Hydraulic exercise machine system and methods thereof

• US 7,914,425 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2007
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Curves International Incorporated (Koshidaka Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: MYTRAK Health System, Inc.
• Inventors: Hanoun, Reed
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US11/737,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20070232451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,439 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482/91, 482/92, 482900-902, 482111-113, 482/84, 601/23, 601/34, 434/247
• US Class Current: 482/113
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0083 of the piston-cylinder type using pneumatic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0087
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• 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

Abstract

A hydraulic exercise machine system comprises one or more hydraulic cylinders, a mechanism coupled to at least one of the hydraulic cylinders, and a sensor assembly. Displacement of the mechanism by a person exercising on the hydraulic exercise machine displaces pistons of the hydraulic cylinders relative to the cylinders. The sensor assembly is to sense displacement of a piston relative to its cylinder over time.

Claims

1. A hydraulic exercise machine system comprising:

one or more hydraulic cylinders;

a mechanism coupled to at least one of the hydraulic cylinders, where displacement of the mechanism by a person exercising on the hydraulic exercise machine displaces pistons of the hydraulic cylinders relative to the cylinders;

a sensor assembly to measure displacement of a piston relative to its cylinder over time during a workout session;

electronic means for analyzing data from the sensor assembly during the workout session, the analysis including calculating user performance data based on mechanical variables of an activity of the person when exercising on the hydraulic exercise machine together with mechanical properties of the hydraulic exercise machine and comparing the user performance data with information stored in a database for the person;

a reflector physically coupled to the piston;

a radiation source physically coupled to the piston'"'"'s cylinder; and

a radiation detector physically coupled to the piston'"'"'s cylinder to detect reflected radiation resulting from the reflector reflecting radiation emitted by the radiation source; and

a display to provide visual feedback to the person during the workout session based, at least in part, on the analyzed data.

2. The hydraulic exercise machine system of claim 1, further comprising:

electronic means for processing one or more sets of mechanical properties corresponding to the one or more hydraulic cylinders,

wherein the visual feedback to the person is based, at least in part, on the one or more sets of processed mechanical properties.

3. The hydraulic exercise machine system of claim 2, wherein the visual feedback includes an indication to increase, sustain or decrease workout intensity during the workout session.

4. The hydraulic exercise machine system of claim 3, wherein the display comprises a light bar, which displays a first color if the indication is to increase the workout intensity, displays a second color if the indication is to sustain the workout intensity, and displays a third color if the indication is to decrease the workout intensity.

5. A hydraulic exercise machine system, comprising:

at least one hydraulic cylinder;

a mechanism coupled to the at least one hydraulic cylinder such that displacement of the mechanism by a person exercising on the hydraulic exercise machine system displaces a piston of the hydraulic cylinder relative to the cylinder;

a sensor assembly to measure displacement of a piston relative to its cylinder over time during a workout session;

means for analyzing data from the sensor assembly during the workout session, the analysis including calculating user performance data based on mechanical variables of an activity of the person when exercising on the hydraulic exercise machine together with mechanical properties of the hydraulic exercise machine and comparing the user performance data with information stored in a database for the person;

a reflector physically coupled to the piston;

a radiation source physically coupled to the piston'"'"'s cylinder; and

a radiation detector physically coupled to the piston'"'"'s cylinder to detect reflected radiation resulting from the reflector reflecting radiation emitted by the radiation source;

a display to provide feedback to the person during the workout session based, at least in part, on the analyzed data, the feedback including an indication to increase, sustain, or decrease workout intensity during the workout session.

6. The hydraulic exercise machine system of claim 5, wherein the display comprises a light bar, which displays a first color if the indication is to increase the workout intensity, displays a second color if the indication is to sustain the workout intensity, and displays a third color if the indication is to decrease the workout intensity.

7. A hydraulic exercise machine system, comprising:

at least one hydraulic cylinder;

a mechanism coupled to the at least one hydraulic cylinder such that displacement of the mechanism by a person exercising on the hydraulic exercise machine system displaces a piston of the hydraulic cylinder relative to the cylinder;

a sensor assembly to measure displacement of a piston relative to its cylinder over time during a workout session, the sensor assembly having a reflector coupled to the piston and having a radiation source and a radiation detector coupled to the cylinder to detect reflected radiation resulting from the reflector reflecting radiation emitted by the radiation source;

means for analyzing data from the sensor assembly during the workout session, the analysis including calculating a workout intensity based on mechanical variables of an activity of the person when exercising on the hydraulic exercise machine and comparing the workout intensity with a predetermined target workout intensity;

a display to provide feedback to the person during the workout session based, at least in part, on the data, the feedback including an indication to increase, sustain, or decrease the workout intensity during the workout session.