Patent Description:
The invention relates to an exercise machine as claimed in claim <NUM> and an exercise method as claimed in claim <NUM>.

In an embodiment, an exercise machine comprises a frame; a motor assembly; a mounting plate, wherein the mounting plate is attached to the motor assembly, and a force transducer. The force transducer is attached to the mounting plate and the frame and configured to measure force applied to the motor assembly. In various embodiments, the force transducer is the only point of contact between the frame and the motor assembly.

Prior art document <CIT> discloses a dual compound and isolated exercise machine includes a frame including a first portion and a second portion positioned in a plane generally perpendicular to the first portion. The spool line may be relocated to any leverage point on or near the frame. The spool assembly can be wirelessly controlled. Wireless signal sent to a wireless receiver activates a motor, gear reduction box, and variable speed drive to join the spool assembly, causing the release or retraction of the spool line. Tension along the spool line is measured by a force transducer and converted to readable real time measurements for display on a data monitor. The device is capable of producing and measuring maximum (<NUM> to <NUM>%) potential muscle concentric, isometric and concentric muscle contractions. The device is collapsible, portable and wheel chair and paraplegic accessible.

Prior art document <CIT> discloses a strength training control device comprises: a torque source (including a base frame, a motor and a gear reduction box); and a link mechanism (including a gearbox arm, a first link rod, a second link rod, and an operating rod arm), wherein a S-type load cell is coupled to the first link rod and the second link rod to sense a load value. The control device further comprises: an operating rod, an electronic meter for setting a torque value, and a servo controller for comparing a load value of S-type load cell with a set value of the electronic meter. After the difference value is adjusted, an electric current is outputted to drive the motor, and the motor torque is amplified by the gear reduction box and transmitted through the link mechanism to the operating rod, and users can obtain a torque value equal to the setting of the electronic meter.

Prior art document <CIT> relates to a method and/or an apparatus using a computer configured exercise system equipped with an electric motor to provide physical resistance to user motion in conjunction with means for sharing exercise system related data and/or user performance data with a secondary user, such as a medical professional, a physical therapist, a trainer, a computer generated competitor, and/or a human competitor. For example, the exercise system is used with a remote trainer to enhance exercise performance, with a remote medical professional for rehabilitation, and/or with a competitor in a competition, such as in a power/weightlifting competition or in a video game. The exercise system is optionally configured with an intelligent software assistant and knowledge navigator functioning as a personal assistant application.

In an embodiment, an exercise method comprises applying force to a motor assembly, wherein a force transducer is the only point of contact between a frame of an exercise machine and the motor assembly; and measuring force applied to the motor assembly with the force transducer.

In an embodiment, a system comprises a motor; a gearbox, wherein the gearbox is coupled to the motor; a rotating flange coupled to the gearbox; a mounting plate coupled to the gearbox, the motor, or both the gearbox and the motor; a force transducer coupled to the mounting plate and a frame of a machine. In various embodiments, the only point of contact between the frame and the motor, the gearbox, or both the gearbox and the motor, is the force transducer, wherein the force transducer is configured to measure force applied to the motor, the gearbox, or both the gearbox and the motor.

The disclosure should in no way be limited to the illustrative implementations, drawings, and techniques illustrated below, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

Systems, methods, and devices of the present disclosure may adapt to a user's capabilities instead of using a linear, constant, and gravitational force. Embodiments of the present disclosure may utilize specific programs and commands from a software application to control a motor assembly and biometric measuring and/or tracking system. Embodiments of the present disclosure may allow resistance exercises to be perfectly matched to the user's needs and may be quantified in a more robust manner than previously.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are designed to safely, effectively, and efficiently produce exercise prescriptions for users by utilizing computer-controlled motorized resistance. Embodiments of the present disclosure utilize a biometric measurement and tracking system unique to the marketplace. Embodiments of the present disclosure utilize measurement devices (e.g., a force transducer/load cell), communication from devices to the software application, and specific programming of the software application to communicate back to a motor and the device.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may allow resistance (e.g., mechanical resistance/force) exercises which can be precisely programmed and prescribed, directed from a computer software program without the need for a supervisor or practitioner, and biometric data may be saved in a cloud-based system.

