Adjustable dumbbell system having a weight sensor

• US 10,195,477 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2016
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BowFlex, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.
• Inventors: Marjama, Marcus L., Moran, Thomas H., Crabb, Peter L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh, Loan H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fischer, Rae
• Application Number:
  US15/266,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20170001061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/068 Input by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00065 by increasing or reducing the number of resistance units
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0726 Dumb bells, i.e. with a central bar to be held by a single hand, and with weights at the ends
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0728 with means for fixing weights on bars, i.e. fixing olympic discs or bumper plates on bar-bells or dumb-bells
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/075 with variable weights , e.g. weight systems with weight selecting means for bar-bells or dumb-bells
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/24 Angular displacement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/36 Speed measurement by electric or magnetic parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/52 Weight, e.g. weight distribution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/30 : Maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0036 : Accessories for stowing, putting away or transporting exercise apparatus or sports equipment A63B47/00, A63B55/00, A63B60/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0054 : Features for injury prevention on an apparatus, e.g. shock absorbers mats or the like for absorbing shocks for jumping A63B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 : Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

An adjustable dumbbell system having a weight sensor is provided. The adjustable dumbbell system may include a handle assembly, a plurality of weights selectively fixedly connectable to the handle assembly, a sleeve rotatably coupled to the handle assembly, an indexing wheel rotatably coupled to the handle assembly and arranged to rotate with the sleeve, at least one sensor configured to detect the rotational position of the indexing wheel, and a computing device in communication with the at least one sensor. The rotational position of the sleeve may correspond to a different combination of the plurality of weights fixedly connected to the handle assembly. The computing device may be configured to determine the different combination of the plurality of weights fixedly connected to the handle assembly based on the rotational position of the indexing wheel detected by the at least one sensor.

Claims

1. An adjustable dumbbell system, comprising:

a handle assembly;

a plurality of weights selectively fixedly connectable to the handle assembly;

a sleeve rotatably coupled to the handle assembly, the rotational position of the sleeve corresponding to a different combination of the plurality of weights fixedly connected to the handle assembly;

an indexing wheel rotatably coupled to the handle assembly and arranged to rotate with the sleeve;

at least one sensor configured to detect the rotational position of the indexing wheel; and

a computing device in communication with the at least one sensor and configured to determine the different combination of the plurality of weights fixedly connected to the handle assembly based on the rotational position of the indexing wheel detected by the at least one sensor.

2. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is positioned on the handle assembly so as to remain in a fixed position relative to the rotation of the indexing wheel.

3. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 1, further comprising:

a magnet coupled to the indexing wheel, the magnet arranged such that a magnetic field direction of the magnet varies with a rotational position of the indexing wheel;

the at least one sensor includes a magnetic sensing portion positioned adjacent to the magnet, the magnetic sensing portion configured to detect the direction of the magnetic field of the magnet; and

the at least one sensor detects the rotational position of the indexing wheel based on the detected direction of the magnetic field of the magnet.

4. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the magnet is positioned adjacent a hub of the indexing wheel.

5. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the magnet is positioned within the hub.

6. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the magnet rotates around the axis of rotation of the indexing wheel.

7. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 4, wherein the magnet is at least partially exposed.

8. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly includes a handle operatively associated with the sleeve so as to rotate with the sleeve.

9. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 1, further comprising:

an end cap;

an inner cover; and

a bridge connected between the end cap and the inner cover;

wherein the at least one sensor is supported from the bridge and positioned between the end cap and the inner cover.

10. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 9, wherein:

a portion of the at least one sensor extends downward from the bridge; and

the at least one sensor is mounted adjacent the end cap.

11. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 10, wherein the at least one sensor is aligned with a magnet associated with the indexing wheel.

12. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 9, further comprising a selector disc arranged adjacent the end cap and operable to selectively engage at least one of the plurality of weights to selectively fix the at least one weight to the handle assembly, wherein the at least one sensor is positioned between the end cap and the selector disc.

13. The adjustable dumbbell system of claim 1, wherein:

the indexing wheel includes a plurality of teeth arranged along a perimeter of the wheel;

the sleeve includes a plurality of teeth arranged along a perimeter of the sleeve; and

the teeth of the sleeve are arranged to intermesh with the teeth of the indexing wheel such that rotation of the sleeve causes corresponding rotation of the indexing wheel.

14. A sensing mechanism for an adjustable dumbbell system, comprising:

a sleeve rotatably coupled to a handle assembly, the rotational position of the sleeve corresponding to a different weight of the adjustable dumbbell system;

an indexing wheel rotatably coupled to the handle assembly and arranged to correspondingly rotate with the sleeve;

at least one sensor fixedly connected to the handle assembly, the at least one sensor configured to detect the rotational position of the indexing wheel; and

a computing device configured to determine the weight of the adjustable dumbbell system based on the rotational position of the indexing wheel detected by the at least one sensor.

15. The sensing mechanism of claim 14, further comprising:

a magnet coupled to the indexing wheel and configured to change the direction of the magnetic field of the magnet as the indexing wheel rotates; and

a magnetic sensing portion positioned adjacent the magnet and configured to detect the direction of the magnetic field of the magnet;

wherein the at least one sensor detects the rotational position of the indexing wheel based on the detected direction of the magnetic field of the magnet.

16. The sensing mechanism of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the magnet is positioned adjacent a hub of the indexing wheel.

17. The sensing mechanism of claim 16, wherein at least a portion of the magnet is positioned within the hub.

18. The sensing mechanism of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the magnet rotates around the axis of the indexing wheel.

19. The sensing mechanism of claim 16, wherein the magnet is at least partially exposed.

20. The sensing mechanism of claim 14, wherein:

the indexing wheel includes a plurality of teeth arranged along a perimeter of the wheel;

the sleeve includes a plurality of teeth arranged along a perimeter of the sleeve; and

the teeth of the sleeve are arranged to couple with the teeth of the indexing wheel such that rotation of the sleeve causes corresponding rotation of the indexing wheel.