IP Library Granted Patent US 10,420,977
Granted Patent B1
US 10,420,977 · App. 15/412,650 · Granted Sep 24, 2019

Exercise equipment having a cable system and methods of assembling exercise equipment having a cable system

Inventor: Todd R. Sullivan (Ramsey, MN)
Assignee: Life Fitness, LLC
A63B21/063A63B21/00065A63B21/00069A63B21/0632A63B21/154A63B21/159A63B21/4035A63B21/4047A63B23/1209
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,420,977
App. No.
15/412,650
Granted
Sep 24, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

Exercise equipment comprises a resistance weight that is configured to oppose a given exercise motion via a cable system. An elongated cylindrical connector couples the resistance weight to the exercise equipment via the cable system. The elongated cylindrical connector comprises an externally threaded cylindrical surface that is engaged with a threaded recess on one of the exercise equipment and the resistance weight. A viewing window transversely extends into the threaded recess so that an operator can visually determine that the elongated cylindrical connector is fully engaged with the threaded recess when the externally threaded cylindrical surface is visible through said viewing window and so that an operator can visually determine that the elongated cylindrical connector is not fully engaged with the threaded recess when the externally threaded surface is not visible through said viewing window.

Claims (26)

1. Exercise equipment comprising:

a resistance weight that is configured to oppose a given exercise motion via a cable system;

an elongated cylindrical connector that couples the resistance weight to the exercise equipment via the cable system, wherein the elongated cylindrical connector comprises an externally threaded cylindrical surface that is engaged with a threaded recess on one of the exercise equipment and the resistance weight; and

a viewing window that transversely extends into the threaded recess so that an operator can visually determine that the elongated cylindrical connector is fully engaged with the threaded recess when the externally threaded cylindrical surface is visible through said viewing window and so that an operator can visually determine that the elongated cylindrical connector is not fully engaged with the threaded recess when the externally threaded surface is not visible through said viewing window;

wherein the viewing window is spaced apart from an end of the one of the exercise equipment and the resistance weight by a distance that corresponds to a fully registered position of the elongated cylindrical connector.

2. The exercise equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the resistance weight comprises a weight stack and wherein the threaded recess is on a bayonet that extends into the weight stack.

3. The exercise equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the resistance weight comprises a weight stack and wherein the threaded recess is on a head plate that rests on top of the weight stack.

4. The exercise equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the elongated cylindrical connector comprises a stud having an axial through-bore extending there-through, and wherein the cable system has a cable that extends completely through the through-bore.

5. The exercise equipment according to claim 4 , wherein the cable has a free end that is sized larger than a diameter of the through-bore along the first threaded cylindrical portion such that the free end engages with the first threaded cylindrical portion and cannot pass through the through-bore.

6. The exercise equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the viewing window has a circular cross-section.

7. The exercise equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the viewing window perpendicularly extends into the threaded recess.

8. Exercise equipment comprising:

a weight stack having a plurality of weights that are configured to oppose a given exercise motion through a cable system;

a head plate disposed on the weight stack;

a bayonet that extends from the head plate into the weight stack;

an elongated cylindrical connector that couples the cable system to the bayonet and head plate, wherein the elongated cylindrical connector comprises an externally threaded cylindrical surface that is engaged with a threaded recess on one of the head plate and bayonet; and

a viewing window that transversely extends into the threaded recess so that during assembly an operator can visually determine that the elongated cylindrical connector is fully engaged with the threaded recess when the externally threaded cylindrical surface is visible through said viewing window, and so that during assembly an operator can visually determine that the elongated cylindrical connector is not fully engaged with the threaded recess when the externally threaded cylindrical surface is not visible through said viewing window;

wherein the viewing window is spaced apart from an end of the one of the head plate and bayonet by a distance that corresponds to a fully registered position for the elongated cylindrical connector.

9. The exercise equipment according to claim 8 , wherein the elongated cylindrical connector comprises a stud having an axial through-bore extending there-through, and wherein the cable system has a cable that extends completely through the through-bore.

10. The exercise equipment according to claim 9 , wherein the cable has a free end that is sized larger than a diameter of the through-bore along the externally threaded cylindrical surface such that the free end engages with the stud and cannot pass through the through-bore.

11. The exercise equipment according to claim 10 , wherein the free end is spherically shaped.

12. The exercise equipment according to claim 8 , wherein each respective weight in the plurality of weights has a transverse bore that is sized to receive a connector pin to thereby couple the respective weight to the bayonet.

13. The exercise equipment according to claim 8 , wherein the exercise equipment comprises a press arm.

14. The exercise equipment according to claim 8 , wherein the cable system comprises a pulley.

15. The exercise equipment according to claim 8 , wherein the viewing window perpendicularly extends into the threaded recess.

16. The exercise equipment according to claim 8 , wherein the viewing window has a circular cross-section.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2025
From: PLC AGENT LLC
To: LIFE FITNESS, LLC
Reel/Frame 072363/0759 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2025
From: LIFE FITNESS, LLC
To: TCW ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072353/0574 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Apr 15, 2022
From: LIFE FITNESS, LLC
To: PLC AGENT LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 059861/0208 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 28, 2019
From: LIFE FITNESS, LLC
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 049629/0124 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2019
From: BRUNSWICK CORPORATION
To: LIFE FITNESS, LLC
Reel/Frame 049585/0893 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 31, 2017
From: SULLIVAN, TODD R.
To: BRUNSWICK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 041135/0631 →