<FIG> illustrate an exercise machine <NUM> including frame <NUM>, motor assembly <NUM>, mounting plate <NUM>, force transducer <NUM>, spool assemblies 107a, 107b, 107c, 107d, chain <NUM>, cable <NUM>, rotating flange <NUM> (also shown on <FIG>), and sprocket <NUM>. In some embodiments, exercise machine <NUM> may include an information handling system <NUM> (e.g., a cloud based server, portable electronic devices, computers, and the like). In certain embodiments, information handling system <NUM> may include display <NUM> and system transceiver <NUM>. Motor assembly <NUM> may include motor <NUM> and gearbox <NUM> (i.e., gearbox <NUM> may be coupled to motor <NUM>). Spool assemblies 107a-107d may be positioned/coupled (e.g., welds, bolts, screws, or any suitable means) on and throughout exercise machine <NUM>. Each of the spool assemblies described above may include a cable <NUM>. Spool assembly 107d may be coupled to rotating flange <NUM> (e.g., welds, screws, bolts, bearings), thereby rotating/turning rotating flange <NUM> as a user pulls cable <NUM>. Rotating flange <NUM> may be coupled to gearbox <NUM> (e.g., coupled (e.g., weld, screws, bolts, bearings) to at least one gear and/or sprocket within gearbox <NUM>). Cable <NUM> may also be coupled (e.g., looped around the clip and crimped) to at least one clip <NUM> (e.g., a carabiner for attaching a handle for a user).

Mounting plate <NUM> may be directly coupled to motor assembly <NUM> (as shown on <FIG> and <FIG>) and force transducer <NUM> (i.e., mounting plate <NUM> may be positioned between force transducer <NUM> and motor assembly <NUM>). <FIG> illustrates a close-up view of the motor assembly <NUM> and the force transducer <NUM> with the mounting plate <NUM> removed. Force transducer <NUM> may be coupled directly to frame <NUM>. Force transducer <NUM> may be positioned between frame <NUM> and mounting plate <NUM>/motor assembly <NUM>. Force transducer <NUM> may directly contact mounting plate <NUM> and frame <NUM>. Mounting plate <NUM> may be coupled (e.g., welds, screws, bolts) to gearbox <NUM>, motor <NUM>, or both. Force transducer <NUM> may be the only coupling (i.e., only point of contact between frame <NUM> and mounting plate <NUM>/motor assembly <NUM>) on frame <NUM> that couples frame <NUM> to mounting plate <NUM> / motor assembly <NUM>. Gearbox <NUM> may include at least one gear and/or sprocket (i.e., the gears/sprockets within gearbox <NUM> may be of different diameters to allow for different resistances for a user as a user pulls cable <NUM>) coupled to linkage <NUM> (e.g., chain). Linkage <NUM> may be coupled to sprocket <NUM> (e.g., sprocket <NUM> may be about <NUM> foot to about <NUM> feet wherein <NUM> foot corresponds to <NUM>) from motor assembly <NUM>).

In various embodiments, force transducer <NUM> is the only force transducer/load cell on frame <NUM> (or exercise machine <NUM>), and may be configured to measure force applied to frame <NUM> as a user pulls cable <NUM>. As a user pulls cable <NUM>, all of the spool assemblies including spool assembly 107d, rotating flange <NUM>, linkage <NUM>, sprocket <NUM>, and motor assembly <NUM> all may rotate, thereby providing resistance to the user via cable <NUM>. Motor assembly <NUM> may be programmed to provide various resistances based on a user's needs/prescription. That is, exercise machine <NUM> may be a motor driven device with adaptive resistance (e.g., speed of motor may vary along with utilizing different gears within gearbox <NUM> to provide varying resistance to a user) with a calculated force that is dynamic and responsive to a user. As a user pulls cable <NUM>, frame <NUM> may act as (or may be) a torque arm, and force transducer <NUM> may indirectly measure the pull force (or push force) by measuring the torque applied to motor assembly <NUM>.

