Movable Pulley Systems, Methods and Devices for Exercise Machines

Abstract

An exercise machine may comprise a frame and a weight stack. The weight stack may be positioned within a portion of the frame. The exercise machine may further comprise a weighted cable having a first end configured for selective attachment to weight plates of the weight stack, a guide track defining a path, and a movable pulley assembly slidably coupled to the guide track. A positioning mechanism may be coupled to the movable pulley assembly and configured to move and position the movable pulley assembly along the path defined by the guide track. Additionally, the weighted cable may be routed through the movable pulley assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exercise machine comprising:
 a frame;   a weight stack positioned within a portion of the frame;   a weighted cable having a first end configured for selective attachment to weight plates of the weight stack;   a guide track defining a path;   a movable pulley assembly slidably coupled to the guide track;   a positioning mechanism coupled to the movable pulley assembly and configured to move and position the movable pulley assembly along the path defined by the guide track;   wherein the weighted cable is routed through the movable pulley assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the guide track defines an arcuate path. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a motor attached to the movable pulley assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise machine of  claim 3 , wherein the guide track comprises a toothed rack and the motor is coupled to a gear having teeth intermeshed with teeth of the toothed rack. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a belt coupled to the movable pulley assembly and coupled to a motor. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a cable coupled to the movable pulley assembly and coupled to a motor. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle coupled to a second end of the weighted cable. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise machine of  claim 7 , further comprising a sensor, the sensor positioned and configured to detect at least one of the vertical position of the handle and the angle of the handle relative to the frame. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise machine of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor is coupled to the handle. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise machine of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one camera directed toward the handle. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise machine of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor comprises a color video camera, an infrared projector, and a monochrome complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor, the sensor positioned and configured to detect the angle of the weighted cable to the frame. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise machine of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor further comprises an arm extending from and pivotable relative to the movable pulley assembly, and wherein the weighted cable is routed through at least a portion of the movable arm. 
     
     
         14 . An exercise machine comprising:
 a frame;   a toothed guide track defining a path;   a movable pulley assembly comprising a gear having teeth intermeshed with the teeth of the toothed guide track;   a weight stack positioned within a portion of the frame;   a weighted cable having a first end configured for selective attachment to weight plates of the weight stack and a second end coupled to the movable pulley assembly;   a second cable having a first end attached to the movable pulley assembly, the second cable positioned and configured to apply a torque to the gear of the movable pulley assembly in response to an applied tensile force.   
     
     
         15 . An exercise machine comprising:
 a frame;   at least one bearing block fixed relative to the frame;   a guide track defining a path, the guide track slidably coupled to the at least one bearing block;   a movable pulley assembly coupled to and fixed relative to the guide track;   a positioning mechanism configured to move and position the movable pulley assembly and the guide track along the path defined by the guide track;   a weight stack positioned within a portion of the frame;   a weighted cable having a first end configured for selective attachment to weight plates of the weight stack and a second end coupled to at least one of the movable pulley assembly and the guide track.   
     
     
         16 . The exercise machine of  claim 15 , wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a second cable routed through the movable pulley assembly, the second cable having a first end fixed relative to the frame, the second cable configured to move the movable pulley assembly and the guide track when a tensile force is applied at a second end of the second cable. 
     
     
         17 . A method of manufacturing an exercise machine, the method comprising:
 positioning a weight stack within a portion of a frame;   coupling a guide track defining a path to the frame;   slidably coupling a movable pulley assembly to the guide track;   coupling a positioning mechanism configured to move and position the movable pulley assembly along the path defined by the guide track to the movable pulley assembly;   installing a weighted cable having a first end configured for selective attachment to weight plates of the weight stack, and routing the weighted cable through the movable pulley assembly.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising attaching a motor to the movable pulley assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein slidably coupling the movable pulley assembly to the guide track further comprises intermeshing teeth of the guide track with teeth of a toothed gear of the movable pulley assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein coupling the positioning mechanism to the movable pulley assembly comprises coupling a belt to the movable pulley assembly and coupling the belt to a motor.