U.S. patent application number 12/909901 was filed with the patent office on 2012-04-26 for exercising.
Invention is credited to Dick Dreissigacker, Peter D. Dreissigacker.
Application Number | 20120100965 12/909901 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45973480 |
Filed Date | 2012-04-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120100965 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dreissigacker; Dick ; et
al. |
April 26, 2012 |
EXERCISING
Abstract
Among other things, an exercise machine includes a resistance
device connected to a flexible driving line used to drive the
resistance device. A flexible exercise line receives forces applied
by the user's hands and feet during cycles of exercising. A force
transfer mechanism couples forces, received on the exercise line
from the user during exercising, to the resistance device during
the exercise cycles, and moves back and forth relative to a frame
of the machine. The force transfer mechanism rides along, and is
supported vertically, by a support during use of the machine.
Inventors: |
Dreissigacker; Dick;
(Morrisville, VT) ; Dreissigacker; Peter D.;
(Stowe, VT) |
Family ID: |
45973480 |
Appl. No.: |
12/909901 |
Filed: |
October 22, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/72 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/157 20130101;
A63B 2022/0035 20130101; A63B 21/154 20130101; A63B 22/001
20130101; A63B 22/0087 20130101; A63B 2022/0033 20130101; A63B
21/00069 20130101; A63B 21/0088 20130101; A63B 22/0076 20130101;
A63B 71/0619 20130101; A63B 2022/0079 20130101; A63B 23/03575
20130101; A63B 2069/062 20130101; A63B 22/203 20130101; A63B 69/06
20130101; A63B 22/0005 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/72 |
International
Class: |
A63B 69/06 20060101
A63B069/06 |
Claims
1. An exercise machine comprising a resistance device connected to
a flexible driving line used to drive the resistance device, a
flexible exercise line to receive forces applied by the user's
hands and feet during cycles of exercising, a force transfer
mechanism that couples forces, received on the exercise line from
the user during exercising, to the resistance device during the
exercise cycles, and moves back and forth relative to a frame of
the machine, and a support along which the force transfer mechanism
rides during use of the machine and that supports the force
transfer mechanism vertically.
2. The machine of claim 1 in which the force transfer mechanism
slides on the support.
3. The machine of claim 1 in which the force mechanism rides along
a direction corresponding to the directions of the forces applied
by the user's hands and feet.
4. The machine of claim 1 in which the support comprises a
rail.
5. The machine of claim 1 in which the support includes a mechanism
to reduce friction as the force transfer mechanism rides along the
support.
6. The machine of claim 5 in which the friction reducing mechanism
includes a material.
7. The machine of claim 6 in which the material comprises a
layer.
8. The machine of claim 7 in which the layer lies between the force
transfer mechanism and the support.
9. The machine of claim 1 in which the support includes a mechanism
to reduce noise from the movement of the force transfer mechanism
on the support.
10. The machine of claim 9 in which the noise reducing mechanism
includes a material.
11. The machine of claim 10 in which the material comprises a
layer.
12. The machine of claim 11 in which the layer lies between the
support and a layer of a friction reducing material.
13. The machine of claim 1 in which the support is positioned below
a rail connected to a seat for the user and a foot rest assembly
that receives the force applied by the user's feet.
14. The machine of claim 13 in which one end of the support and the
rail are attached to a structural element and the other end of the
support and the rail are attached to the resistance device to
constitute a frame for the machine.
15. The machine of claim 1 in which the force transfer mechanism
has at least one side piece having a bearing surface that rides on
the support.
16. The machine of claim 1 in which the force transfer mechanism is
connected to a resilient flexible line.
17. The machine of claim 16 in which the resilient flexible line
applies a force on the force transfer mechanism to take up slack in
the flexible exercise line during parts of the exercise cycle when
the user is applying less force than other parts of the exercise
cycle.
18. The machine of claim 17 in which the force applied by the
resilient flexible line is as low as 3 pounds.
