Proportioned resistance exercise servo system

Claim 2

An exercise device including in combination: resistance means for providing in each of two opposite directions exercise resistance proportioned to the force applied by the user, reversing means connected to said resistance means for causing said resistance means to reciprocate automatically between two predetermined limits, and regulating means connected to said resistance means for applying predetermined control of acceleration and deceleration to said resistance means as it approaches and departs from each of said limits at which the direction is automatically reversed.

Claim 3

An exercise apparatus including in combination: resistance means for providing in each of two opposite directions exercise resistance proportioned to the force applied by the user, said resistance means comprising an electrical generator driven by the user and generating an output current, a braking load across said generator, and means for dissipating the current output of said generator through said load, thereby providing dynamic braking of said user-driven generator, and reversing means connected to said resistance means for causing said resistance means to reciprocate automatically between two predetermined limits.

Claim 4

An exercise apparatus including in combination: resistance means for providing in each of two opposite directions exercise resistance proportioned to the force applied by the user, said resistance means comprising an electrical generator driven by the user and generating an output current, a braking load across said generator, and means for dissipating the current output of said generator through said load, thereby providing dynamic braking of said user-driven generator, and reversing means connected to said resistance means for causing said resistance means to reciprocate automatically between two predetermined limits.

Claim 5

The exercise apparatus of claim 2 having means for proportioning the degree of said dynamic braking to the speed of the generator.

Claim 6

An exercise apparatus including in combination: resistance means for providing in each of two opposite directions exercise resistance proportioned to the force applied by the user, said resistance means comprising a combination motor-generator driven by the user and generating an output current across a load resistance, and means for alternately powering said motor-generator and dissipating its current output across its said load resistance to provide dynamic braking of said motor generator, and reversing means connected to said resistance means for causing said resistance means to reciprocate automatically between two predetermined limits.

Claim 7

An exercise apparatus including in combination: resistance means for providing in each of two opposite directions exercise resistance proportioned to the force applied by the user, said resistance means comprising a combination motor-generator driven by the user and generating an output current across a load resistance, and means for alternately powering said motor-generator and dissipating its current output across its said load resistance to provide dynamic braking of said motor generator, and reversing means connected to said resistance means for causing said resistance means to reciprocate automatically between two predetermined limits.

Claim 8

The exercise apparatus of claim 4 having means for proportioning said powering and dynamic braking to the speed of said motor-generator.

Claim 9

An exercise apparatus comprising a movable device adapted for driving relation with a user, resistance means connected to said device for providing said device with exercise resistance by supplying driving power to said device in one direction of its movement and by supplying braking force to said device in the opposite direction of its movement, and means connected to said device for automatically reversing the direction of movement of said device at each of two preset limits.

Claim 10

An exercise apparatus comprising a movable device adapted for driving relation with a user, resistance means connected to said device for providing said device with exercise resistance by supplying driving power to said device in one direction of its movement and by supplying braking force to said device in the opposite direction of its movement, and means connected to said device for automatically reversing the direction of movement of said device at each of two preset limits.

Claim 11

The exercise apparatus of claim 6 having connected to said device means for controlling the rates of acceleration and deceleration of said device as it approaches each of said limits.

Claim 12

A proportional resistance exercise device, including in combinatioN: a drive shaft, user interfacing means connected to said drive shaft in driving relation thereto and through which the user applies force to said drive shaft and vice versa, braking means for applying braking force to said drive shaft as it is moved in a first direction by user-exerted force on said interfacing means, in a braking mode, power means for applying power to drive said drive shaft in a second direction and thereby to exert force on said interfacing means, in a power mode, limiter means operatively connected to said drive shaft for limiting the movement of said shaft in said first direction to its reaching a first limit and for limiting the movement of said shaft in said second direction to its reaching a second limit, and direction reversal means connected to said braking means, said power means, and said limiter means for automatically ceasing to apply said braking means to said drive shaft at said first limit and thereafter applying said power means thereto and for automatically ceasing to apply said power means to said drive shaft at said second limit and thereafter applying said braking means thereto.

Claim 13

A proportional resistance exercise device, including in combinatioN: a drive shaft, user interfacing means connected to said drive shaft in driving relation thereto and through which the user applies force to said drive shaft and vice versa, braking means for applying braking force to said drive shaft as it is moved in a first direction by user-exerted force on said interfacing means, in a braking mode, power means for applying power to drive said drive shaft in a second direction and thereby to exert force on said interfacing means, in a power mode, limiter means operatively connected to said drive shaft for limiting the movement of said shaft in said first direction to its reaching a first limit and for limiting the movement of said shaft in said second direction to its reaching a second limit, and direction reversal means connected to said braking means, said power means, and said limiter means for automatically ceasing to apply said braking means to said drive shaft at said first limit and thereafter applying said power means thereto and for automatically ceasing to apply said power means to said drive shaft at said second limit and thereafter applying said braking means thereto.

