Patents Examined by Stephen R. Crow
  • Patent number: 10260538
    Abstract: A system for spreading tension at a rope connection point on a structure is provided. The system comprises a connection mechanism configured to receive a rope. The system also comprises a fastening mechanism configured to couple the connection mechanism to the structure at the rope connection point. The rope is configured to enter the connection mechanism at an inlet point and exit the connection mechanism at an outlet point, such that a tension applied to the rope is spread between the inlet point and the outlet point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Landscape Structures Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas L. Keller
  • Patent number: 10252100
    Abstract: A gait replication apparatus can include a scalable mechanical mechanism configured to replicate different gaits. The scalable mechanical mechanism can include, for example, a four-bar linkage, a pantograph, a cam/Scotch-yoke mechanism, and so forth. In some embodiments, the mechanical mechanism includes a beam rotating about an axis passing proximate to its center, with a foot pedal slidably coupled with the beam, and a timing chain/belt or cable pulley-pair coupled with the foot pedal and looped about the beam. A method can include decomposing a foot path defined by Cartesian coordinates into polar coordinates, and providing a mechanical support for a foot, where a first mechanism controls an angular position of the mechanical support with respect to a reference frame, and a second mechanism controls a radial distance of the mechanical support from the reference frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignees: NUTECH VENTURES, MADONNA REHABILITATION HOSPITAL
    Inventors: Carl A. Nelson, Cale J. Stolle, Judith M. Burnfield
  • Patent number: 10252101
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of stationary exercise machines having reciprocating foot and/or hand members, such as foot pedals that move in a closed loop path. Some embodiments can include reciprocating foot pedals that cause a user's feet to move along a closed loop path that is substantially inclined, such that the foot motion simulates a climbing motion more than a flat walking or running motion. Some embodiments can further include reciprocating handles that are configured to move in coordination with the foot via a linkage to a crank wheel also coupled to the foot pedals. Variable resistance can be provided via a rotating air-resistance based mechanism, via a magnetism based mechanism, and/or via other mechanisms, one or more of which can be rapidly adjustable while the user is using the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.
    Inventors: Rasmey Yim, Marcus L. Marjama, Kevin M. Hendricks
  • Patent number: 10252109
    Abstract: A treadmill includes a deck, a first pulley disposed in a first portion of the deck, a second pulley disposed in a second portion of the deck, a tread belt surrounding the first pulley and the second pulley, and a platform incorporated into the deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott R. Watterson
  • Patent number: 10252102
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus having a pulley, a pair of stabilizing assemblies each configured to couple a front portion of a respective pedal element to each side of the pulley, a looped belt configured to couple the pulley to a resistance assembly, a tension stabilizer configured to maintain a tension of the looped belt on the pulley, and the resistance assembly configured to assert an adjustable resistance to the pedal elements through the looped belt. The exercise apparatus also comprises a resistance band extension for performing additional exercise using resistance bands and a transport mechanism for transporting the exercise apparatus and securing the exercise apparatus to a chair wheel or other structure during exercise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: FITNESS CUBED INC.
    Inventor: Arnav Dalmia
  • Patent number: 10252135
    Abstract: An improved exercise assembly structured to be struck by a user includes a base supporting a shaft on a supporting surface. A support shaft extends outwardly from the supporting surface. At least one rotating targets is connected to the support shaft and extends outwardly. A resistance assembly is adjustably mounted on the shaft into and out of a position relative to a path of travel of at least one rotating target. The position includes the resistance assembly in engagement with at least one rotating target. The rotating target includes an elongated arm including a predetermined weighted construction and a safety portion thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Inventor: Larry Roberts
  • Patent number: 10247628
    Abstract: A force measurement mechanism comprises two force input members (105, 106), a pair of cantilever springs (101, 102), and a force measuring means (107). One portion of each cantilever spring is held by a first constraint means (103) and one portion of each cantilever spring is held by a second constraint means (104) with each cantilever spring having an unconstrained length between the first and second constraint means that is free to bend. The constraint means (103, 104) hold the cantilever springs (101, 102) in a parallel and spaced apart arrangement. The force input members (105, 106) are attached via the constraint means so that relative movement of the force input members bends the cantilever springs (101, 02), and the force measuring means (107) is arranged to measure force applied between the force input members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: IMPERIAL INNOVATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Etienne Burdet, Michael Alec Vere Mace, Jean-Luc Liardon, Paul Bentley, Paul Rinne
  • Patent number: 10245467
    Abstract: A pneumatic pogo stick is provided that utilizes compressed air like a spring to have a potentially higher power to weight ratio than a comparable coil spring pogo stick. The pneumatic pogo stick includes an elongate cylindrical housing which forms a cylinder. Improvements are also provided to the piston and air shaft that allow for reduced hammering and a lower maximum compression ratio in order to provide relatively smooth jumping and landing while propelling a user to greater heights. Examples of such improvements include a hollow air shaft and modifications to the shape and structure of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Vurtego, LLC
    Inventors: Ian Britt, Brian James Spencer
  • Patent number: 10238911
    Abstract: A treadmill includes a running belt defining a non-planar running surface, and a motor operatively coupled to the running belt. The treadmill is operable in plurality of operating modes to control a user experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Woodway USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Bayerlein, Nicholas A. Oblamski, Vance E. Emons
  • Patent number: 10226663
    Abstract: An adjustable rehabilitation and exercise device, including a first rotary member rotatably mountable about a first hub and having a plurality of spaced apart and elongated first mount supports defined thereon; a first mount adjustably positioned on one of the first mount supports; a first patient engagement member attached to the first mount, a second rotary member rotatably mountable about a second hub the opposite the first rotary member, the second rotary member having a plurality of spaced apart and elongated second mount supports defined thereon; a second mount adjustably positioned on one of the second mount supports; and a second patient engagement member attached to the second mount. The first and second mounts are adjustably positionable on the first and second rotary members to enable adjustable positioning of the first and second patient engagement members radially relative to the first and second hubs of the rotary members and angularly relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: ROM3 REHAB LLC
    Inventors: Sanford Gomberg, Peter Arn, Nick T. Oblas, Sean P. Allison, Michael Bissonnette
  • Patent number: 10220249
    Abstract: A treadmill includes a frame having two sides each provided with two sprockets, two slide rails mounted on the two sides of the frame, two chains engaging with the two sprockets at the two sides of the frame respectively and corresponding to the two slide rails respectively, a plurality of elongate board mounted between the two chains, and a plurality of rollers mounted on each of the two chains. Each of the elongate board has two ends each provided with a connecting member connected with one of the two chains. The rollers on each of the two chains rest on one of the two slide rails. Thus, when the two chains are rotated, the rollers on each of the two chains slide on one of the two slide rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: High Spot Health Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yen-Chi Chuang
  • Patent number: 10213643
    Abstract: An adjustment bracket structure for a front upright of an exercise bicycle comprises a bicycle frame and the front upright, wherein a supporting component extending towards the front upright is fixed to the bicycle frame, and the lower end of the front upright is pivoted to the supporting component through a rotary shaft; a bracket component capable of being clamped on the supporting component is arranged on the front upright, and bracket parts matched with the bracket component are arranged on the supporting component in the swinging direction of the front upright. The front upright is angle-adjustable, thereby convenient for users with different heights and arm lengths. The bracket component is of strength-saving structure and utilizes the lever principle, thereby being more convenient to operate. All components are structurally reliable and connected firmly and stably, and thus more convenient to use on the premise of guaranteeing safety and stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignees: XIAMEN DMASTER HEALTH TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: JunMing Zeng
  • Patent number: 10207147
    Abstract: A vertical stepping machine includes a frame, a crank wheel connected to the frame, a crank arm extending away from a rotational axis of the crank wheel, and a pedal beam connected to the crank arm. A linkage assembly is connected to the frame at a fixed frame location and to the pedal beam at a fixed pedal beam location. A first linkage member of the linkage assembly has a length that forces the pedal beam to travel along an elliptical path as the crank wheel rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness, Inc.
    Inventors: Gaylen Ercanbrack, Michael L. Olson
  • Patent number: 10207145
    Abstract: A high voltage direct current signal is obtained from a power supply. The power supply includes power factor correction circuitry. A control command is obtained from an exercise machine. The exercise machine includes a direct current motor. A pulse-width modulation signal is generated from the direct current signal based on the control command. The pulse-width modulation signal is provided to the direct current motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Tyger, Derrek Williams
  • Patent number: 10207146
    Abstract: The present invention provides a treadmill for allowing an exerciser to perform walking or running exercise on an endless belt. The treadmill is selected to be operated in a forward movement mode or in a reverse movement mode. In the reverse movement mode, a control unit of the treadmill controls a driving device to drive a top surface of the endless belt to slide forward for allowing the exerciser to simulate backward walking. When a detecting device detects that the exerciser enters a warning area in front of a normal range of movement, a reaction mechanism would be triggered to control the driving device to slow down or stop the endless belt. In the forward movement mode, the control unit controls the driving device to drive the top surface of the endless belt to slide backward and to disable the reaction mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Health Tech. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung-Mao Liao, Joe Chen
  • Patent number: 10201727
    Abstract: An exercise device providing a fore and aft horizontal component of striding motion that is dynamically user-defined, while providing a vertical component of the motion that is maintained on a predetermined vertically reciprocating path in some embodiments. The exercise device guides the user's foot in a pseudo-elliptical stride path, while providing a dynamically variable stride length that allows the user to move with a natural stride length. The exercise device allows tall and short users to extend or curtail the stride length to match their natural stride lengths. The length of the reciprocating path is dynamically adjusted during the exercise operation without equipment adjustments by changes in the length of the stride input by the user at a pair of foot engagement pads disposed on laterally spaced apart foot support members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.
    Inventors: John Arthur Ohrt, James A. Duncan
  • Patent number: 10201728
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus comprising a foot support movable by the user on the frame back and forth through any one of a plurality of complete, reproducible and different arc segments of a master arcuate path, the foot support being interconnected to an arc segment selection device that is manually actuatable to enable the user to manually select any one of the plurality of different arc segments, the foot support being interconnected to an arm having a handle manually graspable by the user to reduce or increase power or energy required by the user to move the foot support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Cybex International, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond Giannelli, Mark Buontempo
  • Patent number: 10201729
    Abstract: An exercise device including two foot platforms riding on elongated rails for longitudinal motion relative thereto. The platforms are directly connected to each other by one or more elastic elements. The platforms are also connected by linear and/or rotary dampers to provide motion damping. In addition, weights and/or flywheels may be used to smooth the oscillations. When the two platforms are side-by-side, the elastic elements run in a substantially crosswise direction. A seated user may place the user's feet on the platforms and move his/her feet and lower legs back and forth in a scissoring motion to move the platforms in opposing directions along the rails. In so doing, the user overcomes the resistance of the elastic elements and dampers connecting the platforms. This provides the user with exercise and its accompanying benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Inventor: Benjamin F. Bailar
  • Patent number: 10195480
    Abstract: The present invention is a horizontal rowing machine having a frame with a removable seat, adjustably mounted on the frame and an adjustable chest pad. The present invention has angled foot plates. The foot plates enable the user to use the machine in various positions. The present invention has two fixed multi-grip handles with 8 fixed hand positions and 6 positions on which to attach swivel handles. The swivel handles allow for a more natural and free form rowing movement. Maximal adjustability of all aspects of the machine allow for a more optimal and beneficial training exercise for any user, regardless of body size. The user can lift a desired weight by pulling the handles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Inventor: Sean Kelly
  • Patent number: 10188900
    Abstract: An extension base for an exercise apparatus includes a stationary seat that is attached to a bottom of a frame of the exercise apparatus and defines therein a channel; and two extension legs that are inserted into the channel of the stationary seat from two openings at two ends of the stationary seat, so that the extension legs can be extended or retracted with respect to the stationary seat. When the extension legs are fully retracted into the stationary seat, a distance between the outer ends of the two extension legs farthest away from each other is still long enough to support the elliptical exerciser and prevent it from falling. The extension base solves the problem that the conventional exercise apparatus tends to rollover when its base is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: BH Asia Hong Kong Holding Co., Limited
    Inventor: Chia Lin Tung