Patent Application
20180280782
Not applicable to this application.
Example embodiments in general relate to a system and method for networking fitness machines for allowing a trainer to simultaneously control machine settings for a plurality of fitness machines in a fitness studio environment, and further allows for individual users and/or fitness trainers to modify exercise machine settings.
Any discussion of the related art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such related art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
Exercising in a class environment, for instance, participation by a plurality of exercisers at a scheduled time in a gym or fitness studio, has increased in popularity. In such environments, each class participant mounts one of a plurality of similar machines within a dedicated area of the facility, and simultaneously performs exercises at the specific direction of the class trainer. Many types of machines used in a class environment have very few machine settings that may be changed at the direction of the instructor. For instance, exercise bicycles, known to those skilled in the art as spin cycles, have one resistance adjustment. During a class, the instructor may direct participants to peddle faster or slower, but participants need only make one adjustment at the direction of the instructor, that being increasing or decreasing the resistance on the spinning wheel.
On the other hand, increasingly complex exercise apparatus are emerging that may incorporate many adjustments, such as apparatus providing for adjustment of the pitch and roll of the exercise platform, positioning adjustments of specific body parts on specified areas of the apparatus, and weight or resistance adjustments. In such instances, trainers cannot rely on class participants to quickly and accurately make the adjustments to their individual machines without considerable disruption to the class schedule.
In many exercise class environments, an instructor's job is facilitated by use of a tablet or similar remote control device which may display, for instance, the sequence of exercises to be performed throughout the scheduled class, or to remotely control the settings on one or more machines while they are being used by the exercisers.
The instructor of such classes oftentimes circulates throughout the facility during the class period, providing individual instruction or directives to certain exercisers. Instructors may reposition an exerciser's foot or hand to a different part of the machine so they may more correctly perform the exercise. When instructors provide individual assistance, they must set down the remote control device during the one-on-one instruction, then retrieve it once the personalized instruction is completed.
There is value in a system and method that provides for an instructor to simultaneously and uniformly make adjustments to all apparatuses within the class environment using an arm mounted remote control device that provides for the instructor's hands to remain free to assist class participants in making any of the myriad adjustments necessary for proper performance of an exercise.
Example embodiments are directed to a system and method for networking fitness machines. The system and method for networking fitness machines includes a trainer remote control device, one or more machine-mounted onboard trainer controllers, and a machine-mounted onboard user controller.
The trainer remote control device may be securely mounted to the arm of a trainer via a device holder and strap assembly leaving the trainer's hands free to instruct exercisers on a plurality of exercise machines. The device holder may include a power source, lighting, and buttons for controlling facility and machine lighting and other settings.
The trainer remote control device preferably comprises a touch screen and software application program. The touch screen simultaneously displays a plurality of selections corresponding to various settings on the exercise machines, such as tilt and roll, elevation, resistance level, and body positioning light indicia. The trainer remote control communicates with the plurality of exercise machines directly or indirectly via a communications network or link. The machines have a plurality of actuators for changing the settings on the machines. Using the trainer remote control, a trainer can remotely activate the actuators to change the settings of a plurality of exercise machines in common.
The machine-mounted onboard trainer controllers and user controller provide the ability for the trainer or an exerciser to change the settings of an individual machine either during class in a class mode or in a private training mode. The onboard controllers may be used to override settings on an individual machine previously set by the trainer remotely for a plurality of machines functioning in a class mode.
The various example embodiments provide for a novel system and machine control method whereby a fitness instructor can simultaneously make myriad adjustments to a plurality of similar exercise apparatuses being used in a class training environment, the apparatuses being in communication with a communication network, and further provide for instructors to actuate visual indicia visible to exercisers as a means for body repositioning upon the apparatus in response to the instructor's audible instruction.
Further, the various example embodiments provide for an instructor to make further adjustments to individual apparatuses, such adjustments overriding the adjustments communicated by the instructor's remote control device to all of the apparatuses in the class.
Still further, the various example embodiments provide for exercisers to make adjustment enhancements to each adjustment instruction communicated over the network, the adjustment enhancements being limited to specific adjustments that override the adjustments communicated to all of the apparatuses in the class.
Various example embodiments further provide for a novel system and machine control method whereby a fitness instructor can affix a machine control device securely to their forearm and wrist, freeing their hands from holding any instruction tablet or remote control device throughout an exercise class.
Further, the various example embodiments provide for securely retaining a machine control device to a trainer's forearm and wrist even during high intensity activity which causes perspiration on the forearm and wrist.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the example embodiments of the system and method for networking fitness machines in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional example embodiments of the system and method for networking fitness machines that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one example embodiment of the system and method for networking fitness machines in detail, it is to be understood that the system and method for networking fitness machines is not limited in its application to the details of construction or to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The system and method for networking fitness machines is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
Example embodiments will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are represented by like reference characters, which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not limitative of the example embodiments herein.
The words “exerciser” and “user” are used herein to mean an individual person exercising on an improved exercise machine and may be interchangeably used without any difference in scope or meaning. The terms “trainer” and “instructor” are used interchangeably herein to refer to a person or persons training or instructing exercisers and/or users.
The phrases “communication network” and “wireless communication” as used herein are not meant to be limiting. Wireless communication modalities are well known to those skilled in the art, and may include Bluetooth, WiFi, wireless USB, infrared (IR), ultrasonic, cellular, free space optical communication, radio, microwave, and other modes of short and/or long range wireless communication that are known or that may become known. The various example embodiments provide for simplex and/or duplex wireless communication over a plurality of communication links between two or more devices, the communication links using any of one or a combination or hybrid of more than one modality.
A. Overview.
An example system and method for networking fitness machines generally includes a trainer remote control device, one or more machine-mounted onboard trainer controllers, and a machine-mounted onboard user controller. The trainer remote control device may be securely mounted to the arm of a trainer via a device holder and strap assemblies leaving the trainer's hands free to instruct exercisers on a plurality of exercise machines. The device holder may include lighting, controls for facility and machine lighting, and device charging. The trainer remote control device preferably comprises a touch screen and software application program. The touch screen displays selections corresponding to various settings on the exercise machines, such as tilt and roll, elevation, resistance level, and body positioning light indicia. The trainer remote control communicates with the plurality of exercise machines directly or indirectly via a wireless network, Bluetooth connection, or other communications network or link. Using the trainer remote control, a trainer can change the settings of a plurality of exercise machines in a class mode simultaneously via actuators on the machines.
The machine-mounted onboard trainer controllers and user controller provide the ability for the trainer or an exerciser to change the settings of an individual machine either during class in a class mode or in a private training mode. The onboard controllers may be used to override settings on an individual machine previously set by the trainer for a plurality of machines functioning in a class mode.
B. Exemplary Communications Networks.
The system and method for networking fitness machines may be utilized upon and may utilize any telecommunications network or link capable of transmitting data including voice data and other types of electronic data. Examples of suitable telecommunications networks for the system and method for networking fitness machines include but are not limited to global computer networks (e.g. Internet), wireless networks, cellular networks, satellite communications networks, cable communication networks (via a cable modem), microwave communications network, local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), campus area networks (CAN), metropolitan-area networks (MAN), home area networks (HAN). The system and method for networking fitness machines may also be utilized upon and may utilize long range as well as relatively short range wireless links such as Bluetooth. The system and method for networking fitness machines may communicate via a single telecommunications network or link or multiple telecommunications networks concurrently. Various protocols may be utilized by the electronic devices for communications such as but not limited to HTTP, SMTP, FTP, WAP (wireless Application Protocol), TCP/IP, and RFCOMM (Bluetooth protocol). The system and method for networking fitness machines may be implemented upon various wireless networks and links such as but not limited to 3G, 4G, LTE, CDPD, CDMA, GSM, PDC, PHS, TDMA, FLEX, REFLEX, IDEN, TETRA, DECT, DATATAC, MOBITEX, and Bluetooth. The system and method for networking fitness machines may also be utilized with online services and internet service providers.
The Internet also may be an exemplary telecommunications network for the system and method for networking fitness machines. The Internet is comprised of a global computer network having a plurality of computer systems around the world that are in communication with one another. Via the Internet, the computer systems are able to transmit various types of data between one another. The communications between the computer systems may be accomplished via various methods such as but not limited to wireless, Ethernet, cable, direct connection, telephone lines, and satellite.
C. Exemplary Computing Platforms.
Any type of conventional computing platform may be used for practicing the various aspects of the system and method for networking fitness machines. For example, the computing platform can comprise a personal computer (e.g. APPLE® based computer, an IBM based computer, or compatible thereof), handheld computer, wearable computer, or tablet computer (e.g. IPAD®). The computing platform may also be comprised of various other conventional electronic circuits and/or devices capable of sending and receiving electronic data. The computing platform also may be embodied in various electronic devices such as smartphones, mobile phones, telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile electronic devices, handheld wireless devices, two-way radios, smart phones, communicators, video viewing units, television units, television receivers, cable television receivers, pagers, communication devices, and digital satellite receiver units.
The computing platform may comprise a conventional microprocessor or microcontroller and other well-known associated peripheral circuits. It also may comprise a conventional computer system which in turn may include a display screen (or monitor), a printer, a hard disk or solid state drive, a network interface, and/or a keyboard. A suitable computer system typically will comprise a microprocessor, a memory bus, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), a peripheral bus, I/O controller, communications controller, and/or a keyboard controller. The microprocessor is a general-purpose digital processor that controls the operation of the computer. The microprocessor can be a single-chip processor or implemented with multiple components. Using instructions retrieved from memory, the microprocessor controls the reception and manipulations of input data and the output and display of data on output devices. The memory bus is utilized by the microprocessor to access the RAM and the ROM. RAM is used by microprocessor as a general storage area and as scratch-pad memory, and can also be used to store input data and processed data. ROM can be used to store instructions or program code followed by microprocessor as well as other data.
The peripheral bus typically is used to access the input, output and storage devices used by the computer. Devices accessed via the peripheral bus typically include a display screen, a printer device, a hard disk or solid state drive, a network interface, and other peripherals. A keyboard controller may be used to receive input from a keyboard and to send decoded symbols for each pressed key to the microprocessor over a bus. The keyboard may be used by a user to input commands and other instructions to the computer system. Other types of user input devices can also be used in conjunction with the system and method for networking fitness machines. For example, pointing devices such as a computer mouse, a track ball, a stylus, or a tablet may be used to manipulate a pointer on a screen of the computer system.
A display screen may be used as an output device that displays images of data provided by the microprocessor via the peripheral bus or provided by other components in the computer. A printer device when operating as a printer typically provides an image on a sheet of paper or a similar surface. A hard disk or solid state drive can be utilized to store various types of data.
The microprocessor together with an operating system operates to execute computer code and produce and use data. The computer code and data may reside on RAM, ROM, or hard disk or solid state drive. The computer code and data can also reside on a removable program medium and be loaded or installed onto the computer system when needed. Removable program mediums include, for example, CD-ROM, PC-CARD, USB drives, floppy disk and magnetic tape.
A network interface circuit and/or communications controller may be utilized to send and receive data over a network or other link connected to other computer systems or devices. An interface card or similar device and appropriate software implemented by the microprocessor can be utilized to connect the computer system to an existing network and transfer data according to standard protocols.
D. Remote and Machine Mounted Control Devices and Improved Exercise Machines.
A fitness trainer conducts the class exercise regimen for the duration of a scheduled class, the trainer therefore providing direction to the users on myriad parameters related to the exercise, including but not limited to body position upon the machine, the name of the exercise, and instruction on how to properly perform the exercise.
Now then, as a means to ensure that all of the plurality of exercise machines are in communication with the network, and correspondingly the exercisers upon the machines all respond in unison to the trainer's direction, the trainer uses a remote control device 200 that when in communication with the network 300 may dynamically and simultaneously control the settings of all of the machines in common by making selections of machine settings using the interactive touch screen 201 of the remote control device. The remote control device may include an indicator 202 showing wireless connection to the network 300.
Certain exercise machines that may be used with the present invention are relatively large, typically in excess of eight feet in length, and three feet in width. In order to make adjustments to any given machine of that size, it is preferred that an onboard trainer control device 113 is affixed to each such machine. Preferably at least one onboard control device is mounted substantially at or near one end of each such machine, but more preferably an onboard control device is mounted at or near each of two opposite distal ends of each such machine to allow easy, fast access to the individual machine controls. It is noted however, that the present invention is not intended to be limited with respect to any particular size or configuration of machines, or any particular number or placement of onboard controllers on a machine.
In the instances just described, the trainer may use the onboard control device 113 to override the global settings that the trainer remotely set for all machines through the network, the onboard control device therefore preferably comprising substantially all of the same controls available to the trainer on the remote control device 200. As can be readily seen in the drawing, a trainer walking between two rows of machines may easily make adjustments to any machine by using the front onboard control device on machines on the right side of the trainer, while using the back onboard control device on machines on the left side of the trainer. Therefore, those skilled in the art will appreciate the advantages of the machine front and back located onboard control devices provided for by the various example embodiments described herein.
A front stationary platform 107 and a back stationary platform 108 are affixed to the upper machine structure, the upper surface of the stationary platforms just described being on substantially the same plane as the upper surface of the moveable carriage 105. In use, the movable carriage rolls upon the parallel rails substantially between the front and back stationary platforms. A front left handle assembly 109 and a front right handle assembly 110 affixed to the upper machine structure provide for gripping or pushing surfaces used by the exerciser when performing exercises on the front end of the machine. A back left handle assembly 111 and a back right handle assembly 112 affixed to the upper machine structure provide for gripping or pulling surfaces used by the exerciser when performing exercises on the back end of the machine.
One or more resistance members 115, for instance, extension springs, are affixed at one end to substantially the front end structure of the machine, and the opposed end of the extension members removably attached to the movable carriage 105. The resistance members create a resistance force upon the movable carriage against which an exerciser must overcome in the course of performing an exercise.
As a means to allow trainers to make changes to machine settings during the course of an exercise class, an onboard trainer controller 113 is preferably mounted to at least one end of the machine, but more preferably to both opposed distal ends of the machine. As a means to allow users to make further changes to their individual machine settings during the course of an exercise class, an onboard user controller 500 preferably is provided at least at one user-accessible location on the machine. The user controller preferably provides the user with at least a subset of control functions provided for by the onboard trainer controller 113.
A monorail member 104 extends substantially the length of the exercise machine, the monorail providing for a pair of parallel rails 120 affixed to the lateral sides of the monorail. A movable carriage 105 is movably affixed to the parallel rails by means of a plurality of wheeled trolleys (not shown), the movable carriage movable substantially the length of the monorail structure between the front stationary platform 107 and the back stationary platform 108. One or more resistance members 115 are shown with a front end affixed to the upper structure proximate to the front stationary platform, and the opposed end removably attached to the movable carriage 105, the resistance members thereby providing a resistance force upon the movable carriage which must be overcome by an exerciser in order to roll the movable carriage in a direction opposed to the front end of the machine.
Two instances of an onboard trainer controller 113 are shown, specifically a substantially forward facing trainer controller movably affixed to a front right handle assembly 109 by means of an articulating controller mounting member 114, and a substantially rearward facing trainer controller movably affixed to a back left handle assembly 111 by means of an articulating controller mounting member 114.
Preferably, an onboard user controller 500 provides for the exerciser to execute various commands that alter certain settings of the machine during exercise, for example, increase or decrease the tilt angle of the back end of the machine as a means to increase or decrease the difficulty in moving the movable carriage in a direction opposed to the resistance members.
A centrally positioned monorail member 104 extends substantially the length of the exercise machine, the monorail providing for a pair of parallel rails 120 affixed to the lateral sides of the monorail. The upper exercise surface of a back stationary platform 108 is preferably coplanar with the upper exercise surfaces of the movable carriage 105 and the front stationary platform 107, both of which are obscured by the back stationary platform.
Two instances of an onboard trainer controller 113 are shown, specifically a substantially forward facing trainer controller movably affixed to a front right handle assembly 109 by means of an articulating controller mounting member 114, and a substantially rearward facing trainer controller movably affixed to a back left handle assembly 111 by means of an articulating controller mounting member 114.
In the drawing, one possible position of an onboard user controller 500 is upon a front left handle assembly 109, although a position on the front right handle assembly 110 may be considered as a variation. Another possible position of an onboard user controller 500 is upon the front top surface of the monorail member 104.
