Exercise machine

• US 20040072652A1
• Filed: 09/05/2003
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Technogym SpA
• Original Assignee: Technogym SpA
• Inventors: Alessandri, Nerio, Zini, Roberto
• Granted Patent: US 7,479,092 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/00 Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements force-resisting aspects A63B21/00; for particular parts of the body, e.g. to strengthen particular limbs or muscles A63B23/00; electric or electronic controls therefor A63B24/00
• 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 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 (1) comprises means (10) for performing an exercise, allowing a user to perform at least one predetermined gymnastic exercise, and adjusting means (20), for adjusting the operation of the means (10) for performing an exercise. The exercise machine (1) also has a predetermined number of sensors (30), for detecting at least one exercise machine (1) operating parameter (100). A processing unit (40) receives the operating parameter (100) and generates one or more web pages (110) incorporating the operating parameter (100). Connecting means (60) create a permanent connection between the Internet network (150) and the processing unit (40). A receiver-transmitter block (50) receives a request signal (120) from a remote processor (70) by means of the permanent connection, and transmits a transmission signal (130) incorporating one or more web pages (110) to the remote processor (70).

Claims

1. ) an exercise machine comprising:

means (10) for performing an exercise, allowing a user to perform at least one predetermined gymnastic exercise;

adjusting means (20) connected to the means (10) for performing an exercise and acting on the latter to adjust their operation;

a predetermined number of sensors (30), each connected to the means (10) for performing an exercise and/or to the adjusting means (20) and designed to detect at least one exercise machine (1) operating parameter (100);

a processing unit (40), connected to the sensors (30) for receiving at least one operating parameter (100), the processing unit (40) being suitable for generating one or more web pages (110) incorporating the operating parameter (100);

connecting means (60), inserted between the Internet network (150) and the processing unit (40), creating a permanent connection between the Internet network (150) and the processing unit (40);

a receiver-transmitter block (50), connected to the connecting means (60), for receiving, by means of the permanent connection, a request signal (120), from a remote processor (70), and, following said reception, for transmitting a transmission signal (130), for the remote processor (70) and incorporating one or more of the web pages (110) generated by the processing unit (40).

2. ) The exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit (40) comprises a main memory (80) for storing at least the web pages (110).

3. ) The exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means (60) comprise an auxiliary memory (90), for holding a permanent IP code, unambiguously associated with the exercise machine (1), so as to create the permanent connection to the Internet network (150).

4. ) The exercise machine according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein the operating parameters (100) comprise a total time for which the exercise machine (1) has been used and/or one or more types of exercises done by the user using the means (10) for performing an exercise.

5. ) The exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein the means (10) for performing an exercise comprise at least one load to be moved, the operating parameters (100) preferably comprising a weight of the load and/or a number of sets of repetitions to be performed by the user with the load.

6. ) The exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein the means (10) for performing an exercise comprise a rotary belt, the operating parameters (100) preferably comprising a distance covered with the rotary belt and/or a rotary belt sliding speed.

7. ) The exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein the means (10) for performing an exercise comprise at least two pedals, which can be moved with an alternating to and fro motion, the operating parameters (100) preferably comprising a pedal movement speed and/or a distance covered using the pedals.

8. ) The exercise machine according to claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary processing unit (41), inserted between the connecting means (60) and the adjusting means (20) and acting on the adjusting means (20) for receiving from the remote processor (70), through the permanent connection, a command signal (140), to adjust operation of the means (10) for performing an exercise according to the command signal (140).

9. ) The exercise machine according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein the request signal (120) and the command signal (140) are received and the transmission signal (130) is transmitted using the TCP/IP telecommunications protocol.

10. ) A process for receiving and transmitting information in an exercise machine, comprising the following steps:

detecting at least one operating parameter (100) of an exercise machine (1);

generating a predetermined number of web pages (110), incorporating at least said operating parameter (100);

establishing a permanent connection between the exercise machine (1) and the Internet network (150);

receiving a request signal (120) from a remote processor (70) by means of the permanent connection;

transmitting to the remote processor (70), by means of the permanent connection, a transmission signal (130), incorporating one or more web pages (110), following reception of the request signal (120).

11. ) The process according to claim 10, wherein the step of establishing a permanent connection between the exercise machine (1) and the Internet network (150) comprises a sub-step of unambiguously associating a permanent IP code with the exercise machine (1).

12. ) The process according to claim 10, further comprising a step of saving the web pages (110) in a main memory (80) associated with the exercise machine (1), the save step preferably being performed before the web page (110) transmission step.

13. ) The process according to claim 10, further comprising the following steps:

receiving a command signal (140) from the remote processor (70);

adjusting exercise machine (1) operation according to the command signal (140).

14. ) The process according to any of the claims from 10 to 13, wherein the request signal (120) and the command signal (140) are received and the transmission signal (130) is transmitted using the TCP/IP telecommunications protocol.