# US 11,298,583 B2 · Exercise machine friction brake calibration

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,298,583 B2
- Document ID: US11298583B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/457,735
- Filed: 2019-06-28
- Published: 2020-01-02
- Granted: 2022-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 2018-06-28
- Assignees: Paradigm Health and Wellness
- Applicants: Paul Hsieh
- Inventors: Paul Hsieh
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298583B2

## CPC

- A63B 1/00: Horizontal bars
- A63B 22/0046: {Details of the support elements or their connection to the exercising apparatus, e.g. adjustment of size or orientation (attachments of resisters or weights to the body of the user A63B21/4001; using rollers, wheels, castors or gliding means to be moved over the floor or guide tracks A63B22/20)}
- A63B 21/015: including rotating or oscillating elements {rubbing against fixed elements}
- A63B 21/225: {with flywheels}
- A63B 22/02: with movable endless bands {, e.g. treadmills (other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028)}
- A63B 22/04: with movable {multiple} steps {, i.e. more than one step per limb, e.g. steps mounted on endless loops, endless ladders (steppers with cantilevered support elements pivoting about an axis A63B22/0048)}
- A63B 22/0605: {performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers}
- A63B 22/0664: {performing an elliptic movement}
- A63B 24/0075: {Means for generating exercise programmes or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases}
- A63B 71/0622: {Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user}
- A63B 2220/50: Force related parameters
- A63B 2225/02: Testing, calibrating or measuring of equipment
- A63B 2225/09: Adjustable dimensions
- A63B 2230/75: calorie expenditure
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)

## Abstract

Improvements in a flywheel friction loading measurement system is disclosed. The measurement system includes combining a rotational system that alters friction on a flywheel combined with a variable resistor or potentiometer. The combination proves a measurable system that can determine the loading on a piece of exercise equipment. The potentiometer is calibrated to provide a repeatable and reliable measurement of the loading system that is placed on a flywheel. Detents can be included to provide finite loading positions. A calibration sequence can also be used to communicate the friction to a display and measurement system. The rotational system is with pulling a cable on a rotational axis or with wrapping a cable chain, belt or equivalent on or around a rotational axis.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An exercise machine resistance brake calibration mechanism comprising:
a rotatable knob on a housing;
said rotatable knob being connected to a capstan through a shaft;
said capstan is secured to a first end of a cable, and said cable passes through a shank near said first end of said cable that is secured to said housing;
said cable terminates at an end cap at a second end of said cable that is connected to a braking system on said exercise machine wherein;
rotation of said rotatable knob wraps said cable on said capstan and alters a tension on said first end of said cable that in-turn alters said braking system that is connected to said end cap of said cable, and
a potentiometer connected to said shaft, whereby a position of said rotatable knob is measured as a resistance of said potentiometer that corresponds to an exercise resistance on said exercise machine.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The exercise machine resistance brake calibration mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said potentiometer is measured by a controller.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The exercise machine resistance brake calibration mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said controller is on a fitness equipment.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The exercise machine resistance brake calibration mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said fitness equipment is selected from a group consisting of a treadmill, a spinning bike, an upright bike, a recumbent bike, a stepper, an under desk equipment, an under desk bikes, an under desk elliptical or an upright elliptical machine.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The exercise machine resistance brake calibration mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said braking system is on a fitness equipment.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The exercise machine resistance brake calibration mechanism according to claim 5, wherein said braking system is a friction brake that creates a load on a flywheel.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The exercise machine resistance brake calibration mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a resistance from said potentiometer is calibrated to a load on said braking system.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The exercise machine resistance brake calibration mechanism according to claim 7, wherein said calibrated to a load is determined from at least two different resistance readings with at least two different loads.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The exercise machine resistance brake calibration mechanism according to claim 7, wherein said calibrated to a load is determined from at least two different rotation speeds of a flywheel.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The exercise machine resistance brake calibration mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said rotatable knob includes a drive stop that limits rotation of said rotatable knob in at least one direction of rotation.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The exercise machine resistance brake calibration mechanism according to claim 10, wherein said drive stop limits rotational turning of said rotatable knob.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The exercise machine resistance brake calibration mechanism according to claim 10, wherein said drive stop has at least one arm that rotates with said rotatable knob.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The exercise machine resistance brake calibration mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said rotatable knob is connected to a detent wheel having a plurality of through holes.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The exercise machine resistance brake calibration mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said rotatable knob has indicia that indicates at least two positions that indicates a rotated position of said rotatable knob, said potentiometer and said exercise resistance on said exercise machine.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The exercise machine resistance brake calibration mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said potentiometer is a single turn potentiometer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The exercise machine resistance brake calibration mechanism according to claim 1, wherein holes or depressions in a detent wheel that are indexed by a spring-loaded ball.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The exercise machine resistance brake calibration mechanism according to claim 1, wherein rotation of said rotatable knob turns said capstan that pulls said first end of said cable around a circular recess.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The exercise machine resistance brake calibration mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said rotatable knob includes indicia that relates to tension on said cable.