Exercise apparatus providing mental activity for an exerciser

• US 7,824,310 B1
• Filed: 05/20/2002
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael J Shea
• Original Assignee: Michael J Shea
• Inventors: Shea, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman; Glenn
• Application Number:
  US10/150,012
• Time in Patent Office: 3,088 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482900-902, 434/247, 601/23, 601/34
• US Class Current: 482/9
• 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 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0697 : Reservation devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 : Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/901 : having computer circuitry

Abstract

An exercise apparatus includes an input device, a communication circuit connected to a communication link, and a display device. A control circuit controls the communication circuit to contact a computer connected to the communication link in response to exerciser input to the input device and controls the display device to display mental activity data such as sports scores, stock prices, or a weather report received from the contacted computer while the exerciser exercises to thereby provide a mental activity for the exerciser.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a communication circuit connected to a communication network;

a display device;

an exercise device; and

processing circuitry for controlling the exercise device while the exerciser exercises;

controlling the communication circuit to contact a remotely-located first computer connected to the communication network in response to exerciser input to the input device;

controlling the display device to display non-exercise-related mental activity data received by the communication circuit from the first computer while the exerciser exercises using the exercise device to thereby provide a mental activity for the exerciser; and

controlling the communication circuit to contact a second, different computer connected to the communication network in order to communicate exercise-related data thereto.

2. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry controls the display device to also display exercise-related data while the exerciser exercises.

3. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a keypad.

4. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the non-exercise-related mental activity data received from the first computer comprises advertisements.

5. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the non-exercise-related mental activity data received from the first computer comprises sports scores.

6. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the non-exercise-related mental activity data received from the first computer comprises stock prices.

7. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the non-exercise-related mental activity data received from the first computer comprises a weather report.

8. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the non-exercise-related mental activity data received from the first computer comprises news headlines.

9. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exercise-related information communicated to the second computer comprises the number of times the exercise apparatus has been used.

10. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exercise device comprises a stationary bicycle.

11. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exercise device comprises a stair climber.

12. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exercise device comprises a treadmill.

13. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exercise device comprises a weight machine.

14. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication circuit comprises a wireless communication circuit.

15. An exercise apparatus connected to a communication network, comprising:

a display;

a two-way communication circuit for contacting a remotely-located first computer over the communication network using contact data for the first computer and for receiving non-exercise-related mental activity data transmitted over the communication network from the first computer and for contacting a different, second computer over the communication network using contact data for the second computer and for transmitting data to the second computer; and

a processing system for controlling the display to display the non-exercise-related mental activity data received from the first computer while an exerciser exercises on the exercise apparatus.

16. The exercise apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the first computer is contacted in response to an exerciser input to the exercise apparatus.

17. The exercise apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the communication network is connected to at least one other exercise apparatus.

18. The exercise apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the processing system controls the display while the exerciser exercises so that the non-exercise-related mental activity data is displayed on a first portion of the display and exercise-related data is displayed on a second portion of the display.

19. The exercise apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the display of non-exercise-related mental activity data changes in response to an input from the exerciser.

20. The exercise apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the display of non-exercise-related mental activity data changes periodically.

21. The exercise apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the communication circuit receives exercise apparatus control data from the first computer and the processing system uses the received exercise apparatus control data to control the exercise apparatus while the exerciser exercises.

22. The exercise apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the communication circuit comprises a wireless communication circuit.

23. An exercise apparatus connected to a communication network, comprising:

a display;

a two-way communication circuit for contacting a remotely-located first computer over the communication network using contact data for the first computer, for receiving non-exercise-related mental activity data transmitted over the communication network from the contacted computer, for contacting a different, second computer over the communication network using contact data for the second computer, and for transmitting data to the second computer;

storage for storing the received non-exercise-related mental activity data; and

a processing system for controlling the display to display the non-exercise-related mental activity data stored in the storage while an exerciser exercises on the exercise apparatus.

24. The exercise apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the processing system controls the display while the exerciser exercises so that the non-exercise-related mental activity data is displayed on a first portion of the display and exercise-related data is displayed on a second portion of the display.

25. The exercise apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the display of non-exercise-related mental activity data changes in response to an input from the exerciser.

26. The exercise apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the display of non-exercise-related mental activity data changes periodically.

27. The exercise apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the communication circuit receives exercise apparatus control data from the first computer and the processing system uses the received exercise apparatus control data to control the exercise apparatus while the exerciser exercises.

28. The exercise apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the communication circuit comprises a wireless communication circuit.

29. An exercise apparatus connected to a communication network, comprising:

a display;

a two-way communication circuit for contacting a remotely-located first computer over the communication network using contact data for the computer, receiving non-exercise-related mental activity data transmitted over the communication network from the contacted computer, contacting a different, second computer over the communication network and transmitting data to the second computer;

a processing system for controlling the display to display the non-exercise-related mental activity data received from the first computer while an exerciser exercises on the exercise apparatus.

30. The exercise apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the data transmitted to the second computer comprises exercise apparatus use data.

31. The exercise apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the data transmitted to the second computer comprises exercise program selection data.

32. The exercise apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the processing system controls the display while the exerciser exercises so that the non-exercise-related mental activity data is displayed on a first portion of the display and exercise-related data is displayed on a second portion of the display.

33. The exercise apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the communication circuit receives exercise apparatus control data from the first computer and the processing system uses the received exercise apparatus control data to control the exercise apparatus while the exerciser exercises.

34. The exercise apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the communication circuit comprises a wireless communication circuit.