DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RECEIVING, RECORDING AND DISPLAYING INFORMATION RELATING TO PHYSICAL EXERCISE

• US 20080242512A1
• Filed: 03/27/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DHKL Incorporated
• Original Assignee: DHKL Incorporated
• Inventors: Kohn, Daniel, Kim, Hidong
• Granted Patent: US 7,909,741 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/065 worn on user's body
• 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 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/04 heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 calorie expenditure

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods for receiving, recording, and/or displaying information related to physical exercise are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an instrumented weight pin for use with a stacked weight exercise machine includes a shaft portion extending outwardly from a handle portion. In this embodiment, the shaft portion is configured to be removably positioned adjacent to one or more weights of the exercise machine to selectively engage the one or more weights during use of the exercise machine. The weight pin can further include a load sensor and/or an accelerometer. The load sensor and/or the accelerometer can provide information associated with an exercise set to a data storage device carried by the weight pin. The data storage device can be operably coupled to a user computer or other display device so that information relating to the exercise set can be displayed for viewing by the user.

Claims

I_We. I/We claim:

1. A weight pin for use with a stacked weight exercise machine, the weight pin comprising:

a handle portion;

a shaft portion extending outwardly from the handle portion, wherein the shaft portion is configured to be removably positioned adjacent to one or more weights of the exercise machine to selectively engage the one or more weights during use of the exercise machine; and

a load sensor carried by the shaft portion.

2. The weight pin of claim 1 wherein the shaft portion is configured to be removably inserted beneath the one or more weights of the exercise machine to support the one or more weights during use of the exercise machine.

3. The weight pin of claim 1 wherein the load sensor is configured to respond to the weight of the one or more weights during use of the exercise machine.

4. The weight pin of claim 1 wherein the load sensor is configured to be operably compressed by the one or more weights during use of the exercise machine.

5. The weight pin of claim 1, further comprising an actuator operably carried by the shaft portion, wherein the load sensor is configured to respond to movement of the actuator during use of the exercise machine.

6. The weight pin of claim 1 wherein the shaft portion includes an outer surface, and wherein the weight pin further comprises an actuator having a bearing surface positioned adjacent to the outer surface, wherein the load sensor is configured to respond to movement of the bearing surface during use of the exercise machine.

7. The weight pin of claim 1, further comprising memory operably connected to the load sensor to store information received from the load sensor.

8. The weight pin of claim 1, further comprising an accelerometer configured to respond to movement of the one or more weights during use of the exercise machine.

9. The weight pin of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor operably connected to the load sensor to process information from the load sensor; and

memory operably connected to the processor to record information from the processor.

10. The weight pin of claim 9 wherein the memory includes computer-readable instructions causing the processor to determine an exercise weight associated with the use of the exercise machine based at least in part on the information received from the load sensor.

11. The weight pin of claim 1, further comprising a data acquisition module operably connected to the load sensor, the data acquisition module including:

a processor operably connected to the load sensor to process information from the load sensor; and

memory operably connected to the processor to record information from the processor.

12. The weight pin of claim 11 wherein the data acquisition module is removably attached to the handle portion.

13. The weight pin of claim 11 wherein the data acquisition module further includes an accelerometer operably connected to the processor and configured to respond to movement of the one or more weights during use of the exercise machine.

14. The weight pin of claim 11 wherein the data acquisition module further includes a receiver for receiving information associated with the exercise machine and transmitting the information to the memory.

15. The weight pin of claim 11 wherein the data acquisition module processor is a first processing device, and wherein the data acquisition module further includes a communication facility for transmitting information to a second processing device spaced apart from the weight pin.

16. The weight pin of claim 11 wherein the data acquisition module further includes a wireless receiver for receiving information associated with the exercise machine and transmitting the information to the memory.

17. The weight pin of claim 1 wherein the load sensor includes a force sensor.

18. The weight pin of claim 1 wherein the shaft portion includes an outer surface, and wherein the load sensor includes a force sensor positioned adjacent to the outer surface.

19. The weight pin of claim 1 wherein the shaft portion includes an outer surface, and wherein the load sensor includes a force sensor bonded to the outer surface.

20. The weight pin of claim 1 wherein the shaft portion includes a cylindrical surface configured to be removably inserted through a hole in a support member of the exercise machine to releasably couple the one or more weights to the support member during use of the exercise machine, and wherein the weight pin further comprises:

an actuator having a bearing surface positioned adjacent to the outer surface of the shaft portion, wherein the load sensor responds to movement of the bearing surface during use of the exercise machine; and

a data acquisition module removably carried by the handle portion, the data acquisition module including;

a processor operably connected to the load sensor to process information from the load sensor; and

memory operably connected to the processor to record information from the processor.

21. The weight pin of claim 20 wherein the bearing surface of the actuator is positioned to contact the support member of the exercise machine during use of the exercise machine.

22. A weight pin for use with a stacked weight exercise machine, the weight pin comprising:

a handle portion;

a shaft portion extending outwardly from the handle portion, wherein the shaft portion is configured to be removably positioned adjacent to one or more weights of the exercise machine to selectively engage the one or more weights during use of the exercise machine; and

an accelerometer, wherein the accelerometer is configured to respond to movement of the one or more weights during operation of the exercise machine.

23. The weight pin of claim 22 wherein the shaft portion is configured to be removably inserted beneath the one or more weights of the exercise machine to support the one or more weights during use of the exercise machine.

24. The weight pin of claim 22 wherein the accelerometer is carried by the handle portion of the pin.

25. The weight pin of claim 22, further comprising:

a processor operably connected to the accelerometer to process information from the accelerometer; and

memory operably connected to the processor to record information from the processor.

26. The weight pin of claim 25 wherein at least the memory is removably attached to the handle portion of the pin.

27. The weight pin of claim 25, further comprising computer-readable instructions stored in the memory, the computer-readable instructions causing the processor to determine a number of repetitions associated with the use of the exercise machine based at least in part on the information received from the accelerometer.

28. An exercise machine pin, the exercise machine pin comprising:

a handle portion;

a shaft portion extending outwardly from the handle portion, wherein the shaft portion is configured to be removably positioned adjacent to one or more weights of an exercise machine to releasably couple the one or more weights to a lifting portion of the exercise machine during use of the exercise machine; and

a data receiver configured to receive information associated with the exercise machine.

29. The exercise machine pin of claim 28 wherein the data receiver includes a wireless data receiver.

30. The exercise machine pin of claim 28 wherein the data receiver includes a radio frequency scanner.

31. The exercise machine pin of claim 28 wherein the data receiver includes a wireless transceiver configured to receive information from an RFID tag positioned at least proximate to the exercise machine.

32. An exercise system, the exercise system comprising:

a device for receiving and/or recording information related to the use of an exercise machine, the device including;

a weight support portion configured to be removably positioned adjacent to one or more weights of the exercise machine to selectively engage the one or more weights during use of the exercise machine; and

a data acquisition portion operably coupled to the weight support portion and configured to record information related to movement of the one or weights during use of the exercise machine.

33. The exercise system of claim 32 wherein the data acquisition portion is removably attached to the weight support portion.

34. The exercise system of claim 32 wherein the data acquisition portion is removably attached to the weight support portion via a USB port.

35. The exercise system of claim 32 wherein the device further includes a load sensor operably connected to the data acquisition portion.

36. The exercise system of claim 32 wherein the device further includes a load sensor carried by the weight support portion and operably connected to the data acquisition portion.

37. The exercise system of claim 32 wherein the device further includes an accelerometer operably connected to the data acquisition portion.

38. The exercise system of claim 32 wherein the device further includes an exercise machine information reader operably connected to the data acquisition portion.

39. The exercise system of claim 32 wherein the device further includes a wireless receiver operably connected to the data acquisition portion and configured to receive information related to the exercise machine.

40. The exercise system of claim 32, further comprising:

a machine information unit positioned at least proximate to the exercise machine, wherein the data acquisition portion further includes a receiver configured to receive information from the machine information unit.

41. The exercise system of claim 32, further comprising:

a machine information unit positioned at least proximate to the exercise machine, wherein the machine information unit includes a user interface configured to receive user input, and wherein the data acquisition device portion includes a receiver configured to receive information from the machine information unit.

42. The exercise system of claim 32, further comprising:

a machine information unit removably attached to the exercise machine, wherein the data acquisition portion includes a reader configured to receive information from the machine information unit.

43. The exercise system of claim 32, further comprising:

an RFID tag positioned at least proximate to the exercise machine, wherein the data acquisition portion includes a receiver configured to receive exercise machine information from the RFID tag.

