Weight adjustment by means of a ramp
A weight adjuster on a weight station which has a support frame on which a rotatably mounted guide frame is attached which has rails on which the weight can be moved in the longitudinal direction by means of pulleys or sliding elements, and the angle of the guide frame is continuously adjustable by means of an actuator means and therefore effects a change in the load on the rope. The rope can supply electrical power, and a training program can be optimized by means of buttons, a force sensor, a rotational-speed sensor, a vibration generator and the controller.
The invention is based on a device on an exercise machine for continuously adjusting therewith a training weight by means of an actuator means and for enabling, if needed, a load increase or decrease by pressing a button or automatically during the training exercise, according to the preamble of the first claim.
PRIOR ARTExercise machines for studios or for home are known, wherein in most cases, a metal weight guided on rods can be vertically lifted or lowered with rope pulls and pulleys, and the ropes can be guided in different directions in order to keep the body musculature such as back muscles, arm muscles, abdominal muscles leg muscles and also smaller muscle groups under muscle tension in any angular position in order to strengthen the musculature and to improve the cardiovascular system. In order to maintain a constant force on arms and legs during rotational movements, systems are known which, by means of an eccentric, keep a certain weight constant over the entire lift or radian measure, as described in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,858,873 or DE 3445104 A1 or DE 197 10 132 C1. For a simpler weight adjustment, manual and electromechanical systems are known such as, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 8,016,729 Bs or DE 10 2006 003 731 A1, or by means of adjusting the load arm in Patent EP1423170 B1.
Also, machines are known which, instead of using weights, generate a certain tension or pressure by means of fluid cylinders, and some comprise adjustable load settings.
Likewise, weight machines are known which use steel springs or elastic bands.
Furthermore, systems are known in which an electric motor generates the desired resistance and the motors serve as resistance and as drive, e.g., in order to take a certain weight position or to provide high resistance during slow-speed weight lowering exercises, called negative exercises, as described in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,635,933.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention is based on a means that can be adjusted in a simple manner in order to continuously adjust the training load on an exercise machine electrically or manually, and to adjust the load also during the exercise and, if needed, to be able to also perform slow-speed exercises and high-intensity exercises, according to the preamble of the first claim.
It is standard for fitness and weight machines to use disc-shaped or rectangular weight elements from metal in different weight classes which are guided on a vertical rod guide and to connect the respective number of weight stacks to a pull rod by means of a simple pin, wherein the pull rod is attached to a rope which is guided by means of deflection pulleys and is finally fastened to the barbell handles or pressure plates for leg pressing or to the respective handle bars for back exercises and abdominal exercises.
The trend is towards optimizing the sitting position, i.e., correct position of the trainee in order to bring the joints of the trainee in alignment with the rotary elements of an exercise or weight machine, i.e., the body joints are to be aligned as accurately as possible with regard to pivot points of the articulated joints of the machine, and the training weights are to be included in the optimization, which training weights are generated by means of virtual weights in the form of electric motors which generate resistance instead of using metal weights.
The desired and found sitting positions and also the weights to be lifted are finally transmitted by means of sensors to a controller and are stored there, i.e., the seat height, the distance from the seat to the machine, and the handle positions or leg pressing plate positions are often also stored and serve for finding the same body position again with respect to the weight station for the next training by making the previously stored data accessible by means of a chip of the weight station.
Also, systems are known in which a weight can be electrically moved by means of a boom towards or away from the rotary bearing and therefore form an adjustable lever arm and the displaceable weight effects in this manner a change in torque, i.e., a changed load on the pull rope, which, due to the curved movement of such a lever arm, forms unequal loads over the vertical travel, which is hardly professional. Subsequently, the provided resisting force is finally transmitted by means of a gear and a corresponding gearing ratio to the barbell handles, wherein a corresponding vertical travel has also to be provided for the barbell handles.
These complicated and expensive constructions are simplified by means of the solution disclosed here and therefore can be produced in a cost-effective manner. At the same time, they allow for each angular position or lifting position of the barbell handles or the foot plate to increase or decrease the weight in situ.
The advantage of this construction is that the fitness machine is based on the usual weight unit which is vertically stackable and is guided on rods and which is attached to a rope and is guided via deflection pulleys to the respective training application, but with the fundamental difference that all weight elements are always lifted together, but the total weight, which is displaceable on a rail, results in a different load effected by means of the angularly adjustable rail. If, e.g., the total weight is 100 kg and it is vertically lifted upwards, the load to be lifted is 100 kg plus friction; however, if the total weight is theoretically brought in a horizontal position, no load to be lifted can be felt, only the friction for horizontally moving the total weight can be felt. Thus, any angle below 90° increases the load to be lifted accordingly.
In order that the loads to be lifted on a training machine for fitness or athletic sports are and remain reproducible, which loads show the actual performance level, and also to document a reliable success statistics, it is advantageous to keep the friction as low as possible and to allow no stick-slip effects. This requirement can be ideally implemented by pulleys. Magnetic suspension and air cushion suspension could also be considered; however, this is an application for exercise machines and as little electrical power as possible should be consumed and, at the same time, little noise should be generated. The wheels can be covered with a plastic coating in order to effectively reduce the noise during the movement on the angularly adjustable rail.
Adjusting the ramp is carried out electrically, either with an electrically operated spindle cylinder, or hydraulically, wherein oil flow and pressure can ultimately also be generated by means of an electric motor or by means of a motor with pinion and rack or sprocket or the like.
Furthermore, the exercise machine can also be adjusted manually with the support of a gas spring which makes the weight “lighter” and which can optionally also be directly blocked.
A controller having adequate sensors secures the desired precise position of the rail and, associated therewith, the load to be generated for each application. Also, with the buttons on the barbell handle, the load can be increased or reduced during training by pressing the buttons, or auto mode can be selected.
An electric cable that transmits power for the orders and data is optionally integrated in the pull rope and thus, there are no further cables that hang around or such cables that have to be fixed appropriately.
Actuating the angular position of the weights can also be carried out by means of conventional wirelessly operating buttons; however, they are hardly ecological since batteries have to be appropriately disposed and thus are also associated with service costs. An environmentally compatible version that involves no service costs can be implemented with piezo buttons which, upon pressing the button, generate enough electricity for providing a corresponding radio signal to the controller. Apart from manually operating the buttons, the buttons can also be operated in “automatic” in that an algorithm in the controller automates weight increase and decrease.
Moreover, with this technical solution it is also possible to use the weight station as high-intensity training machine, for negative exercises in that by the same active cylinder that serves for the basic setting of the training weight, the weight can be sequentially or continuously adjusted during training either manually or by means of an algorithm. It is likewise possible to perform high-intensity negative exercises with electrically operated weight station without physical weights; however, the electric power consumption is many times higher since always the total weight, this means, full resistance has to be generated, whereas with the construction described here, the base load is set once and thereafter only the differential load is generated by means of angular adjustment of the rail, similar to a ramp, and thus the corresponding load is generated. In addition, no jerking can be felt and also no cogging torque due to the magnetic fields of an electric motor operating at low rpm and during long standstill periods under load, such an electric motor can burn out. With this new solution by means of ramp adjustment, it is possible via a simple weight, which has a physical size with a constant load acting on the pull rope over the entire lifting travel until a different weight is desired, to provide a new load in a fast and simple manner by pressing a button, which is very much appreciated by the trainee.
Due to the elegant rail adjustment by tilting as needed and the associated change in the load, the trainee does not need a sparring partner or a personal coach which normally would assist in providing additional weights or would help during weight lifting.
This is achieved according to the invention by the features of the first claim.
The central idea of the invention is that on an exercise or weight machine having a weight which is attached to a frame and which can be moved on pulleys on a guided rail, the angle of the guided rail can be adjusted by means of actuator means, and the weight is fastened to a rope, and a corresponding exercise means or weight training means is fastened to the other end, and in this manner, the load can be continuously adjusted or readjusted automatically or manually, wherein the ramp can be adjusted from vertical to practically horizontal. The active cylinder serves for setting the basic load and, at the same time, as a load adjuster for the negative exercises and high-intensity exercises. The pull rope or pull band has an integrated electric power supply for actuating a button or for displaying the weight, and by means of these buttons or by means of the remote control buttons, the training weight can be individually changed at any time during the course of the training.
Further advantageous configurations of the invention arise from the sub-claims.
Hereafter, exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail with reference to the drawings. The same elements in the different figures are designated by the same reference signs.
In the figures:
Only those elements are schematically shown that are directly essential for understanding the invention.
Ways to Implement the InventionAt weight stations 2, stacked weights which are guided on rods and which are in operative connection to a pull rope are connected on the opposite side in each case to a training means, which can be a dumbbell, barbell, foot plate etc. and represent a standard solution. In order to set the stacked weight for training, the pull rope has a perforated rod which extends into the segmented stacked weights, and each of the weight segments likewise has a transverse hole which can be connected to the perforated rod by a corresponding pin. The pin carries all stacked weights arranged thereabove and the training weight is adjusted in this manner. As shown in the U.S. Pat. No. 8,016,729 B2, the desired number of weight segments can also be connected to one another via gear wheels and grippers and thus can regulate the training weight.
The inventive solution show a considerably simpler weight adjustment for training and is based on the principle of a ramp with an adjustable incline, wherein the displaceable weight 8 is always the same and the required load for training is achieved by means of the variable inclined position of the ramp. A total weight can also be moved as a whole by means of a weight attached on a load arm; however, this serves only for setting the weight relative to the pivot point on the load arm and in interaction with the engagement point of a pull rope on the load arm, which determines the leverage force, wherein the load arm follows a partial circle, i.e., the load on the rope does not remain constant but forms a sinusoidal shape with regard to the load as a function of the angle or lift.
The inventive solution provides that a constant load acts on the rope 10 over the entire lift H with the exception that this can be changed individually by means of the auto mode or by means of the buttons 16. The weight 8 has smoothly running pulleys 9 which are guided in a guide frame 4 which has rails 7 and serves as a ramp, and the rail 7 has a U- or C-profile or an O-profile or a similar profile which is mounted in tubular, concave, convex or flat manner so that the weight 8 is in any case properly guided in the rail profile of rail 7 and cannot tilt therein, which is also ensured through the centric connection of the rope 10 to weight 8. If the rope 10 is pulled, the weight 8 moves like a slide in the central rail or along the rails 7 attached on both sides and performs a lift H.
By means of the guide frame 4, a ramp incline can be generated in that an actuator means 19 is attached to said guide frame, which actuator means 19 is connected to the support frame 3. The actuator means 19 can be an electric cylinder or a fluid cylinder or, as shown in
The ramp incline is detected by means of an angle measurement means or the like and can be displayed on a display 17 and processed in the controller 18.
The guide frame 4 is connected to the support frame 3 by means of the rotary bearing 5 and, at the same time, the guide pulley 6 is located at the rotary bearing 5, which guide pulley serves for keeping the rope 10 in the respective running direction. In the basic position, the guide frame 4 hangs vertically from the support frame 3 and in this case, the rope 10 runs straight and vertical over the entire distance up to one of the deflection pulleys 13. When the actuator means 19 is actuated and the guide frame 4 swivels upwards, virtually up into the horizontal position, the rope 10 at the guide pulley 6 passes through an angle of almost 90° but enables the weight 8 to continue to slide smoothly in the rail 7. The guide pulley 6 is mounted such that the rope 10 pulls parallel to the rail 7, regardless of the ramp position, and also centric between the rails 7. By means of the formula for an “inclined plane” the load acting on the rope can be calculated; however, the friction values at the guide pulley 6, the deflection pulleys 13 and the pulleys 9 are to be included as well and the whole load can be empirically estimated for different angular positions of the rails 7. Likewise, the effective tensile load on the rope 10 can be effectively measured by a force sensor 20, which can be an inexpensive hanging scale, and in connection with the controller 18, the target value can be correlated with the actual value by correspondingly extending and retracting the actuator means 19 so that a ramp change is generated and the angle at the rail 7 changes such that the desired load on the rope 10 can be adjusted precisely.
Instead of the pulleys 9, sliding elements can also be used which today have very good sliding properties, in particular with the addition of PTFE or oil-containing incorporations, which is not of central importance here, but it has to be ensured that no stick-slip effect occurs because this could result in a partial intermittences during the lifting movement.
The guiding of the rope 10 illustrated here corresponds to a hoist 11 in that the rope 10 is fastened to the guide frame 4 and the hoist pulley 12 is mounted on the weight 8 and subsequently, the rope 10 is fed past the guide roller 6 to the deflection pulleys 13 and is finally fastened to the training means 14. The advantage is that in this regard, the lift H of the weight 8 is only half with respect to the lift H1 at the rope 10 or the grip bar 15. The theoretical disadvantage is that the weight 8 has to be double as high, but the benefit that, in turn, the guide frame 4 is built correspondingly shorter and thus swings out less far compensates for the additional weight which can be easily displaced anyway. Specifically for transportation reasons, the weight 8 can be fabricated in segments and is then screwed together on site in the rails 7 so as to form a unit. In order to save additional space, lead can also be used instead of the usual steel since lead has a higher specific weight and therefore reduces the volume of the weight 8. Moreover, the weight can be covered with plastic and thus has a more appealing appearance. Also, the weight adjuster 1 can be enclosed by a cover so that no adjusting mechanism is visible.
It is optimal if the weight station 2 is equipped with a training card recognition so that the trainee only has to insert or place the card into recognition device and the machine moves the seat automatically into the stored position, brings the training means 14 in position and also adjusts the angle S of the guide frame 4 so that the correct “weight” in the form of the correct load is available. In particular, the controller 18 can perform a defined target/actual comparison with the values of the force sensor 20 and, e.g., can automatically include friction values that change due to temperature fluctuations or general wear on the weight adjuster 1. Furthermore, the rope 10, which is a pull rope, can also comprise an integrated data and power supply cable. Thus, buttons 16 can be provided, e.g. on the grip bar 15 so that the trainee can change the load at any time during the training in that the information is received by the controller 18 and the latter issues the order to the actuator means 19 to extend to a greater or lesser extent and thus to generate a greater or smaller angle S at the rail 7, wherein correlation with the force sensor 20 is also possible at any time. In addition, the trainee can set his “weight” that he usually designates as such and, moreover, can check it on the display 17 which is mounted on the grip handle 15 or at another place, and can change the load at the touch of a button, if needed, or can touch a button to leave the optimization of the training to the automatic mode, which is implemented by an algorithm stored in the controller 18. The algorithm can comprise a program which specifically includes also negative exercises and high-intensity exercises, which are not subject matter of this specification. However, in order to achieve such optimization, the training speed should and can also be considered. For this reason, the lifting speed of the rope 10 is measured by means of a rotational-speed sensor 21 at one of the deflection pulleys 13 or in the form of a distance meter which detects cross lines on the rope 10 and calculates the speed in this manner. Thus, a trainee who does not perform the exercises correctly can be notified visually or acoustically in this regard, or the load is temporarily increased so that the exercises are performed slowly and as constant as possible.
If a trainee cannot get used to the otherwise so convenient continuous adjustment of the load, artificial steps can be generated by means of the controller 18, i.e., each actuation of the button 16 corresponds, for example, to an indicated weight change of 2.5 kg.
The buttons 16 can also be designed as piezo buttons with a radio module integrated therein which are accommodated in the receiver in the controller 18 and the controller 18 processes the signal.
The weight adjuster 1 is also suitable for integrating a vibration generator 22 that can be activated in a time-related manner and which comprises an unbalance motor which, e.g., at one of the deflection pulleys 13, causes such a deflection pulley to vibrate so that a vibration between 5 and 50 Hz is generated and the vibrations are transmitted to the rope 10 or the grip bar 15. If the muscle is contracted, the vibrations generate additional muscle stimulation and thus also contribute to strengthening the musculature. On the other hand, the trainee can activate the vibration generator 22 without performing his exercises and, e.g., can simply hold the grip handle 15 and the vibrations thus effect a positive relaxation of the musculature.
The load guide by means of deflection pulleys 13 at the rope 10 can finally be mounted to a respective training means 14 such as, e.g., a grip bar 15 or a padded lever for backbends, pelvis lifts or the foot plate for leg pressing and further applications which are carried out directly or via another transmission or via an eccentric device. The rope 10 can be round or can be implemented as a flat band.
Because the weight adjuster 1 has to move only one weight 8, an industrial damper 35 can be mounted in a very convenient manner between the weight 8 and the end stop at the guide frame 4 so that even when dropping the rope 10 from great height, the damper 35 absorbs the kinetic energy and thus brings the weight 8 back into the initial position with only little noise. The damper 35 can be a hydraulic device or a specific cellular polyurethane (PUR)-elastomer insert as it is distributed by BASF under the brand name Cellasto®.
Shown here is a simpler variant which can be actuate manually. Because in many cases it is not readily possible to manually lift the weight 8 into the desired ramp position, the blockable gas spring 23 is mounted here as a force balancing element and behaves similar to gas springs for trunks of vehicles. The difference is that each position of the angle S at the guide frame 4 can be locked, and therefore a blockable gas spring 23 is used that has an unlocking means 24 that can be a Bowden cable or a hydraulic line. By means of the simple release switch 25 for the Bowden cable or the release switch 25 as a hydraulic pressure booster, the blockable gas spring 23 is unlocked, and when releasing the release switch 25, the mechanism locks and the guide frame 4, i.e., the ramp position is secured. Lifting the guide frame 4 is carried out by means of the handle 30, and by means of a curved measuring rail 31 attached, e.g., on the guide frame 4 and a mark 32 provided on the support frame 3, the angle S can be read in this manner or the usual and known values are directly indicated in “kg/lbs”.
