FITNESS EQUIPMENT AND FORCE CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME

A force control method for a fitness equipment includes an input step, an operation step, a first load operation step and a second load operation step. The fitness equipment includes a control panel, an operation unit, a control unit, a shaft and a load unit. The control panel is electrically connected to the control unit which is electrically connected to the load unit. The operation unit is connected to the load unit via a rope that is wound around the shaft. The operation unit pulls a load weight generated by the load unit by the rope. An AI unit and a mobile device are connected to the control panel. The AI unit collects a usage information of the user to form a load data which is displayed on the mobile device or the control panel. The load weight of the load unit is adjustable by a sensing unit.

Skip to: Description  ·  Claims  · Patent History  ·  Patent History
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Fields of the invention

The present invention relates to a fitness equipment and a force control method for a fitness equipment, particularly to provide users with the ability to adjust the load weight according to their personal needs, and to remember the user's workout history.

2. Descriptions of Related Art

The topic of discussion is the operating issues of equipment that require the use of ropes and weight blocks, such as leg press machines, cable pulldowns, butterfly chest machines, cable pulley machines, and cable pulldown machines. First, users must repeatedly try to determine the appropriate load weight to bear by inserting the pin in the designated position, which is time-consuming and inconvenient. Additionally, the load weight suitable for different users may vary. Furthermore, during the operation process after determining the weight load, the initial force application can be smooth, but as the training progresses, the user's strength may decline, leading to instability and the risk of losing control of the weight blocks, causing them to fall rapidly and potentially causing injury.

Another issue is that a user's physical condition may vary from day to day, each time they go to the gym, they must readjust and repeatedly try to determine the appropriate load weight for each piece of equipment. Some gyms may not have professionals or coaches available to consult, making it difficult to judge and determine the appropriate load weight for oneself, leading to exercise-related injuries or muscle damage.

The present invention intends to provide a method and a fitness equipment to eliminate the shortcomings mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a force control method for a fitness equipment and the method comprises:

    • an input step: manipulating a fitness equipment with a control panel, the fitness equipment including an operation unit, a control unit, a shaft, and a load unit, the control panel electrically connected to the control unit, the operation unit connected to the load unit by a rope that is wound around the shaft, the control panel connected to an AI via a mobile device, the control panel and the mobile device being interconnected and interactively transmit information through the AI unit;
    • an operation step: the AI unit determining, reading, and accumulating a user operation data and generating a recommendation information which is transmitted/linked to a processing unit, the processing unit calculating and generating a load data based on the recommendation information and displaying the load data on the mobile device or on the control panel for user reference;
    • a first load operation step: the user following or referring to the load data to adjust the load data from the mobile device and transmitting the adjusted load data to the control panel, or adjusting the load data from the control panel, the control panel setting a load weight of the load unit according to the adjusted load data from the mobile device, the user applying a force to the operation unit and operating the operation unit, a movement of the operation unit pulling the rope to pull the load weight of the load unit, and
    • a second load operation step: when the user releases the force from the operation unit, a sensing unit of the control unit detects a magnitude of the force applied by the user to the operation unit and adjusts the load weight of the load unit accordingly.

The present invention also provides a fitness equipment which comprises a control panel, an operation unit, a control unit, a shaft, and a load unit. The control panel is electrically connected to the control unit. The load unit is electrically connected to the control unit. The operation unit is connected to the load unit via a rope that is wound around the shaft. The operation unit pulls a load weight generated by the load unit by the rope. An AI unit and a mobile device are connected to the control panel. The AI unit forms a connection and exchanges information between the control panel and the mobile device. The AI unit connected to a database which records and stores user messages. A sensing unit is connected to the operation unit and detects changes of the load unit. The AI unit integrates, calculates, and accumulates a usage information of the user to form a load data and displays the usage information on the mobile device or the control panel. The mobile device inputs the load data and simultaneously sends a setting information to the control panel, or the load data and the setting information are entered to the control panel. The control panel receives the load data and sends the load data to the control unit. The control unit generates a load weight for the load unit according to the load data, and adjusts the load weight of the load unit by the sensing unit.

