Resistance device for exercise machine
AssigneeCoulter Ventures, LLC.
InventorsPatrick Burgess, Matt Dubberley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A resistance device for an exercise machine may include a resistance element such as a fan or impeller that rotates within a cavity of a housing to produce resistance to a user's input. The resistance levels can be adjusted by a user by adjusting a movable baffle. The movable baffle may include an adjustment mechanism comprising a contoured guide surface that interacts with a protrusion on an adjacent component to move a portion of an outer region of the movable baffle outward to allow additional air into the cavity of the housing to adjust the resistance of the resistance device.
Claims20
A resistance device for an exercise machine comprising:
- a housing comprising a first sidewall, a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, and a third sidewall connecting the first sidewall and the second sidewall, an inner cavity defined by the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the third sidewall, a first opening located in the third sidewall, and
- the second sidewall comprising a recess that has a flange spaced below and away from an outer surface of the second sidewall and a second opening extending through the flange into the inner cavity, wherein the first opening defines an air exhaust and the second opening defines an air inlet;
- a resistance element located within the housing, wherein the resistance element rotates within the housing to create resistance for a user;
- the flange comprising a protrusion extending outward from an outward facing surface;
- a fixed baffle connected to the housing, wherein the fixed baffle comprises a first plurality of openings, wherein the first plurality of openings allow an amount of air into the inner cavity;
- a movable baffle that is rotationally connected to the second sidewall, the movable baffle comprising an inner member that includes a plurality of fins and a second plurality of openings;
- the inner member includes an outer flange located outboard of the plurality of fins, wherein the inner member comprises a guide surface;
- and
- wherein the protrusion contacts the guide surface to create a gap between the inner member and the flange to adjust an amount of air allowed to enter the inner cavity and adjust the resistance for the user.
An exercise machine comprising:
- a frame;
- a resistance device connected to the frame and operatively connected to a user input mechanism, the resistance device comprising:
- a housing defining an inner cavity with an air inlet on a sidewall, wherein the sidewall comprises a protrusion;
- a resistance element rotatably mounted within the inner cavity, wherein resistance of the resistance device is dependent upon airflow through the air inlet;
- and
- a component movably connected to the sidewall, wherein the component comprises a guide surface, wherein interaction between the protrusion and the guide surface creates a variable air gap between the sidewall and the component to adjust the resistance of the resistance device.
A resistance device for an exercise machine comprising:
- a housing comprising a first sidewall, a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, and a third sidewall connecting the first sidewall and the second sidewall, an inner cavity defined by the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the third sidewall, a first opening located in the third sidewall, wherein the first opening is an air exhaust,
- the second sidewall comprising a second opening extending into the inner cavity that defines an air inlet;
- a resistance element rotatably mounted within the inner cavity;
- a plurality of protrusions extending from an outward facing surface of the second sidewall;
- and
- a movable baffle for controlling airflow into the inner cavity connected to the housing, wherein the movable baffle comprising a plurality of guide surfaces;
- and
- wherein a first guide surface of the plurality of guide surfaces is positioned to interact with a first protrusion of the plurality of protrusions to create an air gap between the movable baffle and the second sidewall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.