Load variance system and method for exercise machine

• US 7,585,251 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Core Industries Incorporated (SPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Unisen Incorporated (Prosegur Compañia de Seguridad SA)
• Inventors: Doody, James M. Jr., Corbalis, Kevin P., Wallace, Gregory Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): CROW, STEPHEN R
• Application Number:
  US11/000,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20060046905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,743 Days
• Field of Search: 482 4- 9, 482/57, 482 63- 64, 482 1- 3, 482/900, 482/902
• US Class Current: 482/6
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0652 for cycling in a recumbent position
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0641 with a marker advancing in function of the exercise
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0052 induced by electromagnets A63B21/0056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• 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 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/90 Ergometer with feedback to load or with feedback comparison

Abstract

An exercise machine that varies a resistive load based on sensed changes in intensity of exercise. In one example, an electronic control system of a stationary bicycle adjusts a flywheel resistive load based on changes in the user'"'"'s pedal cadence. During the exercise routine, subsequent increases or decreases in the pedal cadence cause, respectively, increases or decreases in the flywheel resistive load. In addition, the control system may execute the exercise routine after actuation of a single input key. In another embodiment, the user may simply start to exercise. The electronic control system may calculate a default flywheel resistive load based on initialization parameters, such as demographic data and/or exercise preferences.

Claims

1. A stationary bicycle configured for straightforward operation that reduces user interaction with one or more exercise routines, the stationary bicycle comprising:

a flywheel;

a rotatable crank connected to the flywheel, wherein rotation of the crank translates into rotation of the flywheel;

pedals rotatably attached to the crank;

an electronically controlled resistance device configured for interacting with the flywheel to apply resistance to the flywheel based on electronic control, wherein the resistance is translated back to the pedals causing a user to exercise;

a sensor configured for outputting a first signal indicative of a first pedal velocity at a first time, a second signal indicative of a second pedal velocity at a second time, and a third signal indicative of a third pedal velocity at a third time, wherein the second time follows the first time and the third time follows the second time; and

at least one processor configured for controlling the resistance applied to the flywheel without receiving data input by the user indicative of a target flywheel resistance or target velocity of the flywheel prior to or during the exercise, the at least one processor configured for receiving the first and second signals and,

when the second pedal velocity time at the second time is greater than the first pedal velocity at the first time, outputting one or more first control signals causing the electronically controlled resistance device to apply more resistance to the flywheel based on the increase in pedal velocity between the first time and the second time,

when the second pedal velocity at the second time is less than the first pedal velocity at the first time, outputting the one or more first control signals causing the electronically controlled resistance device to apply less resistance to the flywheel based on the decrease in pedal velocity from the first time to the second time, and

when the second pedal velocity at the second time is substantially the same as the first pedal velocity at the first time, outputting the one or more first control signals causing the electronically controlled resistance device to maintain the same resistance to the flywheel as applied at the first time,

and wherein the at least one processor is further configured for receiving the third signal and,

when the third pedal velocity time at the third time is greater than the second pedal velocity at the second time, outputting one or more second control signals causing the electronically controlled resistance device to apply more resistance to the flywheel based on the increase in pedal velocity between the second time and the third time,

when the third pedal velocity at the third time is less than the second pedal velocity at the second time, outputting the one or more second control signals causing the electronically controlled resistance device to apply less resistance to the flywheel based on the decrease in pedal velocity from the second time to the third time, and

when the third pedal velocity at the third time is substantially the same as the second pedal velocity at the second time, outputting the one or more second control signals causing the electronically controlled resistance device to maintain the same resistance to the flywheel as applied at the second time.

2. The stationary bicycle of claim 1, wherein a magnitude of said increase or decrease in resistance is a function of a magnitude of said increase or decrease in the pedal velocity.

3. The stationary bicycle of claim 1, wherein said sensor is configured to output said first signal based on an angular velocity of the flywheel.

4. The stationary bicycle of claim 1, wherein the electronically controlled resistance device comprises an electromagnetic device.

5. The stationary bicycle of claim 1, wherein said at least one processor outputs one or more fourth control signals in response to a user selection of an exercise routine.

6. The stationary bicycle of claim 5, wherein the exercise routine is a one-touch exercise routine.

7. The stationary bicycle of claim 5, further comprising a display configured for receiving said user selection.

8. The stationary bicycle of claim 1, wherein the one or more first, second and third control signals are received directly by the electronically controlled resistance device.

9. The stationary bicycle of claim 1, wherein two pedal velocities are substantially the same when a change between the two pedal velocities is less than about two percent (2%).

