Fitness machine utilizing adjustable damping and damping adjusting method for fitness machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a body-building machine which provides shock absorption for a user operating the body-building machine. The fitness machine comprises: a base; at least one member engageable by a user and movable relative to the base during operation of the fitness machine; and an elastic body that resists movement of the at least one member toward the base so as to provide shock absorption for the user, in which the resistance provided by the elastic body is adjustable. The fitness machine further includes a control system configured to receive a damping setting from a user corresponding to a desired degree of damping and to receive an auxiliary input from outside of the user, where the control system is further configured to adjust the resistance provided by the elastomer based on the damping setting and the auxiliary input.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 18 / 337,773, filed on June 20, 2023, which claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 355,147, filed on June 24, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure generally relates to exercise machines utilizing adjustable shock absorption and methods for adjusting the stiffness of an exercise machine. Background Art

[0004] The following U.S. patents provide background information and are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0005] U.S. Patent No. 11,458,356 discloses an exercise machine that provides shock absorption for a user operating the exercise machine. The exercise machine includes a base and a member that can be engaged by a user and can move relative to the base during operation of the exercise machine. An elastomer prevents the member from moving toward the base in a height direction. The elastomer has a first end and a second end defining a length therebetween, the length being defined in a length direction perpendicular to the height direction. A stop wall can engage with the elastomer. When the member moves toward the base, the length of the elastomer increases until the second end engages with the stop wall. The elastomer provides shock absorption for the user.

[0006] U.S. Patent No. 8,118,888 discloses a method of supporting a pedal of an exercise treadmill using one or more arched leaf springs in a pedal support structure. The leaf spring may be made of a single member of elastic material. An adjustment mechanism may be used to change the radius of the leaf spring to change the spring stiffness of the leaf spring. In the case of using different leaf springs, the spring stiffness of the different springs may be independently adjusted using the adjustment mechanism.

[0007] U.S. Patent No. 5,382,207 discloses a method for improved tracking, wherein an exercise treadmill is provided with a frame including a molded plastic pulley having an integral gear belt sprocket, an endless belt extending around the pulley, and a motor operably connected to a rear pulley to drive the belt. The pulley is molded of plastic and has a diameter of approximately 9 inches. A mold and method for producing a large diameter treadmill pulley with an integral molded sprocket is also disclosed. A pedal beneath the running surface of the belt is supported by an elastic member. A positive lateral belt tracking mechanism is used to correct the lateral position of the belt. A belt position sensor mechanism is used in conjunction with a front pulley pivot mechanism to maintain the belt in a desired lateral position on the pulley. The exercise treadmill also includes a lifting mechanism having an internally threaded sleeve that engages a vertically aligned non-rotating screw. A user display of foot impact forces on the belt is also provided.

[0008] U.S. Patent No. 7,628,733 discloses a method of providing variable elastic support for a pedal of an exercise treadmill by fixing one or more elastic members to the pedal and using a movable support member to selectively engage the elastic members to provide support for the pedal. A user-operated adjustment mechanism can be used to move one or more support members longitudinally along the treadmill, thereby effectively changing the number of elastic support members supporting the pedal.

[0009] U.S. Patent No. 6,572,512 discloses an exercise treadmill that includes various features to enhance user operation and reduce maintenance costs. Sound and vibration in the treadmill are reduced by mounting the treadmill belt drive motor on a motor isolation mount that includes an elastic member. Another feature is a double-sided waxed treadmill where one side of the treadmill is covered by a protective strip.

[0010] U.S. Patent No. 6,783,482 discloses a microprocessor-based exercise treadmill control system that includes various features to enhance user operation. These features include programs that are operable to: allow a set of user controls to cause the treadmill to initially run at a predetermined speed; allow a user to design a custom workout; allow a user to switch between workout programs while the treadmill is running; and execute an automatic cool-down program, wherein the duration of the cool-down is a function of the duration of the workout or the user's heart rate. These features also include: a stop program responsive to a detector for automatically stopping the treadmill when the user is no longer on the treadmill; a frame tag module attached to the treadmill frame having a non-volatile memory for storing treadmill configuration and operational and maintenance data. Another feature included is the ability to display the amount of time a user spends within a heart rate range. Summary of the invention

[0011] This summary is provided to introduce a series of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0012] One aspect of the present disclosure generally relates to an exercise machine that provides shock absorption for a user operating the exercise machine. The exercise machine includes: a base; at least one member that can be engaged by the user and can move relative to the base during operation of the exercise machine; and an elastic body that resists movement of the at least one member toward the base to provide shock absorption for the user, wherein the resistance provided by the elastic body is adjustable. The exercise machine also includes a control system that is configured to receive a shock absorption setting corresponding to a desired degree of shock absorption from the user and to receive an auxiliary input from outside the user, wherein the control system is further configured to adjust the resistance provided by the elastic body based on the shock absorption setting and the auxiliary input.

[0013] In some examples, the auxiliary input is based at least in part on a user's targeted muscle groups when operating the exercise machine.

[0014] In some examples, the auxiliary input is based at least in part on the metabolic response of the user while operating the exercise machine.

[0015] In some examples, the auxiliary input is based at least in part on historical adjustments to the elastic member from previous operations of the exercise machine.

[0016] In some examples, the auxiliary input is based on a program for operating the exercise machine during a time period. In further examples, the program includes simulated terrain that changes during the time period of operation of the exercise machine, and wherein the auxiliary input is based at least in part on the simulated terrain. In further examples, the program includes random adjustments to the resistance provided by the elastic member over time, and wherein the auxiliary input is based at least in part on the random adjustments in the program.

[0017] Certain examples also include a sensor that measures movement of at least one member toward the base during operation of the fitness machine, wherein the control system is further configured to generate a trend of the movement measured by the sensor over time, wherein the auxiliary input is based at least in part on the trend generated by the movement measured by the sensor.

[0018] Some examples also include a sensor that measures movement of at least one member toward the base during operation of the fitness machine, wherein the control system is further configured to determine a position of a user's foot on the at least one member engageable by the user, and wherein the auxiliary input is based at least in part on the position of the foot determined by the control system. In further examples, the position includes a lifted position and a lowered position of the foot.

[0019] In some examples, the elastic body is two or more elastic bodies, each elastic body resists the movement of at least one member toward the base, and wherein the control system is configured to adjust the resistance provided by the two or more elastic bodies independently of each other based on the shock absorption setting and the auxiliary input. In a further example, the fitness machine also includes a sensor that measures the movement of at least one member toward the base during operation of the fitness machine, wherein the control system is further configured to determine the position of the user's foot on the at least one member engageable by the user, and wherein the auxiliary input for independently adjusting the two or more elastic bodies is based at least in part on the position of the foot determined by the control system.

[0020] Another aspect of the present disclosure generally relates to a method for manufacturing an exercise machine that provides shock absorption for a user operating the exercise machine. The method includes providing a base and at least one member that can be engaged by a user and can move relative to the base during operation of the exercise machine, and providing an elastomer that resists movement of the at least one member toward the base to provide shock absorption for the user, wherein the resistance provided by the elastomer is adjustable. The method also includes configuring a control system to receive a shock absorption setting corresponding to a desired degree of shock absorption from the user and to receive an auxiliary input other than the user. The method also includes adjusting the resistance provided by the elastomer based on the shock absorption setting and the auxiliary input.

[0021] In some examples, the method further includes adjusting the resistance based on at least one of a targeted muscle group of the user and a metabolic response of the user while operating the exercise machine.

[0022] In some examples, the method further includes adjusting the resistance based at least in part on historical adjustments to the elastic member from previous operations of the exercise machine. In further examples, the method further includes adjusting the resistance based at least in part on a program for operating the exercise machine during a time period.

[0023] In some examples, the method also includes measuring movement of the at least one member toward the base during operation of the exercise machine, generating a trend of the movement over time, and adjusting the resistance based at least in part on the trend.

[0024] In some examples, the elastic body is two or more elastic bodies, each elastic body resists movement of the at least one member toward the base, and wherein the resistance of the two or more elastic bodies is independently adjusted based on the shock absorption setting and the auxiliary input. In a further example, the method also includes determining a position of a user's foot on the at least one member engageable by the user, wherein the auxiliary input is based at least in part on the position of the foot determined by the control system.

[0025] Another aspect of the present disclosure generally relates to a method for manufacturing an exercise machine that provides shock absorption for a user operating the exercise machine. The method includes providing a base and at least one member that can be engaged by a user and can move relative to the base during operation of the exercise machine; providing an elastomer that resists movement of the at least one member toward the base to provide shock absorption for the user; and adjusting the resistance provided by the elastomer based on a previous resistance from a previous operation of the exercise machine. The method also includes measuring the movement of the at least one member during operation of the exercise machine; determining whether the movement of the at least one member exceeds a threshold; and further adjusting the resistance provided by the elastomer when it is determined that the movement exceeds the threshold. In some examples, the method also includes storing the resistance provided by the elastomer as a previous resistance for future operation of the exercise machine.

[0026] It should be appreciated that the various aspects described in this disclosure may be combined in different ways, including ways other than those explicitly disclosed in the examples provided, while still constituting inventions consistent with the present disclosure.

[0027] Various other features, objects and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The present disclosure is described with reference to the following figures.

[0029] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an exercise machine incorporating an exemplary adjustable shock absorbing system according to the present disclosure;

[0030] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a lower portion of a fitness machine;

[0031] Figure 3 is similar to Figure 2 A close-up cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A top view of a lower portion of a fitness machine;

[0033] Figure 5 is shown with Figure 2 An exploded perspective view of a similar system;

[0034] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A close-up view of the system;

[0035] Figure 7 is a perspective view of an exemplary elastomer, for example, which may be incorporated into an adjustable shock absorbing system according to the present disclosure;

[0036] Figure 8 shows exemplary data for an adjustable damping system according to the present disclosure, particularly stiffness and gap size between an elastomer and an end stop;

[0037] 9A to 9D shows further exemplary data for testing an adjustable shock absorption system according to the present disclosure;

[0038] Fig.10 An exemplary control system for operating an adjustable shock absorption system according to the present disclosure is shown;

[0039] Fig.11 A sensor for measuring movement during operation of an exercise machine is shown;

[0040] Fig.12 Shows Fig.11 Installation in Figure 2 Sensors on fitness machines;

[0041] Fig.13 is a flow chart of a method for adjusting shock absorption according to the present disclosure;

[0042] Fig.14 and Fig.15 An example of a terrain within a program for adjusting shock absorption according to the present disclosure is shown;

[0043] Figures 16 to 24 are flow charts, each illustrating an example of a method for adjusting shock absorption according to the present disclosure;

[0044] Fig.25 is a schematic diagram of another example of an exercise machine according to the present disclosure in which four elastic bodies are independently adjustable to adjust shock absorption.

[0045] Fig.26 is a graph of exemplary data used to determine the location of a user's interaction with an exercise machine. Specific embodiments

[0046] The present disclosure generally relates to an exercise machine with adjustable shock absorption and a method of providing an adjustable shock absorption for an exercise machine, the exercise machine including a system with adjustable shock absorption. Through experimentation and development, the inventors have determined a new method for controlling the stiffness or shock absorption adjustment of an exercise machine, and a new exercise machine configured to operate in this manner. U.S. Patent No. 11,458,356 describes an adjustment mechanism for achieving shock absorption of an exercise machine according to the present disclosure. However, it should be recognized that the present disclosure also contemplates the use of other mechanisms to achieve adjustment of shock absorption. Unless otherwise specified, the terms "shock absorption" and "stiffness" may be interpreted interchangeably.

[0047] Figure 1 An exemplary embodiment of an exercise machine 1 incorporating an adjustable shock absorbing system 40 according to the present disclosure is shown. In the illustrated embodiment, the exercise machine 1 is a treadmill having a belt 2 that is rotated so that a user can run or walk on the belt 2. Figure 1 and Figure 2 A belt 2 is shown having a running upper portion 3 and a returning lower portion 4 which continuously circulate in a conventional manner around belt rollers 6. Although the present disclosure primarily discusses embodiments in which the exercise machine 1 is a treadmill having a motor to rotate the belt 2, it will be appreciated that the present disclosure is equally applicable to treadmills in which the belt 2 is rotated by the force of the user and to exercise machines 1 other than treadmills (e.g., stair climbing machines).

[0048] Figure 1 and Figure 2 The fitness machine 1 is supported on a base 20 having a front 21 and a rear 22, a left 23 and a right 24, and a top 25 and a bottom 26. The operation of the fitness machine 1 is controlled by a console 10 in a manner known in the art, which controls, for example, the speed of the belt 2, the inclination of the belt 2 relative to the horizontal plane (e.g., via a height adjustment system 30 in a manner known in the art), the resistance level (e.g., using a bicycle, a rowing machine, an elliptical trainer, and / or a treadmill where the user rotates the belt), and / or other functions commonly used in operating the fitness machine 1 as known in the art. The base 20 of the fitness machine 1 is supported by feet 14 and casters 12.

[0049] Fitness machines currently known in the art typically have a fixed or minimally adjustable "stiffness." For example, in the case of a treadmill, this may mean the stiffness of the running surface. The stiffness setting may be adjusted according to personal preference, and / or for uses that require a particularly "soft" stiffness.

[0050] In view of this, Figure 1 The exercise machine 1 also includes a manual control 116 for adjusting the stiffness of the exercise machine. The manual control 116 can be moved by the user in a manner similar to systems known in the art (e.g., here, one can select among four stiffness or damping settings). The stiffness setting can also or alternatively be implemented in response to user input received by the console (e.g., by an actuator or other mechanism discussed below). User input directly related to damping is also referred to as a first input or damping setting, such as a user selecting a scale between "hard" and "soft", or selecting "concrete" versus "grass".

[0051] Figures 2 to 3Two exemplary systems 40 for providing shock absorption according to the present disclosure are shown, particularly systems 40 in which the shock absorption is adjustable to provide a range of stiffness selections. The exercise machine 1 includes a base 20 and at least one member 42 engageable by a user so that the at least one member 42 moves relative to the base 20 during operation of the exercise machine 1. The member 42 shown is a running deck that supports the belt 2 in a conventional manner and moves up and down relative to the base 20 under the impact of the user running or walking thereon.

[0052] System 40 includes one or more elastic bodies, shown here as leaf springs 50, which resist movement of member 42 toward base 20, particularly in height direction HD. In some embodiments, leaf springs 50 are made of an elastic material such as rubber, polyurethane, and / or other polymers.

[0053] Figures 2 to 4 The illustrated embodiments each include four distinct and separate leaf springs 50 that operate independently. Each of these leaf springs 50 is configured to function in the same or similar manner as the other leaf springs. Therefore, for simplicity, the leaf springs 50 and corresponding functions are currently discussed separately. Likewise, the leaf springs 50 described herein may be used in combination with one or more other shock absorbing devices currently known in the art.

[0054] Figure 7 Shows the combination of Figures 2 to 4 4. A close-up view of an exemplary leaf spring 50 within the system 40 of FIG. The leaf spring 50 is an elastic body extending between a first end 51 and a second end 52. In a length direction LD perpendicular to the height direction HD, a length L is defined between the first end 51 and the second end 52. The leaf spring 50 has a downwardly open parabolic shape and supports the member 42 at or near the vertex 54 of the parabolic shape. In the illustrated embodiment, the member 42 is placed on the leaf spring 50, and the leaf spring 50 is not coupled to the member 42.

[0055] The first pin hole 55 extends transversely through the leaf spring 50 at the first end 51, and in some embodiments, the second pin hole 57 also extends transversely through the leaf spring at the second end 52. The first pin hole 55 (and the second pin hole 57, if present) are each configured to receive a pin therethrough, such as the first pin 66 described below. The first end 51 and the second end 52 have a generally circular side profile that is thicker than the elastic body between the two ends in the height direction HD to increase strength. The first pin hole 55 and the second pin hole 57 also each have a generally circular side profile that is approximately located at the center of the circular profile of the first end 51 and the second end 52. However, this is merely an exemplary configuration of the leaf spring 50, and for example, the leaf spring 50 can be configured to have different side profiles between the first end 51 and the second end 52 to change the shock absorbing characteristics provided by the leaf spring 50.

[0056] Figure 3 and Figures 5 and 6 shows how these leaf springs 50 are coupled between the base 20 and the member 42, shown here being similar to Figure 2 The adjustable damping system 40 of the present invention. The first end 51 of the leaf spring 50 is pivotally coupled to the base 20 via the bracket 60. The bracket 60 includes a plate 62 having a bottom section 197 extending vertically away from the plate 62. The plate 62 is coupled to the inner side of the base 20, for example, via welding, fasteners (e.g., nuts and bolts), or other methods currently known in the art. Two ears 195 extend upward from the bottom section 197 and are substantially parallel to the plate 62. A first pin hole 53 extends through each ear 195, and the interior of the first pin hole 53 is smooth or threaded, depending on the first pin 66 to be received. The first pin hole 53 is configured to receive the first pin 66, wherein the first pin 66 is also received through the first pin hole 55 in the first end 51 of the leaf spring 50 to pivotally couple the leaf spring 50 to the bracket 60.

[0057] Return to Figure 7 , shows an exemplary first pin 66 extending between a head 143 and a terminal end 141 with a smooth shaft therebetween. An opening 145 is defined near the terminal end 141 for receiving a cotter pin 147 after the first pin 66 is received through the bracket 60 (and through the first end 51 of the leaf spring 50). It should be appreciated that Figure 7 The bracket 60 shown in FIG. 1 is only shown as a partial view so as not to obscure the first pin hole 55, for example, the ear portion 195 is omitted. Other types of fasteners known in the art may also or alternatively be used as the first pin 66, including fasteners having a set screw, a thread (e.g., such as Figure 3 A fastener that is engaged with the nut 67 as shown) or press-fit, a fastener that is integrated with the leaf spring 50 (e.g., via overmolding), a fastener that is welded to the bracket 60, and / or a fastener that is used in conjunction with the ear 195 of the bracket 60, for example, to prevent lateral translation of the first pin 66. These same examples of the first pin 66 also apply to the second pin 82 of the second end 52 of the leaf spring 50, which will be discussed below.

[0058] In this manner, the leaf spring 50 is allowed to freely rotate about the first pin 66 , but the first end portion 51 is prevented from translating in the length direction LD or the height direction HD relative to the base 20 .

