EP0500542A1

EP0500542A1 - Training equipment for gym and sports exercises

Info

Publication number: EP0500542A1
Application number: EP90913461A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Joseph Thayer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-09-19
Filing date: 1990-09-17
Publication date: 1992-09-02
Also published as: WO1991004076A1; AU6351990A; DE3931218A1

Abstract

L'appareil d'entraînement objet de l'invention comprend plusieurs unités d'exercice (3 à 13) au niveau desquelles on peut exécuter un programme de mise en forme. Les unités d'exercice comportent des capteurs qui enregistrent l'activité pratiquée et indiquent, au moyen de convertisseurs optiques ou acoustiques (voyants lumineux, éléments sonores, etc.), l'activité et également, le cas échéant, le type d'activité ainsi que la suite d'activités.The training apparatus according to the invention comprises several exercise units (3 to 13) at which a fitness program can be carried out. The exercise units have sensors that register the activity performed and indicate, by means of optical or acoustic converters (indicator lights, sound elements, etc.), the activity and also, if applicable, the type of activity as well as the sequence of activities.

Description

Training device

for gymnastic and sporting exercises

The invention relates to a training device for gymnastic and / or sports exercises.

For example, it is known from fitness studios to set up a plurality of individual exercise units for training different muscle groups in one room. A more playful way of training is achieved through so-called aerobic exercises. There, the exercise units are not intended to accommodate the practitioner, as it is e.g. is the case with a bicycle, rowing machine or barbell machine. Rather, beispialswaisa a number of individual exercise devices (exercise units) are arranged in a room, which are to be operated by the practitioner according to a predetermined program or by the practitioner himself. Such exercise units are, for example, a trambolin, a punching ball suspended from the ceiling, a sandack, a boxing kick unit, etc. All exercise units that can be operated more or less by gymnastic body movements.

The completion of such movements in groups or in front of spectators is generally preferred because, if the practitioner is alone in the room, he has no means of comparison and no proper control over his own performance and progress over previous training days, so that the motivation to exercise the exercise session suffers. The invention is therefore based on the object of designing a training device of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that information about his performance and / or his training success is available to the practitioner.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the exercise units have sensors which are connected to an evaluation unit which serves for the registration and / or processing and / or display of the sensor signals. This measure ensures that the activity of each exercise unit is registered and the practitioner has the opportunity to check his or her performance during or after completing his fitness program, which can trigger a positive sense of achievement or an incentive to continue the exercises.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that a signal system indicates the next exercise unit to be actuated by means of an optical or acoustic signal. Then, in turn, it is particularly advantageous when the training device includes a programmer which is connected to the signal system and transmits a stored exercise program with the sequence of operations of the exercise units to it. In this way, it is possible to inform the practitioner of the next exercise unit to be operated, so that he does not have to worry about the course of the exercises. The programmer can either contain a large number of predefined, preselectable exercise programs, or the practitioner can enter his own individual exercise program in a freely programmable memory that he would like to complete. Every practitioner can e.g. received a card with a magnetic stripe on which his last completed program with the associated performance data, e.g. Force, time required, etc. is saved.

This enables him to make a direct comparison to his personal form on the previous day of the exercise. The training device according to the invention is particularly attractive if, according to an advantageous development of the inventive concept, the signal system comprises a plurality of sound generators with different pitch and / or timbre, the actuation of which is carried out by exercisers via different exercise units according to a program which is intended or to be set by the practitioner himself, so that when the program is executed correctly (known) melodies or harmonies can be triggered while inconsistent tones or disharmonies can be heard if the exercise program is not followed. In this way, a "body piano" can be realized, ie a training unit can be created, which musically controls the activity and use of the whole body, which brings with it a unique stimulation and training for rehabilitation and also daily training with gymnastic exercises .

The chronological sequence of the individual can also be used

Exercises are monitored acoustically or in another way, and are registered, excluded from or displayed or otherwise identified if the specified time spans are exceeded or undershot.

The same effect as with an acoustic (music) display can also be achieved via light effects.

