IP Library › Granted Patent US 12697523
Granted Patent B2
US 12697523 · App. 18/524,483 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Exercise apparatus with dynamic in-repetition motor induced resistance

Inventor: John M. Bird (Sparks, NV)
A63B21/0058A63B24/0062H02P7/29A63B2024/0093A63B2220/13
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12697523
App. No.
18/524,483
Granted
Aug 4, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A resistance exercise system having, in certain embodiments, a DC power supply system, a DC motor connected to the DC power supply system, a drive section connected to a drive element, a resistance delivery element connected to the drive element, and an extractable exercise resistance delivery section, a predetermined variable resistance section intermediate the DC power supply system and DC motor, an electrical condition sensor, and a variable resistance section control in communication with the electrical condition sensor and the predetermined variable resistance section. In some embodiments, the resistance exercise system includes a computing facility providing the ability to configure the exercise system to provide predetermined static or variable exercise resistance during exercise, and for example, during a positive or negative exercise stroke. Some embodiments allow users to create and, if desired, display varying and complex resistance exercise routines with or without use of resistance weights.

Claims (42)

1 . A method of operating an exercise resistance machine having a resistance provided by a DC motor operatively connected to a resistance delivery section of the exercise resistance machine, the method comprising:

configuring the exercise resistance machine to controllably provide one or more different amounts of exercise resistance via the DC motor, wherein the DC motor is used to at least impose a resistance to movement of the resistance delivery section;

sensing a position of a least a portion of the resistance delivery section during a given repetition;

generating a plurality of different currents used to drive the DC motor during a positive stroke of the given repetition; and

controlling an amount of exercise resistance electrically induced by the DC motor during the positive stroke of the given repetition in response to the sensed position such that during the positive stroke of the given repetition the exercise resistance is varied based on at least using a plurality of different ones of the different currents to drive the DC motor during the positive stroke of the given repetition.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the controlling the amount of exercise resistance electrically induced by the DC motor during the positive stroke of the given repetition is configured to provide a plurality of distinct levels of exercise resistance while extending the physical resistance delivery section during at least a portion of the positive exercise stroke.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein, during the positive stroke of the given repetition, the amount of exercise resistance is varied based on the sensed position such that the exercise resistance reduces further into the positive stroke.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein, during the positive stroke of the given repetition, the exercise resistance at the start of the positive stroke is greater than the exercise resistance at the end of the positive stroke based on at least using the plurality of different ones of the different currents to drive the DC motor during the positive stroke of the given repetition.

5 . An exercise resistance apparatus, comprising:

a rotatable drive element;

a motor control circuit;

a DC motor operatively connected to the motor control circuit, the DC motor operatively connected to drive the rotatable drive element, the DC motor being controlled at least in part by the motor control circuit;

a physical resistance delivery section operatively connectable to the rotatable drive element;

a position sensing circuit for sensing a position of a least a portion of the resistance delivery section during a given repetition; and

wherein the motor control circuit generates a plurality of different currents used to drive the DC motor during a positive stroke of the given repetition; and

wherein the motor control circuit is configured to control an amount of exercise resistance electrically induced by the DC motor during the positive stroke of the given repetition in response to the sensed position such that during the positive stroke of the given repetition the exercise resistance is varied based on at least using a plurality of different ones of the different currents to drive the DC motor during the positive stroke of the given repetition.

6 . The exercise resistance apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the exercise resistance apparatus is configured to provide a plurality of distinct levels of exercise resistance while extending the physical resistance delivery section during at least a portion of the positive exercise stroke.

7 . The exercise resistance apparatus of claim 6 ,

wherein the exercise resistance apparatus is configured to detect a switch-over point based on the position of the physical resistance delivery section, and

wherein the exercise resistance apparatus is configured switch, at the switch-over point, the configuration of the exercise resistance apparatus from providing resistance against extending the physical resistance delivery section during at least a portion of the positive exercise stroke to providing resistance while withdrawing the physical resistance delivery section during at least a portion of the negative exercise stroke.

8 . The exercise resistance apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the motor control circuit includes at least an electrical condition sensor configured to sense an electrical condition developed at least in part by the DC motor, and an electrical resistance control circuit, the electrical resistance control circuit being configured to control an amount of electrical resistance electrically coupled to the DC motor in response to the sensed electrical condition.

9 . The exercise resistance apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the electrical resistance control circuit includes at least one resistor, the at least one resistor being switchably electrically coupled to the DC motor.

10 . The exercise resistance apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the electrical resistance control circuit includes at least one transistor, the at least one transistor configured to controllably switch the at least one resistor in parallel or series electrical connection with the DC motor.

11 . The exercise resistance apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the electrical condition sensor is a voltage sensor configured to sense voltage developed by the DC motor.

12 . The exercise resistance apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the electrical condition sensor is a DC motor voltage sensor, and wherein the electrical resistance control circuit comprises one or more transistor switches.

13 . The exercise resistance apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the electrical resistance control circuit comprises a microcontroller in communication with the DC motor voltage sensor and the one or more transistor switches.

14 . The exercise resistance apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the electrical condition sensor is a DC motor voltage sensor, and wherein the electrical resistance control circuit uses pulse width modulation to modulate electrical resistance into the motor control circuit via one or more resistive elements.

15 . The exercise resistance apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the electrical resistance control circuit includes at least one resistor, the at least one resistor being controllably coupled into electrical connection with the DC motor by the pulse width modulation.

16 . The exercise resistance apparatus of claim 5 , wherein, during the positive stroke of the given repetition, the exercise resistance is varied so as to vary the amount of exercise resistance based on the sensed position such that the exercise resistance reduces further into the positive stroke.

17 . The exercise resistance apparatus of claim 5 , wherein, during the positive stroke of the given repetition, the exercise resistance at the start of the positive stroke is greater than the exercise resistance at the end of the positive stroke based on at least using the plurality of different ones of the different currents to drive the DC motor during the positive stroke of the given repetition.

18 . An exercise resistance apparatus, comprising:

a rotatable drive element;

a motor control circuit;

a DC motor operatively connected to the motor control circuit, the DC motor operatively connected to drive the rotatable drive element, the DC motor being controlled at least in part by the motor control circuit;

a physical resistance delivery section operatively connectable to the rotatable drive element;

a position sensing circuit for sensing a position of a least a portion of the resistance delivery section during a given repetition; and

wherein the motor control circuit generates a plurality of different currents used to drive the DC motor during a negative stroke of the given repetition; and

wherein the motor control circuit is configured to control an amount of exercise resistance electrically induced by the DC motor during the negative stroke of the given repetition in response to the sensed position such that during the negative stroke of the given repetition the exercise resistance is varied based on at least using a plurality of different ones of the different currents to drive the DC motor during the negative stroke of the given repetition.

19 . The exercise resistance apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the exercise resistance apparatus is configured to provide a plurality of distinct levels of exercise resistance while withdrawing the physical resistance delivery section during at least a portion of the negative exercise stroke.

20 . The exercise resistance apparatus of claim 19 ,

wherein the exercise resistance apparatus is configured to detect a switch-over point based on the position of the physical resistance delivery section, and

wherein the exercise resistance apparatus is configured switch, at the switch-over point, the configuration of the exercise resistance apparatus from providing resistance against extending the physical resistance delivery section during at least a portion of the positive exercise stroke to providing resistance while withdrawing the physical resistance delivery section during at least a portion of the negative exercise stroke.