An enlarged perspective view 116 provides for a greater detailed view of possible mounting variations of the onboard user controller 500 proximate to the back end of the machine. The enlarged detail shows one possible position of an onboard user controller 500 upon a front left handle assembly 109, although a position on the front right handle assembly 110 may be considered as a variation. As another variation, a user controller 500 may be positioned on the back top surface of the monorail member 104, or a user controller may be positioned on a substantially upward-facing surface of the back left handle assembly 111. Merely for reference, a separate onboard trainer controller 113 and controller mounting member 114 are shown as a means to differentiate between the onboard user and trainer controllers.
In the drawing, the upper structure of the exercise machine has been substantially tilted upward by means of extending the linear actuators 102 at the back end of the machine as indicated by the upward pointing arrow, and further, the top surface of the exercise platforms 107, 108, 105 have been substantially rolled towards the left side of the machine, indicated by the clockwise arrow. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that repositioning the exercise surfaces of an exercise machine in a manner as just described is beneficial and novel, however such extreme angles may make it difficult for a trainer to make adjustments to the machine settings while the machine is in use by an exerciser. One novel solution that provides easy access to machine settings by a trainer is the mounting of one or more onboard trainer controllers 113 at opposed ends of the machine, the controllers being mounted on a flexible controller mounting member 114 that provides for repositioning of one or more of the controllers by the trainer for optimized viewing and operation.
The trainer remote controller 200 may be a wirelessly connected tablet computer, iPad, smartphone or similar wireless device that provides for touch screen 201 interaction by a trainer, the device having been installed with a use-specific machine controller software application. Certain functions preferably are provided on the remote trainer controller including a means to connect, or to indicate connection of the controller to a network 202, virtual buttons 203 providing for a trainer to increase or decrease the level of resistance on the exercise machines 100 by adding or reducing the number of removably attached resistance members 115, a class duration countdown timer 209, virtual buttons 211 that provide for a trainer to turn the indicia lights of a machine on or oft and to change the color of the lights, an avatar 210 of a movable carriage providing for touch activation of the lights on particular areas of the movable carriage 105 on a plurality of machines, and an exercise stopwatch timer 208.
Further, a virtual graduated positioning bar 204 provides for a trainer to precisely raise or lower the tilt of a plurality of machines in unison by touching the numeral correlating to the desired elevation, and virtual graduated positioning bars 205, 206 provide for a trainer to precisely increase or decrease the roll of the machines about their longitudinal axes, the roll being controllable clockwise or counterclockwise relative to the default horizontal plane of the exercise platforms. A home button 207 provides for ending machine control, and returns the machine substantially to the flat and level default or home starting position.
In practice, the remote trainer controller 200 is in wireless communication with a control board installed on the improved exercise machines. In one preferred variation of operation of the touch screen zones just described, each touch of a selected touch zone 212 on the carriage lighting selector 210 generates a signal that is communicated wirelessly to all of the machines in communication with the network 300 to switch the corresponding light on their moveable carriages 105 on or off in accordance with the trainer's direction. In this preferred variation, one touch of the touch zone will turn on the corresponding light, and a second touch will turn off the corresponding light.
In a second variation of the process just described, the trainer may touch a first zone to switch on a corresponding light. A second touch on a new zone will switch on the corresponding light of the new zone, and automatically switch off the previously illuminated light. The process just described is not meant to be limiting, and other on/off sequences may be used with no difference in scope of function of the various embodiments described herein.
While
It should be noted that the use of an LED rope to illuminate the gripping surfaces or through holes is not meant to be limiting, and that any illuminating device would work without any difference in the intended scope or function. The advantage of configuring the illuminating device within the undercut is a reduction in direct light being visible and potentially distractive to the exerciser or exercisers on adjacent exercise machines.
In practice, a trainer will determine the preferred elevation setting for all of the network-connected machines within the exercise studio, the elevation being preferred for a particular exercise. The trainer touches the preferred graduation zone on the tough screen of the trainer remote controller, and in response to the received communication from the network, the machines preferably will elevate substantially in unison until each has reached the preferred elevation setting. The trainer will then instruct a first exercise. At the end of first exercise, the trainer will determine the elevation setting for the second exercise, and change the elevation level of all of the machines accordingly, using the touch screen process just described.
In practice, a trainer will determine the preferred rotation setting for all of the network-connected machines within the exercise studio, the rotation being preferred for a particular exercise. The trainer touches the preferred graduation zone on the touch screen of the trainer remote controller, and in response to the received communication from the network, the machines preferably will rotate substantially in unison until each has reached the preferred rotation setting. The trainer will then instruct a first exercise. At the end of first exercise, the trainer will determine the rotation setting for the next exercise, and change the rotation level of all of the machines accordingly, using the touch screen process just described.
In the drawing, the interactive touch screen of an onboard user controller 500 is shown with the default screen being a machine setup screen. The setup comprises the user touching on the single user button 501 if the user is not participating in an exercise class, or touching on the class mode button 502 if the user is participating in an exercise class. In the disclosed embodiment, a preferred difference between the single user and class mode settings is that the class mode setting provides fewer machine setting options as a means to reduce conflicts with the machine settings communicated from the trainer remote controller to the plurality of machines in a class. On the other hand, single users not following class instructions conducted by a trainer need not be concerned about machine instruction conflicts, and therefore have available more machine setting variations. In practice, a user setting up a machine in single user mode touches the single user button 501 which opens a machine control screen providing for a tilt-roll selector 504 allowing a user to change the elevation of the back end of the machine by touching the “up” or “down” zones on the touch screen, or to tilt the exercise platforms about the longitudinal axis of the machine towards the left or right by touching the “left” of “right” zones on the screen. A single user may therefore elect to tilt and rotate the machine about the longitudinal and transverse axes of the machine, and adjust the roll towards the left or right, continuing to touch the up, down, left or right buttons until the desired tilt and roll are achieved. At the end of the exercise, or when no tilt or roll is preferred by the user, the user would touch the “home” zone in the center of the tilt-roll selector, thereby instructing the machine controllers to retract the actuators previously discussed to a length that results in moving the exercise platforms to a horizontal position. Further, a user may illuminate lights on the machine by touching the LED button 505 on the touch screen, and may further change the color of the lights by touching on the color button 506 multiple times, thereby scrolling through the color options, stopping when the preferred color is illuminated. The user may continue any of the processes just described throughout their exercise period. Upon completion of the exercise, the user may return to the main setup screen by touching on the menu button 507.