10. A control system for an exercise machine, the control system comprising:

an input device configured for outputting a first signal indicative of a selection of a hands-free exercise routine for an exercise device, wherein the exercise device is operated at a cadence during a performance of one or more exercises;

a sensor capable of outputting a second signal indicative of the cadence at a first time during the performance of the one or more exercises and a third signal indicative of the cadence at a second time during the performance of the one or more exercises;

a resistance mechanism configured for applying a resistance during the performance of the one or more exercises; and

one or more processors configured for controlling the applied resistance without receiving data input by a user indicative of a target resistance or target pedal velocity prior to or during the performance of the one or more exercises, the one or more processors being further configured for receiving said first, second and third signals and instructing the resistance mechanism to control the applied resistance based at least in part on a comparison of said second and third signals, wherein

when the cadence at the second time is greater than the cadence at the first time, outputting one or more first control signals causing the resistance mechanism to apply more resistance based on the increase in cadence from the first time to the second time, and

when the cadence at the second time is less than the cadence at the first time, outputting the one or more first control signals causing the resistance mechanism to apply less resistance based on the decrease in cadence from the first time to the second time,

and wherein the one or more processors are further configured for maintaining substantially the same applied resistance between any two consecutively measured times when the cadence during the performance of the one or more exercises remains substantially the same between the two consecutively measured times independent of the magnitude of the cadence during the two consecutively measured times.

11. The control system of claim 10, wherein the input device is located on an electronic display.

12. The control system of claim 10, wherein the input device comprises a one-touch actuator.

13. The control system of claim 10, wherein the increase in the applied resistance is a function of the increase in the cadence.

14. The control system of claim 10, wherein the one or more exercises comprises a stationary cycling exercise.

15. The control system of claim 14, wherein the cadence comprises a pedal cadence.

16. The control system of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are configured to disregard a variance between two cadences that is less than a predetermined threshold.

17. The control system of claim 16, wherein the predetermined threshold is approximately two percent (2%).

18. An exercise apparatus capable of straightforward operation that reduces user interaction with one or more exercise routines, the exercise apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a user-applied force during the performance of one or more exercises, wherein said means for receiving is configured to be operated at a cadence during said one or more exercises;

means for applying a resistive load that is translated to said means for receiving;

means for sensing said cadence of said means for receiving, wherein said means for sensing is capable of outputting a first signal indicative of said cadence at a first time, a second signal indicative of said cadence at a second time and a third signal indicative of said cadence at a third time; and

means for controlling the applied resistive load without receiving user input indicative of a target resistance prior to or during the one or more exercises, said means for controlling being further configured for processing said first and second signals and for outputting one or more first control signals causing said means for applying the resistive load to;

when the cadence at the second time is different than the cadence at the first time, cause said means for applying the resistive load to apply more or less resistance based on, respectively, the increase or decrease in cadence from the first time to the second time, and

when the cadence at the second time is substantially the same as the cadence at the first time, cause said means for applying the resistive load to maintain the same resistance as applied at the first time,

and wherein said means for controlling is further configured for processing said second and third signals and for outputting one or more second control signals causing said means for applying the resistive load to;

when the cadence at the third time is different than the cadence at the second time, cause said means for applying the resistive load to apply more or less resistance based on, respectively, the increase or decrease in cadence from the second time to the third time, and

when the cadence at the third time is substantially the same as the cadence at the second time, cause said means for applying the resistive load to maintain the same resistance as applied at the second time.

19. The exercise apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a one-touch actuator capable of outputting a fourth signal indicative of a selection of a hands-free exercise routine.

20. A stationary exercise machine, comprising:

a flywheel;

a rotatable crank connected to the flywheel, wherein rotation of the crank translates into rotation of the flywheel;

pedals attached to the crank, wherein the pedals are configured to be being operated at least one pedal cadence during an exercise by a user;

a resistance mechanism configured for interacting with the flywheel to apply resistance to the flywheel, wherein the resistance is translated back to the pedals;

a sensor configured for outputting a first signal indicative of a first pedal cadence at a first time during the exercise and a second signal indicative of a second pedal cadence at a second time during the exercise, wherein the second time follows the first time and the second pedal cadence is different than the first pedal cadence; and

a processor configured for receiving the first and second signals and outputting a control signal to cause the resistance mechanism to change from applying a first resistance at the first pedal cadence to applying a second resistance at the second pedal cadence, wherein the processor is further configured for causing the resistance mechanism to maintain the second resistance applied to the flywheel as long as the second pedal cadence is maintained independent of the magnitude of the second pedal cadence.

21. The stationary exercise machine of claim 20, wherein:

the sensor is further configured for outputting a third signal indicative of a third pedal cadence at a third time during the exercise, wherein the third time follows the second time and the third pedal cadence is different than both the second pedal cadence and the first pedal cadence; and

the processor is further configured for receiving the second and third signals and outputting a second control signal to cause the resistance mechanism to change from applying the second resistance at the second pedal cadence to applying a third resistance at the third pedal cadence, wherein the processor is further configured for causing the resistance mechanism to maintain the third resistance applied to the flywheel as long as the third pedal cadence is maintained independent of the magnitude of the third pedal cadence.

22. The stationary exercise machine of claim 20, wherein the sensor is configured to monitor rotation of the flywheel to generate the first and second signals.