阅读说明：本技术 用于从不同的锻炼装置和活动跟踪器对身体健身进行监测或评估的系统和方法 (System and method for monitoring or evaluating physical fitness from different exercise devices and activity trackers ) 是由 斯蒂芬·奥乌苏 于 2020-01-27 设计创作，主要内容包括：公开了身体健身评估系统和方法以及健康评估系统和方法。一个身体健身评估系统包括锻炼装置和主计算机。锻炼设备配置成：对锻炼装置的由使用者引起的运动进行跟踪,至少基于所跟踪的运动来确定使用者的当前身体活动数据,以及发送使用者的当前身体活动数据。主计算机配置成：从锻炼装置接收使用者的当前身体活动数据,接收身体健身评估选择以应用于当前身体活动数据,将当前身体活动数据与和锻炼装置相关联的基准身体活动数据进行比较,确定使用者的身体健身评估,基于使用者的身体健身评估而生成身体健身评估图像,以及呈现身体健身评估图像。(Physical fitness evaluation systems and methods and health evaluation systems and methods are disclosed. A physical fitness evaluation system includes an exercise device and a host computer. The exercise device is configured to: the method includes tracking a user-induced motion of an exercise device, determining current physical activity data of the user based at least on the tracked motion, and transmitting the current physical activity data of the user. The host computer is configured to: the method includes receiving current physical activity data of a user from an exercise device, receiving a fitness evaluation selection to apply to the current physical activity data, comparing the current physical activity data to baseline physical activity data associated with the exercise device, determining a fitness evaluation of the user, generating a fitness evaluation image based on the fitness evaluation of the user, and presenting the fitness evaluation image.)

1. A physical fitness evaluation system comprising:

an exercise device, the exercise device comprising:

an exercise device network communication interface for communicating over a network;

a motion tracker configured to track motion of the exercise device;

an exercise device memory;

an exercise device processor coupled to the exercise device network communication interface, the motion tracker, and the exercise device memory; and

exercise device programming in the exercise device memory, wherein execution of the exercise device programming by the exercise device processor configures at least one of the exercise devices to perform the following functions:

tracking, by the motion tracker, a user-induced motion of the exercise device; and

determining current physical activity data based at least on the tracked motion of the exercise device caused by the user;

transmitting the current physical activity data of the user over the network via the exercise device network communication interface; and

a host computer, the host computer comprising:

an image display for presenting a physical fitness assessment image based on the tracked current physical activity data of the user;

an image display driver coupled to the image display to control the image display to present the physical fitness evaluation image;

a main computer user input device that receives a physical fitness evaluation selection from the user to apply to the current physical activity data to generate the physical fitness evaluation image;

a host computer network communication interface for communicating over the network;

a host computer memory;

a main computer processor coupled to the image display driver, the main computer user input device, and the main computer network communication interface; and

host computer programming in the host computer memory, wherein execution of the host computer processor by the host computer processor configures the host computer to implement functions comprising:

receiving the tracked current physical activity data of the user from the exercise device over the network via the host computer network communication interface;

receiving, via the host computer user input device, the physical fitness assessment selection to apply to the current physical activity data;

comparing the current physical activity data of the user with baseline physical activity data associated with the exercise device;

determining a physical fitness assessment of the user based on the comparison;

generating the fitness evaluation image based on the fitness evaluation of the user; and

presenting the physical fitness evaluation image via the image display.

2. The physical fitness evaluation system of claim 1, wherein:

execution of the host computer programming by the host computer processor further configures the host computer to implement the following functions:

receiving profile settings including age, gender, height, weight, or race from the user via the host computer user input device;

setting a user profile of the user stored in the host computer memory in response to the received profile setting;

receiving a baseline setting level from the user via the user input device; and

adjusting the baseline physical activity data to target physical activity data based on the user profile and the received baseline setting level.

3. The physical fitness evaluation system of claim 1, wherein:

execution of the host computer programming by the host computer processor further configures the host computer to implement the following functions:

receiving a date range of historical physical activity data of the user from the user via the host computer user input device during which previous physical activity data of the user was tracked; and

adjusting the baseline physical activity data based on the historical physical activity data of the user.

4. The physical fitness evaluation system of claim 1, wherein:

the exercise device is a weight machine or a free weight training apparatus; the motion tracker includes:

(i) at least one accelerometer that measures acceleration of the exercise device,

(ii) at least one gyroscope for measuring the rotation of the exercise device, or

(iii) An Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) having the at least one accelerometer and the at least one gyroscope; and is

The function of tracking the movement of the exercise device by the movement tracker includes:

(i) measuring the acceleration of the exercise device by the at least one accelerometer,

(ii) measuring the rotation of the exercise device by the at least one gyroscope, or

(iii) Measuring both the acceleration and the rotation of the exercise device by the inertial measurement unit.

5. The physical fitness evaluation system of claim 4, wherein:

the exercise device is the free weight training apparatus;

the free weight training device is a dumbbell, a kettle bell or a barbell; and is

The current physical activity data includes a number of groups and a number of repetitions determined based on the tracked motion of the exercise device caused by the user.

6. The physical fitness evaluation system of claim 5, wherein:

the free weight training apparatus includes:

an exercise device user input device for receiving a selection from the user of a magnitude of weight to lift; and

a clock that tracks the duration;

execution of the exercise device programming further configures the exercise device to perform the following functions:

receiving the selection of the amount of weight to lift from the user via the exercise device user input device; and

tracking, via the clock, a respective duration of each of a plurality of groups; and is

The current physical activity data comprises the selection of the amount of weight to lift and the respective duration of each group.

7. The physical fitness evaluation system of claim 1, wherein:

the exercise device is a treadmill, exercise bicycle, stair climbing machine or elliptical machine; and is

The motion tracker comprises a tachometer, a dynamometer or a dynamometer.

8. The physical fitness evaluation system of claim 1, wherein:

the host computer is a mobile device or a server system;

the network is a wireless short-range network or a wireless local area network; and is

The host computer user input device comprises a touch screen or a computer mouse.

9. The physical fitness evaluation system of claim 1, further comprising:

an activity tracker that monitors physical activity of the user, the activity tracker comprising:

an activity tracker device network communication interface for communicating over a network;

a heart rate monitor configured to track a heart rate of the user;

an activity tracker device memory;

an activity tracker processor coupled to the activity tracker network communication interface, the heart rate monitor, and the activity tracker memory; and

activity tracker programming in the activity tracker memory, wherein execution of the activity tracker programming by the activity tracker processor configures the activity tracker to implement the following functions:

tracking, via the heart rate monitor, a heart rate of the user over a duration of time;

determining supplemental physical activity data for the user based on the monitored heart rate over the duration of time; and

sending the supplemental physical activity data of the user to the host computer over the network via the activity tracker network communication interface.

10. The physical fitness evaluation system of claim 9, wherein:

execution of the host computer programming by the host computer processor further configures the host computer to implement the following functions:

receiving the tracked supplemental physical activity data of the user from the activity tracker over the network via the host computer network communication interface;

comparing the supplemental physical activity data of the user with supplemental baseline physical activity data associated with the activity tracker; and

the function of determining the physical fitness assessment of the user is further based on the comparison of the supplemental physical activity data to the baseline physical activity data.

11. The physical fitness evaluation system of claim 10, wherein:

the activity tracker further comprises a pedometer configured to track a number of steps of the user over the duration of time;

the activity tracker processor is coupled to the pedometer; and is

Execution of the activity tracker programming by the activity tracker processor further configures the activity tracker to implement the following functions:

monitoring, via the pedometer, the number of steps of the user over the duration of time; and

determining the supplemental physical activity data of the user based also on the number of steps monitored over the duration of time.

12. The physical fitness evaluation system of claim 9, wherein the activity tracker is a wearable device.

13. A method of providing a physical fitness assessment to a user, the method comprising:

receiving tracked current physical activity data of the user from an exercise device via a host computer communication interface;

receiving a physical fitness evaluation selection via a host computer user input device;

obtaining a fitness assessment of the user based on the determined relationship of the current physical activity data relative to baseline physical activity data associated with the exercise device, as indicated by the received fitness assessment selection; and

presenting the physical fitness assessment to the user via a host computer user interface.

14. A health assessment system, the health assessment system comprising:

at least one exercise device, each of the at least one exercise device having:

a usage detector configured to collect usage data in response to manipulation of the exercise device by a user, an

A storage device coupled to the usage detector, the storage device configured to store the collected usage data;

a processor coupled to the at least one exercise device; and

a memory accessible to the processor, wherein the memory stores programming for execution by the processor;

wherein execution of the programming by the processor implements functions comprising:

retrieving the collected usage data from the storage device,

generating an assessment of the user's health by comparing the obtained usage data with usage data previously received from one or more of the at least one exercise device, an

Presenting the generated assessment to the user.

15. A system for assessing the health of a user, the system comprising:

a plurality of devices, each device of the plurality of devices configured to collect user data generated for the user and transmit the user data, at least one device of the plurality of devices being an exercise device and at least one device of the plurality of devices being a measurement device;

a processor coupled for communication with the plurality of devices, the processor configured to:

receiving the user data from the plurality of devices,

compares the received user data with previous user data,

generating an assessment of the health of the user based on the comparison of the received user data with the previous user data, an

Communicating the assessment to the user;

wherein the user data collected by the exercise device includes usage of the exercise device by the user; and is

Wherein the user data collected by the measurement device comprises a physical condition of the user.

16. A fitness evaluation system configured for use with at least one exercise device, the exercise device comprising:

an exercise device network communication interface for communicating over a network,

a sensor configured to sense use of the at least one exercise device by a user,

an exercise device memory, an exercise device processor coupled to the exercise device network communication interface, the sensor, and the exercise device memory, and

exercise device programming that configures the at least one exercise device to perform the following functions:

tracking usage of the at least one exercise device by the user via the sensor,

determining current physical activity data of the user based at least on the tracked use of the at least one exercise device by the user, an

Transmitting the current physical activity data of the user over the network via the exercise device network communication interface,

the physical fitness evaluation system comprises:

an image display for presenting a physical fitness assessment based at least on the tracked current physical activity data of the user;

a user input device for receiving a physical fitness assessment request from the user to generate the physical fitness assessment;

a computer processor coupled to the image display and the user input device, the computer processor configured to:

receiving the tracked current physical activity data of the user from the exercise device via the network;

receiving the request from the user via the user input device to generate the physical fitness assessment;

comparing the current physical activity data of the user with baseline physical activity data associated with the at least one exercise device;

determining a physical fitness assessment of the user based on the comparison; and

presenting the physical fitness assessment to the user via the image display.

17. A product configured to provide a physical fitness assessment to a user, the product comprising:

a machine-readable medium; and

programming carried by the machine-readable medium for execution by a host computer communicatively coupled with an exercise device, wherein execution of the programming causes the host computer to implement functions comprising:

receiving the tracked current physical activity data of the user from the exercise device via a host computer communication interface;

receiving a physical fitness evaluation selection via a host computer user input device;

obtaining a fitness assessment of the user based on the determined relationship of the current physical activity data relative to baseline physical activity data associated with the exercise device, as indicated by the received fitness assessment selection; and

providing the physical fitness assessment to the user via a host computer user interface.

18. A product configured to provide a physical fitness assessment to a user, the product comprising:

a machine-readable medium; and

programming carried by the machine-readable medium for execution by a host computer communicatively coupled with an exercise device, wherein the programming comprises:

executable code that causes the host computer to receive tracked current physical activity data of the user from the exercise device via wireless communication;

executable code that causes the host computer to receive a physical fitness evaluation selection of the user via a user input device of the host computer;

executable code that causes the host computer to select, in response to the received fitness assessment, an executable code that obtains a fitness assessment of the user based on a relationship of the current physical activity data relative to baseline physical activity data associated with the exercise device; and

executable code that causes the host computer to present the physical fitness assessment to the user via an output device of the host computer.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to weight training exercises (weight training exercises), and more particularly to an adjustable weight exercise device, an exercise system, and an exercise method.

Background

Conventionally, weight training exercises may be performed using free-weight devices such as dumbbells, kettlebells, and the like. These free-weight devices may have a fixed weight, or may allow the user to adjust the weight of the free-weight device by manually adding or removing weights (weights).

Adjusting the weight on the free-weight device may interfere with weight training by causing significant pauses or interruptions in the user's desired training activities. Accordingly, there is a need for improved devices, systems, and methods for adjusting the weight of exercise equipment.

Drawings

The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawing figures. When there are a plurality of similar elements, a single reference numeral bearing a lower case designation referring to the particular element may be assigned to the plurality of similar elements. Lower case designations may be deleted when an element is referred to collectively or a non-specific element or elements of the element are referred to. It is emphasized that, according to common practice, the various features of the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. Included in the drawings are the following figures:

fig. 1A-1C depict an exemplary exercise device according to aspects of the present invention.

Fig. 2A and 2B depict exploded views of the exercise device of fig. 1A-1C.

Fig. 3A and 3B depict an example base assembly of the exercise device of fig. 1A-1C.

