Abstract:
An exercise apparatus and method comprises an internet enabled display device operatively connected to the exercise apparatus such as a treadmill allowing a user to exercise while using the internet for emailing, shopping or general browsing. At least one thumb activated input device is disposed on a gripping area of the apparatus allowing a user to control a pointing device while exercising. In order to motivate the user to maintain and meet optimum physiological reading parameters, the apparatus utilizes a control system that varies the output to the display device depending on the user&#39;s activity. If the heart-rate or other physiological reading indicator is outside of selected goal parameters, the display becomes less useable. As the user adjusts the level of exercise output and returns within the acceptable parameters, the display is restored to optimum usability.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    During the 90&#39;s, the percentage of overweight and obese people in the United States jumped to over 60 percent. Perhaps as disturbing is the trend for our youth to be overweight as well. Heart disease and other health problems are believed to be the result of our ever increasing waistlines. Although experts seem to be continually changing their recommendations concerning our diet, almost all agree that exercising is an important component to a healthy lifestyle. While our ancestors tended to work at much more physical jobs that made the need for regimented and consistent exercise less important, the modern lifestyle filled with time and labor saving devices combined with an increase in “office” jobs and television and video entertainment has really heightened the need for deliberate exercise. 
         [0002]    An explosion in health clubs and gyms has accompanied our desire to trim down, but the majority of people who join these establishments drop out after only a short period of time. Many people purchase home exercise equipment and many of these devices become clothes racks or dust catchers as people find themselves unmotivated to use them after a period of time. Many people perceive themselves to be too busy or tired to exercise and prefer to relax in front of the television or computer monitor as they surf the internet. Often people tend to “lose track of time” chatting with friends, reading and writing emails, shopping, etc. while browsing the world wide web, but this does little to help with exercise. 
         [0003]    A need exists for an exercise apparatus and system appealing to users that lack a high level of commitment to an exercise program and allows them to engage in other activities while exercising. Additionally, a need exists for an exercise apparatus that motivates and rewards the user; thereby encouraging continued exercising and adoption of a healthier lifestyle. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    An exercise system and apparatus comprises an internet enabled display device operatively connected to the exercise apparatus such as a treadmill allowing a user to exercise while using the internet for emailing, shopping or general browsing. At least one thumb activated input device is disposed on a gripping area of the apparatus allowing a user to control a pointing device while exercising. In order to motivate the user to maintain and meet optimum physiological reading parameters, the apparatus utilizes a control system that varies the output to the display device depending on the user&#39;s activity. If the heart-rate or other physiological reading indicator is outside of selected goal parameters, the display becomes less useable. As the user adjusts the level of exercise output and returns to within the acceptable parameters, the display is restored to optimum usability. 
         [0005]    Other features and advantages of the instant invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective of view of yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a front view showing a console display according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a front view showing a console display according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a front view of a thumb input device according to the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a thumb input device according to the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart depicting the logic of the control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    Reference is now made to the drawings in which reference numerals refer to like elements.  FIGS. 1-3  show an exercise apparatus of the present invention in which the exercise apparatus  5  comprises a frame  12  made of metal or other suitably strong material to stabilize apparatus  5 . Frame  12  has nonskid treads (not shown) or pads along a bottom portion therein to ensure that exercise apparatus  5  does not move during use. Although frame  12  is shown having a substantially rectangular shape, it is understood that other configurations such as a tubular frame are suitable. 
         [0015]    A vertical support and handrail  30  is provided to allow the user to comfortably and safely mount exercise apparatus  5  and to provide a gripping portion during use. Vertical support and handrail  30  has only one full support side and a smaller rail section on an opposite side. This enables easy access to exercise apparatus  5 . Although exercise apparatus  5  is shown having only one full size handrail  30 , same size handrails would be acceptable and rails could extend the full length of frame  12  or any length less than full. 
         [0016]    A tread  10  is provided allowing the user to walk, jog or run depending on personal selection settings. Tread  10  rolls on rollers (not shown) rotatably connected to frame  12  as is known in the art. Tread  10  is controlled by circuitry allowing the user to select the level of activity desired with the system programming making the required adjustments in the performance of tread  10  as is known in the art. Of course, other apparatus would be suitable for use with the present invention such as a stair climber (not shown), stationary bicycle (not shown), or any other suitable exercise apparatus. 
         [0017]    A housing  35  encloses the electronics (not shown) necessary to operate exercise apparatus  5  as is known in the art. Additionally, housing  35  covers an internet enabled device (not shown) such as a computer with an internet connection. A display device  15  displays both exercise specific information and internet content depending on user input. Display  15  is a touch sensitive LCD panel as is known in the art and allows the user to input selected information such as age, weight, sex, etc. enabling a control program to tailor specific exercise routines and goals as is known in the art. Of course, other displays could be used such as plasma screen or CRT device to display the required information. Input could be provided in the form of a keyboard instead of touch screen. 
         [0018]    At least one USB port  25  is provided to allow a user a convenient way to store personal information without the need to enter the information prior to each use. A flash card (not shown) is inserted into USB port  25  and is read by the computer (not shown) as is known in the art. Each user simply inserts a personal memory device into USB port  25  for customized exercise activities without the need for constant re-entry of information. Other embodiments are suitable such as an internal hard drive accessible by computer (not shown) to allow customization without re-entry of information. Multiple users could be accommodated depending on the size of the memory unit (not shown) installed. Additionally, USB port  25  could be located at any other convenient location such as on housing  35  or handrail  30 . To allow the user to input information while exercising, at least one thumb operated input device  20  is disposed on handrail  30 . Other input configurations are acceptable such as WiFi, Bluetooth, infrared, etc as is known in the art. 
