Abstract:
An exercise-diligence-encouragement and coaching system, providing a small and widely configurable position-sensing device to existing weightlifting machines which provide resistance by leveraging the weight of a rack of vertically-stacked incremental weights. The position-sensing device communicates with a mobile device kept in view of a user of the weightlifting machine, to provide live instructions to the user and track progress of the user over time and tailor future exercises. Location of the device, type of sensor used, power source, and method of communication are all variable.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to provisional patent application No. 61/948,015 filed on 4 Mar. 2014. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to fields of exercise equipment and exercise recording and monitoring equipment, devices for exercise planning, live instruction and feedback, coaching, analyzing, scheduling. It also relates to wireless communications, pulleys, linkages, selectable weights, strain measuring devices, optical sensors, magnetic sensors, distance sensors, networked devices, wired communications, and smart-connection-powered devices. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Exercise is most plainly beneficial to increasing strength and endurance, but its potentially greatest benefit is that it is key to health and mobility with aging. It also has more immediate benefits of lowering stress, and of a more speculative nature, fostering a sense of well-being and organization. While these benefits are well-recognized, avoidance and ineffective exercise persist, despite countless variations of equipment, training professionals, structured routines, and methods of monitoring progress. Further, disorganized efforts to keep to a routine and poorly performed routines defeat the ability of an exercise routine to deliver its potential benefits 
         [0004]    One notoriously neglected and poorly-executed form of exercise is weightlifting. Strength exercises, and specifically weightlifting, are generally performed in short sets of controlled movements against a specifically selected continuous and consistent degree of resistance. The strict constraints of each exercise allow for targeting a small group of muscles in a short period of time, and allow for more rapid and efficient improvement in areas of relative weakness. The significant benefit provided by a relatively small quantity of acts, or repetitions, engenders the value of each set of repetitions a relatively high value to attaining the benefit of the regimen. 
         [0005]    Despite a weightlifting routine&#39;s relative time efficiency and small quantity of motions compared to other exercises, it is generally impractical and unhealthy to attempt performing a broad range of weightlifting exercises at any one time. Multiple routines must be expected in order to achieve the highest cumulative benefit. 
         [0006]    Because a regimen of weightlifting routines must be regularly repeated and contain differently-targeted exercises, weightlifting regimens, perhaps more than other exercise, must be scheduled. Because of weightlifting&#39;s ability to target areas of the greatest improvement, regimens should prioritize conducting routines tailored to those areas in order to offer the best benefits. Because the highest benefits come from meticulous attendance to quantity and quality of performing each repetition of each set of a cumulative weightlifting routine. Therefore, weightlifting routines have many potential modes of failure to provide their highest benefit. 
         [0007]    Therefore, in order to address these numerous and disparate potential modes of failure, there is a need to provide an effective tool and method which can foster and encourage behavior to attend to each tier of potential error: repetitions, sets, routines, schedules, and regimens. 
         [0008]    Further, in order for such a tool to be successful to aid an individual maintain a weightlifting regimen, in a way that previous tools and methods have not, for lack of pervasive reminder and encouragement, it is sensible to seek to provide a tool that takes advantage of the latest technologies which are pervasive in our lives. 
         [0009]    A related problem is the convenience of implementing such tools in settings where weightlifting may occur. In a home, weightlifting exercises are generally performed in a solitary manner, and there is little need for coordinating use of any particular space or equipment between multiple users. However, home weightlifting exercises are generally limited to a only a few pieces of equipment, and usually do not warrant the very large expense and space commitment to have a range of equipment to facilitate a comprehensive regimen&#39;s broad range of exercises. As a result, good weightlifting regimens are most reasonably made practicable at a commercial gym. 
         [0010]    Commercial gyms can provide a wide range of exercises, including cardiovascular-benefiting classes and continuous-movement machines such as treadmills and elliptical machines, but those are generally able to be neatly used amongst many users, simply by the ordinary nature of a class beginning and ending at a pre-arranged time and waiting for someone to complete their use of a treadmill in a reasonably estimable amount of time. However, the great range of weightlifting exercise machines that are used in any individual&#39;s routine require many people sharing space to coordinate turns and attempt to be courteous to others by not consuming too much time on any particular machine. Without a plan for using each machine, a weightlifter may select exercises at random, fail to do an optimal number of sets or fail to complete enough repetitions in sets. 
