System for monitoring fitness performance

• US 9,468,793 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2013
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Stubben, D'Miles Salmon
• Original Assignee: David Stubben, D'Miles Salmon
• Inventors: Stubben, David, Salmon, D'Miles
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Atkinson, Garrett
• Application Number:
  US13/987,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20140235409A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1, 482/8, 482/9, 482 92-104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/224 Measuring muscular strength
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0724 Bar-bells; Hand bars
• 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 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/52 Weight, e.g. weight distribution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• 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 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills

Abstract

A workout system for monitoring fitness and generating a workout summary is disclosed. The system includes a workout module that integrates with weight lifting equipment. The workout module includes one or more motion detectors that detect repetitions and/or tempo of weights lifted or displaced and a computer that logs and stores the repetitions and/or the tempo that weights are lifted or are displaced. The workout module also preferably includes a resistance, a radio frequency, an optical or a magnetic weight sensor or reader that automatically reads and determines values of weights used in the workout. The workout module also preferably includes a radio transmitter to transmit workout data and workout parameters to a remote computing device.

Claims

1. A portable system for monitoring fitness comprising a workout module, the workout module comprising:

a) a computing unit with a micro-processor and memory for running software that analyzes a workout from displacements of a load from weight lifting equipment with a plurality of weights, wherein each of the plurality of weights has a unique indicator decal attached thereto;

b) an input unit for entering the load into the computing unit;

c) a detecting unit with a motion detector that is in electrical communication with the computing unit for counting displacements of the load;

d) an output unit for providing a summary of the workout, wherein the input unit for entering the load into the computing unit includes a sensor that automatically determines the load by reading the unique indicator decal coded for a value of the load, when the sensor is placed in the proximity of the unique indicator decal; and

wherein the sensor includes a measuring circuit for reading the unique indicator decal, wherein the unique indicator decal is a radio frequency indicator decal (RFID) or a conductive ink decal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the workout module includes an attachment feature for attaching to a portion of the user'"'"'s body or a portion of the weight lifting equipment.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor includes one or more accelerometers.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising transmitter unit for down loading the summary of the workout to a remote computing device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the transmitter unit includes a radio transmitter.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the detector unit further counts a tempo of the displacements of the load.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprises an audio output for indicating a selected tempo of the displacement of the load and completion of a selected number of displacements the load.

8. A system for monitoring fitness comprising:

a) a portable control module with a motion detector and computing unit, wherein the motion sensor and computing unit logs and stores displacements of a selected load to provide a workout summary; and

b) a weight sensing pin in electrical communication with the portable control module for securing to the selected load on weight lifting equipment with a plurality of weights, wherein each of the plurality of weights has a unique conductive ink or radio frequency indicator decal attached thereto, wherein the weight sensing pin includes a sensor that reads the unique conductive ink or radio frequency indicator decal coded for a value of the selected load, when the sensor is placed in the proximity of the unique conductive ink or radio frequency indicator decal and communicates a value of the selected load to the computing unit of the portable control module for computing the workout summary.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the motion detector includes one or more accelerometers.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensor that reads the indicator decal includes a resistance measuring circuit for reading the unique conductive ink indicator decal.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensor that reads the unique conductive ink or radio frequency indicator decal further includes a radio frequency measuring circuit for sensing one or more one or more radio frequencies.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising transmitter unit for down loading the workout summary to a remote computing device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the transmitter unit includes a radio transmitter.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the motion sensor and computing unit further logs and stores a tempo of the displacements of the selected load.

15. The system of claim 8, further comprises an audio output for indicating a preferred tempo of the displacements of the selected load.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein the weight sensing pin includes a battery unit for powering portable control module.