[0059] like Figures 5 and 6As shown, the system 40 also includes an end stop 70, which in this embodiment is adjustably fixable relative to the base 20. A separate end stop 70 is provided for each leaf spring 50 in a similar manner to the bracket 60. However, other configurations are also contemplated. For simplicity, the end stop 70 will be discussed separately. Figures 5 and 6 In the embodiment of the present invention, each end stop 70 extends from a top 156 to a bottom 158 with a vertical section 162 therebetween. A hole 160 is provided through the bottom 158 of the end stop 70 for mounting the end stop 70 to the base 20, particularly via the frame 100 discussed further below. The hole 160 receives a threaded post 166 extending upwardly from the frame 100, and in this embodiment, four threaded posts 166 are used for each end stop 70. Nuts 168 engage the threaded posts 166 to retain the end stop 70 on the frame 100. It should be appreciated that other methods may be used to couple the end stop 70 to the frame 100, including welding, other types of fasteners, and / or the like.

[0060] For each end stop 70, a bottom plate 164 extends perpendicularly from the vertical section 162, which at the front end intersects the stop wall 80 connecting the bottom plate 164 to the top 156. Figures 5 and 6 In the embodiment of the invention, the stop wall 80 is concave so that where the top 156 meets the stop wall 80, the lip 154 ​​extends rearwardly from the top 156. The profile of the stop wall 80 is configured in this manner to correspond to the profile of the second end 52 of the leaf spring 50, for example, to have the same approximate diameter. Therefore, the second end 52 of the leaf spring 50 can slide forward in the length direction LD along the bottom plate 164 of the end stop 70 until it engages with the stop wall 80. Therefore, the lip 154 ​​extending rearwardly from the top 156 is configured to prevent the second end 52 of the leaf spring 50 from moving upwardly in the height direction HD when contacting the stop wall 80. It should be recognized that the lip 154 ​​is not required, and other forces such as the weight of the member 42 and the user also work to prevent the second end 52 from moving upwardly in the height direction HD. Likewise, the leaf spring can be configured so that the second end 52 moves via a roller bearing or other mechanism, rather than sliding along the bottom plate 164.

[0061] Certain embodiments of the system 40 provide that the position of each end stop 70 is adjustable relative to the base 20 in the length direction LD, which will provide adjustability for the rigidity of the fitness machine 1. Figure 3 and Figure 7As shown, there is a gap G between the second end 52 of the leaf spring 50 (or in certain embodiments discussed below, the second pin 82 extending therethrough) and the stop wall 80 of the end stop 70. This gap G is greater when the user is not exerting any force on the member 42, for example, when the user is in mid-air while running on a treadmill. Because the stop wall 80 limits the forward translation of the second end 52 of the leaf spring 50, the gap G between the second end 52 and the stop wall 80 can be adjusted to change the amount and / or characteristics of shock absorption provided by the leaf spring 50.

[0062] As described above, by moving the support frame 100 coupled to the end stopper 70, the position of the stopper wall 80 of the end stopper 70 can be adjusted. Figures 4 to 5 As shown, the support frame 100 includes a cross member 104 extending between a first end 125 and a second end 127 perpendicular to the length direction LD, and a side member 102 extending between a first end 121 and a second end 123 and an intermediate support 103 extending between a first end 131 and a second end 133, all of which are parallel to the length direction LD. For example, the number of cross members 104, side members 102, and intermediate support 103 may be different from the number shown, and may be coupled together and / or integrally formed. The end stop 70 is coupled to the support frame 100 so that when a plurality of leaf springs 50 are provided, one or more leaf springs 50 (and the gap G associated therewith) may be adjusted together.

[0063] Reference Figures 4 to 6 , the support frame 100 is translatable relative to the base 20 in the length direction LD via engagement within the track system 90. In this embodiment, support beams 196 extend inwardly from the base 20, each support beam having a hole 198 in the height direction HD. The base 188 is placed on top of the support beams 196. In the example shown, the base 188 includes a plate 190 placed on top of the support beams 196 and a wall 192 extending vertically downward from the plate 190. The wall 192 engages with the inner edge of the support beam 196 to prevent the base 188 from rotating relative to the support beam 196.

[0064] The plate 190 of the base 188 is provided with an elongated hole 194. The elongated support 184 having an outer shape substantially matching the inner shape of the elongated hole 194 is partially received in the elongated hole 194. A hole 186 is defined to pass through the elongated support 184 in the height direction HD, and in this example, the hole 186 has a circular cross section. Figure 6As shown, the elongated standoff 184 is also partially received within the slot 170 defined in the support frame 100, in particular, through the side member 102 near the mounting location of each end stop 70. The outer shape of the elongated standoff 184 is also configured to have a width 187 that corresponds to the width of the slot 170 in the support frame 100. In the example shown, when assembled, the top of the elongated standoff 184 is substantially flush with the top of the side member 102 of the support frame 100.

[0065] The flange coupler 172 has a flange top 176 with a barrel 174 extending downwardly therefrom. A hole 178 is defined through the flange coupler 172. The barrel 174 is configured to have an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the hole 186 in the elongated support 184 so that the barrel 174 is received therein. When assembled, the underside of the flange top 176 is substantially flush with the top of the side member 102, preventing movement in the height direction HD. A fastener 180 (e.g., a bolt) having a head 182 is received through the flange coupler 172, the elongated support 184, the base 188, and the hole 198 in the support beam 196, and is threadedly engaged with a nut 183 on the opposite side of the support beam 196. It should be appreciated that alternative fastening methods known in the art may also be used. Once connected together in this manner, the support frame 100 is translatable in the length direction LD by means of the elongated supports 184 sliding within the slots 170, but is prevented from rotating (i.e., due to similar engagement between the support frame 100 and other support beams 196 of the base 20), moving laterally, or moving in the height direction HD.

[0066] It should be appreciated that other embodiments may incorporate multiple separate support frames 100 and corresponding actuators (discussed below) for changing the position of one or more leaf springs 50 separately from the other leaf springs 50. For example, the leaf springs 50 may be adjusted individually, together, or in groups. In certain embodiments, two support frames 100 may be provided to enable separate adjustment between the front and rear leaf spring 50 pairs. This separation of adjustability enables one group of leaf springs 50 to travel a greater distance than the other group of leaf springs 50. In another embodiment (see, for example, Fig.25 ), the fitness machine 1 has four leaf springs 50, which generally correspond to the left front area, right front area, left rear area and right rear area of ​​a member 42 (e.g., a treadmill) that can be engaged by a user, and the pedal allows independent adjustment of the resistance provided by the leaf springs 50 front to back and left to right.

[0067] The support frame 100, and in particular its position in the length direction LD, can be moved and locked in place using various forms of hardware known in the art. For example, a manual adjustment mechanism can be provided, such as a threaded hand crank or a fastener that connects the support frame 100 to a separate opening in the base 20 (e.g., a screwdriver or a screwdriver that is screwed into the base 20 in a manner known in the art). Figure 1 Alternatively, for example, once in the desired position, a cam lock currently known in the art can be used to lock the support frame 100 to the base 20. The locking hardware can be electrically actuated, including an electrically actuated cam.

[0068] refer to Figures 3 to 5 , the support frame 100 is movable via an actuator 110, which may be operated via an electrical momentary switch, a control system 200 as described below (including via the console 10), or other methods known in the art. The actuator may be an electric, pneumatic, and / or hydraulic actuator as known in the art. For example, a conventional height adjustment system 30 (see FIG. 1 ) similar to that used for a treadmill may be used. Figure 1 ) mechanism to move the support frame 100. One such commercially available height adjustment mechanism is the Treadmill Incline Motor Lift Actuator OK65-01192-0002 / CMC-778 produced by P-Tech Corporation in the United States. The actuator 110 itself may also provide a locking function for the positioning of the support frame 100. It should be appreciated that while the present disclosure focuses primarily on the actuator 110 that adjusts in the length direction LD, other configurations are also contemplated.

[0069] The actuator 110 is coupled between the base 20 and the front end 101 of the support frame 100 to translate the support frame 100 relative to the base 20 in the length direction LD. Specifically, a first end of the actuator 110 is coupled to a cross member 126 of the base 20 using a bracket 119 and a fastener 117 (such as a bolt, a pin, and / or the like). The opposite end of the actuator 110 is also coupled to the support frame 100 in a conventional manner via a bracket 119 and a fastener 117, which may be the same bracket 119 and / or fastener 117 disposed between the actuator 110 and the cross member 126 as described above. It should be appreciated that the actuator 110 may also be coupled between the base 20 and the support frame 100 at alternative locations. Likewise, other types of actuators 110 may also be used, including scissor-type actuators, rack and pinion actuators, and / or other configurations known in the art. It should be appreciated that multiple types of actuators 110 may also be used to adjust the damping provided by one or more leaf springs 50.

[0070] Figures 4 to 5An exemplary actuator 110 includes a motor 112 that is rotationally engaged with a gear box 113. The rotation of the motor 112 causes the rod 114 to extend or retract relative to the housing 115 of the gear box 113 in the length direction LD. Specifically, the rotation of the motor 112 in a first direction causes the rod 114 to rotate through the gear box 113, wherein the threaded engagement between the outer diameter of the rod 114 and the interior of the housing 115 causes the rod 114 to extend or retract relative to the housing 115 in the length direction LD when the motor 112 rotates. Conversely, the rotation of the motor 112 in the opposite direction causes the rod 114 to retract in the opposite manner. It should be appreciated that, depending on the construction of the actuator 110, the rod 114 or the housing 115 can be coupled to the support frame 100 (the other coupled to the base 20). In this way, operating the actuator 110 causes the support frame 100 to move relative to the base 20. As described above, this movement of the support frame 100 thus adjusts the gap G between the leaf spring 50 and the stop wall 80 of the corresponding end stop 70. In the example shown, all leaf springs 50 are adjusted simultaneously and equally (ie, by the same distance in the length direction LD).

[0071] Reference Figure 3 to Figure 4 It will be appreciated that during operation of the exercise machine 1, as the member 42 moves toward the base 20, the length L between the first end 51 and the second end 52 of the leaf spring 50 increases. In other words, the parabolic shape of the leaf spring 50 flattens during use. However, the length L of the leaf spring 50 may be limited by the engagement between the second end 52 and the stop wall 80 of the end stop 70. Once the length L can no longer increase, the leaf spring 50 may further resist movement of the member 42 toward the base 20, but now by a different mechanism, i.e., compression of its elastic material. Thus, adjusting the gap G between the leaf spring 50 and the stop wall 80 of the end stop 70 may adjust the allowed length L of the leaf spring 50, thereby adjusting the resistance profile provided by the system 40, and therefore adjusting the stiffness of the exercise machine 1.

[0072] The resistance provided by the system 40 varies depending on whether the second end 52 of the leaf spring 50 is engaged with the stop wall 80, thereby producing two or more different stages. In an initial stage referred to as the first stage P1 (discussed further below and in Figure 6), the resistance provided by the leaf spring 50 to movement between the member 42 and the base 20 is provided primarily via bending deformation of the leaf spring 50. In other words, the length L of the leaf spring 50 can change, increasing as the member 42 moves toward the base 20. However, once the second end 52 engages the stop wall 80 of the end stop 70 fixed relative to the base 20 (or the second pin 82 extending through the stop wall 80 in the embodiment discussed further below), the second stage P2 begins, in which the length L of the leaf spring 50 can no longer change. In this stage, further movement of the member 42 toward the base 20 primarily compresses the leaf spring 50 rather than being resisted by the leaf spring 50 by bending the leaf spring 50 as provided during stage 1P1. In other words, the parabolic shape can no longer become wider and longer, so the leaf spring 50 begins to compress. In some embodiments, the term "primarily" with respect to the resistance basis means that the contribution of the basis is greater than any other basis (i.e., the contribution of bending to the resistance is greater than the contribution of compression to the resistance). In some embodiments, the basis with the largest contribution provides more than 50% of the total resistance. In some configurations, approximately 50%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or other fractions of stiffness are provided in phase 2P2.

[0073] like Figure 8 and 9A to 9D As shown, the resistance provided by the leaf spring 50, also referred to as the spring rate, is thus provided depending on whether the resistance is in the first stage P1 or the second stage P2. Likewise, the selection of when the transition T from the first stage P1 to the second stage P2 occurs (i.e., the position of the member 42 relative to the base 20) is based on the gap G provided between the second end 52 of the leaf spring 50 and the stop wall 80. In certain embodiments, the leaf spring 50 is selected so that the resistance provided in the first stage P1 is substantially lower than the resistance provided in the second stage P2. For example, in certain cases, the spring rate in the first stage P1 does not exceed 50% of the spring rate in the second stage P2. In other embodiments, the spring rate in the first stage P1 does not exceed 10% of the spring rate in the second stage P2, or is one order of magnitude lower.

[0074] It should be appreciated that although the leaf spring 50 is shown as providing resistance in each phase (here, the first phase P1 and the second phase P2), the resistance may also be generally viewed as a distribution of resistance. For example, the resistance may be within a given phase (e.g., Figure 8The second stage P2 of the first stage P1 does not need to be constant, nor does it need to be linear. It should also be appreciated that the larger the gap G between the second end 52 of the leaf spring 50 and the stop wall 80, the greater the deflection of the member 42 relative to the base 20 before entering stage 2P2. In other words, a larger gap G provides a larger deflection within the softer stiffness of the first stage P1. As described above, this allows the user to fully configure the shock absorbing stiffness of the fitness machine 1, especially when the user feels the greater resistance of the second stage P2.

[0075] It should be appreciated that the system 40 according to the present disclosure may also provide additional stages. For example, instead of pivotally fixing the first end 51 of the leaf spring 50 to the bracket 60 , the first end 51 may also translate in the length direction LD in a similar or identical manner to the second end 52 . Figure 3 , particularly for the forward-most bracket 60 shown. A stop wall 81 is integral with or coupled to the bracket 60, which provides a limit to the rearward movement of the first end 51 of the leaf spring 50. Thus, the stop wall 81 prevents the first end 51 of the leaf spring 50 from translating without the use of the first pin 66. Other features may also be included to limit the movement of the first end 51 in the height direction HD, such as, for example, the slot 74 for the end stop 70 discussed above. In this embodiment, the first end 51 has a travel gap G2 before being limited by the stop wall 81, thereby changing the overall resistance distribution of the system 40 relative to the pivoting embodiment of the rear-most bracket 60 shown. By individually controlling one or more leaf springs 50, such as making the gap G (and / or gap G2) of the rear leaf spring 50 larger relative to the front leaf spring 50, additional stages or influences on the overall resistance distribution can be provided.

[0076] It should also be understood that the leaf spring 50 need not be shaped as shown, and the leaf spring 50 may also or alternatively vary in number and / or position relative to the base 20 and member 42 of the fitness machine 1. In addition to adjusting the gap G between the leaf spring 50 and the stop wall 80 (and / or the gap G2 with the stop wall 81), the position of the leaf spring 50 relative to the base 20 may also be adjusted in other ways. Similarly, in addition to or as an alternative to the length direction LD, the end stop 70 may also be adjusted in the height direction HD, further modifying the adjustment method for changing the resistance distribution of the leaf spring 50.

[0077] 9A to 9D Provides such as Figures 2 to 4 Additional test results of the exercise machine 1 and system 40 are shown in FIG. The test system was tested in which the leaf spring 50 was compressed 0.45 inches in the height direction HD under 2 Hz and 5 Hz sinusoidal motion control modes. In the graph, the horizontal axis represents the amount of compression (the same for all four graphs), while the vertical axis represents the force applied to achieve the corresponding deformation. The scale of the vertical axis is kip or 1000 lbf.

[0078] The curves show that there is little difference between the responses at the two tested frequencies. Fig.9D The results are shown when the leaf spring 50 is restrained to its original length L (no gap G with the stop wall 80), whereby the resultant force reaches approximately 500 lbf at 0.45 inches of vertical travel. Fig. 9C Tests were conducted with a 25% gap G (a percentage compared to the maximum gap, or equivalent to the gap G required to allow the leaf spring 50 to bend freely into a straight beam). In this case, 25% is approximately 2.8 mm, where the peak load reaches approximately 400 lbf. Fig. 9B Testing was performed at 50% gap G (about 5.6 mm), where about 250 lbf was required to compress the spring down 0.45 inches. Fig.9A Testing was performed at 75% gap G, where the maximum force was approximately 120 lbf. Together, these results demonstrate how the stiffness of the exercise machine 1 can be effectively controlled using the presently disclosed system 40.

[0079] Figures 2 to 3 An alternative configuration of end stop 70 is shown which may be used alone or in conjunction with the above Figures 5 and 6 The end stop 70 of the system 40 is used in conjunction with the end stop 70. In this embodiment, the stop wall 80 is formed at the end or terminal end of the slot 74 defined in the side of the end stop 70. Specifically, the end stop 70 has a top 71 with two arms 73 extending rearward from the front 76 to the fingertips 77. In the embodiment shown, the fingertips 77 extend from the front 76 of the end stop 70 by approximately the same distance as the base tip 79, so that on each side of the end stop 70, a slot 74 is formed between the fingertips 77 and the base tip 79. As shown in FIG. Figure 4 As shown in the top view of , providing two arms 73 for each end stop 70 allows the leaf spring 50 to be positioned between the arms 73, which holds the leaf spring 50 in place relative to the left and right portions 23, 24 of the fitness machine 1.

[0080] This embodiment of the end stop 70 is configured so that the second pin 82 extending through the second pin hole 57 in the second end 52 of the leaf spring 50 is translatable in the length direction LD within the slot 74. The second pin 82 can be inserted into the slot 74 via at least the open end 75 opposite the stop wall 80 and the front portion 76. The spacing C of the slot 74 is selected based on the diameter of the second pin 82 so that movement in the height direction HD is not allowed. Therefore, the second end 52 of the leaf spring 50 can be prevented from translating forward by the engagement between the stop wall 80 and the second pin 82 extending through the second end 52 and / or the engagement between the stop wall 80 and the second end 52 itself.

[0081] Continue to refer Figures 2 to 3 , the second pin 82 can be the same or similar to the first pin 66, or formed by other hardware known in the art. In some examples, the second pin 82 and / or the first pin 66 are rods held in place via cotter pins and / or other similar pieces. In another example, for example, the second pin 82 and / or the first pin 66 are overmolded to be retained on the leaf spring 50 so as to extend outwardly from the leaf spring 50. Regardless of whether the first pin 66 and / or the second pin 82 are used, the leaf spring 50 can also or alternatively be coupled to the member 42, such as at the vertex 54.

[0082] The support frame 100 may be translationally movable relative to the base 20 in the length direction LD via other configurations and mechanisms. Figure 3 An embodiment of a system 40 that provides such adjustment via engagement with a different track system 90 than described above is shown. The track system 90 includes a sliding track 92 coupled to the base 20 via a track mount 91. Specifically, a track ride bracket 94 is coupled to the support frame 100, for example, on a side member 102. The track ride bracket 94 is slidably engaged with the sliding track 92, which functions similarly to a conventional drawer slide with roller bearings, combined with a rack and pinion engagement and / or other sliding mechanisms known in the art. The support frame 100 can then be locked relative to the base 20 in a manner known in the art and as described above.

