Exercise device with a user-defined exercise mode

• US 7,604,571 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2006
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snow & Scott Enterprises LLC
• Original Assignee: Scott & Wilkins Enterprises, LLC
• Inventors: Scott, Vaughan, Wilkins, Larry C.
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US11/542,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20070032353A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482/51, 482/54, 482900-902, 434/247
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/00 Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements force-resisting aspects A63B21/00; for particular parts of the body, e.g. to strengthen particular limbs or muscles A63B23/00; electric or electronic controls therefor A63B24/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 5/00 Apparatus for jumping mats for jumping A63B6/00; for racing or riding sports, e.g. hurdles A63K
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 5/16 Training devices for jumping; Devices for balloon-jumping; Jumping aids A63B25/02, A63B25/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 5/20 Skipping-ropes or similar devices rotating in a vertical plane

Abstract

An exercise device including a support surface and at least two position sensors arranged along a sensing plane relative to the support surface, with the position sensors adapted to detect a presence of a user along the sensing plane. The exercise device further includes a controller in communication with the position sensors to determine a position of the user relative to the sensing plane. The controller has a closed loop feedback mode adapted to process at least one input parameter provided by the user, and to further measure a performance criteria of the user related to the input parameter and to provide feedback to the user indicative of a measurement of the performance criteria.

Claims

1. An exercise device, comprising:

a support surface;

at least two position sensors arranged along a sensing plane extending one of generally parallel and obliquely relative to said support surface, said at least two position sensors adapted to detect a presence of a user along said sensing plane;

a vertical support member extending generally perpendicular relative to the support surface, said at least two position sensors adjustably coupled to said vertical support member to provide vertical adjustment to said at least two position sensors to correspondingly vary a height of said sensing plane above said support surface; and

a controller in communication with said at least two position sensors to determine a position of the user relative to said sensing plane, said controller including a closed loop feedback mode adapted to process at least one input parameter provided by the user, said closed loop feedback mode adapted to measure a performance criteria of the user related to said input parameter and to provide feedback to the user indicative of a measurement of said performance criteria.

2. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein said sensing plane is arranged generally parallel to said support surface.

3. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein said at least two position sensors emit a visible beam of light along said sensing plane.

4. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein said at least two position sensors are arranged to define a sensing grid extending along said sensing plane.

5. The exercise device of claim 4, wherein a first of said position sensors is arranged at approximately a ninety degree angle relative to a second of said position sensors to define said sensing grid.

6. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising a position adjustment mechanism coupled to said at least two position sensors and an electric motor coupled to said position adjustment mechanism to provide said vertical adjustment to said at least two position sensors to correspondingly vary said height of said sensing plane above said support surface.

7. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising at least one position sensor adapted to detect a presence of the user standing upon said support surface.

8. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least two stationary position sensors arranged to define a sensing grid relative to said support surface, a first of said stationary position sensors arranged at approximately a ninety degree angle relative to a second of said stationary position sensors to define said sensing grid.

9. The exercise device of claim 8, wherein said sensing grid is arranged generally parallel to said support surface.

10. An exercise device comprising:

a support surface;

a plurality of sensors arranged along a sensing plane relative to the support surface, the plurality of sensors being configured to send signals indicative of at least one of a speed and a magnitude associated with an activity performed by a user in relation to the support surface;

a display configured to provide the user with information related to at least one of the speed and the magnitude of the activity in response to the user performing the activity;

an input device configured to receive an input from the user associated with a goal related to performance of the activity; and

a controller in communication with the plurality of sensors and the display, the controller configured to operate according to a closed loop feedback mode,

wherein the controller is configured to receive the signals indicative of at least one of the speed and the magnitude associated with an activity performed by the user and output information related to the goal to the display.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the activity comprises jumping.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the speed associated with the activity comprises cadence of the jumping.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the magnitude associated with the activity comprises height of the jumping.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the goal related to performance of the activity comprises at least one of a desired length of duration of performance of the activity, a desired speed associated with performance of the activity, a desired number of calories burned during performance of the activity, and a desired magnitude associated with performance of the activity.

15. The device of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of lights associated with the support surface, wherein the controller is configured illuminate at least one of the lights in relation to performance of the activity.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to illuminate at least some of the plurality of lights to simulate a motion associated with the support surface in relation to performance of the activity.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the motion comprises movement of a jump rope beneath the user.

18. The device of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to update the goal based on the signals indicative of at least one of the speed and the magnitude associated with the activity performed by the user.

19. The device of claim 10, wherein the information related to at least one of the speed and the magnitude of the activity comprises at least one of a cadence associated with performance of the activity, a magnitude associated with performance of the activity, a rate of calories burned during performance of the activity, total calories burned during performance of the activity, duration of performance of the activity, and length of performance of the activity required to achieve the goal.

20. The device of claim 10, wherein the information related to at least one of the speed and the magnitude of the activity comprises displaying an indication of whether the goal is being achieved during performance of the activity.