System and method for a modular obstacle course with variable difficulty

• US 20060046234A1
• Filed: 08/10/2005
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Life Cirque, LLC
• Original Assignee: Life Cirque, LLC
• Inventors: Sperry, Scott C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,038,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/255
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 17/00 Exercising apparatus combining several parts such as ladders, rods, beams, slides
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0065 Evaluating the fitness, e.g. fitness level or fitness index
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• 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 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/10 Multi-station exercising machines
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/105 each station having its own resisting device, e.g. for training multiple users simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/107 Resisting devices being of the same kind
• 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 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/00 Measuring physiological parameters of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/30 blood pressure A63B2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/42 rate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/70 body fat
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 calorie expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0084 : Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 26/00 : Exercising apparatus not covered by groups A63B1/00 - A63B25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/00 : Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 19/00 : Design or layout of playing courts, rinks, bowling greens or areas for water-skiing; Covers therefor golf courses A63B69/3691; water roundabouts A63G3/00; construction of surfaces of foundations E01C; roofs E04B7/00; buildings or groups of buildings for sports E04H3/10; swimming or splash baths or pools E04H4/00; coverings for baths E04H4/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 : using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 33/00 : Devices allowing competitions between several persons, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 : Sports

Abstract

A system and method are provide for an obstacle course including first and second lanes associated with first and second difficulty ratings, respectively. The first lane includes a first plurality of obstacles associated with the first difficulty rating and the second lane includes a second plurality of obstacles associated with the second difficulty rating. The first difficulty rating indicates greater difficulty than the second difficulty rating.

Claims

1. An obstacle course for human exercise, comprising:

first and second lanes, the first lane being associated with a first difficulty rating, the second lane being associated with a second difficulty rating;

a first plurality of obstacles in the first lane, the first plurality of obstacles each being associated with the first difficulty rating;

a second plurality of obstacles in the second lane, the second plurality of obstacles each being associated with the second difficulty rating;

wherein the first difficulty rating indicates greater difficulty than the second difficulty rating;

a first user interface located at a beginning of the obstacle course, the first user interface operable to;

recognize a user based on a finger print of the user; and

measure at least one biological indicator of the user;

a first module including a first obstacle from the first plurality of obstacles and a first obstacle from the second plurality of obstacles;

a second module including a second obstacle from the first plurality of obstacles and a second obstacle from the second plurality of obstacles, the second module being interchangeable with the first module;

a second user interface disposed between the first and second modules, the second user interface operable to;

recognize the user based on the finger print of the user; and

make one or more recommendations to the user on how to continue based on at least one performance indicator;

wherein the performance indicator is selected from the group consisting of the biological indicator of the user, historical performance of the user, and historical performance of other users that share at least one performance characteristic with the user;

a third user interface located at the end of the obstacle course, the third user interface operable to;

recognize the user based on the finger print of the user;

measure the biological indicator of the user; and

present to the user at least one performance measurement;

wherein the performance measurement is selected from the group consisting of a change in the biological indicator of the user, a change in the performance of the user compared to historical performance of the user, and a comparison of the performance of the user to historical performance of other users that share at least one performance characteristic with the user; and

wherein the performance measurement is selected by the user.

2. An obstacle course, comprising:

first and second lanes, the first lane being associated with a first difficulty rating, the second lane being associated with a second difficulty rating;

a first plurality of obstacles in the first lane, the first plurality of obstacles each being associated with the first difficulty rating;

a second plurality of obstacles in the second lane, the second plurality of obstacles each being associated with the second difficulty rating, wherein the first difficulty rating indicates greater difficulty than the second difficulty rating;

a first user interface present in the first lane and operable to;

recognize a user of the first lane based on a characteristic of the user of the first lane; and

measure a biological indicator of the user of the first lane; and

a second user interface present in the second lane and operable to;

recognize a user of the second lane based on a characteristic of the user of the second lane; and

measure a biological indicator of the user of the second lane.

3. The obstacle course of claim 2, further comprising:

a third user interface present in the first lane and operable to;

recognize the user of the first lane based on the characteristic of the user of the first lane; and

measure the biological indicator of the user of the first lane; and

a fourth user interface present in the second lane and operable to;

recognize the user of the second lane based on the characteristic of the user of the second lane; and

measure the biological indicator of the user of the second lane.

4. An obstacle course, comprising:

first and second lanes, the first lane being associated with a first difficulty rating, the second lane being associated with a second difficulty rating;

a first plurality of obstacles in the first lane, the first plurality of obstacles each being associated with the first difficulty rating;

a second plurality of obstacles in the second lane, the second plurality of obstacles each being associated with the second difficulty rating; and

wherein the first difficulty rating indicates greater difficulty than the second difficulty rating.

5. The obstacle course of claim 4, further comprising an observation area, wherein users of the observation area can view the first lane and wherein a view of the second lane is at least partially obscured from the users of the observation area.

6. The obstacle course of claim 4, further comprising:

a first module including a first obstacle from the first plurality of obstacles and a first obstacle from the second plurality of obstacles;

a second module including a second obstacle from the first plurality of obstacles and a second obstacle from the second plurality of obstacles; and

wherein the first and second modules are interchangeable.

7. The obstacle course of claim 6, further comprising a user interface disposed between the first and second modules, the user interface operable to:

recognize a user based on a characteristic of the user; and

make one or more recommendations to the user on how to continue based on at least one performance indicator.

8. The obstacle course of claim 7, wherein:

the user interface includes a biometric sensor operable to measure a biological indicator of the user; and

the biological indicator is the at least one performance indicator.

9. The obstacle course of claim 7, wherein the performance indicator includes historical performance of the user.

10. The obstacle course of claim 7, wherein the performance indicator includes historical performance of other users that share at least one performance characteristic with the user.

11. The obstacle course of claim 7, wherein the performance indicator is selected by the user.

12. The obstacle course of claim 4, further comprising at least one user interface, the user interface operable to:

recognize a user based on a characteristic of the user; and

measure at least one biological indicator of the user.

13. The obstacle course of claim 12, wherein the biological indicator is measured and recorded before the user starts using the obstacle course and after the user has completed using the obstacle course.

14. The obstacle course of claim 13, wherein the user interface is also operable to present to the user at least one performance measurement.

15. The obstacle course of claim 14, wherein the performance measurement includes a change in the performance of the user compared to historical performance of the user.

16. The obstacle course of claim 14, wherein the performance measurement includes a comparison of the performance of the user to historical performance of other users that share at least one performance characteristic with the user.

17. The obstacle course of claim 14, wherein the performance measurement is selected by the user.

18. A method of exercising, comprising:

choosing between a first difficulty rating and a second difficulty rating, the first difficulty rating indicating greater difficulty than the second difficulty rating;

traversing an obstacle in a first lane or a second lane, based on the chosen first or second difficulty rating, the first lane being associated with the first difficulty rating and including a first plurality of obstacles, the second lane being associated with the second difficulty rating and including a second plurality of obstacles.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein users of an observation area can view the first lane and wherein a view of the second lane is at least partially obscured from the users of the observation area.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising interchanging first and second modules, the first module including a first obstacle from the first plurality of obstacles and a first obstacle from the second plurality of obstacles, and the second module including a second obstacle from the first plurality of obstacles and a second obstacle from the second plurality of obstacles.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising registering with a user interface, the user interface operable to:

recognize a user based on a characteristic of the user; and

measure at least one biological indicator of the user.