19. An exercise machine comprising a resistance device connected to
a flexible driving line used to drive the device, a flexible
exercise line to receive forces applied by the user's hands and
feet during cycles of exercising, a force transfer mechanism in
which pulleys couple forces, received on the exercise line from the
user during exercising, to the resistance device during the
exercise cycles, the force transfer mechanism having a bearing
surface that slides back and forth along, and is supported
vertically by, a support on a frame of the machine a resilient
flexible line that applies a force on the force transfer mechanism
to take up slack in the flexible exercise line during parts of the
exercise cycle when the user is applying less force than during
other parts of the exercise cycle, and a rail connected to a seat
and a foot rest assembly, the rail positioned above the
support.
20. A method comprising in an exercise machine, driving a
resistance device using a flexible driving line, receiving forces
applied by the user's hands and feet during cycles of exercise, on
a flexible exercise line, using a force transfer mechanism,
coupling forces received on the exercise line from the user during
exercising to the resistance device during exercising, in addition
to forces applied from the flexible driving line and the flexible
exercise line, applying an upward vertical force on the force
transfer mechanism during use of the machine.
Description
[0001] This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 12/572,869, filed Oct. 2, 2009, and incorporated here in its
entirety by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Exercising is frequently done on an exercise machine in
which motion of the exerciser's arms or legs is resisted by a
resistance device such as a rotating fan. In some rowing machines,
for example, as a user simulates a rowing cycle, a seat holding the
user glides back and forth along the frame in response to the user
applying force to a handle and a foot rest. In some rowing
machines, the resistance device moves back and forth on the frame
in response to the forces.
SUMMARY
[0003] In general, in an aspect, an exercise machine includes a
resistance device connected to a flexible driving line used to
drive the resistance device. A flexible exercise line receives
forces applied by the user's hands and feet during cycles of
exercising. A force transfer mechanism couples forces, received on
the exercise line from the user during exercising, to the
resistance device during the exercise cycles, and moves back and
forth relative to a frame of the machine. The force transfer
mechanism rides along, and is supported vertically, by a support
during use of the machine.
[0004] Implementations may include one or more of the following
features. The force transfer mechanism slides on the support. The
force mechanism rides along a direction corresponding to the
directions of the forces applied by the user's hands and feet. The
support comprises a rail. The support includes a mechanism to
reduce friction as the force transfer mechanism rides along the
support. The friction reducing mechanism includes a material. The
material comprises a layer. The layer lies between the force
transfer mechanism and the support. The support includes a
mechanism to reduce noise from the movement of the force transfer
mechanism on the support. The noise reducing mechanism includes a
material. The material comprises a layer. The layer lies between
the support and a layer of a friction reducing material. The
support is positioned below a rail connected to a seat for the user
and a foot rest assembly that receives the force applied by the
user's feet. One end of the support and the rail are attached to a
structural element and the other end of the support and the rail
are attached to the resistance device to constitute a frame for the
machine. The force transfer mechanism has at least one side piece
having a bearing surface that rides on the support. The force
transfer mechanism is connected to a resilient flexible line. The
resilient flexible line applies a force on the force transfer
mechanism to take up slack in the flexible exercise line during
parts of the exercise cycle when the user is applying less force
than other parts of the exercise cycle. The force applied by the
resilient flexible line is as low as 3 pounds.
[0005] These and other aspects and features, and combinations of
them, can be expressed as methods, apparatus, means for steps for
performing functions, systems, components, and applications, and in
other ways.
[0006] Other aspects and features will be apparent from the
following description, and from the claims.
DESCRIPTION
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercise machine,
partially exploded.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a side view (partially broken away) and FIG. 4 a
schematic side view of exercise machines.
[0009] FIGS. 3A-3D are illustrations of phases of a rowing
cycle.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a perspective view, FIG. 6 a side view, and FIG. 7
a rear view of exercise machines.
[0011] FIG. 8 is a partially see-through side view of an exercise
machine.
