device is disposed on a fixed support member of the exercising machine. The biasing device provides resistance to the movement of the lever arm in the plane of motion wherein the biasing device comprises at least one elastomeric band and a containing device to provide a bight on the ends of the biasing device for disposing on the respective portions of the machine. The biasing device may also have end members or a support placed within the bights. The biasing device, the containing device and the end members or the support may be initially separate and separable such that in the event of damage to any one of said devices it may readily be replaced with another such elastomeric band.

Abstract: A toothed belt construction formed mainly of thermoplastic material and method of making the same are provided, the method including the steps of disposing at least one layer of the thermoplastic material about the outer peripheral surface of a building drum that has the outer peripheral surface thereof defined by alternating teeth and grooves, and then forcing the one layer of thermoplastic material toward the drum while the temperature of the one layer of thermoplastic material is above its softening temperature and below its melting temperature so as to cause at least part of the one layer of thermoplastic material to exude into the grooves to form at least part of the plurality of teeth of the belt construction.

Abstract: A biasing means for an exercising machine is provided where one end of the biasing means is removably disposed on a lever arm of the exercising machine and the opposite end of the biasing means is disposed on a fixed support member of the exercising machine. The biasing means provides resistance to the movement of the lever arm in the plane of motion wherein the biasing means comprises at least one elastomeric band and a containing means to provide a bight on the ends of the biasing means for disposing on the respective portions of the machine. The biasing means may also have end members of support means placed within the bights. The biasing means, the containing means and the end members or support means may be initially separate and separable such that in the event of damage to any one of said means it may readily be replaced with another such elastomeric band means.

Abstract: A biasing element for an exercising machine is provided where one end of the biasing element is removably disposed on a lever arm of the exercising machine and the opposite end of the biasing element is disposed on a fixed support member of the exercising machine. The biasing element provides resistance to the movement of the lever arm in the plane of motion wherein the biasing element comprises at least one elastomeric band and a containing member to provide a bight on the ends of the biasing element for disposing on the respective portions of the machine. The biasing element may also have end members or support members placed within the bights. The biasing element, the containing member and the end members or support members may be initially separate and separable such that in the event of damage to any one of said members it may readily be replaced with another such elastomeric band element.

Abstract: An endless power transmission belt construction, a rotatable pulley therefor, a combination of the belt construction and pulley and methods of making the same are provided, the belt construction having opposed side edges and having an inner surface defining a plurality of longitudinally disposed and alternately spaced apart like projections and grooves for meshing with an outer peripheral ribbed surface of a rotatable pulley, each projection of the belt construction having a generally V-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration defined by tow substantially straight side edges that converge from the respective apexes of the grooves of the belt construction that are on opposite sides of that projection to an apex of that projection, the side edges of each projection of the belt construction defining an angle of approximately 60.degree. therebetween with the thickness of the belt construction being substantially the same as the thickness of a similar belt construction wherein the angle is approximately 40.

Abstract: An endless power transmission belt construction, a rotatable pulley therefor, a combination of the belt construction and pulley and methods of making the same are provided, the belt construction having opposed side edges and having an inner surface defining a plurality of longitudinally disposed and alternately spaced apart like projections and grooves for meshing with an outer peripheral ribbed surface of a rotatable pulley, each projection of the belt construction having a generally V-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration defined by two substantially straight side edges that converge from the respective apexes of the grooves of the belt construction that are on opposite sides of that projection to an apex of that projection, the side edges of each projection of the belt construction defining an angle of approximately 60.degree. therebetween with the thickness of the belt construction being substantially the same as the thickness of a similar belt construction wherein the angle is approximately 40.

Abstract: An endless power transmission belt construction, a rotatable pulley therefor, a combination of the belt construction and pulley and methods of making the same are provided, the belt construction having opposed side edges and having an inner surface defining a plurality of longitudinally disposed and alterntely spaced apart like projections and grooves for meshing with an outer peripheral ribbed surface of a rotatable pulley, each projection of the belt construction having a generally V-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration defined by two substantially straight side edges that converge from the respective apexes of the grooves of the belt construction that are on opposite sides of that projection to an apex of that projection, the side edges of each projection of the belt construction defining an angle of approximatly 60.degree. therebetween with the thickness of the belt construction being substantially the same as the thickness of a similar belt construction wherein the angle is approximately 40.

Abstract: An endless power transmission belt structure is provided and made of a thermoplastic elastomer having an oriented crystalline structure about substantially its entire endless path, and oriented only along this path.