Fig. 4A-4C depict an exemplary housing of the exercise device of fig. 1A-1C.

Fig. 5A and 5B depict exemplary shafts of the exercise device of fig. 1A-1C.

Fig. 6A, 6B, 7A, 7B, 8A, 8B, 9A, 9B, 10A, and 10B depict exemplary weights of the exercise device of fig. 1A-1C.

FIG. 11 depicts an exemplary exercise method according to aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 12 depicts an exemplary exercise system according to aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 13 depicts another example exercise system according to aspects of the present invention.

Fig. 14A-14E depict isometric, front, top, bottom, and left side views, respectively, of another example exercise device in accordance with aspects of the present invention, with the telescoping shafts shown in an extended position.

FIG. 14F depicts a cross-sectional side view of the device of FIG. 14B taken along line 14F-14F.

Fig. 14G depicts a cross-sectional side view of the device of fig. 14E taken along line 14G-14G.

Fig. 15A and 15B are exploded views of the device of fig. 14A-14G.

Fig. 16A-16G depict isometric, front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom views, respectively, of a counterweight of the device of fig. 14A-14G.

FIG. 17 depicts a cross-sectional side view of two weights mated together.

Fig. 18A-18F depict additional views of the example exercise device of fig. 14A-14E, with the telescoping shafts shown in a retracted position.

Specifically, fig. 18A is another front side view of the example exercise device of fig. 14A-14E.

Fig. 18B is a top view of the example exercise device of fig. 18A.

FIG. 18C depicts a cross-sectional side view of the device of FIG. 18A taken along line 18C-18C.

FIG. 18D depicts a cross-sectional side view of the device of FIG. 18A taken along line 18D-18D.

FIG. 18E depicts a cross-sectional side view of the device of FIG. 18A taken along line 18E-18E.

FIG. 18F depicts a cross-sectional side view of the device of FIG. 18B taken along line 18F-18F.

Fig. 19 is a high-level functional block diagram of an example of a physical fitness evaluation system that includes an exercise device with sensors (e.g., motion trackers), a mobile device, and a server system connected via various networks.

Fig. 20 shows, in simplified block diagram form, an example of a hardware configuration of the server system of fig. 19, for example, building a neural network model for an exercise device, and an example of an activity tracker (e.g., a wearable device).

Fig. 21 is a high-level functional block diagram of an example fitness evaluation system that includes a plurality of exercise devices, mobile devices, activity trackers (e.g., wearable devices), and a server system connected via various networks.

Fig. 22 shows an example of a hardware configuration of an exercise device used for the physical fitness evaluation system of fig. 19 to 21.

Fig. 23 shows an example of a hardware configuration of an activity tracker for the physical fitness evaluation system of fig. 20-21.

Fig. 24 shows an example of a schematic diagram of an information architecture for the physical fitness evaluation system of fig. 19-21.

FIG. 25 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method of providing a physical fitness assessment to a user.

Detailed Description

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to specific embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to the details shown. Rather, various modifications may be made in the details within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims and without departing from the invention.

The example exercise systems, methods, and devices disclosed herein are described primarily with respect to kettleballs and dumbbells. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention is not so limited. Rather, the disclosed concepts, features and embodiments may be used with any type of weight device, including, for example, barbells, fitness balls (media balls) or other free weights and weight systems, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

The example systems, devices, and methods disclosed herein may be used by a single user during a portion of one or a series of weight-training exercises. In such applications, the disclosed embodiments may allow a single user to select a desired weight for a weight-training exercise and/or allow the weight of the exercise device to be adjusted before, during, or after the weight-training exercise.

Additionally, the example systems, apparatuses, and methods disclosed herein may be used by a group of users during a portion of a coordinated weight-training exercise. Such groups of users may be co-located at a single site or may be remotely located and technically connected in a virtual group. In such use, whether the users are co-located or in a virtual group, the disclosed embodiments may allow an individual user in the group to select a desired weight for weight-training exercises and automatically transfer that desired weight to the exercise systems or devices of the other individuals in the group. The desired weight may also be automatically selected at the exercise device or devices of one or more of the individuals in the group.

Alternatively, the example systems, devices, and methods disclosed herein may be used by a single user alone without being connected to other systems or devices. Thus, the use of the system, apparatus and method is scalable.

Referring now to the drawings, fig. 1A-1C, 2A and 2B depict an exemplary exercise device or exercise apparatus 100 according to aspects of the present invention. The exercise device 100 may be provided, for example, in the form of a kettle bell. As a general overview, the apparatus 100 includes a base assembly 110, a housing assembly 140, and a plurality of weights 170. Additional details of the apparatus 100 are described below.

The base assembly 110 provides support for the components of the apparatus 100. The base assembly 110 has a receptacle 112, the receptacle 112 receiving certain components of the device 100. Receptacle 112 may include one or more exterior surfaces upon which other components of device 100 may rest.

As shown in fig. 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B, the receptacle 112 of the base assembly 110 may include a first surface 114 and a second surface 116 on an upper portion of the receptacle 112. Surfaces 114 and 116 form a base configured to support housing assembly 140 and counterweight 170. In particular, surface 114 may be configured to support, for example, weights 170 in a stacked orientation, and surface 116 may be configured to support, for example, housing assembly 140 at a lower surface of housing assembly 140. In this example, the surface 116 surrounds the first surface 114. The surface 116 may be formed at the same level (level) as the surface 114, or may be disposed at a level higher or lower than the level of the surface 114.

The base assembly 110 may also include one or more guide walls 118 and guide projections 119. Guide walls 118 extend upwardly from surface 116 to assist a user of device 100 in aligning housing assembly 140 on base assembly 110. Guide tabs 119 extend upward from surface 114 to assist a user of device 100 in aligning weight 170 on base assembly 110.

The base assembly 110 houses a driver 120. The driver 120 is configured to couple to or decouple from the shaft 150 of the housing assembly 140, as will be described in more detail below. The driver 120 is also configured to move, e.g., rotate, the shaft 150 of the housing assembly 140. In an exemplary embodiment, the driver 120 includes a motor, such as a brushless electric motor. Suitable motors for use as the driver 120 will be known from the description herein.

The base assembly 110 may also include a controller 122. The controller 122 electrically controls the driver 120 to operate the shaft 150, e.g., rotate the shaft 150, when the shaft 150 is coupled to the driver 120. As will be discussed in more detail below, controller 122 may operate drive 120 automatically or in response to certain inputs, such as inputs from a user of exercise device 100 or transmissions from another exercise device 100.

The controller 122 may be in communication with the sensor 123. The sensor 123 is configured to detect when the driver 120 is coupled to the shaft 150 of the housing assembly 140 or decoupled from the shaft 150 of the housing assembly 140. The controller 122 may thus operate the driver 120 only when the sensor 123 indicates that the driver 120 is coupled to the shaft 150 or one or more surfaces of the base assembly 110, such as the surface 114 and/or the surface 116, support the housing assembly 140 and/or the counterweight 170 or adjacent to the housing assembly 140 and/or the counterweight 170. Suitable sensors for use as sensor 123 include, for example, optical, pressure, or electrical sensors.

The base assembly 110 may also include an input device 124. Input device 124 receives input from a user of exercise device 100. The input device 124 is electrically and/or mechanically coupled to the driver 120 to cause the driver 120 to rotate the shaft 150 based on input from a user of the exercise device 100. The input may include a selection of the type of weight training exercise, the amount of weight, or the number of weights 170. Controller 122 may then control driver 120 based on the type of weight training exercise, the amount of weight, or the number of weights 170 received by input device 124.

The form of the input device 124 is not intended to be limiting. Input device 124 may be configured to receive a mechanical input, such as a knob, dial, button, slider, or other structure, suitable for direct manipulation or movement by a user of exercise device 100. The input device 124 may be configured to receive an electrical or electronic input, such as a key, touch screen or pad, or other structure, adapted to generate a mechanical signal in response to user interaction. Other structures suitable for use as input device 124 will be apparent from the description herein.

The base assembly 110 may include a display 126 in addition to the input device 124. The display 126 is configured to display inputs provided by the user to the input device 124, such as a selected exercise, a magnitude of weight, or a selected number of weights 170. Suitable displays for use as display 126 include, for example, a liquid crystal display or a light emitting diode display. Other displays will be known from the description herein.

The base assembly 110 may also include a communication device 128. Communication device 128 may be configured to wirelessly communicate with another exercise device 100 and/or with other wireless transceivers, as discussed in more detail below. The data received via the communication device 128 may be used to control the operation of the driver 120, as described in more detail below.

Although the input device 124 and the display 126 are described as being associated with the base assembly 110 and/or housed by the base assembly 110, it should be understood that the invention is not so limited. For example, the sensor 123, the input device 124, and/or the display 126 may be disposed on the housing assembly 140. In one embodiment, the sensor 123, input device 124, and display 126 are disposed on an exterior surface of the housing 142. In this embodiment, the sensor 123 and/or input device 124 may communicate user input to the driver 120 in the base assembly 110 through wireless communication or through a wired communication interface formed when the housing assembly 140 is placed on the base assembly 110. In the case where the sensor 123 is provided on the outer surface of the housing 142, the sensor 123 may be provided with a sensor cover 129 to protect the sensor 123 from the external environment.

Alternatively, the device 100 may not include the display 126. In such an embodiment, the information presented by display 126 may be presented by a remote device in wired or wireless communication with device 100 (e.g., on a user's smart phone or flat panel display or monitor).

A power supply 130 (e.g., a rechargeable battery) may be provided in the base assembly 110 or the housing assembly 140 to power the electronic components of the device 100. Alternatively, power may be provided to the device 100 through one or more power/communication terminals 132 formed on the base assembly 110 or via a port or cable connection. The device 100 may be configured to be powered primarily through the terminal 132, or may use a power connection through the terminal 132 to recharge the power supply, such as when the power supply 130 is a rechargeable battery. Other power supply means may be selected.

The housing assembly 140 is grasped and lifted (lift) by a user of the device 100. As shown in fig. 1A through 1C, the housing assembly 140 may have the shape of a kettle bell. However, it will be understood that the shape of the housing assembly 140 is not limited and that the housing assembly 140 may be configured as any type of free-weight device.

As shown in fig. 2A, 2B, and 4A-4C, the housing assembly 140 includes a housing 142. The housing 142 defines an interior space 144, the interior space 144 sized to receive the weight 170. The shape and size of the housing 142 and the interior space 144 are selected to correspond to the shape and size of the counterweight 170. For example, the housing 142 and the interior space 144 may have a generally circular cross-section as shown in fig. 2A, or any other shape to match the shape of a housing or support that may not have a circular cross-section. The interior space 144 of the housing 142 may also include one or more ridges 146. The ridge 146 may serve to align the weight 170 within the space 144 and may serve to prevent the weight 170 from rotating within the space 144.

The housing assembly 140 also includes a shaft 150. A shaft 150 extends within the interior space 144 of the housing 142. The shaft 150 may be coupled for rotation relative to other components of the housing assembly, such as the housing 142. As will be described in more detail below, rotation of the shaft 150 when the counterweight 170 is received within the interior space 144 may couple the shaft 150 with one or more of the counterweights 170.

The shaft 150 is configured to couple to the driver 120 when the housing assembly 140 is supported on the base assembly 110. The shaft 150 is also configured to decouple from the driver 120 when the housing assembly 140 is removed from the base assembly 110, such as when a user lifts the housing assembly 140 from the base assembly 110 during a weight-training exercise. The shaft 150 includes a protrusion 152 for engaging a corresponding structure on the counterweight 170, as described in more detail below.

At the upper end of the shaft 150, the housing assembly 140 may also include one or more bearings 153 to enable the shaft 150 to rotate relative to the housing 142. The bearing 153 is coupled to the housing assembly 150 by an upper fixing plate 154 and to the shaft 150 by a fixed position plate, as shown in fig. 2B. At a lower end of the shaft 150, the shaft 150 is configured to be coupled to the driver 120 through a linkage (linkage) including a connecting rod 156 and a fixed block 157 having a spring, as shown in fig. 2B.

Housing assembly 140 also includes a handle 160 positioned to be grasped by a user during weight training exercises. As shown in fig. 2A, 2B, and 4A-4C, the handle 160 is coupled to the exterior of the housing 142. The handle 160 is provided at the top end of the housing assembly 140 at a position of the housing 142 opposite to the coupling portion of the shaft 150 to the housing 142. The handle 160 is orthogonally oriented relative to the shaft 150. However, it will be appreciated that handle 160 may have a different orientation or an adjustable orientation, such as a parallel or inclined orientation, relative to shaft 150 based on the type of weight training desired to be performed using exercise device 100.

Weight 170 is selectively coupled to housing assembly 140 to enable an adjustable weight-training exercise. As shown in fig. 2A and 2B, the counterweights 170 are configured to be positioned adjacent to one another, such as in a stacked orientation. In this orientation, all of the weights 170 can fit in the interior space 144 of the housing 142. Thus, the housing 142 can be positioned over the counterweight 170, and the lower edge 148 of the housing 142 can rest on the surface 116 of the base assembly 110.

As shown in fig. 6A-10B, the apparatus 100 may include five weights 170a, 170B, 170c, 170d, and 170 e. It will be understood, however, that the number of counterweights shown in the figures is provided for illustrative purposes and is not intended to be limiting. Any number of weights may be provided based on the desired amount, degree, or level of adjustability of exercise device 100. For non-limiting examples, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or more weights 170 may be provided in the apparatus 100, and the weights 170 may be provided in increments of 1 pound, 2 pounds, 3 pounds, 4 pounds, 5 pounds, 10 pounds, or 20 pounds.

Each weight 170 has a corresponding opening 172. Where the weights 170 have a circular cross-section, an opening 172 may be provided at the center or central region of each weight. When weights 170 are positioned in a stacked orientation, openings 172 align or overlap one another such that openings 172 define a bore extending from uppermost weight 170a to lowermost weight 170e along the axis of stacked weights 170.

Each weight 170 has one or more projections (ridges) 174 that extend into a respective opening of each weight 170. The circumferential width of a particular projection 174 depends on the location at which the corresponding weight is positioned in the stack of weights 170; the taller the weight 170 in the stack, the wider the projection 174. As shown in fig. 6A, the projection 174a has a maximum width (covering almost half of the opening 172 a), while the projection 174e has a minimum width (covering a very small portion of the opening 172 e).

Each counterweight 170 may have one or more slots 176 on its outer circumference. When the weights 170 are positioned in the stacked orientation, the slots 176 align or overlap each other so that the weights 170 can slide together along the ridges 146 on the interior of the housing 142.

Exemplary operation of exercise device 100 is described below in accordance with aspects of the present invention and with reference generally to the embodiments of exercise device 100 shown in the figures.

Prior to weight training exercises, weights 170 are disposed in a stacked orientation on surface 114 of base assembly 110. In this position, the aperture defined by the opening 172 extends from the upper surface of the uppermost weight 170a down through the remaining weights 170 to the region of the driver 120.

Prior to performing the weight-training exercise, the user places the shell assembly 140 over the stacked weights 170. Alternatively, housing assembly 140 may already be positioned above counterweight 170, with lower surface 148 of housing 142 supported on surface 116 of base assembly 110. In this position, the shaft 150 extends through the aperture formed by the opening 172 and may be physically coupled with the driver 120.

When the user is ready to begin exercising, the user may provide appropriate input via input device 124. The input may include a selection of the type of weight training exercise, the amount of weight, or the number of weights 170. In response to receiving the input, the driver 120 automatically moves the shaft 150 to engage with a number of weights 170 corresponding to the user input. Where the base assembly 110 includes the controller 122, the controller 122 controls the drive 120 to rotate the shaft to selectively couple the shaft 150 with an appropriate number of counterweights 170. Controller 122 may be programmed to determine the appropriate number of weights 170 corresponding to user input, such as the type of weight training exercise or the amount of weight selected by the user, or may have predetermined the appropriate number of weights 170 corresponding to user input. In the event that the user selects the number of weights, the controller 122 may control the driver 120 to rotate the shaft 150 to couple with the selected number of weights 170.

The driver 120 may operate in response to receipt of a communication through the communication device 128 instead of or in addition to the input device 124. A user of exercise device 100 may wirelessly transmit a selection of the type of weight-training exercise, the amount of weight, or the number of weights 170 to communication device 128 of device 100, for example, using the user's smartphone. Upon receiving the data, the controller 122 electrically controls the driver 120 to rotate the shaft 150 based on the data received from the communication device 128.

Rotation of the shaft 150 by the driver 120 selectively engages one or more of the projections 152 with a corresponding projection 174 on the counterweight 170. The number of projections 174 engaged by the projection 152 depends on the rotational position of the shaft 150. As such, the driver 120 may control the number of counterweights 170 engaged with the shaft 150 by controlling the rotational position of the shaft 150. Examples of such positioning are described below.

In the first rotational position of the shaft 150, no projection 152 is located below any projection 174. In this position, the shaft 150 is free to move through the opening 172, for example, to allow the housing assembly 140 to be lifted without any associated counterweight 170.

In the second rotational position of the shaft 150, the highest projection 152a is located below the ledge 174a of the counterweight 170a, while the remaining projections 152 are not located below any other ledge 174. In this position, the shaft 150 is engaged with the counterweight 170a, i.e., axial movement of the counterweight 170a relative to the shaft 150 is prevented, to allow lifting of the housing assembly 140 having the counterweight 170a associated with the housing assembly 140.

In the third rotational position of the shaft 150, the highest projection 152a is located below the ledge 174a of the counterweight 170a, and the next projection 152b is located below the ledge 174b of the counterweight 170b, while the remaining projections 152 are not below any other ledge 174. In this position, the shaft 150 is engaged with the counterweights 170a and 170b, i.e., axial movement of the counterweights 170a and 170b relative to the shaft 150 is prevented to allow lifting of the housing assembly 140 having the counterweights 170a and 170b associated with the housing assembly 140.

It will be appreciated that the shaft 150 may be rotated into fourth, fifth, and sixth rotational positions, etc., increasing engagement with the counterweights 170c, 170d, and 170e in a manner similar to that described above. Likewise, it will be appreciated that the shaft 150 may be rotated to any number of rotational positions depending on the total number of counterweights 170 that may be engaged with the shaft 150. For example, when the exercise device 100 includes a total of three weights, the shaft 150 may be able to rotate to four different positions, while when the exercise device 100 includes a total of seven weights, the shaft 150 may be able to rotate to eight different positions.

When the shaft 150 is rotated to the correct rotational position and the appropriate number of weights 170 are engaged with the shaft 150, the shaft 150 may be decoupled from the driver 120 by lifting the housing assembly 140 from the base assembly 100, such as by a user grasping the handle 160 and lifting the housing assembly 140. A user of exercise device 100 may then use exercise device 100 to perform a desired weight training exercise. Advantageously, decoupling shaft 150 from driver 120 removes the means for rotating shaft 150 and thus prevents rotation of shaft 150, thereby preventing decoupling of weight 170 from shaft 150 during weight training exercises.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary exercise method 200 according to aspects of the present invention. In general, the method 200 includes: positioning the shell assembly; rotating a shaft to selectively couple the shaft with one or more counterweights; and lifting the housing assembly. Additional details of the method 200 are described below with respect to the components of the apparatus 100.

In step 210, a housing assembly is positioned on a base assembly having a plurality of weights positioned thereon. In an exemplary embodiment, the housing assembly 140 is positioned over the counterweight 170 on the surface 116 of the base assembly 110 such that the counterweight 170 is received within the interior space 144 of the housing 142 of the housing assembly 140. When the housing assembly 140 is positioned over the counterweight 170, the shaft 150 is positioned within the interior defined by the opening 172 in the counterweight 170.

In step 220, the shaft of the housing assembly is rotated to selectively couple the shaft with one or more of the plurality of counterweights. In the exemplary embodiment, shaft 150 rotates relative to housing 142 and counterweight 170. The shaft 150 is rotated by the driver 120 of the base assembly 110. The drive 120 rotates the shaft 150 based on input provided to the input device 124 by the individual performing the exercise, which is then transmitted to the controller 122. Rotation of the shaft 150 by the driver 120 causes the shaft 150 to selectively engage a desired number of weights 170, for example, a number of weights 170 selected by the individual performing the exercise method 200. In another embodiment, such engagement includes rotating the shaft 150 to engage the protrusions 152 on the shaft 150 with (e.g., below) the corresponding projections 174 of the desired number of weights 170 to prevent movement of the desired number of weights 170 along the axis of the shaft 150.

In step 230, the housing assembly is lifted. In an exemplary embodiment, the individual performing exercise method 200 lifts shell assembly 140 from base assembly 110. An individual may lift the housing assembly 140 by grasping the handle 160 of the housing assembly 140. The housing assembly 140 is lifted with the counterweight 170 coupled to the shaft 150, the shaft 150 being retained in the interior space 144 of the housing 142. The engagement between the protrusion 152 on the shaft 150 and the projection 174 on the counterweight 170 prevents the counterweight 170 from decoupling from the shaft 150 when the housing assembly 140 is lifted from the base assembly 110.

FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary exercise system 300 according to aspects of the present invention. As a general overview, system 300 includes a plurality of exercise devices 100. Additional details of system 300 are described below with respect to the components of exercise device 100.

As described above, exercise device 100 includes base assembly 110. In system 300, each exercise device 100 may include a respective base assembly 110. Alternatively, the system 300 may include one or more modular base assemblies configured to support a plurality of shell assemblies and weight stacks. Such a combination base assembly may include subcomponents (e.g., input device, display, and communication device) for each housing assembly supported by the combination base assembly, or may include a single subcomponent associated with each of the housing assemblies supported by the combination base assembly and the weight stack.

The driver 120 of each base assembly 110 of the exercise device 100 (or the driver 120 of the combination base assembly) is configured to rotate the respective shaft 150 based on data received via the associated communication device 128. In an exemplary embodiment, one of the exercise devices 100a (e.g., the master exercise device) receives input from the user (e.g., via input device 124) that includes a selection of the number of weights 170. The communication device 128 associated with the master exercise device 100a then sends the input from the user to the communication devices 128 of one or more of the other exercise devices 100b, 100c in the system 300 (as shown by the arrows in fig. 12). These other exercise devices 100b and 100c are configured to receive data from the communication device 128 of the main exercise device 100a and operate the drive 120 to rotate the shaft 150 to engage the appropriate number of weights 170. In this manner, one user of exercise system 300 (e.g., a weight trainer) may control the weight selection of each of the other users of the exercise system (e.g., students).

FIG. 13 illustrates another example exercise system, exercise system 400, in accordance with aspects of the present invention. In general, the invention also provides an exercise system including a plurality of exercise devices, each exercise device having a plurality of weights configured to be positioned adjacent to one another, each of the exercise devices configured to engage a selected number of the plurality of weights. The exercise system also includes at least one base assembly having a base configured to support a plurality of weights of at least one of the exercise devices, the base assembly configured to couple to or decouple from the at least one of the exercise devices. The exercise system optionally includes an interface configured to communicate with one or more of the plurality of exercise devices. The base assembly is optionally configured to cooperate with one or more of the exercise devices to increase or decrease the number of weights engaged by one or more of the exercise devices based on information received from or communicated to the interface.

As a general overview, the system 400 includes a base assembly 410 and a plurality of housing assemblies 440. The base assembly 410 and the housing assembly 440 may include any of the components described above with respect to the exercise device 100. Additional details of system 400 are described below.

The base assembly 410 provides support for the components of the system 400, including each of the housing assemblies 440 of the system 400. The base assembly 410 is a composite base assembly that may include subcomponents (e.g., drivers, input devices, controllers, communication devices, etc.) associated with each housing assembly 440 or a set of housing assemblies 440 supported by the composite base assembly, or may include a single subcomponent associated with each or all of the weight stack and housing assemblies 440 supported by the composite base assembly 410.

The base assembly 410 houses the drive for each of the housing assemblies 440 supported on the base assembly 410. Each driver is configured to couple to and decouple from a respective shaft of each housing assembly 440, as described above with respect to exercise device 100.

The base assembly 410 may also include one or more controllers. The base assembly 410 may include multiple controllers, for example, one controller for each drive or group of drives, or may include a single master controller that electrically controls all of the drives.

The system 400 may also include a user interface, such as an input device 424. Input device 424 receives input from a user of exercise device 400. Input device 424 is operable to select the number of weights for any of the housing assemblies 440 of system 400, as described above with respect to exercise device 100. The input device 424 may be implemented to input the same weight for all of the housing assemblies 440, or may allow the weight of each housing assembly 440 to be set individually.

The form of the input device 424 is not intended to be limiting. As shown in fig. 13, the input device 424 may be formed separately from the base assembly 410 and communicate with a controller in the base assembly 410 by wired or wireless means. Alternatively, the input device 424 may be incorporated into one structure with the base assembly 410. A single input device 424 may be provided for all of the housing assemblies 440 or an input device 424 may be provided for each housing assembly 440. The structure for use as the input device 424 will be known from the description herein.

As shown in fig. 13, the input device 424 may incorporate a display 426. The display 426 is configured to display input provided by the user to the input device 424, such as a selected exercise, a magnitude of weight, or a selected number of weights. As with the input device 424, a single display 426 may be provided for all of the housing assemblies 440, or a display 426 may be provided for each housing assembly 440 or groups or subsets of housing assemblies 440. Suitable displays for use as display 426 will be apparent from the description herein.

The housing assembly 440 is grasped and lifted by a user of the system 400. Each housing assembly 440 includes a shaft that may be selectively coupled with one or more weights housed within the interior of the respective housing assembly 440, as described above with respect to exercise device 100.

Thus, a multi-stand embodiment of an exercise device such as that shown in fig. 13 has the ability to display (display) multiple exercise devices on one stand, say, for example, a kettle bell, and a multi-stand embodiment would have one primary display controlling all exercise devices, or multiple displays, where each display controls an adjacent exercise device. The weight of each exercise device may be the same or different depending on each device. For example, and for illustrative purposes, the top half of the exercise devices (on the top rack shown in fig. 13) may each hold a maximum of 42 pounds, and the bottom half of the exercise devices may have a maximum weight of 90 pounds. Other weights and combinations of weight variations are also contemplated.

Exercise devices and systems according to the present invention are optionally provided with various decorative shapes and designs and contours depending on factors such as consumer preference, aesthetic considerations, source identification, and the like. Various decorative designs may thus be selected independently of the functionality described herein. For example, and for purposes of illustration, exemplary ornamental features of an exercise device are shown in a co-pending U.S. design patent application serial No. 29/635,801, filed on 2/2018, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Fig. 14A-14G, 15, and 18A-18F illustrate an example exercise device or exercise apparatus 500 according to aspects of the present invention. The exercise device 500 may be provided, for example, in the form of a dumbbell. Exercise device 500 may alternatively be a barbell.

As a general overview, the apparatus 500 includes a base assembly 510, a housing assembly 540, and a plurality of weights 570. Additional details of the apparatus 500 are described below.

Referring generally to fig. 14A-14G and 15, an exercise device 500 includes: a plurality of weights 570, the plurality of weights 570 configured to be positioned adjacent to one another; a housing assembly 540, the housing assembly 540 having a housing including a handle shaft 542 defining an interior, the housing assembly 540 further having a shaft 544, the shaft 544 coupled for movement relative to the housing and extending within the housing interior, wherein movement of the shaft 544 relative to the housing selectively couples the shaft 544 with one or more of the plurality of weights 570; and a base assembly 510, the base assembly 510 having a base including a receptacle 512, the base configured to support a plurality of weights 570 and a housing assembly 540, the base assembly 510 further having a driver 523 including a motor, the driver 523 configured to couple to a shaft 544 of the housing assembly 540 when the housing assembly 540 is supported by the base including the receptacle 512, the driver 523 further configured to decouple from the shaft 544 of the housing assembly 540 when the housing assembly 540 is not supported by the base including the receptacle 512; wherein the driver 523 of the base assembly 510 is configured to move the shaft 544 of the housing assembly 540 relative to the housing of the housing assembly 540 to selectively couple the shaft 544 with one or more of the plurality of weights 570 when the driver 523 is coupled to the shaft 544 of the housing assembly 540.

The plurality of weights 570 are arranged in a plurality of sets, each set of the plurality of sets positioned on an opposite side of the housing assembly, and wherein the housing assembly 540 has a plurality of shafts 544, each shaft of the plurality of shafts coupled for movement relative to the housing and each shaft of the plurality of shafts extending within an interior of the housing, wherein movement of the shafts 544 relative to the housing selectively couples the shafts 544 with one or more weights 570 of each set of weights 570.

Each weight of the plurality of weights 570 has an opening 582, the openings 582 of the plurality of weights 570 at least partially defining a bore 582' extending along the axis ' B ' when the plurality of weights 570 are adjacent to one another.

The shaft 544 of the housing assembly 540 can be positioned within a bore 582' defined by a plurality of weights. Each weight of the plurality of weights 582 includes one or more engagement surfaces 580/590. Movement of the shaft 544 relative to the housing by the driver 523 causes the shaft 544 to selectively engage one or more of the plurality of weights 570 to limit or prevent movement of one or more of the plurality of weights 570 in a direction orthogonal to the axis B of the bore 582.

Housing assembly 540 also includes a handle portion 542, and handle portion 542 is positioned to be grasped by a user of exercise device 500. The driver 523 includes a motor 523, and the base assembly 510 further includes a controller that electrically controls the motor 523 to move the shaft 544 based on input from a user of the exercise device.

Base assembly 510 also includes an input device 521, which input device 521 is electrically or mechanically coupled to a driver 523 to rotate a shaft 544 of the driver based on input from a user of exercise device 500.

Decoupling of the shaft 544 of the housing assembly 540 from the driver 523 of the base assembly prevents movement of the shaft 544 relative to the housing, thereby preventing decoupling of one or more of the plurality of weights 570 from the shaft 544 of the exercise device 500.

There is also provided a method of exercising comprising: positioning the housing assembly 540 on the base assembly 510, the base assembly 510 having a plurality of weights 570 positioned thereon; moving the shaft 544 of the housing assembly 540 relative to the housing with a driver 523 of the base assembly 510 coupled to the shaft 544 to selectively couple the shaft 544 with one or more of the plurality of weights 570; and lifting the housing assembly 540 from the base assembly 510, wherein one or more of the plurality of weights 570 are coupled with the shaft 544 of the housing assembly 510.

Each weight of the plurality of weights 570 has an opening 582, the openings 582 of the plurality of weights 570 at least partially defining a bore 582 'extending along axis B, and wherein the positioning step includes positioning the shaft 544 of the housing assembly 540 within the bore 582' defined by the plurality of weights 570. Each weight of the plurality of weights 570 includes one or more engagement surfaces 580/590, and wherein the moving step includes moving the shaft 544 relative to the housing to selectively engage the shaft 544 with an engagement surface 580/590 of a corresponding weight of the plurality of weights 570 to prevent movement of the one or more weights of the plurality of weights 570 in a direction orthogonal to the axis B of the bore 582'. The housing assembly 540 further comprises a handle portion 542, and wherein the lifting step comprises grasping the handle portion of the housing assembly 540. The driver 523 comprises a motor 523 and the base assembly 510 further comprises a controller that electrically controls the motor 523, and wherein the moving step comprises providing an input to the controller to control the motor 523 to move the shaft 544. The base assembly 510 further includes an input device 521 electrically or mechanically coupled with the driver 523, and wherein the moving step includes receiving an input through the input device 521 and causing the driver 523 to move the shaft 544 based on the received input. The exercise method also includes preventing one or more of the plurality of weights 570 from decoupling from the shaft 544 of the exercise device when the housing assembly 540 is lifted from the base assembly 510.

An exercise system includes a plurality of exercise devices 500, each exercise device 500 having: a plurality of weights 570, the plurality of weights 570 configured to be positioned adjacent to one another; a shaft 544, the shaft 544 configured to move relative to the plurality of weights 570, wherein movement of the shaft 544 relative to the plurality of weights 570 selectively couples the shaft 544 with one or more of the plurality of weights 570; a base assembly 510, the base assembly 510 having a base configured to support a plurality of weights 570 and a driver 523, the driver 523 configured to couple to and decouple from the shaft 544; and a communication device configured to wirelessly communicate with the communication device of another exercise device of the plurality of exercise devices 500, wherein the driver 523 of one of the plurality of exercise devices 500 is configured to move the shaft 544 of one of the plurality of exercise devices 500 based on data received from the communication device of another exercise device of the plurality of exercise devices 500.

The drive 523 includes a motor 523, and each base assembly 510 further includes a controller that electrically controls the motor 523 to move the shaft 544 based on data received from the communication device of another exercise device of the plurality of exercise devices 500. Driver 523 of one of the plurality of exercise devices is also configured to move shaft 544 of one of the plurality of exercise devices 500 based on input from a user of the exercise device and is also configured to send input from the user to the communication device of another of the plurality of exercise devices 500. The communication device is configured to wirelessly communicate data corresponding to the number of weights 570 coupled to the shaft 544 of one of the plurality of exercise devices 500 to another of the plurality of exercise devices 500.

An exercise device comprising: a plurality of weights 570, the plurality of weights 570 configured to be positioned adjacent to one another; a shaft 544, the shaft 544 configured to engage one or more of the plurality of weights 570; a base assembly 510, the base assembly 510 having a driver 523, the driver 523 configured to couple to and decouple from a shaft 544; and an input device 521, the input device 521 associated with the shaft 544 or the base assembly 510, the input device 521 configured to receive an input from a user of the exercise device 500, the input comprising a selection corresponding to a number of the plurality of weights 570; wherein the driver 523 of the base assembly 510 is configured to automatically move the shaft 544 relative to the plurality of weights 570 to selectively engage the shaft 544 with a selected number of the plurality of weights 570 when the driver 523 is coupled to the shaft 544 and when the input device 521 receives an input.

The base assembly 510 also includes a base configured to support a plurality of weights 570. Each weight of the plurality of weights 570 has an opening 582, the openings 582 of the plurality of weights 570 at least partially defining a bore 582 'extending along axis B when the plurality of weights 570 are adjacent to each other, the shaft 544 being positionable within the bore 582'. Each weight of the plurality of weights 570 includes one or more engagement surfaces 580/590. The movement of the shaft 544 caused by the driver 523 causes the shaft 544 to selectively engage respective ones of the engagement surfaces 580/590 of a selected number of the plurality of weights 570 to prevent or limit movement of one or more of the plurality of weights 570 in a direction orthogonal to the axis B of the bore 582'. Shaft 544 is coupled to a handle portion that is oriented parallel with respect to shaft 544.

The driver 523 includes a motor 523, and the base assembly 510 further includes a controller that electrically controls the motor 523 to move the shaft 544 based on input from a user of the exercise device 500. The exercise device 500 also includes a display 519 configured to display a value corresponding to a selected number of the plurality of weights 570 or to display a weight corresponding to the selected number of the plurality of weights 570. A sensor 557/559 is associated with base or shaft 544, and a sensor 557/559 is configured to detect when driver 523 is coupled to or decoupled from shaft 544.

The handle portion 542 is disposed along the housing of the housing assembly 540, and the handle portion 542 defines a handle axis B, each weight of the plurality of weights 570 extending radially outward from a weight axis B oriented parallel to the handle axis B.

The exercise device also includes a drive shaft 527 coupled to the driver 523 and the shaft 544 of the housing assembly 540 when the shaft assembly 540 is supported by the base assembly 510, the drive shaft 527 configured to rotate to move the shaft 544 relative to the housing of the housing assembly 540 when the drive shaft 527 is coupled to the shaft 544 of the housing assembly 540. The drive shaft 527 is positioned to extend into the interior of the housing assembly 540 when the driver 523 is coupled to the shaft 544 of the housing assembly 540 and the housing assembly 540 is supported by the base assembly 510. The drive shaft 527 is orthogonally oriented relative to the shaft axis B of the shaft 544 of the housing assembly 540.

The exercise device is selected from the group consisting of dumbbells and barbells. The plurality of weights 570 are arranged in a plurality of sets, each of the plurality of sets positioned on an opposite side of the housing assembly 540, and wherein the housing assembly 540 has a plurality of shafts 544, each of the plurality of shafts 544 coupled for movement relative to the housing and extending within an interior of the housing, wherein movement of the shafts 544 relative to the housing selectively couples the shafts 544 with one or more weights 570 in each of the sets of weights 570, and wherein movement of the shafts 544 relative to the housing selectively couples the shafts 544 with the same number of weights 570 in each of the sets of weights 570.

The housing assembly 540 includes a handle shaft 542 and housing subassemblies 545, each coupled to an end portion of the handle shaft 542. Each of the housing subassemblies 545 at least partially defines an interior region. Each drive shaft assembly 531 is positioned at least partially within an interior region of each of the housing subassemblies 545, with each drive shaft assembly 531 positioned to engage a respective one of the shafts 544.

The exercise device also includes a plurality of drivers 523, each configured to be coupled to a respective one of the shafts 544 of the housing assembly 540 when the housing assembly 540 is supported by the base assembly 510, each of the drive shaft assemblies 531 releasably coupled to a respective one of the drivers 523. Each of the shafts 544 has a rack 572 and the drive shaft surface of each of the drive shaft assemblies 531 includes a gear 561 that engages the rack 572 of the respective one of the shafts 544.

At least two weights 570 are configured to be placed adjacent to each other along axis B of the weights 570 to form a pair of weights, a first weight of the pair of weights including a male surface 580 and a second weight of the pair of weights including a female surface 590 configured to be engaged by the male surface 580 of the first weight, thereby limiting or eliminating movement of the first and second weights of the pair of weights 570 relative to each other along axis B. The first and second weights of the pair of weights 570 each define a bore 582 extending along axis B to receive the shaft 544 of the housing assembly 540 to selectively couple the shaft 544 with the first and second weights, the shaft 544 limiting or eliminating movement of the first and second weights of the pair of weights 570 relative to each other in a direction orthogonal to axis B.

The housing assembly 540 includes a memory configured to store data corresponding to the movement of the housing assembly 540. The base assembly 510 includes a memory configured to receive data corresponding to the movement of the housing assembly 540.

The base assembly 510 and the housing assembly 540 are configured to share data corresponding to the movement of the housing assembly 540 when the base assembly 510 supports the housing assembly 540. The base assembly 510 is configured to wirelessly transmit data corresponding to the movement of the housing assembly 540 to a remote device.

Referring now more particularly to the details of the embodiment shown in fig. 14A-14G, 15, and 18A-18F, the base assembly 510 provides support for the components of the device 500. The base assembly 510 has a semi-cylindrical housing 512 and a base cover 513 removably mounted to a lower surface of the housing 512.

The receptacle 512 includes one or more exterior surfaces on which other components of the device 500 may rest. As shown in fig. 15, the receptacle 512 of the base assembly 510 includes a first surface 514 and a second surface 516 on an upper portion of the receptacle 512. Surfaces 514 and 516 form a base configured to support housing assembly 540 and weight 570. Each surface 514, 516 includes upwardly projecting ribs 517 that are evenly spaced apart and configured to support a weight 570, for example, in a stacked orientation. The lower surface of the weight 570 is sized to fit between two adjacent ribs 517.

The receptacle 512 includes a user control interface in the form of two user operable buttons 521 for selecting a desired weight, and a display 519 disposed between the buttons 521 for displaying the selected weight. One button 521 is labeled '+' to increase the amount of weight (i.e., the number of weights 570) that is non-removably attached to the housing assembly 540, and the other button 521 is labeled to decrease the amount of weight (i.e., the number of weights 570) that is non-removably attached to the housing assembly 540. The buttons 521 are generally referred to herein as user input devices.

An interior region that houses certain components of the device 500 is defined within the receptacle 512. As best shown in fig. 14G, according to this exemplary embodiment, a drive in the form of two motors 523 is mounted within the interior region. The driver is configured to adjust the amount of weight applied to the housing assembly 540. Each motor 523 has an output shaft 525 configured to rotate about an axis. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the drives may be different than those shown and described. For example, the drive may include a single motor 523.

Each output shaft 525 is non-rotatably coupled to an intermediate shaft 527 such that the shafts 525 and 527 rotate together. The lower end of each intermediate shaft 527 is fixed to one of the output shafts 525 such that the shaft 525 and the shaft 527 rotate together, and the upper end of each intermediate shaft 527 includes an opening 529 configured to releasably receive a shaft 531 forming part of a housing assembly 540. The opening 529 of the shaft 527 is keyed to the lower end of the shaft 531 so that the shaft 531 and the shaft 527 rotate together. It should be understood that the shafts 531 and 527 can be regularly detached and reattached during operation of the device 500.

The upper end portion of each intermediate shaft 527 is positioned in a hollow cylindrical portion 533 (see fig. 15) protruding from the top surface of the receiving portion 512 such that the opening 529 in the shaft 527 is visible and accessible from the outside of the receiving portion 512. A spring 535 is positioned between the top end of the shaft 527 and the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 533 to center the shaft 527 within the cylindrical portion 533 and also to ensure a reliable connection between the shaft 527 and the shaft 531. The top end of each intermediate shaft 527 may be flush with the top surface of the cylindrical portion 533. Alternatively, the top end of each intermediate shaft 527 may be slightly recessed or protruding relative to the top surface of the cylindrical portion 533.

A Printed Circuit Board (PCB)539 for interacting with the display 519 and the buttons 521 is mounted within the receiving portion 512. The PCB 541 is also mounted in the accommodating part 512 to control the motor 523 based on a signal received from the PCB 541, as will be described later. The PCB 541 includes (at least) a processor, a controller, and a wireless transmitter/receiver for transmitting/receiving wireless signals, such as bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

Referring now to housing assembly 540, housing assembly 540 is essentially a barbell without any weight 570 being applied to the barbell. The housing assembly 540 generally includes a handle shaft 542 in the form of a hollow cylindrical portion, a two-piece telescoping shaft 544 positioned within the hollow interior of the handle shaft 542, and two housing subassemblies 545 mounted to opposite sides of the shaft 542.

The housing subassemblies 545 are substantially identical, and only one of the housing subassemblies 545 will be described below. The housing subassembly 545 generally comprises a housing including a bowl-shaped cylindrical inner shell portion 546, an outer shell portion 548, and a female dovetail connection 550, the inner shell portion 546 being positioned closest to the end of the shaft 542, the outer shell portion 548 being mounted to the open end of the inner shell portion 546, the female dovetail connection 550 being mounted to an outwardly facing surface of the outer shell portion 548. A circular opening is formed through each housing subassembly and is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis B.

As best shown in fig. 14G, the housing portion 548 includes a hollow cylindrical portion 552 that receives one end of the shaft 542. The shaft 542 is fixedly and non-rotatably mounted to the cylindrical portion 552 by a shaft 531, the shaft 531 passing through a hole 553 in the shaft 542. The outer housing portion 548 includes a series of snap-fit connection features 555, the snap-fit connection features 555 releasably coupling to mating features on the inner housing portion 546 to secure the housing portions 546 and 548 together. Other means for mounting the shaft 542, the shell portion 546, and the shell portion 548 are known to those skilled in the art.

A series of mechanical components are positioned within a hollow region defined between shell portion 546 and shell portion 548. More specifically, and still referring to only one of the substantially identical housing subassemblies 545, the shaft 531 is rotatably mounted within the hollow region. The shaft 531 is aligned (register) with the opposing holes 553 in the handle shaft 542 and the opposing holes 556 in the cylindrical portion 552 of the housing portion 548 (i.e., through the opposing holes 553 in the handle shaft 542 and the opposing holes 556 in the cylindrical portion 552 of the housing portion 548). A c-clip 560 is fitted in a groove formed in the shaft 531 at a position above the cylindrical portion 552, and another c-clip 560 is fitted in a groove formed in the shaft 531 at a position below the cylindrical portion 552, thereby locking the axial position of the shaft 531 relative to the handle shaft 542. It should be understood that shaft 531 is capable of rotating within apertures 553 and 556, but does not translate relative to apertures 553 and 556.

A toothed gear 561 is non-rotatably mounted to a central region of the shaft 531 such that the shaft 531 and gear 561 rotate together. Gear 561 and shaft 531 together form a drive shaft assembly. The gear 561 may be translatable to a slight extent along the length of the shaft 531 (i.e., along axis a) to accommodate misalignment between the gear 561 and a toothed rack 572 on the shaft 544, the toothed rack 572 meshing with the gear 561.

Referring now to features of telescoping shafts 544a and 544b (collectively or individually referred to as shafts 544) of housing assembly 540, each telescoping shaft 544 has a generally cylindrical shape with a cut-out region defining a semi-cylindrical section along a majority of the length of shaft 544. A rectangular channel 574 is formed along the length of the inwardly facing side of the semi-cylindrical section (i.e. the side facing axis B). A gear tooth portion forming a toothed rack 572 is defined along a major portion of the passage 574. In assembled form, the flat faces of the semi-cylindrical sections are positioned facing each other. Each gear 561 is positioned within a channel 574 of two shafts 544, and the teeth of each gear 561 mesh with two racks 572 such that rotation of at least one of the gears 561 about axis a translates the two shafts 544 along axis B. In normal operation, the two gears 561 are simultaneously rotated by the motor 523 to translate the two shafts 544 along the axis B. It should be understood that axes a and B are orthogonal. Due to the tooth engagement between gear 561 and toothed rack 572, shaft 544 is configured to simultaneously translate in opposite directions. The shaft 544 is configured to move between a retracted position (see fig. 18F) in which the shaft 544 does not engage any weights 570, and a deployed position (see fig. 14G) in which the shaft 544 and one or more weights 570 engage.

Referring back to the features of housing subassembly 545, for one of the housing subassemblies 545, the electronic components are also housed in the hollow region defined between housing portion 546 and housing portion 548. The electronic components include (i) a sensor 552 in the form of an accelerometer (for example) that senses movement of the device 500, (ii) a rechargeable battery that powers the sensor 552, and (iii) a PCB including a memory and a processor for communicating readings of the sensor 552 to the base assembly 510 in the docked state of the device 500. In the docked state of housing assembly 540, spring pins 557 (also referred to as contacts) are coupled to the PCB of housing subassembly 545 to transmit signals and power to and from PCB 541 of base assembly 510.

The female wedge connection 550 of the housing subassembly 545 is mounted to the outwardly facing surface of the shell portion 548, and the female wedge connection 550 is configured to releasably mount on a male wedge connection 580, which male wedge connection 580 is disposed on an adjacent weight 570.

The female wedge connector 550 may be mounted to the shell portion 548 by, for example, fasteners, or alternatively, the female wedge connector 550 may be formed as a unitary member with the shell portion 548. The female dovetail connection 550 includes a semi-circular female dovetail recess 576, the female dovetail recess 576 having an open end on a lower surface. The open end is configured to slidably receive a male wedge connection 580 on an adjacent weight 570. As described with reference to fig. 17, the wedge joint formed between the female connection 550 and the male wedge connection 580 of the weight 570 prevents the shell portion 548 (and the entire housing assembly 540) from rotating about axis B relative to the attached weight 570. The wedge-shaped interface also prevents the attached weight 570 from moving upward relative to the shell portion 548 (and the entire housing assembly 540). The wedge-shaped joint cannot prevent the attached weight 570 from moving downward along axis a relative to the housing assembly 540 — such downward translation is only prevented when one of the telescoping shafts 544 is positioned within the opening 582 formed in the attached weight 570. More particularly, when the telescoping shaft 544 is positioned within the opening 582 formed in the attached weight 570, the attached weight 570 is prevented from being vertically unattached from the housing assembly 540 due to the interengagement between the shaft 544, the central bore in the housing portion 548 and the opening 582 in the attached weight 570. The attached weight 570 is prevented from being horizontally detached from the housing assembly 540 due to the interengagement between the female and male wedge connections 550, 580.

Referring now to features of the counterweight 570, the counterweight 570 is substantially identical, and only one counterweight 570 will be described below with reference to fig. 16A-16G. The counterweight 570 is a circular plate having a first side 581, a second side 583 opposite the first side 581, and a surface 584 of revolution extending between the two sides 581 and 583 and interconnecting the two sides 581 and 583. The base 584a of the surface 584 is flat to sit on the surfaces 514, 516 of the receptacle 512. A circular opening 582 is formed in a central portion of the counterweight 570, and the circular opening 582 is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis B of the counterweight 570.

The weight 570 includes a female wedge connection 590 on the first side 581 and a male wedge connection 580 on the second side 583. The female wedge connection 590 of the first weight 570 is configured to mate with the male wedge connection 580 of the second weight 570b adjacent the first side 581 of the first weight, while the male wedge connection 580 of the first weight 570 is configured to mate with the female wedge connection 590 of the third weight 570 adjacent the second side 583 of the first weight 570. Fig. 17 depicts the interconnection between the female wedge connection 590 of weight 570b and the male wedge connection 580 of weight 570 a. Various features in fig. 17 are depicted in simplified form to aid in the understanding of the interconnection.

The male and female wedges 580, 590 are generally referred to herein as engagement surfaces. One skilled in the art will recognize that there are other connection styles for achieving connection and disconnection between two bodies. Thus, connections 580 and 590 may differ from those shown and described.

As best shown in fig. 16A, the side portion 581 of the weight 570 includes a U-shaped cut-out portion extending from the side portion 581 to a planar surface 591. An opening 585 is formed at a base of the cut-away portion that intersects the base 584a of the weight 570. When the housing assembly 540 is docked to the base assembly 510, the opening 585 is sized to first receive the male wedge bond 580 of an adjacent weight 570 already docked to the base assembly 510, and is also sized to then receive one of the ribs 517 of the receptacle 512. The shapes of the opening 585 and the rib 517 are complementary to ensure that the weight 517 can only be seated onto the receptacle 512 in a single orientation, thereby preventing the weight 517 from being improperly seated onto the receptacle 512.

Angled wall 586 extends in an a-shape. More specifically, angled walls 586 extend in a distal direction from opposite ends of the opening 585 and slope toward the longitudinal axis B of the weight 570. In the assembled form of the device 500, the male wedge connections 580 of adjacent weights 570 are positioned between the angled walls 586. Thus, angled wall 586 is configured to prevent rotation of an adjacent weight 570 engaged with angled wall 586.

Female dovetail connection 590 extends between and connects the distal ends of angled walls 586. Female dovetail connection 590 includes a female dovetail surface 587 extending about axis B. Female wedge surface 587 is U-shaped about axis B and extends between and connects the distal ends of angled walls 586. The female wedge surface 587 is also angled depthwise (i.e., along axis B) from the first side 581 to the second side 583 and faces both the longitudinal axis B and the longitudinal axis B. As best seen in fig. 16G, the female wedge surface 587 extends in an outward direction (e.g., at a 45 degree angle) away from the longitudinal axis B of the weight 570 when viewed in a direction from the first side 581 to the second side 583 of the weight 570. As best shown in fig. 17, the female wedge connection 590 of one weight 570b is designed to capture the mating male wedge connection 580 of the mating weight 570a between the angled surface and the flat surface 591 of the female wedge surface 587 of the weight 570 a.

The female wedge connection 590 may form part of a separate insert secured to the first side 581 of the weight 570, as shown in fig. 16A, or alternatively the female wedge connection 590 may be integral with the first side 581 of the weight 570, as shown in fig. 17.

