Force Measuring Exercise Device

Abstract

A force measurement device has a motion dampening device having at least two ends. A first end is releasably engaged to a base frame and a second end is releasably engaged to a moveable member. A load cell is in communication with the motion dampening device. The load cell measures a force imparted by a user and the load cell registers the force to a display which depicts the registered force exerted by the user. A method for measuring the force a user imparts onto an exercise apparatus comprises the user imparting force onto a moveable member. The motion dampening device imparts a force substantially opposite to the user force and a load cell measures the force exerted by the user. The force is transmitted to a display wherein the display depicts the registered force imparted by the user.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A force measurement device comprising:
 a. a base frame;   b. a motion dampening device having at least two ends, wherein a first end is releasably engaged to the base frame, and wherein a second end is releasably engaged to one or more moveable members;   c. a load cell in communication with the motion dampening device; and   d. a display in communication with the load cell,   wherein the load cell measures a force imparted by a user onto the one or more moveable members, wherein the one or more moveable members transmit the force to the motion dampening device, wherein the load cell registers the force, and wherein the display depicts the registered force.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the base frame is a Smith machine. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the base frame further comprises two or more vertical members releasably engaged to the moveable member, wherein the vertical members permit the selectively guided movement of the one or more moveable members. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the motion dampening device is a spring biased against the users force. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the motion dampening device is a hydraulic assembly against the users force. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the motion dampening device is a pneumatic assembly biased against the users force. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the motion dampening device is an electromagnetic assembly biased against the users force. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the load cell is disposed along a length of the motion dampening device. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the load cell is releasably engaged to the motion dampening device. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the display is suitably mounted in view of the user. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the display is releasably mounted to the base frame. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the base frame is a weighted resistance machine. 
     
     
         13 . A method for measuring the force imparted by a user onto an exercise apparatus comprising the steps of:
 a. a user imparting a force onto one or more moveable members;   b. a motion dampening device imparting a force substantially opposite the user force;   c. a load cell measuring the force imparted by the user; and   d. transmitting the force to a display,   wherein the one or more moveable members transmit the force to the motion dampening device, wherein the load cell registers the force, and wherein the display depicts the registered force.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising a base frame. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the motion dampening device has a first and a second end, wherein the first end is releasably engaged to the base frame, and wherein the second end is releasably engaged to the one or more moveable members. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the base frame is a Smith machine. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the base frame further comprises two or more vertical members releasably engaged to the moveable member, wherein the vertical members permit the selectively guided movement of the one or more moveable members. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the load cell is disposed along a length of the motion dampening device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the display is suitably positioned in view of the user.