EXERCISE MACHINE INCLUDING WEIGHT MEASUREMENT SYSTEM

• US 20090036273A1
• Filed: 10/09/2008
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Core Health & Fitness LLC
• Original Assignee: Felipe J. Marin, Gregory A. Wallace, Javier J. Reyes, Kevin P. Corbalis, Victor Torres Cornejo
• Inventors: Marin, Felipe J., Cornejo, Victor Torres, Corbalis, Kevin P., Wallace, Gregory A., Reyes, Javier J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,837,597 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/025 on rollers or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0023 the inclination of the main axis of the movement path being adjustable, e.g. the inclination of an endless band
• 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 22/0235 driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0242 with speed variation
• 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 22/203 in a horizontal plane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/096 automatically adjusted according to anthropometric data of the user
• 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 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/66 Cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/682 for beverages
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/687 for others, e.g. keys, wallets, books
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/01 User's weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• 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: Y10S 482/901 having computer circuitry

Abstract

An exercise machine including a weight measurement system which provides a signal representative of a user'"'"'s weight. An embodiment of the weight measurement system includes at least one load cell outputting a signal used by a microprocessor to determine an accurate value of the users weight. An embodiment of the weight measurement system includes a plurality of load cells using a Wheatstone bridge configuration to output a signal representative of a user'"'"'s weight regardless of whether the weight is evenly distributed across each load cell. A calibration process calibrates the load cells for each exercise machine.

Claims

1. An exercise machine capable of exercising a user by causing the user to ambulate along a moving belt at one or more desired, selected or determined speeds, the machine comprising:

a frame;

a motor assembly operable to drive a movable belt, wherein operation of the motor assembly causes the movable belt to move which facilitates exercise of a user;

a memory storing an electronically determined weight of a user, the electronically determined weight being indicative of one or more values of electronic weight signals representing a load placed on a scale, said scale electronically outputting said electronic weight signals;

a processor processing said one or more values of said electronic weight signals to determine said weight; and

an electronic display capable of displaying exercise-related information, wherein at least some of the exercise-related information displayed on the electronic display is calculated using said weight.

2. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein one of the exercise-related information comprises speed or limitations on speed.

3. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein one of the exercise-related information comprises resistance or limitations on resistance.

4. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein one of the exercise-related information comprises one of caloric burn rate, current calories burned and total calories burned.

5. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein one of the exercise-related information comprises a body mass index.

6. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein one of the exercise-related information comprises a fitness value.

7. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein one of the exercise-related information comprises a percent body fat.

8. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the scale includes one or more load cells.

9. The exercise machine of claim 8, wherein the scale includes one or more footpads and wherein the one or more load cells are operably connected to the one or more footpads.

10. The exercise machine of claim 8, wherein the one or more load cells comprises a plurality of load cells and wherein the weight is determined even when the user is unevenly distributed across the plurality of load ells.

11. A method of determining an exercise parameter using an indication of an exerciser'"'"'s weight, the method comprising:

electronically generating signals indicative of an exerciser'"'"'s weight after said exerciser boards an exercise apparatus without said user having to enter said weight through an electronic input device;

converting said signals to a value of said exerciser'"'"'s weight, said converting using calibration information determined by monitoring said signals before said user boards said exercise apparatus when a known amount of weight was applied thereto; and

calculating a parameter using at least said value.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising calculating a physiological parameter using said value.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein one of said physiological parameters include a body mass index or range, a fitness value or range, or a percent body fat.

14. The method of claim 11, comprising calculating exercise-related information using said value.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein one of the exercise related information comprises one or more of caloric burn rate, current calories burned, total calories burned, speed or limitations on speed, or resistance or limitations on resistance.

16. A weight measurement device capable of exercising a user, said device comprising:

an exercise apparatus comprising one of a treadmill, a strength machine, or a stationary bike;

one or more load cells configured to output an electronic signal indicative of an amount of weight on said exercise apparatus;

a processor configured to access conversion data to convert said output electronic signal indicative of said weight to a numerical value indicative of at least said weight; and

a display configured to provide information to said user, at least some of said information being dependent upon said numerical value.

17. The weight measurement device of claim 16, wherein the exercise apparatus comprises said treadmill.

18. The weight measurement device of claim 16, wherein the exercise apparatus comprises said bike.

19. The weight measurement device of claim 16, wherein the exercise apparatus comprises said strength machine.

20. The weight measurement device of claim 16 comprising one or more footpads.