As best shown in fig. 16C-16G, the side 583 of each counterweight 570 includes a male wedge coupling 580. The male dovetail connection 580 is an tombstone protrusion extending outwardly from the side 583 along axis B. The male wedge connection 580 includes a flat bottom surface 597, the flat bottom surface 597 being substantially parallel to the base surface 584a of the counterweight 570. The wedge surfaces 595 extend from opposite ends of the flat bottom surface 597 and connect the opposite ends of the flat bottom surface 597. Wedge surface 595 is U-shaped and surrounds axis B. As best shown in fig. 16D, the wedge surface 595 extends outwardly from the second side 583 and at an acute angle (e.g., 45 degrees) in a direction away from the axis B. As best shown in fig. 17, the male wedge surface 595 of one weight 570a is designed to be captured between the angled surface of the female wedge surface 587 of a mating weight 570b and the flat surface 591.

The male wedge connection 580 may form part of a separate insert secured to the second side 583 of the weight 570, or alternatively, the male wedge connection 580 may be integral with the second side 583 of the weight 570.

The wedge joint formed between the female and male wedge connections 590, 580 of the two mating weights 570 prevents those mating weights from rotating relative to each other about axis B. As shown in fig. 17, the wedge-shaped joint also prevents the attached weight 570a from moving upward along axis a relative to the other attached weight 570 b. The wedge-shaped joint cannot prevent the attached weight 570a from moving downward or the attached weight 570b from moving upward-such translation is only prevented when one of the telescoping shafts 544 is positioned within the opening 582 formed in the weights 570a and 570 b. It should be appreciated that the stack of aligned openings 582 together form a bore 582' through which the shaft 544 may travel. More specifically, when the telescoping shaft 544 is positioned within the opening 582 formed in the attached weight 570a and the attached weight 570b, the attached weight 570a and the attached weight 570b are prevented from being detached from each other. In other words, the wedge-shaped joint provides one degree of freedom for the two weights 570 to fit together and is eliminated once the telescoping shaft 544 is positioned within the openings 582 in those weights.

The operation of the apparatus 500 will now be described with reference to fig. 14A, 14G, 18F and 17. The operation of the device 500 is similar to that of the device 100 and the main differences will be described below.

As best shown in fig. 14A, in the assembled and docked state of the device 500, the weights 570 are nested together and positioned on the base assembly 510. As shown at least in part in fig. 17, in the nested state, all of the weights 570 are connected to each other such that the weights 570 are prevented from rotating relative to each other by the mating geometry of the male and female wedge connections 580, 590.

In the docked state of device 500, housing assembly 540 is docked on base assembly 510, and spring pins 557 on housing assembly 540 are positioned in direct physical contact with electrical contacts 559 on the top surface of base assembly 510. Power and signals are transmitted between the spring pins 557 and the electrical contacts 559. More specifically, signals corresponding to the readings of sensor 552 are sent from the PCB of housing assembly 540 to spring pins 557, electrical contacts 559, and PCB 541 of base assembly 510 such that the readings of sensor 552 are uploaded to the memory of base assembly 510. Additionally, power is sent from PCB 541 of base assembly 510 then to electrical contacts 559, then to spring pins 557, then to PCB of housing assembly 540, then to the rechargeable battery of housing assembly 540 for recharging the rechargeable battery. The rechargeable battery provides power to the sensor 552 of the housing assembly 540 and any other components of the housing assembly 540 that require power. PCB 541 of base assembly 510 assumes housing assembly 540 to dock on base assembly 510 due to the interconnection between spring pins 557 and electrical contacts 559. If the electrical contacts 559 on the base assembly 510 do not receive a signal from the spring pins 557, the base assembly 510 assumes that the housing assembly 540 is removed from the base assembly 510 and the base assembly 510 will not operate the motor 523 in response to the user pressing the button 521. The above-described communication and electrical interfaces between the housing assembly 540 and the base assembly 510 are also applicable to the housing assembly 140 and the base assembly 110 of the device 100.

Prior to using the device 500, a user first selects the amount of desired weight for a particular exercise program (running) to be performed using the device 500 by pressing one of the buttons 521 on the base assembly 510 while the housing assembly 540 is docked on the base assembly 510. Pressing one of the buttons 521 causes the desired weight to be displayed on the display 519 and also causes the motor 523 to be activated and the output shaft 525 of the motor 523 to be rotated in the same direction. Rotating the output shaft 525 causes rotation of the shaft 531 and the toothed gear 561 of the shaft 531. Due to the gear arrangement between the toothed gear 561 and the gear teeth 572 of the telescoping shaft 544, the toothed gear 561 rotates in the same direction about the axis of the gear 561, which translates the telescoping shaft 544 outward (i.e., away from the handle 542) along axis B or inward (i.e., toward the handle 542) along axis B.

More specifically, if the user selects the "-" button 521, which button 521 indicates that less weight is desired to be used than was previously used and displayed on the display 519, the gear 561 is rotated in a direction that translates the telescoping shaft 544 inwardly along the axis B and in the opposite direction (i.e., toward the handle 542). The telescoping shaft 544 moves a discrete distance along axis B and disengages from the opening 582 in the one or more weights 570. The distance traveled by the shaft 544 caused by the rotation of the motor 523 is controlled by a processor on the PCB 541 of the base assembly 510. The distance traveled by the shaft 544 is proportional to the weight selected by the user using the button 521.

After the telescoping shaft 544 disengages from the opening 582 in the weight 570, the weight 570 is unattached from the housing assembly 540 once the housing assembly 540 is removed from the base assembly 510. In other words, the weight 570 will remain docked to the base assembly 510 once the housing assembly 540 is removed from the base assembly 510. For example, referring to fig. 17, if the telescoping shaft 544 is initially engaged with two weights 570a and 570b, and the telescoping shaft 544 translates such that the telescoping shaft 544 is no longer positioned within the opening 582 of the weight 570a, when the user removes the housing assembly 540 from the base assembly 510, the weight 570b will attach to the housing assembly 540, and the weight 570a will remain docked to the base assembly 510. In other words, the wedge joint is configured to allow adjacent weights to be disconnected when the shaft 544 is not positioned within one of the openings 582 in those weights.

The user then removes the shell assembly 540 with the weight 570 attached to the shell assembly 540 and performs the exercise program. Once electrical contacts 559 of base assembly 510 are disconnected from spring contacts 557 of housing assembly 540, the processor of base assembly 510 knows that housing assembly 540 has been removed from base assembly 510 and that the exercise program is in progress.

Alternatively, if the user selects the "+" button 521, which "+" button 521 indicates that more weight is desired to be used than was previously used and displayed on the display 519, the gear 561 is rotated to translate the telescoping shaft 544 outward (i.e., away from the handle 542) along the axis B. The telescoping shaft 544 moves a discrete distance along axis B and engages the opening 582 in one or more additional weights 570. The distance traveled by the shaft 544 caused by the rotation of the motor 523 is controlled by a processor on the PCB 541 of the base assembly 510. The distance traveled by the shaft 544 is proportional to the weight selected by the user. Once the housing assembly 540 is removed from the base assembly 510 after the telescoping shaft 544 engages the opening 582 in the weight 570, the weight 570 cannot be detached from the housing assembly 540. The user then removes the shell assembly 540 along with the weight 570 attached to the shell assembly 540 and performs the exercise program.

As another alternative, if the user does not wish to change the amount of weight previously used and displayed on display 519, the user may simply remove shell assembly 540 (along with weight 570 connected to shell assembly 540) from base assembly 510 and begin performing the exercise program using shell assembly 540 and any weight 570 connected to shell assembly 540.

After the exercise program, the user returns housing assembly 540 to base assembly 510 (i.e., docks housing assembly 540). After returning the housing assembly 540 to the base assembly 510, the opening 585 in the outermost weight attached to the housing assembly 540 travels over the male wedge connection 580 that interfaces with the innermost weight 570 on the base assembly 510. Further downward translation of the housing assembly 540 causes the lower end of each shaft 531 on the housing assembly 540 to engage in a corresponding opening 529 on the intermediate shaft 527 of the base assembly 510. Spring contacts 557 are then in physical contact with electrical contacts 559 on base assembly 510.

Once the housing assembly 540 is docked on the base assembly 510, data is sent from the PCB of the housing assembly 540 to the PCB 541 of the base assembly 510 due to the interconnection of the contacts 557 and 559. The base assembly 510 is configured to interpret and/or transmit this data to a remote device, such as a smart phone or computer, via the wireless transmitter/receiver of the PCB 541. For example, the data contains information relating to the amount of weight used in the exercise program, the curl (curl) in the exercise program, the number of repetitions or movements (as measured by the accelerometer of the housing assembly 540), and the duration of the exercise program. The smartphone or computer device contains a program configured to track data for each exercise program.

Turning now to fig. 19-24, examples of systems and methods for monitoring and/or evaluating a user's physical fitness from different exercise devices and activity trackers are shown. The system and method may include exercise equipment such as, for example, one or more exercise devices or apparatus 100 and/or one or more exercise devices or apparatus 500. Although reference is made in various examples to systems and methods employing exercise device 100, it is contemplated that exercise device 500 or any other exercise device may alternatively or additionally be included in a system or method.

Generally, a system according to one example is provided for assessing the health of a user. The system includes a plurality of devices, each device configured to collect user data generated for a user and transmit the user data. At least one of the devices is an exercise device and at least one of the devices is a measurement device. The processor is coupled in communication with the device. The processor is configured to receive user data received from the plurality of devices, compare the received user data to previous or other user data, generate an assessment of the health of the user based on the comparison of the received user data to previous or other users, and communicate the assessment to the user. The user data collected by the exercise device includes the user's use of the exercise device. The user data collected by the measuring device comprises the physical condition of the user.

In another example, a fitness evaluation system is configured for use with at least one exercise device, the at least one exercise device comprising: an exercise device network communication interface for communicating over a network; a sensor configured to sense use of at least one exercise device by a user; an exercise device memory; an exercise device processor coupled to the exercise device network communication interface, the sensor, and the exercise device memory; and exercise device programming. The programming configures the at least one exercise device to perform a function of tracking usage of the at least one exercise device by the user via the sensors, determine current physical activity data of the user based on the tracked usage of the at least one exercise device by the user, and transmit the current physical activity data of the user over the network via the exercise device network communication interface. The physical fitness evaluation system comprises: an image display that presents a physical fitness assessment based at least on the tracked current physical activity data of the user; a user input device for receiving a physical fitness assessment request from a user to generate a physical fitness assessment; and a computer processor coupled to the image display and the user input device. The computer processor is configured to receive tracked current physical activity data of the user from the exercise device via the network; receiving a request from a user via a user input device to generate a physical fitness assessment; comparing the current physical activity data of the user with baseline physical activity data associated with at least one exercise device; determining a physical fitness assessment of the user based on the comparison; and presenting the physical fitness assessment to the user via the image display.

Fig. 19 is a high-level functional block diagram including an example fitness evaluation system 1900 that includes an exercise device 100, a mobile device 1990, and a server system 1998 connected via various networks, the exercise device 100 having a motion tracker 118 to identify current physical activity based on exercise device programming 1945 (the exercise device programming 1945 including, for example, a neural network model). Exercise device 100 is connected to a host computer. For example, exercise device 100 is paired with mobile device 1990 via high-speed wireless connection 1937, or connected to server system 1998 via network 1995. In some examples, the host computer may be a wearable device similar to the example smart watch shown for activity tracker 2010 as described in further detail below.

Fitness evaluation system 1900 includes at least one exercise device 100, which exercise device 100 may include a free-weight training apparatus (e.g., a dumbbell, kettle-bell, or barbell) in the example of fig. 19. The exercise device 100 includes a motion tracker 1918 and an image display 180. Exercise device 100 also includes an image processor 1912, a Micro Control Unit (MCU)1930, and an image display driver 1942 or is otherwise directly or indirectly associated with image display driver 1942. Image display 1980 is used to present images and video that may include a series of images. The image display driver 1942 is coupled to the image display 1980 to present an image. The components for exercise devices 100, 2100A through 2100D shown in fig. 19 through 21 are located on one or more circuit boards, such as a PCB or flexible PCB.

The motion (movt) tracker 1918 is an electronic device, such as an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), that uses a combination of accelerometers and gyroscopes, and sometimes magnetometers, to measure and report, for example, specific forces, angular velocities, and sometimes magnetic fields around the human body. For example, as mentioned previously, the accelerometer may be included in a kettle bell or dumbbell. The neural network model may be used to track the number of repetitions, the number of groups, or other operations performed or sensed by the exercise device. Such accelerometer measurements may be processed on a separate computing device (e.g., a mobile device) to track the number of repetitions, number of groups, or other operations in the case that the exercise device (e.g., a kettle bell and/or dumbbell) itself tracks the operations.