[0083] Fig.10An exemplary control system 200 for adjusting the stiffness of an exercise machine 1 is shown, which can be manually operated by a user and / or automatically selected or modified according to a given program controlled by the console 10. In some embodiments, the control system 200 automatically modifies the stiffness according to a changing program or other factors (such as the weight or fitness level of the user). For example, when the program of the exercise machine 1 (such as a treadmill) changes from simulating running on a mountain road to running on a road (here, from a soft stiffness to a hard stiffness), the stiffness can be automatically modified. In another example, each stiffness setting has an associated range of allowable pedal deflection. If the actual pedal deflection is outside the range of the selected stiffness setting (e.g., "hard" is selected), the stiffness can be automatically adjusted so that the actual pedal deflection is within the allowed range. In some examples, the adjusted stiffness setting can be stored in a memory for subsequent use, subsequent use with the same user (e.g., when the user logs in to operate the exercise machine) and / or subsequent use with users of similar weight. Similarly, for a given user weight, there may be a range of allowable or preferred pedal deflections, whereby adjustments are made to offset any pedal deflections outside of that range (i.e., by comparison to the user input weight). Any of the above adjustments may be made automatically during use of the treadmill and / or during calibration or field testing by a technician.

[0084] Certain aspects of the present disclosure are described or depicted as functions and / or logic block components or processing steps, which can be performed by any number of hardware, software and / or firmware components configured to perform the specified functions. For example, certain embodiments use integrated circuit components, such as storage elements, digital signal processing elements, logic elements, lookup tables, etc., which are configured to perform various functions under the control of one or more processors or other control devices. The connections between functional components and logic block components are merely exemplary, and these connections can be direct or indirect, and can follow alternative paths.

[0085] In some examples, such as Fig.10As shown, the control system 200 communicates with each of one or more components of the system 40 via a communication link CL, which can be any wired or wireless link. The control system 200 is capable of receiving information and / or one or more operating characteristics of the control system 40 and its various subsystems by sending and receiving control signals via the communication link CL. In one example, the communication link CL is a controller area network (CAN) bus; however, other types of links can also be used. It should be recognized that the connection range and the communication link CL can actually be one or more shared connections or links between some or all components in the fitness machine 1. In addition, the communication link CL line is only used to prove that various control elements can communicate with each other, and does not represent the actual wiring connection between the various elements, nor does it represent the only communication path between the elements. In addition, the system 40 can be combined with various types of communication devices and systems, so the communication link CL shown can actually represent various different types of wireless and / or wired data communication systems.

[0086] The control system 200 may be a computing system that includes a processing system 210, a storage system 220, and an input / output (I / O) system 230 for communicating with other devices, such as input devices 199 (e.g., a console and / or other user interface, sensors that measure movement of one or more members engageable by a user (such as running boards)) and output devices 201 (e.g., actuators, motors that rotate belts, etc.), any of which may also or alternatively be stored in the cloud 202. The processing system 210 loads and executes an executable program 222 from the storage system 220, accesses data 224 stored within the storage system 220, and instructs the system 40 to perform operations as described in further detail below.

[0087] Processing system 210 may be implemented as a single microprocessor or other circuit, or distributed across multiple processing devices or subsystems that work together to execute executable programs 222 from storage system 220. Non-limiting examples of processing systems include general purpose central processing units, special purpose processors, and logic devices.

[0088] The storage system 220 may include any storage medium that is readable by the processing system 210 and capable of storing executable programs 222 and / or data 224. The storage system 220 may be implemented as a single storage device, or distributed across multiple storage devices or subsystems that work together to store computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. The storage system 220 may include volatile and / or non-volatile systems, and may include removable and / or non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storing information. The storage media may include non-transitory and / or transient storage media, including, for example, random access memory, read-only memory, magnetic disks, optical disks, flash memory, virtual and non-virtual memory, magnetic storage devices, or any other media that can be used to store information and can be accessed by the instruction execution system.

[0089] In addition to or as an alternative to adjustments based on inputs directly related to damping (also referred to as first inputs), the inventors have discovered new opportunities to control the stiffness or damping of an exercise machine. In particular, the inventors have recognized that it is advantageous to control the damping of an exercise machine based on other inputs that are not directly related to stiffness or damping, such as the speed and / or incline at which the exercise machine is operated, the weight of the user, the program being executed (e.g., a specific running track), and other factors discussed further below. These additional inputs are also referred to as auxiliary inputs to distinguish them from the damping settings that are directly related to damping.

[0090] As discussed further below, certain additional inputs are provided, at least in part, on sensors positioned on exercise machine 1 . Fig.11 A sensor assembly 250 is shown that is configured to detect movement of the member 42 when a user operates the fitness machine 1. The sensor assembly 250 is an arc sensor, such as a 100° arc sensor (part number 013-0047) produced by Cambridge IC. The sensor assembly 250 includes an arc sensor 252 that extends in an arc between a first end 254 and a second end 256. The sensor assembly 250 is shown as a 100° arc sensor, which means that the first end 254 and the second end 256 are positioned to detect movement up to 100° between them. The arc sensor 252 is coupled to the interior of the housing 260 and includes a chipset 262.

[0091] The sensor assembly 250 also includes an arm 270 extending between a first end 272 and a second end 274. The arm 270 is pivotally coupled to the housing 260 (e.g., via fasteners such as nuts and bolts) so as to pivot about a pivot axis 276. A coil spring 279 is positioned between the arm 270 and the housing 260. The spring 279 biases the arm 270 to rotate the first end 272 of the arm 270 upward.

[0092] The finger 278 extends perpendicularly from the first end 272 of the arm 270. In some embodiments, the finger 278 is a roller rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the first end 272 of the arm 270. A resonant inductive target, also referred to as a target 280, is disposed at or near the second end 274 of the arm 270. The sensor assembly 250 is configured such that the arc sensor 252 detects the position of the target 280 between the first end 254 and the second end 256, in this case, via the inductance between the target 280 and the arc sensor 252. In this manner, the sensor assembly 250 detects movement of the first end 272 of the arm 270 by measuring the position of the target 280, which is communicated to the control system 200 via the chipset 262 via the cable 282.

[0093] The present disclosure also contemplates the use of other types of sensors to detect movement, including but not limited to piezoelectric sensors, linear transducers (e.g., linear Cambridge IC sensors, where the target is mounted on the edge of the pedal and the PCG is mounted on a frame adjacent to the target), inertial measurement units, Hall effect sensors, and / or optical sensors. By monitoring the pedal deflection for a given user and a given shock setting, the fitness machine 1 can be used to detect characteristics of the user's gait, such as flat-foot running, toe-strike, or heel-strike. This information can then be used to train the user to change their running style, such as to prevent injury, improve left-right symmetry, or increase efficiency.

[0094] Fig.12 Shows Fig.11 The sensor assembly 250 is mounted on the fitness machine 1 (here, a treadmill). In particular, the sensor assembly 250 is coupled to the base 20 of the fitness machine 1 so that the finger 278 on the arm 270 of the sensor assembly 250 contacts the underside of the member 42. The contact between the member 42 and the finger 278 is maintained by the bias provided by the spring 279 (i.e., biasing the first end 272 of the arm 270 upward).

[0095] As the user operates the fitness machine 1, it will be appreciated that the member 42 moves up and down in the height direction HD in response to the impact of the user running on the member 42. The movement of the member 42 correspondingly moves the first end 272 of the arm 270 of the sensor assembly 250, which is detected and transmitted to the control system 200 via the cable 282 as described above. In this manner, the sensor assembly 250 detects the movement of the member 42 in real time during use of the fitness machine 1.

[0096] Other types of sensors may provide data that are used as additional inputs to the control system 200. For example, a weight sensor (e.g., a piezoelectric sensor) may be used to measure the weight of a user, a speed sensor may be used to measure the rotational weight of a treadmill belt or bicycle crank, and / or an incline sensor or encoder may be used to measure the incline of the exercise machine 1 during use (e.g., the angle of inclination of the treadmill pedal relative to the floor).

[0097] As discussed above, the inventors have recognized that these additional inputs may be used to automatically adjust the shock absorption of exercise machine 1 alone or in conjunction with inputs from a user directly related to shock absorption (eg, shock absorption settings received from a user). Fig.13 One embodiment of a method 300 for manufacturing an exercise machine that provides shock absorption according to the present disclosure is shown. Step 302 includes providing a base and at least one member that can be engaged by a user and can move relative to the base during operation of the exercise machine, as described above. In the case of a treadmill, the member is a treadle supporting a belt. Step 304 is also performed as described above, providing an elastic body that resists movement of the member toward the base to provide shock absorption for the user. In step 306, the control system 200 is configured to receive input for adjusting the shock absorption of the exercise machine.

[0098] The inputs include a first input directly related to shock absorption (also referred to as a shock absorption setting), for example, how much shock absorption the user desires. As described above, this may be a selection among options such as "hard" and "soft", "beach" and "concrete" or "boardwalk", or a numerical value between 0 and 10 or between 0% and 100%. The first input may be received as a stiffness selection provided via the console 10 described above (e.g., via a stiffness up arrow and a stiffness down arrow displayed on the screen) or as a preference for a given user stored in a memory system.

