Cyber sports exercise system

• US 7,465,257 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2005
• Issued: 12/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bowman Jr. Morgan
• Original Assignee: Robert Bowman Jr. Morgan
• Inventors: Morgan, Robert Bowman Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh; Loan H
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAM M
• Application Number:
  US11/253,353
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1, 482/3, 482/4, 482/8, 482/9, 482/51, 482/54, 482/55, 482/57, 482/61, 482/900, 482/901, 482/902, 472/60, 472/130, 434/247, 434/255, 434/257, 434/258, 434/433, 463/6, 463/30, 463/31, D21/325, D21/326, D21/329
• US Class Current: 482/57
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/009 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled in synchronism with visualising systems, e.g. hill slope
• 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 2024/0096 using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/068 kayaking, canoeing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0076 Rowing machines for conditioning the cardio-vascular system seats moving during exercise A63B22/0087; training appliances for rowing or sculling on boats A63B69/06
• 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 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/205 in a substantially vertical plane, e.g. for exercising against gravity exercising for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a user's body weight A63B21/068; with adjustable inclination A63B22/0023
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/54 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/70 Measuring or simulating ambient conditions, e.g. weather, terrain or surface conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/72 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/64 Heated
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• 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 24/0084 : 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 69/305 : Hanging heavy punching bags
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 : Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 : specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 : responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/33 : using wide area network [WAN] connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/90 : Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets

Abstract

The present invention provides an exercise system including an exercise device and an interactive game environment. An enclosure receives an exercise device and the exercise device receives a theme element. Sensors, transducers, and a man-machine interface are interconnected by a controller which operates sensory stimulators in response to controller instructions and user, sensor, and transducer signals. Game play is influenced by a user'"'"'s exercise performance and in an embodiment a first exercise system user competes with a remote second exercise system user utilizing a wide area network that interconnects the controllers of the two exercise systems.

Claims

1. An exercise system comprising:

a partial enclosure, adapted to receive a user, having a base with one or more first mechanical mounting sockets;

a controller having a set of controller instructions embodying an interactive game for motivating users of the exercise system;

a game appropriate exercise device selected from a plurality of different exercise devices, said exercise device having one or more first mechanical mounting fixtures and one or more second mechanical mounting sockets, at least one of said first mechanical mounting fixtures releasably engaging a respective first mechanical mounting socket during exercise; and

a game appropriate theme element selected from a plurality of different theme elements, said theme element having one or more second mechanical mounting fixtures, at least one of said second mechanical mounting fixtures releasably engaging a respective second mechanical mounting socket during exercise wherein the plurality of said exercise devices consist of a bicycle, a treadmill, a stepping machine, a kayak and a punching bag, the plurality of theme elements consist of an aircraft control panel device and a rifle device, said exercise devices each include an exercise device attribute module, an exercise device sensor and a biometric sensor, each theme element includes a theme element attribute module, a theme element transducer, and the controller is in signal communication with the exercise device sensor, the biometric sensor, the theme element transducer and a man-machine interface for creating an environment within the partial enclosure that is responsive to a user'"'"'s operation of the selected exercise device and the selected theme element.

2. The exercise system of claim 1 wherein when the controller is in signal communication with an attribute module of the exercise device, said exercise device attribute module informs the controller of the exercise device type that is currently mounted to the base, and the controller evaluates whether a game appropriate exercise device is engaged with the base for a particular game.

3. The exercise system of claim 2 wherein when the controller is in signal communication with an attribute module of the theme element, said them element attribute module informs the controller of the theme element type that is currently mounted to the exercise device, and the controller evaluates whether a game appropriate theme element is engaged with the exercise device for a particular game.

4. The exercise system of claim 3 whereby the controller utilizes signals from an exercise device sensor in physical contact with the exercise device and a biometric sensor in physical contact with the user to derive an indication of the user'"'"'s exercise performance wherein said indication affects at least one variable of a game.

5. The exercise system of claim 4 wherein the efficacy of a user operable theme element control changes with the affected variable.

6. The exercise system of claim 5 wherein the theme element includes a plurality of user operable controls for participating in the game, said controls being operably coupled to respective transducers for affecting a plurality of game variables.

