Exercise equipment with integrated control system

Abstract

An exercise system includes an integrated controller to automatically vary a resistive force output by the equipment during exercise in response to a user's characteristics. The user's characteristics are input to the controller, and the controller outputs signals to the exercise equipment corresponding to a workout regime. The exercise equipment includes a support system with an actuator assembly coupled to the support system and in communication with the controller. A resistance assembly is coupled to the support system and configured to translate along guides of the support system. The controller sends signals to the actuator assembly to vary a resistive force applied to the resistance assembly in response to the predetermined workout regime based on the user's characteristics.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a first guide;   a second guide;   a support assembly coupled to the first guide and the second guide;   a resistance assembly coupled to the first guide and the second guide, the resistance assembly including a back plate configured to translate along the first guide and the second guide;   an actuator assembly coupled to at least the first guide, the actuator assembly mechanically coupled to the resistance assembly and configured to vary a resistive force applied to the resistance assembly; and   a control assembly in electronic communication with the actuator assembly and configured to control the resistive force of the actuator assembly applied to the resistance assembly based on a workout regime determined by the control assembly in response to unique user characteristic inputs to the control assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the support assembly further includes:
 a base plate, the base plate including a wooden layer disposed on a metallic layer; 
 a first bracket coupled to the base plate and the first guide; and 
 a second bracket coupled to the base plate and the second guide. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the support assembly includes a vibration plate configured to output vibrations, the vibration plate in electronic communication with the control assembly, wherein the control assembly is configured to control vibrations output by the vibration plate. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the actuator assembly further comprises:
 a support plate coupled to the first guide; 
 a motor coupled to the support plate; 
 a first pulley mechanically coupled to the motor; 
 a first axle rotatably coupled to the first guide and the second guide; 
 a second pulley mechanically coupled to the first axle; and 
 a first belt coupled to the first pulley and the second pulley, wherein the motor is configured to rotate the first pulley at a plurality of different speeds to vary a resistive force on the first belt. 
 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the resistance assembly further comprises:
 a third pulley on the first axle; 
 a second axle coupled to the first guide and the second guide and spaced from the first axle; 
 a fourth pulley on the second axle; 
 a second belt on the third pulley and the fourth pulley; 
 a back support coupled to the first guide and the second guide and configured to translate along the first guide and the second guide, the back support coupled to the second belt; 
 at least one handle coupled to and extending from the back support; and 
 a pad on the at least one handle. 
 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the back support is configured to translate between a plurality of positions at different distances relative to the back support in response to the unique user characteristic inputs to the control assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the back support is configured to translate between a plurality of heights relative to the support assembly in response to the unique user characteristic inputs to the control assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the control assembly is in electronic communication with the motor, the control assembly configured to supply a variable electric current to the motor, the motor configured to convert the variable electric current to the plurality of different speeds of rotation of the first pulley. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a first limit switch coupled to one of the first guide and the second guide at an upper portion of the one of the first guide and the second guide, the first limit switch in electronic communication with the control assembly and configured to transmit a first signal to the control assembly when the back plate is proximate the first limit switch, the control assembly configured to stop providing the electric current to the motor in response to receiving the first signal. 
 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a second limit switch coupled to one of the first guide and the second guide at a lower portion of the one of the first guide and the second guide, the second limit switch in electronic communication with the control assembly and configured to transmit a second signal to the control assembly when the back plate is proximate the second limit switch, the control assembly configured to stop providing the electric current to the motor in response to receiving the second signal. 
 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control assembly is configured to be positioned in a space between a first ceiling and a second ceiling, and
 wherein the first guide and the second guide are configured to be coupled to at least one of the first ceiling and the second ceiling.   
     
     
         12 . A system configured to be coupled to a ceiling system including a first ceiling and a second ceiling with a space between the first ceiling and the second ceiling, comprising:
 a plurality of workout systems configured to be coupled to at least one of the first ceiling and the second ceiling, each of the plurality of workout systems including:
 a first guide; 
 a second guide in spaced parallel relationship to the first guide; 
 a support assembly coupled to the first guide and the second guide; 
 a resistance assembly coupled to the first guide and the second guide, the resistance assembly including a back plate configured to translate along the first guide and the second guide; 
 an actuator assembly coupled to at least the first guide, the actuator assembly mechanically coupled to the resistance assembly and configured to vary a resistive force applied to the resistance assembly; and 
 a control assembly configured to be positioned in the space between the first ceiling and the second ceiling and in electronic communication with the actuator assembly, the control assembly configured to control the resistive force of the actuator assembly applied to the resistance assembly based on a workout regime determined by the control assembly in response to unique user characteristic inputs to the control assembly. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the support assembly includes a vibration plate in electronic communication with the control assembly, the control assembly configured to provide signals to the vibration plate to control vibrations output by the vibration plate. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a housing coupled to the actuator assembly, the housing configured to be adjacent to the second ceiling; and 
 a belt cover coupled to at least one of the first guide and the second guide and extending into at least a portion of the space between the first guide and the second guide. 
 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the actuator assembly includes a plurality of first pulleys and a first belt on the plurality of first pulleys and the resistance assembly includes a plurality of second pulleys and a second belt on the plurality of second pulleys, the plurality of first pulleys mechanically connected to the plurality of second pulleys, the actuator assembly configured to drive the first plurality of pulleys and the second plurality of pulleys to vary the resistive force on the back plate of the resistance assembly. 
     
     
         16 . A method, comprising:
 receiving unique user characteristics for a user by a control system of a workout machine;   determining, via the control system and the received user characteristics, a workout regime specific to the user; and   varying, via the control system, a resistive force output by an actuator assembly of the workout machine based on the workout regime.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein receiving unique user characteristics includes receiving at least one of age, height, weight, experience level, and activity level characteristics specific to a user. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising, after receiving the unique user characteristics:
 conducting, via the control system, a personalized strength test with the workout machine to determine a strength of the user; and 
 adjusting, via the control system, the workout regime based on the determined strength of the user. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 deactivating the actuator assembly in response to the actuator assembly being proximate a limit switch on the workout machine; and 
 adjusting the resistive force in response to recognition by the control system of a failure of the user to complete the workout regime. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 tracking, with the control system, the user's performance in the workout regime; and 
 adjusting the workout regime and the resistive force based on the user's performance.