Exercise system for shifting an optimum length of peak muscle tension

Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to exercise equipment for enabling a user to vary the effective muscle tension during the course of the performance of an exercise and, more particularly, to an exercise system for shifting an optimum length of peak muscle tension. In some embodiments, the system is an apparatus which comprises a force-generating element, e.g. a fluid cylinder, a user-input element which a user forcibly moves during the course of performance of an exercise, and also a coupling means, which is preferably a cable-pulley system, which transfers forces between the force-generating element and the user-input element. Finally, the apparatus comprises a control unit which controls and varies the level of force generated by the force-generating element during the course of performance of the exercise. The apparatus effectively varies the effective muscle tension through the generation of forces.

1 . A system comprising:
 one or more force-generating elements configured to generate one or more levels of displacement resistance force;   one or more user-input elements;   one or more coupling elements to operably couple the one or more force-generating elements to the one or more user-input elements and transfer forces between the one or more force-generating elements and the one or more user-input elements; and   one or more electronic control units configured to actively modify the one or more levels of displacement resistance force generated by the one or more force-generating elements in response to force applied to the one or more user-input elements.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more force-generating elements comprise:
 one or more motors.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more motors are selected from at least one of a pneumatic motor, a hydraulic motor, and an electric motor. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more force-generating elements comprise:
 one or more spring loaded reels.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more user-input elements comprise:
 at least one of a handle or a barbell.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more coupling elements comprise:
 at least one cable-pulley system.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more electronic control units is configured to actively modify the one or more levels of displacement resistance force generated by the one or more force-generating elements in response to one or more of the following parameters:
 a direction of motion of the one or more user-input elements;   a velocity of the one or more user-input elements;   an acceleration of the one or more user-input elements;   a jerk of the one or more user-input elements;   a level of force applied upon the one or more user-input elements; and   any combination thereof.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor, in communication with the one or more electronic control units, configured for sensing at least one property of:
 the one or more user-input elements;   the one or more force-generating elements;   the one or more coupling elements for transferring forces between the one or more force-generating elements and the one or more user-input elements; and   any combination thereof.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more electronic control units are further configured for:
 receiving data associated with one or more users, and utilizing the data associated with one or more users for determining at least one of:   a level of generated displacement resistance force;   a target time period for a course of performance of an exercise by a user;   a target number of repetitions for a course of performance of an exercise by a user;   a target number of sets for a course of performance of an exercise by a user; and   any combination thereof.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more display devices.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more display devices comprise:
 one or more graphical user interfaces.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more mechanical configurations for passively modifying the one or more levels of displacement resistance force, which one or more mechanical configurations are operably coupled to the one or more user-input elements.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more mechanical configurations for passively modifying the one or more levels of displacement resistance force is at least one of:
 one or more weights;   one or more elastic bands;   one or more bow limbs;   stored fluid pressure; and   any combination thereof.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more electronic control units are further configured for:
 receiving data associated with one or more users;   determining a first level of displacement resistance force for generation during a concentric muscle contraction; and   determining a second different level of displacement resistance force for generation during an eccentric muscle contraction.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more electronic control units are further configured for:
 receiving one or more signals to enter into a safety mode; and   entering the safety mode including at least one of reducing displacement resistance to the one or more user-input elements or locking the one or more user-input elements in place.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more signals include at least one of:
 a sensed velocity of the one or more user-input elements;   a sensed acceleration of the one or more user-input elements;   a sensed jerk of the one or more user-input elements;   a level of force applied upon the one or more user-input elements; and   any combination thereof.   
     
     
         17 . A system comprising:
 one or more force-generating elements that include at least one pneumatic cylinder having a piston movably disposed therein between a first port and a second port;   one or more coupling elements that include a cable having a first end that is coupled to a first side of the piston and a second end that is coupled to a second side of the piston;   one or more user-input elements that are coupled to a portion of the cable external of the pneumatic cylinder;   one or more pressure sources that provide air pressure to the at least one first port and the at least one second port;   one or more valves configured independently limit a first level of air pressure delivered to the at least one first port and a second level of air pressure delivered to the at least one second port; and   one or more electronic controls unit that are configured to control the one or more valves to independently limit a first level of air pressure delivered to the at least one first port and a second level of air pressure delivered to the at least one second port to generate one or more levels of displacement resistance to the one or more user-input elements based on a level of force applied upon the one or more user-input elements.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more electronic control units are further configured to enter safety mode to reduce displacement resistance to the one or more user-input elements, including changing air pressure provided to at least one of the first port or the second port at least partly in response to a sensed jerk of the one or more user-input elements. 
     
     
         19 . A system comprising:
 one or more force-generating elements that include a pneumatic cylinder having a piston movably disposed therein and a port;   one or more coupling elements that include a cable having a portion that is coupled to the piston;   one or more user-input elements that are coupled to a portion of the cable external of the pneumatic cylinder;   one or more valves configured limit a first level of air pressure delivered to the port; and   one or more electronic control units that are configured to control the one or more valves to variably limit air pressure delivered to the port to generate one or more levels of displacement resistance to the one or more user-input elements to establish a first amount of displacement resistance to the one or more user-input elements during a concentric phase of an exercise and a second amount of displacement resistance to the one or more user-input elements during an eccentric phase of the exercise, which second amount of displacement resistance is greater than the first amount of displacement resistance and which second amount of displacement resistance decreases over a course of the exercise based on a level of force applied upon the one or more user-input elements.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more electronic control units are further configured to enter safety mode to reduce displacement resistance to the one or more user-input elements, including changing air pressure provided to the port at least partly in response to a sensed jerk of the one or more user-input elements.