[0012] FIGS. 9-10 are side and perspective views of part of a
transfer mechanism.
[0013] FIG. 11 is a cross-section of part of an exercise
machine.
[0014] FIGS. 12 and 13 are side views of an exercise machine.
[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in some implementations, a
rowing exercise machine 100 can be arranged to simulate for a user
the rowing of a shell (or other rowing platform) through water (in
a river, for example), while achieving other advantages, including
reducing the effort required by the user to overcome inertia of his
body during different stages of a rowing cycle, and offering the
possibility of achieving compact size and weight and economical
cost of the machine. These and other benefits can be achieved, for
example, by connecting a non-resilient flexible cable 104 (for
example, one that has a tensile strength to resist stretching when
pulling forces are applied to its ends) through pulleys between an
exercise handle 102 and a movable foot rest 112. Then the combined
force 121 corresponding to a force 117 applied to the handle and a
force 119 applied to the foot rest at various times during a rowing
cycle can be coupled through a pulley assembly 115 and a chain 116
to work against and drive a fan or other resistance device 132
(which in the example shown is fixed to the frame). In the example,
the force at the resistance device will be half of the combined
force 121 because of the configuration of the pulleys.
[0016] As a result, as the user sitting on a movable seat 118 works
through a rowing cycle--during parts of which he or she pulls on
and lets up on the handle and pushes or pulls or lets up on the
foot rest--the handle, the foot rest, and the seat can move back
and forth 140, 152, 153 along a rail 126 that is part of a frame
129 of the machine, to provide a more realistic rowing experience,
among other benefits.
[0017] The rowing machine 100 simulates, for example, the effect
that motion of a shell underneath a rower--as the shell glides
through the water--has on the motion of the rower's feet relative
to his torso, among other things. Among other things, because the
foot rest 112 can move along the main rail 126 as the user applies
force to the foot rest and the handle, the exercise machine 100
simulates the inertia, resistance, and motion experienced by a
rower when he rows a shell on water.
[0018] In some implementations, the resistance device 132 is
attached in a fixed position along the length of the main rail 126
of the exercise machine, which allows the frame to be shorter,
lighter weight, and less expensive to make, than if the resistance
device were arranged to move along the rail. In some
implementations, some motion of the resistance device relative to
the frame could be permitted.
[0019] In some examples, the resistance device 132 includes an air
resistance fan, for example, of the kind shown in U.S. Pat. No.
6,561,955, incorporated here by reference. In some implementations,
the resistance device can be an electrical device or a friction
device, for example.
[0020] In some implementations that use an air resistance fan, the
fan rotates on a central spindle 139. In some examples, a driving
sprocket wheel 134 is attached by a one-way clutch (not shown) to
the spindle. The one-way clutch enables the sprocket wheel to
rotate the fan when the sprocket wheel is driven in one rotational
direction 135 and allows the sprocket wheel to rotate freely
relative to the fan when the sprocket wheel is driven in the
opposite rotational direction 136. A wide variety of other drive
arrangements could be used for the fan.
[0021] In some cases, the cable 104 extends from the handle through
free-wheeling pulleys 106, 110, and 114 (which is part of the
pulley assembly 115) and is attached at its other end to a location
601 on a bracket 602 that is part of a foot rest assembly 603.
[0022] In some examples, a chain 116 drives the sprocket wheel as
the chain moves. One end of the chain can be attached at a fixed
point 137. The part of the chain between the fixed attachment point
137 and the sprocket wheel passes through a free running pulley 120
that is part of the pulley assembly 115. The other end of the chain
is connected by a coupling 206 to a resilient cord 202 the other
end of which is attached to a second fixed point 141.
[0023] When the pulley assembly 115 is pulled to the right in
response to the combined force 121, the pulley 120 pulls on the
cable 116 causing the cable to drive the sprocket wheel in the
direction 135. The coupling 206 moves to the left, and the cord
202, which passes through a free wheeling pulley 204, stretches.
