Exercise parameters monitoring, recording and reporting system for free weight, weight stack, and sport-simulation exercise machines

• US 20030211916A1
• Filed: 04/17/2003
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Patrick J. Capuano
• Original Assignee: Patrick J. Capuano
• Inventors: Capuano, Patrick J.
• Application Number:
  US10/417,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20030211916A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/072 Dumb-bells, bar-bells or the like , e.g. weight discs having an integral peripheral handle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/00 Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements force-resisting aspects A63B21/00; for particular parts of the body, e.g. to strengthen particular limbs or muscles A63B23/00; electric or electronic controls therefor A63B24/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/00 Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

The apparatus enables users of exercise equipment including free weight, weight stack, and/or sport simulation devices to monitor, record, and report personal, group and sub-group exercise results. Bar-coded markings are affixed to free-weights or weight-stacks indicating different weight levels. A bar-code reader is operatively coupled to the equipment to read the bar-code markings and track the weight lifted, frequency of lift and other parameters. Sport-simulation exercise machines record data by internal software. For the group of uses, apparatus provides electronic and/or paper “exercise receipt” reports of exercise routine, progress and fitness achieved and comprise a wireless interface for transmitting the data to a user-controlled personal data storage device, or a central storage device. A display is provided. Apparatus may record nutritional data from bar-codes of food products. Apparatus flexibility of use and reporting methods enables apparatus to function in advertising and fundraising methods of use.

Claims

1. An apparatus to enable a user or users of free weight, weight stack, and/or electronic and non-electronic sport simulation exercise machines to monitor, record and report personal, group and sub-group exercise results according to a range of user-selected parameters comprising:

(A) at least one exercise machine;

(B) computer-readable exercise data for at least one exerciser exercising or having exercised on the at least one exercise machine;

(C) a data transfer system for transferring the computer-readable exercise data

(D) permanent and/or removable/transferable bar-code symbols indicating weight intensity, frequency, certain exercise means and methods

(E) an exercise start/progression bar-code reader

(F) an exercise peak-lift bar-code reader

(G) an exercise data interpreter-transmitter IE-CPU

(H) portable and transferable bar-code symbol encoded and adhesive-backed weight indicators which may be affixed to weights or weight plates,

(I) Bar-code symbol readable exercise progress indicator,

(J) Bar-coded membership card 17 for in-facility use, which may be a permanent card or a paper print-out for daily users,

(K) Bar-coded wall-chart list of weight and exercise options,

(L) print-out device linked to the exercise device by any applicable means included wired and wirelessly by any number of means.

(M) exercise start bar-code reader

(N) weight plates and weight selection pin,

(O) exercise progression bar-code readers,

(P) Bar-code symbol encoded exercise peak-lift indicator;

(Q) means for data to be encoded into a bar-code available to user, and/or transferred to a user'"'"'s personal digital assistant or self-contained and invention-specific data storage device which may be a smart card, magnetic swipe card, “

touch”

card, or plug-in/plug-out module which a user may carry and use with different machines;

(R) at least one of the above items incorporated as original equipment or afterwards attached to electronic and non-electronic exercise devices such as treadmills, exercise bicycles, rowers, cross-country ski machines, step-machines and the like

(S) Means to scan bar-codes from food products into system to track food, nutritional and diet intake.

(T) Personal coding method to maintain user privacy over exercise and diet data

(U) Personal coding method to enable user or users to share, compare, contrast and manipulate data with selected others in a group or sub-group;

2. The exercise apparatus system of claim 1, including an advertising message.

3. The exercise apparatus system of claim 1, including at least two exercisers who are dispersed geographically and/or date/time-wise.

4. The exercise apparatus system of claim 1, including fundraising for a designated charity or cause.

5. The exercise apparatus system of claim 4, wherein payment is made by one or more of the group consisting of:

exercisers;

advertisers; and

sponsors.

6. The exercise apparatus system of claim 1, wherein the data transfer system is wireless.

7. The exercise apparatus system of claim 1, wherein exercise data from a plurality of exercisers are subjected to computer manipulation.

8. The exercise apparatus system of claim 7, wherein the computer manipulation is to select data for exercisers meeting at least one criterion selected from the group consisting of residence, age, gender, school affiliation, work affiliation, team affiliation and family.