Bally Manufacturing Corporation

Augustine Nieto

George Kolomayets

Bryan Andrus

Allen Ryan

William H Englehardt

John J Pasierb, Jr

Olgerts J Svilans

Gary Oglesby

In an exercise machine where an electric motor is used to simulate a weight stack a more realistic feel plus stability of operation is achieved by compensating the torque output of the motor for the mechanical characteristics of the machine including inertia, friction and gravitational effects on the user interface. Also by controlling the motor so as to increase its output torque as a function of the displacement of the user interface, it is possible to produce a measure of the user's strength. A heavy negative feature which may be selected by the user is provided as well. The exercise machine additionally includes a computer control which allows a pyramid type exercise program to be implemented. The pyramid exercise program has a progressive phase in which the force opposing the user is increased from a starting level to a plateau level over a first group of repetitions; a plateau phase in which the force opposing the user is maintained constant over a second group of repetitions; and a regressive phase in which the force opposing the user is decreased from the plateau level to the starting level over a second group of repetitions. The exercise machine is capable of measuring the maximum force which can be opposed by the user. The heavy negative feature allows the force opposing the user to be gradually increased on a return stroke of an exercise repetition from the force applied on the forward stroke of the repetition.

Motor control for an exercise machine simulating a weight stack

A rowing exercise machine having an improved user interface. The user interface has a cable for accepting user exercising stroke movements each stroke having a power and return portion. The cable is carried on a cable drum which is mounted on a shaft such that when the cable is unwound and rewound rotation to the shaft is imparted. A flywheel is connected to the shaft for receiving and conserving angular momentum imparted thereto. The machine also includes a brake for opposing the rotational displacement of the flywheel. The user interface further includes a stainless steel eye staked into one end of a strain relief spring with an end of the cable being staked in the opposite end of the spring. A handle is secured to the eye which is capable of withstanding the concentrated forces to which the user interface is subjected. A nylon cable port is mounted on the cable drum housing, the cable port having a centrally located aperture therein with cross sections which are generally oval in shape to allow the cable to be pulled out from the cable port along a line generally parallel to the base of the cabinet or at an upward angle with respect to the base without rubbing against the cable port. The cable drum has an angled sidewall to allow only one row of cable to be wound there around so as to maintain the forces opposing the user constant and controllable. The cable drum further includes a guide plate positioned between the end plates of the drum so as to lightly rub against the cable and guide it onto the drum in order to prevent tangling of the cable if it is not rewound fast enough.

Rowing machine with improved mechanical features

An improved rowing exercising machine is disclosed. The machine has a mechanical apparatus for accepting user stroke movements; each stroke has a power portion and a return portion. The mechanical apparatus converts the energy from the user stroke movements into rotation of a flywheel. In order to closely simulate the feel of momentum in actual rowing activity, electronic circuitry is used to control a brake to apply a force to slow the motion of the flywheel. The amount of force supplied by the brake is independent of the speed at which the user is rowing the machine and is under software control. The brake force can be varied to additionally slow down the rotation of the flywheel during the return portion of a stroke. The rowing machine includes a video display which gives the user the sense of competitive scull racing. The display shows an animated rowing figure having stroke movement synchronized with the user stroke movements. A pacer rowing figure is also displayed. During the rowing exercise, the distance separating the rowing figures depends on the user stroke movements and on pre-set pacer motion.

Rowing machine with video display

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Newport Beach, CA, United States of America

Augustine Nieto