Programmatic climate control of an exercise environment

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for programmatically controlling the climate of a localized exercise environment so as to accommodate the evolving needs of exercisers during a workout. In preferred embodiments, the localized environment is an enclosed exercise room or the area surrounding one or more stationary exercise machines. Heat is applied by convective, conductive, and / or radiant means, and / or removed by convective, conductive, and / or evaporative means. In various preferred embodiments the humidity, direction, and speed of the air flow are controlled, and / or a cooling mist is applied. In preferred embodiments, the climate control program is executed according to the passage of time, according to the rate of work and the amount of work performed, according to acoustic features of music, and according to physiological parameters of the exerciser such as heart rate, breathing rate, and skin temperature. In some preferred embodiments the climate control devices are attached directly to stationary exercise devices.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention generally relates to exercise environments, and more specifically to control of the climate within an exercise environment.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Exercise is generally known to have many benefits for individuals of all ages. These benefits include improved cardiovascular health, reduced blood pressure, prevention of bone and muscle loss, maintenance of a healthy weight, improved psychological heath, and many others. Exercise is also used a means for monitoring the health of individuals through so-called “stress” tests. However, exercise is generally accompanied by a certain degree of discomfort, including overheating, sweating, etc, and this leads to a significant reduction in the amount of exercise undertaken by many individuals, thereby reducing the health benefits derived from recreational and conditioning exercise and the diagnostic accuracy of stress tests.[0003]Because of weather variability, convenience, and time constraints...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]An apparatus and method of use are disclosed that significantly improve the comfort of an individual exercising in a localized environment, such as in an exercise room or on a stationary exercise device, by programmatically controlling the heating and / or cooling of the individual during a workout session. In preferred embodiments, the methods for controlling heating and cooling include heating and cooling of the surrounding air, heating and cooling of surfaces with which the individual comes into direct contact, radiant heating, control of the humidity of the surrounding air, application of liquid mist, and control of the flow of air within the environment using fans and / or similar devices.

Problems solved by technology

However, exercise is generally accompanied by a certain degree of discomfort, including overheating, sweating, etc, and this leads to a significant reduction in the amount of exercise undertaken by many individuals, thereby reducing the health benefits derived from recreational and conditioning exercise and the diagnostic accuracy of stress tests.

However, these approaches are largely unsatisfactory.

For example, if the temperature is warm enough to encourage exercise at the beginning of a workout, when muscles are at rest and not warmed up, it will be too warm once exercise is well underway and the body is generating excess heat.

Conversely, if the temperature is cool enough to be comfortable when exercise is well underway, it will not be comfortable at the beginning of the workout.

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