Indoor-outdoor exercise system

• US 8,911,330 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2013
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IFIT Incorporated (Amynta Agency, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Inventors: Watterson, Scott R., Watterson, Mark D
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US13/753,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20130210581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482900-902, 434/247
• US Class Current: 482/8
• 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: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/901 having computer circuitry

Abstract

An exercise system includes an exercise monitoring device that gathers data regarding an outdoor exercise routine, a remote communication system communicatively connectable to the exercise monitoring device, and an exercise device that is communicatively connectable to the remote communication system. The remote communication system is receptive to the data regarding the outdoor exercise routine and generates an exercise program based on the data regarding the outdoor exercise routine. The exercise device is receptive to the exercise program, and the exercise program causes the exercise device to simulate one or more aspects of the outdoor exercise routine.

Claims

1. An exercise system comprising:

an exercise monitoring device that gathers data regarding a first exercise routine;

a remote communication system communicatively connectable to the exercise monitoring device, the remote communication system being receptive to the data regarding the first exercise routine, wherein the remote communication system generates an exercise program based on the data regarding the first exercise routine; and

an exercise device that is communicatively connectable to the remote communication system, the exercise device being receptive to the exercise program, wherein the exercise program causes the exercise device to simulate one or more aspects of the first exercise routine;

wherein the exercise machine provides the exerciser with prompts during the simulated exercise routine regarding the user'"'"'s performance in comparison to the first exercise routine.

2. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein the exercise monitoring device comprises one or more sensors that gather data about the first exercise routine, including at least one of GPS data, distance traveled, elevation, elevation changes, time duration, incline, and decline.

3. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein the exercise monitoring device comprises at least one of a display and a speaker.

4. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein the remote communication system generates the exercise program by creating one or more control commands that cause adjustments to one or more operating parameters of the exercise device.

5. The exercise system of claim 4, wherein the adjustments to the one or more operating parameters simulate the one or more aspects of the first exercise routine.

6. The exercise system of claim 5, wherein the one or more simulated aspects of the first exercise routine include at least one of incline, decline, and speed.

7. The exercise system of claim 4, wherein the remote communication system generates the exercise program by synchronizing one or more images of the first exercise routine with the one or more control commands.

8. The exercise system of claim 7, wherein simulation of the one or more aspects of the first exercise routine comprises presenting the one or more images of the first exercise routine on a display of the exercise device.

9. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein the first exercise routine is an outdoor exercise routine.

10. An exercise system comprising:

a remote communication system that generates an exercise program based on data regarding an outdoor exercise route, the exercise program comprising (i) control commands representative of terrain of the outdoor exercise route and (ii) images of the outdoor exercise route that are synchronized with the control commands;

an exercise device communicatively connected to the remote communication system, the exercise device being receptive to the exercise program, wherein the exercise device simulates the outdoor exercise route in response to the exercise program, wherein data regarding an exerciser'"'"'s performance of the simulated exercise route is gathered during the performance of the simulated exercise route; and

an exercise monitoring device that gathers data regarding an exerciser'"'"'s performance of an exercise performed along the outdoor exercise route and compares that data to the data regarding the exerciser'"'"'s performance of the simulated exercise route;

wherein the exercise device provides the exerciser with prompts during the simulated exercise routine regarding the user'"'"'s performance in comparison to the first exercise routine.

11. The exercise system of claim 10, wherein the images are collected with the exercise monitoring device during the outdoor exercise routine.

12. The exercise system of claim 10, wherein the exercise monitoring device comprises a camera.

13. The exercise system of claim 10, wherein the remote communication system is in communication with at least one additional exercise device.

14. The exercise system of claim 10, wherein the remote communication system compares performances of multiple group members.

15. The exercise system of claim 14, wherein the remote communication system determines a winner based on the comparison of the multiple group members.