Connected fitness systems and methods

Abstract

A platform-based strength machine enables users to perform strength or lifting activities or exercises via moveable or configurable pull points. The strength machine can include tracks that facilitate the configuring of the positions of the pull points, handles that control operation of the strength machine and/or measure movements performed by a user, compact motors that facilitate various platform or load application configurations, safety systems for the strength machine, and other enhancements.

1 . An exercise machine, comprising:
 a platform that is configured to be placed on a floor and has a top surface upon which a user stands when performing a strength activity using the exercise machine, wherein the platform contains a motor and a motor controller;   a cable adjustment mechanism disposed at least partially within a top surface of the platform, wherein the cable adjustment mechanism includes multiple selectable pull points through which a cable extends from the motor out of the platform; and   an attachment coupled to the cable.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the cable adjustment mechanism disposed at least partially within a top surface of the platform includes:
 a track that includes multiple stop positions; and   a carriage that travels along the track and includes:
 a carriage body; 
 one or more rollers rotatably fixed to the carriage body that engage the track; and 
 a cable guide through which the cable extends from the motor out of the platform. 
   
     
     
         3 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the cable adjustment mechanism disposed at least partially within a top surface of the platform includes:
 a track that designates multiple index positions;   a carriage that travels along the track and includes:
 a cable guide through which the cable extends from the motor out of the platform; and 
 an indexing roller and lock pin that lock the carriage into the multiple index positions of the track. 
   
     
     
         4 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the cable adjustment mechanism disposed at least partially within a top surface of the platform includes:
 a carriage that travels along a track of the cable adjustment mechanism and includes:
 a cable guide through which the cable extends from the motor out of the platform; and 
 one or more magnets that are detected by sensors located at multiple grooves of a sensor rail of the track. 
   
     
     
         5 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the cable adjustment mechanism disposed at least partially within a top surface of the platform includes:
 a sensor rail having multiple grooves and sensors located at each of the multiple grooves and configured to detect a position of a carriage as the carriage travels along the cable adjustment mechanism.   
     
     
         6 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the cable adjustment mechanism disposed at least partially within a top surface of the platform includes:
 a carriage that travels along the cable adjustment mechanism and includes:
 a button that, when pressed, facilitates the carriage to move along the cable adjustment mechanism to locations associated with the pull points; 
 a cable guide through which the cable extends from the motor out of the platform; and 
 one or more sensors that provide information that identifies a status of the button and a status of a position of the carriage along the cable adjustment mechanism. 
   
     
     
         7 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second motor;   a second cable adjustment mechanism disposed at least partially within the top surface of the platform,
 wherein the second cable adjustment mechanism includes second multiple selectable pull points through which a second cable extends from the second motor out of the platform; and 
 a second attachment coupled to the second cable. 
   
     
     
         8 . A cable adjustment mechanism located on a top surface of a platform that includes an internal motor and a motor controller that controls operation of the internal motor, wherein the cable adjustment mechanism comprises:
 a track that includes multiple stop positions; and   a carriage that travels along the track to the multiple stop positions and includes:
 a cable guide through which a cable extends from the internal motor out of the platform; and 
 a button that, when pressed, facilitates the carriage to move along the track to the multiple stop positions. 
   
     
     
         9 . The cable adjustment mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the track includes:
 a sensor rail having multiple locating features at the multiple stop positions and sensors located at each of the multiple locating features that are configured to detect a position of the carriage at one of the multiple stop positions.   
     
     
         10 . The cable adjustment mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the track includes:
 a sensor rail having hall effect sensors disposed at each of the multiple stop positions;   wherein the carriage includes one or more magnets that are detected by the hall effect sensors at each of the multiple stop positions.   
     
     
         11 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A platform for use with a strength machine, the platform comprising:
 a top surface upon which a user stands when performing a strength activity using the strength machine;   one or more resistance mechanisms contained within the platform;   one or more cable adjustment mechanisms disposed on the top surface that each define multiple pull points; and   one or more cables attached to the one or more resistance mechanisms that extend out of the multiple pull points for the one or more cable adjustment mechanisms.   
     
     
         20 . The platform of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more cable adjustment mechanism includes two cable adjustment mechanisms,
 wherein each of the two cable adjustment mechanisms includes multiple pull points and is associated with a resistance mechanism.   
     
     
         21 . The platform of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more cable adjustment mechanisms includes two vertically aligned cable adjustment mechanisms,
 wherein each of the two vertically aligned cable adjustment mechanisms includes multiple pull points and is associated with a resistance mechanism.   
     
     
         22 . The platform of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more cable adjustment mechanisms includes two horizontally aligned cable adjustment mechanisms,
 wherein each of the two horizontally aligned cable adjustment mechanisms includes multiple pull points and is associated with a resistance mechanism.   
     
     
         23 . The platform of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more cable adjustment mechanisms includes a two-dimensional cable adjustment mechanism having at least one vertically aligned track segment and at least one horizontally aligned track segment. 
     
     
         24 .- 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A strength machine, comprising:
 a platform that is configured to be placed on a floor and has a top surface upon which a user stands when performing a strength activity using the exercise machine;   one or more resistance mechanisms contained within the platform,
 wherein the one or more resistance mechanisms include an integrated motor and spool device; 
 one or more cables attached to the spool device that extend out of one or more pull points disposed on the top surface of the platform; and 
 one or more handles coupled to the one or more cables. 
   
     
     
         37 . The strength machine of  claim 36 , wherein the spool device includes grooves that receive sections of the one or more cables when the one or more cables wrap around the spool device. 
     
     
         38 . The strength machine of  claim 37 , wherein the spool device is configured to wrap the one or more cables in a single horizontal layer. 
     
     
         39 .- 69 . (canceled) 
     
     
         70 . The strength machine of  claim 36 , wherein the one or more resistance mechanisms include a locking mechanism that locks the motor from rotating when the strength machine is not in use. 
     
     
         71 . The strength machine of  claim 70 , wherein the locking mechanism includes:
 a motor lock pin; and   a motor lock solenoid configured to move the motor lock pin into one or more holes disposed on a base of a motor housing of the motor.