METHODS AND APPARATUS TO CONTROL WORKOUTS ON STRENGTH MACHINES

• US 20080242509A1
• Filed: 07/11/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Oglesby, Gary E., Menektchiev, Alexandre K.
• Application Number:
  US11/776,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20080242509A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/4
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00058 Mechanical means for varying the resistance A63B21/06 takes precedence
• 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 21/04 attached to static foundation , e.g. a user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0428 the ends moving relatively by linear reciprocation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0552 Elastic ropes or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0557 Details of attachments, e.g. clips or clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/063 Weight selecting means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/154 using special pulley-assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/155 Cam-shaped pulleys or other non-uniform pulleys, e.g. conical
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0233 in 90/90 position, like on a chair
• 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 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/00 Measuring physiological parameters of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/062 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/207 P-O2, i.e. partial O2 value
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/50 temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 calorie expenditure
• 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: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

Systems and methods to control a workout on a strength machine are described. An example system includes a sensor interface to receive a physiological condition of a user during use of the strength machine, and a controller coupled to the strength machine to cause a change of an exercise parameter based on the physiological condition.

Claims

1. An exercise machine comprising:

a user engaging contact surface;

a pulley or a cam; and

a flexible coupling to operatively couple an automatically controlled strength training resistance to the user engaging contact surface via the pulley or the cam.

2. An exercise machine as defined in claim 1, wherein the user engaging contact surface comprises at least one of a handle, a bar, a strap, a foot pedal, a pad, or a grip.

3. An exercise machine as defined in claim 1, wherein the automatically controlled strength training resistance is provided by one of a weight stack or an elastic cord.

4. An exercise machine as defined in claim 1, wherein the flexible coupling comprises at least one of a cable, a rope, an elastic band, a chain, or a belt.

5. An exercise machine as defined in claim 1, further comprising a control unit to automatically control the strength training resistance.

6. An exercise machine as defined in claim 5, wherein the control unit is to automatically control the strength training resistance by changing an amount of weight to be lifted, a number of elastic cords to be deformed, or a number of repetitions.

7. An exercise machine as defined in claim 5, wherein the control unit is to automatically control the strength training resistance based on a physiological condition of the user during use of the strength machine.

8. An exercise machine as defined in claim 7, wherein the physiological condition is at least one of a heart rate or an amount of calories burned.

9. An exercise machine as defined in claim 7, wherein the physiological condition is at least one of a body temperature, a skin moisture level, or a blood oxygen level.

10. An exercise machine as defined in claim 7, further comprising a display to display at least one of the physiological condition or information associated with strength training resistance.

11. An exercise machine as defined in claim 7, further comprising an output to output a notification based on the physiological condition.

12. An exercise machine as defined in claim 5, wherein control unit is to automatically control the strength training resistance based on an individualized exercise program for the user.

13. A system to control a workout on a strength machine, the system comprising:

a sensor interface to receive a physiological condition of a user during use of the strength machine, and

a controller coupled to the strength machine to cause a change of an exercise parameter based on the physiological condition.

14. A system to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 13, wherein the controller is to automatically change the exercise parameter.

15. A system to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 13, wherein the change of the exercise parameter is performed by the user in response to a signal from the controller.

16. A system to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 13, wherein the physiological condition is at least one of a heart rate or an amount of calories burned.

17. A system to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 13, wherein the physiological condition is at least one of a body temperature, a skin moisture level, or a blood oxygen level.

18. A system to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 13, wherein the exercise parameter is at least one of an amount of weight to be lifted, a number of elastic cords to be deformed, or a number of repetitions.

19. A system to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 13, further comprising a display to display at least one of the physiological condition or the exercise parameter.

20. A system to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 13, further including an output to provide a notification based on the physiological condition.

21. A system to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 13, further comprising:

an input to identify the user; and

an individualized exercise program for the user, wherein the individualized exercise program includes a stored individualized user parameter and a stored individualized exercise parameter.

22. A system to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 21, wherein the controller is to change the exercise parameter based on one or more of the physiological condition, the stored individualized user parameter, or the stored individualized exercise parameter.

23. A system to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 21, wherein the stored individualized user parameter is at least one of a heart rate, an amount of calories burned, a time, a number of repetitions, an amount of weight to be lifted, a number of elastic cords to be deformed, a body temperature, a skin moisture level, or a blood oxygen level.

24. A method to control a workout on a strength machine, the method comprising:

receiving a physiological condition of a user during use of the strength machine, and

changing an exercise parameter of the strength machine based on the physiological condition.

25. A method to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 24, wherein the physiological condition is at least one of a body temperature, a skin moisture level, or a blood oxygen level.

26. A method to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 24, wherein the exercise parameter is at least one of an amount of weight to be lifted, a number of elastic cords to be deformed, or a number of repetitions.

27. A method to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 24, further including outputting a notification based on the physiological condition.

28. A method to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 24, further comprising:

identifying the user; and

accessing an individualized exercise program for the user, wherein the individualized exercise program includes a stored individualized user parameter and a stored individualized exercise parameter.

29. An exercise machine comprising:

means for applying a strength training resistance to a user;

means for flexibly coupling the strength training resistance to the means applying the strength training resistance to the user; and

means for automatically changing the strength training resistance.

30. A system to control a workout on a strength machine, the system comprising:

means to receive a physiological condition of a user during use of the strength machine, and

means to change an exercise parameter of the strength machine based on the physiological condition.