Fitness cable tensioning apparatus, systems, and methods of use

An exercise equipment cable system comprising:

• a fitness cable having first and second ends, the first fitness cable end being attachable to or attached to a handle;
• a load bearing device;
• and
• a ratchet-based cable tensioning apparatus attached to the second end of the fitness cable and to the load bearing device, the cable tensioning apparatus including a housing and a ratchet mechanism having a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein the cable tensioning apparatus maintains tension on the fitness cable in both the ratchet mechanism locked and unlocked states, and wherein when the ratchet mechanism is in the locked state, a user pulling the fitness cable using the handle causes the load bearing device to move thereby applying a exercise load to the handle via the fitness cable and when the ratchet mechanism is in the unlocked state, a length of a free portion of the fitness cable may be adjusted without moving the load bearing device;
• and
• wherein the housing includes an aperture at a first end of the housing through which the fitness cable passes and the load bearing device is coupled to a second end of the housing opposite the first end of the housing;
• and
• wherein the ratchet mechanism includes:
• a spool within the housing, the spool comprising a first flange on a first side of a hub, a second flange on a second side of the hub, and an annular recess located between the first flange and the second flange, wherein a portion of the fitness cable at the second end of the fitness cable is configured to wrap around the spool within the annular recess, and wherein the fitness cable extends away from the cable tensioning apparatus via the aperture at the first end of the housing;
• a power spring interconnected to the spool, wherein the power spring is configured to rotate the spool in a first rotational direction;
• and
• a first geared element interconnected to the spool, wherein the first geared element comprises a plurality of gear teeth;
• a pawl configured to intermesh with the gear teeth of the first geared element, wherein when the pawl is intermeshed with the gear teeth, the pawl allows rotation of the spool in the first rotational direction and does not allow rotation of the spool in a second rotational direction, opposite the first rotational direction;
• and
• a pawl toggle, wherein when the pawl toggle is in a first position, the pawl is in a locked configuration with the pawl intermeshing with at least one of the gear teeth thereby allowing rotation of the spool only in the first rotational direction thereby placing the ratchet mechanism in the locked state, and wherein when the pawl toggle is in a second position, the pawl is in an unlocked configuration thereby allowing rotation of the spool in both the first and second rotational directions and thereby placing the ratchet mechanism in the unlocked state.

A ratchet-based cable tensioning apparatus configured for use in an exercise equipment system that includes a load bearing device and a handle, bar or attachment that are interconnected, at least in part, via a fitness cable and the ratchet-based cable tensioning apparatus, the ratchet-based cable tensioning apparatus attached to a first end of the fitness cable and comprising:

• a ratchet mechanism having a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein the ratchet-based cable tensioning apparatus maintains tension on the fitness cable in both the ratchet mechanism locked and unlocked states, and
• wherein when the ratchet mechanism is in the locked state with the load bearing device and the handle, bar or attachment interconnected, at least in part, via the fitness cable and the ratchet-based cable tensioning apparatus, a user performing a selected exercise movement that moves the handle, bar or attachment, causes the load bearing device to move thereby applying an exercise load to the handle, bar or attachment, via the fitness cable and the ratchet-based cable tensioning mechanism, and
• when the ratchet mechanism is in the unlocked state, a length of a free portion of the fitness cable may be adjusted while maintaining tension on the fitness cable, and
• wherein the ratchet mechanism includes:
• a spool within a housing, the spool comprising a first flange on a first side of a hub, a second flange on a second side of the hub, and an annular recess located between the first flange and the second flange, wherein a portion of the fitness cable at the second end of the fitness cable is configured to wrap around the spool within the annular recess, and wherein the fitness cable extends away from the cable tensioning apparatus via an aperture at the first end of the housing;
• a power spring interconnected to the spool, wherein the power spring is configured to rotate the spool in a first rotational direction;
• and
• a first geared element interconnected to the spool, wherein the first geared element comprises a plurality of gear teeth;
• a pawl configured to intermesh with the gear teeth of the first geared element, wherein when the pawl is intermeshed with the gear teeth, the pawl allows rotation of the spool in the first rotational direction and does not allow rotation of the spool in a second rotational direction, opposite the first rotational direction;
• and
• a pawl toggle, wherein when the pawl toggle is in a first position, the pawl is in a locked configuration with the pawl intermeshing with at least one of the gear teeth thereby allowing rotation of the spool only in the first rotational direction thereby placing the ratchet mechanism in the locked state, and wherein when the pawl toggle is in a second position, the pawl is in an unlocked configuration thereby allowing rotation of the spool in both the first and second rotational directions and thereby placing the ratchet mechanism in the unlocked state.

