Systems and methods for providing an improved exercise device with motivational programming

• US 6,312,363 B1
• Filed: 07/08/1999
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Original Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Inventors: Watterson, Scott R., Dalebout, William T., Ashby, Darren
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US09/349,608
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1-9, 482/51, 482/54, 482/900-902
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0235 driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/90 Ergometer with feedback to load or with feedback comparison

Abstract

The present invention is directed to systems and methods for providing exercise devices with motivational programming. The present invention is particularly well suited to exercise devices that utilize one or more motors and/or other electrically driven actuators to control one or more operating parameters of the exercise device. The present invention contemplates the use of programming that includes motivational content and one or more control signals, synchronized with the motivational content, for controlling operation of the exercise device. The motivational content preferably includes audio and/or video designed to simulate a group exercise setting. In addition, the motivational content can include instructional and educational content for the benefit of the user. The programming can be live or prerecorded and can be broadcast over available broadcast channels, cable, satellite, the internet or anything suitable for transmitting audio and/or video signals. Alternatively, the programming can be prerecorded and stored on a storage medium, such as audio cassette tapes, compact discs, mini-discs, videotapes, laser discs, digital video discs, computer diskettes or any other storage medium suitable for the storage and reproduction of audio and/or video signals. The present invention also includes reproducing the programming, including the motivational content along with the synchronized control signals. Finally, the present invention includes decoding the control signals and for controlling the operation of the exercise device in synchronization with the motivational content.

Claims

1. An improved exercise device having one or more motors or other electrically driven actuators for controlling one or more operating parameters of said exercise device, the improved exercise device comprising in combination:

programming having motivational content and one or more control signals synchronized with said motivational content for controlling said one or more operating parameters of said exercise device, said motivational content comprising at least one of an audio portion and a video portion, said one or more control signals being superimposed in said audio portion of said motivational content;

means for reproducing said programming; and

means, responsive to said reproduced one or more control signals superimposed in said audio portion of said motivational content, for controlling said operating parameters of said exercise device in synchronization with said motivational content.

2. The improved exercise device of claim 1 wherein the programming comprises a television broadcast.

3. The improved exercise device of claim 1 wherein the programming comprises a radio broadcast.

4. The improved exercise device of claim 2 or 3 wherein the broadcast is live.

5. The improved exercise device of claim 2 or 3 wherein the broadcast is prerecorded.

6. The improved exercise device of claim 2 or 3 wherein the broadcast is transmitted over the air waves.

7. The improved exercise device of claim 2 or 3 wherein the broadcast is transmitted via cable.

8. The improved exercise device of claim 2 or 3 wherein the broadcast is transmitted via satellite.

9. The improved exercise device of claim 2 or 3 wherein the broadcast is transmitted via the internet.

10. The improved exercise device of claim 1 wherein the programming is prerecorded and stored on a suitable storage medium.

11. The improved exercise device of claim 10 wherein the motivational content comprises only audio.

12. The improved exercise device of claim 11 wherein the programming is stored on a cassette tape.

13. The improved exercise device of claim 11 wherein the programming is stored on a compact disc.

14. The improved exercise device of claim 11 wherein the programming is stored on a mini-disc.

15. The improved exercise device of claim 11 wherein the programming is stored on computer diskette.

16. The improved exercise device of claim 10 wherein the motivational content comprises synchronized audio and video.

17. The improved exercise device of claim 16 wherein the programming is stored on a videotape.

18. The improved exercise device of claim 16 wherein the programming is stored on a laser disc.

19. The improved exercise device of claim 16 wherein the programming is stored on a digital video disc.

20. The improved exercise device of claim 16 wherein the programming is stored on computer diskette.

21. The improved exercise device of claim 1 wherein said means for reproducing the programming is integrated into said exercise device.

22. The improved exercise device of claim 1 wherein said means for reproducing the programming is separate and distinct from said exercise device.

23. The improved exercise device of claim 21 or 22 wherein said means for reproducing the programming comprises a television.

24. The improved exercise device of claim 21 or 22 wherein said means for reproducing the programming comprises a television and a videotape player.

25. The improved exercise device of claim 21 or 22 wherein said means for reproducing the programming comprises a television and a laser disc player.

26. The improved exercise device of claim 21 or 22 wherein said means for reproducing the programming comprises a television and a digital video disc player.

