Continous tensioning system for fitness apparatus

Abstract

A fitness apparatus including a frame, at least one resistance member operatively mounted on the frame, and at least one user interface member. A cable and pulley system operatively connects between the at least one resistant member and the at least one interface member. Floating pulleys engage with the a cable of the cable and pulley system. Biasing elements are enagaged between the frame and the floating pulleys, so that the biasing element applies a generally perpendicular force to the cable and removes the slack in the cable and pulley system.

1 . A tensioning system for a fitness apparatus having a frame and a cable and pulley assembly, comprising: 
 at least one floating pulley operatively engaged with at least one cable of the cable and pulley assembly; and    at least one biasing element operatively connected between the at least one floating pulley and the frame for applying a tensioning force to the at least one cable.    
   
   
       2 . The tensioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing element forces the at least one floating pulley and at least one cable away from a natural travel path.  
   
   
       3 . The tensioning system of  claim 1  wherein the generally perpendicular force acts substantially along the longitudinal axis of the at least one biasing element.  
   
   
       4 . The tensioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the cable and pulley device include a first cable and a second cable, further comprising: 
 a double floating pulley operatively engaged between the first cable and the second cable;    a pair of pulleys operatively engaged with the first cable;    a pair of braces connected between the double floating pulley and the respective pair of pulleys; and    a biasing element connected between the pair of braces, said biasing element configured to apply a biasing force to each of said braces, whereby a tensioning force is applied to at least said first cable.    
   
   
       5 . The tensioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the cable and pulley device include a first cable and a second cable, further comprising: 
 a double floating pulley operatively engaged between the first cable and the second cable;    a pair of pulleys operatively engaged with the first cable;    a pair of braces connected between the double floating pulley and the respective of pulleys; and    at least two biasing element connected between the pair of braces and a common junction, said biasing elements configured to apply a biasing force to each of said braces, whereby a tensioning force is applied to at least said first cable.    
   
   
       6 . The tensioning device of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a third biasing element connected between the frame and said common junction.    
   
   
       7 . The tensioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the cable and pulley device include a first cable and a second cable, further comprising: 
 a double floating pulley operatively engaged between the first cable and the second cable;    a pair of pulleys operatively engaged with the first cable;    a pair of braces connected between the double floating pulley and the respective pair of pulleys; and    a pair of biasing elements, a first biasing element in said pair connected between a first brace in said pair of braces and the double floating pulley, and a second biasing element in said pair connected between a second brace in said pair of braces and the double floating pulley, whereby said biasing elements are configured to apply a biasing force to each of said braces and a tensioning force is applied to at least said first cable.    
   
   
       8 . The tensioning device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least two pulleys operatively engaged with at least one cable of the cable and pulley assembly; and    a rigid member connected between the at least two pulleys.    
   
   
       9 . A fitness apparatus, comprising: 
 a frame;    at least one resistance member operatively mounted on the frame;    at least one interface member;    a cable and pulley system operatively connected between the at least one resistance member and the at least one interface member, said cable and pulley system having at least one cable;    at least one floating pulley engaged with said at least one cable; and    at least one biasing element engaged between said frame and said at least one floating pulley, wherein the biasing element applies a tensioning force to said at least one cable.    
   
   
       10 . The tensioning system of  claim 9 , wherein said biasing element is configured to displace said at least one floating pulley and said at least one cable from a natural travel path between said at least one resistance member and said at least one interface member.  
   
   
       11 . The tensioning system of  claim 9  wherein said tensioning force acts substantially along the longitudinal axis of the at least one biasing element.  
   
   
       12 . The tensioning device of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a first cable;    a second cable;    a double floating pulley operatively engaged between the first cable and the second cable;    a pair of floating pulleys operatively engaged with the first cable;    a pair of braces connected between the double floating pulley and the respective floating pulleys; and    a biasing element connected between the pair of braces, said biasing element configured to apply a biasing force to each of said braces in said pair of braces, whereby a tensioning force is applied to at least said first cable.    
   
   
       13 . The tensioning device of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a first cable;    a second cable;    a double floating pulley operatively engaged between the first cable and the second cable;    a pair of floating pulleys operatively engaged with the first cable;    a pair of braces connected between the double floating pulley and the respective pair of floating pulleys; and    at least two biasing element connected between the pair of braces and a common junction, said biasing elements configured to apply a biasing force to each of said braces in said pair of braces, whereby a tensioning force is applied to at least said first cable.    
   
   
       14 . The tensioning device of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 a third biasing element connected between the frame and the common junction.    
   
   
       15 . The tensioning device of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a first cable;    a second cable;    a double floating pulley operatively engaged between the first cable and the second cable;    a pair of floating pulleys operatively engaged with the first cable;    a pair of braces connected between the double floating pulley and the respective pair of floating pulleys; and    at least one biasing element connected between the pair of braces and the double floating pulley, said biasing element is configured to apply a biasing force to each of said braces, whereby a tensioning force is applied to at least said first cable.    
   
   
       16 . The tensioning device of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 at least two pulleys operatively engaged with at least one cable of the cable and pulley assembly; and    a rigid member connected between the at least two pulleys.    
   
   
       17 . A fitness apparatus, comprising: 
 a frame;    at least one resistance member operatively mounted to said frame;    at least one interface member;    a cable and pulley system operatively connected between said at least one resistance member and said at least one interface member, said cable and pulley system having at least one cable;    at least one floating pulley engaged with said at least one cable; and    a means for biasing said at least one pulley in a generally perpendicular direction from a longitudinal axis of said cable to apply a tensioning force to said cable.    
   
   
       18 . A method for maintaining cable tension in a fitness apparatus having at least one cable operatively coupling at least one interface member with at least one resistance member mounted on a frame, comprising: 
 applying a generally perpendicular biasing force to the at least one cable, said biasing force displacing said at least one cable from a travel path to maintain a tension in the at least one cable.