Exerciser
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An exerciser comprising:
- (a) first means for engagement by at least one limb of a user, supported for movement between two limits;
(b) second means for controlling the movement of said first means by resisting a force applied thereagainst by the user, said means having a control input;
(c) third means for measuring the force applied to said first means by the user and providing a first output proportional thereto;
(d) fourth means for measuring the displacement of said first means between said limits and providing a second output proportional thereto; and
(e) fifth, programmable means having as inputs said first and second output and providing a third output coupled as the control input to said second means.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An exerciser bar is supported for rotation and acts against an hydraulic cylinder with the angle of the bar and the pressure in the cylinder measured and fed to a micro computer which, using this input data, controls the cylinder pressure in accordance with a selected exercise program, the micro computer also providing outputs to displays so that the person exercising can monitor his progress.
133 Citations
32 Claims
-
1. An exerciser comprising:
-
(a) first means for engagement by at least one limb of a user, supported for movement between two limits; (b) second means for controlling the movement of said first means by resisting a force applied thereagainst by the user, said means having a control input; (c) third means for measuring the force applied to said first means by the user and providing a first output proportional thereto; (d) fourth means for measuring the displacement of said first means between said limits and providing a second output proportional thereto; and (e) fifth, programmable means having as inputs said first and second output and providing a third output coupled as the control input to said second means.
-
-
2. An exerciser comprising:
-
(a) a frame; (b) an exercise bar movably mounted on said frame for engagement by at lease one limb of a user, said exercise bar being movable between two limits; (c) a hydraulic cylinder acting against said exercise bar in at least one direction to oppose a force applied by a user, said hydraulic cylinder including a control valve to control the flow of hydraulic fluid therein and thereby control the amount of resistance provided; (d) means for measuring the pressure in said hydraulic cylinder to provide a first output which is a function of the force applied to said exercise bar; (e) means for measuring the displacement of said exercise bar between said limits and for providing a second output proportional thereto; (f) drive means for positioning the valve in said hydraulic cylinder; and (g) programmable means having as inputs said first and second outputs and providing a third output coupled as a control input to said drive means. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method of operating an exerciser which includes:
- a frame, means for engagement by at least one limb of a user supported on said frame for rotation over an angular range; and
an hydraulic cylinder acting against said means in at least one direction, said cylinder having an adjustable valve for controlling flow therethrough and thus the resistance to a force applied to said means for engagement by a user comprising;(a) measuring the force applied to said means for engagement by measuring the pressure in said cylinder and providing a first output signal proportional thereto; (b) measuring the angular displacement of said means for engagement and providing a second output signal proportional thereto; (c) storing at least one desired valve; (d) determining a measured value from at least one of said output signals; (e) comparing said measured value with said desired value to develop a control signal indicative of the difference between said desired value and said one of said output signals; and (f) using said control signal to automatically control said adjustable valve in a direction to bring said difference to zero. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
- a frame, means for engagement by at least one limb of a user supported on said frame for rotation over an angular range; and
-
27. A method of operating an exerciser which includes:
- a frame, limb engageable means for engagement by at least one limb of a user supported for movement on said frame, and force resisting means acting against said limb engageable means in at least one direction, said force resisting means being adjustable to control resistance to a force applied to said limb engageable means by a user comprising;
(a) measuring the force applied to said limb engageable means and providing a first output signal proportional thereto; (b) measuring the displacement of said limb engageable means and providing a second output signal proportional thereto; (c) storing at least one desired value of an operating parameter of said exerciser; (d) determining a measured value of said parameter from at least one of said output signals; (e) comparing said measured value with said desired value to develop a control signal indicative of the difference between said desired value and said least one of said output signals; and (f) automatically controlling said force resisting means acting against said limb engageable means in a direction to bring said difference to zero using said control signal.
- a frame, limb engageable means for engagement by at least one limb of a user supported for movement on said frame, and force resisting means acting against said limb engageable means in at least one direction, said force resisting means being adjustable to control resistance to a force applied to said limb engageable means by a user comprising;
-
28. A method of operating an exerciser which includes a frame, limb-engaging means movably mounted on the frame for engagement by at least one limb of a user, force-resisting means acting against said limb-engaging means, said force-resisting means being adjustable to control resistance to a force applied by a user to said limb engaging means, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) moving the limb-engaging means a first time by applying a first user-exerted force to the limb-engaging means; (b) measuring said first user-exerted force along the path of movement of the limb-engaging means and providing a first output signal proportional thereto; (c) storing said first output signal; (d) moving the limb-engaging means a second time by applying a second user-exerted force to the limb-engaging means; (e) measuring said second user-exerted force along the path of movement of the limb-engaging means and providing a second output signal proportional thereto; (f) comparing said second output signal with said stored first output signal to develop a control signal; and (g) controlling said force-resisting means by said control signal. - View Dependent Claims (29)
-
-
30. A method of operating an exerciser which includes a frame, limb-engaging means movably mounted on the frame for engagement by at least one limb of a user, force-resisting means acting against said limb-engaging means, said force-resisting means being adjustable to control resistance to a force applied by a user to said limb-engaging means, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) moving the limb-engaging means a first time by applying a first user-exerted force to the limb-engaging means; (b) measuring the displacement of the limb-engaging means along the path of movement of the limb-engaging means and providing a first output signal; (c) storing said first output signal; (d) moving the limb-engaging means a second time by applying a second user-exerted force to the limb-engaging means; (e) measuring the displacement of the limb-engaging means along the path of movement of the limb-engaging means as the limb-engaging means is moved a second time and providing a second output signal; (f) comparing said second output signal with said stored first output signal to develop a control signal; and (g) controlling said force-resisting means by said control signal. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
-
Specification