The AI unit retrieves internal data through the database to provide the user with the load data for use. The user inputs the load data to the mobile device and sends the load data to the control panel. The control panel adjusts the load weight of the load unit. When the user applies a force to the operation unit, a movement of the operation unit pulls the rope to move the load weight of the load unit. When the user releases the operation unit, the sensing unit detects a magnitude of the force on the operation unit to adjust the load weight of the load unit.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the steps of the method of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows the block diagram of the fitness equipment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows the fitness equipment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows that when operating the operation unit, the operation unit pulls the load weight;

FIG. 5 shows that when no force is applied to the operation unit, the operation unit returns;

FIG. 6 shows the training data of a user on the mobile device;

FIG. 7 shows the AI unit displays recommendations of load weight for the user on the mobile device, and

FIG. 8 displays that the AI unit forms a connection between the control panel, the mobile device and the cloud device.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, the force control method for a fitness equipment 100 of the present invention comprises the following steps: An input step S1: manipulating a fitness equipment 100 with a control panel 10. The fitness equipment 100 comprises an operation unit 20, a control unit 30, a shaft 40, and a load unit 50. The control panel 10 is electrically connected to the control unit 30, and the operation unit 20 is connected to the load unit 50 by a rope 60 that is wound around the shaft 40. When the operation unit 20 has not pulled, the rope 60 that is connected to the load unit 50 is in a scrolled status. The shaft 40 is shown by two pulleys, but not limited to, in this embodiment. The control panel 10 is connected to an Artificial Intelligence unit 101 (AI unit 101) via a mobile device 90. The control panel 10 and the mobile device 90 are interconnected and interactively transmit information through the AI unit 101.

An operation step S2: the AI unit101 determining, reading, and accumulating a user operation data and generating a recommendation information 1010 which is transmitted/linked to a processing unit 102 by way of wireless transmission. The processing unit 102 calculates and generates a load data 1020 based on the recommendation information 1010 and displays the load data 1020 on the mobile device 90 or on the control panel 10 for user reference.

A first load operation step S3: the user following or referring to the load data 1020 to adjust the load data 1020 from the mobile device 90 and transmitting the adjusted load data 1020 to the control panel 10, or adjusting the load data 1020 from the control panel 10. The control panel 10 sets a load weight of the load unit 50 according to the adjusted load data 1020 from the mobile device 90. The user applies a force to the operation unit 20 and operates the operation unit 20. The operation unit 20 moves and pulls the rope 60 to pull the load weight of the load unit 50. A second load operation step S4: when the user releases the force from the operation unit 20, a sensing unit 301 of the control unit 30 detects a magnitude of the force applied by the user to the operation unit 20 and adjusts the load weight of the load unit 50 accordingly.

The fitness equipment 100 comprises a control panel 10, an operation unit 20, a control unit 30, a shaft 40, and a load unit 50. The control panel 10 is electrically connected to the control unit 30. The load unit 50 is electrically connected to the control unit 30. The operation unit 20 is connected to the load unit 50 via a rope 60 that is wound around the shaft 40. The operation unit 20 pulls a load weight generated by the load unit 50 by the rope 60.

An AI unit 101 and a mobile device 90 are connected to the control panel 10. The AI unit101 forms a connection and exchanges information between the control panel 10 and the mobile device 90. The AI unit 101 is connected to a database 70 which records and stores user messages. A sensing unit 301 is connected to the operation unit 20 and detects changes of the load unit 50. The AI unit101 integrates, calculates, and accumulates a usage information of the user to form a load data 1020 and displays the usage information on the mobile device 90 or the control panel 10. The mobile device 90 inputs the load data 1020 and simultaneously sends a setting information to the control panel 10, or the load data 1020 and the setting information are entered to the control panel 10 directly. The control panel 10 receives the load data 1020 and sends the load data 1020 to the control unit 30. The control unit 30 generates a load weight for the load unit 50 according to the load data 1020, and adjusts the load weight of the load unit 50 by the sensing unit 301.

