DEVICE AND METHOD FOR LIMITING TRAVEL IN AN EXERCISE DEVICE, AND AN EXERCISE DEVICE INCLUDING SUCH A LIMITING DEVICE

• US 20110256988A1
• Filed: 03/17/2011
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BowFlex, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.
• Inventors: Weier, Keith M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,272,996 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0083 of the piston-cylinder type using pneumatic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0087
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0056 the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis A63B22/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0235 driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0292 separate for each leg, e.g. dual deck
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions

Abstract

A method and/or a device may limit a distance traveled by a treadle assembly in an exercise device. For example, the distance traveled by the treadle assembly may be limited by limiting a distance that a resistance element operably coupled to the treadle assembly may travel. An exercise apparatus may include a travel-limiting device or capability.

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled)

14. An exercise apparatus, comprising:

a frame;

a treadle assembly operably coupled to the frame to travel in a first direction and a second direction that is opposite the first direction;

a resistance device resistively coupling the treadle assembly to the frame and including a piston rod that extends and retracts as the treadle travels in the first direction and the second direction; and

a travel-limiting device configured to limit movement of the treadle assembly, the travel-limiting device comprising an element movably associated with the piston rod to limit the retracting of the piston rod.

15. The exercise apparatus of claim 14, wherein the resistance device includes a resistive cylinder that the piston rod extends from and retracts into and the travel-limiting device is movably associated with the piston rod to limit the retracting of the piston rod into the resistive cylinder.

16. The exercise apparatus of claim 15, wherein the travel-limiting device includes a spacer that is movably associated with the piston rod to limit the retracting of the piston rod into the resistive cylinder.

17. The exercise apparatus of claim 15, wherein the travel-limiting device includes plural spacers movably associated with the piston rod to limit the retracting of the piston rod into the resistive cylinder by plural amounts.

18. The exercise apparatus of claim 17, wherein the plural spacers are pivotally coupled together.

19. The exercise apparatus of claim 15, wherein the travel-limiting device includes plural spacers coupled together and individually movably associated with the piston rod to limit the retracting of the piston rod into the resistive cylinder by plural amounts.

20. The exercise apparatus of claim 15, wherein the resistive cylinder comprises a hydraulic resistive cylinder.

21. The exercise apparatus of claim 14, wherein the frame includes a base and at least one upright extending substantially vertically from the base and the resistance device resistively couples the treadle assembly to the at least one upright.

22. An exercise apparatus, comprising:

a frame;

a treadle assembly comprising a first treadle and a second treadle, each treadle operably coupled to the frame to travel in a first direction and a second direction that is opposite the first direction;

a resistance assembly comprising a first resistance element operably coupled to the first treadle and to the frame and a second resistance element operably coupled to the second treadle and to the frame, the first and second resistance elements including first and second piston rods that, respectively, extend as the first and second treadles travel in the first direction and retract as the first and second treadles travel the second direction; and

the travel-limiting device limits retracting of at least one of the first and second piston rods.

23. The exercise apparatus of claim 22, wherein the travel-limiting device limits retracting of only one of the first and second piston rods.

24. The exercise apparatus of claim 22, wherein the frame includes a base and first and second uprights extending substantially vertically from the base and the first and second resistance elements operably couple the first and second treadles to the first and second uprights, respectively.

25. An exercise apparatus, comprising:

a frame including a base and at least one upright extending substantially vertically from the base;

a treadle assembly configured to travel in an upward direction and a downward direction;

a resistance device resistively coupling the treadle assembly to the frame at a first location and resisting travel of the treadle in the upward and downward directions;

a travel-limiting device configured to selectively adjust a distance traveled by the treadle assembly in the upward direction during operation of the exercise apparatus, the travel-limiting device comprising an element movably associated with the resistance device while it is coupled to the frame at the first location.

26. The exercise apparatus of claim 25, wherein the resistance device includes a piston rod that extends and retracts as the treadle assembly travels in the downward and upward directions, respectively.

27. The exercise apparatus of claim 26, wherein the resistance device includes a resistive cylinder that the piston rod extends from and retracts into and the element of the travel-limiting device is movably associated with the piston rod to limit the retracting of the piston rod into the resistive cylinder.

28. The exercise apparatus of claim 27, wherein the element includes a spacer that is movably associated with the piston rod to limit the retracting of the piston rod into the resistive cylinder.

29. The exercise apparatus of claim 27, wherein the element includes plural spacers movably associated with the piston rod to limit the retracting of the piston rod into the resistive cylinder by plural amounts.

30. The exercise apparatus of claim 29, wherein the plural spacers are pivotally coupled together.

31. The exercise apparatus of claim 27, wherein the element includes plural spacers coupled together and individually movably associated with the piston rod to limit the retracting of the piston rod into the resistive cylinder by plural amounts.

32. The exercise apparatus of claim 27, wherein the resistive cylinder comprises a hydraulic resistive cylinder.