[0099] The inputs received by the control system 200 also include at least one auxiliary input that is not directly related to shock absorption. Examples of auxiliary inputs include, but are not limited to, the following, which are discussed further below:

[0100] · Simulated terrain that changes during the time period of operating the fitness machine;

[0101] The speed of operating the fitness machine;

[0102] the inclination of at least one member during operation of the fitness machine;

[0103] The user's target muscle groups when operating the fitness machine;

[0104] The user's metabolic response when operating the fitness machine;

[0105] Historical adjustments to the elastic member from previous operations of the exercise machine;

[0106] Random adjustments to the resistance provided by the elastic member over time;

[0107] measuring movement of at least one component during operation of the fitness machine;

[0108] measuring a trend over time of movement of at least one member toward the base during operation of the fitness machine;

[0109] User-provided, stored in memory and / or measured weight;

[0110] Feet raised position on a fitness machine;

[0111] · Foot placement on the exercise machine; and / or

[0112] The user's position on the machine.

[0113] Continue to refer Fig.13 , step 308 provides for adjusting the resistance provided by the elastic body based on the damping setting and one or more auxiliary inputs (e.g., in one of the above-described ways). For example, the damping can be controlled based on a relatively "soft" setting selected by the user, but still varies between very soft and medium-soft, as the program takes the user through terrain that varies in this manner (e.g., starting on loose sand and ending on wooden piers). It should be appreciated that the present disclosure also contemplates methods of adjusting the damping of the fitness machine using only auxiliary inputs.

[0114] In some embodiments, the auxiliary input is based on a simulated terrain that changes over a period of time in a program. For example, treadmill products provided by Life Fitness, LLC of Rosemont, Illinois include manual selection, hill selection, and random program selection. Fig.14 and Fig.15 Two programs 350 are shown that are selectable for operating the exercise machine. Fig.14 Program 350 corresponds to running along a dirt trail in a valley between mountains. Fig.15 Program 350 corresponds to running on a brick and gravel road through a historical part of Germany. The display is updated over time according to the user's pace in a manner known in the art (e.g., using meta tags).

[0115] In addition to changing the visual display on the console (visually simulating movement) as the user progresses through program 350, control system 200 also automatically adjusts the shock absorption of the exercise machine based on the simulated terrain displayed at any given time. For example, Fig.14Program 350 may begin at a medium stiffness when the user appears to be running on dirt 352 (i.e., shown in the lower center of the screen), increase to a medium-hard stiffness when running on stone 354, and decrease to soft when running through long grass 356.

[0116] Similarly, Fig.15 Program 350 may begin with a medium-hard stiffness when running on a first section 358 (e.g., gravel), and temporarily increase to hard when running on bricks in a second section 360. It should be appreciated that control system 200 may implement other changes as the program progresses, such as modifying the speed or incline, and / or changing the stiffness of one portion of the exercise machine to be different from another portion (e.g., the left front and rear leaf springs become stiffer than the right front and rear leaf springs when staggering mixed terrain).

[0117] Additional information is now provided to implement other examples of the above-mentioned auxiliary input. Fig.16 A method 400 is provided for adjusting shock absorption based on a user's targeted muscle group while operating an exercise machine, the method beginning upon receiving a selection of such operation at step 402. Specific muscles to be targeted are received at step 404, such as from a selection group 406 displayed on the console 10. A speed and incline are received at step 408 to begin an exercise. Step 410 provides for obtaining a stiffness setting (e.g., stored in a memory card) corresponding to the muscle group selected at step 404 at the current speed and incline. Figure 1 410 ). It should be appreciated that the allowable stiffness setting may be obtained by other mechanisms (such as via an algorithm rather than by reference to a data table stored in memory). Step 412 provides for adjusting the stiffness as needed so that the actual pedal deflection falls within the allowable range determined in step 410. This stiffness adjustment (as well as other methods described herein) may be performed automatically, in some cases by first prompting the user for confirmation (e.g., "Increase pedal stiffness to target muscle of interest?"), or by prompting the user to make such an adjustment (e.g., displaying "Please increase pedal stiffness to engage target muscle" or "Select at least a medium damping setting to engage target muscle"). The currently activated muscle group may also be displayed in text and / or graphics. The adjustment may also include a request or suggestion to change speed or incline simultaneously, either in conjunction with or in lieu of the pedal stiffness adjustment. Any adjustment to stiffness in step 410 may be further transmitted to the user in step 414, for example, via the console 10. If it is determined in step 416 that the user changed the speed or incline of the exercise machine, the process returns to step 410 to again obtain or determine the corresponding pedal deflection range allowed for the speed, incline, and target muscle group selection.

[0118] Fig.17 A method 500 for adjusting shock absorption using speed is shown, and begins in a conventional manner upon receiving such an operation selection in step 502 and the speed setting in step 504. Step 506 provides for obtaining or otherwise determining a stiffness setting corresponding to the speed selected in step 504. Step 508 provides for adjusting stiffness as needed so that the actual pedal deflection falls within the allowed range determined in step 506. Any adjustment to stiffness in step 508 may be further communicated to the user in step 510, such as via the console 10. If it is determined in step 512 that the user changes the speed of the fitness machine, the process returns to step 506 to again obtain or determine the corresponding pedal deflection range allowed for that speed. In other examples, stiffness may be adjusted without regard to actual pedal deflection, such as increasing stiffness based on increasing speed, increasing stiffness when it is determined that the user is running rather than walking (determined in a manner known in the art), or decreasing stiffness during the warm-up, cool-down, or interval training recovery phase of a workout program.

[0119] Fig.18 A method 600 for adjusting shock absorption using the incline of an exercise machine is shown and begins in a conventional manner upon receiving a selection of such an operation in step 602 and a speed and incline setting in step 604. Step 606 provides for obtaining or otherwise determining a stiffness setting corresponding to the incline and speed selected in step 604. Step 608 provides for adjusting the stiffness as needed so that the actual pedal deflection falls within the allowed range determined in step 606. Any adjustment to the stiffness in step 608 may be further communicated to the user in step 610. If it is determined in step 612 that the user has changed the speed or incline of the exercise machine, the process returns to step 606 to again obtain or determine the corresponding pedal deflection range allowed for that speed and incline.

[0120] Fig.19A method 700 for adjusting shock absorption using a user's metabolic response when operating an exercise machine is shown, and the method 700 begins after receiving a selection of such operation in step 702 and a goal in step 704 (e.g., in a selection group 706 that may include maximum calorie burn or maximum efficiency). In step 708, the user's selection of speed and incline settings is also received in a conventional manner. Step 710 provides for obtaining or otherwise determining a stiffness setting corresponding to the goal selected in step 704 at the incline and speed selected in step 708. In some examples, the goal can be supplemented by a measured or estimated metabolic response of the user, such as estimated by selecting from multiple models based on the user (e.g., height, weight, age, gender, calculated fitness level), the exercise machine, and the manner in which the exercise machine is operated. The metabolic response can also or alternatively include inputs from various sensors in a manner known in the art. Step 712 provides for adjusting the stiffness as needed so that the actual pedal deflection falls within the allowed range determined in step 710. Any adjustment to the stiffness in step 712 can be further communicated to the user in step 714. If it is determined in step 716 that the user changes the speed or incline of the exercise machine (and / or if the measured or estimated metabolic response changes), the process returns to step 710 to again obtain or determine the corresponding pedal deflection range allowed for that speed and incline.

[0121] Fig. 20 A method 800 is shown in which historical adjustments for adjusting shock absorption become learning behaviors for future shock absorption adjustments. In this case, the process begins at step 802, where a user's preferences for stiffness settings at different speeds and inclinations are determined based on previously recorded exercises. A user's selection is received in step 804 to operate the fitness machine using these past preferred stiffness settings from step 802. The user also selects speed and incline settings in a conventional manner in step 804. Step 808 provides for determining the preferred stiffness setting (from step 802) corresponding to the incline and speed selected in step 806. Step 810 provides for adjusting stiffness as needed so that the actual pedal deflection falls within the allowed range determined in step 808. Any adjustment to stiffness in step 810 can be further transmitted to the user in step 812. If it is determined in step 814 that the user changes the speed or incline of the fitness machine, the process returns to step 808 to again obtain the preferred stiffness setting corresponding to the speed and incline from step 802.

[0122] Fig.21A method 900 for making small, minimally perceptible changes to damping during exercise is shown, beginning upon receiving a selection of such an operation in step 902. In step 904, a user's selection of a general preference for stiffness is received, such as from a group of options 906 including "soft", "medium", "hard", and "full range". In step 908, the user's selection of speed and incline is also received in a conventional manner. Step 910 provides for determining an adjustment amount for making small or "micro" adjustments to stiffness over time, whereby the adjustments remain within the general preference range received in step 904. The allowable range of micro adjustments corresponding to each preference range may be stored in memory, or within some absolute or relative value of the set value for each preference range. For example, "soft" may specify a pedal deflection of 0.5 inches as a set value, thereby limiting micro adjustments to within ±0.1 inches, 0.25 inches, 1%, or 5% of the set value. The stiffness is then adjusted in step 912 in accordance with the determination of step 910, such as changing at periodic intervals (e.g., every 1 minute) or changing randomly. In step 914, the adjustment to the stiffness may be further communicated to the user. This process may continue until the exercise is complete. The inventors have determined that small adjustments to the shock absorption help maintain user engagement and may better correspond to running in an outdoor environment where the running surface stiffness may vary from one step to another. This may also help to subtly disrupt the "repetitive" aspect of an endurance gait as the exerciser makes imperceptible adjustments in response to the stiffness changes.

