Self-powered fitness equipment
First Claim
1. A self-powered fitness device to simulate various types of stepping motions, comprising:
- a frame;
a guide movably associated with the frame;
a foot support for receiving a user'"'"'s feet, the foot support being coupled to the guide;
a generator coupled to the foot support, the generator being actuated to produce electric power by the user'"'"'s stepping motions acting on the foot support;
an electric energy storage medium coupled to the generator to store at least part of the power produced by the generator;
a lift system for selectively and automatically changing at least one of the elevation and the angular orientation of the guide relative to the frame, the lift system being powered by both the generator and the electric energy storage medium; and
a microprocessor coupled to the generator, the electric energy storage medium, and the lift system for coordinating their respective operations, the microprocessor being powered by the generator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A self-powered fitness device to simulate various types of stepping motions is provided. The device includes a frame (10), a guide (20) movably associated with the frame, and first and second foot supports (22a, 22b) coupled to the guide. The device further includes a generator (32) coupled to the first and second foot supports, which is actuated to produce power by the user'"'"'s stepping motions. The device also includes a battery coupled to the generator to store at least part of the power produced by the generator. Finally, the device includes a lift system (24) for automatically changing at least one of the elevation and the angular orientation of the guide relative to the frame. Since the lift system is powered by both the generator and the battery, actuation of the lift system will not alter the resistance to the user pedaling the foot supports during exercising.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A self-powered fitness device to simulate various types of stepping motions, comprising:
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a frame;
a guide movably associated with the frame;
a foot support for receiving a user'"'"'s feet, the foot support being coupled to the guide;
a generator coupled to the foot support, the generator being actuated to produce electric power by the user'"'"'s stepping motions acting on the foot support;
an electric energy storage medium coupled to the generator to store at least part of the power produced by the generator;
a lift system for selectively and automatically changing at least one of the elevation and the angular orientation of the guide relative to the frame, the lift system being powered by both the generator and the electric energy storage medium; and
a microprocessor coupled to the generator, the electric energy storage medium, and the lift system for coordinating their respective operations, the microprocessor being powered by the generator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A self-powered fitness device, comprising:
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a frame;
an actuatable component associated with the frame;
an exercise input unit that translates exercise of a portion of a user'"'"'s body into a predefined motive force;
a generator coupled to the exercise input unit, the generator being activated to produce electric power by the user'"'"'s exercising motions via the exercise input unit;
an electric energy storage medium coupled to the generator to store at least part of the power generated by the generator; and
an actuator for selectively and automatically actuating the actuatable component, the actuator being powered by both the generator and the electric energy storage medium. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of self-powering a fitness device, comprising:
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providing a fitness device comprising a frame, an actuatable component associated with the frame, an exercise input unit that translates exercise of a portion of a user'"'"'s body into a predefined motive force, a generator coupled to the exercise input unit, an electric energy storage medium coupled to the generator, and an actuator for selectively and automatically actuating the actuatable component;
allowing the user to exercise using the exercise input unit on the fitness device;
producing power via the generator based on the user'"'"'s exercising motions;
storing at least part of the power generated by the generator in the electric energy storage medium; and
powering the actuator for the actuatable component with both the generator and the electric energy storage medium. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification