U.S. patent application number 16/115400 was filed with the patent office on 2018-12-20 for fitness equipment with anthropometric data enhanced workout generator.
The applicant listed for this patent is ATHLIOS, INC.. Invention is credited to Michael Scott Sechrest, Mark R. Thompson.
Application Number | 20180361204 16/115400 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59855098 |
Filed Date | 2018-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180361204 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sechrest; Michael Scott ; et
al. |
December 20, 2018 |
FITNESS EQUIPMENT WITH ANTHROPOMETRIC DATA ENHANCED WORKOUT
GENERATOR
Abstract
An exercise equipment and method for use is disclosed having a
program that calls for user specific anthropometric data and then
utilizes the data to create a user specific workout program based
on the user's physical characteristics. The user inputs of personal
anthropometric data includes, but is not limited to, sex, height,
weight, goals, maximum heart rate, maximum run speed, maximum walk
speed, and VO2 max. These inputs are used to optimize a workout
program either in single use or multiple use applications.
Moreover, data can be stored locally, on a network, or transferred
to a cloud based repository for recall.
Inventors: |
Sechrest; Michael Scott;
(Hermosa Beach, CA) ; Thompson; Mark R.;
(Chandler, AZ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ATHLIOS, INC. |
Hermosa Beach |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
59855098 |
Appl. No.: |
16/115400 |
Filed: |
August 28, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15458289 |
Mar 14, 2017 |
10086233 |
|
|
16115400 |
|
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|
|
62308426 |
Mar 15, 2016 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 24/0087 20130101;
A63B 71/0622 20130101; A63B 2225/50 20130101; A63B 22/02 20130101;
G16H 10/60 20180101; A63B 2225/20 20130101; A63B 2230/06 20130101;
A63B 24/0075 20130101; G16H 20/30 20180101; G06F 19/00 20130101;
A63B 2230/436 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63B 24/00 20060101
A63B024/00; A63B 22/02 20060101 A63B022/02; A63B 71/06 20060101
A63B071/06; G06F 19/00 20180101 G06F019/00; G16H 20/30 20180101
G16H020/30 |
Claims
1. A fitness apparatus system for exercise having a workout
component, a first display, and a processor, the system comprising:
a graphic user interface for inputting user specified
anthropometric data including age and user maximum heart rate; a
workout profile generator running on the processor, the workout
profile generator adapted to receive the user specified
anthropometric data from the graphic user interface and generate an
optimized user-specific workout profile using said user specified
anthropometric data to be displayed on the first display of a
fitness apparatus; a remote data storage unit for storing the
user's anthropometric data; and a data exchange for sending and
receiving data from the remote data storage unit.
2. The fitness apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a network
where the user specified anthropometric data is stored on a local
server.
3. The fitness apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user specified
anthropometric data includes a user's maximum apparatus
capability.
4. The fitness apparatus of claim 1, wherein the specified
anthropometric data includes a user's maximum volumetric oxygen
intake.
5. The fitness apparatus of claim 1, wherein the workout profile
generator generates a multi-use profile.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation application based on U.S. Ser. No.
15/458,289, filed on Mar. 14, 2018 which claims priority from U.S.
Application No. 62/308,426, filed Mar. 15, 2016 incorporated by
reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Exercise has long been recognized for its many health
benefits and, as a result, more and more people are turning to
exercise as part of a daily regimen to improve fitness, lose
weight, combat hypertension and improve one's mental health.
Whether at the gym or at home, people are exercising more and
enjoying the fruits of that labor. Gym memberships are on the rise,
as is the purchase of home gym equipment that allow users to
exercise in the privacy of one's home. Most gyms offer a wide array
of stand alone fitness machines, from tread mills to stair climbers
to rowing machines to weight lifting apparatus. In some cases,
these machines offer some minor adjustments to the physical stature
of the user, but the adjustments are typically incremental size
modifications like the position of a pedals on an exercise bike or
the seat position on a rowing machine. Unfortunately, these same
machines many times come with a standard program that is one-size
fits all, in that no adjustment or modification is made for the
particular physiological characteristics of the user. As a result,
a person with short legs may be asked to perform the same strides
on a stair claimer as a long legged person, which can lead to
inefficiencies, discomfort, and even injuries based on long term
misapplication of the proper program. These issues can lead to a
user quitting the equipment or even giving up an exercise program
due to frustration over an improper or unsafe program that is
ill-suited for the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to fitness equipment that
includes a profile application to match user anthropometric
characteristics of the user to the function of the machine. Many
fitness machines include user queries about weight, but simply
knowing how much someone weighs does not reveal much about their
overall condition. The present invention utilizes various
anthropometric measurements, i.e., systematic measurements of the
size and shape of the human body, to formulate a workout program
that is tailored to the specific user. For example, people of
different heights have differing maximum walk and run speeds, and
the present invention utilizes the user's size to design a cardio
program for an exercise equipment, such as a treadmill, that
accounts for the user's stride length and cardio condition.
Utilizing profiles that change the function of the machine to
optimize the user experience is safer and produces greater results
than fitness equipment that do not take into account the user's
anthropometrics.
[0004] These and other features of the present invention will best
be understood by reference to the detailed description of the
present invention along with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is an exemplary view of a fitness apparatus embodying
the present invention;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0007] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of steps for carrying out a method of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0008] The present invention is an exercise equipment, and program
for an exercise equipment, that inputs user specific anthropometric
data and then utilizes the data to create a user specific workout
program based on the user's physical characteristics. The user
inputs of personal anthropometric data includes, but is not limited
to, sex, height, weight, goals, maximum heart rate, maximum run
speed, maximum walk speed, and VO.sub.2 max. These inputs are used
to optimize a workout program either in single use or multiple use
applications. Moreover, data can be stored locally, on a network,
or transferred to a cloud based repository for recall.
[0009] A goal of the present invention is to construct the
industry's most personalized exercise experience. The present
invention allows users to easily upload and download workouts and
progressions, and the graphic user interface interacts with all
leading applications and wearables. Further, there is tremendous
flexibility in the configuration of the user interface for a broad
base of users. Added features allow users to effect a machine
reservation, EULAs and toggles that allow the facility to `tune`
the treadmill to their demographic. Moreover, the present invention
has as a foundation an extremely robust web-based back end to allow
machine auto-updates and integration with all third party asset and
retention analytics groups. The present invention achieves each of
these goals and more.
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary fitness apparatus 10 in the
form of a treadmill that includes a display console 12 with a
touchscreen user interface 14 for displaying a workout profile and
for inputting user data. The fitness apparatus 10 can be any of the
type of cardiovascular or resistive training machines for which a
user can benefit from a custom workout profile, such as an exercise
bicycle, a rowing machine, a stair climber, etc., and the type of
fitness apparatus is not limiting to the present invention. The
console 12 is a sturdy plastic or aluminum housing, for example,
that supports a touchscreen or other display that can be viewed by
the user while participating in the exercise program. The housing
should be moisture resistant to avoid sweat and cleaning fluids
from contaminating the housing's interior and the sensitive
electronics protected therein. The display 14 will typically have a
stand-by screen that includes options for a user to select, such as
Quick-Start, Featured Programs, Programs, and Guided Programs. Each
of these workout categories represent known examples of standard
workouts that are designed for all users regardless of their
anthropometric characteristics.
[0011] The display 14 of the present invention includes a
"Personalize" option that allows the user to enter specific data
about the user. The selection of the "Personalize" option will
prompt the processor to request of the user certain data, such as
the user's age, sex, height, weight, goals, maximum heart rate,
maximum run speed (or other equipment maximum performance), maximum
walk speed, and maximum volumetric oxygen intake. This personal
anthropometric data may be stored by the fitness apparatus in a
local storage, communicated to a local server via a Local Area
Network (LAN) connection, or sent to a remote server via the
internet or stored in the Cloud. The user can then recall such
information on the next day when using this machine, or a commonly
connected machine, so that the workout can be modified to match the
user's goals and specific anthropometric characteristics. For
example, a shorter runner will take fewer strides than a longer
legged runner, so an equivalent running workout profile may call
for a reduced strides per minute aspect of the workout.
Alternatively, a person with a higher maximum run speed can tailor
a workout that is designed to a specific fitness level based on the
user's specific achieved fitness condition, rather than a profile
without consideration of these user specific inputs.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic of the fitness equipment and the
relative components that make up the present invention. The actual
workout equipment 10 includes a screen or display 14 that is
connected to a processor 16 and a graphic user interface 18,
preferably a touchscreen interface. User supplied anthropometric
data 20 is supplied via the graphic user interface 18 to the
processor 16, which includes a module running on the processor
referred to as the workout profile generator 22. The workout
profile generator 22 is a computer program that uses baseline
workout profiles and then modifies the profiles based on the user
supplied anthropometric data received from the graphic user
interface 18 to generate a modified workout profile. The modified
workout profile is then displayed on the display 14 and the
exercise equipment operates based on this modified workout profile.
The modified workout profile can be stored in a local data storage
24 for future use by the user, or sent via a LAN to a local server
26. Alternately, the workout profile can be sent via an internet
connection 28 to a remote server 30 or a Cloud based storage
solution for later recall by the user. In this way, the user can
recall the user specified data and apply it to multiple machines
and immediately begin a custom workout designed for the user's
physical characteristics and fitness level.
[0013] Another feature of the present invention is the ability to
mirror the display on a remote unit, such as a tablet 32,
smartphone, or desktop computer, such that a trainer, coach, or
physician can design or control the workout of the user. The
ability to mirror the equipment's display 14, and the equipment's
controls thereby, is a unique feature of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart for a method of using the
present invention. The user steps on the fitness equipment in step
50 and touches the touchscreen display 14, causing the stand-by
mode to exit and the initial program screen to be displayed. The
locally stored programs can be loaded onto into memory for use by
the user, and in step 52 the user selects a workout for the present
session. The GUI 18 then prompts the user to enter specific user
supplied anthropometric data needed to customize the selected
workout, such as height, maximum heart rate, and oxygen intake. In
step 56, the processor causes the workout profile generator 22 to
modify or customize the base workout profile selected into a new
custom profile based on the user supplied anthropometric data. The
new workout profile is then displayed on the display 14 in step 58
and the user begins his or her new modified workout.
[0015] The advantages of the present invention are that the user
has a program that is specifically designed for his or her body
type, fitness level, and specific personalized characteristics.
This results in a more efficient and more targeted workout that is
safer, and more likely to keep the user coming back to the selected
equipment. The ability to download new base profiles from the
internet and modify the profiles is an enhancement to the present
invention, where the workout profile generator may be generally
adapted to modify certain workout profiles based on known
relationships between anthropometric information and workout
performance.
[0016] The foregoing descriptions and depictions are not intended
to be limiting, but rather illustrative only of the present
invention. One of ordinary skill in the art would readily
appreciate that many alterations and modifications could be made to
the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is
intended to include all such alterations and modifications.
Accordingly, except where expressly stated to the contrary, the
scope of the invention is understood to be guided by the appended
claims using their plain and ordinary meanings, in light of but not
limited by the foregoing discussion and drawings herein.
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