[0123] Fig. 22 A method 1000 for adjusting the damping to maintain a target pedal deflection is shown, and begins upon receiving a selection of such an operation in step 1002. Step 1004 provides for receiving a user selection of a preferred range of pedal deflection, which may be selected from a group 1006 of different deflection amounts. In step 1008, a user selection of speed and incline is also received in a conventional manner. Step 1010 provides for receiving a sensor measurement of actual pedal deflection (e.g., an average deflection over several steps) and determining whether the actual pedal deflection corresponds to the preferred deflection range received in step 1004. If it is determined in step 1012 that the actual pedal deflection is within the range, then the stiffness is not changed. Conversely, if in step 1012 the actual pedal deflection is not within the range, then the stiffness is correspondingly reduced (step 1016) or increased (step 1018) as needed to bring the actual pedal deflection within the preferred range received in step 1002. The process may periodically return to step 1010 if any changes are made to speed or incline, and / or return to step 1008.

[0124] The inventors have recognized that adjusting the damping to achieve a target pedal deflection (whereby the target may vary based on other factors, including user selection, user weight, simulated route, and / or other inputs described herein) may be particularly advantageous. In particular, using a target pedal deflection may be used to accommodate changes or variations in the performance of fitness machine components. For example, due to differences between components and / or due to manufacturing or maintenance differences, elastomers or other components may perform differently over time (e.g., breakage and / or material properties change over time) and in different climates (e.g., higher temperatures). Similarly, over time, wear may increase gaps between components or otherwise cause changes in the resistance provided by the elastomer at a given setting.

[0125] Fig.23 A similar pedal deflection-based adjustment method is provided in , which now provides protection against exceeding a maximum deflection distance. Method 1100 begins at step 1102, whereby the fitness machine stores the expected pedal deflection amount based on the user's weight for each stiffness setting. In step 1104, the user's selection of speed and incline is received in a conventional manner. The method determines in step 1106 whether the softest stiffness setting has been selected. If the determination of step 1106 is "yes", step 1108 provides for receiving sensor measurements of actual pedal deflection (e.g., average deflection over several steps) and determining whether the actual pedal deflection exceeds a predetermined maximum deflection amount for the fitness machine stored in memory. The maximum deflection amount is selected to prevent damage to components and / or to prevent the pedal from bottoming out without providing shock absorption. If it is found in step 1108 that the actual pedal deflection exceeds the predetermined maximum deflection, the stiffness is increased in step 1110 to reduce future actual pedal deflection. If in step 1108 the actual pedal deflection does not exceed the predetermined maximum deflection, the stiffness remains unchanged (step 1112).

[0126] Returning to step 1106, if the softest stiffness setting has now been selected, the process continues to step 1114. In step 1114, the user's weight is calculated based on the measured actual pedal deflection (see step 1108) by reference to the known relationship between deflection and weight at a given stiffness setting as described above (see step 1102). If it is determined in step 1116 that the calculated weight is equal to or higher than (via the logic of step 1102) a weight that would produce a deflection exceeding a predetermined maximum deflection of the exercise machine if the softest stiffness setting was selected, the exercise machine is prevented from selecting the softest stiffness setting.

[0127] In an embodiment using a method of measuring the movement of at least one component during operation of the fitness machine, the above provides information on Fig.11 and Fig.12A discussion of the use of the sensor assembly 250 and other types of sensors is provided. In some embodiments, the movement is used to calibrate the actual shock absorption provided with the expected effect of the fitness machine at a given setting. In a further embodiment, the movement is measured at multiple locations of the member engaged by the user (e.g., at all four corners of the treadmill pedal), which are used to determine the stability of the user while running. Stability can then be improved by adjusting the stiffness of the rear and front portions separately (providing a combination of relative stiffness settings between drop and toe lift, such as a hard toe lift and a softer drop, and / or adding support toward the rear of the running pedal for a user running near the rear end of the treadmill). As described above, these auxiliary inputs can be used in conjunction with the shock absorption settings, and / or in conjunction with each other.

[0128] The system 40 may also be configured to specifically determine the position of a user or a portion thereof during operation, in particular by comparing measurements from a plurality of sensor assemblies 250. These measurements may be deflection measurements, force measurements, imaging measurements from a vision system, or any other type of measurement from which the position of the user may be discerned. Fig.25 In an exemplary system 40, measurements from six sensor assemblies 250 (e.g., piezoelectric sensors or deflection sensors) can be compared to determine the position of the user's foot contacting the engageable member between the front 21 and the rear 22 and between the left 23 and the right 24 of the fitness machine 1. In other words, by comparing the measurements of the frontmost, middlemost, and rearmost sensors, it can be determined whether the user is between the front and the center, or between the center and the back. In addition, based on the amplitude of these measurements, it can be further determined not only whether the user is between the front and the center, but also the approximate position in the length direction (e.g., the distance near the front is twice the distance near the center). The same process can be used to determine the position of the user between the left and right parts, especially using different sensors corresponding thereto. By knowing the position of the sensors relative to the fitness machine, the overall position of the user relative to the fitness machine can be determined each time the user contacts the fitness machine, such as each time a footstep moves.

[0129] This position determination can be performed specifically for changes in the lift position of the foot, the drop position of the foot, and / or the user's center position (e.g., between lift and drop) over time. As described above, the system 40 then allows the damping to be adjusted independently at different areas of the member (such as a running pedal) engaged by the user. For example, when it is found that the user is closer to the front 21 or the rear 22 than expected, or is not centered between the left 23 and the right 24, adjustments can be made. The system 40 not only allows adjustment to accommodate the user's position, but also allows the stiffness to be customized for different stages of exercise. In some treadmill examples, the damping is adjusted so that the user experiences a different stiffness when lifting than when dropping, customizing the user experience for the user's preferences, optimizing performance, minimizing stress and / or preventing injury, and / or for rehabilitation purposes.

[0130] The system 40 may also be configured to make shock adjustments when it is detected that the user is moving during exercise. For example, the user may initially be positioned relatively close to the front 21 of the fitness machine 1, but over time, such as due to fatigue or speed changes, gradually move toward the rear 22. In some examples, when comparing changes in the user's position over time, a moving average (e.g., an average of 5 measurements or a 1-minute period) and / or a threshold value (e.g., a position change of at least 6 inches) is used. This provides for shock adjustments not to be made for transient events and / or more frequently than the user desires.

[0131] In some examples, a series of deflection sensors, such as those discussed above, are provided along the pedal of the treadmill. The measurement values ​​provided by the deflection sensors are used by the control system to determine the deformed shape of the pedal, such as by dynamically fitting the deflection sensor readings and analyzing the patterns in these curves. Through experiments and development, the inventors have realized that when the first downward movement is detected in the gait cycle, a first peak is observed in the deflection measurement value, which is the largest at the position where the user's foot lands on the pedal. This allows the foot to be determined from front to back and / or from left to right according to the configuration of the sensor. The maximum deformation occurs when the user's foot is directly below the body's center of gravity, and the deformation is the largest at this body's center of gravity position. This allows the user's center position or average position to be determined. Then, the next peak in the pedal deformation curve corresponds to the user's toe-off position, and the maximum value is reached again at the toe-off position. In this way, the measurements of multiple sensors can be used to determine the specific position of engagement with the pedal. This can also be monitored as a continuous process to dynamically adjust the stiffness and other parameters discussed herein. Fig.26 Exemplary data collected from five deflection sensors positioned at different locations along the pedal are shown, whereby the data measured at each of the above times reveals the location on the pedal where each engagement occurred.

[0132] Fig.24 Another example of a method for adjusting shock absorption according to the present disclosure is shown. As will become apparent, the method 1200 details an example for autonomously handling stiffness adjustment. This may be particularly advantageous for users who are unsure of what shock absorption selection to make and / or do not want to make such a selection. In the example shown, step 1202 provides for the user to first select an "automatic deflection exercise" in which the shock absorption will be automatically adjusted to provide a controlled amount of pedal deflection, which can be provided via controlling the above-mentioned components. From the perspective of the fitness machine 1, step 1202 also involves the fitness machine receiving a selection to run in the automatic deflection exercise. It should be appreciated that in other embodiments, the fitness machine 1 can default to this mode, or perform such autonomous stiffness control when the "quick start" exercise mode is selected. In some examples, step 1202 also includes obtaining a stored stiffness setting previously used for shock absorption, as further discussed below.

[0133] Step 1204 provides for the exerciser to select a speed and / or incline and the exercise begins, so the fitness machine also receives the speed and / or incline selection and operates accordingly. The present disclosure contemplates that the speed and / or incline are not configured by the user, such as provided by an exercise program or a coach leading a group of exercisers. Similarly, the speed and incline selection can also be performed by inaction, for example, the fitness machine operates with previous settings or default values.

