Exercise systems for simulating real world terrain

• US 8,251,874 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2009
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IFIT Incorporated (Amynta Agency, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Inventors: Ashby, Darren C., Lorrigan, Kirk, Dalebout, William T., Watterson, Scott R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh, Loan
• Assistant Examiner(s): JALALZADEH ABYAN, SHILA
• Application Number:
  US12/413,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20100248900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 482/4, 482/8
• US Class Current: 482/4
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/009 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled in synchronism with visualising systems, e.g. hill slope
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0644 with display speed of moving landscape controlled by the user's performance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0691 Maps, e.g. yardage maps or electronic maps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0023 the inclination of the main axis of the movement path being adjustable, e.g. the inclination of an endless band
• 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 22/0242 with speed variation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/73 Altitude
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/78 Surface covering conditions, e.g. of a road surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• 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 24/0084 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

Abstract

An exercise system includes one or more exercise devices that communicate via a network with a communication system. The communication system stores and/or generates exercise programming for use on the exercise device. The exercise programming is able to control one or more operating parameters of the exercise device to simulate terrain found at a remote, real world location. The exercise programming can include images/videos of the remote, real world location. The control signals and the images/videos can be synchronized so that a user of the exercise device is able to experience, via the changing operating parameters, the topographical characteristics of the remote, real world location as well as see images of the location.

Claims

1. An exercise system that simulates a remote, real world exercise route, the exercise system comprising:

a treadmill that substantially simulates the remote, real world exercise route in response to exercise programming including one or more control signals, wherein the treadmill comprises;

a base frame that rests upon a support surface;

a treadbase having a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side, the treadbase being selectively movable relative to the base frame between a declined position, a neutral position, and an inclined position, the treadbase also being selectively movable relative to the base frame between a first titled position and a second tilted position;

a bracket assembly pivotally connected between the treadbase and the base frame, wherein the bracket assembly enables the treadbase to pivot relative to the base frame in a first direction and a second direction that is generally perpendicular to the first direction;

an incline mechanism pivotally connected between the base frame and the treadbase, wherein, in response to the one or more control signals, the incline mechanism selectively moves the treadbase between the declined position, the neutral position, and the inclined position; and

a tilt mechanism pivotally connected between the base frame and the treadbase, wherein, in response to the one or more control signals, the tilt mechanism selectively moves the treadbase between the first tilted position and the second tilted position.

2. An exercise system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface that enables a user to define the remote, real world exercise route by selecting one or more parameters of the remote, real world exercise route; and

a remote communication system in communication with the treadmill, the remote communication system being receptive to the one or more user defined parameters of the remote, real world exercise route, wherein the remote communication system communicates with at least two third parties to retrieve data stored by the at least two third parties relating to the remote, real world exercise route, wherein the remote communication system uses the data retrieved from the at least two third parties to generate the exercise programming that includes the one or more control signals for controlling the operation of the treadmill and display programming synchronized with the control signals.

3. An exercise system as recited in claim 1, wherein pivoting of the treadbase in the first direction results in movement of the treadbase between the declined position, the neutral position, and the inclined position, and wherein pivoting of the treadbase in the second direction results in movement of the treadbase between the first tilted position and the second tilted position.

4. An exercise system as recited in claim 1, wherein the tilt mechanism comprises a linear extension assembly that extends and retracts to raise and lower the first and second sides of the treadbase above or below one another to move the treadbase between the first tilted position and the second tilted position.

5. An exercise system as recited in claim 4, wherein the incline mechanism comprises a linear extension assembly that extends and retracts to raise and lower the first end of the treadbase above or below the second end of the treadbase to move the treadbase between the declined position and the inclined position.

6. An exercise system as recited in claim 2, wherein the remote communication system uses topographical data stored by one of the at least two third parties to generate the control signals that adjust one or more operating parameters of the treadmill, and wherein the remote communication system uses image data stored by another one of the at least two third parties to generate the display programming.

7. An exercise system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the incline mechanism is connected between the base frame and the first end of the treadbase, wherein the incline mechanism selectively extends and retracts to raise and lower the first end of the treadbase to adjust the incline of the treadbase relative to the base frame between the declined position, the neutral position, and the inclined position; and

the tilt mechanism is connected between the base frame and the first side of the treadbase, wherein the tilt mechanism selectively extends and retracts to raise and lower the first side of the treadbase to adjust the side-to-side tilt of the treadbase relative to the base frame between the first tilt position and the second tilt position.

8. An exercise system as recited in claim 1, wherein pivoting of the treadbase in the first direction causes the bracket assembly to pivot in the first direction, and wherein pivoting of the treadbase in the second direction causes the bracket assembly to pivot in the second direction.

9. An exercise system as recited in claim 6, wherein the synchronization of the display programming and the control signals provides the user with the ability to view images of the remote, real world exercise route while substantially experiencing, by way of the one or more changing operating parameters, the topographical characteristics of the remote, real world exercise route viewed in the images of the display programming.

10. An exercise system as recited in claim 1, wherein the bracket assembly comprises two generally U-shaped brackets connected together, wherein the two generally U-shaped brackets are offset from one another by about 90°

.

11. An exercise system as recited in claim 1, wherein the tilt mechanism is pivotally connected between the base frame and the treadbase such that (i) the tilt mechanism pivots relative to the base frame about two axes, and (ii) the tilt mechanism and the treadbase pivot relative to one another about two axes.

12. An exercise system as recited in claim 1, wherein the incline mechanism is pivotally connected between the base frame and the treadbase such that (i) the incline mechanism pivots relative to the base frame about a single axis, and (ii) the incline mechanism and the treadbase pivot relative to one another about two axes.