         [0011]    Therefore, because an expectation of timely use and coordination of machine use is a large factor in regular performance of a consistent series of exercises, it would be beneficial if the tool, with which to provide an individual a better way to use the present pervasive technologies to perform weightlifting repetitions, sets, routines, schedules, and regimens, could be tailored to streamline each machine&#39;s use, and conveniently conduct use of each machine according to a strictly conducted and timed set of steps. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The present invention is generally embodied in the form of a small sensor device that mounts to either the frame or weights of a weightlifting machine that provides resistance by use of a linkage or system of pulleys to translate the motion of an exercise into lifting an incrementally-selectable number of vertically-stacked weights. The sensor device can use a variety of sensors to detect the position of the weights and then communicate data about the position of the selected weights to a mobile device, preferably a smart phone. 
         [0013]    To use the data communicated from the sensor device, a mobile device runs an application to count each time the device has registered data that corresponds to the weights reaching the position corresponding to a “repetition,” where a single motion of an exercise has been completed and will then be returned to a starting position, in order to be repeated. 
         [0014]    To encourage the exerciser to finish a set of repetitions, the application presents instructions and a count of how many repetitions they&#39;ve performed or have left to complete. While exercising, the mobile device can be held atop a stand that can be elevated and easily relocated relative to any user or machine in order to afford a view of the application&#39;s instructions on the screen of the mobile device. Convenient viewing allows the exercise to be performed without disturbing correct use of a machine. 
         [0015]    The application also has functions to tabulate use and performance of each sort of exercise, coordinate the exercise within a routine, schedule the routine according to a built in calendar, track performance and conformity to such exercise routines, and help develop better-tailored regimens for exercise, as time goes-on. The application can also issue reminders to prevent forgetting or neglecting to exercise. 
         [0016]    All embodiments of the invention comprise at least one component from each of three essential categories of components, or otherwise provide the function of any three, in the case of a component that can function in more than one category. The categories are: sensors, communication methods and devices, and power. 
         [0017]    Sensors include optical, distance, and electromagnetic sensors. Whichever sensor is used, it is monitored by a logic component, preferably a microcontroller, to translate sensor signals into meaningful, communicable data. Communications include wireless and wired connections. Wireless communications preferred are device-to-device, such as Bluetooth and device-to-network, such as Wifi. Preferred wired communications include network cables, serial connections, and smart connections, such as USB. Power devices include batteries, wired DC power, wired AC power, and smart connections, such as usb. 
         [0018]    Displays are a necessary fourth category, but generally are less varied than the other three. It is contemplated that a variety of forms of displays are possible, whether wired, wireless, or built into the sensor device or the stand. If built into the sensor device, a mobile device may be unnecessary, but preferred embodiments use mobile devices that carry a display screen and receive the data communicated from the sensor device, to provide greater flexibility in affording convenient usage and furthering the goal of the invention to encourage regular personal tracking of one&#39;s own routine by embedding the behavior in devices that will be carried with users as part of their existing daily routines. 
         [0019]    A conceived accessory in a future embodiment would include a “smart” weight-engagement pin. Strain-measuring devices are able to both support a load as well as provide a measurement of the load applied to it. A typical weight-retaining pin used in vertical weight-rack machines could be replaced with one that employs strain measurement devices. Such a pin might also be equipped with a communications device, and thus be able to communicate the amount of weight lifted by an exerciser and thereby provide another dimension of information communicated to the application for tabulation. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a weightlifting system of the prior art that provides resistance with vertically-stacked weights 
           [0021]      FIG. 1 : shows a prior art weightlifting system, at rest 
           [0022]      FIG. 2 : shows the prior art weightlifting system of  FIG. 1 , with some weights elevated in accordance with articulation of the handles of the system. 