As noted above, exercise machine <NUM> may also include a rotating flange <NUM> (as shown on <FIG> and <FIG>). Rotating flange <NUM> may allow motor assembly <NUM> to freely rotate, thus the force applied to motor assembly <NUM> by a user during a workout session can accurately represent the force produced by the user. Rotating flange <NUM> is implemented because if a fixed flange were to be utilized, then the flange would absorb the torque force(s) and be unable to accurately measure forces. Rotating flange <NUM> may be mounted (e.g., bearing mounted) to gearbox <NUM> and/or motor <NUM>. Rotating flange <NUM> may allow for a low coefficient of friction and low inertia which may allow for accuracy of any force measurement taken/measured by force transducer <NUM>. The positioning of force transducer <NUM> may allow for measurements of push and/or pull forces. The force applied by the user at various locations and positions of the exercise machine <NUM> can all be measured by the force transducer <NUM> coupled to the motor assembly <NUM>.

As shown on <FIG>, force transducer <NUM> may be an s-curve force transducer/load cell, and may include (or be coupled to) a first transceiver <NUM> for wireless communications (e.g., transmitting data such as force measurements). This data may be transmitted to an information handling system (e.g., information handling system <NUM>, shown on <FIG>). Information handling system <NUM> may display (e.g., display <NUM>) force measurements that it receives via system transceiver <NUM>. A user may view this force measurement data and maintain or modify his/her workout routine as desired and/or prescribed. Motor assembly <NUM> may include a second transceiver <NUM> for receiving programming instructions regarding resistance. That is, motor assembly <NUM> may adjust mechanical resistance (e.g., via different gears and motor speed) it provides (to a user) based on instructions it receives wirelessly (or wired in some embodiments) from an information handling system (e.g., external device separate from the exercise machine or an internal device that is a part of the exercise machine).

<FIG> illustrate another example of an exercise machine (e.g., exercise machine <NUM>) in accordance with various embodiments. Exercise machine <NUM> may include frame <NUM>, motor assembly <NUM>, mounting plate <NUM>, force transducer <NUM>, rotating flange <NUM> (also shown on <FIG>), moveable portion <NUM> which may include track <NUM> that contacts rotating flange <NUM>. Motor assembly <NUM> may comprise motor <NUM> and gearbox <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a close-up view of the mounting plate <NUM> and the force transducer <NUM> with the motor assembly <NUM> removed. Mounting plate <NUM> may be coupled to frame <NUM>. Force transducer <NUM> may be coupled to mounting plate <NUM> and motor assembly <NUM> (i.e., force transducer <NUM> may be positioned between mounting plate <NUM> / frame <NUM> and motor assembly <NUM>). Force transducer <NUM> may be coupled (e.g., welds, screws, bolts) to gearbox <NUM>, motor <NUM>, or both. Force transducer <NUM> may be the only coupling (i.e., only point of contact between mounting plate <NUM> / frame <NUM> and motor assembly <NUM>) on frame <NUM> that couples mounting plate <NUM> / frame <NUM> to motor assembly <NUM>. Gearbox <NUM> may include at least one gear and/or sprocket (i.e., the gears/sprockets within gearbox <NUM> may be of different diameters to allow for different resistances for a user as a user moves moveable portion <NUM>) coupled (e.g., via a shaft) to rotating flange <NUM>. In some embodiments, rotating flange <NUM> may include teeth <NUM>. As a user moves moveable portion <NUM> (e.g., push or pull) back or forth, moveable portion <NUM> moves along rotating flange <NUM> via track <NUM>. As discussed above, resistance to movement of moveable portion <NUM> may be controlled/programmed with motor assembly <NUM>.

