Systems, methods, and devices for gathering and transmitting exercise related data

• US 9,186,549 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2013
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2012
• 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., Watterson, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Ginsberg, Oren
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, JOSHUA S
• Application Number:
  US13/856,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20130267385A1
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 482/8, 735/10, 736/70
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0638 Displaying moving images of recorded environment, e.g. virtual environment
• 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 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/18 Inclination, slope or curvature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/055 used for fixing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• 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 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

A data collecting device is selectively attachable to a tread base of a treadmill. The device includes a foot fall sensing mechanism that collects foot fall data from the tread base, an inclination sensing mechanism that collects inclination data regarding the inclination of the tread base, and a communication mechanism that selectively transmits the foot fall data and the inclination data to an external computing device.

Claims

1. A data collecting device that is selectively attachable to a tread base of a treadmill, the data collecting device capable of converting the treadmill that lacks certain data collecting and communicating features into a treadmill that is capable of tracking and transmitting data to an external computing device, the data collecting device comprising:

a foot fall sensing mechanism that collects foot fall data from the tread base;

an inclination sensing mechanism that collects inclination data regarding the inclination of the tread base relative to horizontal; and

a communication mechanism that selectively transmits the foot fall data and the inclination data to an external computing device;

wherein the foot fall sensing mechanism, the inclination sensing mechanism, and the communication mechanism are portable, hand-held electronic mechanisms that are selectively attachable to the treadmill, wherein the data collecting device is a cellular telephone.

2. The data collecting device of claim 1, wherein the foot fall sensing mechanism comprises an accelerometer.

3. The data collecting device of claim 1, wherein the inclination sensing mechanism comprises a gyroscope.

4. The data collecting device of claim 1, wherein the communication mechanism transmits the foot fall data and the inclination data to an external computing device via a wireless connection.

5. The data collecting device of claim 4, wherein the communication mechanism comprises a Bluetooth transmitter.

6. The data collecting device of claim 1, wherein the communication mechanism transmits the foot fall data and the inclination data to an external computing device intermittently during a workout session on the treadmill.

7. The data collecting device of claim 1, wherein the communication mechanism transmits the foot fall data and the inclination data to an external computing device via a wired connection.

8. The data collecting device of claim 7, wherein the communication mechanism comprises a Universal Serial Bus cable.

9. The data collecting device of claim 1, further comprising a timer.

10. The data collecting device of claim 9, wherein the timer begins to track elapsed time when a first foot fall is sensed.

11. The data collecting device of claim 9, wherein the foot fall data includes a number of foot falls per unit of time.

12. The data collecting device of claim 1, further comprising a memory that may store the foot fall data and the inclination data.

13. The data collecting device of claim 1, further comprising software that converts the foot fall data into a speed or distance traveled.

14. The data collecting device of claim 1, wherein data received by the communication mechanism includes at least one of a user stride length, a user height, a user weight, a user inseam length, a user gender, and a user age.

15. The data collecting device of claim 1, further comprising a magnet that is selectively attachable to the tread base.

16. A system for tracking and transmitting exercise related data comprising:

a treadmill having a tread base, the treadmill lacking certain data collecting and communicating features including a foot fall sensing mechanism and an inclination sensing mechanism; and

a data collecting device selectively attachable to the treadmill to provide data collecting and transmission capabilities to the treadmill, the data collecting device comprising a foot fall sensing mechanism, an inclination sensing mechanism, and a communication mechanism,

wherein the data collecting device may be selectively attached to the tread base;

wherein the foot fall sensing mechanism collects foot fall data from the treadmill base;

wherein the inclination sensing mechanism collects inclination data regarding the inclination of the tread base relative to horizontal;

wherein the communication mechanism selectively transmits the foot fall data and the inclination data to an external computing device; and

wherein foot fall sensing mechanism, the inclination sensing mechanism, and the communication mechanism are portable, hand-held electronic mechanisms, wherein the data collecting device is a cellular telephone.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the communication mechanism transmits the foot fall data and the inclination data to an external computing device via a wireless connection.

18. The data collecting device of claim 17, wherein the communication mechanism transmits the foot fall data and the inclination data to an external computing device intermittently during a workout session on the treadmill.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the data collecting device is selectively attached to the tread base through a magnetic attraction.

20. A method for tracking data regarding exercise performed on a treadmill and transmitting the data to an external computing device, the treadmill being converted from a treadmill that does not collect data regarding foot falls of a user on a treadmill tread base or inclination of the treadmill tread base into a treadmill that is capable of collecting data regarding foot falls of a user on the treadmill tread base and inclination of the treadmill tread base and capable of transmitting the data to an external computing device, the method comprising:

selectively attaching a portable, hand-held data collecting device to a treadmill tread base of an existing treadmill;

sensing foot falls of a user on the treadmill tread base with the data collecting device;

sensing the inclination of the treadmill tread base relative to horizontal with the data collecting device;

transmitting data regarding the foot falls of the user and the inclination of the treadmill tread base from the data collecting device to an external computing device; and

displaying exercise related data generated from the data regarding the foot falls of the user and the inclination of the treadmill tread base;

wherein the data collecting device receives data from an external computing device, wherein the data collecting device is a cellular telephone.