Claim 14

The device of claim 8 having means for adjusting said limiter means to change the location of each of said limits.

Claim 15

The device of claim 8 having feedback means sensing the force applied by said user to said drive shaft via said interfacing means, said feedback means being connected to said power means and to said braking means for regulating the driving force applied to said shaft during said power mode and the braking force applied during said braking mode.

Claim 16

The device of claim 10 having braking programming means connected to said braking means for changing the braking force during said braking mode according to a predetermined program, and power programming means connected to said power means for changing the power applied to said drive shaft during said power mode, according to a predetermined program.

Claim 17

The device of claim 11 having feedback means connected to said drive shaft for altering both said programming means during use according to the force applied by the user to said drive shaft.

Claim 18

A proportional resistance exercise device, including in combination: a rotary drive shaft, user interfacing means connected to said drive shaft in driving relation thereto and through which the user applies force to rotate said drive shaft in a first direction and which applies force to act on the user in a second direction of rotation of said shaft, braking means for applying braking force to said drive shaft while it is rotated in said first direction by user-exerted force on said interfacing means, in a braking mode, power means for applying power to rotate said drive shaft in said second direction and thereby to exert force on said interfacing means, in a power mode, limiter means for limiting the rotation of said shaft in said first direction to prevent rotation beyond a first limit and for limiting the rotation of said shaft in said second direction to prevent rotation beyond a second limit, and direction reversal means for automatically ceasing to apply said braking means to said drive shaft at said first limit and immediately thereafter applying said power means thereto to move it in said second direction and for automatically ceasing to apply said power means to said drive shaft at said second limit and immediately thereafter applying said braking means thereto while enabling said shaft to rotate in said first direction.

Claim 19

A proportional resistance exercise device, including in combination: a rotary drive shaft, user interfacing means connected to said drive shaft in driving relation thereto and through which the user applies force to rotate said drive shaft in a first direction and which applies force to act on the user in a second direction of rotation of said shaft, braking means for applying braking force to said drive shaft while it is rotated in said first direction by user-exerted force on said interfacing means, in a braking mode, power means for applying power to rotate said drive shaft in said second direction and thereby to exert force on said interfacing means, in a power mode, limiter means for limiting the rotation of said shaft in said first direction to prevent rotation beyond a first limit and for limiting the rotation of said shaft in said second direction to prevent rotation beyond a second limit, and direction reversal means for automatically ceasing to apply said braking means to said drive shaft at said first limit and immediately thereafter applying said power means thereto to move it in said second direction and for automatically ceasing to apply said power means to said drive shaft at said second limit and immediately thereafter applying said braking means thereto while enabling said shaft to rotate in said first direction.

Claim 20

The device of claim 13 having braking programming means connected to said braking means for changing the braking force during said braking mode according to a predetermined program, power programming means connected to said power means for changing the power applied to said drive shaft during said power mode, according to a predetermined program, feedback means sensing the force applied by said user to said drive shaft via sAid interfacing means, said feedback means being connected to said power means and to said braking means for regulating the driving force applied to said shaft during said power mode and the braking force applied during said braking mode, altering both said programming means during use according to the force applied by the user to said drive shaft.

Claim 21

A proportioned resistance exercise servo system, including in combination: a rotary drive shaft, user interfacing means connected to said drive shaft in driving relation therewith, so that movement of the one results in movement of the other, position sensing means sensing the position of said drive shaft, powering means, speed-reducing means connected to said powering means and connected to said drive shaft for driving said shaft in a power mode, braking means connected to said speed-reducing means for exerting a braking force therethrough on said shaft in a braking mode, mode reversal means connected to said position sensing means and to said powering means and to said braking means for changing the operation of said drive shaft from the power mode to the braking mode at one position and for changing it from the braking mode to the power mode at another position, speed and direction sensing means connected to said speed reducing means, a speed and direction programmer connected to said mode reversing means, and comparing means for continuously comparing signals from said speed and direction sensing means with signals from said speed and direction programmer and connected to said power means and to said braking means for changing instantaneously the power applied during the power mode and to braking applied during the braking mode.

Claim 22

A proportioned resistance exercise servo system, including in combination: a rotary drive shaft, user interfacing means connected to said drive shaft in driving relation therewith, so that movement of the one results in movement of the other, position sensing means sensing the position of said drive shaft, powering means, speed-reducing means connected to said powering means and connected to said drive shaft for driving said shaft in a power mode, braking means connected to said speed-reducing means for exerting a braking force therethrough on said shaft in a braking mode, mode reversal means connected to said position sensing means and to said powering means and to said braking means for changing the operation of said drive shaft from the power mode to the braking mode at one position and for changing it from the braking mode to the power mode at another position, speed and direction sensing means connected to said speed reducing means, a speed and direction programmer connected to said mode reversing means, and comparing means for continuously comparing signals from said speed and direction sensing means with signals from said speed and direction programmer and connected to said power means and to said braking means for changing instantaneously the power applied during the power mode and to braking applied during the braking mode.