The present invention aims to provide users with a way to control, limit, and adjust the weight changes of the load weight through the control of the control unit 30 during the operation of the fitness equipment 100 that involves weight training. The load unit 50 can be in a variable mode (heavy pulling and light release or light pulling and heavy release, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 5), or a constant mode (heavy pulling and heavy release, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4). The sensing unit 301 can also match the control according to the user's age, suitable for users of all ages. Through the control of the control unit 30, the present invention can reduce the burden on the user's muscles and joints, and compared to traditional weight equipment. The load weight will not fall freely due to the exhaustion of strength, thereby avoiding damage to the weight block or equipment. Users only need to perform simple weight operations.

Additionally, the AI unit 101 can provide appropriate load weight recommendations to users, allowing them to follow the advice and perform the best and most comfortable weight training to avoid bodily harm caused by inappropriate weight selection.

The setting of the load weight of the load unit 50 mainly depends on the cooperation of the control unit 30 and the sensing unit 301. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the load unit 50 comprises a driving motor 501 which generates resistance according to the control demands from the control unit 30. One of two ends of the wire rope 60 is connected to the driving motor 501, and another one of the two ends of the wire rope 60 is wound around the shaft part 40 and is connected to the operation unit 20. The control unit 30 comprises a microcontroller 304 and a receiving and controlling unit 305. The receiving and controlling unit 305 receives the load data 1020 and transmits the load data 1020 to the microcontroller 304 which calculates and converts the load data 1020 to set the driving motor 501 to generate a corresponding resistance. The present invention utilizes the setting of the driving motor 501 to more accurately control the load weight required by the user. The driving motor 501 can be immediately interrupted and released by the microcontroller 304 when the user is halfway through pulling the operating unit 20 and becomes powerless after receiving the message from the sensing unit 301 so as to ensure the safety of the user's operation and eliminating the need to worry about muscle strain. In addition to using the driving motor 501 in the load unit 50 to generate resistance, the present invention can also use the magnetic method (such as the application method of the flywheel) to generate resistance, so the generation of resistance is not limited (not shown in the figure).

In addition, in order to cater to the different physical conditions of users every time they use the fitness equipment 100, and to allow novice users (who do not have any usage information) to use it, a chip 80 is further installed in the operation unit 20, as shown in FIG. 2. The chip 80 is electrically connected to the AI unit 101. When the user touches the chip 80 (which is set in the hand-held position according to the usage of the fitness equipment 100, not limited to the control part 20), the chip 80 will detect the user's physical condition, such as heart rate, body temperature, etc. After detection, the information will be stored and recorded in the database 70. Subsequently, the operation of the fitness equipment 100 can be directly recorded in the database 70 under the user's profile, so that when the user uses the fitness equipment 100 again, they can directly retrieve the information from database 70 through their mobile device 90 to set up.

For users who have used the equipment before and have data stored, the function of the chip 80 can detect their current physical condition and provide it to the AI smart unit 101 as a reference, so that the AI unit 101 can provide appropriate load data 1020 for users to refer to.

Furthermore, in the setup of the AI unit 101, the main purpose is to match the long-term records of the user's use with big data. Big data refers to general data, based on factors such as height, weight, and age, to determine how much load the user can bear and for how long. This already has a certain reference data, so the setup of the AI unit 101 is further linked to a statistical module 1011. The main function of the statistical module 1011 is to collect and integrate all the information the user has controlled and recorded in the past, and through calculation, obtain the recommended information 1010. This can provide the user with the load weight that is most suitable for their current physical condition, as shown in FIGS. 2, 6 and 7.