If a magnetometer is present, the magnetic field can be used as an input to detect a particular physical activity (e.g., weight-lifting-repetition number, number of groups, etc.) that depends on the earth's magnetic field or artificial magnetic field. In this example, the inertial measurement unit determines the rotational acceleration of the exercise device 100, 2100A-2100D, the mobile device 1990, or the wearable device 2010. The motion tracker 1918 detects linear acceleration by using one or more accelerometers or detects rate of rotation using one or more gyroscopes. The inertial measurement unit may contain one accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer for each of the following three axes: a horizontal axis (X) about left-right motion, a vertical axis (Y) about top-bottom motion, and a depth or distance axis (Z) about up-down motion. The gyroscope detects rotation rates about 3 axes (X, Y and Z). Magnetometers, like compasses that produce a magnetic reference, detect magnetic fields (e.g., facing south, north, etc.) that are a mixture of the earth's magnetic field and other artificial magnetic fields, such as those produced by power lines. The three accelerometers detect accelerations along the above-defined horizontal (X), vertical (Y) and depth or distance axes (Z), which may be defined relative to the ground, the exercise device 100, 2100A-2100D, the mobile device 1990, the wearable device 2010, or the user moving or holding (or carrying) the exercise device 100, 2100A-2100D or the activity tracker 2010 the mobile device 990. Thus, the accelerometer detects 3 axis acceleration vectors, which can then be used to detect the earth's gravity vector.

Typically, the neural network is pre-trained with labeled data sets, then the neural network is executed on the exercise device 100 through a forward-driven mechanism (forward-driven mechanism) that presents inputs (model input layers 1959A-1959N), and the trained weights are used to calculate outputs (model output layers 1968A-1968N). The output represents the repetitions and the probability of each group to be tracked when the exercise device 100 is lifted by the user.

In fitness evaluation system 1900, exercise device 100 includes model input layers 359A-359N that are the motions 1960 tracked by exercise device 100 over a period of time. The motion 1960 tracked over a period of time includes accelerometer measurements 361A-361N that include Measured Accelerations (MA) 1962A-1962N and measured acceleration time coordinates 1963A-1963N that represent when the measured accelerations 1962A-1962N were taken. The motion 1960 tracked over a period of time also includes gyroscope measurements 1964A-1964N, which gyroscope measurements 1964A-1964N include Measured Rotations (MR) 1965A-1965N, measured rotation time coordinates 1966A-1966N that indicate when the measured rotations 1965A-1965N were taken, and motion interruption time coordinates 1967A-1967N (e.g., the number of times the motion was detected).

As shown, memory 1934 also includes exercise device programming 1945 to perform a subset of or all of the functions described herein for exercise device 100. While the neural network model may include an input layer, a hidden layer, and an output layer, in an example, the neural network model of exercise device programming 1945 includes convolutional layer(s), fully connected layers (which were once hidden layers), and a single output layer. Exercise device programming 1945 has a trained exercise device model (shown, for example, as weight lifting model 1946), weight sets 1947A-1947N, and a hidden layer 1948. Memory 1934 also includes model output layers 1968A through 1968N. The model output layers 1968A to 1968N have the number of recognized groups 1969A to 1969N, the number of recognized repetitions 1970A to 1970N, the group confidence levels 1971A to 1971N for the number of recognized groups 1969A to 1969N, and the repetition confidence levels 1972A to 1972N for the number of recognized repetitions 1970A to 1970N for each group.

In one example, input-model input layers 1959A-1959N, such as measurements of tracked motion 1960 over a period of time by motion tracker 1918, may be sent from exercise device 100 to mobile device 1990 or wearable device 2010. Mobile device 1990 or wearable device 2010 includes a trained exercise device model (shown, for example, as weight lifting model 1946), weight sets 1947A-1947N, and a hidden layer 1948. Then, mobile device 1990 or wearable device 2010 may compute the outputs (model output layers 1968A through 1968N) through the inputs to determine current physical activity data 1975A.

The MCU 1930 includes a processor 1932, memory 1934, and high-speed wireless circuitry 1936. In this example, an image display driver 1942 is coupled to the high speed circuit 1930 and operated by the high speed processor 1932 to drive the image display 1980. Processor 1932 may be any processor capable of managing the high-speed communications, low-speed communications, and operations of any general computing system required by exercise device 100. The processor 1932 includes the processing resources necessary to manage high-speed data transfers over the high-speed wireless connection 1937 to a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) using the high-speed wireless circuitry 1936. In some embodiments, processor 1932 executes firmware including exercise device programming 345 and an operating system of exercise device 100, such as the LINUX operating system or other such operating system, and the operating system is stored in memory 1934 for execution. Processor 1932, which executes the software architecture for exercise device 100, is used to manage data transfer using high-speed wireless circuitry 1936 (a network communication interface or transceiver), among other duties. In certain embodiments, the high-speed wireless circuitry 1936 is configured to implement an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)802.11 communication standard, also referred to herein as Wi-Fi. In other embodiments, other high speed communication standards may be implemented by the high speed wireless circuitry 1936.

The low power wireless circuit 1924 (network communication interface or transceiver) and the high speed wireless circuit 1936 of exercise device 100 may include a short range transceiver (Bluetooth)^TM) And a wireless wide area network, wireless local area network, or wide area network transceiver (e.g., cellular or WiFi). Mobile device 1990, including via low powerThe transceiver with which wireless connection 1925 communicates with high-speed wireless connection 1937 may be implemented using the same details of the architecture of exercise device 100 as the other elements of network 395.

Mobile device 1990 may be a smartphone, tablet, laptop, access point, or any other such device capable of connecting with exercise device 100 using low power wireless connection 1925 and high speed wireless connection 1937. Mobile device 1990 connects to server system 1998 and network 1995. Network 1995 can include any combination of wired and wireless connections.

Physical fitness evaluation system 1900 includes an activity tracker 2010 (e.g., a wearable device). Activity tracker 2010 may be a watch, wristband, or other portable device designed to be worn by or associated with a user as shown in fig. 20 to communicate with mobile device 1990 or server system 1998 via one or more wireless networks or wireless links.

Memory 1934 comprises any memory device capable of storing various data and applications including, among other things, model input layers 1959A through 1959N, exercise device programming 1945, model output layers 1968A through 1968N, user selection of a magnitude of weight to lift 1973A through 1973N, various durations 1974A through 1974N, and images and video generated for display on image display 1980 by image display driver 1942. Although the memory 1934 is shown as being integrated with the MCU 1930, in other embodiments, the memory 1934 may be a separate, stand-alone element of the exercise device 100. In some such embodiments, the circuit routing lines may provide connections through a chip that includes the processor 1932. In other embodiments, the processor 1932 may manage addressing of the memory 1934 at any time as needed in relation to a read operation or a write operation of the memory 1934.

As shown in fig. 19, exercise device 100 includes exercise device network communication interfaces 1924, 1936 for communicating over networks 1925, 1937. Exercise device 100 also includes a motion tracker 1918 configured to track the motion of exercise device 100, exercise device memory 1934, and exercise device processor 1932. Exercise device processor 1932 is coupled to exercise device network communication interfaces 1924, 1936, motion tracker 1918, and exercise device memory 1934. Exercise device 100 includes exercise device programming 1945 in exercise device memory 1934.

As a result of processor 1932 of exercise device 100 executing exercise device programming 1945 in memory 1934, exercise device 100 may perform all or a subset of any of the functions described below. As shown in fig. 4A, as a result of processor 2230 of mobile device 1990 executing body fitness evaluation mobile programming 2140 in memory 2240A, mobile device 1990 performs all or a subset of any of the functions described below.

Execution of exercise device programming 1945 by processor 1932 configures exercise device 100 to perform functions including tracking the user's movement of moving exercise device 100 via motion tracker 1918. The exercise device 100 determines the user's current physical activity data 1975A based at least on the user-induced motion 1960 of the exercise device 100 tracked over a period of time. Exercise device 100 transmits current physical activity data 1975a over networks 1925, 1937 via exercise device network communication interfaces 1924, 1936.

In the example of fig. 19, exercise device 100 may be a weight machine or free weight training device or other form of exercise or fitness equipment. As shown in fig. 19, the motion tracker 1918 includes: (i) at least one accelerometer 1920 measuring acceleration of the exercise device 100, (ii) at least one gyroscope 1921 measuring rotation of the exercise device 100, or (iii) an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)1919, the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)1919 having at least one accelerometer 1920 and at least one gyroscope 1921. The functions of tracking the motion of the exercise device 100 via the motion tracker 1918 include: (i) measure acceleration of the exercise device 100 via the at least one accelerometer 1920, (ii) measure rotational or rotational motion of the exercise device 100 via the at least one gyroscope 1921, or (iii) measure both acceleration and rotational or rotational motion of the exercise device 100 via the inertial measurement unit 1919.

In one example, if exercise device 100 is a free weight exercise device, the free weight exercise device is a dumbbell, kettle-bell, or barbell. The current physical activity data 1975A includes a number of groups 1969A-1969N and a number of repetitions 1970A-1970N determined based on a user-induced tracked movement 1960 of the exercise device 100 over a period of time. Here, symbols a to N correspond to each section into which physical activity is divided. In the example of lifting weight, for example, the segment is a lifting set, where each lifting set is separated based on a violent activity in the physical activity (spike) followed by a significantly reduced activity (significant drop) as measured by the motion tracker 1918 or clock over an elapsed time (e.g., a 60 or 90 second break between the groups).

As described above, the free weight training apparatus type of exercise device 100 includes an exercise device user input 124 to receive a selection from the user of the amount of weight to lift 1973A through 1973N. Exercise device 100 may also include a clock to track durations 1974A through 1974N. Performing exercise device programming 1945 also configures the exercise device to perform the following functions: a selection of the amount of weight to lift 1973A through 1973N is received from the user via exercise device user input device 24. Exercise device 100 tracks the respective durations 1974A through 1974N of each of the plurality of groups 1969A through 1969N via a clock. The current physical activity data 1975A includes a selection of the amount of weight to be lifted 1973A through 1973N and the respective durations 1974A through 1974N for each group 1969A through 1969N.

The output components of exercise devices 100 and 2100A-2100D, mobile device 1990, and wearable device 2010 optionally include visual components such as image displays 1980, 2280, 2380 (e.g., displays such as Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs), Plasma Display Panels (PDPs), Light Emitting Diode (LED) displays, projectors, or waveguides). The image displays 1980, 2280, 2380 may present images, such as in the form of videos. The image displays 1980, 2280 are driven by image display drivers 1942, 2290, 2390. The output components of exercise device 100, mobile device 1990, and wearable device 2010 may also include acoustic components (e.g., speakers), haptic components (e.g., vibration motors), other signal generators, and the like. The input components (user input devices 124, 2291, 2391) of exercise device 100, mobile device 1990, activity tracker 2010, and server system 1998 may include alphanumeric input components (e.g., a keyboard configured to receive alphanumeric input, a touch screen, an optical keyboard, or other alphanumeric input components), point-based input components (e.g., a computer mouse, a touchpad, a trackball, a joystick, a motion sensor, or other pointing instrument), tactile input components (e.g., physical buttons, a touch screen that provides the location and force of a touch or touch gesture, or other tactile input components), audio input components (e.g., a microphone), and the like.

Exercise devices 100 and 2100A-2100D, mobile device 1990, activity tracker 2010 (e.g., wearable device), and server system 1998 may optionally include additional peripheral elements. Such peripheral device elements may include biometric sensors, additional sensors, or integrated display elements. For example, a peripheral element may include any I/O component having an output component, a motion component, a position component, or any other such element described herein.

For example, the biometric components of exercise devices 100 and 2100A-2100D, mobile device 1990, and activity tracker 2010 (e.g., wearable device) include the following: these components detect expressions (e.g., hand expressions, facial expressions, voice expressions, body gestures, or eye tracking), measure bio-available foods (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, respiration/respiration rate, sweat, or brain waves), identify people (e.g., voice recognition, retinal recognition, facial recognition, fingerprint recognition, or electroencephalogram-based recognition), and so forth.

The motion components include acceleration sensor components (e.g., accelerometers), gravity sensor components, rotation sensor components (e.g., gyroscopes), and the like. The location component includes a location sensor component (e.g., a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver component) that generates location coordinates, WiFi or Bluetooth that generates positioning system coordinates^TMTransceiver, height sensor component (e.g. altimeter or barometer detecting air pressure, height being derived from air pressure), or fixedTo a sensor component (e.g., magnetometer), etc. Such location system coordinates may also be received from the mobile device 1990 through the wireless connections 1925 and 1937 via the low power wireless circuitry 1924 or the high speed wireless circuitry 1936.

The power distribution circuit 1920 distributes power and ground voltages from the power supply, wireless transceivers 1924, 1936, and other components to the MCU 330 to provide reliable operation of the various circuits on the chip. The power supply 130 is driven by an electrical power source. The power supply 130 receives power from a power source such as AC mains, batteries, solar panels or any other AC or DC source. The power supply 130 may include a magnetic transformer, an electronic transformer, a switching converter, a rectifier, or any other similar type of circuit to convert an input power signal into a power signal suitable for the exercise device 100. Fig. 20 shows, in simplified block diagram form, an example of a hardware configuration of the server system 1998 of fig. 19, for example, building a neural network model for an exercise device. The activity tracker 2010 (e.g., wearable device) is connected to the mobile device 1990 via a low power wireless connection 1925E.

