Abstract:
The invention relates to a structured space for the practice of fitness training and a method of fitness training practice management including a plurality of successive modules, at least one of the modules having at least two exercise positions as well as a time counting means common to all the modules. The count includes a plurality of periods of equal duration, each period being subdivided in (n) phases, these phases including a plurality (n−1) of exercise performance phases and one phase of recovery and instruction.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is related to the field of physical education, more particularly to a spatial arrangement of resources and a method associated therewith, for the purpose of achieving a better performance in the exercises, as well as to render more interesting and pleasant the practice of fitness training exercises. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    Fitness centers are already quite well known, and are based on the provision of a set of exercise equipment units in a gym lounge. In general, the user will access the apparatuses in random order, or in a specific order prescribed by an instructor, or yet in an order dictated by the availability of such equipment. A first disadvantage of this situation consists in an increase in the time required to complete an exercise program, since the sequence of exercise series is to a certain point dependent on the cited availability. One other hindrance resides in the fact that the user is not always provided a feedback on his or her performance, thereby entailing an incorrect performance of some exercises, which may cause the same to become less efficient and even harmful. 
         [0003]    The purpose of rendering a fitness training program more efficient and productive has constituted the object of various proposals, some of which embodied in the form of patent documents, such as the following ones: 
         [0004]    In document No. US 2006/0046898—System and Method for Automating and Controlling a Waiting List—there is described a system in which the machines are equipped with sensors to indicate their availability (or unavailability), as well as control elements. A user interface allows the user to register with a waiting list that is processed by a computer, which latter communicates with the said sensors in order to alert the user and to authorize the use of the machine in accordance with the said list. 
         [0005]    In document No. WO 2008/049151—Method and Apparatus for Providing Personalised Audio-Visual Instruction—there is described an arrangement that assists a user to emulate preferred positions or movements during the performance of a physical activity. The arrangement is based on motion sensors (MEMS sensors) worn by the user at different positions of the body (for example, the feet, the hands), such sensors being provided to communicate with a computer, the latter comparing the information captured by the sensors with data that is stored in a memory and corresponds to the correct performance of the movements. The system may comprise a display screen whereon are displayed, in synthetic form and side-by-side, the movements of the user and the correct movements. One disadvantage of that system is the need to attach the said sensors. One other disadvantage resides in the fact that it is not able to consider the sequence of performance of a series of exercises and the release of the corresponding machines for such use. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In light of what has been set forth, one object of the present invention consists in the optimization of use of the available space as well as of the flow of exercisers. 
         [0007]    One other object is to allow the personalization of the levels of difficulty by means of software and variations in the apparatuses. 
         [0008]    One other object is to provide feedback to the exerciser to enable the same to correct his or her manner of performing the exercises. 
         [0009]    One further object consists in avoiding the need of fixed time points for the beginning of the exercises, allowing the exerciser to start his or her exercises at any given time. 
         [0010]    Another object is to render the exercise both entertaining and varied, as the arrangement may be periodically changed without difficulty. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The above and other objects are achieved by the invention by structuring the area intended for performance of the exercises into a plurality of successive modules forming a system, each module comprising at least two exercise positions. A module will be defined as a given region, with standardized dimensions, within the available space, comprising a set of a minimum of two exercise positions and the indication of order (1, 2, 3 . . . ) or position within the set. 
         [0012]    According to one other characteristic of the invention, the said modules are arranged to form a closed circuit. 
         [0013]    According to one other characteristic of the invention, the system modules are successively occupied by each exerciser, who performs the exercises associated with each module for a predetermined period of time, before proceeding to the subsequent module. 
         [0014]    According to another characteristic of the invention, the said periods of time are identical for all the modules. 
         [0015]    According to another characteristic of the invention each period of time is divided into a plurality of phases, i.e., n phases. 
         [0016]    According to another characteristic of the invention, the said means for communicating information comprise a time counter and means for interaction with the said exerciser. 