In addition to training based on the load data 1020 recommended by the AI unit 101, the user can also adjust and set the load data 1020 by themselves. However, to avoid users adjusting and setting inappropriate load weights and causing muscle and joint injuries, the AI unit 101 is further linked to a judgment module 1012. The judgment module 1012 is based on the user's past operation information to determine whether the load data 1020 entered by the user is suitable for execution. When the judgment module 1012 determines that the load data 1020 entered by the user is not suitable, it will forcefully stop/close the operation of the control panel 10, lock the control of the control unit 20, and prohibit the user from operating, ensuring safety, as shown in FIG. 2.

In order to allow users to check their exercise status at any time or for fitness centers to assist users in achieving the best exercise mode, the AI unit 101 of the present invention further connects to an upload module 1013. The upload module 1013 is wirelessly connected to the mobile device 90, a cloud device 90A, or the control panel 10. The AI unit 101 sends the load data 1020 to the mobile device 90, the cloud device 90A or the control panel 10 for recording and storage through the upload module 1013. Users/fitness center operators can understand the exercise situation through the mobile device 90, or access exercise records through the cloud device 90A (as indicated by two arrows in FIG. 8), or directly obtain data through the control panel 10 from the cloud device 90A. This allows for real-time comparison and adjustment of the current weight operation. Furthermore, the judgment module 1012 can also read the records in the cloud device 90A for comparison and judgment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 8.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A force control method for a fitness equipment comprising:

an input step (S1): manipulating a fitness equipment (100) with a control panel (10), the fitness equipment (100) including an operation unit (20), a control unit (30), a shaft (40), and a load unit (50), the control panel (10) electrically connected to the control unit (30), the operation unit (20) connected to the load unit (50) by a rope (60) that is wound around the shaft (40), the control panel (10) connected to an AI unit (101) via a mobile device (90), the control panel (10) and the mobile device (90) being interconnected and interactively transmit information through the AI unit (101);
an operation step (S2): the AI unit (101) determining, reading, and accumulating a user operation data and generating a recommendation information (1010) which is transmitted/linked to a processing unit (102), the processing unit (102) calculating and generating a load data (1020) based on the recommendation information (1010) and displaying the load data (1020) on the mobile device (90) or on the control panel (10) for user reference;
a first load operation step (S3): the user following or referring to the load data (1020) to adjust the load data (1020) from the mobile device (90) and transmitting the adjusted load data (1020) to the control panel (10), or adjusting the load data (1020) from the control panel (10), the control panel (10) setting a load weight of the load unit (50) based on the adjusted load data (1020) from the mobile device (90), the user applying a force to the operation unit (20) and operating the operation unit (20), a movement of the operation unit (20) pulling the rope (60) to pull the load weight of the load unit (50), and
a second load operation step (S4): when the user releases the force from the operation unit (20), a sensing unit (301) connected to the control unit (30) detects a magnitude of the force applied by the user to the operation unit (20) and adjusts the load weight of the load unit (50) accordingly.

2. The force control method for a fitness equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the load unit (50) comprises a driving motor (501), one of two ends of the wire rope (60) is connected to the driving motor (501), another one of the two ends of the wire rope (60) is wound around the shaft part (40) and connected to the operation unit (20), the control unit (30) comprises a microcontroller (304) and a receiving and controlling unit (305), the receiving and controlling unit (305) receives the load data (1020) and transmits the load data (1020) to the microcontroller (304) which calculates and converts the load data (1020) to set the driving motor (501) to generate a corresponding resistance.

3. The force control method for a fitness equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operation unit (20) includes a chip (80) electrically connected to the AI unit (101), the chip (80) is in contact with the user to detect physical conditions and transmit the physical conditions to the AI unit (101).

4. The force control method for a fitness equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the AI unit (101) is connected to a database (70) for storing operation information of the user in the past.

5. The force control method for a fitness equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the AI unit (101) links to a statistical module (1011) which collects and integrates operation information of the user in the past.

6. The force control method for a fitness equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the AI unit (101) is connected to a judgment module (1012) which judges whether the load data (1020) entered by the user is feasible for operation based on an operating information of the user in the past.

