Weight-scale apparatus and method

• US 6,719,667 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acumen Associates Incorporated (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Acumen Associates Incorporated (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sham, Ka Yiu, Wong, Philip Lim-Kong
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US10/051,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20020098951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 482/51, 482/54, 482/89, 482/900-902, 119/700
• US Class Current: 482/54
• 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 2220/52 Weight, e.g. weight distribution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/01 User's weight
• 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 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4146 for controlling caloric intake, e.g. diet control

Abstract

An improved treadmill having a weight-scale sensor and a console display which displays a history of weight loss or weight control based upon goals set over a period of time in order to facilitate an enclosed loop system for a weight loss monitoring program.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a continuously movable exercise structure;

a fixed structure for supporting said movable structure, wherein said fixed structure includes a weight-scale sensing device, said weight-scale sensing device including at least one scale surface, and a measuring device for measuring the weight of a user positioned on said at least one weight surface;

electronic circuit device for storing said measured weight and for controlling the resetting of said sensing device;

a display and control console including programmable controller means for calculating calories lost by a user of said apparatus, including means for inputting weight data stored in said electronic circuit device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electronic circuit device includes an electronically programmable memory for storing weight data.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one weight sensing surface includes a first weight sensing surface positioned on one side of said movable portion and a second weight sensing surface positioned on an opposite side of said movable surface.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said movable surface is a treadmill surface and wherein said at least one weight-sensing surface includes a first weight-sensing surface on one side of said treadmill and a second weight-sensing surface on the opposite side of said treadmill for receiving a respective left and right foot placement of a user.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said programmable controller means calculates the calories lost based on the formula:

6. An improved treadmill exercise device comprising:

a movable treadmill surface;

a fixed portion retaining said treadmill surface wherein said fixed portion includes a weight-sensing device for measuring the weight of a user, and wherein said weight-sensing portion includes an electronic programmable memory for storing data concerning the weight of said user;

console display means electrically connected to said weight-sensing device and said treadmill;

said console display means including a programmable control for calculating calories lost by said user during exercise on said treadmill as a function of a weight of said user stored in said programmable memory.

7. The treadmill apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said programmable control further includes a means for updating user information and correlating weight management of said user with use of said treadmill.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein said programmable memory contains an exercise user'"'"'s age and height.

9. The device according to claim 6, wherein said programmable controls further includes means for calculating heart rate of said user and a target zone according to age, height and weight, and means for controlling said treadmill to cause said user'"'"'s heart rate to be retained within said target zone.