SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EXERCISING

• US 20110172059A1
• Filed: 03/10/2011
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IFIT Incorporated (Amynta Agency, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Icon-Ip Pty Limited
• Inventors: Buchanan, Dale, Dalebout, William, Watterson, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 8,845,493 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/5
• 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 2071/0644 with display speed of moving landscape controlled by the user's performance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0691 Maps, e.g. yardage maps or electronic maps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• 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 22/0242 with speed variation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/73 Altitude
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/78 Surface covering conditions, e.g. of a road surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/30 blood pressure A63B2230/04 takes precedence
• 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 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

Embodiments relate to exercise systems, and more particularly to exercise cycles and systems for generating exercise programs simulating real-world terrain. In accordance with at least some aspects, a stationary exercise cycle includes an incline mechanism adjusting the vertical and/or lateral incline of the stationary exercise cycle. The incline mechanism may respond to control signals that change vertical incline to simulate an ascent or descent of a hill, or a lateral incline to simulate a turn. A communication system may provide exercise programs to the exercise cycle by operating in connection with third party providers of topographical, map, or other information. Such information can be used to automatically determine corresponding incline or resistance changes, as well as visual information for an exercise program.

Claims

1. An exercise bicycle, comprising:

a bicycle frame configured to rest upon a support surface;

a pedal assembly rotably connected to the bicycle frame;

a resistance assembly adapted to apply resistance to rotation of the pedal assembly; and

an incline mechanism coupled to at least a portion of the bicycle frame, the incline mechanism being configured to change a vertical pitch of at least a portion of the bicycle frame relative to the support surface.

2. The exercise bicycle of claim 1, further comprising a communication interface, wherein the communication interface is configured to use exercise programming to automatically control at least one of the resistance assembly or the incline mechanism.

3. The exercise bicycle of claim 2, wherein the exercise programming includes real-world exercise programming.

4. The exercise bicycle of claim 3, wherein the real-world exercise programming is based on a real-world exercise route, and wherein the communication interface is configured to control at least one of the resistance assembly or the incline mechanism responsive to the real-world exercise route.

5. The exercise bicycle of claim 2, wherein the communication interface is a network communication interface adapted to communicate with a remote computing system.

6. The exercise bicycle of claim 2, wherein the remote computing system is adapted to communicate with at least one third party to obtain data used to generate or retrieve controls that vary at least one of the resistance assembly or the incline mechanism.

7. The exercise bicycle of claim 1, wherein at least the incline mechanism is configured to be automatically controlled based on a combination of one or more of map data, topographical data, video data, or image data.

8. The exercise bicycle of claim 1, wherein the resistance assembly is configured to apply each of a positive resistance and a negative resistance.

9. The exercise bicycle of claim 8, wherein the negative resistance to be applied is determined by multiplying a constant force by an incline value, and subtracting a friction factor.

10. The exercise bicycle of claim 9, wherein the resistance assembly includes an electric motor configured to apply a current which provides the negative resistance.

11. The exercise bicycle of claim 8, further comprising:

a communication interface connected to the resistance assembly and the incline mechanism, the communication interface being configured to substantially simulate terrain of a real-world exercise route by controlling the resistance assembly and the incline mechanism based on the terrain of the real-world exercise route; and

programming presentation means for presenting at least a portion of the exercise programming as at least one of route information, an image, a video, or audio.

12. The exercise bicycle of claim 11, wherein the resistance assembly and incline mechanism are adjustable between multiple states, wherein the multiple states include at least:

a first state, wherein in the first state, the incline mechanism causes the bicycle frame to be at an incline substantially simulating a climb in the real-world exercise route, wherein in the first state, the pedal assembly has at least a positive resistance applied thereto by the resistance assembly, the positive resistance resisting rotation of the pedal assembly; and

a second state, wherein in the second state, the incline mechanism causes the bicycle frame to be at an incline substantially simulating a descent in the real-world exercise route, wherein in the second state, the pedal assembly has at least a negative resistance applied thereto by the resistance assembly, the negative resistance facilitating rotation of the pedal assembly.

13. The exercise bicycle of claim 1, further comprising:

a lateral tilt mechanism coupled to at least a portion of the bicycle frame, the lateral tilt mechanism being configured to change a lateral pitch of at least a portion of the bicycle frame relative to the support surface.

14. An interactive exercise bicycle, comprising:

a bicycle frame configured to rest upon a support surface;

a pedal assembly connected to the bicycle frame;

an incline mechanism configured to selectively vary a pitch of at least a portion of the support frame relative to the support surface; and

a simulation system configured to substantially simulate a real-world exercise route by adjusting operating parameters of at least the incline mechanism, the simulation system being configured to provide control signals to the incline mechanism to vary the operating parameters of the incline mechanism, the control signals being representative of changes to at least one of the vertical pitch or lateral pitch of the bicycle frame relative to the support surface.

15. The interactive exercise bicycle recited in claim 14, wherein the simulation system is configured to select the real-world exercise route, the real-world exercise route being user-customizable.

16. The interactive exercise bicycle recited in claim 14, wherein the simulation system includes a communication interface, the communication interface being connectable to a remote provider that accesses one or more third party providers of topographical or map information.

17. The interactive exercise bicycle recited in claim 14, further comprising a resistance assembly connected to the pedal assembly, the resistance assembly being configured to dynamically adjust a difficulty in rotating the pedal assembly based at least in part on the real-world exercise route.

18. The interactive exercise bicycle recited in claim 17, wherein the incline mechanism is configured to substantially simulate a descent by adjusting a vertical pitch of the bicycle frame relative to the support surface, and wherein the resistance mechanism is configured to apply a positive force as a negative resistance while the incline mechanism substantially simulates a descent.

19. The interactive exercise bicycle recited in claim 18, further comprising:

at least one sensor configured to detect the presence of a user, where the sensor is communicatively coupled to at least the resistance mechanism and configured to control application of the positive force when the user is not present.

20. An exercise bicycle, comprising:

a bicycle frame configured to rest upon a support surface;

a pedal assembly connected to the bicycle frame;

means for obtaining real-world exercise route information; and

means for varying a pitch of at least a portion of the bicycle frame relative to the support surface and responsive to the obtained real-world exercise route information.