(12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 6,450,922 B1 Henderson Et Al
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USOO6450922B1 (12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 6,450,922 B1 Henderson et al. (45) Date of Patent: Sep. 17, 2002 (54) ELECTRONIC EXERCISE SYSTEM 4,907,795 A * 3/1990 Shaw et al. .................... 482/9 4,925,189 A 5/1990 Braeunig (75) Inventors: Scott J. Henderson, Los Angeles, CA 4,976,424. A 12/1990 Sargeant et al. (US); Tyler C. Marthaler; Jeffrey Q. 5,213,555 A * 5/1993 Hood et al. ................... 482/57 Nichols, both of New York, NY (US) 5,335,188 A 8/1994 Brisson ......................... 482/8 5,462,503 A 10/1995 Benjamin et al. .............. 482/4 (73) ASSignee: Graber Products, Inc., Madison, WI 5,524.637 A 6/1996 Erickson (US) 5,527.239 A 6/1996 Abbondanza c: - - - - 0 5,785,631 A * 7/1998 Heidecke ....................... 482/5 (*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this 5,888,172 A * 3/1999 Andrus et al. .. ... 482/7 patent is extended or adjusted under 35 5,916,063 A 6/1999 Alessandri ..................... 482/4 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days. 6,024,675 A * 2/2000 Kashiwaguchi ................ 482/4 (21) Appl. No.: 09/182,977 FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS (22) Filed: Oct. 29, 1998 EP O841079 8/1994 (Under 37 CFR 1.47) Related U.S. ApplicationO O Data * cited by examiner (63) Continuation of application No. 09/071,713, filed on May 1, Primary Examiner-Glenn E. Richman 1998, now abandoned, which is a continuation of application No. 08/887,240, filed on Jul. 2, 1997, now abandoned. (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Boyle, Fredrickson, (60) Provisional application No. 60/020,565, filed on Jul. 2, Newholm, Stein & Gratz, S.C. 1996. (51) Int. Cl." ................................................ A63B 21/00 (57) ABSTRACT (52) U.S. Cl. .................... 482/8; 482/4; 482/9; 482/901 A physical activity monitor, during a first period, records (58) Field of Search ............................ 482/1-9, 51, 54, data characterizing a physical activity by a user, and an 482/900-902 exercise device uses the recorded data of the physical (56) References Cited activity monitor to Simulate the physical activity for the user during a Second period. U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 4,828.257 A 5/1989 Dyer et al. 34 Claims, 18 Drawing Sheets U.S. Patent US 6,450,922 B1 U.S. Patent US 6,450,922 B1 f’TEEHAW ŒONECTVO „LBOd U.S. Patent US 6,450,922 B1 U.S. Patent Sep. 17, 2002 Sheet 6 of 18 US 6,450,922 B1 0/l. Z/.},TESTIGSTENOG?.-- U.S. Patent Sep. 17, 2002 Sheet 7 of 18 US 6,450,922 B1 984, "61-I9 U.S. Patent Sep. 17, 2002 Sheet 8 of 18 US 6,450,922 B1 OOZ eZ"fil-1 ZOZ U.S. Patent Sep. 17, 2002 Sheet 10 of 18 US 6,450,922 B1 LZZ O 987 OLZ U.S. Patent Sep. 17, 2002 Sheet 11 of 18 US 6,450,922 B1 se:p|}u8 Sº S ‘se?ouxº |}|||q3£) 6u|}esUNO …noÁ …noÁ eu!KOuO! e6 e6 9U !,op,ex|nK?w)•qM@ s\noX..'ÇNA; is GS O :S OAW - - d. 2 is CC on 2 S 2 O CN CD r to co N OO o O - c. c. r vers - e y- - U.S. Patent Sep. 17, 2002 Sheet 13 of 18 US 6,450,922 B1 42 4.40 39 38 37 s 36 E. 34 SS 32 5 Os N. -- () 31 o O 30 So, CS O 00 29 is ?o - d - 27s28 3 2- o- to -- 5hn () 26 (D is o o O O 25 - is > as p C 24 > & C He O) 23 D So - to -i > 0 22 - š 5 - O (d 2 : o O o - co 20 - OE E >c > - 19 o os - o Po CD 18 -š o 'o o to > m, w 17+ 3 + c - a 16 o - c 0 - 4) 15 D cog all - so to 14- or O 13 cS: . 2 s e 11 - O 10 - - g o O (d () o H. H. H. () S. C f CC Ot) U.S. Patent Sep. 17, 2002 Sheet 14 of 18 US 6,450,922 B1 3. r 5 () O O S5 Sa S C C S3 SS s S.e buo O s S. s es O Os und . G) s : OS c O) GD a s : and ed - o is aheat and a? s: ( ) O ... O ( () ) :ces GO C () (O CO CO S.ey S A ?ea sa - Q co rit to co N. co o or- ci co wit v- r- ve U.S. Patent Sep. 17, 2002 Sheet 15 of 18 US 6,450,922 B1 -çOCN<rcoLonºob gae? Y- CN CO wit to co N OO O U.S. Patent Sep. 17, 2002 Sheet 17 of 18 US 6,450,922 B1 US 6,450,922 B1 1 2 ELECTRONIC EXERCISE SYSTEM bicycle, and a controller, the controller being adapted to receive the data recorded by the physical activity monitor This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. and to control the resistance unit to Simulate the non 09/071,713, entitled ELECTRONIC EXERCISE SYSTEM, Stationary bicycle ride. filed May 1, 1998, now abandoned which is a continuation In general, in another aspect, the invention features a of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/887,240, filed on Jul. 2, physical activity monitor that records Sampled data, the data 1997, now abandoned which is a continuation of provisional comprising indices of a force exerted by a user and of a application No. 60/020,565, filed on Jul. 2, 1996. distance traveled by the user during a non-stationary bicycle ride by the user, the physical activity monitor further com BACKGROUND prising a rotational Sensor attached to a bicycle used during the non-Stationary bicycle ride, an inclination Sensor, and a The present invention relates generally to exercise and to heart rate Sensor coupled to the user, and a Stationary exercise machines or training devices for providing physical exercise device that uses the recorded data of the physical exercise for a user. activity monitor to Simulate the non-stationary bicycle ride, For many years, bicycle enthusiasts have used bicycle 15 the Stationary exercise device comprising a resistance unit trainers to convert their bicycles for Stationary (often removably coupled to a bicycle, and a controller, the con indoors) riding. Rather than ride through inclement weather, troller adapted to receive the data recorded by the physical the cyclist can use the trainer to ride indoors and obtain an activity monitor and to control the resistance unit to Simulate aerobic, cardiovascular workout. Bicycle trainerS also obvi the non-Stationary bicycle ride. ate the need for purchasing a separate Stationary bicycle for In general, in another aspect, the invention features a those perSons who want to occasionally workout while, for method including the Steps of, during a first period, record example, reading or watching television. A bicycle trainer ing data characterizing a physical activity by a user, and, should be easy to use and, to the extent possible, Simulate during a Second period, using the recorded data to Simulate bicycle riding on the open road. the physical activity for the user. Indoor Stationary machines have also been developed or 25 In general, in another aspect, the invention features a replicating a number of other Sports activities, Such as method including the Steps of recording Sampled data, the running, climbing, skiing, and Swimming. Such Stationary data comprising indices of a force exerted by a user and of exercise machines can provide a number of features, includ a distance traveled by the user during a non-Stationary ing displays of a preset or user-defined course (e.g., a bicycle ride by the user, and using the recorded data to running profile for a stationary treadmill machine), exercise Simulate the non-Stationary bicycle ride. Statistics, and measurements of the user's heart rate. In general, in another aspect, the invention features a method including the Steps of recording Sampled data, the SUMMARY data comprising indices of a force exerted by a user, of a In general, in one aspect, the invention features a physical distance traveled by the user, of a heart rate of the user, and activity monitor that during a first period records data 35 of an inclination of a first bicycle, and a rotation of a wheel characterizing a physical activity by a user, and an exercise of the first bicycle, during a non-Stationary bicycle ride by device that uses the recorded data of the physical activity the user, and receiving the recorded data and controlling a monitor to Simulate the physical activity for the user during resistance unit removably coupled to a bicycle to Simulate a Second period. the non-Stationary bicycle ride. 40 Embodiments of the invention may include one or more In general, in another aspect, the invention features a of the following features. The physical activity monitor can portable monitor with recording capability for recording an measure a first index of physical exertion. The first index of activity, wherein the monitor can be operationally coupled physical exertion can include an index of a distance traveled with a device for replicating the recorded activity. In general, in another aspect, the present invention com by the user, an inclination of the user, an index of a force 45 exerted by the user, and an index of a heart rate of the user. prises an exercise device, a first Sensor for Sensing opera The exercise device can comprise a controller and a resis tional parameters of the exercise device, a control interface tance provider, the controller being adapted to receive the for interacting with the first Sensor and exercise device, and data recorded by the physical activity monitor and to control a Second Sensor for Sensing at least a user's heart rate, Said the resistance provider in accordance with the received data Second Sensor having recording capability and being dock to Simulate the physical activity.