Patents by Inventor Benjamin A. Browning

Benjamin A. Browning has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230122235
    Abstract: A magnetic clutch transitions a drivetrain or flywheel between a freewheel or unlocked mode or configuration and a locked or fixed gear mode or configuration. The magnetic clutch includes a rotor rotationally fixed to the pedals of the drivetrain. An armature is connected to the flywheel. A field coil generates a magnetic field which causes the armature to move to the flywheel. Friction between the armature and the rotor rotationally fixes the flywheel to the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Darren C. Ashby, Benjamin Browning
  • Patent number: 11191995
    Abstract: A stationary exercise machine according to the present disclosure may include a frame, a crankshaft rotatably supported by the frame, first and second lower linkages, and first and second crank arms connected to opposite sides of the crankshaft such that rotation of either of the crank arms causes rotation of the crankshaft. The lower linkages may be operatively connected to the crankshaft and to a respective one of first and second pedals. Each of the lower linkages may include a reciprocating member operatively connecting one of the pedals with one of the crank arms. Each of the lower linkages may include an adjustable linkage connected between the reciprocating member and the respective crank arm, the adjustable linkage may vary a distance between an output end of the reciprocating member and an input end of the crank arm. Each of the pedals may be pivotally connected to the respective reciprocating members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd D. Anderson, Marcus L. Marjama, Benjamin A. Browning
  • Patent number: 10758765
    Abstract: A power measurement apparatus for an exercise machine may include an optical sensing component and a pair of code wheels supported by the frame of the exercise machine. The pair of code wheels may include a first code wheel having a plurality of first windows and a second code wheel having a plurality of second windows that individually at least partially overlap respective ones of the first windows to define respective effective window, the width of which may vary responsive to the application of power via at least one moment-producing assembly. The optical sensing component is operatively associated with the pair of code wheels to detect variations in the width of the effective window and thus measure the power applied via the moment-producing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua S. Smith, Benjamin A. Browning
  • Publication number: 20190308062
    Abstract: A stationary exercise machine according to the present disclosure may include a frame, a crankshaft rotatably supported by the frame, first and second lower linkages, and first and second crank arms connected to opposite sides of the crankshaft such that rotation of either of the crank arms causes rotation of the crankshaft. The lower linkages may be operatively connected to the crankshaft and to a respective one of first and second pedals. Each of the lower linkages may include a reciprocating member operatively connecting one of the pedals with one of the crank arms. Each of the lower linkages may include an adjustable linkage connected between the reciprocating member and the respective crank arm, the adjustable linkage may vary a distance between an output end of the reciprocating member and an input end of the crank arm. Each of the pedals may be pivotally connected to the respective reciprocating members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: NAUTILUS, INC.
    Inventors: Todd D. Anderson, Marcus L. Marjama, Benjamin A. Browning
  • Publication number: 20190201730
    Abstract: A power measurement apparatus for an exercise machine may include an optical sensing component and a pair of code wheels supported by the frame of the exercise machine. The pair of code wheels may include a first code wheel having a plurality of first windows and a second code wheel having a plurality of second windows that individually at least partially overlap respective ones of the first windows to define respective effective window, the width of which may vary responsive to the application of power via at least one moment-producing assembly. The optical sensing component is operatively associated with the pair of code wheels to detect variations in the width of the effective window and thus measure the power applied via the moment-producing assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Applicant: NAUTILUS, INC.
    Inventors: Joshua S. Smith, Benjamin A. Browning
  • Patent number: 10328301
    Abstract: A stationary exercise machine according to the present disclosure may include a frame, a crankshaft rotatable supported by the frame, first and second lower linkages, and first and second crank arms connected to opposite sides of the crankshaft such that rotation of either of the first or second crank arm causes rotation of the crankshaft. Each of the first and second lower linkages may be operatively connected to the crankshaft and to a respective one of first and second pedals. Each of the first and second lower linkages may include a reciprocating member operatively connecting the respective one of the pedals with respective one of the crank arms. In some examples, each of the first and second lower linkages may include an adjustable linkage connected between the reciprocating member and the respective crank arm, the adjustable linkage operable to vary a distance between an output end of the reciprocating member and an input end of the crank arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd D. Anderson, Marcus L. Marjama, Benjamin A. Browning
  • Patent number: 10226657
    Abstract: A stationary exercise machine in accordance with some examples herein may include a frame, a crankshaft rotatably supported by the frame, an upper moment-producing mechanism and a lower moment-producing mechanism both operatively engaged to the crankshaft to cause the crankshaft to rotate. The lower moment-producing mechanism and the upper moment-producing mechanism may be resiliently coupled to one another, such as via a resilient coupling between a crank arm of the lower moment-producing mechanism and a link or virtual crank arm or the upper moment-producing mechanism. The exercise machine may further include a measurement apparatus which may be configured to measure differential forces between the upper and lower mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua S. Smith, Benjamin A. Browning
  • Publication number: 20180185698
    Abstract: A stationary exercise machine according to the present disclosure may include a frame, a crankshaft rotatable supported by the frame, first and second lower linkages, and first and second crank arms connected to opposite sides of the crankshaft such that rotation of either of the first or second crank arm causes rotation of the crankshaft. Each of the first and second lower linkages may be operatively connected to the crankshaft and to a respective one of first and second pedals. Each of the first and second lower linkages may include a reciprocating member operatively connecting the respective one of the pedals with respective one of the crank arms. In some examples, each of the first and second lower linkages may include an adjustable linkage connected between the reciprocating member and the respective crank arm, the adjustable linkage operable to vary a distance between an output end of the reciprocating member and an input end of the crank arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Todd D. Anderson, Marcus L. Marjama, Benjamin A. Browning
  • Publication number: 20180185691
    Abstract: A stationary exercise machine in accordance with some examples herein may include a frame, a crankshaft rotatably supported by the frame, an upper moment-producing mechanism and a lower moment-producing mechanism both operatively engaged to the crankshaft to cause the crankshaft to rotate. The lower moment-producing mechanism and the upper moment-producing mechanism may be resiliently coupled to one another, such as via a resilient coupling between a crank arm of the lower moment-producing mechanism and a link or virtual crank arm or the upper moment-producing mechanism. The exercise machine may further include a measurement apparatus which may be configured to measure differential forces between the upper and lower mechanisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Joshua S. Smith, Benjamin A. Browning
  • Publication number: 20170319941
    Abstract: An exercise machine may include a tower enclosing, at least in part, a cable and pulley system, a base supporting the tower on a surface, and a plurality of handles operatively coupled to the cable and pulley system and configured to extend from the tower. The exercise machine may include a resistance motor operatively coupled to the cable and pulley system. The resistance motor may include a fan and a flywheel connected to a common shaft. The exercise machine may be operatively associated with a user interface which includes an exercise display area configured to activate one or more exercise indicators in a predetermined sequence and a control area including at least one mode control operable to change the sequence of activation of the one or more exercise indicators. The user interface may be provided on a console of the exercise machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Joshua S. Smith, Todd D. Anderson, Benjamin A. Browning, Gregg A. Wilson, Robert W. Jacobson, Julia F. Eschman, Kristin A. Beadle, Elena M. Sherman, Jeffrey A. Gettle