Exercise system

• US 6,497,638 B1
• Filed: 01/27/2000
• Issued: 12/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael J Shea
• Original Assignee: Michael J Shea
• Inventors: Shea, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen R.
• Application Number:
  US09/492,822
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1-9, 482/900, 482/901, 482/902
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0065 Evaluating the fitness, e.g. fitness level or fitness index
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0078 Exercise efforts programmed as a function of time
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0081 Coaching or training aspects related to a group of users
• 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 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• 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 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• 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 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• 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 2230/01 User's weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/065 within a certain range
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/30 blood pressure A63B2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 calorie expenditure
• 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 24/0075 : Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0084 : Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• 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 71/06 : 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: A63B 71/0697 : Reservation devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 : for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/901 : having computer circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/902 : Employing specific graphic or video display

Abstract

An exercise system includes a plurality of exercise terminals, wherein a workout of an exerciser includes at least two exercises performed at one or more of the exercise terminals. Each exercise terminal includes a communication device for communicating to the exerciser information regarding an exercise of the workout subsequent to a current exercise in the workout.

Claims

1. A method of maintaining a centralized, updateable record of exercise activities for an exerciser, the method comprising:

providing a system computer with access to the record of exercise activities for the exerciser;

receiving at the system computer first exercise data electronically communicated from exercise terminals used by the exerciser at a site having a plurality of exercise terminals, the first exercise data being indicative of the exerciser'"'"'s exercise activities involving use of the exercise terminals at the exercise terminal site;

updating the record of exercise activities for the exerciser based on the first exercise data received from the exercise terminals;

receiving at the system computer second exercise data electronically communicated from the exerciser when the exerciser is away from the exercise terminal site, the second exercise data being indicative of the exerciser'"'"'s exercise activities away from the exercise terminal site; and

updating the record of exercise activities for the exerciser based on the second exercise data received from the exerciser.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first exercise data includes data that identifies one or more of:

exercise terminals used;

exercises performed at the exercise terminals;

exercise difficulty levels;

exercise times; and

physiological data.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second exercise data includes data that identifies the exerciser'"'"'s exercise activities away from the exercise terminal site.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating a form requesting inputs from the exerciser for the second exercise data; and

electronically transmitting the form to the exerciser when the exerciser is away from the exercise terminal site,

wherein the receiving of the second exercise data comprises receiving an electronic communication from the exerciser comprising the requested inputs, and

wherein the updating of the record of exercise activities based on the second exercise data comprises updating the record of exercise activities based on the communication.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the form includes fields that are filled in by the exerciser.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

using the record of exercise activities to automatically select exercise activities for the exerciser.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

electronically transmitting data indicative of the selected exercise activities to the exerciser.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

receiving an electronic communication from the exerciser regarding performance of the selected exercise activities.

9. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 1.

10. A method of selecting exercise activities for an exerciser, comprising:

maintaining a centralized, updateable record of exercise activities for the exerciser in accordance with the method of claim 1;

selecting exercise activities for the exerciser based on the record of exercise activities.

11. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 10.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing access to the record of activities for the exerciser when the exerciser is away from the exercise terminal site.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the exercise terminal site is a health club facility.

14. A method of maintaining a centralized, updateable record of exercise activities for an exerciser, the method comprising:

(i) providing a system computer with access to the record of exercise activities for the exerciser;

(ii) when the exerciser exercises at a site having exercise terminals,

(ii-a) receiving at the system computer first exercise data electronically communicated from the exercise terminals used by the exerciser, the first exercise data being indicative of the exerciser'"'"'s exercise activities involving use of the exercise terminals; and

(ii-b) updating the record of exercise activities for the exerciser based on the first exercise data received from the exercise terminals, and

(iii) when the exerciser exercises away from the exercise terminal site,

(iii-a) generating a communication requesting inputs from the exerciser for second exercise data indicative of the exerciser'"'"'s activities away from the exercise terminal site;

(iii-b) electronically transmitting the generated communication to the exerciser when the exerciser is away from the exercise terminal site;

(iii-c) receiving at the system computer an electronic communication from the exerciser comprising the requested inputs; and

(iii-d) updating the record of exercise activities for the exerciser based on the received communication.

15. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 14.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

providing access to the record of activities for the exerciser when the exerciser is away from the exercise terminal site.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the exercise terminal site is a health club facility.

18. A method of selecting exercise activities for an exerciser, comprising:

maintaining a centralized, updateable record of exercise activities for the exerciser in accordance with the method of claim 14;

selecting exercise activities for the exerciser based on the record of exercise activities.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the selecting of exercise activities for the exerciser comprises selecting exercise activities involving use of the exercise terminals at the exercise terminal site.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the selecting of exercise activities for the exerciser comprises selecting exercise activities to be performed away from the exercise terminal site.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising:

transmitting data indicative of the exercise activities to be performed away from the exercise terminal site to the exerciser when the exerciser is away from the exercise terminal site.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

receiving an electronic communication from the exerciser regarding performance of the selected exercise activities.

23. The method according to claim 18, wherein the exercise terminal site is a health club facility.

24. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 18.