Fitness Equipment Unit Service Condition Notification System

• US 20150262459A1
• Filed: 03/12/2015
• Published: 09/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peloton Interactive, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Precor Incorporated (Peloton Interactive, Inc.)
• Inventors: May, Gregory B., Munro, Daniel L. M., Albright, Mark, Brown, Tormay J., Durnford, Doug, Pennington, Blakely T., Tremblay, Cynthia, Whitbeck, Richard W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,922,528 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/002 electronically, e.g. by using a program
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0676 with crank and handles being on the same side of the exercising apparatus with respect to the frontal body-plane of the user, e.g. crank and handles are in front of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0658 Position or arrangement of display
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0051 using eddy currents induced in moved elements, e.g. by permanent magnets
• 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 21/078 Devices for bench press exercises , e.g. supports, guiding means
• 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 22/0056 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 22/0235 driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/04 with movable multiple steps , i.e. more than one step per limb, e.g. steps mounted on endless loops, endless ladders steppers with cantilevered support elements pivoting about an axis A63B22/0048
• 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 2220/10 Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/58 Measurement of force related parameters by electric or magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/72 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/10 : Multi-station exercising machines
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/107 : Resisting devices being of the same kind
• 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 2225/305 : Remote servicing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 : with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/035 : for limbs, i.e. upper or lower limbs, e.g. simultaneously
• 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 24/0087 : 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 : Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 : Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 : Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/187 : Machine fault alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/38 : using flashing light
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5625 : Operations, administration and maintenance [OAM]

Abstract

A fitness equipment unit has a controller that actuates a light between different states in response to service conditions. In one implementation, actuation of the light is based upon a combination of at least two of: a mileage parameter of the fitness equipment unit, a sensed electrical current of the fitness equipment unit, a sensed temperature from the fitness equipment unit and a sensed position of a portion of the fitness equipment unit. In another implementation, actuation of the light is based upon a combination of the first and second service conditions selected from a group consisting of: a connection error service condition; a part wear service condition; a motor/actuator error service condition; a sensor error service condition; a processor error service condition; and a power supply error service condition and further based upon a prioritization of different severity levels of the first and second service conditions.

Claims

1. A fitness equipment unit comprising:

a light;

at least first and second sensors, the first sensor to output first signals indicating a first service condition of a fitness equipment unit;

the second sensor to output second signals indicating a second service condition of the fitness equipment unit that is independent of the first service condition; and

a controller to receive signals from the first sensor and the second sensor and to actuate the light between different states based upon a combination of the first and second service conditions, wherein the first and second service conditions comprise two service conditions selected from a group of service conditions consisting of;

a connection error service condition;

a part wear service condition;

a motor/actuator error service condition;

a sensor error service condition;

a processor error service condition; and

a power supply error service condition and further based upon a prioritization of different severity levels of the first and second service conditions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising the fitness equipment unit, wherein the light is supported by the fitness equipment unit.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the light is supported by the fitness equivalent unit out of view of a person exercising on the fitness equipment unit.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the fitness equipment unit comprises a treadmill and when the light is supported at a height below a top surface of a running deck of the treadmill.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the light is on a front end of the treadmill.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first sensor comprises a temperature sensor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises a temperature sensor.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first sensor comprises a sensor to detect a condition of a lift motor of the fitness equipment unit.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller actuates a light to a first state in response to the first service condition as indicated by the first signals, a second service condition as indicated by the second signals or both the first service condition and the second service condition.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller actuates a light to a first state in response to one or both of the first and the second service conditions indicated by the first signals and the second signals and actuates a light to a second state, different than the first state, in response to one or both of a third service condition and a fourth service condition indicated by third and fourth signals from the first sensor and the second sensor, respectively.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the different states comprise a no action needed state, a fitness equipment unit operational stop state and a continue operation, but inspect state.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the continue operation, but inspect state is triggered in response to the first service condition comprising a temporary error in operation of the fitness equipment unit from which the fitness equipment unit automatically recovered.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein actuation of the light between different states is based upon at least two of:

a mileage parameter of the fitness equipment unit, a sensed electrical current of the fitness equipment unit, a sensed temperature from the fitness equipment unit and a sensed position of a portion of the fitness equipment unit.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first condition comprises a sensed connection of each of a plurality of parts of the fitness equipment unit.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the different states comprise a first color of light that is continuously lit to indicate normal operating conditions;

a second color light that is continuously lit to indicate a detected error from which the fitness equipment unit has auto recovered such that the fitness equipment unit is operational and a flashing light to indicate a detected error from which no recovery has been automatically made such that the fitness equipment unit is out of operation.

16. The fitness equipment unit of claim 1, wherein the fitness equipment unit is selected from a group of fitness equipment units consisting of:

a treadmill;

an elliptical exercise device;

an adaptive motion exercise device;

a stationary exercise cycle;

a stepper;

a climber; and

combinations thereof.

17. The fitness equipment unit of claim 1, wherein the fitness equipment unit comprises a treadmill, wherein the first service condition comprises a level of wear of a belt of the treadmill determined based upon differently weighting different speed windows of the treadmill and wherein the treadmill is to communicate the determined level of wear of the belt of the treadmill to a management system that receives belt wear determinations from a plurality of treadmills, including the treadmill, and outputs distribution changes within the fitness facility for the plurality of treadmills within a fitness facility based upon relative determined levels of wear of the treadmills at the fitness facility.

18. A fitness equipment unit comprising:

a light; and

a controller to actuate the light between different service recommending states based upon a combination of at least two of;

a mileage parameter of the fitness equipment unit, a sensed electrical current of the fitness equipment unit, a sensed temperature from the fitness equipment unit and a sensed position of a portion of the fitness equipment unit.

19. The fitness equipment unit of claim 18, wherein the light is actuated between a plurality of states comprising wherein the different states comprise a no action needed state, a fitness equipment unit operational stop state and a continue operation, but inspect state.

20. The fitness equipment unit of claim 18, wherein the light is supported by the fitness equipment unit out of view of a person exercising on the fitness equipment unit.

21. The fitness equipment unit of claim 18, were the controller is to actuate the light between different states based upon a sensed temperature from the fitness equipment unit.

22. An apparatus comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions to direct a processor to;

receive electronic signals indicating a first service condition of the fitness equipment unit;

receive electronic signals indicating a second service condition of the fitness equipment unit, the second condition being independent of the first condition and occurring concurrently with the first condition; and

actuating a light based upon a combination of the first service condition and the second service condition, wherein the first service condition and the second service condition are based upon at least two of;

a mileage parameter of the fitness equipment unit, a sensed electrical current of the fitness equipment unit, a sensed temperature from the fitness equipment unit and a sensed position of a portion of the fitness equipment unit.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first service condition and the second service condition comprise at least two service conditions selected from the group of conditions consisting of:

a connection service condition;

a wear condition;

a motor/actuator service condition;

a sensor service condition; and

a processor service condition.