           [0023]      FIGS. 3-11  show exemplary embodiments of the present invention which apply sensor modules to the frame and vertically-stacked weights of a weightlifting machine 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  shows a sensor module which uses optical sensors, in wireless connection with a mobile device, located atop the weights, with the weights at rest. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  shows the same embodiment of  FIG. 3 , but with the weights elevated. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  shows one assembly of an embodiment of the present invention, exposed to show its internal components. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  shows a sensor module which uses optical sensors, in wired connection with a mobile device, located on the frame, with the weights elevated. 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  shows a close view of the weights and frame of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , but from a reversed angle of view. 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  shows a sensor module which uses distance sensors, in wireless connection to the mobile device, located atop the weights, with the weights at rest. 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  shows the same embodiment of  FIG. 8 , but with the weights elevated. 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  shows a sensor module which uses distance sensors, in wired connection with a mobile device, located on the frame, with the weights elevated. 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  shows an embodiment of a stand used in coordination with a mobile device, ready to communicate with a sensor module via either a wireless or wired connection, with the machine in a rest position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a weightlifting exercise machine  100  is shown. It uses a rack  101  of vertically-stacked weights to provide resistance to performance of an exercise. The degree of resistance provided by the machine  100  is set by selecting a quantity of incremental weight from the rack  101 , and engaging that selected stack  102  to the machine  100 . The machine  100  translates the cumulative vertical force provided by the weight of the selected stack  102  into continuous or consistent resistance against the upward arc of inclined-press weightlifting exercise. 
         [0034]    In  FIG. 1 , the machine  100  is at a rest position, with its handles  103  at the lowest position of its arc of travel, and all of the weights in the rack  101  sit on the bottom of the machine&#39;s frame  104 . 
         [0035]    In  FIG. 2 , the machine  100  is in a completion position, with its handles  103  at the end of the arc of the user&#39;s lift motion, and the stack of weights  102  is elevated to a completion height. 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an embodiment of the present invention is shown as it would appear in use, as applied to parts of a machine  300  that is similar to the machine  100  that is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The machine&#39;s rack  301  is at a rest position, sitting on the machine&#39;s frame  303 . An optical-sensor module  302  sits atop the rack  301 , and reflective tape  304  has been applied to the frame  303  on a vertical face  305  that is adjacent to the end of the rack  301 . 
         [0037]    A mobile device  306  is in wireless communication with the optical-sensor module  302 , and is running a dedicated application  309  that allows the mobile device  306  to control the operation of the module  302  and receive transmitted data sent from the module  302 . 
         [0038]    Positioning the module  302  on top of the rack  301  is not dependent upon a wireless connection. It is conceived that an embodiment could provide a wired connection to the module  302 . There are many known methods of providing a wire to a moving object, such as self-retracting wire handling devices and coiled wires that simply stretch to a certain length when pulled, and then return to a short length when not in tension. 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  shows the same machine  300  and locations for the optical module  302  and reflective tape  304  as in  FIG. 3 , but shows the machine  300  in a completion position. In this position, a selected stack of weights  401  that have been engaged to the machine  300  have been lifted to a completion height. When the stack  401  attains this completion height, the optical module  302 , located atop the stack  401 , has been elevated to a position at which light emanating from a light emitter  402  in the module  302  reflects off of the reflective tape  304 , and is detected by a light detector  403  in the module  302 . 
         [0040]    At the moment that the light detector  403  detects the light from the reflective tape  304 , a microcontroller (such a microcontroller is shown in  FIG. 5 , as microcontroller  502  of a sensor module  500  capable of functioning as the optical-sensor module  302 ) understands that the detector  403  has detected a condition that requires the microcontroller  502  to generate data representing detection of the sensed condition. The microcontroller  502  then sends the data through a wireless connection  307 , transmitting the data to the mobile device  306 . 
         [0041]    The dedicated program  309  running on the mobile device  306  recognizes the data as representing that the stack  401  reached its completion height. The dedicated program  309  then subtracts 1 from a running count of how many times a lift of the stack remain to be repeated in a current set of lifts of the exercise. 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of a sensor module  500 , with the housing  501 &#39;s components exposed. The sensor module  500  shown contains a microcontroller  502 . Microcontroller  502  is a commercially-available unit that includes components that enable it to communicate wirelessly and via wired connections. It is equipped with a USB port  503 , and a DC-in port  504 . Sensor module  500  also includes batteries  505 , an optical light detector sensor  506 , a light emitter  507 , and an ultrasonic distance sensor  508 . 
         [0043]    Many embodiments are conceived, the module  500  representing a versatile variation. Microcontroller  502  is merely one of many commercially available alternatives. Other microcontrollers with fewer embedded features are also conceived as functional alternatives. Such microcontrollers may require augmentation with features that might otherwise have been embedded, such as a wifi antenna. 
