Apparatus for cooling an exerciser having convenient centralized control of air outlets built into a stationary exercise device

Abstract

An apparatus for convenient centralized control of a personal cooling environment of an exerciser by the exerciser while exercising includes a plurality of air outlets and a control center. Each air outlet is capable of being in airflow communication with a cooling air source providing a flow of cooling air. The plurality of air outlets are arranged so as to direct cooling air toward the exerciser to create a personal cooling environment for the exerciser. At least one air outlet is adjustable in response to a control signal. The control center is easily accessible to the exerciser while exercising and generates control signals in response to input from the exerciser. The control signals cause at least one air outlet to change a characteristic of the cooling air flow therethrough. Together, the control signals control the personal cooling environment. The controllable air flow characteristics include one of flow direction and rate.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12 / 001,003, filed Dec. 7, 2007, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. U.S. application Ser. No. ______, filed Nov. 22, 2010, entitled “APPARATUS FOR SURROUNDING AN EXERCISER WITH COOLING AIR HAVING MANUAL LOCAL CONTROL OF AIR OUTLETS BUILT INTO A STATIONARY EXERCISE DEVICE”, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, is also a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12 / 001,003, filed Dec. 7, 2007. U.S. application Ser. No. ______, filed Nov. 22, 2010, entitled “APPARATUS FOR COOLING AN EXERCISER HAVING MANUAL LOCAL CONTROL OF AIR OUTLETS BUILT INTO DISCRETE COOLING ASSEMBLIES, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, is also a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12 / 001,003, filed Dec. 7, 2007.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates generally to exercise equipment, and particularly to cooling devices for us...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0025]However, as described in more detail below, preferred embodiments offer an exerciser a significant improvement in comfort, thereby tending to increase the amount of exercise and the benefits derived therefrom, while also reducing risk of heat-related illnesses and/or excessive sweating. For example, in preferred embodiments, cooling air flow directed to mostly surround an exerciser, for example a well-conditioned exerciser exercising at maximum aerobic capacity, reduces the propensity of the exerciser to perspire by a significant amount. The exerciser does not overheat and perspires much less while using the invention, and consequently the exercise is limited primarily by the amount of work the exerciser can do, and not by discomfort of overheating or the risk of heat-related illness.

[0026]Additionally, preferred embodiments help reduce excessive sweating as well as the symptoms of heat-related illness, or its onset. For example, preferred embodiments tend to reduce nausea while exercising, decrease perspiration dripping over the exercise machine and floor, and reduce nausea after exercising.

[0027]Additionally, for certain exercisers, preferred embodiments eliminate the tendency to perspire entirely. For example, preferred embodiments prevent an average exerciser of modest aerobic capacity, who is not working near their maximum, from any perspiration at all. Eliminating perspiration can provide a number of additional benefits.

[0028]For ex

Problems solved by technology

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

But this can be largely unsatisfactory, because exercisers generally require different degrees of cooling depending on individual physiology and on how long

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