This means that rhythmic musical movement can produce multimedia effects (light and sound plays) which, when performed correctly, result in aesthetic interrelationships, but incorrect movement results in dissonances of light and sound effects and thus represent an acoustic and optical control of the quality of the movement .

Further advantages and configurations of the training device according to the invention result from the description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the figure. The figure shows an aerobic exercise machine with six individual exercise units. The training device 1 is installed in a room and comprises six individual exercise units 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13, which are consecutively numbered from 1 to 6 for the practitioner, as indicated by numbers in a circle. Exercise 3 (device 1) is, for example, a trambolin, exercise 5 (device 2) is a ball mounted on the ceiling, exercise 7 (device 3) is a wall-mounted boxing device, in which Exercise unit 9 (device 4) around a kick device to be operated with the foot and in exercise units 11 and 13 (devices 5 and 6) each around a leather ball attached to the wall, for example in the manner of a punching ball.

On a wall of the exercise room 1 there is a signaling system in the form of a panel 15 which, according to the number of exercise units 3 to 13, has individual indicator lamps 17, one of which is assigned to one of the exercise devices 3 to 13. In the exemplary embodiment, this is done by numbering 1 to 6 on the individual lamps. But it can also be done by a

Letter sequence can also be displayed optically, or acoustically using different pitches or volumes, which are then assigned to the individual exercise devices 3 to 13. The signal system 15 serves to display the next exercise device to be actuated by means of an optical or acoustic signal. In the same way, the signal system 15 can be used to acknowledge the successful actuation of one of the exercise units 3 to 13 by emitting an optical or acoustic signal.

In addition to the signal system 15, a number corresponding to the number of exercise units is provided as a display for actuating the exercise units 3 to 13 light spots 19 a to 19 f, which each mark the next exercise unit 3 to 13 to be operated from a central point 21 . In the case described, the signal system 15 practically consists of two parts, the light spots 19 a to f then being used to mark the next exercise Serve unit and the lights 17 acknowledge the successful operation of the same. As an alternative to this possibility, the signal system 15 can also be provided with an acoustic or optical signal transmitter located on the exercise unit 3 to 13 itself.

As already mentioned, each of the exercise devices 3 to 13 is equipped with at least one sensor, which is used to detect the actuations of the exercise units 3 to 13. It is also possible to equip one or more of the exercise units 3 to 13 with a plurality of sensors which, in addition to detecting the actuation of an exercise unit 3 to 13, also the type of actuation, e.g. according to the applied force or direction of operation. This not only enables a yes / no statement to be made about the operation performed, but also a statement about the "quality" with which the corresponding exercise unit 3 to 13 was operated. Some of the sensors can, for example, have large-area contact zones, when touched the sensor responds. These contact zones are preferably attached to the wall or ceiling of the exercise room (not shown). Another part of the sensors can have mechanical actuators, when the position changes the sensor responds. To detect the effort, for example, a mahrera sensors are arranged in a direction one behind the other, so that several of the sensors are actuated only with a correspondingly high effort, which can be evaluated, for example, for the acoustic of a chord (triad).

The figure also shows an evaluation unit 23 which has a keyboard field 25 and a printer 27. The printer 27 is used to write down the sequence and / or the end result of a sequence of exercises so that the practitioner receives proof of his or her performance. The practitioner can compare the document with previous documents in order to follow the development of his performance.

The evaluation unit 23 comprises a program generator (not shown), which is connected to the signal system 15 and transmits a stored exercise program with the sequence of operations of the exercise units to it. For this purpose, the programmer preferably comprises a memory which contains a multiplicity of predefined, preselectable exercise programs. For this purpose, a number of individual keys are provided in the keyboard field 25, with each of which one of these preselectable programs, for example of different degrees of difficulty, can be called up. It is also possible to use the keyboard field 25 in connection with the programmer for entering an individual exercise program, which is then written into a freely controllable memory which is located in the programmer. The practitioner can then design his own exercise program before starting his fitness program, as he currently believes.

