System and method for controlling a stack pin in a weight stack of an exercise machine and for providing anatomically correct body movement on an exercise machine

Abstract

A system for controlling a free end of a stack pin used with a stack of weights, the system including a nesting device configured to secure the free end of a stack pin when the stack pin is not lifting a weight and a tuning device configured to adjust the nesting device to exert a back up pressure on the stack pin to counteract potential energy that accumulates when the stack pin is being used to lift the weight.

1 . A system for controlling a free end of a stack pin used with a stack of weights, the system comprising:
 a nesting device configured to secure the free end of a stack pin when the stack pin is not lifting a weight; and   a tuning device configured to adjust the nesting device to exert a back up pressure on the stack pin to counteract potential energy that accumulates when the stack pin is being used to lift the weight.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the nesting device comprises a pair of rollers configured to contact the free end of the stack pin when weight is not lifted. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the nesting device comprises a receiver which is in contact with the free end of the stack pin when the stack pin is not being used to lift weight. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the nesting device is configured to transfer potential energy stored in the stack pin away from the stack pin when the stack pin is not being used to lift weight. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the nesting device is configured to exert a pressure on the stack pin to counteract potential energy accumulated in the stack pin. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the tuning device is configured to advance and retract the nesting device a distance which defines an amount of pressure at which the nesting device contacts the stack pin when the stack pin is not being used to lift weight. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the tuning device comprises a base, at least one fastening slot, and at least one fastener. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the stack of weights and stack pin are part of an exercise machine and/or a rehabilitation machine. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8 , further comprising the exercise machine and/or the rehabilitation machine comprising a wedge device configured to position a user's ankles and extensional musculatures into active insufficiency wherein securing legs of the user is unnecessary for controlling inappropriate heel raise and/or leg straightening. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 8 , further comprising the exercise machine and/or the rehabilitation machine comprising an adjustable pulling handle system. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the adjustable pulling handle system comprises:
 a support bar;   a first threaded rod and a second threaded rod, each threaded rod is located within the support bar and connected together at adjacent ends, the first threaded rod having threads allowing for rotation of a nut in a first direction when the connected rods are rotated and the second threaded rod having threads allowing for rotation of a second nut in a second, opposite, direction when the connected rods are rotated;   a first grip and a second grip, each grip angularly extending from the support bar, the first grip is connected to the first nut and the second grip is connected to the second nut; and   a crank attached to an end of one of the threaded rods to allow for the first nut to rotate in the first direction about its threaded rod when the crank is rotated and for the second nut to rotate in the second direction about its threaded rod when the crank is rotated.   
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein a gap is provided between the stack of weights to delimit a flexional starting position for a user who is flexionally limited. 
     
     
         13 . A system for reducing a build up of potential energy in a length of a stack pin used to lift a stack of weights, the system comprising at least two opposed stack-pin controllers, each controller comprises a base upon which two posts are mounted, between each pair of posts is a roller whose perimeter matches a radius of the stack pin, and a base of each controller which comprises a fastening device which allows for advancement or retraction of the controller to or from the stack pin to adjust a pressure applied to a free end of the stack pin by the rollers. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the stack of weights are part of an exercise machine and/or a rehabilitation machine. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , further comprising the exercise machine and/or the rehabilitation machine comprising a wedge device configured to position a user's ankles and extensional musculatures into active insufficiency wherein securing legs of the user is unnecessary for controlling inappropriate heel raise and/or leg straightening. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the wedge device is configured to be uniformly adjustable along a base of the exercise machine and/or rehabilitation machine to ensure repeated similar placement of the wedge. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 14 , further comprising the exercise machine and/or the rehabilitation machine comprising an adjustable pulling handle system. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the adjustable pulling handle system comprises:
 a support bar;   a first threaded rod and a second threaded rod, each threaded rod is located within the support bar and connected together at adjacent ends, the first threaded rod having threads allowing for rotation of a nut in a first direction when the connected rods are rotated and the second threaded rod having threads allowing for rotation of a second nut in a second, opposite, direction when the connected rods are rotated;   a first grip and a second grip, each grip angularly extending from the support bar, the first grip is connected to the first nut and the second grip is connected to the second nut; and   a crank attached to an end of one of the threaded rods to allow for the first nut to rotate in the first direction about its threaded rod when the crank is rotated and for the second nut to rotate in the second direction about its threaded rod when the crank is rotated.   
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the exercise machine and/or rehabilitation machine comprises a movement arm that permits movement-arm range of motion to exceed a trunk extension of a user. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the exercise machine and/or rehabilitation machine comprises a crank-adjustable cam-timing device to accommodate a user's variable endpoint resistance decrease requirements. 
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein a gap is provided between the stack of weights to delimit a flexional starting position for a user who is flexionally limited. 
     
     
         22 . A method for reducing a build up of potential energy in a length of a stack pin used with a stack of weights, the method comprising:
 providing a stack pin with a top plate at a first end;   locating at least two rollers on opposite sides of the stack pin at an end of the stack pin furthest away from the top plate into which the stack pin is nested; and   adjusting the rollers to reduce backup pressure each time a selector pin is inserted and/or retracted which, in turn, prevents a buildup of a spring effect or potential energy in the length of the stack pin.