Patent EP0051377A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0051377A1
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EP
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Exercise apparatus
Assignee: Frates jr Emil F
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Filing: 1981-10-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2001-10-19
Abstract
Abstract An exercise apparatus equipped with an electrically controlled brake (24) may be used for providing resistance force to movement of a holder bar (18) by a user. A rotational transducer (28) is provided to control the brake (24) so that the magnitude of resistance force is varied with movements made by the user. A direction sensing and control circuit is provided to vary the amount of resistance force according to the direction of movement by the user.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank Joseph Bruder
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 07:04
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B21/00; A63B21/005; A63B21/0056
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
An exercise apparatus, comprising a member (18) mounted on a base (12) and movable relative thereto, the member (18) being positioned to be manipulated by an operator, characterized by a brake (24) mounted on the base (12) for providing variable resistance to movement of the member (18) relative to the base (12) and an electrical control device (39) for varying the brake resistance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
63 words
An exercise apparatus, comprising a member (18) mounted on a base (12) and movable relative thereto, the member (18) being positioned to be manipulated by an operator, characterized by a brake (24) mounted on the base (12) for providing variable resistance to movement of the member (18) relative to the base (12) and an electrical control device (39) for varying the brake resistance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the control device (39) comprises means (46, 48, 50, 52, 54) for varying the resistance in response to the relative positions of the base (12) and the member (18).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the control device (39) comprises means (46, 48, 50, 52, 54) for automatically varying the resistance in response to the angular orientation of the member (18) on the base (12).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the control device (39) comprises means (46, 48, 50, 52, 54) to control the magnitude of the resistance in separate regions in the range of movement of the member (18).
Claim 6
Independent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the control device (39) comprises means (46, 48, 50, 52, 54) for varying the resistance in response to the direction of travel of the member (18) relative to the base (12).
Claim 7
Independent Claim
128 words
An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the brake (24) comprises a stator (58) attached to the base (12) and having a stator coil (60) securely mounted therein, the stator coil (60) being electrically connected to the electrical control device (39); a rotor (62) attached to the member (18) and rotatably mounted within the stator coil (60); and magnetic powder (70) positioned between the stator coil (60) and the rotor (62), said magnetic powder (70) providing a bonding force between the stator coil (60) and the rotor (62), the magnitude of said bonding force being controlled by the magnitude of the braking signal, said bonding force being transferred through the stator (58) and the rotor (62) to produce the braking force.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
140 words
An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the electrical control device (39) comprises a power supply (76) providing in use, an electrical power output signal; a rotational transducer (28) mounted between the member (18) and the base (12) for sensing the angular orientation of the member (18) with respect to the base (12), and for producing an electrical orientation signal indicative of said angular orientation; and a force programmer (46a, 48a, 50a, 52a, 54a, 56a) electrically connected to the power supply (76) to the rotational transducer (28) and to the brake (24), for controlling the-transfer of the electrical power output signal to the brake 24 to control the braking force said force programmer being adjustable to independently control the magnitude of the braking force at each of a plurality of said angular orientations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
106 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the rotational transducer (28) comprises an electrical commutator switch assembly which comprises a plate (30) having a plurality of electrically conductive sector pads (32, 34, 36, 42, 44) mounted along a circular path thereon, said sector pads defining angular ranges in the rotation of the member (18) with respect to the base (12); and a wiper (38) rotatably mounted on the plate (30) and having an electrically conductive wiper pad (72), said wiper pad making electrical sequential contact with each of said sector pads as the member (18) is rotated with respect to the base (12).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the force programmer comprises a plurality of resistors (46a, 48a, 50a, 52a, 54a) connected to the brake (24) and to separate ones of said sector pads, the electrical resistance of each resistor being adjustable to independently control the transfer of the electrical power output signal to the brake (24), said resistors cooperating in use with said sector pads to define independently adjustable resistance force ranges corresponding to said'angular ranges.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
174 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the electrical control device (39) further comprises a first electrical contact (42) mounted on the base (12) and positioned to be activated as the member (18) is rotated in a first direction; a second electrical contact(44)mounted on the base (12) and positioned to be activated as the member (18) is rotated in a second direction, said first and second electrical contacts defining an operating angle range in the rotation of the member (18) with respect to the base (12); and relay means (78) electrically connected to said first electrical contact (42), said second electrical contact (44), said brake (24), and said plurality of resistors, for providing a first direction state in response to said first electrical contact, and a second direction state in response to said second electrical contact, and for electrically connecting a first set of said resistors to said brake in said first direction state, and electrically connecting a second set of said resistors to said brake in said second direction state.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
75 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, 8 or 9, characterized in that said electrical control device (39) further comprises direction sensing and control means, electrically connected to said force programmer, for sensing the direction of rotation of the member (18) with respect to the base (12), and for controlling said force programmer to independently select the magnitude of said braking force for each direction of rotation of said member with respect to said base.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim characterized in that said base forms a bench to support a supine human being and said member forms a holder bar.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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