Load variance system and method for exercise machine

• US 20060046905A1
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Core Industries Incorporated (SPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Unisen Incorporated (Prosegur Compañia de Seguridad SA)
• Inventors: Corbalis, Kevin P., Wallace, Gregory Allen, Doody, James M. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,585,251 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/57
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0652 for cycling in a recumbent position
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0641 with a marker advancing in function of the exercise
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0052 induced by electromagnets A63B21/0056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• 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 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 482/90 Ergometer with feedback to load or with feedback comparison

Abstract

An exercise machine that varies a resistive load based on sensed changes in intensity of exercise. In one example, an electronic control system of a stationary bicycle adjusts a flywheel resistive load based on changes in the user'"'"'s pedal cadence. During the exercise routine, subsequent increases or decreases in the pedal cadence cause, respectively, increases or decreases in the flywheel resistive load. In addition, the control system may execute the exercise routine after actuation of a single input key. In another embodiment, the user may simply start to exercise. The electronic control system may calculate a default flywheel resistive load based on initialization parameters, such as demographic data and/or exercise preferences.

Claims

1. A stationary bicycle capable of straightforward operation that reduces user interaction with one or more exercise routines, the stationary bicycle comprising:

a flywheel;

a rotatable crank connected to the flywheel, wherein rotation of the crank translates into rotation of the flywheel;

pedals rotatably attached to the crank;

an electronically controlled resistance device capable of interacting with the flywheel to apply resistance to the flywheel based on electronic control, wherein the resistance is translated back to the pedals causing a user to exercise;

a sensor capable of outputting a first signal indicative of a pedal velocity; and

at least one processor capable of receiving the first signal and outputting one or more control signals causing the electronically controlled resistance device to apply more or less resistance to the flywheel based on an increase or decrease in pedal speed.

2. The stationary bicycle of claim 1, wherein a magnitude of said increase or decrease in resistance is a function of a magnitude of said increase or decrease in the pedal speed.

3. The stationary bicycle of claim 1, wherein said sensor is configured to output said first signal based on an angular velocity of the flywheel.

4. The stationary bicycle of claim 1, wherein the electronically controlled resistance device comprises an electromagnetic device.

5. The stationary bicycle of claim 1, wherein said at least one processor outputs control signals in response to a user selection of an exercise routine.

6. The stationary bicycle of claim 5, wherein the exercise routine is a one-touch exercise routine.

7. The stationary bicycle of claim 5, further comprising a display capable of receiving said user selection.

8. The stationary bicycle of claim 1, further comprising a control device capable of receiving said one or more control signals and capable of instructing the electronically controlled resistance device to apply more or less resistance to the flywheel.

9. The stationary bicycle of claim 1, wherein the one or more control signals is received directly by the electronically controlled resistance device.

10. A control system for an exercise machine, the control system comprising:

an input device capable of outputting a first signal indicative of a selection of a hands-free exercise routine for an exercise device, wherein the exercise device is operated at a cadence during a performance of one or more exercises;

a sensor capable of outputting a second signal indicative of the cadence;

a resistance mechanism capable of applying a resistance during the performance of the one or more exercises; and

one or more processors capable of receiving said first and second signals and instructing the resistance mechanism to vary the applied resistance based at least in part on said second signal.

11. The control system of claim 10, wherein the input device is located on an electronic display.

12. The control system of claim 10, wherein the input device comprises a one-touch actuator.

13. The control system of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are capable of outputting signals usable to instruct the resistance mechanism to increase the applied resistance based on an increase in the cadence.

14. The control system of claim 13, wherein the increase in the applied resistance relates to the increase in the cadence.

15. The control system of claim 10, wherein the one or more exercises comprises a stationary cycling exercise.

16. The control system of claim 15, wherein the cadence comprises a pedal cadence.

17. The control system of claim 10, wherein the applied resistance is based at least in part on a default resistance calculated by the processor.

18. The control system of claim 17, wherein the processor calculates said default resistance based at least in part on demographic information.

19. The control system of claim 18, wherein said demographic information comprises at least one of a weight, an age, and sex of a user.

20. A method of manufacturing an exercise machine having a straightforward operation that reduces user interaction with one or more exercise routines, said method comprising:

providing a resistance applicator, wherein the resistance applicator is capable of being operated at a cadence during one or more exercises;

providing a resistance mechanism capable of applying a resistive load that is translated to the resistance applicator;

providing a sensor capable of outputting a first signal indicative of the cadence of the resistance applicator; and

providing a processor capable of receiving the first signal and outputting one or more control signals causing the resistance mechanism to increase or decrease the resistive load based at least on an increase or decrease in the cadence of the resistance applicator.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the resistance applicator comprises pedals.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the resistive load is based at least in part on initialization data.

23. A machine loadable software program for a processor of an exercise machine, the software program comprising:

first computer instructions capable of calculating a default resistance;

second computer instructions capable of instructing a processor to output a control signal to a resistance mechanism to apply a resistive load based at least in part on said default resistance;

third computer instructions capable of calculating a change in an exercise cadence during the performance of one or more exercises; and

fourth computer instructions capable of instructing a processor to output instructions to the resistance mechanism to vary the resistive load based at least on the change in the exercise cadence.

24. An exercise apparatus capable of straightforward operation that reduces user interaction with one or more exercise routines, the exercise apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a user-applied force during the performance of one or more exercises, wherein said means for receiving is capable of being operated at a cadence during said one or more exercises;

means for applying a resistive load that is translated to said means for receiving;

means for sensing said cadence of said means for receiving, wherein said means for sensing is capable of outputting a first signal indicative of said cadence; and

means for processing said first signal and for outputting one or more control signals causing said means for applying a resistive load to increase or decrease the resistive load based at least on an increase or decrease in said cadence.

25. The exercise apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a one-touch actuator capable of outputting a second signal indicative of a selection of a hands-free exercise routine.