U.S. patent application number 10/210767 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-05 for resistance exercise computer game controller and method.
Invention is credited to Emery, Jack Scott.
Application Number | 20040023761 10/210767 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31187422 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040023761 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Emery, Jack Scott |
February 5, 2004 |
Resistance exercise computer game controller and method
Abstract
An apparatus and method are described for performing resistance
exercise, allowing the user to select from multiple,
biomechanically appropriate resistance exercise movements and
thereby control a (prior art) computer game or video game,
providing sound strength-building exercise in an entertaining
manner. The apparatus has multiple actuators from which the user
may select, each coupled to an appropriate resistance, and each
having a range of motion corresponding to the natural exercise
range of a large muscle or muscle group. The actuator movements are
detected and used to control the game.
Inventors: |
Emery, Jack Scott;
(Hereford, AZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JACK S. EMERY, P.A.
PMB # 1042, 629 N. HWY 90 BYPASS SUITE 4
SIERRA VISTA
AZ
85635
US
|
Family ID: |
31187422 |
Appl. No.: |
10/210767 |
Filed: |
July 31, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/94 ;
482/97 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/0615 20130101;
A63B 71/0622 20130101; A63B 21/4047 20151001; A63B 21/08 20130101;
A63B 21/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/94 ;
482/97 |
International
Class: |
A63B 021/06; A63B
021/08 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A resistance exercise computer game controller, comprising: a
support body; at least two independently moveable actuators mounted
to said support body, each of said actuators having a range of
motion generally corresponding to the normal exercise range of
motion of a large muscle of a human user; resistance means coupled
to each of said actuators resisting the motion of each said
actuator in at least one direction with a force of at least 2.2
pounds; and detector means associated with said actuators for
detecting the movements of said actuators.
2. A method of performing resistance-type exercise, comprising the
steps of: selecting a resistance exercise machine exercise movement
from a set of at least two distinct movements allowed by said
resistance exercise machine, said movements generally corresponding
to the normal exercise range of motion of a large muscle of the
user, in response to the state of a computer game; performing the
selected movement against a resistance of at least 2.2 pounds;
detecting the performance of the selected resistance exercise
machine movement by detector means interfaced to the input of the
computer game, and modifying the state of the computer game
thereby; and repeating the foregoing steps, with the sequence of
resistance exercise machine movement selections determined by the
user in response to the computer game.
3. The resistance exercise computer game controller of claim 1,
further comprising interface means for coupling the output of said
detector means to the input of a computer game.
4. The resistance exercise computer game controller of claim 1,
wherein said range of motion of each said actuator generally
corresponds to the motion of a recognized weight lifting
exercise.
5. The resistance exercise computer game controller of claim 1,
further comprising a bench mounted to said support body for
supporting the body of a human user while exercising.
6. The resistance exercise computer game controller of claim 1,
further comprising interface means for coupling the output of said
detector means to the input of a computer game, wherein said
detector means comprises electrical switches for detecting the
movement of said actuators, and said electrical switches are
electrically connected to a standard commercial computer game
interface plug.
7. The resistance exercise computer game controller of claim 1,
wherein at least one of said actuators comprises a handle for
grasping by the hand of a human user.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH &
DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable
BACKGROUND--FIELD OF INVENTION
[0003] This invention relates to exercise machines and computer
games, and in particular to the control of computer game actions
via the operation of a resistance-type exercise machine.
BACKGROUND--DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
[0004] Physical exercise using traditional exercise machines is a
worthwhile but tedious endeavor, one that would clearly benefit
from introduction of an aspect of game-playing or competition.
Computer games, particularly video games, are often intensely
interesting, but provide little constructive benefit beyond their
inherent entertainment value. An exercise machine as compellingly
entertaining as a video game would be a highly desirable product,
but past attempts to marry the two technologies have fallen
considerably short of that goal. A fundamental problem is that
interesting video games require multiple degrees of freedom, and
therefore multiple control signals, while exercise machines
typically involve a single repetitive movement. Further, the prior
art devices have primarily involved aerobic activities such as
stationary bicycling, rowing, and walking or running on a
treadmill, and not resistance-type strength-training exercises such
as weight lifting, even though it is widely accepted that
resistance exercise, and especially weight training, offers
significant health benefits not achievable by aerobic exercise
alone.
[0005] Manufacturers of exercise equipment have incorporated video
displays into stationary bicycles, rowing machines, treadmills, and
other machines involving simple repetitive action, but these have
typically involved video representations of the bicycling, rowing,
or other motion being performed by the user. For example, U.S. Pat.
