Exercise apparatus and associated method including rheological fluid brake
US5749807A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 7, 1995 |
| Grant date | May 12, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 7, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S482/903
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An exercise apparatus includes a frame, user actuation components connected to the frame for being engaged and moved by a user during an exercise, and a rheological fluid brake operatively connected to the user actuation components for applying a controllable resistance to movement thereof. The rheological fluid brake includes a rheological fluid having a controllable viscosity, a housing connected to the frame and containing the rheological fluid, and a rotatable shaft extending outwardly from the housing and connected between the rheological fluid and the user actuation components. A flywheel is also preferably connected to the rotatable shaft to further smooth action of the brake. A controller, such as a microprocessor operating under stored program control, is preferably operatively connected to the rheological fluid brake for causing a predetermined field strength to be applied to the rheological fluid based upon a user-selected resistance value. In one embodiment, the rheological fluid is a magnetorheological fluid and in another embodiment, the fluid is a electrorheological fluid. A stair stepper, exercise bicycle and treadmill incorporating the rheological brake are disclos…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.