Exercise machine

Abstract

In an exercise machine having a resistance, the improvement of means to impart an inertial quality to the resistance.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . In a Nautilus machine having a presettable weight resistance for use with an exercise having an ascertainable parameter, the improvement of means to selectably vary the preset weight resistance in order to retain the exercise within the ascertainable parameter.  
     
     
         2 . The improved Nautilus machine of  claim 1  wherein the exercise utilizes repetitions and characterized in that the ascertainable parameter is time per repetition.  
     
     
         3 . The improved Nautilus machine of  claim 1  characterized by the addition of means to impart an inertial quality to the selectably variable resistance.  
     
     
         4 . The improved Nautilus machine of  claim 1  characterized in that said automatic adjustment means includes a generator.  
     
     
         5 . The improved Nautilus machine of  claim 1  characterized by the addition of means to separate the selectably variable resistance from direct mechanical connection to the exerciser.  
     
     
         6 . The improved Nautilus machine of  claim 1  characterized in that said automatic adjustment means includes an initial range adjustment sensor.  
     
     
         7 . The improved Nautilus machine of  claim 1  characterized in that each exerciser has a memory area associated therewith and said automatic adjustment means utilizes said memory area.  
     
     
         8 . The improved Nautilus machine of  claim 1  characterized in that said memory area is on a card.  
     
     
         9 . The improved Nautilus machine of  claim 1  characterized in that there are a limited number of presettably weight resistances.  
     
     
         10 . The improved Nautilus machine of  claim 9  characterized in that there is a single presettable weight resistance.  
     
     
         11 . The improved Nautilus machine of  claim 1  wherein the machine has bidirectional forces and characterized in that said means is not symmetric in respect to the bidirectional forces.  
     
     
         12 . The improved Nautilus machine of  claim 11  characterized in that said means substantially eliminate the resistance in one of the bidirectional forces.  
     
     
         13 . The improved Nautilus machine of  claim 1  characterized in that said modifying means modifies the resistance based upon the time of initial repetition and thereafter retains the resistance at a constant level.  
     
     
         14 . The improved Nautilus machine of  claim 1  characterized in that said modifying means begins with a resistance too high for the particular exerciser.  
     
     
         15 . The improved Nautilus machine of  claim 1  characterized by the addition of the previous resistance for a particular exerciser being held in memory and in that said modifying means utilizes said previous resistance to begin the resistance for that particular exerciser.  
     
     
         16 . The improved Nautilus machine of  claim 15  characterized in that said memory is on an exchangeable card.  
     
     
         17 . The improved Nautilus machine of  claim 15  characterized in that said memory is in a computer.  
     
     
         18 . The improved Nautilus machine of  claim 17  characterized by the addition of sensor means to identify the particular exerciser.  
     
     
         19 . In a Nautilus machine having resistance for use with an exercise, the improvement of an inertial means to impart an inertial quality to the resistance.  
     
     
         20 . The improved Nautilus machine of  claim 19  wherein the exercise is bidirectional having a forward and return stroke and characterized by the addition of means to provide a resistance during the return stroke.  
     
     
         21 . The improved Nautilus machine of  claim 19  wherein the exercise has a time per. repetition and characterized by the addition of a modifying means to modify the resistance based upon the time per. repetition.  
     
     
         22 . The improved Nautilus machine of  claim 21  wherein said modifying means lowers the resistance upon increasing time per repetition.  
     
     
         23 . The improved Nautilus machine of  claim 21  characterized in that said modifying means modifies the resistance based upon the time of initial repetition and thereafter retains the resistance at a constant level.  
     
     
         24 . The improved Nautilus machine of  claim 21  characterized in that said modifying means begins with a resistance too high for the particular exerciser.  
     
     
         25 . The improved Nautilus machine of  claim 21  characterized by the addition of the previous resistance for a particular exerciser being held in memory and in that said modifying means utilizes said previous resistance to begin the resistance for that particular exerciser.  
     
     
         26 . The improved Nautilus machine of  claim 25  characterized in that said memory is on an exchangeable card.  
     
     
         27 . The improved Nautilus machine of  claim 25  characterized in that said memory is in a computer.  
     
     
         28 . The improved Nautilus machine of  claim 27  characterized by the addition of sensor means to identify the particular exerciser.  
     
     
         29 . In an exercise machine having a selectably variable resistance for use with an exercise having an ascertainable parameter, the improvement of a means to automatically adjust the selectably variable resistance in order to retain the exercise within the ascertainable parameter.  
     
     
         30 . The exercise machine of  claim 29  wherein the exercise utilizes repetitions and characterized in that the ascertainable parameter is time per repetition.  
     
     
         31 . The exercise machine of  claim 29  characterized by the addition of means to impart an inertial quality to the selectably variable resistance.  
     
     
         32 . The exercise machine of  claim 29  characterized in that said automatic adjustment means includes a generator.  
     
     
         33 . The exercise machine of  claim 29  characterized by the addition of means to separate the selectably variable resistance from direct mechanical connection to the exerciser.  
     
     
         34 . The exercise machine of  claim 29  characterized in that said automatic adjustment means includes an initial range adjustment sensor.  
     
     
         35 . The exercise machine of  claim 29  characterized in that each exerciser has a memory area associated therewith and said automatic adjustment means utilizes said memory area.  
     
     
         36 . The exercise machine of  claim 35  characterized in that said memory area is on a card.  
     
     
         37 . The exercise machine of  claim 29  wherein the selectably variable resistance is a presettable Nautilus-type weight pack and characterized in that said automatic adjustment means include a means to override the presettable weight pack.  
     
     
         38 . The exercise machine of  claim 37  wherein the machine has bidirectional forces thereon and characterized in that said override means are not symmetric in respect to the bidirectional forces.  
     
     
         39 . The exercise machine of  claim 38  characterized in that said override means substantially eliminate the resistance in one of the bidirectional forces.  
     
     
         40 . The exercise machine of  claim 29  characterized in that the setting of the parameter optimizes the exercise.  
     
     
         41 . The exercise machine of  claim 40  characterized in that the parameter is ascertained empirically.  
     
     
         42 . The exercise machine of  40  characterized in that the parameter is ascertained theoretically.  
     
     
         43 . The exercise machine of  claim 29  wherein the exercise has multiple parameters and characterized in that the means optimizes the exercise in respect to the multiple parameters.  
     
     
         44 . The exercise machine of  claim 43  characterized in that the parameters vary during the duration of the exercise.  
     
     
         45 . In an exercising machine for performing an exercise having a desired parameter, the improvement of an analog readout and said analog readout indicating the degree of deviance from the desired parameter.  
     
     
         46 . The exercising machine of  claim 45  characterized in that said analog readout is a tone with said tone varying depending on the degree of deviance.  
     
     
         47 . The exercising machine of  claim 45  characterized in that said analog readout is a string of lights.  
     
     
         48 . The exercising machine of  claim 45  wherein the exercise machine has a resistance and characterized by the addition of a means to automatically vary the resistance to meet the desired parameter if the exercise deviates therefrom by a certain predetermined amount.  
     
     
         49 . In a Nautilus machine having a presettable weight resistance for use with an exercise, the improvement of means to alter the resistance during the exercise.  
     
     
         50 . the Nautilus machine of  claim 49  characterized in that said means is programmed with preset values of alteration.  
     
     
         51 . The Nautilus machine of  claim 49  characterized in that said means is individually set with values of alteration.  
     
     
         52 . The Nautilus machine of  claim 49  wherein the exercise has a parameter and characterized in that the means alters the resistance to override the machine should the exercise deviate significantly from the parameter.  
     
     
         53 . The Nautilus machine of  claim 49  wherein the exercise has desired parameters and characterized in that said means varies the resistance in order to keep the exercise within the desired parameters.