Patent Publication Number: US-10309641-B1

Title: Methods and systems for indicating an exercise footprint

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to exercise assemblies. 
     BACKGROUND 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,084,325, which is incorporated herein by reference in entirety discloses a resistance device with a combination of power-generating and eddy-current magnetic resistance having an outer fly wheel fastened on a central axle of a frame and fitted with a permanent magnet on the inner circular edge to form a rotor type, and the fly wheel is connected with a stator core fastened on the frame; more, one end of the central axle is stretching out of the frame and fitted with a belt wheel; the front end of the frame is fitted with a resistance device core adjacent to the outer edge of the fly wheel to supply a planned eddy current magnetic resistance to the fly wheel; in accordance with such design, the device generates power by means of the exercise force of users to drive the fly wheel to rotate, after passing through a DC power supply, it provides display and controlling gage with power source so that the power-generating and the eddy current magnetic resistance are integrated to reach the effect of reducing the volume and the producing cost. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,479,093, which is incorporated herein by reference in entirety discloses exercise apparatus having a pair of handles pivotally mounted on a frame and guiding respective user arm motions along swing paths obliquely approaching the sagittal plane of the user. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,931,566, which is incorporated herein by reference in entirety, discloses exercise apparatus, which may be an elliptical cross trainer, having a rotating inertial flywheel driven by user-engaged linkage exercising a user. A user-actuated resistance device engages and stops rotation of the flywheel upon actuation by the user. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 8,272,997, which is incorporated herein by reference in entirety, discloses a dynamic link mechanism in an elliptical step exercise apparatus that can be used to vary the stride length of the machine. A control system can also be used to vary stride length as a function of various exercise and operating parameters such as speed and direction as well as varying stride length as a part of a preprogrammed exercise routine such as a hill or interval training program. In addition the control system can use measurements of stride length to optimize operation of the apparatus. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,717,833, which is incorporated herein by reference in entirety, discloses adjustable exercise machines, apparatuses, and systems. The disclosed machines, apparatuses, and systems typically include an adjustable, reversible mechanism that utilizes pivoting arms and a floating pulley. The disclosed machines, apparatuses, and systems typically are configured for performing pushing and pulling exercises and may provide for converging and diverging motion. 
     SUMMARY 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     In certain examples, a method of indicating an exercise footprint includes providing an exercise assembly having at least one exercise member that moves within the exercise footprint and controlling at least one illumination source to illuminate a floor surface to indicate at least a portion of the exercise footprint. 
     One embodiment of a system for indicating an exercise footprint includes an exercise assembly having a frame and at least one exercise member that moves within an exercise footprint, wherein the exercise footprint extends outside of a footprint of the frame. The system also includes an illumination source that illuminates a floor surface to indicate at least a portion of the exercise footprint. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Examples of systems and methods of the present disclosure are described with reference to the following drawing figures. The same numbers are used throughout the drawing figures to reference like features and components. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exercise assembly incorporating the disclosed systems and methods. 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of an exercise assembly incorporating another embodiment of systems and methods disclosed herein. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of an exercise assembly demonstrating concepts disclosed herein. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram providing one embodiment of a system for indicating an exercise footprint. 
         FIG. 5  is one embodiment of a method of indicating an exercise footprint. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the present description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be inferred therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes only and are intended to be broadly construed. The different assemblies described herein may be used alone or in combination with other apparatuses. Various equivalents, alternatives, and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims. 
       FIGS. 1-3  depict one example of an exercise assembly  10  having a frame  12 , including  12   a - 12   e , a pair of elongated foot pedals  14 , a pair of elongated coupler arms  22 , a pair of crank members  18 , and a pair of elongated rocker arms  20 . The elongated foot pedals  14 , coupler arms  22 , and rocker arms  20  are all pivotally connected such that movement of the elongated foot pedals  14  in an elliptical motion cause the rocker arms  20  to pivot back and forth, and vice versa. Each elongated foot pedal  14  has a pair of foot pads  16  for supporting a user&#39;s feet. Each foot pad  16  is disposed on a rear portion of each one of the pair of elongated foot pedals  14 . Each rocker arm  20  has a lower portion that is pivotally connected to one of the pair of elongated foot pedals  14  at a location that is between the foot pad  16  and the crank member  18 . Any suitable type of pivotal connection can be employed. In this example, a connection member  31  extends vertically upwardly from the elongated foot pedal  14  and pivotally connects a lower portion of the rocker arm  20  to the elongated foot pedal  14 . 