In various embodiments, force transducer <NUM> is the only force transducer/load cell on frame <NUM> (or exercise machine <NUM>), and may be configured to measure force applied to frame <NUM> as a user pulls/pushes moveable portion <NUM>. As a user moves moveable portion <NUM>, the motor assembly <NUM> provides a calculated resistance force via the shaft. The rotating flange <NUM> turns/rotates such that there is little to no torque produced between the motor assembly <NUM> and the shaft. Instead, mounting plate <NUM> and force transducer <NUM> attach motor assembly <NUM> to frame <NUM>, thereby causing torque forces to the generated at the attachment point and measured by force transducer <NUM>. Motor assembly <NUM> may be programmed to provide various resistances based on a user's needs/prescription. That is, exercise machine <NUM> may be a motor driven device with adaptive resistance with a calculated force that is dynamic and responsive to a user. As a user pulls/pushes moveable portion <NUM>, frame <NUM> may act as (or may be) a torque arm, and force transducer <NUM> may indirectly measure the pull force (or push force) by measuring the torque applied to motor assembly <NUM>.

In some embodiments, exercise machine <NUM> may include an information handling system <NUM> (e.g., a cloud based server, portable electronic devices, computers, and the like), as described above. In certain embodiments, information handling system <NUM> may include display <NUM>. Operation of force transducer <NUM> has been set forth above. That is, as a user pushes or pulls moveable portion <NUM>, force transducer measures the torque applied to motor assembly <NUM>. As discussed above, force measurements may be transmitted to information handling system via transceiver <NUM>. Information handling system <NUM> may display (e.g., display <NUM>) force measurements that it receives via system transceiver <NUM>. A user may view this force measurement data and maintain or modify his/her workout routine as desired and/or prescribed.

As set forth above, systems, devices, and methods of the present disclosure may be implemented by an information handling system. For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer or tablet device, a cellular telephone, a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory ("RAM"), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit ("CPU") or hardware or software control logic, read-only memory ("ROM"), and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communication with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system also may include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components.

The information handling system may also include computer-readable media. Computer-readable media may include any instrumentality or aggregation of instrumentalities that may retain data and/or instructions for a period of time. Computer-readable media may include, for example, without limitation, storage media such as a direct access storage device (e.g., a hard disk drive or floppy disk drive), a sequential access storage device (e.g., a tape disk drive), compact disk (CD), CD-ROM, RAM, ROM, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory ("EEPROM"), and/or flash memory; as well as communications media such wires, optical fibers, microwaves, radio waves, and other electromagnetic and/or optical carriers; and/or any combination of the foregoing.

Having described various devices and methods herein, exemplary embodiments or aspects can include, but are not limited to:.

Additionally, the section headings used herein are provided for consistency with the suggestions under <NUM> C. <NUM> or to otherwise provide organizational cues. These headings shall not limit or characterize the invention(s) set out in any claims that may issue from this disclosure. Specifically and by way of example, although the headings might refer to a "Field," the claims should not be limited by the language chosen under this heading to describe the so-called field. Further, a description of a technology in the "Background" is not to be construed as an admission that certain technology is prior art to any invention(s) in this disclosure. Neither is the "Summary" to be considered as a limiting characterization of the invention(s) set forth in issued claims. Furthermore, any reference in this disclosure to "invention" in the singular should not be used to argue that there is only a single point of novelty in this disclosure. Multiple inventions may be set forth according to the limitations of the multiple claims issuing from this disclosure, and such claims accordingly define the invention(s), that are protected thereby. In all instances, the scope of the claims shall be considered on their own merits in light of this disclosure, but should not be constrained by the headings set forth herein.

Claim 1:
An exercise machine (<NUM>) comprising:
a frame (<NUM>);
a motor assembly (<NUM>);
a mounting plate (<NUM>), wherein the mounting plate (<NUM>) is attached to the motor assembly (<NUM>);
a force transducer (<NUM>), wherein the force transducer (<NUM>) is attached to the mounting plate (<NUM>) and the frame (<NUM>),
wherein the force transducer (<NUM>) is the only point of contact between the frame (<NUM>) and the motor assembly <NUM>), and wherein the force transducer (<NUM>) is configured to measure torque applied to the motor assembly (<NUM>); and
a display (<NUM>) configured to display measured force information, wherein the display (<NUM>) is positioned in front of a user during use, and
wherein the motor assembly (<NUM>), the mounting plate (<NUM>), and the force transducer (<NUM>) are positioned behind the user during use.