No. 4,278,095 discloses a video display associated with a cycling
or rowing machine, wherein the video display portrays (for example)
a person rowing a boat at a speed proportional to the speed at
which the user is performing the exercise. In a related vein, U.S.
Pat. No. 5,667,459 discloses an exercise machine incorporating a
video display that shows both a video object representing the user
and a `shadow object` representing the exercise goal, so that the
user is encouraged to exercise at a sufficient rate to make the
video object representing the user remain in the domain represented
by the `shadow object`. U.S. Pat. No. 5,149,084 describes a similar
approach in the context of a stepping machine exerciser, with a
video display showing icons representing the user's actual
performance and the desired target performance. Additional controls
may be added to allow the user to navigate through the simulated
environment; for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,995 discloses a
bicycling simulation apparatus, using a stationary bicycle with a
moveable handlebar and providing a simulated environment in which
the user can maneuver, controlling speed via pedaling rate and
direction by `steering` with the handlebar. More generally, U.S.
Pat. No. 5,462,503 describes the incorporation of a `steering
mechanism` in an exercise machine so as to allow the user to
navigate a simulated environment. In a similar vein, U.S. Pat. No.
4,735,410 discloses a rowing machine apparatus allowing the user to
control a moving video image, and additionally to steer the image
around obstacles via differential movement of the oars.
[0006] Although innovations such as these may succeed in making
activities such as stationary bicycling, rowing, and stair-stepping
somewhat less monotonous, they are inherently limited in their
ability to provide mental stimulation, because the underlying
exercise motion consists of the same movement repeated over and
over, and the only significant game parameter controllable by the
user's exercise movements is the speed at which the activity is
performed. Another drawback is that a computer simulation of a
repetitive exercise movement may not seem much more entertaining
than the underlying exercise movement being simulated.
[0007] It is, of course, possible to attach an ordinary video game
with an ordinary video game controller to a stationary bicycle,
treadmill, or other exercise device that does not otherwise occupy
the hands, allowing the user to entertain himself or herself by
playing the video game while exercising. U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,605,
for example, discloses an exercise bicycle with video game controls
mounted on the handlebars. Several prior art devices have expanded
on this concept by monitoring some measure of the user's exercise
rate and using this to affect the play of the game. For example,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,001,632 discloses an exercise machine in which the
user's heart rate controls the difficulty level of the associated
video game, so that the game becomes more difficult if the user
allows his or her heart rate to fall below target levels. U.S. Pat.
No. 5,947,868 contemplates the use of a hand-held video game player
while performing exercise, with one or more of the game parameters
(such as speed, striking force, energy level, lifetime, game level,
etc.) controlled by monitors that measure the user's exercise
performance (such as pulse rate, exercise rate, distance traveled,
time exercised, etc.). U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,746 discloses a device
that monitors the user's exercise rate (such as the pedaling rate
on a stationary bicycle) and allows the user to play the video game
only when exercising at or above a predetermined rate. U.S. Pat.
No. 5,839,990 discloses a device for using an exercise bicycle to
play racing-type video games, in which the speed at which the
player pedals the bicycle controls the braking, coasting, and
acceleration in the video game. U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,897 discloses
an exercise bicycle combined with a video game in such a way that
the user's pedaling operates an electric generator, which must be
turned at a predetermined rate in order to activate the video
game.
[0008] A few prior art devices have taken the approach of scaling
up a joystick-type video game controller so that control of the
game requires larger movements, thereby providing at least some
exercise benefit. U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,817 discloses what amounts to
a joystick similar to those in standard use for controlling video
games, but of a much larger size, requiring correspondingly large
movements and thereby providing exercise. U.S. Pat. No. 5,805,138
discloses a similar apparatus having a `riser member` with a height
approximating the user's seated height, which the user would
operate, while seated, as a computer input device. U.S. Pat. No.
4,512,567 combines this approach with an exercise bicycle, adding
handlebars that can be both rotated and moved forward and back,
with these movements, as well as the pedaling speed, being used to
control a video game. Such devices do not, however, provide a
meaningful program of resistance exercise, for at least two
reasons. First, because they require the user to continuously grasp
a single control lever, they allow a limited repertoire of
movements, exercise relatively few muscles, and fail to
significantly exercise the specific large muscle groups normally
targeted in weight training. More importantly, the orientation and
range of movement of the control lever does not correspond to the
full natural range of motion of the muscles being exercised, making
it impossible to apply enough force for meaningful resistance
exercise, failing to exercise the muscles in question through their
full range, and risking injury by encouraging movements that
potentially place inappropriate lateral loads on joints and
tendons.
[0009] Another approach seen in the prior art involves controllers
that control a video game via multiple foot-actuated sensors. The
user obtains aerobic exercise by stepping on the appropriate
sensors in a sequence. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,139,261 and
5,076,584 describe a video game controller consisting of a planar
matrix or floor mat containing sensor units for controlling a video
game by stepping or pressing on the sensor units. U.S. Pat. No.
4,720,789 discloses a floor controller with weight sensitive pads,
allowing the user to control a video game by stepping on the pads
corresponding to the desired inputs. U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,968
discloses a dance game in which the user responds to the game by
attempting to step on designated sections of a floor panel in a
particular sequence and rhythm, as prompted by a video display.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,708 discloses a stair-stepping exercise machine
having, instead of the usual two pedals, multiple pedals, so that
the user can control a video game by choosing which pedals to
depress.
[0010] None of the prior art devices have succeeded in achieving
the desirable goal of providing an entertaining video game, having
a sufficient number of distinct inputs to make choice of the
sequence of inputs a significant part of the game, with each input
controllable by biomechanically sound resistance exercise
movements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention facilitates a novel method of
resistance-type exercising, whereby the user is enabled to play a
(prior art) computer game or video game by performing a variety of
resistance exercise movements, and, by the sequence of movements
performed, control the play of the game. This method of performing
resistance exercise is enabled by an apparatus having a plurality
of independently moveable actuator levers or handles, each of whose
range of motion corresponds to a large muscle movement of the
user's body, and each of which is coupled to a resistance suitable
for exercising the corresponding muscle or muscle group in a
biomechanically appropriate way. Sensors detect the movement of the
actuator levers, and produce signals that are used as inputs to
control the play of the game.
[0012] By providing separate, independently moveable actuators,
each corresponding to a different control input of the computer
game, and each coupled to a resistance, the present invention
allows play of computer games of much greater complexity and
entertainment value than devices which provide for only a single
repetitive movement, and avoids the need for extraneous controls
that are unrelated to the desired exercise. Since the range of
motion of each actuator is made to correspond generally to the
natural range of movement of a target muscle or muscle group, the
present device allows the performance of proper resistance
exercises targeting particular muscles or muscle groups, in such a
way as to avoid subjecting the user's joints and tendons to
potentially harmful loads, and in such a way as to exercise the
targeted muscles or muscle groups over their entire range with
resistance forces sufficiently great to allow the user to obtain
benefits equivalent to those obtained by performing standard weight
lifting exercises. By motivating the user to perform a variety of
resistance exercise movements in a sequence that is determined by
the play of the computer game, the present invention also offers an
improvement over ordinary resistance exercise machines and weight
machines, which typically require the user to perform exercises in
`sets` consisting of multiple repetitions. In contrast to the prior
art devices, which involve aerobic-type exercise, the present
invention provides an entertaining means of performing resistance
exercise, which is known to offer significant health benefits not
obtainable by aerobic exercise alone. In particular, resistance
exercise, which involves exercising the large muscles of the body
through their full ranges of motion against sufficient resistance
to produce muscle fatigue after a reasonable number of repetitions
(on the order of approximately 10 to 100), has been found to
improve muscular strength, reduce body fat, increase muscle mass,
improve bone density, and protect against muscle and joint
injuries, in ways that aerobic exercise alone does not.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of
the invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same embodiment showing
the movement of the actuators.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a detail perspective view of the rowing actuator
of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a detail perspective view of the bench press
actuator of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a detail perspective view of the French curl
actuator of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a detail perspective view of the latissimus dorsi
pulldown assembly of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG.
1.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a detail perspective view of the military press
actuator of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a detail perspective view of the bicep curl
actuator of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1.
[0021] FIG. 9 is an electrical diagram of the sensors comprising
the detector means in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG.
1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] FIGS. 1 through 9 reflect a preferred embodiment of the
invention apparatus, in which there are six actuators 30, 40, 50,
60, 70 and 80, each shown separately in FIGS. 3 through 8, and each
providing a range of motion corresponding to a well-known weight
training exercise, and each coupled to a resistance consisting of
removable weight plates, allowing the resistance force applied to
each actuator to be individually determined by attaching one or
more weight plates of the desired weights. The support body upon
which the actuators are mounted is the support frame assembly 11.
Each actuator is mounted to the support body via pivot bolts 35,
44, 54, 64, 75, and 85, respectively, allowing the handle 36, 45,
55, 62, 76, 86 portion of each actuator to move through a range of
motion determined by the geometry of the actuator and support body.
