Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Niec

Thomas M. Niec 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).

  • Patent number: 10843038
    Abstract: An exercise machine has a first frame member, a second frame member that is movable with respect to the first frame member, and a locking device having at least one cam that is rotatable into and between a locked position in which the cam abuttingly engages and thereby retains the second frame member in position with respect to the first frame member and an unlocked position in which the cam is spaced from and thereby frees the second frame member for movement with respect to the first frame member. The cam has an engagement surface with a contour that follows a logarithmic spiral curve defined by the following parametric equations: x(t)=r(t)cos(t)=aebt cos(t), and y(t)=r(t)sin(t)=aebt sin(t), wherein e is the base of natural logarithms and a and b are arbitrary positive real constants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Life Fitness, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Gajewski, William J. Kreuger, Thomas M. Niec, Zhenyu Tian