Exercise machine including weight measurement system

• US 7,070,542 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2002
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Core Health & Fitness LLC
• Original Assignee: Unisen Incorporated (Prosegur Compañia de Seguridad SA)
• Inventors: Marin, Felipe J., Cornejo, Victor Torres, Corbalis, Kevin P., Wallace, Gregory A., Reyes, Javier J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US10/313,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20040018915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482/51, 482/54, 482900-902, 119/700
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/025 on rollers or wheels
• 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 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0235 driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0242 with speed variation
• 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 22/203 in a horizontal plane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/096 automatically adjusted according to anthropometric data of the user
• 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 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/66 Cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/682 for beverages
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/687 for others, e.g. keys, wallets, books
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/01 User's weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• 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: Y10S 482/901 having computer circuitry

Abstract

An exercise machine including a weight measurement system which provides a signal representative of a user'"'"'s weight. An embodiment of the weight measurement system includes at least one load cell outputting a signal used by a microprocessor to determine an accurate value of the users weight. An embodiment of the weight measurement system includes a plurality of load cells using a Wheatstone bridge configuration to output a signal representative of a user'"'"'s weight regardless of whether the weight is evenly distributed across each load cell. A calibration process calibrates the load cells for each exercise machine.

Claims

1. A treadmill capable of acquiring a representation of a current weight of a user through a plurality of load cells, the treadmill comprising:

an electronic display including a processing device capable of governing an exercise of a user through one or more configuration parameters;

a display support assembly including one or more handrails;

an endless belt;

a driving assembly including at least one motor capable of supplying movement to the endless belt to cause the user positioned on the endless belt to perform the exercise; and

a frame including;

a plurality of rollers defining a path for the endless belt, and

a plurality of rail portions, each rail portion extending outwardly with respect to each side of the endless belt and housing at least one of a plurality of load cells, the plurality of load cells capable of outputting a representation of a current weight of the user based on the user'"'"'s weight being applied to the plurality of load cells.

2. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the each of the plurality of load cells electrically comprises a Wheatstone bridge circuit.

3. The treadmill of claim 2, wherein the plurality of load cells output the representation of the current weight even when the user'"'"'s weight is unevenly distributed across the plurality of load cells.

4. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the plurality of load cells comprise aluminum.

5. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the plurality of load cells comprise metal.

6. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the processing device is capable of determining a value of the current weight of the user and configured to display the value on the electronic display.

7. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the processing device is capable of, using the representation of the current weight of the user In determining one or morn physiological parameters, and is capable of displaying at least one of the one or more physiological parameters.

8. The treadmill of claim 7, wherein the at least one of the one or more physiological parameters includes one of caloric burn rate, current calories burned and total calories burned.

9. The treadmill of claim 7, wherein the at least one of the one or more physiological parameters includes a body mass index.

10. The treadmill of claim 7, wherein the at least one of the one or more physiological parameters includes a fitness value.

11. The treadmill of claim 7, wherein the at least one of the one or more physiological parameters Includes a percent body fat.

12. A treadmill comprising an electronic display, a handrail assembly, a frame, a weight measurement system and an endless belt disposed within the frame and around a plurality of rollers on each side of a deck, the endless belt being driven by a motor assembly to exercise a user positioned on the endless belt wherein the weight measurement system is capable of weighing the user without the user dismounting the treadmill and is capable of outputting a signal representative of a current weight of the user to a processor of the electronic display, wherein the processor is capable of using the representation of the current weight of the use in determining a physiological parameter indicative of an amount of exercise performed or being performed by the user.

13. The treadmill of claim 12, wherein the weight measurement system comprises a deck detection system that weighs the user as the user is positioned on the endless belt.

24. The treadmill of claim 12, wherein the physiological parameter includes caloric burn rate.

25. The treadmill of claim 12, wherein the physiological parameter includes current cables burned.

26. The treadmill of claim 12, wherein the physiological parameter includes total calories burned.

14. A treadmill comprising an electronic display, a handrail assembly, a frame, a weight measurement system and an endless belt disposed within the frame and around a plurality of rollers on each side of a deck, the endless belt being driven by a motor assembly to exercise a user positioned on the endless belt, wherein the weight measurement system is capable of weighing the user without the user dismounting the treadmill and is capable of outputting a signal representative of a current weight of the user to a processor of the electronic display, wherein the weight measurement system comprises a plurality of load cells, each load cell mechanically connected to a footpad disposed on the frame near a periphery of the endless belt such that a user straddles the endless belt to step on each of the footpads.

15. The treadmill of claim 14, wherein the each of the plurality of load cells electrically comprises a Wheatstone budge circuit.

16. The treadmill of claim 15, wherein the plurality of load cells output the representation of the current weight even when the users weight is unevenly distributed across the plurality of load cells.

17. The treadmill of claim 14, wherein the plurality of load cells comprise aluminum.

18. The treadmill of claim 14, wherein the plurality of load cells comprise metal.

19. The treadmill of claim 14, wherein the processor is capable of using the representation of the current weight of the user in determining one or more physiological parameters, and is capable of displaying at least one of the one or more physiological parameters.

20. The treadmill of claim 19, wherein the at least one of the one or morn physiological parameters includes one of caloric burn rate, current calories burned and total calories burned.

21. The treadmill of claim 19, wherein the at least one of the one or more physiological parameters includes a body mass index.

22. The treadmill of claim 19, wherein the at least one of the one or more physiological parameters includes a fitness value.

23. The treadmill of claim 19, wherein the at least one of the one or more physiological parameters includes a percent body fat.