CONTINOUS TENSIONING SYSTEM FOR FITNESS APPARATUS

• US 20070135272A1
• Filed: 11/09/2006
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael Stuckey
• Original Assignee: Michael Stuckey
• Inventors: Stuckey, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/558,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20070135272A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/98
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/06 User-manipulated weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/154 using special pulley-assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/30 Maintenance

Abstract

A fitness apparatus including a frame, at least one resistance member operatively mounted on the frame, and at least one user interface member. A cable and pulley system operatively connects between the at least one resistant member and the at least one interface member. Floating pulleys engage with the a cable of the cable and pulley system. Biasing elements are enagaged between the frame and the floating pulleys, so that the biasing element applies a generally perpendicular force to the cable and removes the slack in the cable and pulley system.

Claims

1. A tensioning system for a fitness apparatus having a frame and a cable and pulley assembly, comprising:

at least one floating pulley operatively engaged with at least one cable of the cable and pulley assembly; and

at least one biasing element operatively connected between the at least one floating pulley and the frame for applying a tensioning force to the at least one cable.

2. The tensioning system of claim 1, wherein the biasing element forces the at least one floating pulley and at least one cable away from a natural travel path.

3. The tensioning system of claim 1 wherein the generally perpendicular force acts substantially along the longitudinal axis of the at least one biasing element.

4. The tensioning device of claim 1, wherein the cable and pulley device include a first cable and a second cable, further comprising:

a double floating pulley operatively engaged between the first cable and the second cable;

a pair of pulleys operatively engaged with the first cable;

a pair of braces connected between the double floating pulley and the respective pair of pulleys; and

a biasing element connected between the pair of braces, said biasing element configured to apply a biasing force to each of said braces, whereby a tensioning force is applied to at least said first cable.

5. The tensioning device of claim 1, wherein the cable and pulley device include a first cable and a second cable, further comprising:

a double floating pulley operatively engaged between the first cable and the second cable;

a pair of pulleys operatively engaged with the first cable;

a pair of braces connected between the double floating pulley and the respective of pulleys; and

at least two biasing element connected between the pair of braces and a common junction, said biasing elements configured to apply a biasing force to each of said braces, whereby a tensioning force is applied to at least said first cable.

6. The tensioning device of claim 5, further comprising:

a third biasing element connected between the frame and said common junction.

7. The tensioning device of claim 1, wherein the cable and pulley device include a first cable and a second cable, further comprising:

a double floating pulley operatively engaged between the first cable and the second cable;

a pair of pulleys operatively engaged with the first cable;

a pair of braces connected between the double floating pulley and the respective pair of pulleys; and

a pair of biasing elements, a first biasing element in said pair connected between a first brace in said pair of braces and the double floating pulley, and a second biasing element in said pair connected between a second brace in said pair of braces and the double floating pulley, whereby said biasing elements are configured to apply a biasing force to each of said braces and a tensioning force is applied to at least said first cable.

8. The tensioning device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least two pulleys operatively engaged with at least one cable of the cable and pulley assembly; and

a rigid member connected between the at least two pulleys.

9. A fitness apparatus, comprising:

a frame;

at least one resistance member operatively mounted on the frame;

at least one interface member;

a cable and pulley system operatively connected between the at least one resistance member and the at least one interface member, said cable and pulley system having at least one cable;

at least one floating pulley engaged with said at least one cable; and

at least one biasing element engaged between said frame and said at least one floating pulley, wherein the biasing element applies a tensioning force to said at least one cable.

10. The tensioning system of claim 9, wherein said biasing element is configured to displace said at least one floating pulley and said at least one cable from a natural travel path between said at least one resistance member and said at least one interface member.

11. The tensioning system of claim 9 wherein said tensioning force acts substantially along the longitudinal axis of the at least one biasing element.

12. The tensioning device of claim 9, further comprising:

a first cable;

a second cable;

a double floating pulley operatively engaged between the first cable and the second cable;

a pair of floating pulleys operatively engaged with the first cable;

a pair of braces connected between the double floating pulley and the respective floating pulleys; and

a biasing element connected between the pair of braces, said biasing element configured to apply a biasing force to each of said braces in said pair of braces, whereby a tensioning force is applied to at least said first cable.

13. The tensioning device of claim 9, further comprising:

a first cable;

a second cable;

a double floating pulley operatively engaged between the first cable and the second cable;

a pair of floating pulleys operatively engaged with the first cable;

a pair of braces connected between the double floating pulley and the respective pair of floating pulleys; and

at least two biasing element connected between the pair of braces and a common junction, said biasing elements configured to apply a biasing force to each of said braces in said pair of braces, whereby a tensioning force is applied to at least said first cable.

14. The tensioning device of claim 13, further comprising:

a third biasing element connected between the frame and the common junction.

15. The tensioning device of claim 9, further comprising:

a first cable;

a second cable;

a double floating pulley operatively engaged between the first cable and the second cable;

a pair of floating pulleys operatively engaged with the first cable;

a pair of braces connected between the double floating pulley and the respective pair of floating pulleys; and

at least one biasing element connected between the pair of braces and the double floating pulley, said biasing element is configured to apply a biasing force to each of said braces, whereby a tensioning force is applied to at least said first cable.

16. The tensioning device of claim 9, further comprising:

at least two pulleys operatively engaged with at least one cable of the cable and pulley assembly; and

a rigid member connected between the at least two pulleys.

17. A fitness apparatus, comprising:

a frame;

at least one resistance member operatively mounted to said frame;

at least one interface member;

a cable and pulley system operatively connected between said at least one resistance member and said at least one interface member, said cable and pulley system having at least one cable;

at least one floating pulley engaged with said at least one cable; and

a means for biasing said at least one pulley in a generally perpendicular direction from a longitudinal axis of said cable to apply a tensioning force to said cable.

18. A method for maintaining cable tension in a fitness apparatus having at least one cable operatively coupling at least one interface member with at least one resistance member mounted on a frame, comprising:

applying a generally perpendicular biasing force to the at least one cable, said biasing force displacing said at least one cable from a travel path to maintain a tension in the at least one cable.