Mechanism enabling control of range of motion in exercise

Abstract

A range controller for use on a machine for weight training include a range controller for movement of a weight stack, a range controller for linear movement of a carriage moving along a track, and a range controller for controlling an angular movement of a pivotally coupled lever, such as one used for a knee extension. The range controller can be implemented, depending on requirement, for controlling a range of movements of different mechanisms of a machine, such as a weight stack, a carriage, or a rotating lever, to control range of motion of a user's joints or structure.

Description

MECHANISM ENABLING CONTROL OF RANGE OF MOTION IN EXERCISE Field of Invention

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of exercise equipment. Specifically, it pertains to a mechanism for exercising machines to control the range of motion of a specific joint, or joints throughout an exercise being performed during weight training. Background

[0002] The background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

[0003] As a general principle, while weight training, such as by moving a body part, the trainee tends to extend his range of motion to load his muscles to a higher level. However, that principle does not hold true when the weight training involves a compound exercise involving two or more body parts and two or more body joints, i.e., when combining two types of exercises. This is because human anatomy is designed for coordinated movement of different limbs. For example, when one is walking or running, the arms, legs, and body all move in a coordinated manner to have optimum performance. In the instant example, during running, the arms will swing, and at some point, swinging of the arms will stop, which then propels other parts of the body to start to move. Stopping of the arms at a certain point helps the body gain more leverage and momentum as other parts of the body move forward in a coordinated and efficient manner. This mechanism is constantly at play whenever one is moving in space.

[0004] Generally, while weight training, such as by moving a body part, the trainee tends to have access to move his joints in a full range of motion depending on the machine used. However, this approach does not take into account how human anatomy evolved and the mechanisms involved in walking and running. When you walk or run, your limbs, ribs, spine, hips, and the rest of your body need to coordinate to propel your body forward inspace. At certain points in motion some joints and structures will stop moving and remain fixed in space, which drives other joints to move forward in space.

[0005] For example, when you walk or run, you are going to perform hip extension, although you do not perform hip extension to its complete range of motion. At some point your foot will hit the ground and stop moving downwards, it becomes fixed to the ground. This is what then allows you to drive force upward, which creates vertical and horizontal propulsion. This is literally present in every step that you take. The same mechanism can also occur between your arms, ribs, legs, hips and more.

[0006] In order to move properly, there is a “golden ratio” of load and weight distribution between different moving parts in the body. Essentially, the more precise and equally distributive the ratio is between the different moving parts, the better the organism functions biomechanically. Perfect motion occurs when the sum of all the moving parts is distributed equally in an optimal ratio to take into account the unique range of motion that is specific to that species. For instance, in order for a quadruped to move properly, its weight will be distributed across its limbs in an equally distributed fashion so that it can locomote properly. In the same way, proper biomechanics requires humans (bipeds) to account for our weight distribution throughout a range of motion in order to avoid dysfunctional asymmetry.

[0007] Consequently, proper training using exercise machines designed for compound exercise involving two or more body parts and two or more body joints, i.e., combining two types of exercises, such as a leg press and pec fly machine, requires this type of coordinated movement of the two body parts, where a first movement pertaining to a first body part has to stop at a certain point in order for a second body part to have an optimum loading. However, conventional machines for weight training do not meet this requirement. They typically allow a user to control his range of motion in any given movement to a certain extent, usually fixed at either the start or end of the movement. However, the user does not have the ability to control for the range of motion at a certain point throughout the continuum of the motion.

[0008] For example, on traditional machines, when completing a movement like knee extension, the user starts with the knee flexed, and locks out the knee to complete full range knee extension. The missing variable is that the user does not have the ability tocontrol or limit the joint range of motion at certain specified or desired points throughout the movement / exercise. The inability of traditional machines to control for range of motion during the entire spectrum of the movement cycle or exercise fails to optimize the benefits of training in line with our biological biomechanical blueprint.

