Exercise system

• US 8,057,360 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2010
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• 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:
  US12/890,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20110015041A1
• Time in Patent Office: 416 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482900-902
• 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 71/0622 : 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 example system includes a processor and communication circuitry under the control of the processor. The communication circuitry is configured to communicate exercise programs to exercise apparatuses, the communicated exercise programs including a first exercise program for use in controlling an exercise apparatus of a first exercise type and a second exercise program for use in controlling an exercise apparatus of a second exercise type different than the first exercise type.

Claims

1. A system for distributing exercise programs to different locations comprising:

a processor; and

communication circuitry under the control of the processor and configured to communicate a first exercise program to a first exercise apparatus of a first exercise type at a first location and a second exercise program to a second exercise apparatus of a second exercise type at a second location remote from the first location, the first exercise program for use in control of the first exercise apparatus and the second exercise program for use in control of the second exercise apparatus.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the communication circuitry is further configured to communicate mental activity data to the first and second exercise apparatuses.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the mental activity data comprises display data.

4. A system for distributing exercise program information to different locations comprising:

a processor; and

communication circuitry under the control of the processor and configured to communicate first exercise program information to a first exercise apparatus of a first exercise type at a first location and second exercise program information to a second exercise apparatus of a second exercise type at a second location remote from the first location, the first exercise program information for use in control of a movable element of the first exercise apparatus and the second exercise program information for use in control of a movable element of the second exercise apparatus.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the first exercise apparatus comprises a treadmill and the second exercise apparatus comprises a stationary bicycle.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the first and second exercise apparatuses are located in different homes.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein the movable element of the first exercise apparatus comprises pedals.

8. The system according to claim 4, wherein the communication circuitry under the control of the processor is further configured to communicate messages to the first and second exercise apparatuses.

9. The system according to claim 4, further comprising:

a memory for storing information for the first and second exercise apparatuses including respective identifiers associated with the first and second exercise apparatuses.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the information further comprises apparatus owner information.

11. The system according to claim 4, further comprising:

a memory for storing information for the first and second exercise apparatuses including respective addresses associated with the first and second exercise apparatuses.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the information further comprises apparatus owner information.

13. The system according to claim 4, wherein the communication circuitry is further configured to communicate mental activity data to the first and second exercise apparatuses.

14. The system according to claim 4, wherein the first and second exercise program information comprises respective programs for use in controlling the movable elements of the first and second exercise apparatuses as a function of time.

15. A system in which exercise-related information is communicated to and from different locations comprising:

a computer system configured to provide exercise-related information; and

first and second exercise apparatuses each of a different exercise type and each at a different home,

wherein the computer system is configured to communicate first exercise-related program information to the first exercise apparatus and second exercise-related information to the second exercise apparatus, the first exercise-related information including information for use in control of a movable element of the first exercise apparatus and the second exercise-related information including information for use in control of a movable element of the second exercise apparatus, and

wherein each of the first and second exercise apparatuses is configured to communicate additional exercise-related information to the computer system.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the first exercise apparatus comprises a treadmill and the second exercise apparatus comprises a stationary bicycle.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein the first and second exercise apparatuses provide different types of exercise.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the computer system is further configured to communicate mental activity data to the first and second exercise apparatuses and the first and second exercise apparatuses are configured to output the mental activity data.

19. The system according to claim 15, wherein the movable element of the first exercise apparatus comprises pedals.

20. The system according to claim 15, wherein the computer system is further configured to communicate messages to the first and second exercise apparatuses.

21. The system according to claim 15, wherein the computer system comprises memory for storing information for the first and second exercise apparatuses including respective identifiers associated with the first and second exercise apparatuses.

22. The system according to claim 15, wherein the computer system comprises memory for storing information for the first and second exercise apparatuses including respective addresses associated with the first and second exercise apparatuses.

23. The system according to claim 15, wherein each of the first and second exercise apparatuses comprises a panel including a liquid crystal display, the panel further comprising a pressable input device for initiating communication with the computer system.