Exercise Device Control Ring

• US 20140073482A1
• Filed: 11/18/2013
• Published: 03/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IFIT Incorporated (Amynta Agency, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Inventors: Watterson, Scott R., Ashby, Darren C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,149,683 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/4
• 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 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/00 Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements force-resisting aspects A63B21/00; for particular parts of the body, e.g. to strengthen particular limbs or muscles A63B23/00; electric or electronic controls therefor A63B24/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0242 with speed variation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• 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: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence

Abstract

A control ring that usable in adjusting one or more operating parameters of an exercise device includes a body, user input mechanisms, and a transmitter. The control ring is wearable on a finger of an exerciser. The body of the control ring has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The user input mechanisms are associated with the body and may be selectively activated by the exerciser. Upon activation of the user input mechanisms, the transmitter communicates a control command to an exercise device in order to adjust the operating parameters of the exercise device.

Claims

1. A remote control usable in adjusting one or more operating parameters of an exercise device, the remote control comprising:

a body; and

a transmitter associated with the body;

wherein the transmitter communicates with the exercise device only when the remote control is within a predetermined range of the exercise device;

wherein the predefined range includes a first zone, wherein the transmitter communicates control commands to the exercise device upon activation of the one or more user input mechanisms when the remote control is within the first zone, and a second zone, wherein the transmitter communicates only an emergency stop control command to the exercise device when the remote control is within the second zone.

2. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the predefined range is determined by at least one sensor positioned on the exercise device.

3. The remote control of claim 2, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of an infrared sensor, a metal detector, a proximity sensor, a sonar sensor, a radar sensor, or a Doppler sensor.

4. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the predefined range is determined by a wireless connection.

5. The remote control of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more user input mechanisms associated with the body, wherein the one or more user input mechanisms may be selectively activated;

wherein the transmitter communicates a control command to the exercise device upon activation of the one or more user input mechanisms to adjust the one or more operating parameters of the exercise device.

6. The remote control of claim 5, wherein the remote control further comprises a control ring including said body having an interior surface and an exterior surface and which is wearable on a finger of an exerciser.

7. The remote control of claim 6, wherein the control ring comprises one or more straps connected to the body, wherein the one or more straps selectively secure the body on a finger of an exerciser.

8. The remote control of claim 7, wherein the one or more straps comprise a first strap connected to a first end of the body and a second strap connected to a second end of the body, wherein the first strap and the second strap may be selectively connected to one another to selectively secure the body on a finger of an exerciser.

9. The remote control of claim 8, wherein the first strap and the second strap may be selectively connected to one another with at least one of a hook and loop fastener, a clip, and a buckle.

10. The remote control of claim 7, wherein the one or more straps comprise a strap connected between a first end and a second end of the body, such that the strap and the body cooperate to define an aperture through the remote control.

11. The remote control of claim 6, wherein the interior surface is generally arcuately shaped to generally correspond to the shape of an exerciser'"'"'s finger, and wherein the one or more user input mechanisms are disposed on the exterior surface of the body.

12. The remote control of claim 5, wherein the one or more user input mechanisms comprise a speed increase button and a speed decrease button, wherein:

upon activation of the speed increase button, the transmitter communicates a control command to the exercise device to increase the speed of a movable element of the exercise device, and

upon activation of the speed decrease button, the transmitter communicates a control command to the exercise device to decrease the speed of a movable element of the exercise device.

13. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the remote control may be selectively paired with only one exercise device at any given time.

14. The remote control of claim 5, further comprising a processor associated with the one or more user input mechanisms and the transmitter, wherein the processor generates the control command upon activation of the one or more user input mechanisms.

15. The remote control of claim 5, wherein the one or more user input mechanisms comprise an emergency stop button, wherein, upon activation of the emergency stop button, the transmitter communicates a control command to the exercise device to stop the movement of a movable element of the exercise device.

16. An exercise system, comprising:

a movable element that is movable during the performance of exercise, the movable element having one or more adjustable operating parameters;

a receiver that receives control commands related to the one or more adjustable operating parameters; and

an actuator that adjusts the one or more adjustable operating parameters in response to the control commands received by the receiver; and

a remote control, the remote control comprising;

one or more selectively activatable user input mechanisms; and

a transmitter associated with the one or more user input mechanisms, wherein the transmitter communicates control commands to the exercise device upon activation of the one or more user input mechanisms to adjust cause the one or more operating parameters of the movable element;

wherein the transmitter communicates with the exercise device only when the remote control is within a predetermined range of the exercise device; and

wherein the predefined range includes a first zone, wherein the transmitter communicates control commands to the exercise device upon activation of the one or more user input mechanisms when the remote control is within the first zone, and a second zone, wherein the transmitter communicates only an emergency stop control command to the exercise device when the remote control is within the second zone.

17. The exercise system of claim 16, wherein the transmitter of the remote control is a wireless transmitter.

18. The exercise system of claim 16, wherein the predefined range is determined by at least one sensor positioned on the exercise device.

19. The exercise system of claim 16, wherein the one or more adjustable operating parameters comprise a speed of the movable element.

20. A method for adjusting one or more operating parameters of an exercise device, the method comprising:

running an exercise program on an exercise device, wherein the exercise program controls the one or more operating parameters of the exercise device, and wherein the exercise program is initiated via a user input mechanism on the exercise device;

determining if the remote control is within a first zone or a second zone;

adjusting one or more operating parameters of the exercise device in response to a control command when the remote control is within the first zone; and

initiating an emergency stop of the exercise device when the remote control is within the second zone.