Strength training apparatus with flywheel and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10279212-B2
Application number	US-201715472954-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2017
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	May 7, 2019
Grant date	May 7, 2019

Abstract

Embodiments of a strength training apparatus and related methods are provided. In one embodiment, a strength training apparatus may include a base member, a tower structure, a first arm, a second arm, a flywheel, a cable and pulley system, a torque sensor, and a console. The cable and pulley system may be configured to effect rotation of the flywheel. The torque sensor may be configured to measure torque applied to the flywheel during the rotation of the flywheel. The console may include an output device. The console may further be in communication with the torque sensor. The console may further be configured to calculate an amount of work expended by a user based at least in part on the measured torque. The output device may be configured to provide an indication of the calculated amount of work expended by the user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A strength training apparatus comprising:
a base member;
a tower coupled to and extending vertically upward from the base member;
a first arm coupled with the tower;
a first pulley coupled with the first arm;
a first handle coupled to the first pulley;
a second arm coupled with the tower;
a second pulley coupled with the second arm;
a second handle coupled to the second pulley;
a third pulley;
a biasing member coupled to the third pulley and coupled to a first fixed location on the tower, the biasing member configured to stretch in order to allow the third pulley to be displaced vertically relative to the tower and configured to retract in order to cause the third pulley to vertically return relative to the tower;
a fourth pulley rotatable about an axis that is fixed with respect to the tower;
a flywheel;
a clutch mechanism coupled to the flywheel, the clutch mechanism configured such that rotation of the clutch mechanism in a first direction drives the flywheel to likewise rotate in the first direction, the clutch mechanism further configured such that reversing rotation of the clutch mechanism to a second direction that is opposite the first direction has no effect on the rotation of the flywheel;
a drive cable coupled to the first handle and the second handle, the fourth pulley, the clutch mechanism, and the third pulley, the drive cable configured such that a user pulling on the first handle and/or the second handle causes the drive cable to rotate the clutch mechanism in the first direction and causes the drive cable to stretch the biasing member and thereby vertically displace the third pulley relative to the tower, the biasing member configured such that a user releasing the first handle or the second handle, after pulling thereon, allows the biasing member to retract, thereby causing the drive cable to rotate the clutch mechanism in the second direction and causing the third pulley to vertically return relative to the tower;
a sensor configured to take measurements during the rotation of the flywheel; and
a control panel including an input device and an output device, the control panel being in communication with the sensor, the control panel configured to calculate an amount of power expended by the user pulling on the first handle and/or pulling on the second handle during an exercise session based at least in part on the measurements taken during the rotation of the flywheel, the output device configured to provide an indication of the calculated amount of power expended by the user, the control panel further including a connection configured to communicate with another device.

2. The strength training apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the output device is configured to provide the indication of the calculated amount of power expended by the user in units of watts.

3. The strength training apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the output device is configured to provide the indication of the calculated amount of power expended by the user in units other than watts.

4. The strength training apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a magnetic brake associated with the flywheel and configured to apply a level of resistance to the rotation of the flywheel.

5. The strength training apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the sensor is a torque sensor configured to measure torque applied to the flywheel by the magnetic brake during the rotation of the flywheel.

6. The strength training apparatus of claim 4 , wherein:
the control panel is in communication with the magnetic brake;
the input device is configured to allow the user to select the level of resistance applied to the rotation of the flywheel by the magnetic brake; and
the output device is configured to provide an indication of the selected level of resistance applied to the rotation of the flywheel by the magnetic brake.

7. The strength training apparatus of claim 6 , wherein: the input device includes a dial; and
the output device includes a display.

8. The strength training apparatus of claim 6 , wherein:
the input device includes a button labeled with a ‘+’ symbol for increasing the level of resistance applied to the rotation of the flywheel by the magnetic brake; and
the input device further includes a button labeled with a ‘−’ symbol for decreasing the level of resistance applied to the rotation of the flywheel by the magnetic brake.

9. The strength training apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the magnetic brake includes:
a U-shaped bracket having two sides defining an open slot and housing multiple permanent magnets on both sides of the open slot configured to provide a magnetic flux to the flywheel when positioned in the open slot; and
an arm configured to pivot, relative to the flywheel, to alter the level of resistance applied to the rotation of the flywheel.

10. The strength training apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the arm is configured to pivot between:
an upper limit;
a lower limit; and
multiple incremental positions between the upper limit and the lower limit.

11. The strength training apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the first arm is pivotally coupled with the tower; and
the second arm is pivotally coupled with the tower.

12. The strength training apparatus of claim 11 , wherein:
the first arm is configured to be manually pivoted relative to the tower; and
the second arm is configured to be manually pivoted relative to the tower independently of the first arm.

13. The strength training apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base member includes horizontal legs extending perpendicularly away from the tower.

14. The strength training apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the biasing member is a biasing cable;
the biasing cable is further coupled to a second fixed location on the tower;
the stretching of the biasing cable allows the third pulley to be displaced vertically downward relative to the tower; and
the retracting of the biasing cable causes the third pulley to vertically return upward relative to the tower.

15. The strength training apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the drive cable is indirectly coupled to the first handle and the second handle, then extends through the fourth pulley, then extends around the clutch mechanism, then extends through the third pulley, and then is coupled to a third fixed location on the tower.

16. A strength training apparatus comprising:
a base member;
a tower coupled to and extending vertically upward from the base member;
a first arm coupled with the tower;
a first pulley coupled with the first arm;
a first handle indirectly coupled to the first pulley;
a second arm coupled with the tower;
a second pulley coupled with the second arm;
a second handle indirectly coupled to the second pulley;
a third pulley;
a biasing cable coupled to the third pulley and coupled to a first fixed location and a second fixed location on the tower, the biasing cable configured to stretch in order to allow the third pulley to be displaced vertically downward relative to the tower and configured to retract in order to cause the third pulley to vertically return upward relative to the tower;
a fourth pulley rotatable about an axis that is fixed with respect to the tower;
a flywheel;
a clutch mechanism coupled to the flywheel, the clutch mechanism configured such that rotation of the clutch mechanism in a first direction drives the flywheel to likewise rotate in the first direction, the clutch mechanism further configured such that reversing rotation of the clutch mechanism to a second direction that is opposite the first direction has no effect on t

Assignees

• Icon Health & Fitness Inc

Inventors

• Dalebout William
• Olson Michael L

Classifications

• A63B2071/0625

  Emitting sound, noise or music · CPC title

• A63B23/1209

  Involving a bending of elbow and shoulder joints simultaneously · CPC title

• A63B2024/0093

  the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed · CPC title

• A63B21/00076

  on the fly, i.e. varying the resistance during exercise · CPC title

• A63B21/00192

  using resistance provided by magnetic means (A63B21/005 takes precedence) · CPC title