Exercise apparatus and exercise monitor

Abstract

 Exercise apparatus in the form of a framed trampoline (1,2) is disclosed which includes an exercise monitor, which includes hand grips 4,6 which are connected to a processor circuit 5. The processor 5 drives a display 9 and provides an indication of physiological parameters of the user. The apparatus may include a bounce counter and/or means 12 for detecting the degree of bouncing, for informing the processor 5.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to exercise apparatus such as play and gymnastic apparatus, including trampolines, wherein the apparatus includes an exercise monitor.

[0002] Trampolining has become a very popular form of exercise in recent years. In particular, this is due to the introduction of mini trampolines that have enabled the use of this form of exercise equipment in people's homes where a full size trampoline would be impractical. A mini trampoline generally consists of a trampoline apparatus up to approximately one meter across, with an integrated frame handrail. Due to their inexpensive nature and small size, mini trampolines have become a popular alternative to traditional exercise machines such as treadmills and exercise cycles.

[0003] No provision has been made in existing trampolines to provide a user with data relating to the exercise regime e.g. physiological data relating to heart rate; body electrical resistance; body temperature; and the like.

[0004] Such information can be helpful to a user seeking to engage in safe and productive exercise and helps to decrease the likelihood and occurrence of stress-induced trauma or injury.

[0005] Accordingly, the invention provides exercise apparatus comprising a trampoline including a handrail, and comprising an exercise monitor having:

at least one sensing device for sensing at least one physiological parameter of a user;

a circuit, in signal communication with said sensing device, in use providing physiological data based on the or each parameter sensed; and

an indicator to indicate said physiological data.

[0006] Preferably the sensing device and/or the indicator is/are located on or adjacent the handrail.

[0007] Preferably the exercise monitor is formed as a unit and is detachably mountable to the handrail.

[0008] It is preferred that the sensing device comprises one or more electrically conductive handgrips on the handrail, from which the or each physiological parameter can be detected. Such a parameter or parameters may include the user's heart rate and the user's electrical resistance.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment signals from the sensing device are processed by the circuit using stored mathematical algorithms. The circuit may incorporate a clock timer and/or an analogue to digital converter for processing incoming signals from the sensing device to produce said data.
It is possible that the processing is carried out in real time but alternatively, or as well as real time processing, the processing can produce time averaged data or a value of the rate of change of the data.

[0010] The user's level of fitness may be determined by the circuit when said signals are processed.

[0011] In one embodiment the indicator is a visual display, for example a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). The indicator or display may be combined in the same housing as the remaining monitor, or remote therefrom. The remote indicator may be in the form of a wrist-mounted indicator.

[0012] In one embodiment the monitor includes a load sensor which detects a trampoline bounce and/or the degree to which the trampoline has been deflected during a bounce. The load sensor may be in signal communication with the circuit and the circuit may employ data captured from the load sensor.

[0013] In an embodiment the exercise monitor may include a user input device which allows for the input of any one or more of: exercise; physiological; or anatomical parameters to be input by the user. Such exercise parameters may include the exercise duration, or the number of trampoline bounces to be completed. Such physiological parameters are given above and may be input as values to be obtained, for example the heart rate to be reached. Such anatomical parameters include age, weight or height. Using such parameters, the processor may process data, using said stored mathematical algorithms, to calculate various values such Body Mass Index (BMI) or the amount of energy expended over time during the exercise. An example of one such value would be the number of calories used.

[0014] It is preferred that the exercise monitor provides feedback to a user during exercise via the indicator. This feedback may include a direction as to the correct exercise regime for maximum benefit by regulating the exercise speed so as to ensure safe and productive exercise. The monitor may also provide one or more audible signals to instruct the user of correct and incorrect exercise actions. For example, the user could be instructed to bounce more quickly or more slowly, by means of verbal commands or by following an audible beat.

[0015] The monitor may include a memory for the storage and down load of previous exercise, physiological or anatomical parameters to enable a user to monitor his progress over a period of time. This memory may be located within the exercise monitor or may be located remotely and said data may be transferred to or from the monitor either wirelessly or by use of an electrical cable or light guide anyone of which having a connection to a port located on or adjacent the monitor.

[0016] The exercise apparatus may have a substantially circular frame to which the material of the trampoline is attached and a single handrail support column extending from the frame, supporting the handrail.

[0017] The invention extends to exercise apparatus comprising an exercise monitor having a load sensor and a processor for counting a sequence of loadings such as loadings on a trampoline frame.

