RIDING THE JOYSTICK SYSTEM TO HEALTH AND FITNESS

• US 20100137105A1
• Filed: 12/01/2008
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomas Mclaughlin
• Original Assignee: Thomas Mclaughlin
• Inventors: McLaughlin, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US12/325,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20100137105A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2023/0411 Squatting exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0093 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/093 Height
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0205 Abdomen
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0211 moving torso with immobilized lower limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1236 Push-ups in horizontal position, i.e. eccentric movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1281 primarily by articulating the elbow joint
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/80 specially adapted for executing a specific type of game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 Athletics

Abstract

An exercise device in one embodiment has a member (102) attached to a joystick control (108). A user (202) is positioned to perform push-up and squat exercises with member (102) below and against the abdomen or buttocks. Movements of user'"'"'s torso down, up, forward, back, and side-to-side generate traditional control commands, including roll, pitch, and yaw. The downward motion and/or pressure by the user (202) triggers a switch (502). Control (108) collects the motion and trigger data and transmits same via an electronic link (110) to a computer (112) for processing. Hence, the user receives the benefit of a serious exercise program while playing games, thus making exercise fun.

Claims

14. An exercise system, comprising:

a member having means for engaging a body part of an exercising user,

a joystick control having means for providing joystick control output in the form of electrical signals and functionally coupled to said member so that movements of said member are communicated to said joystick control, said joystick control having at least one motion sensor,

a circuit for communicating said output of said joystick control with a computer having a software program designed to respond to said electrical signals,

said member being attached to said joystick control so that movement of said body part of said user will urge said member to make corresponding movements which actuate said motion sensor of said joystick control,

said circuit for communicating arranged to transmit said electrical signal representing said movements of said member to said computer,

whereby said user can perform body exercises while playing a game or another computer related task.

15. The exercise system of claim 14, further including said motion sensor selected from the group consisting of potentiometers, variable resistors, analog to digital converter chips, hall effect devices, and light-emitting diodes.

16. The exercise system of claim 14, further including said computer, said computer having means for receiving said joystick control output.

17. The exercise system of claim 14, wherein said circuit for communicating comprises a wireless communication device selected from the group consisting of radio and infra-red devices.

18. The exercise system of claim 14, further including at least one switching circuit secured at a selected location on said member and arranged to control said electrical signals to said joystick control.

19. The exercise system of claim 14, wherein said switching circuit containing a device for interrupting the flow of electrons is selected from the group consisting of switches and force-sensing resistors.

20. The exercise system of claim 14, further including at least one height adjustment means secured at a selected location on said member and arranged to position the height of said body part of said user relative to said switching circuit.

21. The exercise system of claim 14, wherein said height-adjustment means is selected from the group consisting of tubes, arms, springs, spheres, screws, rods, and stops.

22. The exercise system of claim 14, further including a height measuring assembly said height measuring assembly being secured at a selected location on said member and arranged to communicate said downward motion of said body part of said user to said joystick control.

23. The exercise system of claim 14, wherein said height adjustment means is selected from the group consisting of linear and rotary distance measurement devices.

24. A method of performing exercises, comprising;

a. providing an exercise system comprising a member for engaging a body part of a user, a joystick control for transmitting command signals, a housing base for securing and stabilizing said joystick control, said member being attached to said joystick control so that motion of said body part of said user upon said member urges said joystick control to transmit said motion to a computer arranged to display movements of an object on a display corresponding to said command signals of said movements of said member, and a platform having a predetermined physical structure with means for receiving motion from at least one digit of one hand of said user, said platform having means for transmitting said motion of said digit to said joystick control,

b. situating said member below and against said body part of said user,

c. moving said body part to effect movements of said member, including down, up, left, right, forward, back, and twist left and right movements, effectively causing said control to generate trigger, roll, pitch, and yaw command signals corresponding to said movements of said body part and said member,

d. situating said digit on said platform so that activity of said digit urges said platform to transmit said electrical signals to said joystick control, effectively causing said joystick control to process said information as said command signals, and

e. transmitting the said command signals to said computer,

whereby said user can thereby interface with a computer program to effectively perform exercises while engaged in game playing and other computer related tasks.

1. An exercise system, comprising:

a member having means for engaging a body part of an exercising user,

a hand platform having first means for functionally engaging at least one digit of a hand of said user, said hand platform having second means for communicating motion of said digit,

a joystick control having first means for providing joystick control output in the form of electrical signals and functionally coupled to said member so that movements of said member are communicated to said joystick control, said joystick control having at least one motion sensor, said joystick control having second means for receiving communication of said motion of said digit,

a circuit for communicating said output of said joystick control with a computer having a software program designed to respond to said electrical signals,

said member being attached to said joystick control so that movement of said body part of said user will urge said member to make corresponding movements which actuate said motion sensor of said joystick control,

said hand platform arranged to communicate said motion of said digit to said joystick control,

said circuit for communicating arranged to transmit said electrical signal representing said movements of said member and said motion of said digit to said computer,

whereby said user can perform body exercises while playing a game or another computer related task.

2. The exercise system of claim 1, further including said motion sensor selected from the group consisting of potentiometers, variable resistors, analog to digital converter chips, hall effect devices, and light emitting diodes.

3. The exercise system of claim 1, further including said computer, said computer having means for receiving said joystick control output.

4. The exercise system of claim 1 wherein said circuit for communicating comprises a wireless communication device selected from the group consisting of radio and infrared devices.

5. The exercise system of claim 1, further including at least one switching circuit secured at a selected location on said member and arranged to control said electrical signals to said joystick control.

6. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein said switching circuit contains a device for interrupting the flow of electrons selected from the group consisting of switches and force-sensing resistors.

7. The exercise system of claim 1 wherein said switching circuit on said member is arranged to communicate downward motion of said body part to said joystick control.

8. The exercise system of claim 1, further including at least one said switching circuit secured at a selected location on said hand platform and arranged to control said electrical signals to said joystick control.

9. The exercise system of claim 1, further including at least one height adjustment means secured at a selected location on said member and arranged to position the height of said body part of said user relative to said switching circuit.

10. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein said height adjustment means is selected from the group consisting of tubes, arms, springs, spheres, screws, rods, and stops.

11. The exercise system of claim 1, further including a height measuring assembly said height measuring assembly being secured at a selected location on said member and arranged to communicate said downward motion of said body part of said user to said joystick control.

12. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein said height adjustment means is selected from the group consisting of linear and rotary distance measurement devices.

13. The exercise system of claim 1, further including means for securing a hand of said user to said platform so that a movement of said hand urges a corresponding movement of said platform.

25. The method of claim 24, further including at least one switching circuit secured at a selected location on said member and arranged to control said electrical signals to said joystick control.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein said switching circuit is arranged to control transmission of said electrical signals to said joystick control.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said switching circuit containing a device for interrupting the flow of electrons selected from the group consisting of switches and force-sensing resistors.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein said switching circuit on said member is arranged to communicate downward motion of said body part to said joystick control.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein said switching circuit on said platform is arranged to communicate said motion of said digit to said joystick control.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein said height adjustment means on said member is selected from the group consisting of tubes, arms, springs, spheres, screws, rods, and stops.

31. The method of claim 24, further including a height measure assembly, said height-measure assembly being secured at a selected location to said member and arranged to communicate said downward motion of said body part of said user to said joystick control.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein said height measure assembly on said member is selected from the group consisting of linear and rotary distance measurement devices.

29-1. The method of claim 24, further including at least one height adjustment means said height-adjusting means being secured at a selected location on said member and arranged to position the height of said body part of said user relative to said switching circuit.