Computerized Spinning Exercise System and Methods Thereof

• US 20070232452A1
• Filed: 04/20/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MYTRAK Health System, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MYTRAK Health System, Inc.
• Inventors: Hanoun, Reed
• Application Number:
  US11/737,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20070232452A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/6
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0658 for cycling with a group of people, e.g. spinning classes
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0009 Computerised real time comparison with previous movements or motion sequences of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0065 Evaluating the fitness, e.g. fitness level or fitness index
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0078 Exercise efforts programmed as a function of time
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00069 Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/008 using hydraulic or pneumatic force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0083 of the piston-cylinder type using pneumatic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0087
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/012 using frictional force-resisters electromagnetically-controlled brakes A63B21/0056
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/015 including rotating or oscillating elements rubbing against fixed elements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/06 User-manipulated weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4034 for operation by feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0056 the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis A63B22/16
• 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 22/0605 : performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 : performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 : Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 : Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 : Angular positions
• 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 2220/20 : Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 : Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 : Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 : Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 : Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 : Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/105 : each station having its own resisting device, e.g. for training multiple users simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 : with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 : Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/04 : heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/065 : within a certain range
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 : Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• 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 24/0075 : Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0084 : Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 : Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation

Abstract

A computerized spinning exercise system comprises a spinning exercise machine, a sensing system, and a computer and communication system coupled to the sensing system. The spinning exercise machine has a flywheel and different resistance settings for the spinning exercise machine may be selected. The sensing system is to count rotations of the flywheel due to activity of a person when exercising on the spinning exercise machine. The computer and communication system is arranged to process mechanical properties of the spinning exercise machine, the count of rotations and a selected resistance setting of the spinning exercise machine in order to generate user performance data for the activity.

Claims

1. A computerized spinning exercise system, the system comprising:

a spinning exercise machine having a flywheel and having selectable resistance settings;

a sensing system coupled to the spinning exercise machine to count rotations of the flywheel due to activity of a person when exercising on the spinning exercise machine; and

a computer and communication system coupled to the sensing system, wherein the computer system is arranged to process mechanical properties of the spinning exercise machine, the count of rotations and a selected resistance setting of the spinning exercise machine in order to generate user performance data for the activity.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user performance data for the activity comprises one or more of the following:

speed of the flywheel during the activity, and

energy exerted by the person while exercising on the spinning exercise machine.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing system is further able to sense the selected resistance setting of the spinning exercise machine.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer and communication system is further arranged to assume the selected resistance setting of the spinning exercise machine.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer and communication system is further arranged to display to a trainer of a spinning class visual feedback related to the user performance data for the person.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer and communication system comprises:

an electronic controller coupled to the sensing system for the spinning exercise machine that is arranged to handle at least a portion of the processing of the mechanical properties, the count of rotations and the selected resistance setting.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the computer system and communication system comprises:

a computer system able to communicate with the electronic controller.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the computer system is a centralized computer system.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the computer system is a distributed computer system.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a database storing information about people using the system,

wherein the computer and communication system is arranged to perform an analysis of the user performance data based, at least in part, on information stored in the database for the person.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the computer and communication system comprises:

an electronic controller coupled to the sensing system for the spinning exercise machine that is arranged to handle at least a portion of the processing of the mechanical properties, the count of rotations and the selected resistance setting, and

wherein the electronic controller is able to receive from a heart rate monitor heart rate data of the person when exercising on the spinning exercise machine, is able to process the heart rate data based on target heart rate zone information that is stored in the database for the person, and is able to show on a display viewable by the person a visual indication of a comparison of the person'"'"'s heart rate and the target heart rate zone.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

an acquisition module near or affixed to the spinning exercise machine to acquire an identifier of the person.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a tag storing the identifier of the person,

wherein the acquisition module is to acquire the identifier from the tag.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a display viewable by the person when exercising on the spinning exercise machine, where the display is coupled to the computer and communication system, and wherein the computer and communication system is further arranged to show on the display visual feedback related to the user performance data.

15. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a display viewable by the person when exercising on the spinning exercise machine, where the display is coupled to the computer and communication system, and wherein the computer and communication system is further arranged to show on the display visual feedback related to the analysis.

16. A method comprising:

counting rotations of a flywheel of a spinning exercise machine due to activity of a person on the spinning exercise machine;

determining a resistance setting of the spinning exercise machine; and

determining from the resistance setting and the count of rotations the energy exerted by the person while performing the activity.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein determining the resistance setting comprises:

sensing pressure on a friction pad that is spring loaded against the flywheel.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein sensing the pressure on the friction pad comprises:

using a pressure foil mechanism mounted between a plastic portion of the friction pad and a felt portion of the friction pad.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein determining the resistance setting comprises:

assuming a setting of a graduated resistance known on the spinning exercise machine.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein counting the rotations comprises:

measuring changes in flywheel rotation via an optical position sensor.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein counting the rotations comprises:

applying one of a magnet and a Hall-effect sensor to the flywheel, and applying the other of the magnet and the Hall-effect sensor to a stationary element of the spinning exercise machine.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

performing an analysis of the energy exerted based, at least in part, on information stored in a database for the person; and

providing feedback based on the energy exerted.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

receiving heart rate data of the person when exercising on the spinning exercise machine,

wherein performing the analysis is based, at least in part, on the heart rate data.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein performing the analysis is based, at least in part, on caloric intake information for the person.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein performing the analysis is based, at least in part, on exercise targets for the person.

26. The method of claims 16, further comprising:

performing an analysis of the energy exerted based, at least in part, on information stored in a database for the person; and

providing feedback based on the analysis of the energy exerted.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

receiving heart rate data of the person when exercising on the spinning exercise machine,

wherein performing the analysis is based, at least in part, on the heart rate data.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein performing the analysis is based, at least in part, on caloric intake information for the person.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein performing the analysis is based, at least in part, on exercise targets for the person.