Method and apparatus for remote interactive exercise and health equipment

• US 20060281603A1
• Filed: 05/24/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Original Assignee: Icon-Ip Pty Limited
• Inventors: Hickman, Paul L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,510,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0081 Coaching or training aspects related to a group of users
• 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 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0638 Displaying moving images of recorded environment, e.g. virtual environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/005 using electromagnetic or electric force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/015 including rotating or oscillating elements rubbing against fixed elements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/06 User-manipulated weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/078 Devices for bench press exercises , e.g. supports, guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• 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 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/54 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/58 Measurement of force related parameters by electric or magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/70 Measuring or simulating ambient conditions, e.g. weather, terrain or surface conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/76 Wind conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/78 Surface covering conditions, e.g. of a road surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• 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 2230/01 : User's weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 : heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/065 : within a certain range
• 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 24/0075 : Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0084 : Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• 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 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/90 : Ergometer with feedback to load or with feedback comparison
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/901 : having computer circuitry

Abstract

An exercise system includes a local system having an exercise apparatus and an associated local computer, where the local computer controls and monitors the operation and use, respectively, of the exercise apparatus. The system further includes a remote system having a remote computer, and a transmission medium including a telephone line that couples the local system to the remote system for data communication between the local system and the remote system. The remote system may receive local system data from the local system concerning the use of the exercise apparatus, and the local system may receive remote system data from the remote system concerning the operation of the exercise apparatus. The local computer preferably controls the operation of the exercise apparatus based upon a modifiable script stored in a read/write memory of the local computer, which can be updated by the remote system. A method for controlling an exercise apparatus includes running a modifiable script on a local computer to control the use and to monitor the operation of an exercise apparatus, and communicating with a remote system to provide the remote system with data concerning the use of the exercise apparatus. The script is stored in read/write memory of the local computer and remote system data received from the remote system may include at least a portion of a new script to be stored in the read/write memory of the local computer.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a frame;

a user engagement mechanism coupled to said frame for relative movement with respect thereto;

an exertion varying mechanism coupled to said frame and associated with said user engagement mechanism, said exertion varying mechanism being operative to cause a change of an exertion by a user engaged with the user engagement mechanism during an exercise session;

control circuitry electrically coupled to said exertion varying mechanism;

an electro-acoustic transducer; and

an interface having outputs electrically coupled to said control circuitry and to said electro-acoustic transducer, said interface being operationally receptive to externally generated signals including both control signals for controlling said exertion varying mechanism and audio content for said electro-acoustic transducer.

2. An exercise system as recited in claim 1 wherein said audio content includes the voice of a virtual personal trainer.

3. An exercise system as recited in claim 1 wherein said user engagement mechanism comprises is at least one of a pedal, a step, a graspable member, and a planar surface.

4. An exercise system as recited in claim 1 wherein said control circuitry includes a microprocessor.

5. An exercise system as recited in claim 1 wherein said resistance varying mechanism includes at least one of a brake and a motor.

6. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a user engagement mechanism including at least one of a pedal, a step, a graspable member, and a planar surface;

an exertion varying mechanism coupled to said user engagement mechanism, said exertion varying mechanism being operative to cause a change of an exertion by a user engaged with the user engagement mechanism during an exercise session; and

circuitry electrically coupled to said exertion varying mechanism and being operationally receptive to externally generated signals including an externally generated control circuitry signal and an externally generated audio signal including vocal content, whereby said exercise apparatus can be externally controlled within an exercise session with the capability of both varying an exertion of said user and providing auditory output including vocal content to said user.

7. An exercise system as recited in claim 6 further comprising external circuitry provided separately from said exercise apparatus and operative to provide said externally generated signals.

8. An exercise system as recited in claim 7 wherein said external circuitry includes a microprocessor.

9. An exercise system as recited in claim 8 wherein said external circuitry includes a personal computer system.

10. An exercise system as recited in claim 9 wherein said personal computer system is coupled to a remote server by, at least in part, a network.

11. An exercise system as recited in claim 10 wherein said network includes a wide area network.

12. An exercise system as recited in claim 6 wherein said vocal content includes the voice of a virtual personal trainer.

13. An exercise system as recited in claim 6 wherein said control circuitry includes a microprocessor.

14. An exercise system as recited in claim 6 wherein said resistance varying mechanism includes at least one of a brake and a motor.

15. An exercise system comprising:

(a) an exercise apparatus including;

a frame;

a housing coupled to and at least partially surrounding said frame;

a user engagement mechanism coupled to said frame for relative movement with respect thereto;

a resistance varying mechanism coupled to said frame and associated with said user engagement mechanism, said resistance varying mechanism being operative to cause a change of exertion level by a user engaged with the user engagement mechanism during an exercise session;

an audio output device; and

internal circuitry at least partially surrounded by said housing and electrically coupled to said resistance varying mechanism and said audio output device, said internal circuitry being operationally responsive to externally generated signals including an externally generated control circuitry signal and an externally generated audio signal including vocal content, whereby said exercise apparatus can be externally controlled within an exercise session with the capability of both varying a resistance of said user engagement mechanism and providing auditory output including vocal content to a user; and

(b) external circuitry provided separately from said exercise apparatus and operative to provide said externally generated signals.

16. An exercise system as recited in claim 15 wherein said external circuitry includes a microprocessor.

17. An exercise system as recited in claim 16 wherein said external circuitry includes a personal computer system.

18. An exercise system as recited in claim 17 wherein said external circuitry includes a personal computer system coupled to a remote server by, at least in part, a network.

19. An exercise system as recited in claim 18 wherein said network includes a wide area network.

20. An exercise system as recited in claim 15 wherein said vocal output includes the voice of a virtual personal trainer.

21-24. -24. (canceled)