EXERCISE EQUIPMENT WITH INTERACTIVE GAMING COMPONENT

• US 20070123390A1
• Filed: 11/29/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Christopher Mathis
• Original Assignee: Christopher Mathis
• Inventors: MATHIS, CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US11/564,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20070123390A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0652 for cycling in a recumbent position
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/009 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled in synchronism with visualising systems, e.g. hill slope
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0644 with display speed of moving landscape controlled by the user's performance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0658 Position or arrangement of display
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0058 using motors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/015 including rotating or oscillating elements rubbing against fixed elements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• 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 22/0076 Rowing machines for conditioning the cardio-vascular system seats moving during exercise A63B22/0087; training appliances for rowing or sculling on boats A63B69/06
• 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 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/00 Measuring of physical parameters relating to sporting activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/18 Inclination, slope or curvature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/64 Frequency, e.g. of vibration oscillation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/72 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/75 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/80 Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 : Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• 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 2225/64 : Heated
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/66 : Cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0084 : Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 : Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 : using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 : using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 : the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 : comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/217 : using environment-related information, i.e. information generated otherwise than by the player, e.g. ambient temperature or humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 : specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 : responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 : Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/816 : Athletics, e.g. track-and-field sports
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 : having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 : involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 : being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 : being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 : using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/302 : specially adapted for receiving control signals not targeted to a display device or game input means, e.g. vibrating driver's seat, scent dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8094 : Unusual game types, e.g. virtual cooking

Abstract

Method and apparatus for encouraging significant exercise by a user of an exercise machine, by utilizing an interactive game that can be networked. The game controller is integrated into the exercise machine along with one or more sensors that supply interactive game inputs to the controller and also with one or more actuators that provide interactive game feedback output by the controller. For example, the sensors sense one or more of: an exercise rate, force, frequency, and repetition count; a button click, trigger squeeze, and joystick movement; a force on a steering wheel, handlebar, and flight stick; a tilting force; a key press, touch screen touch, and switch activation; sound, heat, smell, and moisture. For example, the actuators output from the controller game-related feedback including one or more of: vibration, impact force, movement, heat, cold, moving air, sound, visual effects, changes of exercise resistance and rate, scent and moisture.

Claims

1. An exercise-game machine being an exercise machine combined with an interactive game component, the exercise-game machine comprising:

an exercise machine;

a display built into the exercise machine;

one or more sensors attached to the exercise machine; and

a game controller that is electrically connected to the one or more sensors as inputs, and that is electrically connected to the display as an output.

2. The exercise-game machine of claim 1, wherein:

the game controller is built into the exercise machine.

3. The exercise-game machine of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more sensors are selected from the group consisting of;

an exercise rate sensor, an exercise force sensor, an exercise frequency sensor, an exercise repetition counter, a push button, a trigger, a joystick, a steering wheel, a handlebar, a flight stick, a tilt sensor, a keypad, a touch screen, a switch, a sound detector, a temperature sensor, an odor sensor, and a moisture sensor; and

the sensors are integrated into the exercise machine.

4. The exercise-game machine of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more actuators that are electrically connected to the game controller as outputs, and that are actuatingly attached to the exercise machine.

5. The exercise-game machine of claim 4, wherein:

the one or more actuators are selected from the group consisting of a vibrator, an impact force actuator, a movement actuator, a heating device, a cooling device, a fan, a speaker, a display screen, an exercise resistance adjuster, a motor, a moisture dispenser and a scent dispenser; and

the actuators are integrated into the exercise machine.

6. The exercise-game machine of claim 1, further comprising:

a built-in audio player with suitable speaker/headphone, amplifier, controls, and provisions for loading and unloading removable media, if any.

7. The exercise-game machine of claim 1, further comprising:

provisions for temporarily connecting external audio players to a sound system and/or power supply of the exercise-game machine.

8. The exercise-game machine of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication connection between the game controller and a network that includes another game controller.

9. The exercise-game machine of claim 1, further comprising:

retractable wheels that can be lowered to rollingly support the exercise-game machine, and that can be raised to transfer support to stationary feet.

10. The exercise-game machine of claim 1, further comprising:

rollers on one of the front and rear support legs that rollingly support one end of the exercise-game machine while the other of the front and rear support legs provides stationary support such that the stationary support leg must be raised to allow rolling movement of the exercise-game machine.

11. An exercise-game machine comprising:

an exercise machine;

an interactive game controller that is built into the exercise machine; and

one or more actuators that are actuatingly attached to the exercise machine and electrically connected to the interactive game controller as outputs.

12. The exercise-game machine of claim 11, further comprising:

one or more sensors that are sensingly attached to the exercise machine and electrically connected to the interactive game controller as inputs;

wherein

the one or more sensors are selected from the group consisting of;

an exercise rate sensor, an exercise force sensor, an exercise frequency sensor, an exercise repetition counter, a push button, a trigger, a joystick, a steering wheel, a handlebar, a flight stick, a tilt sensor, a keypad, a touch screen, a switch, a sound detector, a temperature sensor, an odor sensor, and a moisture sensor; and

the sensors are integrated into the exercise machine.

13. The exercise-game machine of claim 11, wherein:

the one or more actuators are selected from the group consisting of;

a vibrator, an impact force actuator, a movement actuator, a heating device, a cooling device, a fan, a speaker, a display screen, an exercise resistance adjuster, a motor, a moisture dispenser and a scent dispenser; and

the actuators are integrated into the exercise machine.

14. The exercise-game machine of claim 11, further comprising:

a built-in audio player with suitable speaker/headphone, amplifier, controls, and provisions for loading and unloading removable media, if any.

15. The exercise-game machine of claim 11, further comprising:

provisions for temporarily connecting external audio players to a sound system and/or power supply of the exercise-game machine.

16. The exercise-game machine of claim 11, further comprising:

a communication connection between the game controller and a network that includes another game controller.

17. A method for encouraging use of an exercise machine by utilizing an interactive game, the method comprising the steps of:

integrating an interactive game controller into the exercise machine;

sensingly attaching one or more sensors to the exercise machine and electrically connecting the one or more sensors to the interactive game controller as interactive game inputs; and

actuatingly attaching one or more actuators to the exercise machine and electrically connecting the one or more actuators to the interactive game controller as interactive game feedback outputs.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

using the one or more sensors to sense and input to the controller one or more of;

an exercise rate, an exercise force, an exercise frequency, an exercise repetition count, a button click, a trigger squeeze, a joystick movement, force on a steering wheel, force on a handlebar, force on a flight stick, a tilting force, a key press, a touch screen touch, a switch activation, sound, heat, smell, and moisture.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

using the one or more actuators to output from the controller game-related feedback including one or more of vibration, impact force, movement, heat, cold, moving air, sound, visual effects, changes of exercise resistance, changes of exercise rate, scent and moisture.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

communicatingly connecting the game controller with a network that includes another game controller.