Controls for an exercise device

• US 10,258,828 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2016
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IFIT Incorporated (Amynta Agency, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Inventors: Dalebout, William T., Cutler, Gordon
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen R
• Application Number:
  US14/997,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20160206922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0278 with reversible direction of the running surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0093 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0638 Displaying moving images of recorded environment, e.g. virtual environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0677 Input by image recognition, e.g. video signals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/068 Input by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0023 the inclination of the main axis of the movement path being adjustable, e.g. the inclination of an endless band
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0235 driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/685 for electronic devices, e.g. phone, PDA, GPS device, notebook
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/062 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/207 P-O2, i.e. partial O2 value
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/30 blood pressure A63B2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/40 : respiratory characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/60 : muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation

Abstract

An exercise machine includes a frame, a movable element that is movable in the performance of an exercise where the movable element has at least one selectively adjustable operating parameter that selectively alters a difficulty of the exercise, and a recall mechanism connected to the frame. The exercise machine also includes a processor and memory where the memory has programmed instructions executable by the processor to apply a first difficulty setting of the selectively adjustable operating parameter to the movable element and reapply the first difficulty setting to the movable element based on activation of the recall mechanism.

Claims

1. An exercise machine, comprising:

a frame;

a movable element that is movable in a performance of an exercise, the movable element having at least one selectively adjustable operating parameter that selectively alters a difficulty of the exercise;

a recall mechanism connected to the frame;

a processor and memory, the memory comprising programmed instructions executable by the processor to;

apply a first difficulty setting of the at least one selectively adjustable operating parameter to the movable element;

selectively store the first difficulty setting in the memory in response to store instructions from a user; and

reapply the first difficulty setting to the movable element based on activation of the recall mechanism.

2. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the movable element is a foot pedal or tread belt.

3. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the first difficulty setting is associated with an intensity level of an interval workout.

4. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the programmed instructions are further executable by the processor to change the difficulty to a second difficulty setting in response to activation of a toggle switch.

5. The exercise machine of claim 4, wherein the programmed instructions to change the difficulty to the second difficulty setting are executable by the processor in response to second command from an operation controller integrated into the exercise machine.

6. The exercise machine of claim 4, wherein the programmed instructions to change the difficulty to the second difficulty setting are executable by the processor in response to activation of a stop mechanism.

7. The exercise machine of claim 4, wherein the programmed instructions are further executable by the processor to change the difficulty back to the first difficulty setting from the second difficulty setting based on activation of the recall mechanism.

8. The exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising a console connected to the frame.

9. The exercise machine of claim 8, wherein an operation controller is integrated into the console.

15. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the recall mechanism is connected to the frame remotely from a console for providing interval training.

16. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the instructions executable by the processor apply the first difficulty setting during at least a time period of a workout, selectively store the first difficulty setting in the memory in response to store instructions from the user for at least the time period of the workout but not permanently, and before ending the time period of the workout, reapply the first difficulty setting to the movable element based on activation of the recall mechanism.

17. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the activation of the recall mechanism is a single activation of the recall mechanism.

18. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the instructions executable by the processor store the first difficulty setting such that the activation of the recall mechanism applies the first difficulty setting to the movable element.

19. The exercise machine of claim 15, wherein the recall mechanism is integrated into an arm rest connected to the frame.

20. The exercise machine of claim 19, wherein the arm rest has an upper section that is elevated higher than a base portion of a console of the exercise machine and a lower section where the lower section is located at an elevation that is lower than the console and wherein the recall mechanism is integrated into the upper section or the lower section of the arm rest.

10. An exercise machine, comprising:

a frame;

a movable element that is movable in a performance of an exercise, the movable element having at least one selectively adjustable operating parameter that selectively alters a difficulty of the exercise;

a console connected to the frame;

an operation controller integrated into the console;

a recall mechanism connected to the frame; and

a processor and memory, the memory comprising programmed instructions executable by the processor to;

apply a first difficulty setting of the at least one selectively adjustable operating parameter to the movable element based on a first command received through the operation controller;

selectively store the first difficulty setting in the memory in response to store instructions from a user;

change the difficulty to a second difficulty setting in response to user input; and

reapply the first difficulty setting from the second difficulty setting to the movable element based on activation of the recall mechanism.

11. The exercise machine of claim 10, wherein the programmed instructions to change the difficulty to the second difficulty setting are executable by the processor in response to a second command from the operation controller.

12. The exercise machine of claim 10, wherein the programmed instructions to change the difficulty to the second difficulty setting are executable by the processor in response to activation of a stop mechanism.

13. The exercise machine of claim 10, wherein the programmed instructions are further executable by the processor to change the difficulty to the second difficulty setting in response to activation of a toggle switch.

14. An exercise machine, comprising:

a frame;

a movable element that is movable in a performance of an exercise, the movable element having at least one selectively adjustable operating parameter that selectively alters a difficulty of the exercise;

a console connected to the frame;

an operation controller integrated into the console;

an arm rest connected to the frame, the arm rest having an upper section and a lower section where the lower section is spaced a shorter distance away from the movable element than the upper section;

a recall mechanism integrated into the lower section of the arm rest;

a stop mechanism connected to the frame;

a processor and memory, the memory comprising programmed instructions executable by the processor to;

apply a first difficulty setting of the at least one selectively adjustable operating parameter to the movable element based on a first command received through the operation controller;

selectively store the first difficulty setting in the memory in response to store instructions from a user;

change the difficulty to a second difficulty setting based on activation of the stop mechanism; and

reapply the first difficulty setting from the second difficulty setting to the movable element based on activation of the recall mechanism.