Exercise equipment connected to an electronic game of chance

• US 6,413,191 B1
• Filed: 08/30/1999
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Original Assignee: Fitness Gaming Corporation
• Inventors: Harris, Kathy M., True, Charles W. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US09/385,463
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1-9, 482/51-54, 482/57, 482/72, 482/900-902, 463/16, 463/23, 463/25, 273/138.1, 273/139, 273/142.R
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/902 Employing specific graphic or video display

Abstract

A piece of exercise equipment includes an electronic game of chance connected thereto. A switch or other device may also be connected to the combination system to operate the electronic game of change when the piece of exercise equipment is in use. The combination system also includes a controller which detects a combined action of playing the electronic game of chance and using the exercise equipment. The system electronically connects the gambling device to the piece of exercise equipment and detects when an operator is using both the exercise equipment and the electronic game of chance simultaneously.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a piece of exercise equipment;

an electronic game of chance device connected to the piece of exercise equipment;

means for initiating the system; and

means for operating the system when the electronic game of chance device and the piece of exercise equipment are being used simultaneously.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for initiating the system comprises a wager detecting circuit to detect when a wager is received and to output a wager signal.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the wager detecting circuit outputs a time signal when a wager is received.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the means for operating the system comprises:

a power circuit to start the system upon receiving the wager signal from the wager detecting circuit;

a timing circuit to start clocking a predetermined period of time upon receiving the time signal from the wager detecting circuit;

an exercise equipment detecting circuit to detect whether the exercise equipment is being used; and

an electronic game of chance detecting circuit to detect whether the electronic game of chance device is being played, the electronic game of chance detecting circuit being electronically connected to the electronic game of chance detecting circuit;

wherein, during the predetermined period of time, the system operates when the exercise equipment is being used and, simultaneously, the electronic game of chance device is being played.

5. A control circuit for detecting a simultaneous use of an exercise equipment connected to an electronic game of chance device, comprising:

an exercise equipment detecting circuit to detect whether the exercise equipment is being used; and

an electronic game of chance detecting circuit to detect whether the electronic game of chance device is being played, the electronic game of chance detecting circuit being electronically connected to the electronic game of chance detecting circuit;

wherein, during a predetermined period of time, the exercise equipment and the electronic game of chance device operate when being simultaneously used.

6. The control circuit of claim 5, further comprising:

a wager detecting circuit to output a wager signal and a time signal upon detecting a presence of a wager;

a power circuit to start the exercise equipment and the electronic game of chance device upon receiving the wager signal from the wager detecting circuit; and

a timing circuit to start clocking a predetermined period of time upon receiving the time signal from the wager detecting circuit.

7. A combination device, comprising:

a piece of exercise equipment;

an electronic game of chance device connected to the exercise equipment;

an initiation detecting circuit to initiate the combination device when an initiation signal is received;

an exercise equipment detecting circuit to detect when the exercise equipment is being used; and

an electronic game of chance detecting circuit to detect when the electronic game of chance is being played, the electronic game of chance detecting circuit being electronically connected to the exercise equipment detecting circuit;

wherein, during a predetermined period of time, the combination device operates when the exercise equipment is being used and, simultaneously, the electronic game of chance is being played.

8. A method for operating a combination machine including an exercise equipment connected to an electronic game of chance device, comprising the steps of:

initiating the electronic game of chance device; and

using the exercise equipment and playing the electronic game of chance device for a predetermined period of time;

wherein, at the end of the predetermined period of time, the combination machine shuts down when the exercise equipment and the electronic game of chance device are not being simultaneously used.

9. A method for making a combination machine including an exercise equipment and electronic game of chance device, comprising the steps of:

providing initiation means to initiate the combination machine;

connecting the exercise equipment to an exercise equipment detecting circuit, the detecting circuit outputting an exercise-on signal when the exercise equipment is being used;

connecting the electronic game of chance device to an electronic game of chance detecting circuit, the detecting circuit outputting a game-on signal when the electronic game of chance device is being played; and

providing an exercise/game control circuit to receive the exercise-on signal and the game-on signal, the exercise/game control circuit allowing the combination machine to operate when exercise-on signal and game-on signal are simultaneously received during a predetermined period of time.