[0134] In step 1206, a sensor (such as the sensors described above) measures the deflection of a member (e.g., a running pedal of a treadmill) that can be engaged by a user. In the exemplary step 1206 shown, these measurements are taken over several steps and then averaged, whereby the control system then compares the average value (which can be a running average) to one or more predetermined thresholds stored in a storage system. For example, the threshold can be a single value, or there can be multiple thresholds, such as a lower threshold (e.g., a first pedal deflection distance) and a separate upper threshold (e.g., a second pedal deflection distance). In an example where the target deflection is 10 mm, an upper threshold of 12 mm and a lower threshold of 8 mm can be provided, whereby measurements outside of these upper and lower thresholds can cause the system to automatically change stiffness and / or suggest to the user to change stiffness to achieve the target deflection. A similar goal can also be achieved using a single threshold of 2 mm, whereby if the measured deflection deviates from the target deflection by more than a threshold of 2 mm, an action is taken. It should be appreciated that the present disclosure may refer to a measured value being outside of a threshold or exceeding a threshold, which means that the threshold has been triggered (e.g., below a lower threshold and / or above an upper threshold).

[0135] If it is determined in step 1208 that the measured deflection (or its average) is below a lower threshold, then the damping is adjusted to reduce stiffness, thereby increasing pedal deflection, in step 1210. As described above, this can be performed by controlling an actuator that varies the damping provided by an elastomer such as a leaf spring.

[0136] Alternatively, if it is determined in step 1208 that the measured deflection is not below the lower threshold, the method 1200 continues to step 1212. If it is determined in step 1212 that the measured deflection is above the upper threshold, the shock is adjusted in step 1214 to increase stiffness, thereby reducing pedal deflection. Conversely, if the measured deflection is not above the upper threshold in step 1212, the method 1200 continues to step 1216, whereby operation continues at the current stiffness setting (i.e., no shock adjustment is made). The stiffness setting is then recorded in step 1218 for future retrieval. These stiffness settings can be saved with the user's profile for later retrieval at login for future workouts.

[0137] The present inventors have recognized that saving the stiffness setting in step 1218 advantageously provides a starting point to expedite the process of controlling the damping to automatically provide the desired pedal deflection in the future. This can result in less variability in the exercise machine 1 upon user activation, thereby reducing use and wear of the actuator and other components. Additionally, this can prevent the exerciser from having to start with a suboptimal stiffness setting prior to performing measurements and stiffness adjustments.

[0138] The method 1200 also advantageously accounts for any changes that occur over time that may require different stiffness settings even for the same user. For example, the elastomer may degrade or be replaced (affecting the resistance provided thereby), the user may gain or lose weight, the user may change gait, or other changes in the machine or the user may affect pedal deflection. In these cases, the method 1200 not only provides for automatically adjusting the shock absorption accordingly, but also saves the new stiffness setting in step 1218 for future use.

[0139] The inventors have discovered that by controlling the shock absorption of an exercise machine as described herein, the user can have a better experience and an enhanced sense of reality. Likewise, the control system 200 can use trends identified in the movement data to detect changes in the system over time (e.g., components wear over time, elastic members become more flexible), trigger replacement of components, or compensate in the adjustment of the shock absorption settings to provide the desired results and / or prevent components from breaking down over time.

[0140] The functional block diagrams, operation sequences, and flow charts provided in the accompanying drawings represent exemplary architectures, environments, and methods for performing novel aspects of the present disclosure. Although the methods included herein may be in the form of functional diagrams, operation sequences, or flow charts and may be described as a series of actions for ease of explanation, it should be understood and appreciated that these methods are not limited by the order of actions, because according to these methods, some actions may occur in different orders and / or occur simultaneously with other actions shown and described herein. For example, those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate that a method may alternatively be represented as a series of interrelated states or events, such as in a state diagram. In addition, not all actions shown in a method are necessary for novel implementation.

[0141] Although the above description and the like are described in detail from the perspective of a user or exerciser using the fitness machine 1 disclosed herein, Figures 16 to 24 Some of the methods shown in the figure, but those skilled in the art will recognize that these user-centric steps also disclose the steps or actions taken by the fitness machine 1. For example, the exerciser selects an exercise for the target muscle ( Fig.16 Step 402 of the exercise program should also be interpreted as disclosing a fitness machine that is configured to perform the step of receiving such a selection of exercises for the target muscles. In addition, the examples provided in this disclosure should be interpreted as non-limiting. For example, although Fig.16 Step 416 provides the exerciser with the ability to change speed or inclination (therefore, a fitness machine that performs the step of changing speed or inclination is disclosed), but it should be appreciated that the change in speed or inclination is not necessarily initiated by the user. In some cases, for example, such a change in speed or inclination may be directed by an exercise program executed by the fitness machine or a fitness trainer leading a group.

[0142] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the invention. Certain terms are used for brevity, clarity, and ease of understanding. No unnecessary limitations beyond the requirements of the prior art should be inferred from them, as these terms are used for descriptive purposes only and are intended to be broadly interpreted. The patent scope of the present invention is defined by the claims and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. If these other examples have features or structural elements that are not different from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent features or structural elements that are not substantially different from the literal language of the claims, then these other examples should be within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A fitness machine for providing shock absorption for a user operating the fitness machine, the fitness machine comprising: Pedestal; at least one member engageable by the user and movable relative to the base during operation of the exercise machine; an elastic body that resists movement of the at least one member toward the base to provide shock absorption for the user, wherein the resistance provided by the elastic body is adjustable; and A control system configured to receive a shock absorption setting corresponding to a desired degree of shock absorption from the user and to receive an auxiliary input from outside the user, wherein the control system is further configured to adjust the resistance provided by the elastomer based on the shock absorption setting and the auxiliary input.

2. The fitness machine according to claim 1, wherein: The auxiliary input is based at least in part on targeted muscle groups of the user while operating the exercise machine.

3. The fitness machine according to claim 1, wherein: The auxiliary input is based at least in part on a metabolic response of the user while operating the exercise machine.

4. The fitness machine according to claim 1, wherein: The auxiliary input is based at least in part on historical adjustments to the elastic member from previous operations of the exercise machine.

5. The fitness machine according to claim 1, wherein: The auxiliary input is based on a program for operating the exercise machine during a certain period of time.

6. The fitness machine according to claim 5, wherein: The program includes a simulated terrain that varies over a period of time during which the exercise machine is operated, and wherein the auxiliary input is based at least in part on the simulated terrain.

7. The fitness machine according to claim 5, wherein: The program includes random adjustments to the resistance provided by the elastic member over time, and wherein the auxiliary input is based at least in part on the random adjustments in the program.

8. The exercise machine of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor that measures the movement of the at least one member toward the base during operation of the exercise machine, wherein The control system is further configured to generate a trend of the movement measured by the sensor over time, wherein the auxiliary input is based at least in part on the trend generated by the movement measured by the sensor.

9. The exercise machine of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor that measures the movement of the at least one member toward the base during operation of the exercise machine, wherein: The control system is further configured to determine a position of a foot of the user on the at least one member engageable by the user, and wherein the auxiliary input is based at least in part on the position of the foot determined by the control system.

10. The fitness machine according to claim 9, wherein: The positions include a raised position and a lowered position of the foot.

11. The fitness machine according to claim 1, wherein: The elastic body is two or more elastic bodies, each elastic body resists the movement of the at least one member toward the base, and wherein the control system is configured to adjust the resistance provided by the two or more elastic bodies independently of each other based on the shock absorption setting and the auxiliary input.

12. The exercise machine of claim 11, further comprising a sensor that measures the movement of the at least one member toward the base during operation of the exercise machine, wherein The control system is also configured to determine a position of the user's foot on the at least one member engageable by the user, and wherein the auxiliary input for independently adjusting the two or more elastic bodies is based at least in part on the position of the foot determined by the control system.

13. A method for manufacturing an exercise machine that provides shock absorption for a user operating the exercise machine, the method comprising: providing a base and at least one member engageable by the user and movable relative to the base during operation of the exercise machine; providing an elastic body that resists movement of the at least one member toward the base to provide shock absorption for the user, wherein the resistance provided by the elastic body is adjustable; configuring a control system to receive a shock reduction setting corresponding to a desired degree of shock reduction from the user and to receive an auxiliary input from outside the user; and The resistance provided by the elastomeric body is adjusted based on the damping setting and the assist input.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising adjusting the resistance based on at least one of a targeted muscle group of the user and a metabolic response of the user while operating the exercise machine.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising adjusting the resistance based at least in part on historical adjustments to the elastic member from previous operations of the exercise machine.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising adjusting the resistance based at least in part on a program for operating the exercise machine during a time period.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising measuring movement of the at least one member toward the base during operation of the exercise machine, generating a trend of the movement over time, and adjusting the resistance based at least in part on the trend.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein: The elastic body is two or more elastic bodies, each elastic body resists the movement of the at least one member toward the base, and wherein the resistance of the two or more elastic bodies is independently adjusted based on the damping setting and the auxiliary input.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising determining a position of the user's foot on the at least one member engageable by the user, wherein The auxiliary input is based at least in part on a position of the foot determined by the control system.

20. A method for manufacturing an exercise machine that provides shock absorption for a user operating the exercise machine, the method comprising: providing a base and at least one member engageable by the user and movable relative to the base during operation of the exercise machine; providing an elastomeric body that resists movement of the at least one member toward the base to provide shock absorption for the user; adjusting the resistance provided by the elastic body based on a previous resistance from a previous operation of the exercise machine; measuring the movement of the at least one member during operation of the exercise machine; determining whether the movement of the at least one member exceeds a threshold; when it is determined that the movement exceeds the threshold, further adjusting the resistance provided by the elastic body; as well as The resistance provided by the elastic body is stored as the previous resistance for future operation of the fitness machine.

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