U.S. patent application number 10/303183 was filed with the patent office on 2004-04-08 for instrument for exercise machine.
Invention is credited to Sher, Mike.
Application Number | 20040067822 10/303183 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32041218 |
Filed Date | 2004-04-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040067822 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sher, Mike |
April 8, 2004 |
Instrument for exercise machine
Abstract
An exercise machine includes a frame, a motor/generator and an
instrument. The motor/generator is mounted on the frame and
switched between a motor mode and a generator mode. The instrument
includes a casing, a display, a control panel and an integrated
circuit module. The casing is mounted on the frame. The display is
mounted on the casing. The control panel is mounted on the casing
for enabling a user to enter data and at least one command for
switching the motor/generator between the modes. An integrated
circuit module is received in the casing (10) and electrically
connected with the display, the control panel and the
motor/generator.
Inventors: |
Sher, Mike; (Taipei City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Alan D. Kamrath
Rider, Bennett, Egan & Arundel, LLP
Suite 2000
333 South Seventh Street
Minneapolis
MN
55402
US
|
Family ID: |
32041218 |
Appl. No.: |
10/303183 |
Filed: |
November 25, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/57 ;
482/8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 24/00 20130101;
A63B 22/0605 20130101; A63B 2225/50 20130101; A63B 21/00178
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/057 ;
482/008 |
International
Class: |
A63B 071/00; A63B
022/06; A63B 069/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 7, 2002 |
TW |
91216303 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An exercise machine including: a frame; a motor/generator
mounted on the frame and switched between a motor mode and a
generator mode; and an instrument including: a casing mounted on
the frame; a display mounted on the casing; a control panel mounted
on the casing for enabling a user to enter data and at least one
command for switching the motor/generator between the modes; and an
integrated circuit module received in the casing and electrically
connected with the display, the control panel and the
motor/generator.
2. The exercise machine according to claim 1 wherein the
communication of the integrated circuit module with the
motor/generator is conducted in a wire-less manner.
3. The exercise machine according to claim 2 wherein the integrated
circuit module includes a transceiver, and the motor/generator
includes a transceiver in communication of signal with the
transceiver of the integrated circuit module.
4. The exercise machine according to claim 2 wherein the
communication of the integrated circuit module with the
motor/generator is conducted via infrared light.
5. The exercise machine according to claim 4 wherein the integrated
circuit module includes an infrared light transceiver, and the
motor/generator includes a transceiver in communication of signal
with the infrared light transceiver of the integrated circuit
module.
6. The exercise machine according to claim 1 wherein the
communication of the integrated circuit module with the
motor/generator is conducted via a cable.
7. The exercise machine according to claim 1 wherein the instrument
includes at least one sensor mounted on the casing for detecting
the user's pulse when her or his hand is put on the at least one
sensor.
8. The exercise machine according to claim 1 wherein the
motor/generator can be operated in two rotational directions.
9. The exercise machine according to claim 1 wherein the control
panel includes a plurality of buttons formed thereon.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an instrument for an
exercise machine.
[0003] 2. Related Prior Art
[0004] Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 186181 discloses an
exercise machine capable of controlling workout based on personal
data recorded in an optical datum card. As disclosed, an instrument
6 includes a controller 24 and an optical reader 36 with at least
one pair of optical transmitter LE and optical receiver PH. An
optical datum card is located between the optical transmitter LE
and the optical receiver PH so that data recorded therein can be
optically read. However, a user has to carry his or her personal
optical datum card in order to operate the exercise machine. Loss
of the personal optical datum card causes the user a lot of
trouble. Furthermore, the instrument is complicated so that the
reading of the data is often inadequately and that durability is
often inadequate.
[0005] The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at
least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0006] It is the primary objective of the present invention to
provide an exercise machine equipped with an instrument that does
not required a card for operation.
[0007] According to the present invention, an exercise machine
includes a frame, a motor/generator and an instrument. The
motor/generator is mounted on the frame and switched between a
motor mode and a generator mode. The instrument includes a casing,
a display, a control panel and an integrated circuit module. The
casing is mounted on the frame. The display is mounted on the
casing. The control panel is mounted on the casing for enabling a
user to enter data and at least one command for switching the
motor/generator between the modes. An integrated circuit module is
received in the casing and electrically connected with the display,
the control panel and the motor/generator.
[0008] The instrument includes at least one sensor mounted on the
casing for detecting the user's pulse when her or his hand is put
on the at least one sensor.
[0009] The motor/generator can be operated in two rotational
directions.
[0010] In a first aspect, the communication of the integrated
circuit module with the motor/generator is conducted in a wireless
manner. The integrated circuit module includes a transceiver. The
motor/generator includes a transceiver in communication of signal
with the transceiver of the integrated circuit module.
[0011] In a second aspect, the communication of the integrated
circuit module with the motor/generator is conducted via a
cable.
[0012] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the attached
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0013] The present invention will be described through detailed
illustration of embodiments referring to the attached drawings.
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercise machine equipped
with an instrument according to a first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a front view of the instrument of FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a front view of a display used in the instrument
of FIG. 2.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an integrated circuit used in
the instrument of FIG. 2.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the operation of the instrument of
FIG. 2.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exercise machine equipped
with an instrument according to a second embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, an exercise machine 30 is equipped with
an instrument according to a first embodiment of the present
invention. The exercise machine 30 is in the form of an exercise
bike. The exercise bike 30 includes a frame 32. The frame 32
includes two cross bars 34, a keel 36 mounted on the cross bars 34,
a front post 31 extending from the keel 36 and a rear post 38
mounted on the keel 36. The instrument 10 is mounted on the front
post 31. A seat 40 is mounted on the rear post 38. A
motor/generator 42 is mounted on the keel 36. The motor/generator
42 can be switched between several gears, e.g., first to sixth
gears. The motor/generator 42 includes a mandrel 44 with two ends
each connected with a crank 46. A medal 33 is connected with each
of the cranks 46. A transceiver 48 is mounted on the
motor/generator 42. The transceiver 48 may be an infrared
transceiver.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1.about.4, the instrument includes a
casing 10, a display 11 mounted on the casing 10, two handles 12
each formed on a side of the casing 10, a control panel 13 mounted
on the casing 10 and an integrated circuit (hereinafter referred to
as "IC") module 20 received in the casing 10.
[0022] The display 11 is used to display information regarding the
exercise machine and values regarding workout intended for a user.
The display 11 exhibits a LOW BATTERY indication 111 that is
highlighted when the instrument runs out of power.
[0023] On each of the handles 12 is formed a sensor 121 for
detecting the pulse of the user when he or she puts his hands on
the sensors 121.
[0024] The control panel 13 includes a START/STOP button 13a, a SET
button 13b, a first selection button 13c, a second selection button
13d, a direction button 13e, a MANUAL/AUTOMATIC button 13f and a
third selection button 13g.
[0025] The IC module 20 includes a central process unit 21
(hereinafter called "CPU"), a transceiver 22 electrically connected
with the CPU 21 and a power supply 23 for powering the CPU 21 and
the transceiver 22. The CPU 21 records and processes the data
entered via the control panel 13. The transceiver 22 is exposed to
the exterior through a hole (not shown) defined in the casing 10.
The transceiver 22 may be an infrared transceiver.
[0026] FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the operation of the IC module
20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] In step 52, the user turns on the instrument and starts the
process via pushing the START/STOP button 13a.
[0028] In step 54, the IC module 20 instructs the display 11 to
show an indication for the user to enter her or his user code. The
user enters her or his code via pushing the SET button 13b.
[0029] In step 56, the IC module 20 checks whether the user code
has been recorded. The process goes to step 58 if it has never been
entered and goes to step 62 if otherwise.
[0030] In step 58, the IC module 20 instructs the display 11 to
show an indication for the user to enter her or his personal data,
i.e., attributes such as sex, age, height and weight. The user
selects from these attributes via pushing the SET button 13b. After
selecting one of the attributes, the user enters a correct value
via pushing the first selection (or "UP") button 13c and the second
selection (or "DOWN") button 13d. Thereafter, the process goes to
step 60 in which the personal data are recorded. Then, the process
goes to step 54.
[0031] In step 62, the IC module 20 instructs the display 11 to
display an indication for the user to select from a manual mode and
an automatic mode. The user selects from the manual mode and the
automatic mode via pushing the MANUAL/AUTOMATIC button 13f. If the
user selects the automatic mode, the process goes to step 64 and to
step 66 if otherwise.
[0032] In step 64, the IC module 20 instructs the display 11 to
display an indication for the user to select from two rotational
directions of the motor 42. The user selects from the rotational
directions of the motor 42 via pushing the direction button 13f.
Then, the process goes to step 66.
[0033] In step 66, the IC module 20 instructs the display 11 to
display an indication for the user to send a signal to the
motor/generator 42. The user sends a signal to the motor/generator
42 via pushing the START/STOP button 13a.
[0034] On receiving the signal, the motor/generator 42 starts to
act as a generator if the user selects the manual mode in step 62
or a motor if otherwise. In the automatic mode, the motor/generator
42 drives the mandrel 44 and therefore the pedals 33 in one of the
directions. For safety of the user, the motor/generator 42 is
pre-set to start at the first gear. Then, the process goes to step
68.
[0035] In step 68, the IC module instructs the user to select from
several gears. The user selects from the gears via pushing the UP
button 13c and the DOWN button 13d.
[0036] In step 70, the user may optionally tell the IC module 20 to
instruct the display 11 to display data about her or his workout
via pushing the third selection button 13f. The data include the
values of kilometers run, calories consumed, the user's pulses,
time elapsed and cycles rotated for example. When this subroutine
is called, the IC module 20 instructs the display 11 to display the
values of kilometers run, calories consumed, the user's pulses,
time elapsed and cycles rotated, one after another. The value of
calories consumed is calculated from the age, the weight and the
value of the kilometers run via the CPU 21.
[0037] In step 72, the user turns off the instrument via pushing
the START/STOP button 13a.
[0038] FIG. 6 shows an exercise machine 30 equipped with an
instrument according to a second embodiment of the present
invention. The second embodiment is different from the first
embodiment in that between the CPU 21 and the motor/generator 48, a
wire communication is used instead of the wireless communication.
In detail, the CPU 21 is connected with the motor/generator 42 via
the cable 25. Accordingly, the transceivers 22 and 48 are
eliminated.
[0039] The present invention has been described via illustration of
two embodiments. The applicant gives these embodiments only as
examples, and those skilled in the art can derive variations from
the embodiments. Therefore, these embodiments shall not limit the
scope of the present invention that is defined in the claims.
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