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  Linear-response resistance system for exercise equipmentUSPTO Application #: 20060160669Title: 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. (end of abstract) Agent: Gardner Groff Santos & Greenwald, P.C. - Atlanta, GA, US Inventor: Inigo Ibarguren Lizarralde USPTO Applicaton #: 20060160669 - Class: 482063000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, Involving User Translation Or Physical Simulation Thereof, Bicylcling, Utilizing Specific Resistance Generating Structure The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060160669. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
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 equipment may need differing levels of resistance, it is known to provide resistance mechanisms that are adjustable to increase or decrease the resistance to user activation. For example, a good athlete may require a high level of resistance to provide a good workout, enabling the user to generate pedalling power on the order of 400 watts; whereas a less fit user may need a lower level of resistance, pedalling at around seventy watts. Such resistance mechanisms are commonly adjusted by manual operation of an adjustment knob or other manual adjuster, or by operation of electronic controls. [0005] A fundamental advantage of magnetic resistance systems for exercise equipment, as compared to friction systems, is that they are very quiet. 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. Adjustment of many prior magnetic resistance systems results in a generally linear variation in the magnet spacing of the resistance mechanism, which typically does not result in linear variation in resistance, but rather a variation wherein sequential settings at low resistance levels are very close together, but sequential settings at high resistance levels generate very large changes in resistance. [0006] Thus it can be seen that needs exist for improvements to resistance systems for exercise equipment, which provide a more linear relationship between adjustor setting or position and resistance. It is to the provision of an improved resistance system meeting these and other needs that the present invention is primarily directed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [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. [0010] In another aspect, the present invention is an exercise apparatus having at least one energy input mechanism for activation by a user, and a resistance system for varying a user-perceived degree of resistance to activation of the at least one energy input mechanism. The resistance system comprises an actuation mechanism having a plurality of resistance settings. Each of the resistance settings correspond to one of a plurality of resistance levels. Furthermore, the user-perceived degree of resistance to activation of the at least one energy input mechanism varies in substantially equal increments between each sequential resistance setting of the actuation mechanism. [0011] In still other aspect, the present invention is a method of varying the resistance to user activation of an exercise apparatus. The method comprises generating substantially equal variation in a level of resistance generated by the exercise apparatus between each of a plurality of sequential resistance settings. [0012] In a further aspect of the method described above, the exercise apparatus of the present invention has a resistance system with first and second magnetically-attracted members separated a distance from one another. The level of resistance generated by the magnetic resistance system varies relative to the distance of separation between the first and second magnetically-attracted members according to a first non-linear relationship. This aspect of the present invention also includes generating variation of the distance of separation between the first and second magnetically-attracted members between sequential resistance settings according to a second non-linear relationship that is substantially inverse to the first non-linear relationship. [0013] These and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be understood with reference to the drawing figures and detailed description herein, and will be realized by means of the various elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following brief description of the drawings and detailed description of the invention are exemplary and explanatory of preferred embodiments of the invention, and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a magnetic resistance system according to an example embodiment of the invention. [0015] FIG. 2 shows a user operating a piece of exercise equipment of the type to which the present invention is applicable. [0016] FIG. 3 shows manual adjustment of a resistance mechanism. [0017] FIG. 4 shows an electronic adjuster for a resistance system according to the present invention. [0018] FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of a portion of the magnetic resistance system of FIG. 1, in a low-resistance setting. [0019] FIG. 6 shows another detailed view of a portion of the magnetic resistance system of FIG. 1, in a medium-resistance setting. Continue reading... Full patent description for Linear-response resistance system for exercise equipment Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Linear-response resistance 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 Linear-response resistance system for exercise equipment or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Fitness bike Next Patent Application: Pneumatic pogo stick Industry Class: Exercise devices ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Linear-response resistance system for exercise equipment patent info. 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