         [0044]    In addition to the microcontroller  502 , all embodiments require at least one sensor, at least one power source, and at least one form of communication. Therefore, foreseen embodiments of the claimed invention are capable of limited- or versatile-configurations. For example, of the features shown in sensor module  500 , optical sensor module  302  may possess as few components as: a housing  501 , a microcontroller  502 , batteries  505 , a light detector sensor  506 , and a light emitter  507 . 
         [0045]      FIGS. 6 and 7  depict an embodiment of the invention that also employs an optical sensor module  302 . Like  FIG. 4 , the machine  300  and its stack of selected weights  401  are both in a completion position.  FIG. 6  differs from  FIG. 4  in that optical sensor module  302  is applied to the frame  303  on a vertical face  305  that is adjacent to the end of the stack  401 , and reflective tape  304  has been applied to the selected stack of weights  401 . The reflective tape  304  is held vertically alongside the stack  401 , adjacent to the vertical face  305 , by use of an error correcting bracket  601 . 
         [0046]    The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  is also distinguished from the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  by use of a wired connection  602 , shown here as a USB cable, in place of wireless connection  307 . Wired connection  602  directly connects module  302  to the mobile device  306 . Given that the user of the machine  300  will only be a few feet away, the wired connection  602  is of similarly useful range as wireless connection  307 , as even length-limited smart connections, like USB cables, are already commonly available in lengths of 12 feet or more. Insofar as module  302  is shown in  FIG. 6  as using a usb cable, a wired connection that carries both data as well as being able to provide power from a mobile device, it does not necessarily require any of the following: an antenna for any wireless communications, pairing procedures of a Bluetooth connection, batteries, identification with a local wife network as a connected device, nor a local router or remote network, such as a cellular network. 
         [0047]      FIG. 8  shows an embodiment of the present invention which uses distance sensing, rather than optical sensing, for detection of the moment when machine  300  attains a completion position. Machine  300  and rack of weights  301  are shown in a rest position. Distance sensor module  801  sits atop the rack  301 , employing an ultrasonic distance sensor  802  to emit an ultrasonic wave  803  toward the underside face  804  of the frame  303 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 9  is similar to  FIG. 8 , but shows the selected stack of weights  401  in a completion position. The ultrasonic distance sensor module  802  monitors the time taken for the ultrasonic wave  803  to return and communicates that value to the microcontroller  502 . When the stack  401  reaches its completion height, the value communicated to the microcontroller  502  will equal the value set to correspond to the condition for which the microcontroller  502  is required to generate data representing detection of the sensed condition. The microcontroller  502  then sends data to the mobile device  306  via the wireless connection  307 . Like sensor  302  in  FIG. 3, 801  is still capable of being located atop the stack  401 , even if it were equipped with a wired connection. 
         [0049]      FIG. 10  shows the distance sensor module  801  of  FIGS. 8 and 9 , but relocated to the underside face  804  of the frame  303 , emitting the ultrasonic wave  803  downward from the ultrasonic distance sensor  802 , toward the top of the stack  401 . Despite its change in location and direction of wave emission, the function of distance sensor module  801  is identical to its behavior when the module  801  is located on the stack  401 . By being positioned on the frame  303 , a wired connection  602  it is easily run down the frame  303  to the mobile device  306 . However, distance sensor module  801  could just as easily use a wireless connection, in a manner similarly suggested for optical sensor module  302  in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 11  shows the mobile device  306  retained in a stand  1100 , positioned closely to machine  300 , in convenient view of a user sitting in seat  1101 . The mobile device  306  is shown equipped for either a wireless connection  307  or wired connection  602  with a sensor module. The mobile device  306  is running a dedicated application  309  that allows the mobile device  306  to control the operation of any connected sensor modules, and receive such modules&#39; data, in order to provide exercise instruction to the user in seat  1101 . 
         [0051]    The stand  1100  is depicted in a desirable configuration, which is—easily repositioned about the vicinity of a user to provide an optimal view. With respect to its adjustment for use with machine  300 , Its low-profile tripod base  1102  minimizes the risk of intruding upon space near the user&#39;s legs, and its height—height-adjustable stem  1103  allows for users to adjust the elevation of the mobile device  306  to minimize craning the user&#39;s neck, in order to view the instructions given by the application  309 . The wired connection  602  can be run either outside of the stand  1100 , or inside, the stem  1103 , to minimize any risk of the user tripping or becoming entangled with wired connection  602 .