U.S. patent application number 11/233692 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-30 for device for exercise optimization.
Invention is credited to Vincent J. Bocchicchio, Robert F. Foster.
Application Number | 20060068980 11/233692 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36100018 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060068980 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bocchicchio; Vincent J. ; et
al. |
March 30, 2006 |
Device for exercise optimization
Abstract
An exercise monitoring system that measures movement of a person
during an exercise and provides a signal to indicate that a
particular movement is being performed too rapidly. The exercise
system provides a feedback mechanism and a regulator of exercise
speed that may be helpful to persons seeking to engage in safe and
productive exercise.
Inventors: |
Bocchicchio; Vincent J.;
(Scottsdale, AZ) ; Foster; Robert F.; (Mesa,
AZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBERG TRAURIG LLP
2450 COLORADO AVENUE, SUITE 400E
SANTA MONICA
CA
90404
US
|
Family ID: |
36100018 |
Appl. No.: |
11/233692 |
Filed: |
September 23, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60613649 |
Sep 29, 2004 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/148 ;
482/51 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 71/0686 20130101;
A63B 2230/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/148 ;
482/051 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/00 20060101
A63B022/00; A63B 23/00 20060101 A63B023/00 |
Claims
1. A method for measuring an exercise movement by a person,
comprising: performing an exercise movement; measuring the rate of
the exercise movement; generating a signal responsive to the rate
exceeding a predefined limit; and providing a limit indication to
the person responsive to the signal.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising performing the exercise
movement at a slow rate of movement.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the measuring comprises sensing
the exercise movement using an accelerometer.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a non-provisional application claiming
benefit under 35 U.S.C. sec. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application
Ser. No. 60/613,649 filed Sep. 23, 2004 (titled Device for Exercise
Optimization by Bocchicchio et al.), which is incorporated in full
by reference herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] This invention relates in general to exercise systems and
methods. More specifically, the present invention relates to an
exercise system and method for the measurement of an exerciser's
motion during exercise.
[0004] 2. General Background
[0005] Productive exercise requires some mechanism for overload or
exposure to mechanical work that stimulates a metabolic threshold
that precipitates a cascade of events commonly defined as positive
adaptation. In most instances, a higher (i.e., higher than normal)
level of muscle fiber or motor unit recruitment is required to
stimulate the aforementioned threshold level of metabolic
response.
[0006] Historically, there have been two common practices applied
in order to achieve exercise programs. The first method has been an
increase in the volume of exercise. That method is usually
unsuccessful since an increase in the volume of exercise comes at
the price of a corresponding decrease in the intensity of the
exercise. The second commonly applied method is an increase in the
force production of the muscle contractions. This method does, in
fact, crudely increase intensity in many of the exercise scenarios.
Unfortunately, it also increases the likelihood and the occurrence
of stress-induced trauma or injury.
[0007] Accordingly, it would be desirable to have an improved
exercise system and method.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] The following description describes specific embodiments
sufficiently to enable those skilled in the art to practice it.
Other embodiments may incorporate structural, process and other
changes. Examples merely typify possible variations. Individual
components and functions are optional unless explicitly required,
and the sequence of operations may vary. Portions and features of
some embodiments may be included in or substituted for those of
others. The scope of the invention encompasses the full ambit of
the claims and all available equivalents.
[0009] The exercise monitoring system described herein is a device
that generally measures (e.g., using one or more sensors)
acceleration and/or other movement of a person during an exercise
movement and in response to this measurement provides a signal to
the person corresponding to the movement (e.g., to indicate that a
particular movement is being performed too rapidly by the person
based on the desired exercise program). The signal may be, for
example, light or sound-based and may be used to direct the person
as to the proper regime for maximum benefit of any particular
exercise or exercise program. The exercise system and method
provide a feedback mechanism and a regulator of exercise speed that
may be helpful to persons seeking to engage in safe and productive
exercise.
[0010] The measurement value corresponding to a too rapid or too
fast exercise motion is typically set or defined by the
manufacturer/developer of or trainer for an exercise program (e.g.,
in accordance with the principles set forth in the definition of
the one or more individual exercises comprising a workout session).
In general, one or more monitoring devices may be attached to an
exercise machine and/or directly to the person. The monitoring
devices may be, for example, used at home or at a gym and may be,
for example, mechanically-based or electronic.
[0011] The exercise system and method described herein may be used
to increase motor unit and muscle fiber recruitment by sustaining
substantially constant tension (i.e., during exercise) in a dynamic
or moving mode in order to accumulate and sustain threshold levels
of metabolites corresponding to stimulatory events. Since the
system desirably employs a particularly-governed and slow speed of
movement, the forces of the exercise are drastically reduced. That
reduction typically allows for safe and efficient exercise.
Mechanical risks to the body are largely reduced or eliminated, and
the positive metabolic threshold is typically achieved through a
very brief exposure by the person exercising.
[0012] The exercise monitoring system and method may be implemented
in various embodiments. Some specific, non-limiting exemplary
embodiments are described below.
[0013] A first mechanical embodiment is typically simple and
inexpensive to manufacture. For example, a pulley-based system may
be used in which a cord is wound around a center at which a
mechanical accelerometer is operatively coupled to measure movement
of a person's exercise. The free end of the cord may be, for
example, attached to the exercise equipment in such a way that when
the equipment is operated for a particular exercise, the cord
extends. If the cord extends too rapidly, the mechanical
accelerometer senses the movement and may, at substantially the
same time, complete a circuit by mechanical means to send a signal.
The measuring device may be attached permanently or temporarily to
the exercise equipment.
[0014] In a second optical embodiment, relative motion is measured
between a fixed portion of the exercise equipment and a moving
component. For example, a light source and a detector may be
mounted on the equipment, and the moving part may have a series of
holes through which light can pass. If as a result of the movement
of the equipment during exercise the resulting signal pattern of
on/off light detection is different than that corresponding to the
optimum rate of movement of a person's exercise or exercise
equipment, a signal is sent to to the person exercising. This
arrangement may in some cases work for a pulley (i.e., circular
motion) or on a cord or other linear-moving component. The
appropriate signal comparison and logic functions may be resident
in software in a conventional chip set used for these purposes.
[0015] In a third electronic embodiment, a gyroscopically-corrected
electronic accelerometer that is surface mounted on a circuit board
may be used. The entire device with supporting integrated circuit
devices (e.g., an analog/digital converter), signal conditioning
and comparison, along with the supporting software, may be designed
to, for example, be incorporated into a watch-like device with a
suitable wristband. One or more devices may, for example, fit on
the arm or leg of a person exercising and/or on the exercise
equipment itself. The accelerometer may perform the necessary
measurement directly, and the appropriate signal may be sent to an
alarm. This device often may be more flexible than non-electronic
embodiments in that a larger number of motion values and settings
may be implemented for any given device. Also, events may be stored
in memory and downloaded to some central location (e.g., for later
analysis).
[0016] By the foregoing description, an improved exercise
monitoring system and method have been described. The foregoing
description of specific embodiments reveals the general nature of
the system and method sufficiently that others can, by applying
current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt it for various
applications without departing from the generic concept. Therefore,
such adaptations and modifications are within the meaning and range
of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. The phraseology or
terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and
not of limitation. Accordingly, the system and method embrace all
such alternatives, modifications, equivalents and variations as
fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *