Exercise system

• US 6,050,924 A
• Filed: 04/28/1997
• Issued: 04/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Michael J Shea
• Original Assignee: Michael J Shea
• Inventors: Shea, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen R.
• Application Number:
  US08/842,113
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 482/51, 482/52, 482/53, 482/57, 482/1-9, 482/900, 482/901, 482/902
• US Class Current: 482/57
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0065 Evaluating the fitness, e.g. fitness level or fitness index
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0078 Exercise efforts programmed as a function of time
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0081 Coaching or training aspects related to a group of users
• 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 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• 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 22/04 with movable multiple steps , i.e. more than one step per limb, e.g. steps mounted on endless loops, endless ladders steppers with cantilevered support elements pivoting about an axis A63B22/0048
• 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 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/30 Maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/01 User's weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/065 within a certain range
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/30 blood pressure A63B2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 calorie expenditure
• 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 24/0087 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 : Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0697 : Reservation devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 : for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/90 : Ergometer with feedback to load or with feedback comparison
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/901 : having computer circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/902 : Employing specific graphic or video display

Abstract

An exercise system includes a plurality of exercise terminals, wherein a workout of an exerciser includes at least two exercises performed at one or more of the exercise terminals. Each exercise terminal includes a communication device for communicating to the exerciser information regarding an exercise of the workout subsequent to a current exercise in the workout.

Claims

1. An exercise system, comprising:

a plurality of exercise terminals;

a system control computer connected to the exercise terminals via a communication link;

the system control computer being configured to determine the use/non-use states of the exercise terminals;

to determine for an exerciser, based at least in part on the use/non-use states of the exercise terminals, a next different one of the exercise terminals at which the exerciser should exercise after the exerciser completes exercise at a current one of the exercise terminals; and

to communicate to the current exercise terminal over the communication link data indicative of the next exercise terminal; and

the current exercise terminal being configured to communicate to the exerciser the data indicative of the next exercise terminal in order to direct the exerciser to exercise at the next exercise terminal.

2. The exercise system according to claim 1, wherein the data indicative of the next exercise terminal comprises location data indicative of the physical location of the next exercise terminal.

3. The exercise system according to claim 2, wherein the location data is indicative of the physical location of the next exercise terminal relative to physical locations of one or more other ones of the exercise terminals.

4. The exercise system according to claim 2, wherein the location data comprises graphical location data that graphically indicates the physical location of the next exercise terminal.

5. The exercise system according to claim 1, wherein the current exercise terminal is configured to visually communicate to the exerciser the data indicative of the next exercise terminal.

6. An exercise system, comprising:

a plurality of exercise terminals;

a system control computer connected to the exercise terminals via a communication link;

the system control computer being configured to monitor an exerciser while the exerciser exercises at a current one of the exercise terminals;

to determine for the exerciser, based at least in part on the monitoring, a next different one of the exercise terminals at which the exerciser should exercise after the exerciser completes exercise at a current one of the exercise terminals; and

to communicate to the current exercise terminal over the communication link data indicative of the next exercise terminal; and

the current exercise terminal being configured to communicate to the exerciser the data indicative of the next exercise terminal in order to direct the exerciser to exercise at the next exercise terminal.

7. The exercise system according to claim 6, wherein the data indicative of the next exercise terminal comprises location data indicative of the physical location of the next exercise terminal.

8. The exercise system according to claim 7, wherein the location data is indicative of the physical location of the next exercise terminal relative to physical locations of one or more other ones of the exercise terminals.

9. The exercise system according to claim 7, wherein the location data comprises graphical location data that graphically indicates the physical location of the next exercise terminal.

10. The exercise system according to claim 6, wherein the current exercise terminal is configured to visually communicate to the exerciser the data indicative of the next exercise terminal.

11. The exercise system according to claim 6, wherein the system control computer is configured to monitor the exerciser by monitoring physiological parameters of the exerciser.

12. The exercise system according to claim 6, wherein the system control computer is configured to monitor the exerciser by detecting whether the exercise at the current exercise terminal is ended prematurely.

13. The exercise system according to claim 6, wherein the system control computer is configured to monitor the exerciser by detecting whether the exerciser changes a difficulty level of the exercise at the current exercise terminal.

14. The exercise system according to claim 6, wherein the system control computer is configured to monitor the exerciser by detecting an input of the exerciser'"'"'s perception of a difficulty of the exercise at the current exercise terminal.

15. The exercise system according to claim 6, wherein the system control computer is further configured to, based on the monitoring, determine parameters of the exercise at the next exercise terminal.

16. The exercise system according to claim 15, wherein the next exercise terminal is a processor-controlled exercise apparatus and the parameters of the exercise at the next exercise terminal include designations of one or more of an exercise program for execution by the processor, an exercise difficulty level and an exercise time.