A slight gain in comfort is achieved if at the console 27, which is as close as possible to the training means 14, the adjusting lever 26 attached next thereto can be actuated—of course, only after pressing the release switch 25—and a rack 28 is actuated by means of the Bowden cable 29, which rack engages with the pinion 36 which is located at the rotary bearing 5 and brings the guide frame 4 into the pivot mode supported by the gas spring 23. The desired load, which is set via the corresponding ramp position, can be fixed in the selected position by actuating the adjusting lever 26 and by means of the position fixations 34. Also, a curved measuring rail 31 can be attached on the console 27 and it can be read from the adjusting lever 26 which value is set or can be set. Standard gas springs 23 are inexpensive, in contrast to blockable gas springs 23. Therefore, there is the alternative to secure the desired ramp position of the guide frame 4 by means of a releasable lock or ratchet lock 33.
The spaciously laid Bowden cable 29 shown here or the unlocking means 24 can also be laid to be less visible, wherein the laying radius has always to be taken into account. The Bowden cable 29 can also be a force-transmitting shaft that is connected to a spindle drive and by means of which significant torques can be transmitted, and this can be used instead of the rack guidance 28a, rack 28 and pinion 36, in order to drive a worm gear with the advantage that for gear-related reasons, such a construction already secures the position of an angle S of the guide frame 4, i.e., no further locking means are necessary to secure the angle S.
Of course, the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown and described.
Claims
1. A weight adjuster, wherein the weight adjuster is connected to a weight station and comprises a support frame on which the guide frame with the rotary bearing and the guide pulley is fastened, and attached to the guide frame are rails on which the weight is movable, and also guided and supported, in the longitudinal direction according to the lift by means of pulleys or sliding elements, and an actuator means is fastened to the guide frame, which actuator means makes the guide frame continuously adjustable through the angle, and the weight is fastened to the rope which is fed past or deflected at the guide pulley and is fastened at the other end to the training means and has an angle measurement means.
2. The weight adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the guide pulley is attached such that the rope pulls parallel to the rail and centric between the rails independent of the angular position of the guide frame.
3. The weight adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the rail forms the guide frame and acts as a ramp which can be swiveled from a vertical position up to an almost horizontal position.
4. The weight adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the rope comprises an integrated electric power and data cable which can be connected to the button, the force sensor, the display and the controller.
5. The weight adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the guide frame can be adjusted during training with regard to the angle by means of the buttons or automatically by means of an algorithm in the controller, and the button can be a piezo button having a radio module.
6. The weight adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the can be detected by a rotary-speed sensor and values are transmitted to the controller.
7. The weight adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the rope absorbs the frequency generated by the vibration generator at the deflection pulley and transmits it specifically to the training means.
8. The weight adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the training means comprises one of the following elements, which are a grip bar, a pull or push rod, a padded bar, a padded plate, a foot plate, a strap, a barbell and the like.
9. The weight adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the guide frame can be swiveled hydraulically, electrically or manually by means of the actuator means and can be locked in any position, and the actuator means is fastened in a rotatably mounted manner to the support frame on the one side and to the guide frame on the other side.
10. The weight adjuster according to claim 9,
- wherein the actuator means is a cylinder or a rack with a pinion or a rotary motor with worm gear, and attached thereto or therein is an angle measuring means or length measuring means which acts electronically or mechanically.
11. The weight adjuster according to claim 1, wherein a hoist serves for elongating the lift by means of the hoist pulley which is attached to the weight and effects the lift.
12. The weight adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the rope is guided at the deflection roller and is optionally attached to a cam disc or an eccentric.
13. The weight adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the guide frame is supported by a gas spring which can be blocked, or a ratchet lock or a worm gear provides for the locking.
14. The weight adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the weight adjuster has a damper, and the weight can consist of lead and can be segmented for assembly and can have a cover.
15. The weight adjuster according to claim 1, wherein a curved measuring rail or a mark is located at the guide frame and curved measuring rail or a mark is located at the support frame.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 23, 2014
Publication Date: Dec 24, 2015
Inventor: Peter A. MUELLER (Gattikon)
Application Number: 14/312,083
