Magnetically assisted resistance apparatus and method of use thereof

Abstract

A Magnetic Resistance Apparatus (MRA) for providing manageable resistance, the MRA comprising a series of magnets disposed adjacent from one another, a series of electromagnets slidably mounted in electromagnetic cooperation with the series of magnets and an actuator for sliding the series of electromagnets in respect with the series of magnets, wherein current in the electromagnets is managed in a non-constant fashion along the sliding of the series of electromagnets in respect with the series of magnets.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A magnetic resistance apparatus (MRA) for generating manageable resistance, the MRA comprising:
 a series of magnets disposed adjacent from one another;   a series of electromagnets slidably mounted in electromagnetic cooperation with the series of magnets; and   an actuator for sliding the series of electromagnets in respect with the series of magnets;   wherein each electromagnet is individually and selectively powered to generate the resistance.   
     
     
         2 . The MRA of  claim 1 , wherein the generated resistance is dynamically adjusted. 
     
     
         3 . The MRA of  claim 2 , wherein the generated resistance is dynamically adjusted in tension and in compression. 
     
     
         4 . The MRA of  claim 2 , wherein the resistance is dynamically adjusted during an exercise repetition. 
     
     
         5 . The MRA of  claim 2 , wherein the resistance is dynamically adjusted in between exercise repetitions. 
     
     
         6 . The MRA of  claim 1 , wherein the MRA is adapted to receive a number of electromagnets in respect with a predetermined maximum usable load applied to the apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The MRA of  claim 1 , wherein current in the electromagnets is managed in a non-constant fashion along the sliding of the series of electromagnets in respect with the series of magnets. 
     
     
         8 . The MRA of  claim 1 , wherein the MRA further comprises a first and second series of electromagnets. 
     
     
         9 . The MRA of  claim 8 , each of the first and second series of magnets being configured to slidably receive one of the first and second series of electromagnets. 
     
     
         10 . The MRA of  claim 8 , wherein the MRA further comprises a plurality of electromagnetic cassettes, each of the plurality of electromagnetic cassettes containing electromagnets from the first and second series of electromagnets. 
     
     
         11 . The MRA of  claim 1 , wherein the MRA is configured to be retrofitted onto a weight training machine. 
     
     
         12 . The MRA of  claim 1 , wherein the MRA further comprises a load cell. 
     
     
         13 . The MRA of  claim 12 , wherein the MRA is configured to dynamically adjust the generated resistance in accordance with a signal generated by the load cell. 
     
     
         14 . The MRA of  claim 13 , wherein the MRA is in signal communication with a controller, the controller being configured to dynamically adjust the generated resistance. 
     
     
         15 . The MRA of  claim 1 , wherein the MRA further comprises an encoder in signal communication with the series of electromagnets. 
     
     
         16 . The MRA of  claim 15 , wherein the encoder is configured to convert the movement of the series of electromagnets into an electrical signal. 
     
     
         17 . The MRA of  claim 1 , wherein the series of magnets are disposed vertically from one another. 
     
     
         18 . The MRA of  claim 1 , wherein the series of electromagnets are slidably mounted on one or more magnetized rails. 
     
     
         19 . The MRA of  claim 13 , wherein the controller being further configured to regulate the current to the series electromagnets. 
     
     
         20 . The MRA of  claim 19 , wherein the controller individually regulates the current to each electromagnet. 
     
     
         21 . A method of installing a magnetic resistance apparatus (MRA) onto a weight training machine, the method comprising:
 removing one or more weights slidably assembled on rails of the weight training machine;   removing the vertical rails of the weight training machine;   installing one or more magnetized rails to the weight training machine;   slidably mounting one or more electromagnets onto the one or more magnetized vertical rails.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , the method further comprising installing adapting plates configured to:
 receive the one or more magnetized vertical rails; and   be affixed to the weight training machine.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , the method further comprising installing an encoder configured to detect the movement of the electromagnets. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , the method further comprising adjusting a cable of the weight training machine configured to actuate the electromagnets. 
     
     
         25 . A method for detecting variations in performance of a user of a magnetic resistance apparatus (MRA) having electromagnets configured to generate a dynamically managed resistance to the user, the method comprising:
 identifying the user;   detecting the generated resistance of the MRA for the identified user at predetermined frequencies;   using the detected generated resistances to compute a baseline performance level for the identified user over a predetermined period of time;   comparing a subset of the detected generated resistance to the computed baseline performance level, when the compared subset is below the computed baseline performance level, the identified user being identified as underperforming and when the compared subset is above the computed baseline performance level, the identified user being identified as overperforming.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising comparing the subset of the detected generated resistance to the performance level of another user. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising dynamically managing the resistance in accordance with the performance of the user relative to the computed baseline performance level. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , the method further comprising computing a trend line of the performance level and comparing the recent subset to the computed performance level trend line, when the compared subset is below a boundary of the computed performance level trend line, the identified user being identified as underperforming and when the compared subset is above a boundary of the computed performance level trend line, the identified user being identified as overperforming.