     The exercise assembly  10  has a frame  12 , including portions  12   a - 12   e , that provides structural stability to the assembly  10 . The frame  12  has a front portion  12   a , side portions  12   b , and a bottom portion  12   c . The frame  12  also has a front end  12   d , being the front-most portion of the frame  12 , and a back end  12   e , which is the back-most portion of the frame  12 . Each rocker arm  20  has an upper portion that is directly or indirectly pivotally connected to the front portion  12   a  of the frame at the pivotal joint  21 . The manner of pivotal connection to the front frame portion  12   a  can vary. Handles  46  are disposed on a top end of each of the pair of rocker arms  20  and extend upwardly. The pivotal connection between the front frame portion  12   a  and the rocker arms  20  is such that movement of either handle  46  in a forward or backward motion causes both rocker arms  20  to pivot about joint  21 . The pivot joints  21  of each of the rocker arms  20  are connected such that the pivoting movement of each rocker arm  20  is translated to the other rocker arm  20  via link members. The front frame portion  12   a  also connects to the top end of the coupler arm  22  via pivot joint  24 . The bottom end of each coupler arm  22  connects to one of the elongated foot pedals  14  via crank member  18 . 
     The exercise assembly  10  may further comprise a console  28  allowing a user to input controls to the control unit  45  and/or to display exercise information and/or entertainment to the user. As shown more generally in  FIG. 4 , an exercise assembly  10  may include movable exercise members  43  movable by a user to provide a fitness activity for that user. The exercise assembly  10  may further comprise a power source  41  connected to the exercise members  43 , a control unit  45 , an illumination source  34 , and a console  28 . The control unit  45  may control the exercise members  43 , for example to increase or limit the motion of the exercise members  43  or to increase or decrease the tension applied to the exercise members  43 . 
     Referring again to the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , the frame portions  12   a - 12   e  of the exercise assembly  10  generally surround at least a portion of an exercise area occupied by a user operating the exercise assembly  10 . For example, a user standing on the foot pads  16  and grasping the handles  26  to operate the exercise assembly  10  may be conducting most of their motion within the confines of the side frame portions  12   b  and the front and back frame ends  12   d ,  12   e . However, as with many types of exercise assemblies  10 , some portion of the user&#39;s motion and or some portion of the exercise assembly  10  may extend outside of one or more of the frame portions  12   a - 12   e . Thereby, the footprint of the exerciser&#39;s motion and or the motion of the exercise assembly, or the floor surface occupied or covered by the 3-dimensional motion, extends outside of a footprint of the frame  12 . For example, when the exercise assembly  10  of  FIGS. 1-3  is in use, the foot pads  16  may alternately extend past the back frame end  12   e . Likewise, the legs and back side of a user standing on the foot pads  16  may also extend past the back frame end  12   e . Similarly, the coupler arm  22 , crank member  18 , and/or the front portion of the elongated foot pedal  14  may extend past the front frame end  12   d.    
     Similarly, in other embodiments of exercise assemblies the user&#39;s exercise motion and/or an exercise member of the exercise assembly may extend well outside some or all portions of the frame of that exercise assembly. To provide additional examples, a user of a row machine may extend their arms past side frame portions of the row machine and the user&#39;s head and shoulders may extend past a back end of the frame of the row machine. Likewise, skier assemblies may have ski boards that, when in use, extend beyond the front and/or back ends of a frame of the skier. Furthermore, use of exercise assemblies involving weight lifting may require motion that extends beyond the footprint of the frame, such as in cable motion weight lifting assemblies where cable travel may be extensive. 
     The present inventor has recognized that problems may arise where use of an exercise assembly causes exercise members and/or the user&#39;s body to extend outside of a footprint of a frame of the exercise assembly. For example, a passerby that ventures too close to the exercise assembly could get hit by a moving exercise member  43  of the exercise assembly, such as the coupler arm  22  or the foot pads  16  of the exemplary exercise assembly  10  in  FIGS. 1-3 . Likewise, the passerby could get hit by the user exercising on the exercise assembly  10 . This can be hazardous for the passerby and the user. Furthermore, the inventor has recognized that problems can arise where exercise assemblies  10  are placed too close together or too close to an obstacle, where insufficient room is provided for safe use of the exercise assembly  10 . For example, if exercise assemblies are installed based on the footprint of a frame  12  without consideration of the full range of motion of the user and of the exercise members comprising the exercise assembly  10 —i.e., without consideration of the exercise footprint  30 —then a hazardous situation may arise when the exercise assemblies are in use. This problem could arise in a home gym where a user installs an exercise assembly  10  too close to an obstacle, or it could arise in a fitness center where multiple exercise assemblies are being operated simultaneously in a confined space. 