[0009] Patent Document US US4456245A discloses an apparatus for exercising torso rotation muscles of a person where a user's body is supported in a generally upright seated position, with the upper and lower torso portions are engaged so as to restrict movement of the user's body to rotary movement of the upper torso relative to the lower torso with an axis extending longitudinally of the user's body, wherein force is imposed to resist such movement. The cited document discloses restricting movement of the user's body to rotary movement in a fixed or static start and end position. However, it does not disclose having the option to restrict the range of rotary movement at specific points throughout the entire exercise continuum such that the range of motion in the upper torso can be restricted at any point along the entire spectrum of the rotary cycle relative to the lower torso.

[0010] Patent Document BR8400249 discloses a compound exercise machine for legs but is focused on providing a variation of resistance to movement in all positions when the distal ends of the legs are moved in substantially a straight line between the extended and retracted positions and vice versa. This cited document also lacks the variability of options for the user to control for or restrict his range of motion except at the fixed start or end position of the exercise or movement pattern. The cited document does not give the user the option to limit motion at specific points along the full spectrum throughout the movement cycle.

[0011] Therefore, known machines for weight training suffer from a major drawback, in that they do not provide the option to restrict specific ranges of motion on a user’s joints during weight training. Summary

[0012] There is a need to overcome the above stated drawback of conventional machines for weight training by providing improved machines for weight training thatinclude a feature that limits and controls for the range of motion of a joint at any given point throughout the exercise or movement pattern of its user.

[0013] As previously discussed, the principle of the golden ratio of moving parts in the body means that some parts of the body must stop moving, in order to drive other parts of the body to start moving. In this context, the range controller is a mechanism that is used in different scenarios to stop some limbs from moving at a specific point throughout a range of motion, so the user can create leverage from the fixed limb and drive a motion to initiate in another limb or structure on the body.

[0014] It is an objective of the present disclosure to provide different types of range controllers that can be implemented on machines for weight training for restricting ranges of motion of different moving parts of the machine, which leads to controlling the range of motion of a specific joint or multiple joints.

[0015] It is another objective of the present disclosure to provide different types of range controllers that can be adjusted to vary the range of motion of a joint to meet different anthropometric measurements of different users.

[0016] The present disclosure relates to range controllers that overcome the above- described limitations of conventional machines for weight training and meet the identified requirements. In an aspect, the present disclosure provides different types of range controllers that can be implemented on a machine for weight training for limiting movements of different types, such as movement of a weight stack, an angular movement of a pivotally coupled lever, such as one used for a knee extension, and a linear movement, such as linear movement of a carriage moving along a track.

[0017] According to a first embodiment, a range controller for a weight stack includes a blocking member configured above the weight stack for sliding movement in one or more blocking member tracks, which blocking member tracks may be located parallel to a weight stack track of the weight stack. The blocking member includes a lock to fix the blocking member in one of a plurality of pre-determined positions relative to the weight stack to selectively restrict movement of the weight stack in an upward direction. The lock may be configured to fix the blocking member in a selected position above the weight stack such that when the weight stack is lifted up, an amount of its upward movement is restricted by the blocking member.

[0018] In some embodiments, the weight stack may be movable along at least one weight stack track. The one or more blocking member tracks may be parallel to the at least one weight stack track.

[0019] In some embodiments, the weight stack may include a plurality of weights stacked one over another, and a weight selector configured to enable a user to select at least one weight among the plurality of weights to perform weight training.

[0020] In some embodiments, the lock for the range controller may include a retractable pin provided on the blocking member. The retractable pin may be configured to move between a locked position and an unlocked position. When the retractable pin is present in the unlocked position, the blocking member is free to slide between the plurality of pre-determined positions. The retractable pin, in the locked position, can engage with a selected hole among a plurality of holes provided on a frame of the machine to fix the blocking member in one of the plurality of pre-determined positions. The retractable pin, in the unlocked position, can disengage from the holes located on the frame of the exercise machine. Thus, after retracting the retractable pin to its unlocked position, the blocking member can be slid to different positions among the plurality of pre-determined positions, such as at a desired distance from the weight stack, and locked in the position by releasing the pin to the locked position for locking with a corresponding hole on the frame in order to achieve a desired range of motion.

[0021] As can be appreciated, the weight stack can be operatively coupled to a moving part of the machine for weight training, which moves either linearly or angularly, during weight training of a user.

[0022] According to a second aspect, a range controller for a linearly moving carriage of an exercise machine for weight training can include a locking lever slidably and rotatably coupled to a track of the carriage. The locking lever functions as a stopper for movement of the carriage by blocking movement of the carriage along the track. The locking lever can be slid along the track and locked in a selected position by engaging the locking lever in a slot among a plurality of slots provided in a frame of the machine. The locking lever includes a stopper portion coupled to at least one rod of the track for sliding and rotation over the at least one rod, and configured to block movement of the carriage along the track.

[0023] In some embodiments, the locking lever may be slidable along the track and rotatable to lock in one of a plurality of lockable positions by engaging the locking lever in a slot among a plurality of slots present in a frame of the exercise machine.

[0024] According to a third aspect, a range controller for an angularly moving part of an exercise machine for weight training can include a pivotally moving member configured for pivotal movement along an axis coaxial to the angularly moving part of the machine, and a first selector plate having a plurality of holes. The pivotally moving member includes a first lock having a retractable pin configured to lock the pivotally moving member in different angular positions by engaging with a selected hole among the plurality holes of the first selector plate. The angularly moving part may include a stopper located in the same plane as the pivotally moving member such that, during the rotation of the angularly moving part, the stopper engages with the pivotally moving member to block further rotation of the angularly moving part beyond the selected position.

[0025] In some embodiments, the range controller may include a leg pad coupled to the angularly moving part, and a second selector plate rotatably coupled to the angularly moving part. The range controller may also include a pulley configured to load the leg pad, and a second lock configured to engage with one or more holes of the second selector plate to change the starting position of the angularly moving part and the leg pad.

[0026] Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0027] FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary perspective view of the proposed range controller configured in a weight stack of a machine for weight training, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] FIG.1B illustrates an exemplary front view of the range controller of FIG. 1A, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] FIG.1C illustrates an exemplary front view of the range controller of FIG. 1A showing movement of the weight stack restricted by the range controller, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a range controller provided in a track of a carriage of a machine for weight training, for restricting range of movement of the carriage, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] FIG.3A illustrates an exemplary front view of a rotary range controller for a pivotally rotating member of a machine for weight training, for restricting range of movement of the rotating member, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] FIGs.3B and 3C illustrate exemplary perspective views of the rotary range controller of FIG.3A, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Description

[0033] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

[0034] Each of the appended claims defines a separate invention, which for infringement purposes is recognized as including equivalents to the various elements or limitations specified in the claims. Depending on the context, all references below to the "invention" may in some cases refer to certain specific embodiments only. In other cases, it will be recognized that references to the "invention" will refer to subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily all, of the claims. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0035] All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.

[0036] Various terms are used herein. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in printed publications and issued patents at the time of filing.

[0037] Conventional machines for weight training suffer from the drawback in that they do not have the functionality to restrict the range of motion of specific joints during weight training. It is an objective of the present disclosure to provide different types of range controllers that can be implemented on machines for weight training for restricting range of movements of different moving parts of the machine for restricting a range of motion of the user and can be adjusted to vary the range of movement to meet different anthropometric measurements of different users.

[0038] Referring now to FIGs.1A to 1C, where exemplary views of a first aspect of the range controller are disclosed, the range controller 100 for a weight stack 102 includes a blocking member 112 configured above a weight selector 106 of the weight stack 102 for sliding movement in a blocking member track 104. The weight stack 102 may be movable along at least one weight stack track 110, and may include a plurality of weights stacked one over another and a weight selector configured to enable a user to select at least one weight among the plurality of weights to perform weight training. The blocking member track 104 can be located parallel to the weight stack track 110. The blocking member 112 can include a lock 114 to fix the blocking member 112 in one of a plurality of pre-determined positions relative to the weight stack 102 to selectively restrict movement of the weight stack 102 in an upward direction. The lock 114 is configured to lock the blocking member 112 in a selected position among the plurality of pre-determined positions above the weight stack 102 such that when the weight stack 102 is lifted up, asshown in FIG.1C, an amount of its upward movement of the weight stack 102 is restricted by the blocking member 112.

