Calorie metering exerciser

• US 3,984,666 A
• Filed: 05/23/1974
• Issued: 10/05/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Benjamin Barron
• Original Assignee: Benjamin Barron
• Inventors: Barron, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Morrison, Malcolm A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Krass, Errol A.
• Application Number:
  US05/472,812
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 235/151.3, 235/92 T, 235/92 CA, 235/92 NT, 235/92 MT, 73/379, 73/190 R, 73/193 R, 128/2.05 R, 128/2.06 R, 272/DIG. 6, 272/73, 322/28, 322/69, 322/70
• US Class Current: 702/44
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/221 Ergometry, e.g. by using bicycle type apparatus

Abstract

An exerciser combined with means for converting the output energy to measurable form and adjusting the indicated energy output by the exerciser to a quantity of exercise desired and means for measuring the energy output of the exerciser in calories.

Claims

1. An exercising device including elements movable by the user to rotate an alternator means connected to absorb energy expended in operation of said device, means reacting proportional to the rotational speed of said alternator for controlling the force expended by the user, means for detecting the output of the alternator corresponding to the rate of expenditure of energy transferred to said alternator by said user, said detecting means producing an output;

means for converting said output of the detecting means into electric pulses, each of said pulses having a magnitude proportional to a predetermined increment of said absorbed energy and an impulse advanced counter means for counting and visibly displaying the number of electric pulses produced by said converting means.

2. Exercising device as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for converting the alternating current output of said alternator to unidirectional current, and fixed resistor means for absorbing said unidirectional current.

3. Exercising device as defined in claim 2, wherein said means for detecting the rate of expenditure of energy comprises a squaring circuit, said squaring circuit means producing a current proportional to the square of the value of said voltage across said resistor.

4. Exercising device as defined in claim 3, further including a capacitor means for accumulating said current for producing a voltage whose value is proportional to the integral of said current, a voltage level sensing switch for generating a pulse signal when said capacitor voltage reaches a selected amplitude, means for resetting said capacitor voltage to zero by said pulse, means for coupling said pulse to said impulse advanced counter and means for resetting said counter to zero.

5. Exercising device as defined in claim 2, wherein the said alternator includes direct current controlled field winding means for controlling the output current of said alternator.

6. Exercising device as defined in claim 5, wherein said direct current control means for alternator output current includes means for sensing the frequency of said alternator, said frequency sensing means triggering a one-shot multivibrator at a rate equal to the alternator frequency, rheostat means for setting the width of each of the pulses produced by said multivibrator, and means for coupling said pulses to the alternator field winding introducing unidirectional current into the said field winding having a magnitude proportional to the product of said alternator frequency and said pulse width.

7. Exercising device as defined in claim 3, including potentiometer means for adjusting said voltage level sensing switch to trip at a voltage level equivalent to a predetermined quantity of energy expended by said exerciser, said quantity of energy being calibrated in terms of nutritional calories expended by said exerciser.

8. In combination, an alternator having a field winding and an alternating current output producing a voltage proportional to the rotational speed of said alternator, means for applying a rotational force to rotate said alternator a one shot multivibrator connected to one phase of said alternator tripping in synchronism with each alternation thereof, a rheostat in said multivibrator circuit manually adjustable to set the width of each pulse of said multivibrator, and means coupling said pulses to the alternator field winding producing direct current in said field winding having a magnitude proportional to the product of said alternator frequency and said pulse width.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said one shot multivibrator includes a rheostat manually adjustable to set the width of each pulse of said multivibrator.

9. Apparatus for indicating energy expended and work done by an individual, comprising electrical alternator means to be mechanically driven by said individual for providing an alternator output voltage, means for modifying the output voltage of said alternator to a value proportional to the energy and work done by said individual, means for receiving said alternator output voltage and providing a series of pulses having a repetition rate proportional to the square of the amplitude of said alternator output voltage, and counter means for receiving said series of pulses and providing an indication of the number of pulses received.

10. Apparatus for indicating and controlling energy expended and work done by an exercising individual comprising electrical alternator means to be mechanically driven by said individual for providing an alternator output voltage, a force controller increasing the field of said alternator in direct proportion to its rotational speed applied by said individual, means for receiving said alternator output voltage and providing a series of pulses having a repetition rate proportional to the square of the amplitude of said alternator output voltage, and counter means for receiving the series of pulses and providing an indication of the number of pulses received.