     Furthermore, through experimentation and research, the inventor of the present application has recognized that prior art solutions for avoiding the above-mentioned problems have been insufficient. For example, prior art solutions have included the use of mats and/or frame extension members intended to increase the safety of an exercise assembly  10  by providing guidelines for proper spacing during installation and by preventing passersby from venturing too close to the exercise assembly  10  while it is in use. However, these items may not be visible enough to passersby and thus may not provide adequate warning. Additionally, these mats and frame extension members may get left off of the machines during installation, or removed thereafter, since they are not permanently attached to the machine itself. 
     Accordingly, the inventor has recognized a need for a method and system for demarcating a sufficient area for safe use of an exercise assembly. In the solution provided by the inventor and disclosed herein, an exercise footprint of an exercise assembly is indicated on a floor surface using illumination. The exercise footprint  30  is a 2D area on the floor surface representing the 3D space necessary for safe use of the exercise assembly, which may be the 3D space occupied by the exercise assembly  10  and the user while the exercise assembly  10  is in use. Referring to the example of  FIGS. 1-3 , the exercise footprint  30  is illuminated on the floor surface, which may be a floor  40  ( FIG. 1 ) or a floor piece  36  ( FIG. 2 ). 
     The exercise footprint  30  includes an area on the floor surface  36 ,  40  large enough to represent the motion of the exercise assembly  10  in use. Turning to  FIG. 3 , exercise members of the exercise assembly  10  move forward and back occupying an exercise footprint  30  having a length L on the floor surface  36 ,  40  which is longer than the extent of the length of the frame  12  from the front frame end  12   d  to the back frame end  12   e . The length L of the exercise footprint  30  indicates the range of motion of the exercise members of the exercise assembly  10 . In certain embodiments, the exercise footprint  30  may also include the range of motion of a user where the user&#39;s motion extends past or outside of the exercise assembly  10  or the footprint of the frame  12 . In still other embodiments, the exercise footprint  30  may define an area on the floor surface  36 ,  40  needed to safely operate the exercise assembly  10 . Thus, the exercise footprint  30  may extend outside the range of motion of the exercise members  43  of the exercise assembly  10  and/or the user to provide additional space to insure safety of a user and/or a passerby. For example, the exercise footprint  30  may be designed to provide guidance to a passerby regarding where not to walk, stand, or exercise on a floor  40  to avoid collision with the exercise assembly  10  or a user thereof. In such an embodiment, the exercise footprint  30  may be demarcated on the floor surface  36 ,  40  to account for the range of space occupied by the passerby, in addition to that of the exercise assembly  10  and the user thereof. 
     One or more illumination sources  34  are associated with the exercise assembly  10  to illuminate the floor surface  36 ,  40  to indicate at least a portion of the exercise footprint  30 . In an embodiment, the illumination sources  34  may be incorporated into the exercise assembly, such as into one or more of the frame portions  12   a - 12   e . The illumination sources  34  may be, for example, any device or system that focuses light onto a distinct boundary in order to demarcate the exercise footprint  30 . In an exemplary embodiment, the illumination sources  34  may comprise one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) or laser diodes configured to project light onto the floor surface  36 ,  40  in order to indicate some or all of the exercise footprint  30 . For example, in the embodiment represented in  FIG. 1 , illumination sources  34  are incorporated into the bottom portion of the frame  12   c  and arranged to project light onto the floor surface  36 ,  40  to illuminate and demarcate the entire boundary of the exercise footprint  30 . In other embodiments, the illumination sources  34  may be configured to illuminate only a portion of the exercise footprint  30  and the floor surface  36 ,  40 . For example,  FIG. 2  provides an embodiment having a front illumination source  34   a  that illuminates a front portion of the exercise footprint  30   a  and a rear illumination source  34   b  that illuminates a rear portion of the exercise footprint  30   b.    
     The illumination source  34  that illuminates the exercise footprint  30 , or at least a portion thereof, may be incorporated into a body of the exercise assembly  10  (such as in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ) or incorporated into an accessory or attachment to the exercise assembly  10 . As shown in the example of  FIG. 2 , the illumination source  34  may be incorporated into a floor piece  36  and configured to cover at least a portion of the exercise footprint  30 . For example, the floor piece  36  may comprise an extension member  32  configured to connect to the bottom portion of the frame  12   c  to effectively extend the frame out to cover at least a portion of the exercise footprint  30 . Alternatively or additionally, the floor piece  36  may comprise a mat  37  configured to cover at least a portion of the exercise footprint  30 . The floor piece  36  should be configured to provide or enable illumination of at least a portion of the exercise footprint  30 . In  FIG. 2 , the front portion of the exercise footprint  30   a  is illuminated by illumination source  34   a  fixed to the exercise assembly  10  and projecting light onto the extension member  32 . The extension member  32  may extend from front frame portion  12   b  to extend past the front frame end  12   d . The extension member  32  may have a reflective portion  38  configured to reflect light from the illumination source sufficiently that the light can be seen on the extension member  32 . The reflective portion  38  may have a reflective material thereon, such as a flexible reflective fabric or paint. In other embodiments, the reflective portion  38  may be any material that reflects light emitted from the illumination source  34  sufficiently to provide a visible indication of the exercise footprint  30 . 
