The present invention relates to the field of portable workout devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a modular cable-based resistance workout device incorporated with a plurality of permanent and variable resistance assemblies adapted to generate a resistance force on pullable cables extended via adjustable arms. The device can be used in different types of indoor and outdoor settings such as platform mountings, wall tracks, doors, trees, poles, or benches or chairs.
Resistance-based workout devices have been commercially available for decades, and are well-known to those in the fitness industry. Conventional workout devices often use a weight stack attached via a cable and pulley system to one or more handles. The user selects the desired resistance by inserting a fastener into one of the weights in the stack and that weight along with all overlying weights is lifted by the user to provide resistance to the cable. Although effective for providing resistance, these devices are very large and heavy, varying in dimensions up to 6-8 feet wide, 7-8 feet tall, and weight up to 600 pounds, so portability is significantly sacrificed for adjustable resistance in these traditional workout devices.
The use of resistance elastic bands with handles as a replacement for weight stacks has been made in the past, where a user is able to select the desired resistance by adding additional sets of elastic bands or replacing existing bands with bands of different resistance. However, this is again a very inconvenient way of adjusting resistance.
A number of solutions exist in prior art related to cable-based resistance workout devices. Some examples of prior art solutions are as under: US20210339078 discloses a platform base plate having at least one pivotally mounted resistance module attached to the platform base plate, where at least one resistance module has an independent user-selectable resistance setting with incremental resistance ranges of from about 5 pounds up to 500 pounds. Resistance is provided by a stack of stationary friction pads and rotatable friction plates that are engaged with friction pads therebetween.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,320,936 discloses a selectively adjustable, portable exercise system with first and second resistance mechanisms, each with a rotatable spool, a cord wrapped around the spool, a handle secured to the cord, and a resistance stack formed by plural resistance packs, which can be modular.
US20200339377 discloses a force adjustable universal displacement tensioner, including a suction cup assembly and a housing; outer gear spring cover, coil spring covers, and a rope puller are arranged in the housing coaxially through a coil spring shaft; coil springs are disposed in both the outer gear spring cover and the coil spring cover; a pulling rope is disposed on the rope puller; one end of the pulling rope which extends out of the housing is connected to a handle.
US20220168606 discloses a cable training devices include a base unit that is easily attachable to and removable from one or more modular spring plates that provide resistance. The base unit contains a reel or spool with a cable wound around it. Pulling on the cable is resisted by the attached modular spring plates, which each contain a coil or power spring. The modular spring plates can be added or removed from the base unit to vary the resistive force applied to the cable.
Further, prior art US20210236874 uses a force-controlled motor and adjustable arms with cords and handles and it is not portable. US20210322813 uses different way to engage coil springs. U.S. Ser. No. 11/458,346 uses different way to engage coil springs.
Although different prior art solutions exist in the art, they are constructed differently and/or work differently and have their own limitations and purposes. The inventor herein proposes a design and construction of a cable-based resistance workout device that can offer various exercise options with a wide range of adjustable resistance. The proposed cable-based resistance workout device utilizes a recoil spring mechanism that is easy to operate and maintain. The proposed cable-based resistance workout device is compact, lightweight, and relatively reliable.
The present invention is directed to a modular cable-based resistance workout device that can be used in different types of indoor and outdoor settings such as platform mountings, wall tracks, doors, trees, poles, benches, or chairs.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular cable-based resistance workout device having a pair of spring plate assemblies configured with a plurality of permanent and variable resistance assemblies. The permanent resistance assemblies alone or along with selectively engaged variable resistance assemblies if coupled resist unwinding of the cable/cord from the main reel of the workout device upon pulling the cable by the exerciser during exercise.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a modular cable-based resistance workout device that can provide various exercise options with a high degree of variation in the resistance provided to the user/exerciser.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a modular cable-based resistance workout device that utilizes a recoil spring mechanism that is easy to use and maintain.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a modular cable-based resistance workout device that is compact in size, lightweight, simple in construction compared to massive-sized conventional gym machines, or other similar workout devices.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the workout device includes a left spring plate assembly, a right spring plate assembly, a mainframe for attaching said spring plate assemblies, a shaft, a cable reel mounted on the shaft for winding or unwinding the cable therearound during an intended resistance exercise, and a platform or a wall-mounted track or a pair of ratchet straps for holding the mainframe. Each of the left spring plate assembly and the right spring plate assembly includes a permanent resistance assembly mounted on the shaft comprising a primary recoil spring that exerts a resistive force to resist unwinding of the cable from the cable reel; and a plurality of variable resistance assemblies selectively mountable to the left spring plate assembly and the right spring plate assembly, wherein each of the plurality of variable resistance assemblies comprises a secondary recoil spring that is selectively engageable with the shaft to generate a resistive force to resist unwinding of the cable from the main reel. The permanent resistance assembly alone or along with the selectively engageable plurality of variable resistance assemblies resist unwinding of the cable from the cable reel upon application of pull force on the cable by the user during the intended resistance exercise.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the workout device includes at least one sensor that is adapted to collect real-time data and transmits it to one or more electronic devices through a wireless network module.
Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which numerals represent like components.
So that the manner in which the above-recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may have been referred by embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. These and other features, benefits, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reference to the following text figure, with like reference numbers referring to like structures across the views, wherein:
Some embodiments, illustrating its features, will now be discussed in detail. The words “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” and “including,” and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open-ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. It must also be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Although any methods, and systems similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments, the preferred methods, and systems are now described. The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary.
The present invention is described hereinafter by various embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein reference numerals used in the accompanying drawing correspond to the like elements throughout the description. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, the embodiment is provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the following detailed description, numeric values and ranges are provided for various aspects of the implementations described. These values and ranges are to be treated as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. In addition, several materials are identified as suitable for various facets of the implementations. These materials are to be treated as exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
The various features and embodiments of the present invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying figures, namely
The present invention is directed to a modular cable-based resistance workout device that can be used in different types of indoor and outdoor settings such as platform mountings, wall tracks, doors, trees, poles, benches, or chairs. The permanent resistance assemblies alone or along with selectively engaged variable resistance assemblies if coupled resist unwinding of the cable/cord from the main reel of the workout device upon pulling the cable by the exerciser during exercise. The workout device would optionally allow real-time data collection and transmission to a smart device or Internet for performance tracking and rendering coaching advice. For this, the workout device is configured to analyze activity information, such as for example applied force, number of repetitions and sets, velocity, and timing. The workout device can provide various exercise options with a high degree of variation in the resistance provided to the user/exerciser. The workout device utilizes a recoil spring mechanism that is easy to use and maintain. The workout device is compact in size, lightweight, simple in construction compared to massive-sized conventional gym machines, or other similar workout devices.
From herein afterward, the workout device is referred to as a workout device (100).
Referring now to the
The left spring plate assembly (101) and the right spring plate assembly (102) are symmetrical (Refer
The arm (110) includes a rectangular metallic bar (110A) which is covered with a polymer/plastic cover (110B). The cover (110B) and the bar (110A) are bolted together (
Referring now to
Referring now to
The permanent resistance assembly (160) is mounted on the shaft (130) through a sleeve (166) (
Referring now to
The plurality of variable resistance assemblies (170) is housed in a housing (181) (
Referring now to
The pair of connectors (147, 148) hold the cable reels (150) of the left spring plate assembly (101) and the right spring plate assembly (102) therebetween to reduce fluctuating vibrations produced therein (
The mounting bracket (149) is provided for mounting a sensor (electronic load cell) thereon. In some embodiments the bracket (187) is provided with structural extensions (187A) for mounting the sensor thereon as best seen in
The workout device (100) includes a plurality of bracket ribs (152, 153) and horizontal ribs (154) for providing strength to the mainframe (180) as seen in
The workout device (100) is attached to a platform (200). Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
In order to use the workout device (100), the operator/user of the device (100) needs to attach the device (100) to the platform (200) or the slider (310), or the ratchet straps (400). Thereafter, the user requires to adjust the angle or device (100) and/or angle of the arm (110) and the resistance of the spring by selecting and engaging the variable resistance assemblies (170) of a left (101) or a right (102) or both (101, 102) spring plate assemblies as per workout requirement. Also, the user is allowed to adjust the angle and height of the slider (310).
It should be understood according to the preceding description of the present invention that the same is susceptible to changes, modifications and adaptations, and that the said changes, modifications and adaptations fall within scope of the appended claims.