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Riding the joystick system to health and fitness

a joystick and health technology, applied in the field of exercise systems, can solve the problems of boredom, delay or even forestall a full recovery, cost and inconvenience of traveling back and forth to a health club, and being unable to maintain

Inactive Publication Date: 2010-06-03
MCLAUGHLIN THOMAS
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

In spite of a dire need to recoup what has been lost physically, or even emotionally, the drudgery of exercise routines may delay or even forestall a full recovery.
There is the boredom often associated with lifting weights, walking a treadmill, or riding an exercise bike.
It may be the cost and inconvenience of traveling back and forth to a health club or being unable to maintain the needed schedule.
Exercising at home may include using an exercise bike or a treadmill, but boredom may set in and dissuade one from staying with it.
The computer game box industry is booming and in some cases demand even exceeds production capability.
But virtually no computer games provide any exercise to any part of the body except the mind and the hands.
As a result, most computer gamers suffer from lack of the vigorous aerobic and strength-training exercise that the body needs to stay healthy.
With a few exceptions, such equipment failed to catch on because of its high cost and rudimentary imagery.
The act of lifting and lowering one's entire weight is taxing even for the very fit.”
This device seems to make doing push-ups harder to do.
All of these devices are quite bulky.
These devices seem too mechanically complex to simply replace doing push-ups with one's knees on the floor.
Although having roles as hang-glider trainers, or interesting game-playing mechanisms, the devices of these three patents seem to be much too large for general use and do not offer robust exercise as their main purpose.
All of the seated embodiments, with the exception of Hineman's, are large, possibly quite costly, and seemingly complex mechanically.
This device has no controls responsive to the movement of handlebars to provide output signals to a microprocessor.
As represented, they are not portable and rely on known exercise mediums (bikes, treadmills, etc.)
Although small and possibly manufactured at a low cost, this device has neither a triggering capability nor a means to effectively exercise.
The concept of angle measurement is similar to that of a joystick but the device has no real exercise functionality.
All of these patents either provide an internal resistance component or provide no meaningful means to exercise.
Finally, this device is rather large and expensive.

Method used

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  • Riding the joystick system to health and fitness
  • Riding the joystick system to health and fitness
  • Riding the joystick system to health and fitness

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

generic embodiment

OPERATION—GENERIC EMBODIMENT

[0175]A joystick is traditionally operated with one's hand and fingers and is used to input data into computer 112 (FIG. 1B) or another device. The joystick's stick pivots on a base and reports its angle or direction by electronic signals sent to the computer. The joystick may have one or more pushbuttons whose state can also be read by computer 112 or another device.

[0176]In the generic embodiment, the user moves his or her body and hence the joystick, according to how the user wishes to move an object on the computer's screen, such as a cursor or a cannon. I.e., to exercise while using the generic embodiment to play a game, user 202, either kneeling, in a push-up position, or a semi-squat position, situates member 102 below and against the abdomen or buttocks and observes the monitor of computer 112. The user places the monitor in a convenient position so that they can view it while manipulating the joystick with their body.

[0177]E.g., a forward or rear...

embodiment

OPERATION—HAND-PLATFORM EMBODIMENT

[0300]The hand-platform embodiment is operated similarly to prior embodiments except as noted.

[0301]The introduction of a set of hand platforms 106 (FIG. 1A), shown as platforms 3702 and 3902 in the hand-platform embodiment (FIGS. 37A and 39A), increases the game-playing challenge for user 202 since the push buttons and controls found on modern joysticks are installed on platforms 3702 and 3902. This makes it possible for user 202 to change views, adjust the throttle, and operate other controls just like joystick products that feature many different configurations based upon button assignments.

[0302]For example, in a flight simulator program, default button assignments relate to frequently used controls and for cockpit views, such as:

ActionCommandActionCommandActionCommandApply -Button 1LandingButton 8LookMove hatrelease brakes(trigger)gear up / downahead / rightswitchup / rightCycle viewsButton 2Bank leftMove stickLook rightMove hat(Cockpit,(ailerons)lef...

pad embodiment

OPERATION—PRESSURE-PAD EMBODIMENT

[0322]The pressure-pad embodiment is operated similarly to prior embodiments except as noted.

[0323]The introduction of a set of hand platforms 106 (shown as platforms 4802 and 5002) in the pressure-pad embodiment increases the game-playing potential for user 202. The push buttons and controls installed on modern joysticks are installed into platforms 4802 and 5002. In the same manner as the hand-platform embodiment, user 202 can now change views, adjust the throttle, and operate other controls just like joystick products that feature many different configurations based upon button assignments as indicated in the hand-platform embodiment.

[0324]Many available programs make a similar use of the buttons and controls normally found on a modern joystick while attached to computer 112 (FIG. 1B). The finger location numbers on controllers 4802 and 5002, as shown in FIGS. 48B and 50B, match corresponding numbered controls for control 108 (FIG. 1A). In this ma...

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PUM

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Abstract

An exercise device in one embodiment has a member (102) attached to a joystick control (108). A user (202) is positioned to perform push-up and squat exercises with member (102) below and against the abdomen or buttocks. Movements of user's torso down, up, forward, back, and side-to-side generate traditional control commands, including roll, pitch, and yaw. The downward motion and / or pressure by the user (202) triggers a switch (502). Control (108) collects the motion and trigger data and transmits same via an electronic link (110) to a computer (112) for processing. Hence, the user receives the benefit of a serious exercise program while playing games, thus making exercise fun.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]1. Field[0002]This application relates to an exercise system, particularly to one which enables a user to perform exercise routines while performing another activity.[0003]2. Prior Art[0004]In this era of health consciousness there is an ever-growing awareness of the benefit of exercise as a key component of being and staying healthy. Within the same realm, there are weight-conscious individuals who are either trying to lose weight or stay trim. Some just want to be able to flaunt their well-built beautiful bodies at a beach, pool, etc.[0005]Then there are those who, by some misfortune, are in need of rehabilitation. In spite of a dire need to recoup what has been lost physically, or even emotionally, the drudgery of exercise routines may delay or even forestall a full recovery.[0006]Exercise Excuses[0007]Many factors can play against the regiment required to achieve a real benefit in exercising. There is the boredom often associated with lifting weights, walking a t...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A63B71/00
CPCA63B23/0205A63B23/0211A63B23/1236A63B23/1281A63B24/0087A63F2300/8005A63B2024/0093A63B2220/803A63B2225/093A63F13/06A63F2300/1043A63B2023/0411A63F13/245A63F13/428A63F2300/105A63F13/80A63F2300/1031A63F2300/1062A63F2300/80A63F13/211A63F13/235
Inventor MCLAUGHLIN, THOMAS
Owner MCLAUGHLIN THOMAS
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