U.S. patent application number 11/362021 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-05 for exerciser with programmable resistance.
Invention is credited to Yu-Chu Chen, Cheng-Hsun Huang, David Shih.
Application Number | 20070155587 11/362021 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38225249 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070155587 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huang; Cheng-Hsun ; et
al. |
July 5, 2007 |
Exerciser with programmable resistance
Abstract
An exerciser includes a resistance mechanism which includes a
control unit so that the users can input pre-set programs via a
panel to a Micro Control Unit (MCU) so as to drive a driving
mechanism. The driving mechanism includes a motor, a reel and a
cable reeves through the reel. The reel is driven by the motor so
as to pull the cable by a desired force. A load detection device is
connected between the cable and the control unit so as to detect
the tension of the cable. When the load detection mechanism detects
an unusual situation on the cable, the operation of the driving
mechanism is stopped or slower to protect the users.
Inventors: |
Huang; Cheng-Hsun; (Wuci
Township, TW) ; Chen; Yu-Chu; (Wuci Township, TW)
; Shih; David; (Wuci Township, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101
ELLICOTT CITY
MD
21043
US
|
Family ID: |
38225249 |
Appl. No.: |
11/362021 |
Filed: |
February 27, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/1 ;
482/148 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/4043 20151001;
A63B 2220/51 20130101; A63B 2208/0233 20130101; A63B 21/4035
20151001; A63B 2208/0252 20130101; A63B 21/0058 20130101; A63B
21/4029 20151001; A63B 21/078 20130101; A63B 23/03525 20130101;
A63B 23/12 20130101; A63B 24/00 20130101; A63B 21/153 20130101;
A63B 23/1209 20130101; A63B 23/1236 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/001 ;
482/148 |
International
Class: |
A63B 15/02 20060101
A63B015/02; A63B 23/00 20060101 A63B023/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 4, 2006 |
TW |
095100372 |
Claims
1. An exerciser comprising: a resistance mechanism which includes a
control unit, the control unit including a panel and a circuit
board on which a Micro Control Unit (MCU) is connected, the circuit
board being operated by pre-set programs, and a driving mechanism
having a motor electrically connected with the control unit and, a
driving device which includes a reel and a cable reeving through
the reel, the reel being driven by the motor, and a load detection
device connected between the cable and the control unit so as to
detect the tension of the cable and sending signals to the MCU on
the circuit board.
2. A method for controlling the resistance of an exerciser,
comprising the following steps: step (a) setting a load according
exerciser status via a panel; step (b) detecting a load detection
device by an MCU on a circuit board and transmission parts and
control parts being driven by programmable commands; step (c)
driving a reel 55 to rotate to release or pull a cable reeving
through the reel so as to provide resistance; step (d) sending
signals to the MCU on the circuit board according to results of
detection of the cable by the load detection device; step (e) the
MCU on the circuit board comparing the programmable commands and
the results of the detection of the cable by the load detection
device, sending controlling signals to a driving mechanism, and
step (f) sending control signals to the driving mechanism to stop
or to slower operation of the driving mechanism when the load
detection mechanism detects an unusual situation on the cable.
3. The exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving
mechanism and the load detection device are received in a box.
4. The exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is
received in a box.
5. The exerciser as claimed in claim 1, the driving mechanism
includes a gear box connected to the motor.
6. The exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the load detection
device includes a load cell which has one end connected to an axle
of the pulley to form a point of force applying, the other end of
the load cell is fixed to the exerciser to form a fixed point, the
load cell is electrically connected to the control unit.
7. The exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the load detection
device includes a load cell which has one end connected to an axle
of the pulley to form a point of force applying, the other end of
the load cell is pivotably connected to a first end of a link, a
second end of the link is pivotably connected to the exerciser, the
link is pivotably connected to an axle of the pulley.
8. The exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein consumption of
calories, date, time, times of heart beats, and load setting are
input and/or output by the MCU on the circuit board via the panel.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an exerciser having a
control unit to control the resistance required.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A conventional weight training exerciser "A" is shown in
FIG. 1 and generally includes a frame 10 composed of multiple metal
tubes and a weight device 12 is located at a rear end of the frame
10. A plurality of weights 12 are movably mounted on two guide
rails 11 and a cable 20 is connected to the weights 12 and reeves
through several pulleys 21. A handle 22 is connected to a distal
end of the cable 20 such that when the user pulls the handle 22
down, the weights 12 are lifted by the cable 20 so as to exercise
the user's muscles. However, the weight training exerciser "A" is a
bulky exerciser and the number of weights 12 has to be carefully
determined so as to protect the muscles which might be hurt if the
weight to be lifted is over the muscles can afford. Therefore, the
users have to try several times to determine the number of the
weights 12 and this takes a lot of time.
[0003] The present invention intends to provide an exerciser which
includes a control unit to set the resistance required by input
commands via a panel and the control unit checks the load during
operation to provide safety protection to the users.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention relates to an exerciser which
comprises a resistance mechanism which can be controlled by
programmable commands to provide desired resistance. The resistance
mechanism includes a control unit including a panel and a circuit
board on which a Micro Control Unit (MCU) is connected. The circuit
board is operated by pre-set programs. A driving mechanism
controlled by the MCU has a motor electrically connected with the
control unit and a driving device which includes a reel and a cable
reeves through the reel. The reel is driven by the motor. A load
detection device is connected between the cable and the control
unit so as to detect the tension of the cable and to send signals
to the MCU on the circuit board.
[0005] The present invention will become more obvious from the
following description when taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration
only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a conventional weight training exerciser;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective view to show the resistance
mechanism of the present invention;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a top view to show the resistance mechanism of the
present invention;
[0009] FIG. 4 shows the operation flow chart of the resistance
mechanism of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 5 shows a first embodiment of the resistance mechanism
of the present invention used with a weight training exerciser;
[0011] FIGS. 6A and 6B show the user pulls the cable down and
release the cable of the weight training exerciser;
[0012] FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the resistance mechanism
of the present invention, and
[0013] FIG. 8 shows that the resistance mechanism of the present
invention can be used in another way.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, the exerciser "B" of the present
invention comprises a resistance mechanism "C" which includes a
control unit 40. The exerciser "B" has a frame 30 which is composed
of a plurality of metal tubes and a plurality of pulleys 34 is
connected to proper positions on the frame 30 and a cable 31 reeves
through the pulleys 34. A handle 33 is connected to the cable 31 so
that a user can pull the cable 31 which is applied with resistance
from the resistance mechanism "C".
[0015] The control unit 40 includes a panel 41, a circuit board 42
on which a Micro Control Unit (MCU) is connected, a box 50, a
driving mechanism 52 and a load detection device 60. The circuit
board 42 is operated by pre-set programs which are input by the
users via operation buttons on the panel 41 so as to drive the
parts of the exerciser "B" and the resistance mechanism "C". The
control unit 40 can be connected to proper positions on the frame
30 of the exerciser "B", or received in the box 50.
[0016] The driving mechanism 52 is received in the box 50 which is
installed to a proper position of the exerciser "B" and includes a
motor 53 electrically connected with the control unit 40, a gear
box 54 which is connected to an output shaft of the motor 53, a
driving device including a reel 55 and the cable 31 reeves through
the reel 55 which is driven by the motor 53. The cable 31 passes
through the box 50 and includes a connection member 32 so as to be
connected with the handle 33.
[0017] The load detection device 60 is received in the box 50 and
connected between the cable 31 and the control unit 40 so as to
detect the tension of the cable 31 and sends signals to the MCU on
the circuit board 42. The load detection device 60 includes a load
cell 61 which has one end connected to an axle of the pulley 56 to
form a point of force applying 62, the other end of the load cell
61 is fixed to the exerciser "B" to form a fixed point 63. The load
cell 61 is electrically connected to the MCU on the circuit board
42 of the control unit 40.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 4, the method for controlling the
resistance of the exerciser "B" includes the following steps:
[0019] step (a) setting a load according exerciser status via the
panel 41;
[0020] step (b) detecting the load detection device 60 by the MCU
on the circuit board 42 and transmission parts and control parts
are then driven by the programmable commands;
[0021] step (c) driving the reel 55 to rotate to release or pull
the cable 31 reeving through the reel 55 so as to provide
resistance;
[0022] step (d) sending signals to the MCU on the circuit board 42
according to results of detection of the cable 31 by the load
detection device 60;
[0023] step (e) the MCU on the circuit board 42 comparing the
programmable commands and the results of the detection of the cable
31 by the load detection device 60, then sending controlling
signals to the driving mechanism 52, and
[0024] step (f) sending control signals to the driving mechanism 52
to stop or to slower operation of the driving mechanism 52 when the
load detection mechanism 60 detects an unusual situation on the
cable 31.
[0025] The users can set the desired resistance by inputting
programmable commands via the panel 41 to control the operation of
the motor 53 so that the resistance can be instantly adjusted
without removing the heavy weights. The resistance mechanism "C"
occupies less space so that the whole exerciser "B" can be reduced
and because no weights are required, no noise is generated. When
pulling the handle 33 up and down as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the
resistance exercises the muscles of the user. If the cable 31
unusually moves such as loose its tension or has any unusual
situation, the load detection mechanism 60 sends a signal to stop
or slower the motor 53 to protect the users. The consumption of
calories, date, time, times of heart beats, and load setting can be
input and/or output by the MCU on the circuit board 42 via the
panel 41.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 7 which shows a second embodiment of the
resistance mechanism of the present invention, wherein the load
cell 61 of the load detection device 60 has one end connected to an
axle of the pulley 56 to form a point of force applying 62, the
other end of the load cell 61 is pivotably connected to a first end
of a link 64, a second end of the link 64 is pivotably connected to
the exerciser "B", the link 64 is pivotably connected to an axle of
the pulley 56.
[0027] FIG. 8 shows that the resistance mechanism "C" can be
cooperated with another type of exerciser so that the user lies on
a bench to lift the cable 31 upward to exercise muscles.
[0028] While we have shown and described the embodiment in
accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those
skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without
departing from the scope of the present invention.
* * * * *