7. The force control method for a fitness equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the AI unit (101) is connected to an upload module (1013) which is wirelessly connected to a cloud device (90A), the mobile device (90), or the control panel (10), the AI unit (101) sends the load data (1020) of the user in the past to the upload module (1013) for recording and storage on the mobile device (90), the cloud device (90A), or the control panel (10).

8. A fitness equipment (100) comprising:

a control panel (10), an operation unit (20), a control unit (30), a shaft (40), and a load unit (50), the control panel (10) electrically connected to the control unit (30), the load unit (50) electrically connected to the control unit (30), the operation unit (20) connected to the load unit (50) via a rope (60) that is wound around the shaft (40), the operation unit (20) pulling a load weight generated by the load unit (50) by the rope (60);
an AI unit (101) and a mobile device (90) connected to the control panel (10), the AI unit (101) forming a connection and exchanges information between the control panel (10) and the mobile device (90), the AI unit (101) connected to a database (70) which records and stores user messages, a sensing unit (301) connected to the operation unit (20) and detecting changes of the load unit (50), the AI unit (101) integrating, calculating, and accumulating a usage information of the user to form a load data (1020) and displaying the usage information on the mobile device (90) or the control panel (10), the mobile device (90) inputting the load data (1020) and simultaneously sending a setting information to the control panel (10), or the load data (1020) and the setting information being entered to the control panel (10), the control panel (10) receiving the load data (1020) and sending the load data (1020) to the control unit (30), the control unit (30) generating a load weight for the load unit (50) according to the load data (1020), and adjusting the load weight of the load unit (50) by the sensing unit (301), and
wherein the AI unit (101) retrieves internal data through the database (70) to provide the user with the load data (1020) for use, wherein the user inputs the load data (1020) to the mobile device (90) and sends the load data (1020) to the control panel (10), the control panel (10) adjusts the load weight of the load unit (50), when the user applies a force to the operation unit (20), a movement of the operation unit (20) pulls the rope (60) to move the load weight of the load unit (50), when the user releases the operation unit (20), the sensing unit (301) detects a magnitude of the force on the operation unit (20) so as to adjust the load weight of the load unit (50).

9. The fitness equipment as claimed in claim 8, wherein the load unit (50) comprises a driving motor (501), one of two ends of the wire rope (60) is connected to the driving motor (501), another one of the two ends of the wire rope (60) is wound around the shaft part (40) and connected to the operation unit (20), the control unit (30) comprises a microcontroller (304) and a receiving and controlling unit (305), the receiving and controlling unit (305) receives the load data (1020) and transmits the load data (1020) to the microcontroller (304) which calculates and converts the load data (1020) to set the driving motor (501) to generate a corresponding resistance.

10. The fitness equipment as claimed in claim 8, wherein the operation unit (20) includes a chip (80) electrically connected to the AI unit (101), the chip (80) is in contact with the user to detect physical conditions and transmit the physical conditions to the AI unit (101).

11. The fitness equipment as claimed in claim 8, wherein the AI unit (101) links to a statistical module (1011) which collects and integrates operation information of the user in the past.

12. The fitness equipment as claimed in claim 8, wherein the AI unit (101) is connected to a judgment module (1012) which judges whether the load data (1020) entered by the user is feasible for operation based on an operating information of the user in the past.

13. The fitness equipment as claimed in claim 8, wherein the AI unit (101) is connected to an upload module (1013) which is wirelessly connected to a cloud device (90A), the mobile device (90), or the control panel (10), the AI unit (101) sends the load data (1020) of the user in the past to the upload module (1013) for recording and storage on the mobile device (90), the cloud device (90A), or the control panel (10).

Patent History
Publication number: 20240374962
Type: Application
Filed: May 9, 2023
Publication Date: Nov 14, 2024
Inventor: Chao-Chuan Chen (Taichung City)
Application Number: 18/144,867
Classifications
International Classification: A63B 24/00 (20060101); A63B 21/00 (20060101); A63B 21/005 (20060101);