The force needed to extend the cord is relatively small compared to
the force needed to drive the fan. When the combined force 121 on
the pulley assembly falls below the restoring force exerted by the
stretched cord, the stretched cord 202 contracts, pulling in the
slack of the chain.
[0024] During a rowing cycle, the user applies various forces to
the handle, the foot rest, and the seat, and the fan resists the
combined forces applied to the handle and the foot rest. At times
during the cycle, the user applies essentially no force on the
handle, and allows the cable 104 to be taken up by a force on the
foot rest or the restoring force of the cord, or both. At times
during the cycle, the user applies essentially no force 119 on the
foot rest and allows the foot rest to move to the left on FIG. 2,
or may pull the foot rest back using a foot strap (not shown).
Various combinations of such forces and motion may also occur. The
machine is arranged so that the forces applied and the motions of
the handle, foot rest, and seat will simulate rowing a shell
through water.
[0025] In general, the combined forces on the handle and the foot
rest are applied to perform work against the resistance device.
Essentially there is no net force acting on the user to move the
seat either to the left or to the right. As a result, there need
not be any motion of the seat 118 in either direction 153 during a
rowing cycle. Although motion of the seat is not necessary, a small
movement of the seat 153 may occur as the user shifts his upper
body mass from one portion of the rowing cycle to another portion.
Typically, the small motion of the seat will be in the direction
opposite to the motion of the user's torso. For example, as the
user pushes hard on the foot rest and pulls hard on the handle, he
will also tend to shift his body mass away from the foot rest,
causing the seat to move slightly towards the footrest.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 3A, when a user is about to begin a stroke
portion of a rowing cycle, the rower 101 may be crouched, with a
location 217 on the foot rest 112 at a position P1 (along the
length of the exercise machine) and a center location 219 of the
seat 118 at a position P2 so that the distance between P2 and P1 is
221.
[0027] As the user starts the rowing stroke, the user pulls back
117 on the handle 102 towards the user's torso, and at the same
time may push 119 on the foot rest. The resulting combined force
121 (e.g., the sum of the forces applied on the footrest and on the
handle) performs work through the chain 116 and the sprocket wheel
134 to drive the resistance device. The resistance device resists
the force, and the work performed by the user exercises the user's
muscles. In the example of FIG. 2, the force on the resistance
device is half the combined force 121, due to the arrangement of
the pulley 114. Other arrangements of pulleys can provide other
multiplications or divisions of force and distance traversed with
respect to the work performed by the user.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 3B, during the stroke, the user pushes hard
on the foot rest and pulls hard on the handle, which causes the
handle to move toward his torso and the foot rest to move away from
his torso. The combined forces on the handle and the foot rest
drive the fan. Although not required, the user's torso and the seat
also may move a small distance toward (or, depending on the way the
user chooses to shift his torso, away from) the handle and foot
rest as the user shifts his body mass.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 3C, at the end of the stroke portion of the
rowing cycle, the user has fully extended his legs and fully
extended the handle. The location 217 on the footrest is then at
position P3, which is a distance 229 from P1 that is substantially
larger than distance 221, yet the seat had moved very little if at
all.
[0030] After reaching the end of the stroke, the user goes through
a recovery portion of the rowing cycle, illustrated in FIG. 3D, to
return to the original position shown in FIG. 3A. As shown in FIG.
3D, during recovery, the user stops pulling on the handle, allowing
it to withdraw to the right, may pull on the foot rest against a
typical foot strap, not shown, and retracts his legs. He may shift
his torso (and therefore the seat) a small distance, typically to
the left. These actions cause the combined force 121 to drop below
the small restoring force asserted by the stretched cord. So the
cable 104 relaxes, allowing the pulley assembly 115 to move to the
left and the slack in the chain to be taken up by the contracting
cord.
[0031] Therefore, in the examples being discussed, during the
stroke and recovery there is relatively large motion back and forth
of the handle and the foot rest, with work being done against the
fan during the stroke. There can be some motion of the seat back
and forth, but the motion is relatively small. Rowing on water is
effectively simulated and, because the resistance device need not
move back and forth also, the machine can be compact.
