Method of using and apparatus for use with exercise machines to achieve programmable variable resistance
US5583403A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 5, 1995 |
| Grant date | Dec 10, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 5, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S482/903
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An exercise machine which can independently vary the force and the speed at the user end is developed. The exercise machine includes a constant torque, variable speed reversible motor, a temperature controlled magnetic particle clutch, a gear reducer, a controller, and a suitable lever mechanism. The motor, clutch and gear reducer are chosen in a combination in order to achieve a predetermined output so that any combination of isotonic, isokinetic, isometric, isotonic/isokinetic, constant, variable, active, passive, uni-directional or bi-directional exercise routines can be performed with the exercise machine. With suitable lever modifications, the resistance providing unit can be successfully modified to emulate a shoulder press, bench press, leg exercise machine, arm exercise machine, etc. The output parameters, user force and user speed, are controlled in real time to maintain accuracy. This is made possible by the use of a PC-based controller interfaced to off-the-shelf motor and clutch control boards. A user interface written in C programming language helps facilitate maintenance of user exercise records for future reference, maintains the large array of protocols and encourag…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.