         [0017]    According to another characteristic of the invention, the said time counter synchronizes the activities of the system, by counting the said periods of time and/or phases, such counting being common to all modules. 
         [0018]    According to another characteristic of the invention, the said counter indicates the interval of time lapsed within a period or a phase. 
         [0019]    According to another characteristic of the invention the said counter indicates the time interval remaining until conclusion of the period or phase. 
         [0020]    According to another characteristic of the invention the said indications are visual or audible or both. 
         [0021]    According to another characteristic of the invention, the said modules are grouped to form two sets. 
         [0022]    According to another characteristic of the invention, the said modules are grouped together forming a single set. 
         [0023]    According to another characteristic of the invention, the said sets are provided with means for communicating information between the exercisers and the system. 
         [0024]    According to another characteristic of the invention, the said information communication means comprise means for interaction. 
         [0025]    According to another characteristic of the invention, the said interaction means comprise at least one video terminal. 
         [0026]    According to another characteristic of the invention the modules are arranged in groups, each group being provided with said at least one terminal for the exerciser to interact with the system. 
         [0027]    According to another characteristic of the invention, the said terminal comprises data or command input means, for example, a touch-screen type input means. 
         [0028]    According to another characteristic of the invention, the said terminal is of an interactive type. 
         [0029]    According to another characteristic of the invention, each module comprises a standardized number of exercise positions. Advantageously, such number is two to three positions. Some positions may include variations in the level of difficulty with an increase or decrease of devices, in addition to variation thereof (weights, different rubber pieces, pedestals, etc. . . . ). 
         [0030]    According to another characteristic, an exercise apparatus occupies each position. 
         [0031]    According to another characteristic of the invention, the system comprises, in addition to the space structured in modules, video cameras turned towards the said positions, to record the performance of the exercises by the exercisers. 
         [0032]    According to another characteristic, the system is overseen by at least one supervising party who monitors the usage of the various apparatuses and the occupation of the various positions and modules. 
         [0033]    According to another characteristic of the invention, the said at least one supervisor inputs into the system the information relative to the said occupation. 
         [0034]    According to another characteristic, the system comprises a computer for central control, associated to a mass memory means and a fixed terminal to be used by the said supervisor. 
         [0035]    According to another characteristic, all information acquired by the video cameras, touch-screen terminals and other devices and apparatuses is channeled to the said central control computer. 
         [0036]    According to another characteristic, the input of the said information is made by the supervisor by way of a portable terminal that is provided for communication with the central control computer. 
         [0037]    According to another characteristic, the option of sharing a module with a partner renders the exercises more entertaining. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0038]    The remaining characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood by means of the description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given for exemplary rather than limitative purposes, and of the figures that refer thereto, wherein: 
           [0039]    FIG.  1 - a  is a plan view of a structured space comprising eight modules divided to form two groups. 
           [0040]    FIG.  1 - b  is a plan view of a structured space in which the modules integrate a single group. 
           [0041]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a part of the structured space, exemplifying the positioning of the apparatuses and part of the devices that provide interaction between the system and the exerciser. 
           [0042]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram exemplifying a possible structure of the data communication links, in accordance with the principles of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0043]    One of the objectives of the present invention is to maximize the flexibility of the time schedule for beginning a series of exercises, thereby eliminating the stress inherent to session schedules with predefined starting times. In a preferred form of utilization, the interval of time required for the exerciser to go through all the modules is previously established. Such interval may depend on the time taken at each module. For example, if the exerciser spends equal periods of 5 minutes and 15 seconds at each module, the total duration of the cycle will be 42 minutes. In turn, the period spent at the module may be divided into n phases. For example, there may exist n=7 phases of 45 seconds each, whereof six are change and exercise (CE) phases designated as CE 1 , CE 2 , CE 3 , CE 4 , CE 5  and CE 6 , preceded by a phase RI of recovery and instruction. This latter phase has three main purposes:
       enabling the exerciser to enter the circuit;   providing a time for recovery and/or instruction on the exercise cycles of the new module, such instruction being based on the display of the exercises to be performed on the video terminal of the module;   enabling the exerciser to leave the circuit, whereupon the information is sent to a central control means of the system.       
