Exercise apparatus and associated method including rheological fluid brake

An exercise apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• user actuation means connected to said frame for being engaged and moved by at least one limb of a user during exercise, said user actuation means including receiving means for receiving the limb of the user and providing an interface for engaging the apparatus;
• and
• motorless rotary fluid brake means operatively connected between said frame and said user actuation means for applying a resistance to movement of said user actuation means and for dissipating substantially all energy therefrom, said fluid brake means comprising
• a housing connected to said frame,
• a viscous fluid positioned in said housing, and
• a rotatable shaft extending outwardly from said housing and operatively connected between said viscous fluid and said user actuation means.

An exercise apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• user actuation means connected to said frame for being engaged and moved by at least one limb of a user during an exercise, said user actuation means including receiving means for receiving the limb of the user and providing an interface for engaging the apparatus;
• and
• motorless rotary magnetorheological fluid brake means operatively connected between said frame and said user actuation means for applying a controllable resistance to movement of said user actuation means and for dissipating substantially all energy therefrom, said magnetorheological fluid brake means comprising a magnetorheological fluid having a controllable viscosity responsive to an applied magnetic field and magnetic field generating means adjacent said magnetorheological fluid for generating a predetermined magnetic field strength in said magnetorheological fluid.

A stair stepper exercise apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• left and right foot platforms for supporting respective feet of a user and being operatively connected to said frame so as to be moveable between up and down positions;
• and
• motorless rotary rheological fluid brake means operatively connected between said frame and said left and right foot platforms for applying a controllable resistance to movement of said left and right foot platforms and for dissipating substantially all energy therefrom, said rheological fluid brake means comprising a rheological fluid having a controllable viscosity.