When a machine is going to be used during an exercise class, the user or trainer may set up one or a plurality of machines by selecting the class mode button 502. By touching the class mode button, a subsequent screen replaces the setup screen, the subsequent screen providing for limited user options for adjusting the machine settings.
In the drawing, tilt up and down buttons of the resistance change selector 508 provide for an exerciser to increase or decrease the tilt of the machine. The effect of increasing or decreasing the tile is to correspondingly increase or decrease the resistance level for the exercise. In other words, the resistance members previously discussed, having been removably attached to the movable carriage, impart a certain resistance force against the movable carriage. As the back end of the machine is elevated relative to the front end of the machine while the resistance members are attached to the front end of the machine, the exercise force required to move the movable carriage in a direction opposed to the front end increases as the ramp angle of the machine increases. This increased force is a result of a portion of the weight of the exerciser being added to the force created by the resistance members. As a means to provide a visual reference to the current elevation setting, and the relative increase or decrease of the elevation as may preferred by the user, a resistance indicator 509 is provided with a graduation means corresponding to the elevation and elevation change. Upon completion of the exercise, the user may return to the main setup screen by touching on the menu button 507.
On the main setup screen, a settings button 503 is provided for trainer use. More specifically, the settings button provides for machine setup and/or diagnostics of the machine operation. The settings button 503 therefore opens a new screen (not shown) that provides for many variations of machine diagnostics, minimum-maximum range settings, or other machine settings as may be provided from time to time by the machine producer.
As can be seen, the onboard user controller 500 of the instant machine 100, and other machines that may be used in the class, not shown but as previously discussed, are together in communication with a network 300. Further, a trainer remote controller 200 is indicated as being in communication with the network 300 by indicator 202, the remote trainer controller thereby communicating to each and all machines on the network machine settings as desired by the trainer.
As was previously discussed, the trainer may change the elevation of the machine using the elevation adjuster 204, the left rotation using the left roll adjuster 205, the right rotation using the right roll adjuster 206, the number of resistance members exerting tension upon the movable carriage using the resistance adjuster 203, and may change illumination, color, and designate the zones of the movable carriage to be illuminated by using the carriage light selector 210 and light and color selectors 211.
The trainer may also monitor the time spent on each exercise by starting and viewing the exercise timer 208, and monitor the remaining class time by setting and viewing the class session timer 209. At the end of the exercise session, the trainer touches the home button 207, thereby disabling the onboard user controller 500, and further returning the machine to the default position wherein the top surfaces of the stationary and movable exercise platforms are set back to the lowest elevation and coplanar with the horizontal plane.
It should be noted that various other functions not discussed may be incorporated into the trainer remote controller without limitation. For instance, the home button 207 may incorporate multiple functions such as one-touch results in the machines' rotation returning to the horizontal position without adjusting the elevation of the back end of the machines, two rapid touches may return the elevated back ends of the machines to the horizontal without adjusting the rotational tilt, and a sustained touch may result in the tilt and rotation of the machines returning to the default horizontal positions.
For example, a display only dashboard 304 may be provided as a device affixed to the novel exercise machine, preferably positioned for optimum viewing by the user, the dashboard displaying various data including but not limited to the user's instant heart rate, the tempo of the exercises or cyclical frequency of each repetition of the exercise, or other data elements available from onboard machine sensors 306, and/or from external sources. Displayable data 305 from sources external to the improved exercise machine may include, but are not limited to user wearable sensors, such as accelerometers or body positioning sensors, video or other graphic data delivered to the dashboard via communication from the network, or other data stored in or generated by sources external to the improved exercise machine. Those skilled in the art will immediately appreciate the benefit that additional performance, machine positioning or instructional data has to a user who is focused on maximizing the strength, cardiovascular or performance benefits obtained by exercising on the improved exercise machine.
To prepare for a class, a trainer following trainer procedure 600 turns on the machines in the facility, sets each machine to class mode as a means of connecting the machines to a network, and turns on and connects the remote trainer controller to the network as a means to control the machines. To prepare for a class, the user, following the user procedure 601 activates the informational dashboard if the option is available. The trainer and user are now prepared to start an exercise class.
The instructor starts the class by directing users to mount the machine, while users mount the machine and affix any wearable sensors that will track and communicate personal biometric information.
The trainer sets the class duration, for example, twenty five minutes or other duration as preferred, while users verify the data feed from their optional wearable technology to the display screen.
The trainer instructs on the upcoming exercise, directing users to properly position for the exercise, while the user references the optional display screen on the dashboard to view an avatar animation demonstrating the upcoming exercise. The trainer walks between rows and columns of the plurality of machines to ensure that each exerciser is properly performing the exercise, and may manually increase or decrease the difficulty for any given exerciser by adjusting the machine settings using the onboard trainer controller as previously described. The user's optional onboard dashboard displays in real time any changes to the biometric data that result from the change in exercise difficulty as set by the trainer.
The trainer instructs the class of the next upcoming exercise, while the optional dashboard displays the avatar animation of the next upcoming exercise as an instructional aid.
