Exercise apparatus and associated method including rheological fluid brake

• US 5,810,696 A
• Filed: 10/09/1995
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BowFlex, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nautilus Acquisition Corporation
• Inventors: Webb, Gregory M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen R.
• Application Number:
  US08/541,318
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1, 482/5, 482/903, 482/2-10, 482/57, 482/63, 482/70, 482/71, 482/72, 482/73, 482/111-113, 482/51, 482/52-53
• US Class Current: 482/52
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0038 One foot moving independently from the other, i.e. there is no link between the movements of the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0053 each support element being cantilevered by a parallelogram system
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0652 for cycling in a recumbent position
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00076 on the fly, i.e. varying the resistance during exercise
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0052 induced by electromagnets A63B21/0056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/008 using hydraulic or pneumatic force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00845 using electrorheological or magnetorheological fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/157 Ratchet-wheel links; Overrunning clutches; One-way clutches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• 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 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/903 Utilizing electromagnetic force resistance

Abstract

An exercise apparatus includes a frame, user actuation components connected to the frame for being engaged and moved by a user during an exercise, and a rheological fluid brake operatively connected to the user actuation components for applying a controllable resistance to movement thereof. The rheological fluid brake includes a rheological fluid having a controllable viscosity, a housing connected to the frame and containing the rheological fluid, and a rotatable shaft extending outwardly from the housing and connected between the rheological fluid and the user actuation components. A flywheel is also preferably connected to the rotatable shaft to further smooth action of the brake. A controller, such as a microprocessor operating under stored program control, is preferably operatively connected to the rheological fluid brake for causing a predetermined field strength to be applied to the rheological fluid based upon a user-selected resistance value. In one embodiment, the rheological fluid is a magnetorheological fluid and in another embodiment, the fluid is a electrorheological fluid. A stair stepper, exercise bicycle and treadmill incorporating the rheological brake are disclosed.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a frame;

user actuation means connected to said frame for being engaged and moved by at least one limb of a user during exercise, said user actuation means including receiving means for receiving the limb of the user and providing an interface for engaging the apparatus; and

motorless rotary rheological fluid brake means operatively connected between said frame and said user actuation means for applying a controllable resistance to movement of said user actuation means and for dissipating substantially all energy therefrom, said rheological fluid brake means comprising a rheological fluid having a controllable viscosity.

2. An exercise apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising control means operatively connected to said rheological fluid brake means for controlling a field strength applied to said rheological fluid based upon a user-selected resistance value to thereby provide a desired resistance to movement of said user actuation means.

3. An exercise apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said rheological fluid is a magnetorheological fluid having a controllable viscosity responsive to an applied magnetic field, and wherein said rheological fluid brake means further comprises magnetic field generating means responsive to said control means for applying a magnetic field of predetermined strength to said magnetorheological fluid.

4. An exercise apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said magnetic field generating means comprises an electromagnet adjacent said magnetorheological fluid.

5. An exercise apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said rheological fluid is an electrorheological fluid having a controllable viscosity responsive to an applied electric field, and wherein said rheological fluid brake means further comprises electric field generating means responsive to said control means for applying an electric field of predetermined strength to said electrorheological fluid.

6. An exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rheological fluid brake means further comprises:

a housing connected to said frame and containing said rheological fluid, and

a rotatable shaft extending outwardly from said housing and operatively connected between said rheological fluid and said user actuation means.

7. An exercise apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising a flywheel operatively connected to said rotatable shaft.

8. An exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said user actuation means comprises left and right foot platforms connected to said frame for movement between up and down positions as each foot platform is alternately depressed by the user so that said exercise apparatus is a stair stepper.

9. An exercise apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said user actuation means comprises unequal-length four-bar linkage means for connecting each foot platform to said frame.

10. An exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said user actuation means comprises a pair of foot pedals, and crank means for rotatably connecting said foot pedals to said frame so that said exercise apparatus is an exercise bicycle.

11. An exercise apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said crank means defines an axis of rotation of said foot pedals, and further comprising a seat base connected to said frame so that said seat base is positioned lower than the axis of rotation of said foot pedals.

12. An exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said user actuation means comprises an endless belt and a pair of spaced apart rollers around which said endless belt is positioned for permitting said endless belt to rotate as a user strides thereon so that said exercise apparatus is a treadmill, and wherein said rheological fluid resistance means is operatively connected to one of said rollers.

13. An exercise apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a display carried by said frame and operatively connected to said control means, and wherein said control means further comprises means for displaying on said display the user-selected resistance value.

14. An exercise apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising a sensor associated with said rheological fluid resistance means, and wherein said control means further comprises means operatively connected to said sensor for generating and displaying on said display a work level of a user during an exercise.

15. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a frame;

user actuation means connected to said frame for being engaged and moved by at least one limb of a user during exercise, said user actuation means including receiving means for receiving the limb of the user and providing an interface for engaging the apparatus; and

motorless rotary fluid brake means operatively connected between said frame and said user actuation means for applying a resistance to movement of said user actuation means and for dissipating substantially all energy therefrom, said fluid brake means comprising

a housing connected to said frame,

a viscous fluid positioned in said housing, and

a rotatable shaft extending outwardly from said housing and operatively connected between said viscous fluid and said user actuation means.

16. An exercise apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said viscous fluid is a magnetorheological fluid having a controllable viscosity responsive to an applied magnetic field.

17. An exercise apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said viscous fluid is an electrorheological fluid having a controllable viscosity responsive to an applied electric field.

18. An exercise apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said resistance means further comprises a flywheel operatively connected to said rotatable shaft.

19. An exercise apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said user actuation means comprises left and right foot platforms connected to said frame for movement between up and down positions as each foot platform is alternately depressed by the user so that said exercise apparatus is a stair stepper.

20. An exercise apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said user actuation means comprises a pair of foot pedals, and crank means for rotatably connecting said foot pedals to said frame so that said exercise apparatus is an exercise bicycle.

21. An exercise apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said user actuation means comprises an endless belt and a pair of spaced apart rollers around which said endless belt is positioned for permitting said endless belt to rotate as a user strides thereon so that said exercise apparatus is a treadmill, and wherein said rheological fluid resistance means is operatively connected to one of said rollers.

22. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a frame;

user actuation means connected to said frame for being engaged and moved by at least one limb of a user during an exercise, said user actuation means including receiving means for receiving the limb of the user and providing an interface for engaging the apparatus; and

motorless rotary magnetorheological fluid brake means operatively connected between said frame and said user actuation means for applying a controllable resistance to movement of said user actuation means and for dissipating substantially all energy therefrom, said magnetorheological fluid brake means comprising a magnetorheological fluid having a controllable viscosity responsive to an applied magnetic field and magnetic field generating means adjacent said magnetorheological fluid for generating a predetermined magnetic field strength in said magnetorheological fluid.

23. An exercise apparatus according to claim 22 further comprising control means operatively connected to said magnetic field generating means for controlling a magnetic field strength applied to said magnetorheological fluid based upon a user-selected resistance value to thereby provide a desired resistance to movement of said user actuation means.

24. An exercise apparatus according to claim 23 further comprising a display carried by said frame and operatively connected to said control means, and wherein said control means further comprises means for displaying on said display the user-selected resistance value.

25. An exercise apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said magnetorheological fluid brake means further comprises:

a housing connected to said frame and containing said magnetorheological fluid; and

a rotatable shaft extending outwardly from said housing and operatively connected between said magnetorheological fluid and said user actuation means.

26. An exercise apparatus according to claim 25 further comprising a flywheel operatively connected to said rotatable shaft.

27. A stair stepper exercise apparatus comprising:

a frame;

left and right foot platforms for supporting respective feet of a user and being operatively connected to said frame so as to be moveable between up and down positions; and

motorless rotary rheological fluid brake means operatively connected between said frame and said left and right foot platforms for applying a controllable resistance to movement of said left and right foot platforms and for dissipating substantially all energy therefrom, said rheological fluid brake means comprising a rheological fluid having a controllable viscosity.

28. A stair stepper exercise apparatus according to claim 27 wherein said rheological fluid brake means further comprises:

a housing connected to said frame and containing said rheological fluid; and

a rotatable shaft extending outwardly from said housing and operatively connected between said rheological fluid and said left and right foot platforms.

29. A stair stepper exercise apparatus according to claim 27 further comprising control means operatively connected to said rheological fluid brake means for controlling a field strength applied to said rheological fluid based upon a user-selected resistance value to thereby provide a desired resistance to movement of said left and right foot platforms.

30. A stair stepper exercise apparatus according to claim 29 wherein said rheological fluid is a magnetorheological fluid having a controllable viscosity responsive to an applied magnetic field, and wherein said rheological fluid brake means further comprises magnetic field generating means responsive to said control means for applying a magnetic field of predetermined strength to said magnetorheological fluid.

31. A stair stepper exercise apparatus according to claim 29 wherein said rheological fluid is an electrorheological fluid having a controllable viscosity responsive to an applied electric field, and wherein said rheological fluid resistance means further comprises electric field generating means responsive to said control means for applying an electric field of predetermined strength to said electrorheological fluid.

32. A stair stepper exercise apparatus according to claim 28 further comprising a flywheel operatively connected to said rotatable shaft.