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US4323237A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Adaptive exercise apparatus

Assignee: Coats and Clark Inc
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Filing: 1979-08-30
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Granted: 1982-04-06
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Expires: 1999-08-30
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Abstract

Abstract An adaptive exercise apparatus which provides a variable load against which a person may exercise, monitors the performance of the person against the load by measuring the work done in a predetermined time interval, and increments to a slightly greater value when the monitored performance level reaches a desired performance objective. Instead of increasing the load when a performance objective is met, the individual may be required to work at a greater rate by maintaining the load constant, and (i) either decreasing the time within which the work is to be performed, (ii) increasing the number of exercise cycles to be completed in the same time interval, or (iii) increasing the stroke or length associated with the particular exercise being performed.

Inventors

  • 👤 Bernard R. Jungerwirth

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 18:21
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B21/00; A63B21/15; A63B21/157; A63B21/151; A63B21/154; A63B24/00; A63B21/012; A63B21/015; A63B21/06; A63B2220/00; A63B2220/10; A63B2220/16; A63B2220/17; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S482/00; Y10S482/901; Y10S482/902

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim 148 words
An adaptive method for subjecting an individual to progressive exercise, comprising the steps of: establishing the number of repetitions of an exercise to be performed against a resistance means in a desired time interval; setting the magnitude of said resistance means and the length of said desired time interval at predetermined initial values; sensing performance by said individual; generating a level met signal as a function of sensed performance to indicate a first level of accomplishment if and when said established number of repetitions is performed within said desired time interval; setting a higher level performance objective responsive to said level met signal by incrementally increasing the magnitude of said resistance means to a predetermined value greater than said initial value; and thereafter repeating said level met signal generating and resistance means magnitude increasing steps to indicate and set successively higher levels of accomplishment and performance objectives respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 148 words
An adaptive method for subjecting an individual to progressive exercise, comprising the steps of: establishing the number of repetitions of an exercise to be performed against a resistance means in a desired time interval; setting the magnitude of said resistance means and the length of said desired time interval at predetermined initial values; sensing performance by said individual; generating a level met signal as a function of sensed performance to indicate a first level of accomplishment if and when said established number of repetitions is performed within said desired time interval; setting a higher level performance objective responsive to said level met signal by incrementally increasing the magnitude of said resistance means to a predetermined value greater than said initial value; and thereafter repeating said level met signal generating and resistance means magnitude increasing steps to indicate and set successively higher levels of accomplishment and performance objectives respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 146 words
An adaptive method for subjecting an individual to progressive exercise, comprising the steps of: establishing the number of repetitions of an exercise to be performed against a resistance means in a desired time interval; setting the magnitude of said resistance means and the length of said desired time interval at predetermined initial values; sensing performance by said individual; generating a level met signal as a function of sensed performance to indicate a first level of accomplishment if and when said established number of repetitions is performed within said desired time interval; setting a higher level performance objective responsive to said level met signal by incrementally decreasing said desired time interval to a value less than the initial value thereof; and thereafter repeating said level met signal generating and desired time interval decreasing steps to indicate and set successively higher levels of accomplishment and performance objectives respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 146 words
An adaptive method for subjecting an individual to progressive exercise, comprising the steps of: establishing the number of repetitions of an exercise to be performed against a resistance means in a desired time interval; setting the magnitude of said resistance means and the length of said desired time interval at predetermined initial values; sensing performance by said individual; generating a level met signal as a function of sensed performance to indicate a first level of accomplishment if and when said established number of repetitions is performed within said desired time interval; setting a higher level performance objective responsive to said level met signal by incrementally decreasing said desired time interval to a value less than the initial value thereof; and thereafter repeating said level met signal generating and desired time interval decreasing steps to indicate and set successively higher levels of accomplishment and performance objectives respectively.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 102 words
A method for subjecting an individual to progressive exercise, comprising the steps of: establishing the rate at which work is to be performed against a resistance means having a predetermined initial value; sensing performance by said individual; generating a level met signal as a function of sensed performance to indicate when said work has been performed at said established rate; increasing the value of the rate at which work is to be performed responsive to said level met signal; and thereafer repeating said work rate value setting step each time a level met signal corresponding to the next preceding step is generated.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 102 words
A method for subjecting an individual to progressive exercise, comprising the steps of: establishing the rate at which work is to be performed against a resistance means having a predetermined initial value; sensing performance by said individual; generating a level met signal as a function of sensed performance to indicate when said work has been performed at said established rate; increasing the value of the rate at which work is to be performed responsive to said level met signal; and thereafer repeating said work rate value setting step each time a level met signal corresponding to the next preceding step is generated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method according to claim 3, wherein said work rate is increased by increasing said resistance means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method according to claim 3, wherein said work rate is increased by decreasing a preset time interval in which the work is to be performed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method according to claim 3, wherein said work rate is increased by increasing the number of repetitions of an exercise to be performed against said resistance means within a preset time interval.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 146 words
