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US-20260124485-A1 - EXERCISE MACHINE WITH PANCAKE MOTOR

US20260124485A1US 20260124485 A1US20260124485 A1US 20260124485A1US-20260124485-A1

Abstract

An exercise machine is disclosed. The exercise machine comprises a motor, an actuator, an arm, and a cable. The cable is coupled between the motor and the actuator through the arm. The motor is configured to provide a nominal tension of resistance when an end of the cable is within a range of length from a zero point associated with the cable.

Inventors

  • Aly E. Orady
  • Michael Valente

Assignees

  • TONAL SYSTEMS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251020

Claims (17)

  1. 1 . (canceled)
  2. 2 . A strength trainer, comprising: a motor; an actuator; a cable coupled between the actuator and the motor, wherein the motor facilitates strength training at least in part by generating resistance; and an arm that positions the cable, wherein the cable travels within the arm, wherein the arm is vertically pivotable, and wherein locking of the arm in a vertically pivoted position is facilitated at least in part by one or more teeth and a female locking member.
  3. 3 . The strength trainer of claim 2 , wherein the arm further comprises a control to facilitate locking and unlocking of the arm for vertical pivoting.
  4. 4 . The strength trainer of claim 3 , wherein the control comprised in the arm controls engagement of the one or more teeth and the female locking member.
  5. 5 . The strength trainer of claim 2 , wherein the arm is horizontally pivotable.
  6. 6 . The strength trainer of claim 3 , wherein locking of horizontal pivoting is facilitated at least in part by locking a column.
  7. 7 . The strength trainer of claim 2 , wherein the arm is translatable.
  8. 8 . The strength trainer of claim 7 , wherein translating of the arm is facilitated at least in part by sliding the arm along a track.
  9. 9 . The strength trainer of claim 8 , wherein the track comprises a set of track holes.
  10. 10 . The strength trainer of claim 2 , wherein the arm is capable of being stowed at least in part by pivoting the arm vertically until the arm is substantially flush with the strength trainer.
  11. 11 . The strength trainer of claim 2 , wherein the actuator is coupled to the cable via a connector.
  12. 12 . The strength trainer of claim 11 , wherein the connector comprises a carabiner.
  13. 13 . The strength trainer of claim 2 , wherein the actuator comprises a handle.
  14. 14 . The strength trainer of claim 2 , wherein the actuator comprises a bar.
  15. 15 . The strength trainer of claim 2 , wherein the actuator comprises a strap.
  16. 16 . The strength trainer of claim 2 including a motor controller coupled to the motor.
  17. 17 . The strength trainer of claim 16 including a filter coupled to the motor controller, configured to provide an input to the motor controller to adjust torque on the motor.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/205,409, entitled EXERCISE MACHINE WITH PANCAKE MOTOR filed Jun. 2, 2023, which is continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/405,994, entitled EXERCISE MACHINE WITH PANCAKE MOTOR filed Aug. 18, 2021, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,701,537, which is continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/036,117, entitled EXERCISE MACHINE WITH PANCAKE MOTOR filed Sep. 29, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,123,592, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/292,784, entitled EXERCISE MACHINE WITH PANCAKE MOTOR filed Mar. 5, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,881,890, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/722,719, entitled EXERCISE MACHINE WITH PANCAKE MOTOR filed Oct. 2, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,335,626, each of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Strength training, also referred to as resistance training or weight lifting, is an important part of any exercise routine. It promotes the building of muscle, the burning of fat, and improvement of a number of metabolic factors including insulin sensitivity and lipid levels. Many users seek a more efficient and safe method of strength training. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an exercise machine. FIG. 1B illustrates a front view of one embodiment of an exercise machine. FIG. 1C illustrates a perspective view of the system of FIG. 1B wherein for clarity arms, cables, and belts are omitted. FIG. 1D illustrates a front view of the system of FIG. 1B. FIG. 1E illustrates a perspective view of the drivetrain of FIG. 1B. FIG. 2A illustrates a top view of one embodiment of an exercise machine. FIG. 2B illustrates a top view of an alternate embodiment of an exercise machine. FIG. 3A is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of a voltage stabilizer. FIG. 3B is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a process for a safety loop for an exercise machine. FIG. 4 is an illustration of arms in one embodiment of an exercise machine. FIG. 5A is an illustration of a locked position for an arm. FIG. 5B is an illustration of an unlocked position for an arm. FIG. 6 is an illustration of an embodiment of a vertical pivot locking mechanism. FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate locking and unlocking for arm vertical pivoting. FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate a top view of a track that pivots horizontally. FIG. 9A shows column (402) from a side view. FIG. 9B shows a top view of arm (402). FIG. 9C shows device locking member (415) having been pulled back from top member (412). FIG. 9D shows a side view of track (402) with cable (501) located in the center of track (402), and arm (702) traveling down and directly away from the machine. FIG. 9E shows the front view, now with arm (702) traveling down and to the left. FIG. 9F is a perspective view of an exercise machine arm extended upward. FIG. 9G is a perspective view of an exercise machine arm extended horizontally. FIG. 9H illustrates an exploded perspective view drawing of an arm (702) including its lever (732), compression spring (733), and locking member (722). FIG. 9I illustrates both an assembled sectioned and non-sectioned perspective view drawing of the arm (702). FIG. 9J is a side view section of an exercise machine slider (403) with its locking mechanism and pin locked. FIG. 9K is a side view section of an exercise machine slider (403) with its locking mechanism and pin unlocked. FIG. 9L is a perspective view of an exercise machine slider (403), revealing the pin (404) as well as teeth (422) for an arm vertical pivot. FIG. 9M is a perspective view of the exercise machine slider (403) in a column/rail (402) with revealed teeth (422), with arm (702) set at a vertical pivot at a point parallel to the horizontal plane. FIG. 9N is a side view section of the exercise machine slider (403) in a column/rail (402), with arm (702) set at a vertical pivot at a point parallel to the horizontal plane. FIG. 9O is a sectional side view of the exercise machine slider (403). FIG. 9P illustrates an exploded perspective view drawing of the exercise machine slider (403). FIG. 9Q is a perspective view of a column locking mechanism for a horizontal pivot. FIG. 9R is a top view of the top member (412). FIG. 9S is a side view of the column locking mechanism for the horizontal pivot. FIG. 9T illustrates an exploded perspective view drawing of the column locking mechanism including locking member (415). FIG. 9U is a perspective view of a wrist (704), showing a spring mechanism that enables access to the interior of the wrist (for example, to the bolts shown in FIGS. 9V and 9W) in order to, for example, service the wrist. FIG. 9V is a perspective section of the wrist (704). FIG. 9W is a side view section of the wr