[0032] In some implementations, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rail
has a generally u-shaped cross-section 491 for strength and
accessibility. The u is open at the bottom and the bottom edges of
the sides 493, 495 of the u are connected to short extensions 497,
499 that project perpendicularly into and partially obstruct the
opening of the u at the bottom of the u-shaped cross-section. The
front end of the rail 126 is attached between a pair of vertical
posts 108. The pulley 106 is also supported between the two posts
108. The pulley 204 is mounted within the u-shaped cross-section
near the front of the rail 126. A monitor 199 with controls is
accessible to the user at one end of an arm 193. The other end of
the arm can pivot on one end of a main arm 192, the other end of
which is attached to the posts 108. The bottoms of the posts 108
are attached to a foot 131.
[0033] At its other end, the rail 126 is supported on an assembly
189. The assembly 189 includes a foot 133, a leg 235, and two
supports 237 that bear a pair of parallel cylindrical rails 1199,
1196 along which the seat can ride on four wheels 127 (not all
shown). Brackets 239 prevent the seat from being removed from the
assembly 189. The assembly also includes two structural pieces 241,
243.
[0034] In some implementations, the mounting of the seat can
include a restraining or centering mechanism that urges the seat
toward a central "home" location along its supporting rails. The
mechanism could be an elastic centering device that connects the
seat to the supporting assembly. In some examples, the rails can
have a slightly curved contour with a low point at the center of
travel.
[0035] The foot rest includes two plates 112 for the user's two
feet, each mounted on a vertical bracket 312. Each vertical bracket
bears a pair of upper wheels 113 that ride along the top of the
rail 126 and a bottom wheel 111 that rides along the bottom of the
rail 126. The wheels also keep the foot rest in place and prevent
it from being removed from the rail. The bracket 602 is mounted
between the two brackets 312. A hook 195 is mounted to project from
the foot rest assembly to receive the handle when not in use. A
wide variety of structures and components and their interaction can
be used to achieve the benefits described. These include a wide
variety of devices, including cables, chains, cords, straps, and
other schemes to transmit forces between the handle and the foot
rest. In some cases, there may be some resilience in the force
transmitting device to provide selected dynamic
characteristics.
[0036] A wide variety of transfer mechanisms can be used to
transfer the combined force on the cable to drive the resistance
device. Other pulley arrangements are possible, and the transfer
mechanism need not include pulleys. In some implementations in
which the element that transmits force between the handle and the
footrest is a line, like a cable or cord, for example, the force
transmitting mechanism needs to permit the line to slide back and
forth freely as forces change, while still transmitting the
combined force to the resistance device.
[0037] In some examples of an exercise machine 500, as shown in
FIG. 4, a pulley assembly includes a single pulley 402. A cable 504
is connected at one end to foot rest 112, passes through the single
pulley, and is connected at the other end to the handle 102. The
spindle of the pulley 402 is connected to the resistance device by
a chain 406. The other end of the chain is attached through a
coupling 414 to a resilient cord 412, the other end of which is
attached at a fixed location 407. In these examples, the combined
force is not halved by the pulley assembly and equals the force
applied to the resistance device.
[0038] In some implementations of an exercise machine 100, shown in
FIGS. 5-7, a second rigid structural rail 125 (for example, of
steel) is attached parallel to and below the first rail 126. A
front end 123 of the rail 125 is secured (for example, by bolts
180) between the two vertical posts 108. At the other end 124, the
rail 125 is supported (for example, by bolts 181) on the assembly
189. Below the rail 125 a third rigid structural rail 128 (for
example, of steel) is attached to the machine. The rail 128 is
attached to the assembly 189 (for example, by bolts 182), and
extends along the bottom of the rail 125 and ends short of the
vertical posts 108. The rail 128 can be attached to the rail 125 by
bolts or an adhesive.
[0039] The second rail 125 houses and vertically supports the
pulley assembly 115 or other transfer mechanism. Because the
transfer mechanism is supported vertically, there is no risk of the
transfer mechanism dangling towards the ground if the tension on
the cables that run through the mechanism is low. As a result, that
tension on cord 202 may, if desired, be made deliberately low (for
example, a tension as low as 3 pounds, or even lower in some
examples, in the horizontal direction 109). A low tension may more
accurately simulate rowing a shell through water during the parts
of the cycle, namely the recovery, illustrated in FIG. 3D, when the
user is not applying much--if any--force to the handles and pedals,
while preventing the pulley assembly 115 from dangling towards the
ground under the influence of gravity.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 11, the rail 125 is formed of a floor 148
and two parts of a ceiling 149a, 149b joined by side walls 150,
151. The ceiling 149 has a slot along its length to give access for
repairing or adjusting the mechanism. The cross-section of the rail
128 is a u-shape with side walls 160, 161 and a ceiling 162. The
open bottom allows for easy access for maintenance and repair to
the pulleys and cables housed within.
[0041] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the pulley assembly 115 has
parallel steel plates 702, 703 on each side of the assembly 115.
The pulley assembly 115 can ride back and forth 121, 122 along the
length of the support rail 125 on the bottom edges 712, 713 of the
two plates 702, 703 of the pulley assembly 115. The floor 148 of
the rail 125 may have a thin layer of a material 705, such as
plastic (for example, polyethylene), to reduce the friction between
the floor of the rail 125 and the edges 712, 713 of the two plates
702, 703 of the pulley assembly 115. This arrangement minimizes
wear and reduces the drag felt by the rower during recovery, for
example. The floor may also have another layer of material 710,
between the floor and the material 705, such as foam, to reduce any
noise while the pulley assembly 115 is sliding along the support
rail 125. The materials 705 and 710 can be attached using an
adhesive. The pulleys 114, 120 are mounted on the pulley assembly
115 using bolts 185 through the plates 702, 703. The two plates
702, 703 extend beyond the bottoms of the pulleys 114, 120 to
provide clearance for the sliding of the pulley assembly 115
relative to the rail 125 without affecting the rotation of the
pulleys 114, 120.
[0042] Referring again to FIGS. 5-7, in some implementations, the
general location of the rail 126 relative to the foot rest assembly
603 and the seat support 237 is higher than in the implementations
of FIG. 1. As the rail 126 is attached higher relative to the foot
rest assembly 603, the rail 126 is positioned between the two foot
plates 112 for the user's feet. The vertical brackets 312 on which
the foot plates 112 are mounted are then on the same horizontal
level as the foot plates 112 and positioned toward the front posts
108.
[0043] By positioning the rail 126 higher relative to the foot
assembly 603 and the seat support 237, there is more space between
the rail 126 and the ground to place the second support rail 125
and the third rail 128. The higher rail 126 and the second rail 125
can both extend from the front vertical posts 108 to the rear
assembly 189 with a space between the two rails. This provides the
basis for a frame for the machine that is structurally sound and
also efficient in both space and production cost.
[0044] Referring to FIG. 1, a cross-section 495 of the rail 126 can
be seen. The rail 126 of the implementations in FIGS. 5-7 has a
similar cross-section. The upper wheels 113 that ride on top of the
rail 126 in the implementations of FIG. 1 are, in the
implementations of
[0045] FIGS. 5-7, on the inside of the rail 126 and ride on the
short bottom extensions 497, 499 of the rail 126. Each upper wheel
has a corresponding lower wheel 111 that rides along the bottom of
the rail 126, resulting in four total pairs of wheels on the two
vertical brackets 312.
[0046] Referring again to FIGS. 5-7, as the rail 126 is positioned
higher relative to the foot rest assembly 603 and the seat support
237, the support 237 for the seat 118 may include a rail 238 raised
slightly above the main rail 126. The seat 118 may slide back and
forth 153 on this support 237 on pairs of wheels 127 (not shown),
attached to the rail 238 in a manner similar to that of the foot
rest assembly 603. In some implementations, the mounting of the
seat can include a restraining or centering mechanism that urges
the seat toward a central "home" location along its supporting
rails. The mechanism could be an elastic centering device 605 that
connects the seat to the supporting assembly. In some
implementations, the rail 238 can have a slightly curved contour
with a low point at the center of travel.
[0047] As shown in FIG. 8, in some implementations, one side of the
pulley assembly 115 includes a pulley 114. A cable 104 extends from
the handle 102 through free-wheeling pulleys 106, 110, and 114 to
the foot rest 112. The other end of the pulley assembly 115
includes a pulley 120. A cable 116 is fixed at one end at one point
137 and passes through pulley 120 to drive the sprocket wheel 211.
The cable continues through pulleys 203, 204, and 205, and is
attached at the other end to a point 138. These pulleys 203, 204,
205 and the point 138 can be housed under the rail 125 in the rail
128. The point 138 and the pulley 204 are on a moveable block 206.
This block is connected to the resilient cord 202 (for example, a
bungee cord) that provides a force 109 to take up slack on the
chain in the parts of the rowing cycle when the user is not
exerting much force. The cord 202 extends through one coaxial pair
of pulleys 208 on one end of the rail 128, and through another
coaxial pair of pulleys 210 on the other end of the rail 128,
traversing the length of the rail 128 four times before connecting
to the axle of the pulley 208.
[0048] Because the force transfer mechanism is supported by the
rail 125, the cord 202 does not need to apply a tension on the
force transfer mechanism greater than the effect of gravity on the
force transfer mechanism. With the support of the rail 125, the
tension provided by the cord 202 can be lowered to take up the
slack on the chain with only enough force to provide a more
realistic simulation for the user of a shell on the water.
[0049] In some implementations of an exercise machine 100, shown in
FIGS. 12-13, the general location of the rail 126 is higher than in
the implementations of FIG. 6. As the rail 126 is attached to the
columns 129 and 124 at higher locations, the seat 118 can be
attached directly to the rail 126. The seat 118 is attached to the
rail 126 using sets of wheels in a manner similar to that of the
seat 118 of FIG. 6 is attached to the raised rail 238.
[0050] Referring to FIG. 13, an elastic centering device 250
connected to the seat 118 urges the seat 118 toward a central home
location 170 along the rail 126. The elastic centering device 250
can be, for example, a bungee cord. The elastic device 250 is
connected at one end 251 near the upper center of a side support
255 on which the seat 118 is mounted. Another end 252 of the
elastic device 250 is connected to the frame 129 of the exercise
machine 100. The end 252 of the elastic device 250 is connected to
an exterior surface of the back supporting leg 235. In some
implementations, the end 252 of the elastic device 250 is connected
on the inside of the back supporting leg 235. In some
implementations, the end 252 of the elastic device 250 is connected
to the back end 124 of the rail 125. As the seat 118 rides back and
forth the bungee cord 250 expands and contracts to apply a modest
restoring force to the seat 118 to urge it back towards the center
position 170.
[0051] Other embodiments are within the scope of the following
claims.
[0052] For example, the force transfer mechanism can be supported
by a cable connected from above the force transfer mechanism. This
cable could be connected on the other end to an element that slides
along the top 149 of the rail 125. The force transfer mechanism
could also be supported from the sides, by connecting one or both
of the two side plates 702, 703 to the side walls 150, 151 of the
rail 125 using a cable and a slot in the walls 150, 151 of the rail
125. In some implementations, the bottom of the force transfer
mechanism and the floor of the rail 125 can be magnetized with the
same polarity so that the force transfer mechanism and the floor of
the rail 125 repel each other.
[0053] In some implementations, the seat 118 could be fixed in
place rather than being able to ride back and forth 153 along its
support.
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