Exercise machine adjustable resistance system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9776043-B2
Application number	US-201715588953-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 8, 2017
Priority date	Jun 17, 2014
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

An exercise machine adjustable resistance system and method for efficiently varying the workout resistance for an exercise machine. The exercise machine adjustable resistance system and method generally includes a control unit in communication with a resistance adjustment system of an exercise machine and a biometric monitoring device used by an exerciser on the exercise machine. The control unit receives biometric data from the biometric monitoring device and sends a control signal to the resistance adjustment system to adjust the resistance of the exercise machine based on the biometric data received.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An exercise machine, comprising:
an exercise machine having a frame, a carriage movable upon the frame and a resistance adjustment device selectively connectable to the carriage, wherein the carriage is movable between a first end and a second end of the exercise machine and wherein the resistance adjustment device provides a resistance level to the carriage along at least a first direction of movement of the carriage;
a biometric monitoring device adapted to be connected to an exerciser, wherein the biometric monitoring device is configured to monitor a biometric state of the exerciser; and
a control unit in communication with the resistance adjustment device of the exercise machine and the biometric monitoring device, wherein the control unit receives biometric data from the biometric monitoring device relating to the biometric state of the exerciser and wherein the control unit sends a control signal to the resistance adjustment device to adjust the resistance level of the resistance adjustment device based on the biometric data received;
wherein the resistance adjustment device is comprised of a plurality of resistance devices that are selectively connectable to the carriage, wherein the resistance adjustment device increases a number of the plurality of resistance devices of the resistance adjustment device that are connected to the carriage when the control unit signals an increase in the resistance level and wherein the resistance adjustment device decreases a number of the plurality of resistance devices of the resistance adjustment device that are connected to the carriage when the control unit signals a decrease in the resistance level.

2. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the biometric monitoring device is comprised of a heart rate monitor that measures a heart rate of an exerciser.

3. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the exercise machine is comprised of a pilates machine.

4. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the control unit automatically changes the resistance level of the resistance adjustment device in real-time throughout the exercise routine to achieve a desired biometric state of the exerciser.

5. The exercise machine of claim 4 , wherein the desired biometric state is comprised of a desired percentage of a maximum heartrate for the exerciser.

6. The exercise machine of claim 5 , wherein the control unit increases the resistance level of the resistance adjustment device if a current heartrate of the exerciser is below the desired percentage of the maximum heartrate for the exerciser.

7. The exercise machine of claim 6 , wherein the control unit decreases the resistance level of the resistance adjustment device if a current heartrate of the exerciser is above the desired percentage of the maximum heartrate for the exerciser.

8. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the resistance adjustment device is comprised of an electromechanical latching and unlatching mechanism.

9. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of resistance devices is comprised of an eddy current brake.

10. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of resistance devices is comprised of a dashpot.

11. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of resistance devices are each comprised of a spring.

12. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of resistance devices are each comprised of a brake.

13. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of resistance devices are electromechanical or electromagnetic.

14. The exercise machine of claim 1 , including a resistance input device in communication with the control unit, wherein the exerciser may manually input a desired resistance level for the resistance adjustment device via the resistance input device.

15. The exercise machine of claim 1 , including a resistance sensor connected to the resistance adjustment device to measure the resistance level, wherein the resistance sensor is in communication with the control unit.

16. A method of using the exercise machine of claim 1 , comprising:
performing a first exercise on the exercise machine by the exerciser;
monitoring the biometric state of the exerciser by the biometric monitoring device during the step of performing the first exercise;
communicating the biometric state of the exerciser to the control unit; and
adjusting the resistance level based on the biometric state of the exerciser.

17. An exercise machine, comprising:
an exercise machine having a frame, a carriage movable upon the frame and a resistance adjustment device selectively connectable to the carriage, wherein the carriage is movable between a first end and a second end of the exercise machine and wherein the resistance adjustment device provides a resistance level to the carriage along at least a first direction of movement of the carriage;
a biometric monitoring device adapted to be connected to an exerciser, wherein the biometric monitoring device is configured to monitor a biometric state of the exerciser and wherein the biometric monitoring device is comprised of a heart rate monitor that is configured to measure a heart rate of an exerciser; and
a control unit in communication with the resistance adjustment device of the exercise machine and the biometric monitoring device;
wherein the control unit receives biometric data from the biometric monitoring device relating to the biometric state of the exerciser;
wherein the control unit sends a control signal to the resistance adjustment device to adjust the resistance level of the resistance adjustment device based on the biometric data received;
wherein the control unit is configured to automatically change the resistance level of the resistance adjustment device in real-time throughout the exercise routine to achieve a desired biometric state of the exerciser;
wherein the control unit increases the resistance level of the resistance adjustment device if a current heartrate of the exerciser is below the desired percentage of the maximum heartrate for the exerciser and wherein the control unit decreases the resistance level of the resistance adjustment device if a current heartrate of the exerciser is above the desired percentage of the maximum heartrate for the exerciser;
wherein the resistance adjustment device is comprised of a plurality of resistance devices that are selectively connectable to the carriage, wherein the resistance adjustment device increases a number of the plurality of resistance devices of the resistance adjustment device that are connected to the carriage when the control unit signals an increase in the resistance level and wherein the resistance adjustment device decreases a number of the plurality of resistance devices of the resistance adjustment device that are connected to the carriage when the control unit signals a decrease in the resistance level.

18. A method of using the exercise machine of claim 17 , comprising:
performing a first exercise on the exercise machine by the exerciser;
monitoring the biometric state of the exerciser by the biometric monitoring device during the step of performing the first exercise;
communicating the biometric state of the exerciser to the control unit; and
adjusting the resistance level based on the biometric state of the exerciser.

19. An exercise machine, comprising:
an exercise machine having a frame, a carriage movable upon the frame and a resistance adjustment device selectively connectable to the carria

Assignees

• Lagree Tech Inc

Inventors

• Lagree Sebastien Anthony Louis

Classifications

• A63B2225/50

  Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry · CPC title

• A63B2230/062

  used as a control parameter for the apparatus · CPC title

• A63B21/4045

  Reciprocating movement along, in or on a guide (weights moving along or in guiding means A63B21/06; for cardio-training A63B22/201) · CPC title

• A63B24/0075 Primary

  Means for generating exercise programmes or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases · CPC title

• A63B23/0355

  A single apparatus used for either upper or lower limbs, i.e. with a set of support elements driven either by the upper or the lower limb or limbs · CPC title