The trainer and user processes 600, 601 just described continue until the end time of the exercise class is reached. At the end of the class, the trainer stops the software application program and exercise session by touching the home button on the tilt-roll selector on the trainer remote controller as previously described, thereby returning all machines on the network, in unison, to the default horizontal plane. The users stop exercising.
The final process in completing an exercise class is for the trainer to switch off all of the machines, and for the users to turn off the dashboard that may be connected to any external data sources. The user finally dismounts the machine.
In the drawing, a Bluetooth 302 connection is shown whereby a trainer remote controller 200 is paired with a plurality of Bluetooth transceivers such as one onboard device 307. Upon machine start up, the machines are set to class mode 502, and each machine is paired to the trainer remote controller 200. After pairing, all of the communication between the remote trainer controller and the plurality of machine settings are managed through the Bluetooth communication. In practice, there is no difference in the machine setting instructions sent over Bluetooth communication between the trainer remote controller and the plurality of machines set to class mode, and the machine setting instructions sent over a wireless network communication between the trainer remote controller and the plurality of machines set to class mode.
In the drawing, a plurality of exercise machines are positioned within an exercise facility 604, all of the machines having been set to class mode as a means of providing control of the machine settings to a plurality of trainers. In the setup screens, not shown, but as previously discussed, each of a plurality of machines are set up on program-1602, program-1 providing for each machine to establish communication with the facility wireless network 303. A first trainer using a trainer remote controller 200a also connects to the facility wireless network 303, thereby establishing communication with each of the plurality of machines on class mode program-1602. As fully described herein, the trainer with trainer remote controller 200a may now conduct a training class and control the settings of all machines on class mode program-1 throughout the training session.
At the same time, one of the exercisers desires a private training session with a second trainer, the second trainer using a second trainer remote controller 200b that has been set up as a Bluetooth device rather than a device connected to the wireless network. Similarly, in the machine setup screen, not shown, but as previously discussed, the singular machine being used for the private training session is set up on program-2603, program-2 thereby providing for the singular machine to pair with trainer remote controller 200b over a Bluetooth communication channel 302.
In the configuration of the plurality of machines and the plurality of training sessions being conducted at the same time, and within the same facility by a plurality of trainers, it can be readily appreciated that a first trainer may control a plurality of machine settings over a first communication channel, and a second trainer may separately control a machine used by a private client exerciser over a second communication channel. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the description of multiple machines being controlled through multiple communication channels is not limiting, and that the plurality of channels need not be one wireless WIFI communication link and another being a Bluetooth link. For example, multiple routers may be set up and used on the same wireless network without consideration of activating any Bluetooth connections, and further a facility devoid of a wireless router or network may provide for each machine to be paired with a preferred remote trainer controller as desired, by paring each machine with a preferred trainer controller using Bluetooth communications. Other communication channels of various types may be used as well, and the invention is not intended to be limited by any specific type, number, or combination of communication channels employed.
When a user selects single user mode 501, the machine control is then accessible to the user, the user's control options being expanded compared to when control of the machine is primarily via the trainer remote controller. The list of functions that may be controlled by the user may include, but are not limited to machine pitch and roll, angle adjustment, resistance level adjustment, and machine illumination. Upon completing single user mode setup, the user may commence exercising and modify the settings of the machine throughout the exercise routine as preferred. Upon completion of the exercise period, the user ends the exercise period by touching the home button, not shown but previously described, thereby returning the machine to its default, flat and level starting position. The user then ends the program.
In one preferred machine configuration, a machine is started up by opening the onboard user controller 500 and selecting either the single user mode 501 or the class mode 502. By first selecting the single user mode 501, an onboard display screen 304 opens to display view-only information that may include data from external sources such as a wearable heart rate monitor, or exercise instruction videos streamed from the network. Concurrently, control of certain functions and settings of the machine are transferred to the user via the onboard user controller, the controllable functions including at least the adjustment of the tilt and roll of the exercise machine. Throughout the user's exercise period, the user may change settings of the machine as preferred, and may continue to monitor data on the view only display screen 304. Upon completion of the exercise period, the user ends the program by touching the home button, not shown, but previously described, the home button thereby causing the machine to return to the flat and level default position, and at the same time switching off the view-only display screen.
However, in a machine configuration, it may be preferred to set up the machine on class mode 502 so that an instructor may control a plurality of machines during a training session. In such a configuration, the display screen 304 opens as a means to communicate certain information to each user on each machine, the user information preferably including data unique to each user. For instance, the heart rate for each user in a class will be unique to each user, the heart rate information being an important gauge of personal performance. Other information that may be displayed on the view-only screen may include a video animation of the next exercise to be performed, the video being a visual reference for the user to establish the appropriate body positioning on the machine in preparation of performing the exercise.
Further, when class mode 502 is selected, primary control over machine settings for all machines opened in class mode is transferred via wireless communication to a trainer remote controller 200. During the exercise session, the trainer may change the angle of pitch and roll as desired, illuminate different parts of the machine as visual indicia referenced by the users for proper body positioning, and change the resistance level of the plurality of machines simultaneously. The user may still maintain limited control of the available user functions 607, namely functions allowing incremental modification of the trainer-established pitch angle of the machine.
The trainer may continue to change machine settings of the plurality of machines connected to the network throughout the training session. Upon completion of the training session, the trainer ends the session by touching the home button as previously described, the home button thereby terminating the program on the machines, closing the view only display, and returning the plurality of machines to the default horizontal position. The trainer then ends the program.