FIG. 2 indicates by arrows the directions of movement of the six
actuators, and shows the location of the pivot bolts 35, 44, 54,
64, 75, and 85. In this embodiment, a bench 90 is provided to
support the user in a seated or reclined position. Four of the six
actuators 80, 40, 70, and 30, corresponding to four of the allowed
exercise movements (military press, row, biceps curl, and
latissimus dorsi pulldown respectively), are positioned in such a
way as to be operable by the user from a seated position on the
bench 90, facing forward (the rightward direction in FIG. 2). The
other two actuators 50, 60, corresponding to the other two allowed
exercise movements (bench press and French curl, respectively) are
positioned in such a way as to be operable by the user from a
reclined position on the bench 90. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the
user would be seated on the rightward end of the bench, facing
rightward; the user may then recline backward on the bench to
access the bench press actuator 50 and French curl actuator 60.
Mercury switch sensors 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29 are mounted in
such a way as to detect the movement of the respective actuators,
and the outputs of the sensors are interfaced to the inputs of a
standard computer video game (in this embodiment, a falling-blocks
game similar to the familiar game Tetris), in such a way that each
actuator controls a particular aspect of the computer game. The
game output is displayed on the screen of a computer monitor (not
shown) situated in a position convenient for viewing by the user
from either a seated or reclining position on the bench 90.
[0023] The method by which the user operates the apparatus consists
of repeatedly selecting one of the six allowed exercise movements
so as to perform the desired operation in the computer game, and
performing the movement selected. If the selected movement is one
of the two operable from a reclining position, and the user is
currently in a seated position, the user must recline on the bench
before performing it. If the selected movement is one of the four
operable from a seated position, and the user is currently in a
reclined position, the user must return to a seated position to
perform it. In this way, the user obtains the benefit of abdominal
exercise from repeatedly reclining and returning to a seated
position, in addition to the resistance exercise obtained from
performing the selected actuator movements.
[0024] In this embodiment of the invention apparatus, the actuators
and support body are entirely constructed of steel tubing of
standard size (1.5 inch for major load bearing support members, 1
inch for handles and certain other members) and wall thickness
(0.125 inch) appropriate for the anticipated loads.
[0025] The support body for this embodiment as seen in FIG. 1 has a
rear frame assembly 12, a front frame assembly 16, an upper
longitudinal frame member 20, and a lower longitudinal frame member
21, with a pair of diagonal frame braces 22 for improved rigidity.
The rear frame assembly 12 is constructed from two vertical members
13, an upper horizontal member 14, and a lower horizontal member
15, which are welded into a rectangular unit with the vertical
members 13 extending downward to serve as the rear legs of the
support frame assembly, and upward to serve as the attachment point
for the latissimus dorsi pulldown actuator 30. The front frame
assembly 16 is similarly constructed, with two vertical members 17,
an upper horizontal member 18, and a lower horizontal member 19,
welded into a rectangular unit with the vertical members 17
extending downward to serve as the front legs of the support frame
assembly. The upper longitudinal frame member 20 is bolted at one
end to the upper horizontal member 14 of the rear frame assembly 12
and at the other end to the upper horizontal member 18 of the front
frame assembly 16, extending forward a short distance beyond the
front frame assembly 16 so as to serve as the attachment point for
the rowing actuator 40. The lower longitudinal frame member 21 is
bolted at one end to the lower horizontal member 15 of the rear
frame assembly 12 and at the other end to the upper horizontal
member 19 of the front frame assembly 16. A pair of diagonal frame
braces 22, each extending from the upper part of the rear frame
assembly 12 to the lower part of the front frame assembly 16 on the
same side, provides additional rigidity, and also serves as a
convenient lower limit stop for the range of motion of the bench
press actuator 50 by limiting the downward motion of the weight
support members 53. Bolts are used instead of welds to attach the
longitudinal frame members 20 and 21 and the diagonal frame braces
22 to the front frame assembly 16 and rear frame assembly 12 so as
to allow the apparatus to be readily disassembled for moving.
[0026] The latissimus dorsi pulldown actuator 30 is constructed as
shown in FIG. 3 as a welded unit having a rear longitudinal member
31 for supporting the weight plates 39, a horizontal member 33
connecting the rear longitudinal member 31 to a pair of vertical
members 34, each of which are connected to forward longitudinal
members 32, at the forward ends of which are mounted the handles 36
by which the user may pull the actuator in a downward direction
against the resistance provided by the weight plates 39. The weight
plates 39 are secured to the rear longitudinal member 31 by a
threaded weight securing bolt 37 welded thereto, and a weight
securing nut 38 threaded upon the latter. The complete actuator is
mounted to the support body 11 by a pair of pivot bolts 35 (secured
with nuts) extending through the vertical members 34, and through
the upper part of the vertical members 13 of the rear frame
assembly 12, thereby allowing the latissimus dorsi pulldown
actuator 30 to pivot around the pivot bolts 35, with the range of
movement limited by the horizontal member 33 engaging the vertical
members 13 of the rear frame assembly 12. The arrow in FIG. 3
indicates the direction of movement of the latissimus dorsi
pulldown actuator 30.
[0027] The military press actuator 80 is constructed as shown in
FIG. 4 as a welded unit having a longitudinal member 81 extending
forward from the mounting point, connected at the forward end to a
crossbar 83, from each end of which a diagonal bar 84 extends
forward and downward, to which the handles 86 are affixed. Via the
handles 86, the user may, from a seated position on the bench 90,
move the military press actuator 80 in an upward direction against
the resistance provided by the weight plates 89. The weight plates
89 are secured to the forward portion of the longitudinal member 81
by a threaded weight securing bolt 87 welded thereto, and a weight
securing nut 88 threaded upon the latter. The military press
actuator 80 is mounted by a pivot bolt 85 (secured with a nut)
extending through the longitudinal member 81 and through the pivot
support bracket 82, which is welded to the upper surface of the
longitudinal frame member 20, allowing the military press actuator
80 to pivot around the pivot bolt 85. The downward range of
movement of the military press actuator 80 is limited by the
longitudinal member 81 resting upon the upper surface of the upper
longitudinal frame member 20. The arrow in FIG. 4 indicates the
direction of movement of the military press actuator 80.
[0028] The biceps curl actuator 70 is constructed as shown in FIG.
5 as a welded unit having a pair of longitudinal members 71
connected by a cross brace 72, with a pair of weight support
members 73 extending upward and outward and a pair of handles 76
extending inward from the longitudinal members 71, by which the
user may, from a seated position on the bench 90, move the biceps
curl actuator upward and rearward against the resistance provided
by the weight plates 79. Weight plates 79 are secured to the weight
support members 73 by threaded weight securing bolts 77 welded
thereto, and weight securing nuts 78 threaded upon the latter. The
biceps curl actuator 70 is mounted by a pair of pivot bolts 75
extending through the rearward end of the longitudinal members 71,
through spacers 74, and through the mid-area of the longitudinal
members 51 of the bench press actuator 50 and secured with nuts,
allowing the biceps curl actuator 70 to pivot around the pivot
bolts 75. The downward range of movement of the biceps curl
actuator 70 is limited by the weight support members 73 engaging
the longitudinal members 51 of the bench press actuator 50. The
arrow in FIG. 5 indicates the direction of movement of the biceps
curl actuator 70.
[0029] The rowing actuator 40 is constructed as shown in FIG. 6 as
a welded unit having a horizontal member 41 extending rearward
along the upper longitudinal frame member 20, a bifurcated gusset
43 attaching the horizontal member 41 to the vertical member 42,
and a pair of handles 45 attached to the lower end of the vertical
member 42, by which the user may pull the actuator in a rearward
direction against the resistance provided by the weight plates 48.
The weight plates 48 are secured to the horizontal member 41 by a
threaded weight securing bolt 46 welded thereto, and a weight
securing nut 47 threaded upon the latter. The rowing actuator 40 is
mounted by a pivot bolt 44 extending through the gusset 43 and
through the forward end of the upper longitudinal frame member 20
and secured with a nut, thereby allowing the rowing actuator 40 to
pivot around the pivot bolt 44, with the range of movement of the
rowing actuator 40 limited by the horizontal member 41 engaging the
upper longitudinal frame member 20. The arrow in FIG. 6 indicates
the direction of movement of the rowing actuator 40.
[0030] The bench press actuator 50 is constructed as shown in FIG.
7 as a welded unit having a pair of longitudinal members 51
connected by a cross brace 52, with a weight support member 53
extending outward and a handle 55 extending inward from each
longitudinal member 51, by which the user may, from a reclined
position on the bench 90, push the bench press actuator 50 in an
upward direction against the resistance provided by the weight
plates 58. Weight plates 58 are secured to the weight support
members 53 by threaded weight securing bolts 56 welded thereto, and
weight securing nuts 57 threaded upon the latter. The bench press
actuator 50 is mounted to the support frame assembly 11 by a pair
of pivot bolts 54 extending through the forward ends of the
longitudinal members 51 and through the vertical members 17 of the
front frame assembly 16 and secured with nuts, thereby allowing the
bench press actuator 50 to pivot around the pivot bolts 54, with
the range of movement of the bench press actuator 50 limited by the
weight support members 53 engaging the diagonal frame braces 22.
The arrow in FIG. 7 indicates the direction of movement of the
bench press actuator 50.
[0031] The French curl actuator 60 is constructed as shown in FIG.
8 as a welded unit having a pair of longitudinal members 61
connected by a cross-member/handle 62, which serves as both the
mounting support for the weight plates 67 and as the handle to be
grasped by the user, by which the user may, from a reclined
position on the bench 90, rotate the French curl actuator 60 upward
and forward against the resistance provided by the weight plates
67. Weight plates 67 are secured to the cross-member/handle 62 by
threaded weight securing bolts 65 welded thereto, and weight
securing nuts 66 threaded upon the latter. The French curl actuator
60 is mounted by a pair of pivot bolts 64 extending through the
forward ends of each of the longitudinal members 61 and through the
adjacent diagonal frame brace 22 and secured with nuts, thereby
allowing the French curl actuator 60 to pivot around the pivot
bolts 64. The downward range of movement of the French curl
actuator 60 is limited by a positioning spacer 63 extending
downward from the cross-member/handle 62 and engaging the lower
horizontal member 19 of the rear frame assembly 12. The arrow in
FIG. 8 indicates the direction of movement of the French curl
actuator 60.
[0032] In this embodiment of the invention, movements of the
actuators are detected by mercury switches affixed to each
actuator. A mercury switch consists of a non-conductive tube
containing a pair of electrical contacts at one end, and containing
a small quantity of liquid mercury which is free to move inside the
tube under the influence of gravity; when the tube is tilted in
such a way that the mercury rolls to the end of the tube having the
electrical contacts, the mercury makes a conductive electrical
connection between the contacts, closing the switch. The mercury
switches 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29 are affixed to each actuator in
such a position that when the actuator is in its rest position, the
mercury switch affixed to it is in the open position; when the user
moves the actuator through its intended range of movement, the
orientation of the mercury switch rotates causing the switch to
close. In this embodiment, there are six actuators, which are used
to control the action of a (prior art) failing-blocks video game
similar to Tetris running on an ordinary personal computer. The
mercury switches are electrically connected as shown in FIG. 9 to
the four joystick fire button inputs of a standard PC joystick port
connector 94. (As shown in FIG. 9, since there are six actuators
and a standard PC joystick port has only four fire button inputs,
two of the actuators have double switches 26, 27 affixed to each,
so that movement of either of these actuators causes two of the
fire button inputs to be triggered simultaneously.) The mercury
switch 29 affixed to the military press actuator 80 is electrically
connected between pin 2 of the standard PC joystick port 94,
corresponding to joystick port button 1A, and pin 4 ground. The
mercury switch 28 affixed to the biceps curl actuator 70 is
electrically connected between pin 7 of the standard PC joystick
port 94, corresponding to joystick port button 2A, and pin 4
ground. The mercury switch 25 affixed to the rowing actuator 40 is
electrically connected between pin 10 of the standard PC joystick
port 94, corresponding to joystick port button 1B, and pin 4
ground. The mercury switch 24 affixed to the latissimus dorsi
pulldown actuator 30 is electrically connected between pin 14 of
the standard PC joystick port 94, corresponding to joystick port
button 2B, and pin 4 ground. The double mercury switch 27 affixed
to the bench press actuator 50 is connected so that one pole of the
switch is between pin 2 of the standard PC joystick port 94,
corresponding to joystick port button 1A, and pin 7, corresponding
to joystick port button 2A, and the other pole of the switch is
between pin 2 and ground; in this way, when the user moves the
bench press actuator 50 through its range of movement, pins 2 and 7
are grounded simultaneously, firing the button 1A and 2A inputs
simultaneously. Similarly, the double mercury switch 26 affixed to
the French curl actuator 60 is connected so that one pole of the
switch is between pin 2 of the standard PC joystick port 94,
corresponding to joystick port button 1A, and pin 10, corresponding
to joystick port button 2A, and the other pole of the switch is
between pin 2 and ground; in this way, when the user moves the
French curl actuator 60 through its range of movement, pins 2 and
10 are grounded simultaneously, firing the button 1A and 1B inputs
simultaneously. Thus, in this embodiment of the invention, the
interface means consists of an ordinary 15-pin PC joystick port
connector to which the mercury switch detectors are directly
connected by wires.
[0033] The activation of the fire button inputs are readily
detected via software commands in the game program as modified, and
used to control the game. The computer game or video game itself is
not claimed as part of the present invention, and one of the
advantages of the present invention is that it can be used as an
input device to play a variety of commercial and public domain
games, including without limitation PC games and console games. (As
used herein, `computer game` is intended to embrace computer games
of any description, including without limitation PC games and
console games such as Nintendo, Sega, Sony PlayStation, and
Microsoft XBox and their successors, and refers to both the
hardware and software, including video or virtual reality display,
if any.) It may, of course, be desirable to modify the program code
of the game used, so as to better match the six available exercise
movements to the controllable aspects of the game; to slow the rate
of movement of the game to a degree more compatible with large
muscle exercise movements; to add features to the game such as
periodically changing which exercise movements correspond to which
game inputs so as to avoid overuse of particular movements; to add
outputs displaying exercise-related results, such as the number of
repetitions performed of various movements; to add features to the
game making scoring depend on performing particular movements in a
particular desired sequence, so as to make the game more
interesting and/or motivate the performance of particular exercise
goals; and/or to make other modifications to the game for the
purpose of providing a more interesting entertainment or exercise
experience. For the embodiment of the invention described here, a
freely available open source version of a falling blocks game
similar to Tetris, written in the Microsoft QBasic programming
language, was used, and the program code of the game itself was
modified to read the fire button inputs and control the game
accordingly. The program code was further modified to provide six
distinct inputs rather than the usual (for Tetris-type games) four.
In the game as modified, one input (military press) moves blocks to
the right; another (biceps curl) moves Z and I shaped blocks to the
left; a third (latissimus dorsi pulldown) rotates shapes to the
right; a fourth (rowing) rotates shapes to the left; a fifth (bench
press) causes shapes to drop immediately; and the sixth (French
curl) moves shapes other than Z and I shapes to the left. (Since
moving shapes to the left is the most common movement in this game,
it is convenient to divide that movement between two actuators, so
that over the course of a complete game a disproportionate number
of repetitions of one exercise can be avoided.) It has been found
through experimentation that over the course of a complete game
(typically approximately 250 individual actuator movements), with
the foregoing mapping of actuators to game inputs, the repetitions
are divided approximately equally among the six actuator
movements.
[0034] In this embodiment of the invention, the resistance means
consists of ordinary metal weight plates such as are widely used in
weight lifting. A typical beginning distribution of weights for a
normal adult male user of average size and in reasonable physical
condition would be: military press actuator, 20 kg (44 lbs); biceps
curl actuator, 15 kg (33 lbs); French curl actuator, 12 kg (25
lbs); bench press actuator, 35 kg (77 lbs); latissimus dorsi
pulldown actuator, 35 kg (77 lbs); and rowing actuator, 35 kg (77
lbs). The resistances provided by these weights are intended to be
lower than the maximum amount that the user could lift, so as to
allow the user to comfortably perform the number of repetitions
needed for play of a computer game using the invention (for this
embodiment, typically 250 to 350 repetitions over the space of
approximately 30 minutes). Many choices of weight are of course
possible, depending on the user's exercise goals; as the resistance
is increased, typically the number of repetitions that can be
performed decreases. (However, one of the advantages of the present
invention is that by performing a variety of movements in an
unpredictable sequence, instead of sets of numerous repetitions of
the same movement, muscles used in one movement are rested briefly
while the user is performing other movements, allowing the use of
stronger resistance than would otherwise be feasible.) For large
muscle exercise, as contemplated by the present invention, it is
thought that resistances corresponding to at least approximately
one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of weight are necessary to achieve the
benefits of meaningful resistance exercise.
CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE
[0035] It will be seen that the present invention, by providing
multiple actuators accessible to the user, each controlling a
different aspect of the game, and each having a range of movement
corresponding to the natural range of the target muscle group,
overcomes both the problem that normal resistance exercise is too
repetitive to provide enough separate control signals for
interesting game play, and the problem that a single control lever
with multiple degrees of freedom does not allow meaningful
resistance exercise because of the potential for potentially
injurious movements, and because the allowed movements do not
correspond to the full range of movement for the muscles to be
exercised.
[0036] The description of the preferred embodiment herein is quite
specific and detailed; these details should not be construed as
limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as
exemplification of one preferred embodiment. Many variations are
possible, some of which will now be mentioned; accordingly, the
scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiment
described in detail above, but by the claims and their legal
equivalents.
[0037] The actuators can take any form as long as they provide a
way for the user to interact with the actuator for the purpose of
moving it, and are mounted in such a way as to provide the
appropriate range of movement. In the embodiment described herein,
all of the actuators were designed to be grasped by the hands, and
therefore have handles. Obviously, other variations of the kinds
commonly seen in use with resistance exercise machines are
possible, including without limitation stirrups for the feet and
padded contacts for pushing with the forearms, ankles, or other
parts of the body. The shape and makeup of the actuator, and the
means of attachment to the support body, are likewise capable of
many variations, limited only by the need to restrict the motion of
the actuator to a biomechanically appropriate range and to provide
sufficient mechanical strength. For example, instead of using
lever-type actuators mounted on pivots, it would be possible to use
other combinations including without limitation actuators mounted
to slide in a slot or on a track, actuators comprising a piston or
slide moving in a cylinder, actuators mounted to rotating cams, and
various combinations of the foregoing.
[0038] The resistance means may comprise any of a large number of
possible ways of applying resistance to the motion of a machine
part, including without limitation weights moving on a slide and
connected to the actuators by cables or chains; hydraulic
resistance devices such as hydraulic or pneumatic rams; elastic
resistance devices such as springs or elastic cords or bands;
friction resistance devices such as friction clutches, and devices
applying electromagnetic resistance, such as electric motors or
solenoids. It is also possible to make the resistances more easily
adjustable than by exchanging weight plates, and/or to make the
resistances variable in a prescribed way over the range of motion
of the actuator or over the course of a game, so as to better
optimize the exercise; with appropriately controllable resistance,
it would even be possible to make the resistance depend on the play
of the game.
[0039] The detector means may comprise any of the universe of
possible ways of detecting the movement of a mechanical part,
including without limitation microswitches, magnetic switches,
pressure switches, variable resistors, optical detectors and
photoelectric detectors, and electronic camera devices coupled with
movement detection software. It is also possible to modify the
detector means so as to detect both the extension of the actuator
to its fully extended position and its return to its unextended
position, so as to require the user to perform full extensions and
full returns in order for the actuator to function. It is possible
to use variable resistors or other detector components providing a
range of outputs corresponding to a range of actuator positions,
rather than the simple binary detector described above.
[0040] In the preferred embodiment described in detail above, the
actuators are designed to provide a range of motion approximately
the same as that of a standard weight lifting exercise. For
example, the military press actuator 80 is designed to be moved by
the user over a range of motion and against a downward resistance
similar to that which the user would experience while performing a
military press exercise with an ordinary barbell. It is important
that the ranges of motion of the actuators be made to correspond to
biomechanically appropriate movements by the user. In particular,
for sound resistance exercise, movements should preferably exercise
muscles over their entire natural ranges of motion, should apply a
resistance force sufficient to fatigue the muscles being exercised
after a reasonable number of repetitions but without straining or
tearing, and should avoid unnatural, unbalanced, or lateral loads
on joints. Within these constraints, there are of course many
possible ranges of motion that could be appropriately used.
[0041] In the preferred embodiment described in detail above, the
detector means (consisting of mercury switches) is interfaced to
the computer or video game via an ordinary 15-pin joystick port
connector. It is of course necessary for the detector means to
communicate with the computer or video game in a manner that the
computer or video game hardware and software is capable of
receiving. One of the objectives of the present invention is to
allow its use with the full gamut of commercially available
computer and video games, perhaps with minor modifications to the
games (although games specifically designed for use with the
invention may also be used). For example, it would be a simple
matter to interface the detector means with a commercial video game
console such as a Nintendo machine, Sony PlayStation, or the like
via the standard interface connector for the console; commercial
console games could then be played, perhaps with minor software
modifications to better map the exercise movements to the desired
game parameters and/or to slow the clock speed of the game to a
rate compatible with the invention apparatus. Many PC games a
keyboard and/or mouse as the user input device; the detector means
may be interfaced to these inputs. It would also be possible to
connect the detector means to a more sophisticated interface means,
perhaps comprising a microprocessor running appropriate software,
that would convert the raw detector signals into input signals for
a console game, thereby achieving the desired mapping of exercise
movements to game movements without the necessity of modifying the
game software. It is also possible, using detector means that
report a range of outputs indicating the actual positions of
actuators, to interface to game inputs requiring proportional
signals, such as mouse or proportional joystick inputs, and thereby
to control games requiring such proportional inputs.
[0042] In the preferred embodiment described in detail above, the
support body consists of a tubular metal frame. The support body
may be any structure, of any composition, suitable for attaching
the actuators. In the preferred embodiment described above, a bench
is attached to the lower longitudinal member of the support body,
providing a place for the user to sit or recline while performing
exercise using the invention. It would be possible to dispense with
the bench by using a combination of actuators such that they would
be accessible from a standing position. Other supports for the user
are also possible, including a bench that would be moveable and/or
adjustable to allow the user to access the actuators more readily.
For some exercise movements, it may be desirable to provide straps
or other restraints to allow the user to exert full force on the
actuators without moving his or her body. It is also possible to
modify the actuators, and/or their attachments to the support body,
so as to allow the ranges of motions to be adjustable to
accommodate users of varying sizes or to provide variations in the
exercise movements.
[0043] The details of the implementation of the variations just
described are straightforward and will be apparent to one of
ordinary skill in the art.
* * * * *