US-20260124486-A1 - MOTORIZED PILATES REFORMER SYSTEM

US20260124486A1US 20260124486 A1US20260124486 A1US 20260124486A1US-20260124486-A1

Abstract

In one aspect of the disclosure, a motorized Pilates reformer system may include a frame, a carriage configured to slide along the frame, springs attached to the carriage, attachment mechanisms attached to the frame, spring motors attached to the frame, a footbar rotatably attached to the frame, and a footbar motor attached to the frame. The spring motors may be configured to cause the attachment mechanisms to each alternate between attaching one of the springs to the frame and detaching the spring from the frame. The footbar motor may be configured to rotate the footbar with respect to the frame between multiple footbar positions.

Inventors

Scott R. Watterson
Kent M. Smith
Jared Weston
David Hays

Assignees

IFIT INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251229

Claims (20)

1 . A method, comprising: capturing, at a remote location that is remote from a local motorized Pilates reformer, a video that comprises a depiction of a trainer performing a Pilates workout on a remote motorized Pilates reformer; creating a video workout program comprising the video, the video workout program further comprising at least a first time segment and a second time segment, the video workout program further comprising first exercise machine control commands synchronized with the video during the first time segment and second exercise machine control commands synchronized with the video during the second time segment, with changes between the first exercise machine control commands and the second exercise machine control commands synchronized with associated changes in the Pilates workout depicted in the video between the first time segment and the second time segment; receiving, over a network at a local location that is location to the local motorized Pilates reformer, the video workout program, the local motorized Pilates reformer comprising: a frame; a carriage configured to slide along the frame; springs attached to the carriage; attachment mechanisms attached to the frame; spring motors attached to the frame and configured to cause the attachment mechanisms to each alternate between attaching a spring, of the springs attached to the carriage, to the frame and detaching the spring from the frame; a footbar rotatably attached to the frame, and a footbar motor attached to the frame and configured to rotate the footbar with respect to the frame between multiple footbar positions; executing, by one or more processors at the local location, the first time segment of the video workout program by displaying the first time segment of the video on an electronic display and by controlling the spring motors and the footbar motor according to the first exercise machine control commands; and executing, upon conclusion of the first time segment and by the one or more processors, the second time segment of the video workout program by displaying the second time segment of the video on the electronic display and by controlling the spring motors and the footbar motor according to the second exercise machine control commands.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein executing the first time segment of the video workout program comprises: controlling the spring motors such that an attachment of the springs to the frame matches an attachment of springs depicted in the video during the first time segment; and controlling the footbar motor such that a footbar position of the footbar matches a footbar position depicted in the video during the first time segment.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein executing the second time segment of the video workout program comprises: controlling the spring motors such that an attachment of the springs to the frame matches an attachment of springs depicted in the video during the second time segment; and controlling the footbar motor such that a footbar position of the footbar matches a footbar position depicted in the video during the second time segment.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein executing the first time segment of the video workout program comprises: controlling the spring motors such that an attachment of the springs to the frame correlates to a scaled attachment of springs depicted in the video during the first time segment; and controlling the footbar motor such that a footbar position of the footbar correlates to a scaled footbar position depicted in the video during the first time segment.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein executing the second time segment of the video workout program comprises: controlling the spring motors such that an attachment of the springs to the frame correlates to a scaled attachment of springs depicted in the video during the second time segment; and controlling the footbar motor such that a footbar position of the footbar correlates to a scaled footbar position depicted in the video during the second time segment.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein: the electronic display and the one or more processors are integrated into a local computing device that is: at the local location; separate from the local motorized Pilates reformer; and in wireless communication with the spring motors and the footbar motor of the local motorized Pilates reformer.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic display and the one or more processors are integrated into the local motorized Pilates reformer.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving, by the one or more processors during execution of the second time segment of the video workout program, an override input by a user of the local motorized Pilates reformer; and continuing to execute, in response receiving the override input and by the one or more processors, the second time segment of the video workout program by displaying the second time segment of the video on the electronic display but ceasing to control the spring motors and the footbar motor according to the second exercise machine control commands.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving, by the one or more processors during execution of the second time segment of the video workout program, a follow input by a user of the local motorized Pilates reformer; and continuing to execute, in response receiving the follow input and by the one or more processors, the second time segment of the video workout program by displaying the second time segment of the video on the electronic display and again controlling the spring motors and the footbar motor according to the second exercise machine control commands.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: repositioning one or more of the attachment mechanisms with respect to the frame by a spring motor to cause a corresponding spring to have more or less tension.
11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: repositioning the electronic display via an arm connected to the electronic display and the local motorized Pilates reformer, wherein repositioning the electronic display adjusts an angle of the electronic display relative to the frame.
12 . A method, comprising: capturing, at a remote location that is remote from a local motorized Pilates reformer, a video that comprises a depiction of a trainer performing a Pilates workout on a remote motorized Pilates reformer; creating a video workout program comprising the video, the video workout program further comprising at least a first time segment and a second time segment, the video workout program further comprising first exercise machine control commands synchronized with the video during the first time segment and second exercise machine control commands synchronized with the video during the second time segment, with changes between the first exercise machine control commands and the second exercise machine control commands synchronized with associated changes in the Pilates workout depicted in the video between the first time segment and the second time segment; transmitting, by a server, the video workout program to a local location that is local to the local motorized Pilates reformer, the local motorized Pilates reformer comprising: a frame, a carriage configured to slide along the frame, springs attached to the carriage, attachment mechanisms attached to the frame, spring motors attached to the frame and configured to cause the attachment mechanisms to each alternate between attaching a spring, of the springs attached to the carriage, to the frame and detaching the spring from the frame, a footbar rotatably attached to the frame, and a footbar motor attached to the frame and configured to rotate the footbar with respect to the frame between multiple footbar positions; executing, by one or more processors at the local location, the first time segment of the video workout program by displaying the first time segment of the video on an electronic display and by controlling the spring motors and the footbar motor according to the first exercise machine control commands; and executing, upon conclusion of the first time segment and by the one or more processors, the second time segment of the video workout program by displaying the second time segment of the video on the electronic display and by controlling the spring motors and the footbar motor according to the second exercise machine control commands.
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising: receiving, at the local motorized Pilates reformer, sensor data from one or more sensors; and transmitting, to the server, the sensor data.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the sensor data comprises performance parameters of a user performing a Pilates workout on the local motorized Pilates reformer.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the sensor data comprises biological parameters comprising heart rate, brain waves, hydration levels, blood oxygen levels, oxygen uptake, breathing rate, and blood pressure.
16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising: transmitting, by the server, the sensor data to the remote location; modifying the second exercise machine control commands based on the sensor data; receiving, at the server, the modified second exercise machine control commands; transmitting the modified second exercise machine control commands to the local motorized Pilates reformer; and controlling, by the one or more processors, the spring motors and the footbar motor according to the modified second exercise machine control commands.
17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein executing the first time segment of the video workout program comprises: controlling the spring motors such that an attachment of the springs to the frame matches an attachment of springs depicted in the video during the first time segment; and controlling the footbar motor such that a footbar position of the footbar matches a footbar position depicted in the video during the first time segment.
18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein executing the second time segment of the video workout program comprises: controlling the spring motors such that an attachment of the springs to the frame matches an attachment of springs depicted in the video during the second time segment; and controlling the footbar motor such that a footbar position of the footbar matches a footbar position depicted in the video during the second time segment.
19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the electronic display and the one or more processors are integrated into the local motorized Pilates reformer.
20 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising: repositioning the electronic display via an arm connected to the electronic display and the local motorized Pilates reformer, wherein repositioning the electronic display adjusts an angle of the electronic display relative to the frame.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE This application is a Divisional of and claims priority to U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 17/726,403, filed Apr. 21, 2022, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/216,313, filed Jun. 29, 2021, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/179,094, filed Apr. 23, 2021, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/288,439, filed Dec. 10, 2021, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all that it discloses. BACKGROUND One popular form of physical exercise is known as Pilates. Pilates is sometimes described as the art of controlled movements or stretches, which should look and feel like a workout when properly manifested. If practiced with consistency, Pilates may improve flexibility, build strength, and develop control and endurance in the entire body. Unfortunately, boredom and burnout is often experienced by users who perform Pilates at home. Additionally, conventional Pilates exercise machines are somewhat complicated, and it can be difficult for users to properly configure conventional Pilates exercise machines. This boredom and burnout, and this difficulty in properly configuring conventional Pilates exercise machines, can cause users to give up on their Pilates workouts, thus resulting in the users failing to improve flexibility, build strength, and develop control and endurance. The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one example technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced. SUMMARY In one aspect of the disclosure, a motorized Pilates reformer system may include a frame, a carriage configured to slide along the frame, springs attached to the carriage, attachment mechanisms attached to the frame, spring motors attached to the frame, a footbar rotatably attached to the frame, and a footbar motor attached to the frame. The spring motors may be configured to cause the attachment mechanisms to each alternate between attaching one of the springs to the frame and detaching the spring from the frame. The footbar motor may be configured to rotate the footbar with respect to the frame between multiple footbar positions. Another aspect of the disclosure may include any combination of the above-mentioned features and may further include each of the attachment mechanisms including a housing defining a receptacle configured to receive a portion of one of the springs and a pin configured to be moved by one of the motors between an attached position, in which the pin prevents the spring from being removed from the receptacle to attach the spring to the frame, and a detached position, in which the pin allows the spring to be removed from the receptacle to detach the spring from the frame. Another aspect of the disclosure may include any combination of the above-mentioned features and may further include the receptacle being a cone-shaped receptacle and the portion of the spring configured to be received in the cone-shaped receptacle also being cone-shaped. Another aspect of the disclosure may include any combination of the above-mentioned features and may further include the cone-shaped receptacle including an opening at a narrower end of the cone-shaped receptacle, the portion of the spring configured to be received in the cone-shaped receptacle including a hook configured to extend through the opening, and the pin being positioned to engage with the hook outside the cone-shaped receptacle. Another aspect of the disclosure may include any combination of the above-mentioned features and may further include the pin being configured to be moved by the motor moving a linear actuator which causes the pin to rotate about an axis between the attached position and the detached position. Another aspect of the disclosure may include any combination of the above-mentioned features and may further include the footbar positions including a first position, in which the footbar is angled about 90 degrees with respect to the frame, and a second position, in which the footbar is angled about 75 degrees to about 15 degrees with respect to the frame. Another aspect of the disclosure may include any combination of the above-mentioned features and may further include the footbar positions including a first position, in which the footbar is angled about 90 degrees with respect to the frame, and a second position, in which the footbar is angled about 60 degrees to about 30 degrees with respect to the frame. Another aspect of the disclosure may include any combination of the above-mentioned features and may further include each of the attachment mechanisms being attached to the frame such that the attachment mechanism is repositionable by the corresponding spring motor to cause the corresponding spring to have more or less tension. Ano