A fitness cable tensioning apparatus comprising:

• a housing having first and second ends;
• a spool within the housing, the spool comprising a first flange on a first side of a hub, a second flange on a second side of the hub, and an annular recess located between the first flange and the second flange;
• a first geared element interconnected to the spool, wherein the first geared element comprises a plurality of gear teeth;
• a pawl configured to intermesh with the gear teeth of the first geared element, wherein when the pawl is intermeshed with the gear teeth, the pawl allows rotation of the spool in a first rotational direction and does not allow rotation of the spool in a second rotational direction, opposite the first rotational direction;
• a flexible fitness cable suitable for conveying a fitness exercise load, the flexible fitness cable having a first end interconnected to the spool, and a second end of the flexible fitness cable extending away from the spool at the first end of the housing, wherein the flexible fitness cable is configured to wrap around the spool within the annular recess;
• a power spring interconnected to the spool, wherein the power spring is configured to rotate the spool in the first rotational direction about a rotational axis of the spool;
• and
• a pawl toggle, wherein when the pawl toggle is in a first position, the pawl is in a locked configuration, and wherein when the pawl toggle is in a second position, the pawl is in an unlocked configuration;
• and
• a cable guide roller positioned attached to the housing within the housing and located between the first end of the housing and the spool, wherein the cable guide roller is configured to guide the flexible fitness cable as it extends away from the spool and retracts toward the spool such that a first axis that is co-axial with a longitudinal axis of the flexible fitness cable exiting the housing is aligned to pass through the hub of the spool;
• and
• wherein when the pawl is in the locked configuration, the pawl intermeshes with the gear teeth allowing rotation of the spool only in the first rotational direction,
• and when the pawl is in an unlocked position, the pawl is not intermeshed with the gear teeth, and thereby allows the rotation of the spool in the first rotational direction, and second rotational direction.

A fitness cable tensioning apparatus comprising:

• a housing having first and second ends;
• a spool within the housing, the spool comprising a first flange on a first side of a hub, a second flange on a second side of the hub, and an annular recess located between the first flange and the second flange;
• a first geared element interconnected to the spool, wherein the first geared element comprises a plurality of gear teeth;
• a pawl configured to intermesh with the gear teeth of the first geared element, wherein when the pawl is intermeshed with the gear teeth, the pawl allows rotation of the spool in a first rotational direction and does not allow rotation of the spool in a second rotational direction, opposite the first rotational direction;
• a flexible fitness cable having a first end interconnected to the spool, and a second end of the flexible fitness cable extending away from the spool at the first end of the housing, wherein the flexible fitness cable is configured to wrap around the spool within the annular recess;
• a power spring interconnected to the spool, wherein the power spring is configured to rotate the spool in the first rotational direction about a rotational axis of the spool;
• and
• a pawl toggle, wherein when the pawl toggle is in a first position, the pawl is in a locked configuration, and wherein when the pawl toggle is in a second position, the pawl is in an unlocked configuration;
• a first buckle connector portion attached to the housing at the second end of the housing, the first buckle connector portion being configured to interconnect with a second buckle connector portion that is interconnected to a load, the first and second buckle connector portions together forming a buckle;
• wherein when the pawl is in the locked configuration, the pawl intermeshes with the gear teeth allowing rotation of the spool only in the first rotational direction,
• and when the pawl is in an unlocked position, the pawl is not intermeshed with the gear teeth, and thereby allows the rotation of the spool in the first rotational direction, and second rotational direction.