A method for subjecting an individual to progressive exercise, comprising the steps of: establishing the desired number of repetitions of an exercise to be performed against a resistance means in a given time interval; setting the magnitude of said resistance means and the length of said given time interval at predetermined initial values; sensing performance by said individual; generating a level met signal as a function of sensed performance to indicate a first level of accomplishment when said desired number of repetitions is performed within said given time interval; setting a higher level performance objective responsive to said level met signal by incrementally increasing said desired number of repetitions to a value greater than the initial value thereof; and thereafter repeating said level met signal generating and desired number of repetitions increasing steps to indicate and set successively higher levels of accomplishment and performance objectives respectively.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 146 words
A method for subjecting an individual to progressive exercise, comprising the steps of: establishing the desired number of repetitions of an exercise to be performed against a resistance means in a given time interval; setting the magnitude of said resistance means and the length of said given time interval at predetermined initial values; sensing performance by said individual; generating a level met signal as a function of sensed performance to indicate a first level of accomplishment when said desired number of repetitions is performed within said given time interval; setting a higher level performance objective responsive to said level met signal by incrementally increasing said desired number of repetitions to a value greater than the initial value thereof; and thereafter repeating said level met signal generating and desired number of repetitions increasing steps to indicate and set successively higher levels of accomplishment and performance objectives respectively.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 109 words
Adaptive exercise apparatus, comprising: a variable resistance means; means for enabling an individual to perform work against said resistance means in repetitive cycles; means for setting said number of cycles to be performed within said desired time interval and the magnitude of said resistance means at predetermined initial values; means for counting said cycles; means for measuring the number of said cycles completed by said individual within a desired time interval; and means responsive to the output of said counting means for incrementally increasing the magnitude of said resistance means if and when said preset number of cycles is completed within said initial value of said desired time interval.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 109 words
Adaptive exercise apparatus, comprising: a variable resistance means; means for enabling an individual to perform work against said resistance means in repetitive cycles; means for setting said number of cycles to be performed within said desired time interval and the magnitude of said resistance means at predetermined initial values; means for counting said cycles; means for measuring the number of said cycles completed by said individual within a desired time interval; and means responsive to the output of said counting means for incrementally increasing the magnitude of said resistance means if and when said preset number of cycles is completed within said initial value of said desired time interval.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 109 words
Adaptive exercise apparatus, comprising: a variable resistance means; means for enabling an individual to perform work against said resistance means in repetitive cycles; means for setting said number of cycles to be performed within said desired time interval and the magnitude of said load at predetermined initial values; means for counting said cycles; means for measuring the number of said cycles completed by said individual within a desire time interval; and means responsive to the output of said counting means for incrementally decreasing the value of said desired time interval if and when said preset number of cycles is completed within said initial value of said desired time interval.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 109 words
Adaptive exercise apparatus, comprising: a variable resistance means; means for enabling an individual to perform work against said resistance means in repetitive cycles; means for setting said number of cycles to be performed within said desired time interval and the magnitude of said load at predetermined initial values; means for counting said cycles; means for measuring the number of said cycles completed by said individual within a desire time interval; and means responsive to the output of said counting means for incrementally decreasing the value of said desired time interval if and when said preset number of cycles is completed within said initial value of said desired time interval.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 101 words
Adaptive exercise apparatus, comprising: a resistance means movable along a given path to traverse upper and lower limits of movement; means for enabling an individual to perform work by moving said resistance means along said path in repetitive cycles; means for counting said cycles; means for setting the upper and lower limits to be traversed by said resistance means along said path; and means responsive to the output of said counting means for incrementally increasing the distance between said upper and lower limits when the number of cycles completed along said path between the initial values thereof reaches a desired value.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 101 words
Adaptive exercise apparatus, comprising: a resistance means movable along a given path to traverse upper and lower limits of movement; means for enabling an individual to perform work by moving said resistance means along said path in repetitive cycles; means for counting said cycles; means for setting the upper and lower limits to be traversed by said resistance means along said path; and means responsive to the output of said counting means for incrementally increasing the distance between said upper and lower limits when the number of cycles completed along said path between the initial values thereof reaches a desired value.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 11 words
The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said path is circular.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 11 words
The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said path is rectilinear.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 78 words
The apparatus according to claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein said resistance means comprises grasping means, first means for generating a force on said grasping means in one direction and for resisting movement of said grasping means in the opposite direction, second means for simultaneously resisting movement of said grasping means in the opposite direction, and unidirectional coupling means for disengaging said second means from said grasping means upon movement of said grasping means in said one direction.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1985-04-05 1985-10-05 1986-04-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1989-04-05 1989-10-05 1990-04-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1993-04-05 1993-10-05 1994-04-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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