 
         [0047]    In turn, the CE phases also have three main purposes:
       providing an interval for change from one position to another within the module;   monitoring the maximum exercising time within the position;   feeding back the exercise movie captured by the video camera (in the last position), where such movie may be stored in the memory of the central control means for later use or may be played back by the video terminal of the module. A “movie” or “film” is to be understood as constituting a sequence of images captured during a given period of time, as occurs in a TV clip, for example.       
 
         [0051]    In FIG.  1 - a  there is shown an embodiment of the invention in which the structured space comprises eight modules  11  with identical dimensions, distributed in two groups  12 ,  13  of four modules each. In that distribution, each group is provided with a column or “totem pole”  14 ,  15 , which may be located at the point of convergence of the four vertices or in another convenient position. The separation between those groups is not mandatory, and the eight modules may be grouped together without any spacing between the same. 
         [0052]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the modules form a closed circuit, comprising a sequence 1-2-3 . . . -8 and returning to 1-2-3- . . . . The fact of constituting a closed circuit enables the ingress of the exerciser at any module of the circuit, and his or her gradual progress through the sequence of modules until completing the circuit. However, even in the case that the circuit is not closed, it is not mandatory that the exerciser passes through all the modules, as he or she may leave the circuit after having been through only a part of the same, for example due to limited time availability. 
         [0053]    In FIG.  1 - b  there is illustrated an embodiment in which all the modules form a single group, where the arrows in solid lines indicate the entry and exit points of an exerciser who passes through the entire circuit. The dashed lines exemplify entry and exit points of an exerciser who passes through only a part of the circuit, to with, from module  3  to module  6 . 
         [0054]    Within each module there are two exercise positions: positions a and b in module  1 ; positions c and d in module  2 , and so forth. 
         [0055]    The dimensions of the modules are chosen to allow the simultaneous utilization thereof by two exercisers, such as, for example, 2 m×3 m. The said exercisers will be able to alternate their positions in the various phases comprised in the period of permanence within the module. Considering, for example, module  1  occupied by two exercisers designated as exerciser I and exerciser II, exerciser I will exercise following the sequence a-b-a-b-a-b, and all the while exerciser II will perform the sequence b-a-b-a-b-a. The exercises in positions a and b may be set to stimulate different or complementary groups of muscles, for example, position a may be taken by an extension chair machine (leg extension) and position b may be taken by a flexing chair machine (leg curl), however without such complementary characteristic being mandatory. In some cases, a position might not include the presence of any apparatus, due to the type of exercise to be performed thereat, such as occurs in an arm flexing or push-up exercise that is performed on the floor. 
         [0056]    However, alternating between positions in the various phases might not be mandatory, and the exerciser will be able to repeat the same position twice or more in subsequent phases. Thus, for example, exerciser I might follow the sequence a-a-a-b-b-b and exerciser II might follow the sequence b-b-b-a-a-a. 
         [0057]    In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the modules may be sized to comprehend three positions a, b, c and the two exercisers may perform the sequences a-b-c-a-b-c, for example. Furthermore, such modules may be used by three exercisers who are exercising simultaneously, and in such circumstances the individual dimensions of the modules may be larger, such as, for example, 2 m×4 m, in order to better accommodate the positions a, b and c. In that case, exerciser I may perform the exercises following the sequence a-b-c-a-b-c, exerciser II follows the sequence b-c-a-b-c-a and exerciser III follows the sequence c-a-b-c-a-b, or else, by repeating each position, exerciser I follows the sequence a-a-b-b-c-c, exerciser II follows the sequence b-b-c-c-a-a and exerciser III follows the sequence c-c-a-a-b-b. 
         [0058]    According to what is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , at the center of each group of modules  12  or  13  there is provided a column or totem pole  14 ,  15  that serves as a support for devices that contribute to the interaction with the exercisers such as, for example, terminals provided with touch-screen type display means  16 ,  16 ′. Such terminals may be used to indicate to the exerciser the parameters adopted for the exercises, such as the number of repetitions, weights used, etc. To such end, on entering the circuit, the exerciser will be due to identify himself or herself at the terminal  16 ,  16 ′ of the entry module by means of a password, a name or an alias. Other forms of identification may include cards or ID tags with bar codes, a photograph, digital data, RFID, voice recognition, etc. The data relative to each exerciser is stored in a central memory means and will be available for the next time that the exerciser returns to exercise, and may be displayed at the terminal, during the RI phase. 
         [0059]    The system further comprises, at least, a time counting device, for the benefit of the exercisers, which indicates the time elapsed since the beginning of each phase and the time remaining until conclusion of each phase, as well as the time elapsed and the time remaining relatively to the period. Furthermore, the said device may indicate the time elapsed since the beginning of the period by means of an indication of the phase number. The indications may be audible or visual, or both, and in this case there may be used color areas (bar charts, pie charts, etc.) with shapes, sizes or colors that change gradually with the passage of time. The system may use an indicator for each group of modules (in the case that two groups exist, such as in  FIG. 1 ), mounted on the respective totem pole, or a general indicator for the entire arrangement. The time counter may also be mounted on a wall or any other easily visible location. 
         [0060]    The system may be additionally provided with video cameras, each of those turned towards one of the positions of the modules, for recording the performance of each exercise by the exerciser, allowing the latter to visualize his or her performance by way of a playback at the terminal, in order to allow the correction of eventual errors while still within the module. The said playback may further be run on demand of the exerciser, from any terminal connected to a communication network such as, for example, the Internet. The said cameras may also be used for recognizing the face of the exerciser, in which case the system will be provided with specific software for that purpose. In that case the identification is automatic, obviating the use of a password, a name, an alias or RFID means. 
         [0061]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram that exemplifies the system, comprising a central computer  21  for general control purposes, associated with a terminal  22  and a memory means  24 , and controlled by at least one supervisor  23  who supervises the use of the system, including the occupation of the modules and the performance of the exercises. The system additionally comprises, at the entry point of the circuit, a terminal  17  provided for interaction with the exerciser  18 , that may be complemented by a camera  19  associated with specific face recognition/matching software. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in that figure, the various apparatuses  25 ,  27 ,  29  are provided with usage sensors (not shown), connected by data transmission links to the central computer, which is thereby updated in real time as to the condition (in use, available) of each apparatus. However, the use of such sensors and the respective transmission links is optional, since the monitoring of the condition of the apparatus may be performed by the said supervisor  23 , who will input the corresponding data to the system via the terminal  22 . Furthermore, the at least one supervisor may be provided with a portable terminal (not shown) for data input and eventual two-way interaction with the central control computer, in which case the communication between the latter and the said terminal is provided by means known in the art such as, for example, a two-way radio frequency link, a Bluetooth system, or equivalent means. 
         [0062]    One alternative form of controlling the access to the system is by means of a turnstile provided with identification means, operating by face recognition, RFID, bar code readout from a tag, etc. 
         [0063]    A camera  26 ,  28 ,  31  is associated to each apparatus or position, for the purpose of filming the performance of the exercise by the exerciser, allowing playback and eventual correction of performance of that exercise. The said playback is displayed at the terminals  16 ,  16 ′ associated to the various modules, such terminals being provided with touch-screen type display means that enable the exerciser to interact with the system. This interaction comprises the request of playback of the exercise having been performed, by means of identification of the requesting party, as well as the input of identification data at the time of entry into the circuit or on leaving the circuit, allowing real-time updating of the system occupation database. 