[0018] The invention extends to an exercise monitor having one or more of the features mentioned above when used with an exercise trampoline.

[0019] The invention extends to an exercise monitor for use with exercise apparatus having one or more of the monitor features mentioned above.

[0020] The invention further extends to any novel feature described herein or any novel combination of features described herein, whether or not such novel features are mentioned in combination.

[0021] By way of example only, one embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the drawing, which shows exercise apparatus, in the form of a trampoline, according to the invention.

[0022] In more detail, the exercise apparatus described comprises a circular trampoline frame 1, and trampoline material 2 located centrally of the frame 1.

[0023] The frame is supported on legs 14. The trampoline is approximately 1 metre in diameter and is thus called a mini trampoline. The apparatus includes a handrail 3 located at the top of a support column 13. An exercise monitor is provided on the apparatus. The monitor includes physiological sensors 4 and 6 and a control box 8 having various elements described below.

[0024] Physiological sensors 4 and 6 are located at the ends of the handrail. The sensors 4 and 6 are electrically connected to a circuit, in this case a processor 5 located within a control box 8 located at the top of the column 13 and centrally of the handrail 3, so as to be easily visible to a user. The control box further includes a visual display 9, audio speaker 10 and keypad 11.

[0025] In use, a user may configure various desirable exercise parameters means of user the control keypad 11. To monitor his physiological parameters the user places a hand on each of the physiological sensors 4 and 6. Electrical signals representative of the body's physiological action are then detected by the physiological sensors 4 and 6 and an electrical signal representative passed to the processor 5. Calculations are made by the processor 5 and the results displayed on the visual display 9.

[0026] The processor is capable of accepting input from the keypad 11 also. This input can be in the form of targets for physiological data for example the heart rate to be obtained during exercise, or anatomical data such as age, weight and height of the user, in order for the processor to determine factors such as BMI, calories used and the level of fitness of the user.

[0027] The processor is capable also of accepting input from a load sensor 12 on the frame 1 which input can be used to determine the number of bounces made by the user and/or the strength of the bounces made. In this case the load sensor is a strain gauge load cell, but other load sensors could be used, for example, an electrical switch which makes a contact when a load is applied to it could be employed to count bounces.

[0028] Data obtained from the load cell and/or the data obtained from the keypad and/or the data obtained from the physiological sensors can be used to provide a tailored exercise regime for the user or to warn of potential stress or injury for a user.

[0029] The output of the processor is fed to the display 9 and speaker 10 to provide user feedback.

[0030] The monitor includes a port 15, in this case an Ethernet port, which can be used for data communication to and from a remote data memory. Although a preferred illustrative embodiment of the present invention has been shown, it will be evident to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Exercise apparatus comprising a trampoline (1,2) including a handrail (3), the apparatus being characterised in that it includes an exercise monitor having:

at least one sensing device (4,6) for sensing at least one physiological parameter of a user;

a circuit (5), in signal communication with said sensing device, in use providing physiological data based on the or each parameter sensed; and an indicator (9,10) to indicate said physiological data.

2. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sensing device and/or the indicator is/are located on or adjacent the handrail.

3. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the exercise monitor is formed as a unit (8) and is detachably mountable to the handrail.

4. Exercise apparatus as claimed in anyone preceding claim wherein the sensing device comprises one or more electrically conductive handgrips (4,6) on the handrail, from which the or each physiological parameter can be detected.

5. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the parameter or parameters include the user's heart rate and the user's electrical resistance.

6. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein signals from the sensing device are processed by the circuit using stored mathematical algorithms.

7. Exercise apparatus as claimed in anyone preceding claim wherein the circuit incorporates a clock timer and an analogue to digital converter for processing incoming signals from the sensing device, to produce said data.

8. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the processing is carried out in real time.

9. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein, the processing produces time averaged data or a value of the rate of change of the data.

10. Exercise apparatus as claimed in anyone of claims 6 to 9 wherein the user's level of fitness is determined by the circuit when said signals are processed.

11. Exercise apparatus as claimed in anyone preceding claim wherein the indicator is a visual display, for example a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).

12. Exercise apparatus as claimed in anyone preceding claim wherein the indicator or display is remote from the remaining monitor.

13. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the remote indicator is in the form of a wrist-mounted indicator.

14. Exercise apparatus as claimed in anyone preceding claim wherein the monitor includes a load sensor which detects a trampoline bounce and/or the degree to which the trampoline has been deflected during a bounce.

15. Exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the load sensor is in signal communication with the circuit and the circuit employs data captured from the load sensor.

Drawing