Looking for breakthrough ideas for innovation challenges? Try Patsnap Eureka!

Apparatuses for retrofitting exercise equipment and methods for using same

Inactive Publication Date: 2006-10-12
TYLERTON INT INC
View PDF36 Cites 85 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] An aspect of some embodiments of the invention relates to retrofitting exercise equipment to provide an environment which is adapted to enhance a user's exercise experience. In some exemplary embodiments of the invention, exercise equipment is retrofitted with a computer interface and software which is adapted to integrate exercise with visual and / or audio stimuli. In some exemplary embodiment the exercise equipment is retrofitted with visual and / or audio aids that support and or address cognitive difficulties as may be experienced by a post stoke patient. Optionally, a kit is provided which allows software output to be displayed on a monitor, such as a television. Optionally, a virtual reality experience is provided to the user. In some embodiments of the invention, the software provides video and / or audio stimuli to the user which is designed to enhance exercise performance.

Problems solved by technology

However, exercise equipment in use today does not take full advantage of the technology available.
In some cases, the exercise equipment is old and the technology was not well adapted for use with exercise equipment and / or was too expensive.
In other cases, the manufacturers of the exercise equipment did not conceive of altering the time-tested designs being currently used.
Unfortunately, not many options exist for retrofitting exercise equipment with modern technology devices.
Furthermore, while these conventional designs might be well suited for use with the majority of the population, they do not usually provide accommodation for the elderly, the disabled, and / or those who are rehabilitating after some sort of injury.

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • Apparatuses for retrofitting exercise equipment and methods for using same
  • Apparatuses for retrofitting exercise equipment and methods for using same
  • Apparatuses for retrofitting exercise equipment and methods for using same

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

embodiment 100

[0028] Referring now to FIG. 1, a schematic of a retrofitted exercise equipment embodiment 100 is shown, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. It should be noted that retrofitting occurs after original equipment manufacture and typically after the product has been offered for sale to the public. Hence, such retrofits are often described as “after-market” add-ons. It should also be noted, that in some exemplary embodiments of the invention, features described herein are incorporated into exercise equipment during original manufacture.

[0029] Exercise equipment 102, in this case a pull-over machine, is provided for exemplary purposes only. It should be understood that virtually any exercise equipment could be a candidate for retrofitting using the embodiments and principles of retrofitting described herein. In the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, exercise equipment 102 is retrofitted with an actuator module 104. For this example, this actuat...

embodiment 300

[0048] Turning now to FIG. 3, an embodiment 300 is shown which retrofits a motor driven shaft to add and / or subtract resistance imparted to a user of exercise equipment 302. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, an actuator module 304, such as a motor, is provided which is operationally attached to a shaft 306 which is located at a point of rotation of the equipment 302. As shown in FIG. 3, movement of a weight resistance 308 is effectuated by force being applied to a pair of arms 310. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, actuator module 304 is capable of providing resistance additionally or alternatively to the resistance provided by resistance 308. Optionally, actuator module 304 assists a user in exerting force against the resistance. Optionally, the amount of assistance and / or resistance provided by actuator module 304 is varied over the course of exercise. Optionally, the actuator module 304 allows a fraction of a partition of resistance, such as described with r...

embodiment 400

[0053]FIG. 4 illustrates a retrofit embodiment 400 wherein an exercise equipment 402 is retrofitted with an actuator module 404 optionally located at the crux of a joint of the exercise equipment 402. Being located at the crux of the joint, actuator module 404 is afforded an advantageous location for exercising force on certain moving parts of equipment 402. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, actuator module 404 is mechanical. Optionally, actuator module 404 is hydraulic. Optionally, actuator module 404 is pneumatic. Optionally, actuator module 404 is a ball-screw mechanism. Optionally, actuator module 404 is a jack-style mechanism. Command of the actuator module 404 is optionally provided by a control device 410, the control device having functions similar to those described for devices 110, 210 and 310, in the other embodiments described above and control devices mentioned in the following embodiments. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, actuator module 404 is c...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

PUM

No PUM Login to View More

Abstract

An exercise apparatus, comprising: a resistance element, operative to supply a resistance to movement by a user of the apparatus; and, an actuator module operatively connected to the resistance element and operative to vary a resistance perceived by the user without changing the resistance element.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional applications 60 / 665,886 filed on Mar. 28, 2005 and 60 / 666,136 filed on Mar. 29, 2005, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to adapting previously manufactured exercise equipment to enhance its utility and / or security and / or provide additional modes of operation. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Modern technology has allowed the advancement of exercise equipment to include information such things as heart monitors, distance traveled, speed, average speed, etc. and devices for providing such information. However, exercise equipment in use today does not take full advantage of the technology available. In some cases, the exercise equipment is old and the technology was not well adapted for use with exercise equipment and / or was too expensive. In other cases, the manufacturers of the exercise equipment did not conceive...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to View More
IPC IPC(8): A63B24/00A63B71/00
CPCA63B21/00A63B21/00181A63B2225/30A63B2225/15A63B2220/833
Inventor EINAV, OMER
Owner TYLERTON INT INC
Who we serve
  • R&D Engineer
  • R&D Manager
  • IP Professional
Why Patsnap Eureka
  • Industry Leading Data Capabilities
  • Powerful AI technology
  • Patent DNA Extraction
Social media
Patsnap Eureka Blog
Learn More
PatSnap group products

Browse by: Latest US Patents, China's latest patents, Technical Efficacy Thesaurus, Application Domain, Technology Topic, Popular Technical Reports.

© 2024 PatSnap. All rights reserved.Legal|Privacy policy|Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement|Sitemap|About US| Contact US: help@patsnap.com