In a particularly extensive embodiment, it is provided that the programmer is assigned a computing element which contains a computing program based on physiological knowledge, which determines the subsequent individual exercise as a function of the individual exercises completed, which is then displayed on the signal system 15. The "pharynx" creates a "living" exercise program that takes into account the part of the exercise that has expired and determines the following individual exercise. In this way e.g. prevent an exerciser from training a certain muscle area too one-sidedly.

In order to arouse the playful ambition of the practitioner, it is advantageous if the evaluation unit 23 actuates the sensors according to predetermined criteria to a so-called spial value

Score, processed, which is then preferably communicated continuously to the practitioner. This encourages the practitioner to continue the exercises in a playful way in order to achieve the highest possible play value. Depending on the score, cheering calls such as "keep it up", "well done", "there is free beer" etc. can then be given via a loudspeaker system integrated in the evaluation unit. respectively. In this way, the attractiveness of training can be increased significantly. The frequency and / or the sequence and / or the time interval and / or the strength of the sensor actuation can be used as possible criteria when actuating the sensors.

The training device was described on the basis of aerobic exercises. However, it is equally suitable for exercise units that are used for rehabilitation training for accident injuries or for strength training, in which the practitioner carries out his training tasks on stationary exercise equipment. In any case, the training is implemented in a game, be it acoustically or optically, which ensures proper execution in training and a unique

Stimulation and training, e.g. means for rehabilitation.

It is obvious that dabai is encouraged to work through both self-selected programs and programs that have been abandoned by third parties. The evaluation of the training results can then lead to a competitive incentive with the selection of absolutely the best, the best of the day, etc., which was previously only possible with great effort (appointment of a jury) in connection with gymnastic exercises.

Claims

1. Training device (1) with several gymnastic or sporting exercises supporting exercise units (3 to 13), characterized in that the exercise units (3 to 13) have sensors for detecting their actuation, which are connected to an evaluation unit (23) serves to register and / or process and / or display the sensor signals.

2. Training device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one exercise unit (3 to 13) has a plurality of sensors responsive to different properties, such as the type of actuation, force applied or actuation direction.

3. Training device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least some of the exercise units are associated with a signal system for emitting an optical or acoustic signal to the actuating unit.

4. Training device in particular according to claim 3, characterized in that a signal system (15) is provided for displaying the next to be actuated exercise unit.

5. Training device according to claim 4, characterized in that the signal system (15) has one of the exercise units (3 to 13) corresponding number of light sources (light spots) (19 a to f).

6. Training device according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that the signal system (15) is associated with one on each exercise unit (3 to 13) arranged acoustic or optical signal transmitter.

7. Training device according to claim 3, characterized in that the signal system for emitting acoustic signals comprises a plurality of separately controllable sound bodies of different pitch or timbre.

8. Training device according to claim 7, characterized in that the sound body and / or optical signal transmitter depending on the prescribed or predetermined exercise program can be controlled via a programmable computing element for generating sound sequences and / or light effects.

9. Training device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized

characterized in that switching elements are provided for monitoring the time interval between successive actuations of individual exercise units, which trigger a signal when the specified time spans are exceeded or not reached.

10. Training device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least some of the sensors have large contact zones, preferably on the wall or on the ceiling of a training room, when touched the sensor responds

11. Training device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least some of the sensors have mechanical stable elements, the sensor responds when the position changes.

12. Training device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the evaluation unit (23) switching elements summarizes, which process the actuations of the sensors according to predetermined criteria to a play value (score), and that a display unit is provided which preferably displays the play value continuously to the practitioner.

13. Training device according to claim 12, characterized in that switching elements for detecting the frequency and / or the sequence, and / or the time interval and / or the strength of the sensor actuations are provided.

14. Training device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the evaluation unit (23) comprises a printer (27) for outputting the sequence and / or the end result of an exercise sequence.

15. Training device according to one of claims 4 to 13, characterized in that a program generator is provided, which is connected to the signal system (15), and to this an exercise program with the sequence of operations of the exercise units (3 to 13) transmitted.

16. Training device according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the programmer from the exercise person worn sensors for determining physiological data, such as file and / or pulse rate, blood pressure etc. are assigned to the respective determination of an optimal exercise program or its sequence or abort.