Interactive exercise apparatus

• US 5,690,582 A
• Filed: 06/01/1995
• Issued: 11/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tectrix Fitness Equipment, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tectrix Fitness Equipment, Inc.
• Inventors: Benjamin, Michael H., Koselka, Harvey A., Bobick, Aaron F., Ulrich, W. Thatcher
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US08/457,242
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1-9, 482/51-54, 482/900-902, 434/247, 434/250, 434/253, 434/255
• US Class Current: 482/4
• 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 2071/0641 with a marker advancing in function of the exercise
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0644 with display speed of moving landscape controlled by the user's performance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/005 using electromagnetic or electric force-resisters
• 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 22/0087 with a seat or torso support moving during the exercise, e.g. reformers A63B22/0076 takes precedence
• 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 22/16 Platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis , e.g. axis through the middle of the platform; Balancing drums; Balancing boards or the like exercising apparatus with cantilevered support elements pivoting about an axis A63B22/0056; other exercising apparatus for improving balance A63B26/003
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/76 Wind conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/01 User's weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0476 by rotating cycling movement arrangements on or for real bicycles A63B69/16
• 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: 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 26/003 for improving balance or equilibrium balance beams A63B4/00; apparatus for rope dancing A63B7/08; balancing drums, balancing boards or the like A63B22/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 : specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 : Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 : Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 : involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 : Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 : Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/816 : Athletics, e.g. track-and-field sports
• 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 2300/50 : characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 : for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 : for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 : Athletics
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 : Driving on land or water; Flying

Abstract

An interactive exercise apparatus engages a user'"'"'s mind and body. The apparatus comprises an exercise mechanism and a steering mechanism for manipulation by the user to achieve exercise and to indicate a direction of motion. The exercise mechanism can be, for example, the steps of a stair climbing simulator or the pedals of a bicycle, preferably a recumbent bicycle. A simulated environment (e.g., an interactive simulated three-dimensional environment or an interactive simulated three-dimensional fluid environment) is generated by a computer and displayed on a display system for the user. The user manipulates. the exercise mechanism and the steering mechanism to travel substantially unrestricted throughout the simulated environment. The computer controls the exercise mechanism and monitors the exercise mechanism and the steering mechanism to determine user position in the simulated environment. The display provides a visual display of the user'"'"'s position in the simulated environment. A plurality of the interactive exercise apparatus can be networked together to allow group participation in the simulated environment.

Claims

1. A stair climbing simulator exercise apparatus, comprising:

a pair of steps which a user manipulates to achieve exercise;

a steering mechanism disposed proximate the steps which the user manipulates to indicate direction of motion;

a computer for generating a simulated environment, for controlling the steps, for monitoring user manipulation of the steps and the steering mechanism to determine user position in the simulated environment, and for automatically adjusting the steps to maintain the user at substantially a particular distance above the ground regardless of the speed at which the user manipulates the steps; and

a display system coupled to the computer for providing a visual display of at least the user'"'"'s position in the simulated environment.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the computer is configured to (i) enable the user to travel substantially unrestricted throughout the simulated environment by manipulating the steps and the steering mechanism, (ii) determine updated user position in the simulated environment, and (iii) enable the user to participate in user-selectable activities within the simulated environment.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the computer includes a network interface to allow communication over a communication channel with at least one other such exercise apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the computer also provides interactive feedback to the user based on the user'"'"'s actions in the simulated environment.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the computer generates an interactive simulated three-dimensional environment.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the computer generates an interactive simulated three-dimensional fluid environment.

7. A stair climbing simulator exercise apparatus, comprising:

a pair of steps which a user manipulates to achieve exercise; and

means for automatically adjusting the steps to maintain the user at substantially a particular distance above the ground regardless of the speed at which the user manipulates the steps.