Machine-assisted exercising

• US 6,561,955 B1
• Filed: 06/10/1999
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Concept II Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Concept II Incorporated
• Inventors: Dreissigacker, Peter D., Dreissigacker, Richard A., Williams, Jonathan V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAM M
• Application Number:
  US09/329,915
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 482/51, 482/52, 482/53, 482/56, 482/57, 482/58, 482/59, 482/72, 482/73
• US Class Current: 482/57
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00069 Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0088 by moving the surrounding air

Abstract

An exercise machine in which a fan has a rotor that generates drag by causing air to move in response to exercising by a user. A deflection structure deflects air that the rotor has moved and is adjustable to control the amount of drag generated by the rotor.

Claims

1. An exercise machine comprising:

a support,

a driving mechanism configured to move relative to the support as a user exercises,

a fan having;

a rotor configured to generate drag by causing air to move in response to motion of the driving mechanism as the user exercises, the rotor having an axis of rotation, and

a deflection structure configured to deflect air moved by the rotor and to be adjustable to control the amount of drag generated by the rotor,

the deflection structure and the rotor being located at different positions along the axis of rotation.

4. The exercise machine of claim 1 or 2, in which the rotor is movable relative to the deflection structure.

5. The exercise machine of claim 1 or 2, in which at least part of the deflection structure is stationary relative to the support.

6. The exercise machine of claim 1 or 2, in which the deflection structure comprises deflection surfaces and at least one of the deflection surfaces is adjustable relative to a path of air that the rotor has moved.

7. The exercise machine of claim 1 or 2, in which the deflection structure comprises curved vanes.

8. The exercise machine of claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the deflection structure comprises deflection surfaces and at least two of the deflection surfaces are independently adjustable from an open position to a closed position.

9. The exercise machine of claim 1, 2, or 3 further comprising a seat disposed along the support.

10. The exercise machine of claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the support comprises a beam.

11. The exercise machine of claim 9 wherein the seat is configured to be movable to different positions along the support relative to the driving mechanism and/or to different orientations relative to the driving mechanism.

12. The exercise machine of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the fan is undriven when the driving mechanism is riding in one direction along the support.

13. The machine of claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the support comprises a beam and the driving mechanism comprises a carriage that rides along the beam.

2. An exercise machine comprising

a support,

a driving mechanism configured to move relative to the support as a user exercises,

a fan having

a rotor configured to generate drag by causing air to move in response to motion of the driving mechanism as the user exercises

a deflection structure that deflects air that the rotor has moved and is adjustable to control the amount of drag generated by the rotor, and

a closed housing surrounding the rotor and the deflection structure.

3. An exercise machine comprising:

a support,

a driving mechanism configured to move relative to the support as a user exercises,

a fan having;

a rotor configured to generate drag by causing air to move in response to motion of the driving mechanism as the user exercises;

the rotor having an axis of rotation; and

a deflection structure of curved vanes that;

are configured to deflect air moved by the rotor; and

are adjustable, relative to the path of air that the rotor has moved, to control the amount of drag generated by the rotor;

the deflection structure and the rotor being located at different positions along the axis, and,

a closed housing surrounding the rotor and the deflection structure.