IP Library Granted Patent US 12,569,709
Granted Patent B2
US 12,569,709 · App. 18/107,859 · Granted Mar 10, 2026

Dual motor exercise machine

Inventors: Colin Russell Parker (San Francisco, CA); Nihal Murthy (Oakland, CA); David Jonathan Zimmer (Exeter, CA); Michael Valente (San Francisco, CA); Reza Yazdani (San Francisco, CA); Thomas Kroman Watt (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Tonal Systems, Inc.
A63B21/0058A63B21/153A63B21/154A63B24/0087A63B2024/0093A63B2225/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,569,709
App. No.
18/107,859
Granted
Mar 10, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A strength training machine includes a first motor oriented at a first angle relative to a chassis. It further includes a second motor oriented at a second angle relative to the chassis. The first and second angles skew the motors with respect to each other.

Claims (31)

1 . A strength training machine, comprising:

a first motor oriented at a first angle relative to a chassis;

a first cable coupled to the first motor;

a second motor oriented at a second angle relative to the chassis, wherein the first and second angles skew the motors with respect to each other;

a second cable coupled to the second motor; and

a processor configured to:

receive a first position of the first cable;

receive a second position of the second cable;

aggregate the first position and the second position to obtain an aggregate position value; and

perform, using the aggregate position value, a repetition detection technique to determine whether an exercise repetition has occurred, comprising to:

update a start point and an end point associated with each exercise repetition; and

extract range of motion and repetitions from a series of aggregated position updates, wherein the range of motion relates to the start point and the end point.

2 . The strength training machine of claim 1 , wherein the first and second angles are determined based at least in part on a range of desired fleet angles.

3 . The strength training machine of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first pulley, wherein the first cable is guided through the first pulley, and wherein the first pulley is angled relative to the chassis.

4 . The strength training machine of claim 1 , wherein the first motor and the second motor are arranged in a staggered orientation.

5 . The strength training machine of claim 1 , wherein the first motor and the second motor comprise direct drive motors.

6 . The strength training machine of claim 1 , wherein the machine is configured for a user to perform a first exercise involving the first motor, wherein the user performs a second exercise movement involving the second motor, and wherein the first motor and the second motor are driven with different amounts of torque.

7 . The strength training machine of claim 1 , wherein torque of at least one of the first motor or the second motor is adjusted based at least in part on a determination that a user of the strength training machine should be spotted based on sensor measurements based on sensor measure measurements with respect to the first motor.

8 . The strength training machine of claim 7 , wherein torque of the first motor is adjusted.

9 . The strength training machine of claim 7 , wherein both torque of the first motor and torque of the second motor are adjusted together.

10 . The strength training machine of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to throttle power to the first motor.

11 . The strength training machine of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to throttle power to the first motor based at least in part on a characteristic of an exercise movement being performed.

12 . The strength training machine of claim 11 , wherein the characteristic of the exercise movement being performed comprises the processor is configured to provide an indication of whether the exercise movement being performed involves the use of one or both motors.

13 . The strength training machine of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to throttle power to the first motor based at least in part on a determined power consumption of the first motor.

14 . The strength training machine of claim 13 wherein the power consumption of the first motor is determined at least in part by determining:

a mechanical power provided by the first motor; and

a power loss of the first motor.

15 . The strength training machine of claim 14 , wherein the power loss of the first motor is determined at least in part by dynamically determining a resistance of the first motor based at least in part on a measured temperature.

16 . The strength training machine of claim 1 ,

wherein the first motor and the second motor are calibrated to provide a substantially similar tension on the first cable and the second cable, respectively, given a same requested weight.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2026
From: TONAL SYSTEMS, INC.
To: HERCULES CAPITAL, INC., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 075306/0212 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 24, 2025
From: TONAL SYSTEMS, INC.
To: CUSTOMERS BANK
Reel/Frame 073255/0161 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 11, 2023
From: PARKER, COLIN RUSSELL; MURTHY, NIHAL; ZIMMER, DAVID JONATHAN; VALENTE, MICHAEL; YAZDANI, REZA; WATT, THOMAS KROMAN
To: TONAL SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 063612/0263 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63308656 · Feb 10, 2022
Related Publication 20230264062A1 · Aug 24, 2023
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