Linear-response resistance system for exercise equipment

Abstract

A system for adjusting the resistance sensed by a user of a piece of exercise equipment. A pivotally mounted arm has at least one resistance magnet mounted thereto, and an adjustment actuator varies the proximity of the at least one resistance magnet to a resistance member of the piece of exercise equipment. The system provides a substantially linear relationship between the positional adjustment of the adjustment actuator and the resistance sensed by the user.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60 / 635,509, filed Dec. 13, 2004, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates generally to exercise equipment, and more particularly to a system for adjusting the resistance of a stationary bicycle or other type of exercise equipment, which provides a more linear relationship between the position of the knob or other adjustment actuator and the resistance sensed by the user. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Various types of exercise equipment, such as for example stationary bicycles, provide resistance mechanisms for resisting activation by a user. For example, friction and magnetic resistance systems are known for providing dynamic resistance to the pedalling motion of a user of a stationary bicycle. [0004] Because different users of a piece of exercise equ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] In example forms, the present invention is an improved resistance system for exercise equipment such as a stationary bicycle, treadmill, stair-climber, etc. having a magnetic resistance system, which provides a more linear relationship between adjustor setting and resistance.

[0008] In one aspect, the present invention is a resistance system for exercise equipment, having resistance magnets mounted on a pivotally mounted lever arm, for varying the proximity of the magnets to the resistance wheel, and thereby providing a more linear relationship between adjustor position and resistance. An intermediate linkage is pivotally mounted to the lever arm, and carries the adjustment cable, such that toggling of the intermediate linkage adjusts the proximity of the resistance magnets to the resistance member in a non-linear manner that provides a substantially linear variation in the resistance sensed by the user. The adjustor can be, for example, a manual knob, an electronic controller, or other adjustment actuation mechanism.

[0009] In another aspect, the present invention is a system for adjusting the resistance sensed by a user of a piece of exercise equipment. The system allows a user to adjust the resistance of the piece of exercise equipment in such a manner as to provide a substantially linear relationship between each adjustment and the resistance sensed by the user. The system has a pivotally mounted arm with at least one resistance magnet mounted thereto, and an adjustment actuator for varying the proximity of the at least one resistance magnet to a resistance member of the piece of exercise equipment. The system varies the proximity of the at least one resistance magnet to the resistance member of the exercise equipment such that an adjustment by the adjustment actuator and the resistance sensed by the user of such equipment has a substantially linear relationship.

Problems solved by technology

However, previously known magnetic resistance systems typically suffer from the disadvantage that the power required to turn the pedals (the resistance felt by the user) does not increase proportionally with the position of the adjustment knob, because the magnetic field strength varies in an inverse cubic relationship to distance from the magnet field.

Images