Self-powered fitness equipment

A self-powered fitness device, comprising:

• a frame;
• an actuatable component associated with the frame;
• an exercise input unit that translates exercise of a portion of a user's body into a predefined motive force;
• a generator coupled to the exercise input unit, the generator being activated to produce electric power by the user's exercising motions via the exercise input unit;
• an electric energy storage medium coupled to the generator to store at least part of the power generated by the generator;
• and
• an actuator for selectively and automatically actuating the actuatable component, the actuator being powered by both the generator and the electric energy storage medium.

A method of self-powering a fitness device, comprising:

• providing a fitness device comprising a frame, an actuatable component associated with the frame, an exercise input unit that translates exercise of a portion of a user's body into a predefined motive force, a generator coupled to the exercise input unit, an electric energy storage medium coupled to the generator, and an actuator for selectively and automatically actuating the actuatable component;
• allowing the user to exercise using the exercise input unit on the fitness device;
• producing power via the generator based on the user's exercising motions;
• storing at least part of the power generated by the generator in the electric energy storage medium;
• and
• powering the actuator for the actuatable component with both the generator and the electric energy storage medium.