Patents by Inventor Michael H. Harding
Michael H. Harding 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).
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Patent number: 7922635Abstract: An exercise unit that is a bench-based, has an easily adjustable load exercise system using a resistance engine that can provide a constant load level through the entire range of motion to approximate the use of free-weights, is portable, and reconfigures easily to several different shapes for different exercises. The exercise unit is compact, has a minimal vertical height, and weighs much less than the maximum resistance load that it can create. The bench unit can be stood on its end for compact storage.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2001Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.Inventors: Andrew P. Lull, Zachary D. Krapfl, William A. Baker, Patrick A. Warner, Michael H. Harding, Richard W. Trevino
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Patent number: 7850577Abstract: A clutch mechanism may be positioned in engagement with a slave sprocket of a drive train and a hub of a flywheel to create a frictional engagement between the sprocket and the hub, and to establish a break-free force threshold. When the drive train is actuated in the forward direction, the slave sprocket and the hub may move together, and when the drive train is actuated in the rearward direction under the influence of a force greater than the break-free force threshold, the clutch mechanism may slip between the slave sprocket and the hub, allowing the slave sprocket and the flywheel to move independently of one another. The clutch mechanism may also include a spring tensioner whereby the break-free force may be adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2009Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Warner, Michael H. Harding, Mu-Chuan Wu, Andy Baker
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Publication number: 20090291811Abstract: A clutch mechanism may be positioned in engagement with a slave sprocket of a drive train and a hub of a flywheel to create a frictional engagement between the sprocket and the hub, and to establish a break-free force threshold. When the drive train is actuated in the forward direction, the slave sprocket and the hub may move together, and when the drive train is actuated in the rearward direction under the influence of a force greater than the break-free force threshold, the clutch mechanism may slip between the slave sprocket and the hub, allowing the slave sprocket and the flywheel to move independently of one another. The clutch mechanism may also include a spring tensioner whereby the break-free force may be adjusted.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2009Publication date: November 26, 2009Applicant: Nautilus, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Warner, Michael H. Harding, Mu-Chuan Wu, Andy Baker
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Patent number: 7591765Abstract: An exercise bicycle including a frame having a seat and handlebars, a high-inertia flywheel having a hub at a center of rotation, the flywheel being rotatably supported on the frame at the hub, and a drive train including a drive sprocket, a crank arm attached to and extending from the drive sprocket, and a pedal attached to the crank arm, the drive train being rotatably supported by the frame. The drive train also includes a slave sprocket fixed to the flywheel at the hub, with the drive and slave sprockets connected in a direct-drive relationship, the drive train driveable in a forward and rearward directions to cause the flywheel to rotate. A clutch mechanism is positioned in engagement with the slave sprocket and the hub to create a frictional engagement between the sprocket and the hub, and to establish a break-free force threshold.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2003Date of Patent: September 22, 2009Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Warner, Michael H. Harding, Mu-Chuan Wu, William A. Baker
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Patent number: 7569001Abstract: An exercise bicycle including a frame having a seat and handlebars, a high-inertia flywheel having a hub at a center of rotation, the flywheel being rotatably supported on the frame at the hub, and a drive train including a drive sprocket, a crank arm attached to and extending from the drive sprocket, and a pedal attached to the crank arm, the drive train being rotatably supported by the frame. The drive train also includes a slave sprocket fixed to the flywheel at the hub, with the drive and slave sprockets connected in a direct-drive relationship, the drive train driveable in a forward and rearward directions to cause the flywheel to rotate. A clutch mechanism is positioned in engagement with the slave sprocket and the hub to create a frictional engagement between the sprocket and the hub, and to establish a break-free force threshold.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2001Date of Patent: August 4, 2009Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Warner, Michael H. Harding, Mu-Chuan Wu, Andy Baker
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Patent number: 7488275Abstract: An exercise bicycle including a frame having a seat and handlebars, a high-inertia flywheel having a hub at a center of rotation, the flywheel being rotatably supported on the frame at the hub, and a drive train including a drive sprocket, a crank arm attached to and extending from the drive sprocket, and a pedal attached to the crank arm, the drive train being rotatably supported by the frame. The drive train also includes a slave sprocket fixed to the flywheel at the hub, with the drive and slave sprockets connected in a direct-drive relationship, the drive train driveable in a forward and rearward directions to cause the flywheel to rotate. A clutch mechanism is positioned in engagement with the slave sprocket and the hub to create a frictional engagement between the sprocket and the hub, and to establish a break-free force threshold.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2002Date of Patent: February 10, 2009Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Warner, Michael H. Harding, Mu-Chuan Wu, William A. Baker
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Publication number: 20080207401Abstract: A group exercise system may include: a master exercise device including a variable parameter and being operatively associated with a control system; and a servant exercise device including the variable parameter and being in communication with the control system. In some embodiments, the control system may include a exercise control program configured to control the variable parameter in both the master exercise and the servant exercise device. In some embodiments, the control system may be configured to receive communication signals from at least the master exercise device to alter control of the variable parameter in both the master exercise and the servant exercise device from the control by the exercise control program. Some embodiments may involve a group exercise method. Still further embodiments may involve a computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions for performing a group exercise method when executed on a computer device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2008Publication date: August 28, 2008Applicant: Nautilus, Inc.Inventors: Michael H. Harding, Patrick A. Warner
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Patent number: 7413530Abstract: An exercise bicycle including a frame having a seat and handlebars, a high-inertia flywheel having a hub at a center of rotation, the flywheel being rotatably supported on the frame at the hub, and a drive train including a drive sprocket, a crank arm attached to and extending from the drive sprocket, and a pedal attached to the crank arm, the drive train being rotatably supported by the frame. The drive train also includes a slave sprocket fixed to the flywheel at the hub, with the drive and slave sprockets connected in a direct-drive relationship, the drive train driveable in a forward and rearward directions to cause the flywheel to rotate. A clutch mechanism is positioned in engagement with the slave sprocket and the hub to create a frictional engagement between the sprocket and the hub, and to establish a break-free force threshold.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2005Date of Patent: August 19, 2008Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Warner, Michael H. Harding, Mu-Chuan Wu, Andy Baker
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Publication number: 20030224911Abstract: An exercise bicycle including a frame having a seat and handlebars, a high-inertia flywheel having a hub at a center of rotation, the flywheel being rotatably supported on the frame at the hub, and a drive train including a drive sprocket, a crank arm attached to and extending from the drive sprocket, and a pedal attached to the crank arm, the drive train being rotatably supported by the frame. The drive train also includes a slave sprocket fixed to the flywheel at the hub, with the drive and slave sprockets connected in a direct-drive relationship, the drive train driveable in a forward and rearward directions to cause the flywheel to rotate. A clutch mechanism is positioned in engagement with the slave sprocket and the hub to create a frictional engagement between the sprocket and the hub, and to establish a break-free force threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2001Publication date: December 4, 2003Inventors: Patrick Warner, Michael H. Harding, Mu-Chuan Wu, Andy Baker
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Publication number: 20030211918Abstract: An exercise bicycle including a frame having a seat and handlebars, a high-inertia flywheel having a hub at a center of rotation, the flywheel being rotatably supported on the frame at the hub, and a drive train including a drive sprocket, a crank arm attached to and extending from the drive sprocket, and a pedal attached to the crank arm, the drive train being rotatably supported by the frame. The drive train also includes a slave sprocket fixed to the flywheel at the hub, with the drive and slave sprockets connected in a direct-drive relationship, the drive train driveable in a forward and rearward directions to cause the flywheel to rotate. A clutch mechanism is positioned in engagement with the slave sprocket and the hub to create a frictional engagement between the sprocket and the hub, and to establish a break-free force threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2003Publication date: November 13, 2003Inventors: Patrick Warner, Michael H. Harding, Mu-Chuan Wu, William A. Baker
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Patent number: 6641507Abstract: An exercise bicycle including a frame having a seat and handlebars, a high-inertia flywheel having a hub at a center of rotation, the flywheel being rotatably supported on the frame at the hub, and a drive train including a drive sprocket, a crank arm attached to and extending from the drive sprocket, and a pedal attached to the crank arm, the drive train being rotatably supported by the frame. The drive train also includes a slave sprocket fixed to the flywheel at the hub, with the drive and slave sprockets connected in a direct-drive relationship, the drive train driveable in a forward and rearward directions to cause the flywheel to rotate. A clutch mechanism is positioned in engagement with the slave sprocket and the hub to create a frictional engagement between the sprocket and the hub, and to establish a break-free force threshold.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 1999Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Warner, Michael H. Harding, Mu-Chuan Wu
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Patent number: 6557679Abstract: An exercise bicycle including a frame having a seat and handlebars, a high-inertia flywheel having a hub at a center of rotation, the flywheel being rotatably supported on the frame at the hub, and a drive train including a drive sprocket, a crank arm attached to and extending from the drive sprocket, and a pedal attached to the crank arm, the drive train being rotatably supported by the frame. The drive train also includes a slave sprocket fixed to the flywheel at the hub, with the drive and slave sprockets connected in a direct-drive relationship, the drive train driveable in a forward and rearward directions to cause the flywheel to rotate. A clutch mechanism is positioned in engagement with the slave sprocket and the hub to create a frictional engagement between the sprocket and the hub, and to establish a break-free force threshold.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 1999Date of Patent: May 6, 2003Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Warner, Michael H. Harding, Mu-Chuan Wu
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Publication number: 20020160887Abstract: An exercise bicycle including a frame having a seat and handlebars, a high-inertia flywheel having a hub at a center of rotation, the flywheel being rotatably supported on the frame at the hub, and a drive train including a drive sprocket, a crank arm attached to and extending from the drive sprocket, and a pedal attached to the crank arm, the drive train being rotatably supported by the frame. The drive train also includes a slave sprocket fixed to the flywheel at the hub, with the drive and slave sprockets connected in a direct-drive relationship, the drive train driveable in a forward and rearward directions to cause the flywheel to rotate. A clutch mechanism is positioned in engagement with the slave sprocket and the hub to create a frictional engagement between the sprocket and the hub, and to establish a break-free force threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2002Publication date: October 31, 2002Inventors: Patrick Warner, Michael H. Harding, Mu-Chuan Wu, William A. Baker
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Publication number: 20020077230Abstract: An exercise unit that is a bench-based, has an easily adjustable load exercise system using a resistance engine that can provide a constant load level through the entire range of motion to approximate the use of free-weights, is portable, and reconfigures easily to several different shapes for different exercises. The exercise unit is compact, has a minimal vertical height, and weighs much less than the maximum resistance load that it can create. The bench unit can be stood on its end for compact storage.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2001Publication date: June 20, 2002Inventors: Andrew P. Lull, Zachary D. Krapfl, William A. Baker, Patrick A. Warner, Michael H. Harding, Richard W. Trevino
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Patent number: 5961424Abstract: An exercise bicycle including a frame having a seat and handlebars, a high-inertia flywheel having a hub at a center of rotation, the flywheel being rotatably supported on the frame at the hub, and a drive train including a drive sprocket, a crank arm attached to and extending from the drive sprocket, and a pedal attached to the crank arm, the drive train being rotatably supported by the frame. The drive train also includes a slave sprocket fixed to the flywheel at the hub, with the drive and slave sprockets connected in a direct-drive relationship, the drive train driveable in a forward and rearward directions to cause the flywheel to rotate. A clutch mechanism is positioned in engagement with the slave sprocket and the hub to create a frictional engagement between the sprocket and the hub, and to establish a break-free force threshold.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 1997Date of Patent: October 5, 1999Assignee: Schwinn Cycling & Fitness Inc.Inventors: Patrick Warner, Michael H. Harding, Mu-Chuan Wu
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Patent number: 5368533Abstract: A quadrilateral exercise and training device includes a plurality of longitudinally extending channel members mounted on cross frame members so as to define elongated slots in which foot-supporting members and hand-engaging members can reciprocate. A control system interconnecting the foot-supporting members and hand-engaging members includes a main flat synchronizing belt interconnecting the foot-supporting members and hand-engaging members to establish desired coordination between the respective members, a safety belt interconnecting the foot-supporting members and a drive belt associated with each foot-supporting member which operatively engage a pair of drive shafts having a braking system and an optical transducer for converting rotation of one of the drive shafts to a digitized informational readout for use by an operator.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 1993Date of Patent: November 29, 1994Assignee: FittraxxInventors: Mark S. Feuer, Fred W. Kreiner, Howard J. Solow, Michael H. Harding