7. An exercise system comprising:

a partially enclosed space, adapted to receive a user, defined by a base having one or more first mechanical mounting sockets, a forward wall, a partial rear wall, and a partial ceiling;

a controller having a set of controller instructions embodying an interactive game for motivating users of the exercise system;

a game appropriate exercise device selected from a plurality of exercise devices, said exercise device having one or more first mechanical mounting fixtures and one or more second mechanical mounting sockets, at least one of said first mechanical mounting fixtures releasably engaging a respective first mechanical mounting socket during exercise; and

a game appropriate theme element selected from a plurality of theme elements, said theme element having one or more second mechanical mounting fixtures, at least one of said second mechanical mounting fixtures releasably engaging a respective second mechanical mounting socket during exercise wherein the plurality of said exercise devices consist of a bicycle, a treadmill, a stepping machine, a kayak and a punching bag, the plurality of theme elements consist of an aircraft control panel device and a rifle device, said exercise devices each include an exercise device attribute module, an exercise device sensor and a biometric sensor, each theme element includes a theme element attribute module, a theme element transducer, and the controller is in signal communication with the exercise device sensor, the biometric sensor, the theme element transducer and a man-machine interface for creating an environment within the partial enclosure that is responsive to a user'"'"'s operation of the selected exercise device and the selected theme element.

8. The exercise system of claim 7 whereby the controller utilizes signals from a sensor in physical contact with the exercise device and a sensor in physical contact with the user to derive an indication of the user'"'"'s exercise performance said indication affecting at least one variable of the game.

9. The exercise system of claim 8 wherein the efficacy of a user operable theme element control changes with the affected variable.

10. The exercise system of claim 9 wherein the theme element includes a plurality of user operable controls for participating in the game, said controls being operably coupled to respective transducers for affecting a plurality of game variables.

11. The exercise system of claim 10 further comprising another identical exercise system wherein the respective controllers are in signal communication for enabling competitive game play between a first user of the first of the exercise systems and a second user of the second of the exercise systems.

12. The exercise systems of claim 11 wherein a user'"'"'s indicated exercise performance is handicapped based on a comparison within a controller of both users historical exercise performance data, said data for the first user being stored in the controller of the first exercise system and said data for the second user being stored in the controller of the second exercise system.

13. The exercise systems of claim 12 wherein signal communications between the first and second controllers occur over a wide area network.

14. The exercise system of claim 7 wherein the controller is in signal communication with an attribute module of the exercise device, said exercise device attribute module informing the controller of the exercise device type and the controller evaluating for the particular game whether a game appropriate exercise device is engaged with the base.

15. The exercise system of claim 14 wherein the controller is in signal communication with an attribute module of the theme element, the theme element attribute module informing the controller of the theme element type and the controller evaluating for the particular game and the particular exercise device whether a game appropriate theme element is engaged with the exercise device.

16. The exercise system of claim 15 further comprising sensory stimulators that include sensory fluid outlet heads interconnected via a sensory fluid distribution system with a mist generator, an odor generator, a smoke generator, and an air compressor.

17. The exercise system of claim 16 wherein the sensory stimulators further include a fan, a heater, a video display, and a speaker.

18. The exercise system of claim 17 wherein the controller is in signal communication with a health care provider and a game source via a wide area network.

19. The exercise system of claim 18 wherein the health care provider prescribes a particular exercise regimen for the user and the game source utilizes said prescribed exercise regimen to select one or more games to be transmitted to the controller via the wide area network.

20. An exercise system comprising:

a partially enclosed space, adapted to receive a user, defined by a base having one or more first mechanical mounting sockets, a forward wall, a partial rear wall, and a partial ceiling;

a controller having a set of controller instructions embodying an interactive game for motivating users of the exercise system;

a game appropriate exercise device selected from a plurality of exercise devices, said exercise device having one or more first mechanical mounting fixtures and one or more second mechanical mounting sockets, at least one of said first mechanical mounting fixtures releasably engaging a respective first mechanical mounting socket during exercise; and

a game appropriate theme element selected from a plurality of theme elements, said theme element having one or more second mechanical mounting fixtures, at least one of said second mechanical mounting fixtures releasably engaging a respective second mechanical mounting socket during exercise wherein the plurality of said exercise devices consist of a bicycle, a treadmill, a stepping machine, a kayak and a punching bag, the plurality of theme elements consist of an aircraft control panel device and a rifle device, said exercise devices each include an exercise device attribute module to inform the controller of the exercise device type, an exercise device sensor and a biometric sensor, each theme element includes a theme element attribute module to inform the controller of the theme element type and a theme element transducer wherein the controller is in signal communication with the exercise device attribute module, the theme element attribute modules, the exercise device sensor, the biometric sensor, the theme element transducer and a man-machine interface for creating an environment within the partial enclosure that is responsive to a user'"'"'s operation of the selected exercise device and the selected theme element.