System and Method for Measuring Running Efficiencies on a Treadmill

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016346618-A1
Application number	US-201514725069-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 29, 2015
Priority date	Apr 11, 2012
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for improving running efficiency includes measuring power usage of a drive motor of a treadmill while a user is running on the treadmill for a first period of time and analyzing the measured power usage of the drive motor for the first period of time with a computer. The method further includes providing the user with information about the user's running form based on the analyzed data and providing the user with information on how the user can change their current running form to improve running efficiency.

First claim

1 - 7 . (canceled)

8 . A method of improving running efficiency, the method comprising:
measuring power usage of a drive motor of a treadmill while a user is running on the treadmill for a first period of time; analyzing the measured power usage of the drive motor for the first period of time with a computer; providing the user with information about the user's running form based on the analyzed data; providing the user with information on how the user can change their current running form to improve running efficiency.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
measuring power usage of the drive motor while the user is running on the treadmill for a second period of time after the user is provided with the information on how the user can change their current running form to improve running efficiency; and comparing the measured power usage of the drive motor over the first period of time with the measured power usage of the drive motor over the second period of time and evaluating improvement in the user's running efficiency.

10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising, providing a communication to the user with information on improving foot placement.

11 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising, providing a communication to the user with information on improving posture.

12 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising, providing a communication to the user with information on improving arm swing.

13 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising, providing a communication to the user comprising a calculated running cadence over the first period of time and a target running cadence.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
communicating a rhythm to the user having a tempo that substantially matches the user's running cadence over the first period of time; and incrementally increasing the tempo of the rhythm communicated to the user until the tempo of the rhythm substantially matches the target running cadence.

15 . The method of claim 8 , wherein analyzing the measured power usage of the drive motor with the computer comprises calculating at least one of a running efficiency and a running inefficiency.

16 . The method of claim 8 , wherein analyzing the measured power usage of the drive motor with the computer comprises calculating a total force applied to the treadmill by the user.

17 . A method of improving running efficiency, the method comprising:
measuring power usage of a drive motor of a treadmill while a user is running on the treadmill for a first period of time; analyzing the measured power usage of the drive motor over the first period of time with a computer to determine the user's average running cadence over the first period of time; providing a rhythm having a tempo substantially matching the user's average running cadence over the first period of time; and incrementally increasing the tempo of the rhythm until the tempo of the rhythm substantially matches a target running cadence.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein incrementally increasing the tempo of the rhythm comprises increasing the rhythm in increments of 5 beats per minute.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein providing the rhythm further comprises providing music.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein providing the rhythm further comprises providing a visual display of the rhythm.

Assignees

• Icon Health & Fitness Inc

Inventors

• Ashby Darren C
• Law Greg W

Classifications

• A63B71/0622

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

• A63B2024/0068

  Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals · CPC title

• A63B2024/0065

  Evaluating the fitness, e.g. fitness level or fitness index · CPC title

• A63B2071/068

  Input by voice recognition · CPC title

• A63B22/025

  electrically, e.g. D.C. motors with variable speed control · CPC title