Exercise system

• US 6,464,618 B1
• Filed: 02/09/2000
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• 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): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US09/501,256
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1-9, 482/900-902, 482/51, 482/57, 482/54
• US Class Current: 482/8
• 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. A method of processing a claim for costs associated with exercise activities, comprising the steps of:

storing in a first computer a database comprising data indicative of an exerciser'"'"'s exercise activities;

providing a second computer in communication with said first computer via a communication network;

verifying the exerciser'"'"'s exercise activities by using said second computer to access the database stored in said first computer; and

determining based on the verifying whether to authorize payment of a claim by the exerciser for costs associated with the exerciser'"'"'s exercise activities.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the exerciser'"'"'s exercise activities include exercise activities that involve use of exercise terminals connected to said first computer.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the data indicative of the exerciser'"'"'s exercise activities comprises a record of which exercise terminals have been used by the exerciser.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the data indicative of the exerciser'"'"'s exercise activities comprises a record of exercises performed by the exerciser.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the data indicative of the exerciser'"'"'s exercise activities comprises physiological data recorded during the exerciser'"'"'s exercise activities.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the exerciser'"'"'s exercise activities further include exercise activities other than the exercise activities that involve use of the exercise terminals.

7. A method of processing a claim for costs associated with exercise activities, comprising the steps of:

storing in a first computer a database comprising data indicative of an exerciser'"'"'s exercise activities; and

processing a claim by the exerciser for costs associated with the exerciser'"'"'s exercise activities by using a second computer to communicate with said first computer over a communication network to verify the exerciser'"'"'s exercise activities prior to authorization of payment of the claim.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the exerciser'"'"'s exercise activities include exercise activities that involve use of exercise terminals connected to said first computer.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the exerciser'"'"'s exercise activities further include exercise activities other than the exercise activities that involve use of the exercise terminals.

10. A system for processing a claim for costs associated with use of exercise terminals, comprising:

a first computer connected to exercise terminals, said first computer including a computer readable medium for storing a database comprising data indicative of an exerciser'"'"'s use of said exercise terminals; and

a second computer for processing a claim by the exerciser for costs associated with the exerciser'"'"'s use of said exercise terminals,

wherein said second computer comprises a computer-readable medium having instructions executable by said second computer for communicating over a communication network with said first computer in order to permit verification of the exerciser'"'"'s use of said exercise terminals prior to authorization of payment of the claim.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the data indicative of the exerciser'"'"'s use of said exercise terminals comprises a record of which exercise terminals have been used by the exerciser.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the data indicative of the exerciser'"'"'s use of said exercise terminals comprises a record of exercises performed by the exerciser.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein the data indicative of the exerciser'"'"'s use of said exercise terminals comprises physiological data recorded during the exerciser'"'"'s use of said exercise terminals.

14. A computer system for processing a claim for costs for using a fitness facility, comprising:

a communication circuit;

a processor; and

a computer-readable medium having instructions executable by said processor for using said communication circuit to communicate over a communication network with a remote computer having a computer-readable medium for storing a database comprising data indicative of an exerciser'"'"'s use of a fitness facility in order to permit verification of an exerciser'"'"'s use of the fitness facility prior to authorization of payment of a claim by the exerciser for costs for using the fitness facility.

15. A method of processing a claim for costs for using a fitness facility comprising:

establishing a communication link with a remote computer having a computer-readable medium for storing a database comprising data indicative of an exerciser'"'"'s use of a fitness facility;

verifying the exerciser'"'"'s use of the fitness facility based on the data in the database; and

determining whether to authorize payment of a claim by the exerciser for costs associated with the exerciser'"'"'s use of the fitness facility based on the verifying.

16. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 15.