Hydraulic Exercise Machine System and Methods Thereof

• US 20070232451A1
• Filed: 04/20/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Curves International Incorporated (Koshidaka Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: MYTRAK Health System, Inc.
• Inventors: Hanoun, Reed
• Granted Patent: US 7,914,425 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0083 of the piston-cylinder type using pneumatic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0087
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• 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

Abstract

A hydraulic exercise machine system comprises one or more hydraulic cylinders, a mechanism coupled to at least one of the hydraulic cylinders, and a sensor assembly. Displacement of the mechanism by a person exercising on the hydraulic exercise machine displaces pistons of the hydraulic cylinders relative to the cylinders. The sensor assembly is to sense displacement of a piston relative to its cylinder over time.

Claims

1. A method for determining energy exerted by a person exercising on a hydraulic exercise machine, the method comprising:

sensing displacement over time of a first piston of the hydraulic exercise machine relative to its hydraulic cylinder due to displacement by the person of a mechanism coupled to the hydraulic cylinder;

calculating a stroke of the first piston from the sensed displacement and parameters of the hydraulic cylinder; and

determining the energy exerted by the person while displacing the mechanism based, at least in part, on the calculated stroke and properties of the hydraulic cylinder.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating a stroke of a second piston coupled to the first piston from the sensed displacement and parameters of the second piston'"'"'s hydraulic cylinder;

wherein determining the energy exerted by the person while displacing the mechanism is further based, at least in part, on the calculated stroke of the second piston and properties of the second piston'"'"'s hydraulic cylinder.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameters comprise one or more of the following:

viscosity of a liquid or gas used in the first piston, a size of an orifice of the first piston, and force required to move the liquid or gas through the orifice.

4. A hydraulic exercise machine system, comprising:

one or more hydraulic cylinders;

a mechanism coupled to at least one of the hydraulic cylinders, where displacement of the mechanism by a person exercising on the hydraulic exercise machine displaces pistons of the hydraulic cylinders relative to the cylinders; and

a sensor assembly to sense displacement of a piston relative to its cylinder over time.

5. The hydraulic exercise machine system of claim 4, further comprising:

electronic means for analyzing data from the sensor assembly.

6. The hydraulic exercise machine system of claim 5, further comprising:

a display to provide visual feedback to the person based, at least in part, on the analyzed data.