Systems and methods for an interactive pedaled exercise device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11534654-B2
Application number	US-202016750925-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 23, 2020
Priority date	Jan 25, 2019
Publication date	Dec 27, 2022
Grant date	Dec 27, 2022

Abstract

An exercise device includes a frame, handlebars supported by the frame, and a computing device. The handlebars include a yoke that is movable relative to the frame, a biasing element positioned between the yoke and the frame, and a sensor configured to measure a movement of the yoke.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An exercise device comprising:
a frame;
handlebars supported by the frame, the handlebars including:
a yoke that is movable relative to the frame about a first axis, a second axis, and a third axis;
a post connecting the yoke to the frame, the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis being orthogonal at the post, wherein the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis intersect;
a biasing element positioned between the yoke and the frame; and
a sensor configured to measure a movement of the yoke; and

a computing device in data communication with the sensor.

2. The exercise device of claim 1 , the biasing element including a spring.

3. The exercise device of claim 1 , the sensor having a sampling rate between 30 Hertz (Hz) and 240 Hz.

4. The exercise device of claim 1 , the biasing element including a plurality of biasing elements positioned opposite one another around the first axis to bias the yoke toward a centerpoint around the first axis.

5. The exercise device of claim 1 , the biasing element being a first biasing element configured to bias the yoke around the first axis and further comprising a second biasing element configured to bias the yoke around the second axis.

6. The exercise device of claim 5 , the first biasing element including a plurality of biasing elements positioned opposite one another around the first axis to bias the yoke toward a centerpoint around the first axis, and the second biasing element including a plurality of biasing elements positioned opposite one another around the second axis to bias the yoke toward a centerpoint around the second axis.

7. The exercise device of claim 6 , the plurality of biasing elements having a spring constant ratio between 1:4 and 9:10.

8. The exercise device of claim 1 , the sensor being a pressure sensor to measure a force applied to the yoke.

9. The exercise device of claim 1 , the handlebars having a range of motion greater than 5° around at least one axis.

10. The exercise device of claim 1 , wherein the biasing element is a first biasing element, and wherein the handlebars further include:
a second biasing element opposing the first biasing element;
a third biasing element between the first biasing element and the second biasing element; and
a fourth biasing element opposing the third biasing element.

11. An exercise device comprising:
a frame;
handlebars supported by the frame, the handlebars including:
a yoke that is movable relative to the frame about a first axis, a second axis, and a third axis;
a post connecting the yoke to the frame, the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis being orthogonal at the post, wherein the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis intersect;
a biasing element positioned between the yoke and the frame; and
a handlebar sensor configured to measure a movement of the yoke;

a drivetrain supported by the frame, the drivetrain including:
pedals rotatable around a pedal axis, and
a drivetrain sensor positioned in the drivetrain to measure movement of the pedals; and

a computing device in data communication with the handlebar sensor and the drivetrain sensor.

12. The exercise device of claim 11 , further comprising a display in data communication with the computing device.

13. The exercise device of claim 12 , the display being a head mounted display (HMD).

14. The exercise device of claim 11 , the drivetrain sensor being positioned in a crank of the pedals, the drivetrain sensor measuring movement and position of the pedals relative to the frame.

15. The exercise device of claim 14 , the drivetrain sensor being a sensor array.

16. The exercise device of claim 11 , the handlebars configured to send a handlebar directional input from the handlebar sensor to the computing device.

17. The exercise device of claim 11 , the drivetrain sensor configured to send a drivetrain directional input to the computing device.

18. The exercise device of claim 11 , the computing device configured to generate visual information based on a directional input from at least one of the handlebar sensor and the drivetrain sensor.

19. The exercise device of claim 11 , the computing device configured to send a handlebar command to the biasing element of the handlebars, the handlebar command instructing the biasing element to apply a force or resistance to the yoke.

20. The exercise device of claim 11 , the computing device configured to send a drivetrain command to the drivetrain, the drivetrain command altering a resistance of the drivetrain.

21. An interactive exercise system comprising:
a frame;
handlebars supported by the frame, the handlebars including:
a yoke that is movable relative to the frame about a first axis, a second axis, and a third axis;
a post connecting the yoke to the frame;
a plurality of biasing elements positioned between the yoke and the frame, the plurality of biasing elements being parallel to the post; and
a handlebar sensor configured to measure a movement of the yoke;

a drivetrain supported by the frame, the drivetrain including:
pedals rotatable around a pedal axis, and
a drivetrain sensor positioned in the drivetrain to measure movement of the pedals;

a display; and
a computing device in data communication with the handlebar sensor, the drivetrain sensor, and the display, the computing device configured to receive directional inputs from the drivetrain sensor and the handlebar sensor and to generate visual information based partially upon the directional inputs, the visual information being displayed on the display.

Assignees

• Ifit Inc

Inventors

• Silcock Ryan
• Ashby Darren C
• Jackson Spencer
• Dye Blaine

Classifications

• A63B2220/803

  Motion sensors · CPC title

• A63B2024/0093

  the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed · CPC title

• A63B21/0442

  Anchored at one end only, the other end being manipulated by the user · CPC title

• A63B71/0622

  Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user · CPC title

• A63B24/0062

  Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance · CPC title