         [0064]    As described, the sequence of entry, permanence and flow of exercisers in the system is based on a computerized central control means  21 , provided with the following input interfaces:
       individual activity sensors (not shown), that are optionally installed in each apparatus and remain in permanent communication with the central control means  21 ;   an interactive terminal  17  operated by the exerciser  18 , through which the exerciser selects a position from those shown to be available in the system and identifies himself or herself by informing his or her name, alias, nickname or individual identification code. The said operation may be performed by means of a touch screen device or any other information input means. The information on availability of the positions is provided by the central control computer  21  and displayed on the screen of the terminal  17 ;   a video camera  19  for face recognition may be associated to the above cited terminal. In this case, there may be dispensed the identification of the exerciser by name, alias, etc., since the system will associate, in real time, the identity of the exerciser—determined by the said recognition software—with the selection of an available position made by the exerciser;   each module may be provided with a camera  26 ,  28 ,  31  for capturing the dynamic images (“film”) of the exerciser during the performance of one or more exercises, these images being stored in a memory means. The playback of this film on the screen of the terminal  16 ,  16 ′ may be requested by the exerciser by means of identification thereof at the said terminal, for example by touching the said screen. The said camera may be associated with a face recognition software application, allowing the association of a certain film with a certain exerciser, restricting the playback for availability only to the performer himself or herself;   the said terminal has a further function of allowing the exerciser to inform his or her exit from the circuit at any one of the modules, thereby enabling the system to be updated in real time;   if the exerciser leaves the circuit without informing the fact, the supervisor  23 , who monitors the performance of the exercises at each module, will input the corresponding information into the system by means of the terminal  22 .       
 
         [0071]    In lieu of the need to consult the general entrance terminal  17  to check which positions are available, the same may be indicated on a large display screen that is permanently updated in real time. In this case, the exerciser, upon choosing one of such positions, enters his or her identification data using the touch screen of terminal  16 ,  16 ′ installed in the module that contains the selected position for his or her entry into the circuit. It should be noted that the ingress into the circuit is not mandatorily made at module  1 , and the exerciser may enter the circuit at any intermediate module that has an available position. Advantageously, the monitor  16 ,  16 ′ may display to the exerciser the exercises that the latter is supposed to perform within the module, as well as the conditions attendant to such exercises, the weight to be used, etc., based on the individual information stored in the memory  24  of the system. 
         [0072]    The system may be provided with software intended to adapt the exercise conditions to the individual characteristics of the exercisers. Thus, for example, the conditions indicated in the monitor of terminals  16 ,  16 ′ may be modified in accordance with the evolution of the physical conditions of the exerciser, with an increase in the number of repetitions, gradual increase of the weights used, and so forth. Furthermore, the modifications may be adjusted in accordance with the interval between sessions: for example, in the case of an exerciser that was absent for a period of several weeks, the terminal might indicate the use of lighter weights comparatively to those used in the last session, thereby avoiding the possibility of musculoskeletal lesions. In a variant of the proposed system, the exerciser may use a device for measuring the heart rate, for example, such device being in permanent communication with the central control computer (by means of a two-way RF link, Bluetooth, etc). The said software will monitor the said heart rate, allowing to adapt the exercise conditions—based on the exerciser&#39;s specific data stored in the mass memory means—and may further trigger an alarm if the said heart rate exceeds a certain threshold (according to the exerciser&#39;s age, for example). 
         [0073]    Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific form of embodiment, it should be understood that modifications might be made thereto by technicians skilled in the art, within the conceptual boundaries of the invention. Thus, for example, a format other than rectangular may be adopted for some or all of the modules, for example, arranging the same to form groups of five or six triangles, and the modules may be further arranged to form a circle without contacting one another. Furthermore, the columns or totem poles may be provided with elements for fastening of accessories by the exercisers, such as, for example, hooks or rings for temporary installation of elastic resistance bands or similar gym accessories. 
         [0074]    The invention is therefore delimited and defined by the set of claims that follows hereafter.