[0039] As shown in FIGs.1B and 1C, the lock 114 for the range controller 100 for the weight stack 102 can include a retractable pin 114-1 positioned on the blocking member 112. The retractable pin 114-1 may move between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the retractable pin 114-1 can engage with a selected hole among a plurality of holes located on any of a frame 116 of the weight stack 102 or an exercise machine that includes the weight stack 102, to fix the blocking member 112 in one of the plurality of pre-determined positions. In the unlocked position, the retractable pin 114-1 can disengage from the plurality of holes located on any of a frame 116 of the weight stack 102 or an exercise machine that includes the weight stack 102. When the retractable pin 114-1 is present in the unlocked position, the blocking member 122 is free to slide between the plurality of pre-determined positions. The retractable pin 114-1, when released, can engage with a selected hole among the plurality of holes provided on the frame 116 of the machine to fix the blocking member 112, such as a selected height from the weight selector 106 of the weights 102. In particular, after pulling the retractable pin 114-1 outwards to its unlocked position, the blocking member 112 can be slid along the blocking member track 104 to different positions, such as at the desired distance from the weight selector 106 of the weigh stack 102, and locked in the position by releasing the retractable pin 114-1 to its locked position for locking with a corresponding hole on the frame 116, for achieving a desired range of motion, as evident from the exemplary illustrations of FIGs.1B and 1C.

[0040] As known, the weight stacks such as one shown in FIGs.1A to 1C, are used in machines for weight training and typically coupled to a moving part of the machine that moves, either linearly or angularly, during weight training by a user. Thus, by providing the range controller 100 with a weight stack of the machine, the machine can achieve the functionality of restricting range of motion of a joint of the user during weight training.

[0041] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary perspective view of a range controller 200 provided in a track 202 of a carriage 204 of a machine for weight training, for restricting range of movement of the carriage, in accordance with the second aspect of the present disclosure. The range controller 200 for the linearly moving carriage 204 of the machinefor weight training can include a locking lever 210 slidably and rotatably coupled to a track of the carriage 204, such as track 202 comprising two rods 202-1 and 202-2. The locking lever 210 includes a stopper portion 210A, which is coupled to one of the rods 202-1 and 202-2 of the track 202 for sliding and rotation over the corresponding rod 202-1 and 202- 2. As can be seen, the stopper portion 210A can block movement of the carriage 204 along the track 202. The locking lever 210 can be slid along the track 202 and rotated to lock in one of a plurality of lockable positions by engaging the locking lever 210 in a slot 208 among a plurality of slots 208 provided in a frame 206 of the machine.

[0042] Referring now to FIGs. 3A to 3C, a third aspect of the present disclosure relates to a rotary range controller 300 for an angularly moving part, such as the part 306, of a machine for weight training, for restricting range of movement of the angularly moving part 306. As shown therein, the range controller 300 for an angularly moving part 306 of the machine for weight training can include a pivotally moving member 308 configured for pivotal movement along an axis 304 that is coaxial to the axis of rotation of the angularly moving part 306 of the machine, and a first selector plate 312 having a plurality of holes. The pivotally moving member 308 includes a lock 310 having a retractable pin 310A configured to lock the pivotally moving member 308 in different angular positions by engaging with a selected hole among the plurality holes of the selector plate 312, as shown in FIG.3B. The angularly moving part 306 may include a stopper 306A (shown in FIG.3B and 3C), which is located in the same plane as the pivotally moving member 308 such that, during the rotation of the angularly moving part 306, the stopper 306A engages with the pivotally moving member 308 to block further rotation of the angularly moving part 306 beyond the selected position among the different angular positions.

[0043] Also shown in FIGs. 3A to 3C are a leg pad 302 coupled to the angularly moving part 306, a second selector plate 314 coupled to the angularly moving part 306 in rotational engagement, and a pulley 318 for loading the leg pad 302. A second lock 316 engages with one or more holes on the second selector plate 314 to change a starting position of the angularly moving part 306 and the leg pad 302. Thus, the two selector plates 312, 314 and the two locks 310, 316 allow setting of a range of angular movement of legs starting from a starting angle to the end angle.

[0044] Thus, the present disclosure provides different types of mechanisms for implementation on a machine for weight training for range control for motion of a user’s limb and joints during weight training. The disclosed range controllers can be implemented, depending on requirement, for controlling range of movements of different mechanisms of a machine, such as a weight stack, a carriage moving along a track or a rotating lever, to control range of movement of a user.

[0045] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and / or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims.

[0046] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 17 October 2025 (17.10.2025)1. A range controller for a weight stack of an exercise machine, comprising: a weight selector disposed over the weight stack, the weight selector configured to facilitate selection of at least one weight to perform weight training; a blocking member configured above the weight selector, the blocking member configured for sliding movement along one or more blocking member tracks, the blocking member comprising a lock to fix the blocking member in one of a plurality of pre-determined positions relative to the weight stack to selectively restrict movement of the weight stack in an upward direction.

2. The range controller according to claim 1, wherein the weight stack is movable along at least one weight stack track, and wherein the one or more blocking member tracks is parallel to the at least one weight stack track.

3. The range controller according to claim 1, wherein the weight stack comprises: a plurality of weights stacked one over another.

4. The range controller according to claim 3, wherein the lock is configured to fix the blocking member in one of the plurality of pre-determined positions relative to the at least one weight of the weight stack such that when the at least one weight is lifted in the upward direction, an amount of movement of the weight stack in the upward direction is restricted by the blocking member.

5. The range controller according to claim 1, wherein the lock comprises a retractable pin positioned on the blocking member, the retractable pin configured to move between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein in the locked position, the retractable pin engages with a selected hole among a plurality of holes located on a frame of the exercise machine to fix the blocking member in one of the plurality of pre-determined positions, and wherein in the unlocked position, the retractable pin is disengaged from the plurality of holes located on the frame of the exercise machine.15AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)6. The range controller according to claim 5, wherein when the retractable pin is present in the unlocked position, the blocking member is free to slide between the plurality of pre-determined positions.

7. A range controller for controlling the range of motion of a carriage of an exercise machine, comprising: a locking lever slidably and rotatably coupled to a track of the carriage, the locking lever comprising a stopper portion coupled to at least one rod of the track for sliding and rotation over the at least one rod, and configured to block movement of the carriage along the track.

8. The range controller according to claim 7, wherein the locking lever is slidable along the track and rotatable to lock in one of a plurality of lockable positions by engaging the locking lever in a slot among a plurality of slots present in a frame of the exercise machine.

9. A range controller for restricting the range of movement of an angularly moving part of an exercise machine, comprising: a pivotally moving member configured for pivotal movement along an axis that is coaxial to an axis of rotation of the angularly moving part; and a first selector plate having a plurality of holes, wherein the pivotally moving member comprises a first lock having a retractable pin configured to lock the pivotally moving member in one of a plurality of angular positions by engaging with a selected hole among the plurality of holes of the first selector plate.

10. The range controller according to claim 9, wherein the angularly moving part comprises a stopper located in the same plane as the pivotally moving member.

11. The range controller according to claim 10, wherein the stopper is configured to engage with the pivotally moving member to block further rotation of the angularly moving part beyond one of the plurality of angular positions.

12. The range controller according to claim 9, further comprising: a leg pad coupled to the angularly moving part; a second selector plate rotatably coupled to the angularly moving part; and a pulley configured to load the leg pad; a second lock configured to16AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)engage with one or more holes of the second selector plate to change the starting position of the angularly moving part and the leg pad.17AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

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