E. Arm Mounted Remote Control Device, Device Holder, and Strap Assemblies.
Now then, as a means to ensure that all of the plurality of exercise machines in communication with the designated exercise machine and router 124, and correspondingly the exercisers upon the machines, all respond substantially in unison to the trainer's direction, the trainer uses a wireless remote control device 200 that when in communication with the designated exercise machine and router 124 may control the settings of all of the machines by routing communications from the interactive touch screen 201 of the remote control device through the designated exercise machine and router 124.
It should be noted that any machine configured similarly to the designated exercise machine and router 124 may act as an exercise machine and router. For instance, in the event that a first designated exercise machine and router encounters an error, or is taken out of service for any reason, a second similarly configured machine will or can, based on the highest signal strength between the remote control device 200 and a candidate machine, become the designated exercise machine and router.
As an instructor moves through the facility, at any time, the signal strength between the remote control device 200 and a second machine not currently the designated exercise machine and router may become stronger than the signal strength between the remote control device and the designated exercise machine and router. In practice, the second machine preferably would assume the role of designated exercise machine and router from the previous machine, the hand-off of the router functions between the first and second machines being seamless, without any required action by an instructor or exerciser.
It should be further noted that the communication method between the remote control device 200, the designated exercise machine and router 124, and the exercise machines 100 is not meant to be limiting, and may be any one or more of the protocols well known to those skilled in the art including but not limited to Bluetooth, WIFI, SigFox, ZigBee, Z-wave or the many other low power communications protocols.
It is preferred that the remote control device 200 is useable by an instructor during an exercise class as a means to retrieve exercise routines or exercise class details from a server on the network 300, such details including but not limited to the current time, exercise class time expired, exercise class time remaining, a list of exercises to be performed in a sequence of exercises, or other data related to the exercise class period. However, it is understood that the described embodiment is also useable by other users, and is not necessarily limited to use by an instructor or trainer.
Further, it is also preferred that the remote control device provides interactive communication between one or a plurality of exercise machines 100, the communication thereby comprising instructions from the remote control device 200 to one or more of the exercise machines, the instructions including for example a change in machine resistance, machine incline, machine roll or tilt, or other functional changes in machine settings. Still further, is it another preference that the instructor receive communications on the remote control device 200 from one or more machines, the communication consisting of, for example, the current status of the machine settings, or data related to the exerciser upon any machine, the exerciser information comprising heart rate or other biometric or exercise-related date of any individual exerciser. As can be readily seen in the illustration, the instructor's hands remain free even though a remote control device 200 is securely retained in a holder affixed to the instructor's forearm and wrist.
The unique requirement to securely hold a remote control device in a given position on the instructor's arm throughout high intensity exercise and during continuous, oftentimes rigorous, hand and arm movements, militates the need for new and novel strapping and device attachment methods. A structural frame 700 which retains a remote control device (not shown) is secured to the instructor's arm with a plurality of straps, namely a forearm strap 701 and a wrist strap 702. It should be noted that there is a unique requirement to keep the holder from slipping off of, or rotating about the arm during rigorous movements. Therefore, the wrist strap is sufficiently wide, and made of a resilient materials so that the strap conforms to the palmaris brevis muscle, pistiforn and metacarpis 404 of the outside of various sized hands as would be typically encountered in a fitness facility employing more than one instructor, and further to conform to the thenar muscle 403 of the thumb for the same reasons just described.
The means of attaching the first and second structural members together as just described is not meant to be limiting. Those skilled in the art will immediately understand that a large number of methods may be used to attach a first member to a second member including, but not limited to heat staking, mating male and female features incorporated into the respective first and second members, or elastic members with distal ends attached to the two structural members thereby drawing the members together.
It is well known by those familiar with mobile phones, tablet computers and similar wireless display devices that many features are provided for user interface including on/off buttons, speaker ports, volume buttons, cameras, charging ports, headphone ports, and the like. As a means to provide user access to the features typically incorporated on such wireless devices, a plurality of device feature access ports 708 may be integrated into the structural frame members as shown. Since many different wireless devices may be retained within the holder and may have unique placement of each of the many features just mentioned, and other wireless devices may not contain all of the features, it is important that the device feature access ports 708 be of sufficient number, placement and size so as to accommodate access to the features of the preferred wireless device by the exercise instructor or other user.
It is further contemplated that the remote control device holder, and more particularly the structural frame assembly, may incorporate a power source such as a battery, one or more control buttons, and one or more lights. The power source may comprise, for example, one or more small coin-style batteries, one or more small cylindrical batteries, or one or more rectangular 9-volt style batteries. The battery or batteries may be positioned in battery compartments formed in or on the frame assembly with terminals and wires for electrically connecting the batteries to various devices. In addition, the batteries may be electrically connected to provide charging power to the remote control device, which may be for example an iPhone, iPad, or Android-based phone or tablet. Alternatively, a feature access port 708 may be provided so that a charging port of the remote control device can be connected to a remote source of power, such as a wall socket, via an electrical cable and charging transformer.
The control buttons may comprise mechanical or electronic switches and may be interfaced to electronic circuits adapted to communicate actuation of the buttons to the remote control device, the communications network, or directly to the exercise machines being controlled via WiFi, Bluetooth, or another suitable communications channel. Preferably, the control buttons can be actuated to control lights in the exercise facility and/or on the exercise machines in a manner to that described herein for the remote control device, as well as other settings. The lights preferably provide sufficient lighting to allow a trainer or instructor to more readily see potential settings on the remote control device, an exercise machine when the trainer's arm is in proximity to the machine, or a written script or instructions for example. The lights may suitably comprise small LED's or other miniature light sources mounted on or recessed within the frame assembly. Preferably the lights require only a small amount of current to operate and are electrically connected to the power source on the frame assembly itself via a switch or one of the control buttons for example.
As can be readily seen, on a second strap assembly 717, a long, relatively narrower projection of the materials comprises a portion of the forearm strap 710 which, upon assembly with the previously described structural members, will pass through the buckle slot 711 in the opposed but mating strap material. In a like manner, on a first strap assembly 716, the fastening material 713 shown on the relatively wide projection of material comprises a portion of the wrist strap which, upon assembly with the previously described structural members, will mate with a fastening material on the non-visible side of the opposed end of the wrist strap 712. The fastening material shown may be of a hook and loop type of mating material, or an alternate method of attaching two ends of a strap together after tightening about an arm may be used, for instance, a pass-through buckle.
Each of the retaining clips is formed with a spring latch 714 proximate to the insertion end of the clip, the spring latch being flexible to allow for insertion into the insertion slot of the structural member, and returning to its pre-depressed position so as to snap against the strike 715 formed into the structural member. By repeating this process for each retaining clip, each of the opposed portions of the retaining strap will be removably attached to the structural members of the holder with the distal ends of the strap assemblies used for securing to the forearm of an exercise instructor or other user.
The process of assembling the components just described is:
1. Slide the first and second structural members around the remote control device (not shown);
2. Secure the first and second structural members 703, 704 together using fasteners or other means as previously described;
3. Insert each and all of the strap retaining clips 709 into their respective slots in the structural members until the spring latch 714 fully engages the strike 715; and
4. Install the preferably concave shaped forearm pad 718 on the back surface of the structural members, thus covering the openings and protecting the retaining clips from unintentional disengagement. Although not shown, the forearm pad 718 may be affixed to the structural members by various means such as double-sided adhesive tape, hook and loop fasteners, or mechanical fasteners.
A plurality of corner clips 721 as previously described is shown projecting upward from the structural frame a prescribed dimension so as to accommodate the typical thickness of a remote control device. Finally, as a means of securing the structural frame to the instructor's forearm and wrist, a wrist strap (not shown) and forearm strap 702 are secured to or threaded through strap channels 720 formed in the structural holder.
For instance, the trainer may use the arm mounted remote control device in communication with various devices to control the facility lighting 309, change the thermostat of the facility HVAC 310, control the facility music volume 311, change the music source 312, and/or change the volume of the trainer microphone 313, any of which may be achieved by tapping on an appropriate area of the display screen of the remote control device while it is mounted to the arm of the trainer. In addition, the various machine functions controllable by the trainer using the arm mounted remote control device include, but are not limited to extending or retracting actuators that change the exercise plane of the exercise platforms of the machine, activating lighting on the machine as indicia that help exercisers interface with the proper component of the machine for each exercise, turning on or off the ambient lighting of the machine, or changing ambient lighting colors, increasing or decreasing the machine resistance settings, directing specific images or videos to display on the display screens on each machine, actuating audio indicia or visual indicia that instructs exercisers on the proper range of motion and/or exercise tempo, or setting the duration of any of the adjustable functions of the machines. Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The claims of this application are therefore intended to define the scope of coverage of the application, including any adaptations or variations of the embodiments whether or not specifically discussed herein.
The data structures and code described in this detailed description are typically stored on a computer readable storage medium, which may be any device or medium that can store code and/or data for use by a computer system. This includes, but is not limited to, magnetic and optical storage devices such as disk drives, magnetic tape, CDs (compact discs), DVDs (digital video discs), and computer instruction signals embodied in a transmission medium (with or without a carrier wave upon which the signals are modulated). For example, the transmission medium may include a telecommunications network, such as the Internet.
At least one embodiment of the system and method for networking fitness machines is described above with reference to block and flow diagrams of systems, methods, apparatuses, and/or computer program products according to example embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that one or more blocks of the block diagrams and flow diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and flow diagrams, respectively, can be implemented by computer-executable program instructions. Likewise, some blocks of the block diagrams and flow diagrams may not necessarily need to be performed in the order presented, or may not necessarily need to be performed at all, according to some embodiments of the invention. These computer-executable program instructions may be loaded onto a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a particular machine, such that the instructions that execute on the computer, processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus create means for implementing one or more functions specified in the flow diagram block or blocks. These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means that implement one or more functions specified in the flow diagram block or blocks. As an example, embodiments of the invention may provide for a computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium having a computer-readable program code or program instructions embodied therein, the computer-readable program code adapted to be executed to implement one or more functions specified in the flow diagram block or blocks. The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational elements or steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide elements or steps for implementing the functions specified in the flow diagram block or blocks. Accordingly, blocks of the block diagrams and flow diagrams support combinations of means for performing the specified functions, combinations of elements or steps for performing the specified functions, and program instruction means for performing the specified functions. It will also be understood that each block of the block diagrams and flow diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and flow diagrams, can be implemented by special-purpose, hardware-based computer systems that perform the specified functions, elements or steps, or combinations of special-purpose hardware and computer instructions. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Many modifications and other embodiments of the system and method for networking fitness machines will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains and having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the system and method for networking fitness machines, suitable methods and materials are described above. Thus, the system and method for networking fitness machines is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the system and method for networking fitness machines, suitable methods and materials are described above. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent allowed by applicable law and regulations. The system and method for networking fitness machines may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.
I hereby claim benefit under Title 35, United States Code, Section 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/469,095 filed Mar. 9, 2017 (Attorney Docket No. LAGR-076) and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/519,552 filed on Jun. 14, 2017 (Attorney Docket No. LAGR-080). The above patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference into this application.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62469095 | Mar 2017 | US | |
| 62519552 | Jun 2017 | US |