44. The exercise system of claim 32, further comprising:

the exercise machine, wherein the exercise machine includes a support member movably extending through the one or more weights, wherein the support member includes at least one through-hole configured to receive the weight support portion of the device to releasably couple the one or more weights to the support member during use of the exercise machine.

45. The exercise system of claim 32, further comprising:

a user-operable display device configured to receive information from the data acquisition portion and display at least a portion of the information.

46. The exercise system of claim 32, further comprising:

a user-operable display device configured to receive information from a user, wherein the user-operable display device includes computer-readable instructions configured to cause the user-operable display device to transfer at least a portion of the information received from the user to the data acquisition portion.

47. The exercise system of claim 32 wherein the data acquisition portion includes a first electrical interface, and wherein the exercise system further comprises:

a user-operable display device having a second electrical interface, wherein the first electrical interface is operably connectable to the second electrical interface to transfer information from the data acquisition portion to the user computer.

48. The exercise system of claim 32 wherein the data acquisition portion includes a first wireless interface, and wherein the exercise system further comprises:

a user-operable display device having a second wireless interface, wherein the first wireless interface is operably connectable to the second wireless interface to transfer information from the data acquisition portion to the display device.

49. A method for obtaining information related to physical performance on one or more exercise machines, the method comprising:

removably positioning at least a portion of a data acquisition device adjacent to one or more weights of a selected exercise machine;

supporting at least a portion of the one or more weights with the data acquisition device during use of the exercise machine; and

recording information related to movement of the one or more weights with the data acquisition device during use of the exercise machine.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein removably positioning at least a portion of the data acquisition device includes removably inserting at least a portion of the data acquisition device beneath the one or more weights to releasably couple the one or more weights to a lifting portion of the selected exercise machine during use of the exercise machine.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein recording information related to movement of the one or more weights includes recording information related to a force associated with the one or more weights during use of the exercise machine.

52. The method of claim 49 wherein recording information related to movement of the one or more weights includes recording information related to an acceleration of the one or more weights during use of the exercise machine.

53. The method of claim 49 wherein the selected exercise machine is a first weight machine, and wherein the method further comprises:

removing the data acquisition device from the first weight machine; and

removably positioning at least a portion of a data acquisition device adjacent to one or more weights of a second weight machine.

54. The method of claim 49, further comprising downloading information from the data acquisition device after use of the exercise machine.

55. The method of claim 49, further comprising displaying information relating to the movement of the one or more weights during the use of the exercise machine.

56. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

retrieving information relating to the identification of the exercise machine with the data acquisition device; and

recording the information relating to the identification of the exercise machine with the data acquisition device.

57. A computer-readable media containing instructions that cause a processing device to perform a method comprising:

receiving one or more signals from a load sensor carried by a shaft portion of a weight pin; and

determining a weight associated with use of a stacked weight exercise machine based at least in part on the one or more signals received from the load sensor.

58. The computer-readable media of claim 57, further comprising:

receiving one or more signals from an accelerometer operably coupled to the shaft portion of the weight pin; and

determining a number of repetitions associated with use of the stacked weight exercise machine based at least in part on the one or more signals received from the accelerometer.

59. The computer-readable media of claim 57, further comprising:

recording the determined weight;

recording the determined number of repetitions; and

recording identification information relating to the weight machine.

60. A system for use with a stacked weight exercise machine, the system comprising:

means for selectively coupling one or more weights of the exercise machine to a lifting portion of the exercise machine, the means for selectively coupling including;

means for receiving information related to movement of the one or more weights during use of the exercise machine; and

means for recording the information related to movement of the one or more weights.

61. The information system of claim 60 wherein the means for receiving information include means for receiving force information.

62. The information system of claim 60 wherein the means for receiving information include means for receiving acceleration information.

63. The information system of claim 60 wherein the means for recording is releasably attached to the means for selectively coupling.

64. A portable device for recording information relating to physical exercise, the device comprising:

an accelerometer;

a processor operably connected to the accelerometer, wherein the processor is configured to receive data from the accelerometer relating to movement of a person to which the device is coupled; and

memory operably connected to the processor to record movement-related information from the processor.

65. The portable device of claim 64, further comprising:

a pocket-size housing, wherein the accelerometer, the processor, and the memory are contained within the pocket-size housing; and

an attachment feature coupled to an exterior portion of the pocket-size housing, wherein the attachment feature is configured to removably fasten the device to an article of clothing or other wearable object during physical exercise.