Powered strength trainer

• US 7,682,287 B1
• Filed: 04/16/2009
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chi Hua Fitness Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Chi Hua Fitness Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Hsieh, Li-Min
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US12/385,679
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482 92-108, 482900-903, 434/247
• US Class Current: 482/5
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00196 using pulsed counterforce, e.g. vibrating resistance means A61H1/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0058 using motors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/153 wound-up and unwound during exercise, e.g. from a reel
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/102 having a common resisting device
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/062 used as a control parameter for the apparatus

Abstract

A powered strength trainer includes: a motor of a load element being a DC or brushless motor; a controller, provided for users to adjust current and signal of the motor through a microcomputer control panel, and control the torque, vibration frequency and amplitude of the motor, such that the motor can produce a pulling force, a resistance and a vibration force at the same time, and a vibration waveform can be selected as needed, and a movement path sensor is provided for feeding back a position and determining a positive and negative rotation, and a curved load control is used for compensating a load current appropriately, and allowing users to obtain a smooth and real-world setting. A planar spiral spring drives a winch to rewind the steel wire to prevent the steel wire from falling out during a power disconnection or a power failure.

Claims

1. A powered strength trainer, comprising:

a frame, having a seat installed thereon, and a muscle extension element coupled to an end of a steel wire;

a load element, installed on the frame, and having a motor, and coupled with a winch by a transmission element, and the winch being provided for coupling another end of the steel wire and coiled thereon;

characterized in that;

the motor of the load element is a direct current (DC) motor or a brushless motor, and the winch installed on a positioning base after the winch is passed and extended to a bearing by a main shaft linked with the winch;

the transmission element includes a first belt pulley of a motor output shaft, a second belt pulley installed at a front end of the winch main shaft, a roller bearing installed between the second belt pulley and the main shaft, and a timing belt connected to the first and second belt pulleys;

a controller with a built-in control circuit includes a DC power supply, a current and direction switching control unit, a signal processing interface and a positive and negative rotation signal decoder; and

a user adjusts the current and signal transmitted to the motor through a microcomputer control panel, for controlling a torque, a vibration frequency and an amplitude of the motor, such that the motor produces a pulling force, a resistance and a vibration force simultaneously, and a vibration waveform can be selected as required;

a movement path sensor, including an optical interrupt disk installed at a lateral side of the winch and linked to the winch, and a pair of optical couplers installed at the periphery of the optical interrupt disk, such that if the steel wire drives the winch to rotate, the optical interrupt disk will be rotated synchronously, and a pulse signal generated by the optical coupler will be sent to a positive and negative rotation signal decoder in the controller for transmitting a positive and negative rotation signal to the microcomputer control panel, and performing a curved load control and appropriately compensating a load current; and

a planar spiral spring, with an internal end coupled to a sleeve at a rear end of the winch main shaft, and forming a hook at an external end, such that the hook is fixed to a latch plate on an external side of the positioning base, and if the winch is driven and rotated by the steel wire, the planar spiral spring will be forced and tightened to apply a torque in a reverse direction onto the main shaft, and transmit the torque to the winch to provide a constant pulling force to the steel wire, and the roller bearing in the second belt pulley will be separated from the second belt pulley without driving the motor armature when the main shaft is rewound, and the winch can rewind the steel wire quickly during a power disconnection.

2. The powered strength trainer of claim 1, wherein the microcomputer control panel is installed on the frame or the periphery of the frame.

3. The powered strength trainer of claim 1, wherein the microcomputer control panel receives a user'"'"'s heartbeat rate signal transmitted from a heartbeat detector.

4. The powered strength trainer of claim 3, wherein the heartbeat detector is installed at a user'"'"'s chest and wrist.

5. The powered strength trainer of claim 1, wherein the vibration waveform produced by the motor is one selected from the collection of a sine wave, a square wave and a sawtooth wave.

6. The powered strength trainer of claim 1, wherein the positioning base of the winch main shaft is a U-shaped body;

and an optical interrupt disk fixed to the winch main shaft, and a pair of optical couplers fixed onto the U-shaped positioning base.

7. The powered strength trainer of claim 1, further comprising a cover installed at the external periphery of the planar spiral spring, and the latch plate is coupled and fixed to an internal side of the cover.