13. A method for substantially simulating a remote, real world exercise route on the treadmill, the method comprising:

providing a treadmill with a treadbase movably connected to a base frame with a bracket assembly that enables the treadbase to pivot relative to the base frame in two generally perpendicular directions;

providing one or more control signals that cause the treadmill to substantially simulate topographical characteristics of the remote, real world exercise route;

in response to the one or more control signals, activating an incline mechanism that is pivotally connected between the treadbase and the base frame to adjust an incline of the treadbase relative to the base frame between a declined position, a neutral position, and an inclined position, wherein activation of the incline mechanism causes the treadbase to pivot relative to the base frame in a first direction of the two generally perpendicular directions;

in response to the one or more control signals, activating a tilt mechanism that is pivotally connected between the treadbase and the base frame to adjust a side-to-side tilt of the treadbase relative to the base frame between a first tilted position and a second tilted position, wherein activation of the tilt mechanism causes the treadbase to pivot relative to the base frame in a second direction of the two generally perpendicular directions.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein activating the incline mechanism causes the tilt mechanism to pivot relative to both the treadbase and the base frame.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein activating the incline mechanism causes a first end of the tilt mechanism to pivot relative to the base frame about a first axis and a second end of the tilt mechanism to pivot relative to the treadbase about a second axis.

16. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein activating the incline mechanism causes the incline mechanism to pivot relative to both the treadbase and the base frame.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein activating the incline mechanism causes a first end of the incline mechanism to pivot relative to the base frame about a first axis and a second end of the incline mechanism to pivot relative to the treadbase about a second axis.

18. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein activating the tilt mechanism causes the tilt mechanism to pivot relative to both the treadbase and the base frame.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein activating the tilt mechanism causes a first end of the tilt mechanism to pivot relative to the base frame about a first axis and a second end of the tilt mechanism to pivot relative to the treadbase about a second axis.

20. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the incline mechanism is connected between the base frame and a first end of the treadbase such that activation of the incline mechanism raises and lowers the first end of the treadbase to adjust the incline of the treadbase.

21. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the tilt mechanism is connected between the base frame and a first side of the treadbase such that activation of the tilt mechanism raises and lowers the first side of the treadbase to adjust the side-to-side tilt of the treadbase.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the incline mechanism and the tilt mechanism each comprise a linear extension assembly.

23. An exercise system that substantially simulates a remote, real world exercise route, the exercise system comprising:

an exercise device that is receptive to exercise programming that controls one or more selectively adjustable operating parameters of the exercise device to substantially simulate the remote, real world exercise route, wherein the exercise device comprises;

a base frame;

a treadbase with an endless belt trained around the treadbase to enable the user to ambulate thereon, the treadbase having a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side;

a bracket assembly pivotally connected between the treadbase and the base frame, wherein the bracket assembly enables the treadbase to pivot relative to the base frame about a first axis and about a second axis that is generally perpendicular to the first axis;

an incline mechanism connected between the base frame and the first end of the treadbase, wherein the incline mechanism selectively extends and retracts to raise and lower the first end of the treadbase to adjust the incline of the treadbase relative to the base frame between a declined position, a neutral position, and an inclined position; and

a tilt mechanism connected between the base frame and the first side of the treadbase, wherein the tilt mechanism selectively extends and retracts to raise and lower the first side of the treadbase to adjust a side-to-side tilt of the treadbase relative to the base frame between a first tilted position and a second tilted position, wherein the selective side-to-side tilting of the treadbase simulates for the user the experience of ambulating on an uneven surface of the remote, real world exercise route.

24. An exercise system as recited in claim 23, wherein the incline mechanism comprises a linear extension assembly having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the linear extension assembly is pivotally connected to the base frame such that the first end of the linear extension assembly pivots relative to the base frame about a first axis when the linear extension assembly is activated to adjust the incline of the treadbase.

25. An exercise system as recited in claim 24, wherein the second end of the linear extension assembly is pivotally connected to the first end of the treadbase such that:

(i) the second end of the linear extension assembly and the treadbase pivot relative to one another about a second axis when the linear extension assembly is activated to adjust the incline of the treadbase; and

(ii) the treadbase pivots relative to the second end of the linear extension assembly about a third axis when the tilt mechanism is activated to adjust the side-to-side tilt of the treadbase.

26. An exercise system as recited in claim 23, wherein the tilt mechanism comprises a linear extension assembly having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the linear extension assembly is pivotally connected to the base frame such that:

(i) the first end of the linear extension assembly pivots relative to the base frame about a first axis when the linear extension assembly is activated to adjust the side-to-side tilt of the treadbase; and

(ii) the second end of the linear extension assembly and the treadbase pivot relative to one another about a second axis when the linear extension assembly is activated to adjust the side-to-side tilt of the treadbase.

27. An exercise system as recited in claim 26, wherein the first end of the linear extension assembly is pivotally connected to the base frame such that:

(i) the first end of the linear extension assembly pivots relative to the base frame about a third axis when the incline mechanism is activated to adjust the incline of the treadbase; and

(ii) the second end of the linear extension assembly and the treadbase pivot relative to one another about a fourth axis when the incline mechanism is activated to adjust the incline of the treadbase.

28. An exercise system as recited in claim 23, wherein pivoting of the treadbase about the first axis results in movement of the treadbase between the declined position, the neutral position, and the inclined position, and wherein pivoting of the treadbase about the second axis results in movement of the treadbase between the first tilted position and the second tilted position.

29. An exercise system as recited in claim 23, wherein the bracket assembly comprises two generally U-shaped brackets connected together, wherein the two generally U-shaped brackets are offset from one another by about 90°

.