27. The improved exercise device of claim 21 or 22 wherein said means for reproducing the programming comprises an audio playback system.

28. The improved exercise device of claim 21 or 22 wherein said means for reproducing the programming comprises an audio playback system incorporating a radio receiver.

29. The improved exercise device of claim 21 or 22 wherein said means for reproducing the programming comprises an audio playback system and a cassette tape player.

30. The improved exercise device of claim 21 or 22 wherein said means for reproducing the programming comprises an audio playback system and a compact disc player.

31. The improved exercise device of claim 21 or 22 wherein said means for reproducing the programming comprises an audio playback system and a mini-disc player.

32. The improved exercise device of claim 21 wherein said controlling means comprises:

means for decoding said control signals having an input and an output, the input of said decoding means being electrically coupled to the output of said reproducing means; and

means, electrically coupled to the output of said decoding means, for driving said one or more motors or other electrically driven actuators in response to the decoded control signal.

33. The improved exercise device of claim 22 wherein said controlling means comprises:

sensor means for sensing and converting the audio portion of the reproduced programming to an electrical signal, the sensor means having an output for outputting said electrical signal;

means for decoding said control signals from said audio portion of the reproduced programming, said means having an input and an output, the input of said decoding means being electrically coupled to the output of said sensing means; and

means, electrically coupled to the output of said decoding means, for driving said one or more motors or other electrically driven actuators in response to the decoded control signal.

34. The improved exercise device of claim 33 wherein said reproducing means comprises a loudspeaker and said sensor means comprises a microphone.

35. The improved exercise device of claim 33 wherein said reproducing means comprises an RF transmitter and said sensor means comprises an RF receiver.

36. The improved exercise device of claim 33 wherein said reproducing means comprises an infrared transmitter and said sensor means comprises an infrared receiver.

44. The improved exercise device of claim 1, further comprising a video camera.

45. The improved exercise device of claim 1, wherein said exercise device incorporates a video camera, said video camera being configured to capture video data of the individual at the improved exercise device for delivery to a trainer remote from the improved exercise device.

37. A method of operating an exercise device having one or more motors or other electrically driven actuators for controlling one or more operating parameters of said exercise device, the method comprising:

the step of producing programming having motivational content and one or more control signals for controlling said one or more operating parameters of said exercise device, wherein said one or more control signals are synchronized with said motivational content and said motivational content comprises at least one of an audio portion and a video portion, said one or more control signals being superimposed in said audio portion of said motivational content;

the step of transmitting said programming from a location remote from said exercise device;

the step of receiving and reproducing the transmitted programming;

the step of decoding said control signals from said audio portion of said reproduced programming by said exercise device; and

the step of adjusting said one or more operating parameters of said exercise device in response to said decoded control signals, wherein the operation of said exercise device is synchronized with said motivational content.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the transmitting step comprises broadcasting said programming over air waves.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the transmitting step comprises broadcasting said programming via cable.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the transmitting step comprises broadcasting said programming via satellite.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein the transmitting step comprises broadcasting said programming over the internet.

42. An improved exercise device for use by an individual within the individual'"'"'s residence, the improved exercise device having one or more motors or other electrically driven actuators for controlling one or more operating parameters of said exercise, the improved exercise device comprising in combination:

programming having motivational content and one or more control signals synchronized with said motivational content for controlling said one or more operating parameters of said exercise device, said programming comprising at least one of an audio portion and a video portion, said one or more control signals being superimposed in said audio portion of said programming;

means, remote from said exercise device, for reproducing said programming, said individual receiving at least one of an audio portion and a video portion of the programming via said means; and

means, responsive to said one or more control incorporated within said programming, for controlling said operating parameters of said exercise device in synchronization with said motivational content.

43. An improved exercise device for use by an individual within the individual'"'"'s residence, the improved exercise device having one or more motors or other electrically driven actuators for controlling one or more operating parameters of said exercise, the improved exercise device comprising in combination:

programming having motivational content and one or more control signals synchronized with said motivational content for controlling said one or more operating parameters of said exercise device, said programming being stored within a removable storage media and comprising at least one of an audio portion and a video portion, said one or more control signals being superimposed in said audio portion;

means for reproducing said programming, said means accommodating said removable storage media; and

means, responsive to said one or more control incorporated within said programming, for controlling said operating parameters of said exercise device in synchronization with said motivational content.