Control system and method for an exercise apparatus

• US 20050209061A1
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BowFlex, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.
• Inventors: Crawford, Douglas A., Lull, Andrew P., Danile, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,815,549 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0038 One foot moving independently from the other, i.e. there is no link between the movements of the feet
• 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 2071/0063 Shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0081 Stopping the operation of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/068 Input by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0083 of the piston-cylinder type using pneumatic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0087
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0015 with an adjustable movement path of the support elements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0017 the adjustment being controlled by movement of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0056 the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis A63B22/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0292 separate for each leg, e.g. dual deck
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/76 Wind conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/10 Multi-station exercising machines
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 : with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/30 : Maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/305 : Remote servicing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/64 : Heated
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/685 : for electronic devices, e.g. phone, PDA, GPS device, notebook
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/00 : Measuring physiological parameters of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 : heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/062 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/40 : respiratory characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/42 : rate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/436 : partial O2 value
• 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 24/0075 : Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• 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

Abstract

Controlling the operation of an exercise apparatus configurable to facilitate a combination of a substantially horizontal and a substantially vertical exercise motion. Such control functions provide for various exercise levels and/or programs and may utilize various mechanisms, sensors, and other control apparatus to control the operation of the exercise apparatus for various exercise routines.

Claims

1. An exercise device having one or more treadles capable of upward and downward motion, comprising:

a treadle control unit for controlling a resistance of the treadles;

a treadle position sensor for detecting the upward and downward motion of the treadles and providing a signal representative of said motion; and

a central processing unit receiving the signal and providing a treadle control signal to the treadle control unit to adjust the resistance of the treadles.

2. The exercise device of claim 1,

wherein the resistance of the treadles is controlled by fluid flow through a valve;

and

wherein the treadle control unit regulates the fluid flow through said valve.

3. The exercise device of claim 2, wherein when the fluid flow through said valve increases, the resistance of the treadles decreases.

4. The exercise device of claim 2, wherein when the fluid flow through said valve decreases, the resistance of the treadles increases.

5. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the treadle control signal is a pulse-width modulated signal.

6. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the treadle position sensor includes at least one encoder detecting the upward and downward motion of the treadles.

7. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising:

a teeter arm pivotally attached between the treadles;

wherein the at least one encoder has a base and a shaft, the base coupled to a fixed portion of the exercise device and the shaft coupled with the teeter arm.

8. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the treadle position sensor includes an optical encoder.

9. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising:

a main user interface; and

a remote user interface.

12. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second piston-cylinder assembly operably coupled between the frame structure and the second treadle assembly.

13. The exercise device of claim 12, further comprising:

an adjustable valve assembly hydraulically coupling the first piston-cylinder with the second piston-cylinder assembly.

10. An exercise device, comprising:

a frame structure;

a first treadle assembly including a first moving surface, the first treadle assembly pivotally supported on the frame structure;

a second treadle assembly including a second moving surface, the second treadle assembly pivotally on the frame structure;

a treadle position sensor for detecting an upward and downward motion of the first and second treadles and providing a signal representative of said motion; and

a central processing unit receiving the signal and providing a treadle control signal to adjust the resistance of the treadles.

11. The exercise device of claim 10, further comprising:

a first piston-cylinder assembly operably coupled between the frame structure and the first treadle assembly.

14. A method for controlling an exercise device having at least one treadle capable of upward and downward motion, the method comprising:

generating a treadle position signal indicating a position of said at least one treadle; and

adjusting a resistance to downward motion of said at least one treadle based in part on the treadle position signal.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving at least one user input signal; and

adjusting the resistance to downward motion of said at least one treadle based in part on the user input signal.