| Control for hydraulic system for exercise equipment -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Control for hydraulic system for exercise equipmentRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, User Manipulated Force Resisting Apparatus, Component Thereof, Or Accessory Therefor, Utilizing Fluid Resistance, Confined Hydraulic Or Pneumatic ChamberControl for hydraulic system for exercise equipment description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060094572, Control for hydraulic system for exercise equipment. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority of and is related to U.S. Provisional Application entitled "Electronic Control for Hydraulic Exercise Equipment" (Ser. No. 60/620,714), filed Oct. 22, 2004, and U.S. Provisional Application entitled "Electronic Control for Hydraulic Exercise Equipment" (Ser. No. 60/630,657), filed Nov. 26, 2004. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to fluid-based hydraulic systems, and more specifically to a control system for fluid-based hydraulic systems for fitness equipment wherein the level of resistance can be controlled and adjusted according to an individual's desired settings. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Fitness equipment typically found in a commercial fitness club incorporate hydraulic cylinders to create resistance in place of weights. Generally, the hydraulic cylinders used were conventional shock absorbing cylinders used in the automotive industry. However, a disadvantage of this type of hydraulic system for fitness equipment is that the resistance level is not adjustable by the user. As a result, users who are not experienced with the equipment, or who are not in a healthy physical condition, would have to exercise at the same level and degree of intensity as users who are experienced with the equipment and are in a typically healthy physical condition. Furthermore, users are unable to modify their workout routine either to receive a more "cardiovascular" or aerobic workout, which requires that the level of resistance be set at a lower range to decrease the degree of effort by the user, or to receive a more "power" workout, which requires that the level of resistance be set at a higher range to increase the degree of effort by the user. [0004] In an attempt to overcome these deficiencies, conventional fitness equipment has been modified to provide a control knob to adjust the resistance level of the hydraulic shock absorbers. However, such fitness equipment still has several disadvantages. Firstly, the hydraulic cylinders are typically mounted to the fitness equipment in locations that are not readily or conveniently accessible to the user while the equipment is in use. As a result, users are required to stop their workout routine in order to locate the control knobs and to change the resistance settings of the equipment. Furthermore, this is usually a very difficult task because the control knobs typically do not have any markings or references to indicate the level of resistance. Secondly, even if the user takes the time to locate the control knobs, which are usually located underneath the fitness equipment, the user has to remember their resistance settings for that particular piece of equipment. Additionally, most commercial fitness clubs offer a minimum of eight to fifteen specialized pieces of fitness equipment. Accordingly, it is not easy for a user to remember their push and pull settings for each piece of fitness equipment in order to adjust each piece of fitness equipment prior to or during their workout, and then re-set each piece of fitness equipment back to the standard settings after use and before moving on to the next piece of fitness equipment. [0005] In fitness clubs that offer "circuit training" programs in which each participant operates and moves between various pieces of fitness equipment within a set amount of time, a user only has a short period of time to make any adjustments to the fitness machine. For example, some fitness clubs promote a circuit training program in which the user is to exercise on a particular piece of equipment for 30 seconds, then move to the next piece of equipment for 30 seconds, and so on until the circuit is completed. Consequently, it would be an advantage to provide a control system for hydraulic fitness equipment which can adjust the resistance level of the equipment easily and quickly. [0006] Currently, only a small number of fitness clubs offer fitness equipment that incorporates adjustable shock absorbers. Nevertheless, these fitness clubs do not want nor desire their members to indiscriminately alter the resistance settings of the fitness equipment because unknowledgeable members could inadvertently hurt themselves by setting the equipment to an improper resistance level. This is a significant liability risk for fitness clubs. Furthermore, among the fitness clubs that use fitness equipment with adjustable shock absorbers, the users are not permitted to make adjustments to the fitness equipment. Typically, the owner of the fitness club determines and sets the resistance level of the fitness equipment based on the age demographics of the members of their fitness club. For example, in a fitness club in which the users are predominantly elderly, the resistance values would be set in the lower ranges. If the fitness club was populated predominantly be younger and more athletic users, then the resistance values would be set to higher levels. However, this system of adjustment is problematic for both the users and the fitness club. For example, as the fitness level of the user increases, the user will feel that the fitness equipment cannot accommodate their particular fitness level and goals. As a result of their inability to benefit from their fitness membership, these users will typically stop their exercise regime and cancel their membership at the club. [0007] In addition, conventional hydraulic systems used in fitness equipment cannot accommodate users who have pre-existing medical problems or injuries. For example, the user may be unable to exert the same amount of strength and effort in each limb, or may be unable to exert the same amount of strength for the push and pull effort. These particular users would benefit from fitness equipment, which can provide different levels of resistance for each limb or in different directions of movement. Currently, these users have no choice but to use standard equipment that is not manufactured to accommodate their needs or health concerns. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] Hydraulic fitness equipment requires a push and pull effort by a user. Since each individual has different personal physical requirements, the push and pull must be calibrated for their specific fitness level in order to maximize the benefit to the user. The present invention relates to a system and method to control the resistance settings of hydraulic fitness equipment. In particular, the present invention provides a control system for independently controlling the resistance of the push effort and the pull effort. [0009] One aspect of the present invention is to provide a control device which allows the user to select and adjust their push and pull work out settings to their desired fitness or health concern levels. The resistance settings of the hydraulic fitness equipment can be electronically or manually controlled and adjusted. [0010] The present invention comprises of a hydraulic control device and method for controlling the resistance settings of fluid-based hydraulic fitness equipment. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hydraulic control device is in fluid communication with the fluid-based hydraulic system of the fitness equipment and is able to control the flow of the hydraulic fluid in two directions using dual proportional independent resistance valves and dual opposing one-way hydraulic flow valves. [0011] Hydraulic control device for exercise equipment having a hydraulic fluid system to create a push effort and a pull effort comprising a first and a second fluid conduit fluidly coupled to the hydraulic fluid system, a first and a second one-way valve, wherein the first one-way valve is coupled within the first fluid conduit and the second one-way valve is coupled within the second fluid conduit, such that the hydraulic fluid in the first and second conduit flow in opposing directions, a first and a second adjustable flow control valve, wherein the first flow control valve is coupled within the first fluid conduit to adjust a fluid resistance of the push effort, and the second flow control valve is coupled within the second fluid conduit to adjust a fluid resistance of the pull effort, and means for controllably adjusting the fluid resistances of the adjustable flow control valves. [0012] In a further aspect of the present invention, the control system uses a computer, database or microchip containing an individual user's preferred settings. These preferred settings are communicated to the fitness equipment by a wired or wireless connection and the equipment automatically changes to the user's desired work out settings. In particular, this allows each piece of fitness equipment to adjust automatically to the user's personal settings with minimal or no involvement by the user. When the user exits the equipment, it will revert back to its default setting and await the next user. This will allow fitness clubs to continue to offer mass memberships, along with intelligent fitness equipment that accommodates the user's personal fitness needs and settings. This also assists in clubs membership retention due to the fact that the user can periodically have their user personal settings modified to reflect their enhanced physical improvements. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, an embodiment will now be described in detail by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of an embodiment of a hydraulic control device of the present invention; [0015] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view of an embodiment of the hydraulic control device of the present invention depicting the base member; [0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic view of a second embodiment of the hydraulic control device of the present invention depicting the base member; [0017] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of a hydraulic flow chart for the hydraulic control device of the present invention incorporated with two hydraulic cylinders, and the flow paths of the hydraulic fluid therein; [0018] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of the hydraulic control device of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Continue reading about Control for hydraulic system for exercise equipment... Full patent description for Control for hydraulic system for exercise equipment Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Control for hydraulic system for exercise equipment patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Control for hydraulic system for exercise equipment or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Mechanical weightlifting machine Next Patent Application: Device for enhancing bilateral dexterity and methods therefor Industry Class: Exercise devices ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Control for hydraulic system for exercise equipment patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.12946 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Qualcomm , Schering-Plough , Schlumberger , Seagate , Siemens , Texas Instruments , 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