         [0019]    Now referring to  FIG. 2 , a computer  40  is mounted directly on display  15  as is known in the art. In this embodiment, control systems are implemented within software instructions run by a CPU (not shown) as is known in the art. Physiological information is graphically displayed on display  15  and the user enters information by touching the appropriate area of display  15  as is known in the art. An internet connection such as DSL, T1, dial-up modem, WiFi or any other suitable connection as is known in the art is used to connect computer  40  to the internet. 
         [0020]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , an embodiment is shown having a physiological readings console  45  mounted on handrail  30  allowing continuous monitoring of physiological readings without requiring space on display  15 . Although console  45  is shown appearing below display  15 , other arrangements are contemplated such as a side mounted console (not shown), top mounted console (not shown) or mounting console  45  to some other convenient location. 
         [0021]      FIGS. 4 and 5  depict two embodiments of physiological readings consoles  45  and  47  respectively. Physiological readings console  45  is shown having three display areas  52 ,  50  and  48  where physiological reading information such as heart-rate, target heart-rate, etc. is displayed as is known in the art. Buttons  54 ,  56  and  58  allow resets and cycling of information displayed. Physiological readings console  47  is shown having programmable display  57  used to display physiological information such as heart-rate. Information is displayed graphically to allow the user to quickly interpret his or her level of activity and performance while exercising. Input slide switches  51  and  49  are provided to vary selectable parameters such as contrast, sound etc. User selects display information using buttons  53 . Other embodiments are suitable such as touch screen input (not shown) instead of buttons  53  and are known in the art. It is well known in the art to monitor heart rate and to output the results as an electrical signal which can further be processed or displayed depending on the desired function. An example of a system that measures heart beat on a treadmill is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,866 to Lo et al dated Mar. 11, 2003 which the applicant incorporates herein by reference. The patent to Lo utilizes a grip which the user holds while exercising. The grip holds conventional sensors to measure heart beats. U.S. Pat. No. 4,319,581 to Cutter issued on Mar. 16, 1982 which the applicant incorporates herein by reference, discloses monitoring a user&#39;s heart pulse rate by gripping handles with built in sensors. Of course other methods of measuring physiological indicators are known in the art such as infra-red transducers, finger cuffs, etc. and would be suitable to provide input the control program. 
         [0022]    It is well known in the art to calculate ideal heart rate ranges for individuals and the ideal rate depends on age, general health condition, etc. One known calculation has a user subtracting their age from 220 and calculating between 65% to 75% as a target heart rate. Other factors such as weight are also important and can be used to tailor use of the present invention. One indicator used when exercising is known as “burn rate.” This is a measurement of the calories used per unit of time such as cal/hr. There is generally a direct relationship between burn rate and weight. For example, a 220 lb individual will have a burn rate twice that of a 110 lb person. Age and desirable burn rate is typically linear with a 20 year old having nearly twice the maximum burn rate as allowed for a 70 year old. The present invention allows a user to select between at least a light and moderate exercise routine. Additionally, a strenuous setting could be added as an option for more advanced users. 
         [0023]    Now with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a thumb operated input device  20  is shown having a touch sensitive surface that converts the movement of a thumb  21  to pointing input for computer (not shown) as is known in the art. Other input configurations are suitable such as mounting a joystick (not shown) on handrail  30  ( FIGS. 1-3 ) or other pointing device as is known in the art. Thumb operated input device  20  is customizable allowing user to optimize the pointer movement facilitating use while exercising. 
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart outlining the logic used by the present invention to provide motivation for the user. A user starts the exercise routine  100  by activating exercise apparatus  5  ( FIGS. 1-3 ). If the user has a saved profile  110 , the selected profile is displayed  120  for review by the user. If the user does not have a saved profile, then the user is prompted to select and/or enter information  115  such as weight, height, sex etc. so that an exercise program can be selected that matches the user&#39;s goals and health status. The inputted profile is displayed for review by user  120 . If the user wants to edit the profile, he or she is returned to the manual input stage  115  and is given the opportunity to edit the settings and then the profile is redisplayed  120  for approval. If the user approves the profile  125 , a start page is displayed which begins the selected exercise routine. As the user exercises, physiological reading information  135  such as heart-rate, rotational speed, pulse, etc. is sent to control program  140  for sampling. If the physiological readings are within the goal parameters  145 , the display screen is optimized for usability  155 . However, if the physiological readings fall outside the goal ranges  145 , then the screen output is affected in such a way as to reduce usability  150  such as blurring of the screen, dimming or adjusting the contrast or by fading or becoming increasingly transparent as is known in the art thereby motivating the user to adjust his or her behavior returning the physiological readings within the goal ranges and restoring usability of the display. The display function  155  is returned to control program  140  for sampling at predefined intervals to provide real-time feedback to the user. In another embodiment, the user is warned that his or her activity is falling outside of the goal parameters before display usability is reduced. Additionally, the screen could be made to flash or a simple audio warning could be repeated until the physiological readings are back within acceptable parameters. 
         [0025]    Although the instant invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art.