     In other embodiments comprising a floor piece  36 , a mat  37  has an illumination source incorporated therein. For example, a mat  37  may have embedded LEDs or laser diodes providing indication of the exercise footprint  30 . Alternatively or additionally, the mat  37  may incorporate fiber optic cabling demarcating the exercise footprint  30 . In the example of  FIG. 2 , the rear end of the exercise footprint  30   b  is illuminated by one or more illumination sources  34   b  embedded into the mat  37  that extends from the back end of the frame  12   e.    
     The illumination source  34  may be powered by the power source  41  of the exercise assembly  10 . For example, the exercise assembly  10  may be powered by alternating-current (ac) electric power, for example from a wall socket. In such an embodiment, the illumination source  34  may be powered through circuitry in the exercise assembly  10 . Alternatively or additionally, the exercise assembly  10  may be powered by user-generated motion, for example by a power-generating resistance device that utilizes the exercise motion and energy provided by the user to power the components of the exercise assembly  10 . Examples of such systems are known in the art, such as that provided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,084,325 which has been incorporated herein by reference. 
     In some embodiments, the control unit  45  may control the illumination source  34  to adjust the illumination of the exercise footprint  30  according to changes in movement of the exercise members  43 . For example, the control unit  45  may adjust the range of movement of one or more of the exercise members  43 , for example in response to inputs from the user through the exercise console  28 . The one or more illumination sources  34  may then be adjusted to adjust the indication of the exercise footprint  30  according to the change in the exercise footprint  30 . Alternatively or additionally, the one or more illumination sources  34  may indicate movement of an exercise member  43  or a user on the exercise assembly  10 . For example, in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , an illumination source may illuminate the floor surface  36 ,  40  to indicate a path of movement of the elongated foot pedals  14  and coupler arms  22 . 
     The one or more illumination sources  34  may further be configured to provide a “setup” footprint to ensure that sufficient area is provided for safe installation and use of the exercise assembly  10 . In such an embodiment, the illumination sources  34  may illuminate the floor surface  36 ,  40  to provide the largest possible exercise footprint  30 , or even a larger area, to ensure that sufficient space is provided for safe use of the exercise assembly  10 . In still other embodiments, the one or more illumination sources  34  may be configured to provide additional information in addition to indicating the exercise footprint  30 . For example, the exercise footprint  30 , or a portion thereof, may be indicated by illumination displaying exercise metrics, logos, advertisements, or the like. 
       FIG. 5  provides one embodiment of a method  50  of indicating an exercise footprint. At step  52 , motion of an exercise member is detected. An exercise footprint is determined at step  54 . The exercise footprint may be determined based on the motion of the exercise member. For example, the control unit  45  may determine an exercise footprint  54  based on the settings of the exercise assembly  10 . For example, the control unit  45  may access a lookup table providing settings for the one or more illumination sources  34  based on the modes or settings in use for the exercise assembly  10 , including stride length settings, tension settings, position settings, speed settings, exercise mode, or the like. At step  56 , the control unit  45  controls one or more of the illumination sources  34  to illuminate at least a portion of the exercise footprint  30  on the floor surface  36 ,  40 . At step  58 , the control unit  45  detects changes in the exercise footprint  30 , such as in response to a user input through the console  28 . When changes in the exercise footprint  30  are detected at step  58 , a new exercise footprint is determined at step  59 , and the control unit returns to step  56  where it controls the illumination source  34  to indicate the new exercise footprint  30 . 
     In some embodiments, the illumination  34  may indicate the exercise footprint  30  only while the exercise assembly  10  is in use. For example, the control unit  45  may activate the illumination source  34  upon detection of movement of one or more exercise members  43 . In other embodiments, the control unit  45  may operate the illumination source  34  on a time schedule, such as during the operation hours of a fitness center. In still other embodiments, the control unit  45  may operate the illumination source  34  at all times when the exercise assembly  10  is operable. 
     In the embodiment of the method  50  depicted in  FIG. 5 , the control unit  45  detects motion of an exercise member  43  at step  60 . While motion is detected, the control unit  45  continues to operate the illumination source  34  to indicate at least a portion of the exercise footprint  30 . When motion is no longer detected at step  60 , the control unit  45  turns off the illumination source at step  62 . 
     In the above description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be inferred therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. The different systems and method steps described herein may be used alone or in combination with other systems and methods. It is to be expected that various equivalents, alternatives and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims.