IP Library Granted Patent US 11,285,355
Granted Patent B1
US 11,285,355 · App. 16/896,084 · Granted Mar 29, 2022

Exercise machine enhancements

Inventors: Dana Robert Nicholson (Lafayette, CA); Mark Peter McNally (San Francisco, CA); David Mallard (Mill Valley, CA); David Jonathan Zimmer (Pacifica, CA)
Assignee: Tonal Systems, Inc.
A63B21/15A63B21/005A63B21/22A63B21/157A63B2220/833
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,285,355
App. No.
16/896,084
Granted
Mar 29, 2022
Kind
B1
Abstract

An exercise machine is disclosed. The exercise machine comprises a tension generating device. The exercise machine comprises a translatable arm mount coupled to the tension generating device. The exercise machine comprises an arm coupled to the translatable arm mount. The exercise machine comprises a cable coupled to the tension generating device via the arm.

Claims (24)

1. An exercise machine, comprising:

a central unit having a gear; and

an arm including:

a tooth that engages the gear, wherein advancing the tooth along the gear enables rotation of the arm about an axis of freedom, and wherein the tooth engages the arm to maintain the arm at a fixed angle; and

a locking mechanism that prevents the tooth from disengaging from the gear, wherein the locking mechanism includes a shuttle coupled to the tooth, wherein the shuttle is tapered such that a ball is in an unlock state in the event the tooth is not engaged with the gear, and that the ball is in a lock state in the event the tooth is engaged with the gear.

2. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the tooth is biased towards engaging the gear at least in part using a spring.

3. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the gear is a sagittal gear.

4. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the gear is a sagittal gear with squared-off teeth.

5. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the ball is oriented to move along a horizontal plane.

6. An exercise machine, comprising:

a central unit having a gear; and

an arm including:

a tooth that engages the gear, wherein advancing the tooth along the gear enables rotation of the arm about an axis of freedom, and wherein the tooth engages the arm to maintain the arm at a fixed angle;

a control having a locked and an unlocked position; and

a linkage that couples the control to the tooth such that the control is arranged in the unlocked position when the tooth is not engaged with the gear and the control is arranged in the locked position when the tooth is engaged with the gear, wherein the linkage includes a shuttle coupled to the tooth, wherein the shuttle is tapered such that a ball is in an unlock state in the event the tooth is not engaged with the gear, and that the ball is in a lock state in the event the tooth is engaged with the gear.

7. The exercise machine of claim 6 , wherein the control is a lever.

8. The exercise machine of claim 6 , wherein the linkage includes a rod.

9. The exercise machine of claim 6 , wherein the linkage includes a rod, the control is a lever, and wherein the rod pushes the lever out from the arm, when the tooth is not engaged with the gear.

10. The exercise machine of claim 6 , wherein the linkage includes a rod, the control is a lever, and wherein the rod pulls the lever into the arm, when the tooth is engaged with the gear.

11. The exercise machine of claim 6 , wherein the gear is a sagittal gear.

12. The exercise machine of claim 6 , wherein the gear is a sagittal gear with squared-off teeth.

13. The exercise machine of claim 6 , wherein the tooth is not squared-off.

14. The exercise machine of claim 6 , further comprising a sensor to detect when the tooth engages the gear.

15. The exercise machine of claim 6 , further comprising a wireless sensor to detect when the tooth engages the gear.

Assignments (7)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2026
From: TONAL SYSTEMS, INC.
To: HERCULES CAPITAL, INC., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 075306/0212 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2026
From: THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, IN ITS CAPACITY AS RECEIVER FOR SIGNATURE BRIDGE BANK, N.A.
To: TONAL SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 074028/0088 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 24, 2025
From: TONAL SYSTEMS, INC.
To: CUSTOMERS BANK
Reel/Frame 073255/0161 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 11, 2023
From: TONAL SYSTEMS, INC.
To: THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, IN ITS CAPACITY AS RECEIVER FOR SIGNATURE BRIDGE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063283/0182 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 21, 2020
From: NICHOLSON, DANA
To: RIPT LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 053263/0650 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 21, 2020
From: RIPT LABS, INC.
To: TONAL SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 053263/0678 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 21, 2020
From: MCNALLY, MARK PETER; MALLARD, DAVID; ZIMMER, DAVID JONATHAN
To: TONAL SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 053263/0642 →
Cited By (18)
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