As further shown in fig. 20, server system 1998 may be one or more computing devices that are part of a service or network computing system, e.g., including memory 2050, processor 2060, network communication interface 2061 to communicate with mobile device 1990, exercise device 100, and activity tracker 2010, such as a smart watch, over network 1995. The memory 2050 includes weight Training Data (TD)2076A through 2076N, the weight Training Data (TD)2076A through 2076N including movements 2077A through 2077N tracked over time intervals for known groups and repetitions. The weight training data 2076A through 2076N include accelerometer Training Data (TD)2078A through 2078N. The accelerometer training data 2078A-2078N have acceleration measurements 2079A-2079N and acceleration time coordinates 2080A-2080N indicating when the acceleration measurements 2079A-2079N were taken. Weight training data 2076A through 2076N include gyroscope training data 2081A through 2081N. Gyroscope training data 2081A to 2081N has rotation measurements 2082A to 2082N and rotation time coordinates 2083A to 2083N indicating when the rotation measurements 2082A to 2082N were taken. The weight training data 2076A-2076N also include motion break time coordinates 2084A-2084N (e.g., the number of times a motion was detected).

Memory 2050 also includes an exercise device model generator shown as exercise device neural network programming 2075. Memory 2050 also includes a trained weight model 1946, which trained weight model 1946 is output in response to application of exercise device neural network programming 2075 to input weight training data 2076A-2076N. As shown, the output of exercise device neural network programming 2075 includes weighted sets 1947A-1947N and hidden layers 1948, such as repeat and set events 1949A-1949N. The trained weight lifting model 1946, weight sets 1947A-1947N, and hidden layer 1948 are located in the exercise device 100 for repeat and set testing. Alternatively, the exercise device model-trained weightlifting model 1946, weight sets 1947A-1947N, and hidden layer 1948 may be loaded in the mobile device 1990, and the mobile device 1990 may receive the model input layers 1959A-1959N (e.g., the motion 1960 tracked over a period of time) from the exercise device via wireless connections 1925, 1937. An exercise device model, such as a trained weight lifting model 1946, may then be executed on the mobile device 1990.

Execution of exercise device neural network programming 2075 by processor 2060 configures server system 1998 to perform some or all of the functions described herein before processor 1932 of exercise device 100 executes an exercise device model (e.g., trained weight lifting model 1946). First, of the exercise devices (e.g., weight training data 1976A through 1976N) is obtained: (i) accelerations 1978A-1978N, (ii) rotations 1981A-1981N, or (iii) accelerations 1976A-1976N and rotations 1981A-1981N of the exercise device 100 within one or more time intervals for known sets and repetitions 1977A-1977N. Next, a trained exercise device model (e.g., trained weight lifting model 1946) is constructed to identify physical activity data (e.g., groups and repetitions) associated with the exercise device 100 based on the acquired training data 1976A-1976N. The functions of constructing an exercise device model (e.g., a trained weight lifting model 1946) include calibrating weight sets 1947A-1947N from acquired training data 1976A-1976N of physical activity; and store the calibrated weight sets 1947A-1947N in an exercise device model (e.g., a trained weight lifting model 1946) associated with the physical activity data.

Fig. 21 is a high-level functional block diagram of an example of a physical fitness evaluation system 1900, the physical fitness evaluation system 1900 including a plurality of exercise devices 2100A-2100D, a mobile device 1990, an activity tracker 2010 (e.g., wearable device), and a server system 1998 connected via various networks 1925A-1925D, 1995, 2109. Exercise devices 2100A through 2100D provide a fixed or adjustable amount of resistance, or otherwise enhance the experience or result of an exercise program. In fitness evaluation system 1900, different types of exercise devices may be utilized, for example, exercise devices 2100A through 2100N may include a treadmill, exercise bicycle, stair climbing machine, or elliptical machine. Depending on the type of exercise device 2100A-2100N, the motion tracker 1918 may vary, for example the motion tracker 1918 may include a tachometer (e.g., to measure revolutions per minute of a belt of a treadmill or exercise bicycle). If the length of the tread belt is known, the distance traveled can be measured; and the speed can be easily determined from the determined distance traveled using a clock that tracks the duration. If exercise devices 2100A through 2100D are rowing machines or hand grips, motion tracker 1918 may be a dynamometer or a dynamometer.

As shown, the exercise device includes a kettle bell 2100A, a dumbbell 2100B, a treadmill 2100C, and an exercise bicycle 2100D. Exercise devices 2100A-2100D and activity tracker 2010 may be connected to mobile device 1990 via respective low-power wireless connections 1925A-1925D (short range); however, respective high-speed wireless connections 1937A-1937E (e.g., WiFi) may be implemented over the wireless communication network 2109 by accessing the wireless access point 2108. If high-speed wireless connections 1937A-1937E are implemented in exercise devices 2100A-2100D and activity tracker 2010, system server 1998 may be accessed directly without mobile device 1990. However, in the depiction of fig. 21, the exercise devices 2100A-2100D and activity tracker 2010 may access the server system 1998 through the mobile device 1990 as the mobile device 1990 has a high-speed wireless connection 2137 (e.g., WiFi) to the wireless communication network 2109. The wireless communication network 2109 is connected to the network 1995 via a network link 2135.

As shown, server system 1998 includes memory 2050 and memory includes body fitness evaluation server programming 2150. Body workout assessment server programming 2150 is the back-end server programming of body workout assessment system 1900. The memory 2050 also includes a plurality of user profiles 2155A-2155N for a number of different users of the fitness evaluation systems 2155A-2155N. The memory 2050 also includes baseline physical activity data 2160A-2160N for many different types of exercise devices 2100A-2100D and activity tracker 2010 for comparison purposes.

As a result of processor 1932 of exercise device 100 executing exercise device programming 1945 in memory 1934, exercise device 1900 may perform all or a subset of any of the functions described herein. As a result of processor 2230 of mobile device 1990 executing body-building movement programming 2145 in memory 2240, mobile device 1990 performs all or a subset of the functions of any of the functions described below. As a result of processor 2060 of server system 1998 executing body fitness server programming 2150 in memory 2050, server system 1998 may perform all or a subset of the functions of any of the functions described herein. The functionality may be divided in the physical fitness evaluation system 1900 such that the host computer functionality is divided differently between the mobile device 1990 and the server system 1998, or combined to occur entirely in the mobile device 1990, entirely in the server system 1998, or even entirely in a wearable device like a smart watch shown for the activity tracker 2010. Further, some of the functions assigned to mobile device 1990 may occur in exercise devices 2100A-2100D or activity tracker 2010.

The physical fitness assessment 2261 is based on activity inputs from the plurality of exercise devices 2100A through 2100D (tracking respective current physical activity data 1975A through 1975D) and the activity tracker 2010, which may be measured against baseline physical activity data 2160A through 2160N storing guidelines from the american society for sports medicine. The baseline physical activity data 2160A-2160N provides guidance to a particular category of people, who may be based on the user profiles 2155A-2155N, e.g., based on demographics (age, gender, race, etc.), height, and weight. Further, the reference physical activity data 2160A to 2160N may be measured for a reference setting level 2281 (e.g., activity level) set by the user, such as a primary, middle, or high level (target physical activity fitness level to be achieved), and may explain the difference between the general person and the athlete.

The greater the amount of current physical activity data 1975A and supplemental physical activity data 2375A and profile settings 2256A to 2256E for the user, the more accurate the physical fitness assessment 2261. Mobile device 1990 includes corresponding current physical activity data 1975A transmitted from exercise device 100 of fig. 19 (also shown as exercise device 2100A in fig. 21), and corresponding current physical activity data 1975B-1975D transmitted from corresponding exercise devices 2100B-2100D of fig. 21. The physical fitness assessment 2261 may be on a daily, monthly, or yearly basis, and may be cumulative over time. The physical fitness assessment 2261 is displayed as a physical fitness assessment image 2262 via an image display 2280. For example, the indicator bar is increased when the current repeat counter weight approaches or exceeds the repeat counter weight from the previous exercise.

The baseline physical activities 2160A to 2160N may be personalized based on the user profile settings 2256A to 2256E. For example, user profile settings 2256A-2256E may be evaluated to determine a health risk profile for the user. The ethnicity 2256E may, for example, have significant risk factors that present conditions such as, for example, diabetes, and the ethnicity 2256E may optionally be weighted more heavily in evaluating the user's health risk profile. If the user's health risk profile is high for any particular condition, the baseline physical activity data 2160A-2160N may be adjusted to require additional or otherwise modified physical activity in order to compensate for the user's risk profile. For the exercise devices 100, 2100A through 2100B (kettlebells and dumbbells), for example, a greater number of sets 1969A through 1969N and numbers of repetitions 1970A through 1970N may be set. For exercise device 2100C (treadmill) and exercise device 2100D (bicycle), a greater or otherwise modified exercise duration and travel distance may be set. For activity tracker 2010, larger or otherwise modified step numbers 2378A-2378N, travel distances 2405A-2405N, calories burned 2406A-2406N, durations 2377A-2377N, and heart rates 2376A-2376N may be set.

The physical fitness assessment 2261 may provide the user with an overall indication of their physical fitness and tracking of the preset goals, for example, in a physical fitness image 2262 presented on an image display 2280 as a dashboard. The preset target may be stored in the user profile 2155A as targeted physical activity data 2160A. The fitness evaluation 2261 may track preset goals, which may vary depending on the type of exercise device 2100A-2100D. For exercise devices 2100A-2100B (e.g., kettlebell 2100A or 2100B dumbbells), the preset goals may include the number of repetitions per day or week, the number of groups per day or week, or the amount of weight per day or week. For activity tracker 2010 or exercise device 2100C (treadmill), the preset goals may include the number of steps per day; and minutes or hours of daily sleep for activity tracker 2010 only. As shown in fig. 24, for a large device 2410 that is intelligent, the physical fitness assessment 2261 may track body weight 2411, body fat 2412, body water 2413, muscle mass 2414, Body Mass Index (BMI)2415, basal metabolic rate 2416(BMR — e.g., in kcal), bone mass 2417, and visceral fat 2418. Fitness evaluation 2261 may track steps, distance, calories, duration, and heart rate from activity tracker 201 or exercise device 2100C (treadmill), as well as distance, calories, duration, and heart rate from other cardiovascular exercise devices, such as exercise device 100D (exercise bike). These metrics may be displayed in the physical fitness evaluation image 2261 as a percentage of the target or via audio (auditory) communication through a speaker or the like. For exercise device 2100A (kettle bell), the duration may be displayed for the entire exercise.

Fig. 22 shows an example of a hardware configuration of the sports device 1990 for the physical fitness evaluation system 1900 of fig. 19-21. As shown in fig. 22, mobile device 2140 is a host computer connected to exercise devices 100, 2100A-2100D and activity tracker 2010. As shown, the mobile device 1990 includes an image display 2280 for presenting a physical fitness assessment image 2262 based on the tracked user's current physical activity data 1975A. The mobile device 1990 includes an image display driver 2290, the image display driver 2290 coupled to the image display 2280 to control the image display 2280 to present a body fitness assessment image 2262. The mobile device 1990 includes a user input device 2291 for receiving a physical fitness assessment selection 2140 from a user to apply to the current physical activity data 1975A to generate a physical fitness assessment image 2262. The mobile device 1990 includes a network communication interface for communicating over a network, main computer memories 2240A-2240B and a processor 2230, the main computer memories 2240A-2240B and the processor 2230 being coupled to the image display driver 2290, the user input device 2291, and the network communication interface (the short range transceiver 2220 and the wireless area network transceiver 2210). The mobile device 1990 includes a host computer program as shown by the body fitness evaluation mobile programming 2140 in memory 2250A.

Execution of body fitness evaluation movement programming 2140 by processor 2230 configures mobile device 1990 to implement functions. The mobile device 1990 receives the tracked user's current physical activity data 1975A from the exercise device 100 via the network communication interface 2220 over the networks 1925, 1937. The mobile device 1990 receives the physical fitness assessment selection 2259 via the user input device 2291 to apply to the current physical activity data 1975A. The mobile device 1990 compares the user's current physical activity data 1975A to baseline physical activity data, as shown by target physical activity data 2160A and historical physical activity data 2160B associated with the exercise devices 2100A-2100D. Based on the comparison, mobile device 1990 determines a physical fitness assessment 2261 of the user. Mobile device 1990 generates a physical fitness assessment image 2262 based on the user's physical fitness assessment 2261. The mobile device 1990 presents the physical fitness assessment image 2262 via the image display 2280.

In one example, execution of body-building movement programming 2140 by processor 2230 also configures mobile device 1990 to implement the following functions: profile settings 2256A-2256E including age 2256A, gender 2256B, height 2256C, weight 2256D, or race 2256E are received from the user via the user input device 2291. The mobile device 1990 sets the user's user profile 2155A stored in memory 2240A in response to the received profile settings 2256A-2256E. The mobile device 1990 receives a baseline setting level 2281 (primary, intermediate, or advanced-the target physical activity fitness level to be achieved) from the user via the user input device 2291. The mobile device 1990 adjusts the baseline physical activity data to the target physical activity data 2160A based on the user profile settings 2256A-2256E and the received baseline setting level 2281.

Execution of body-building movement programming 2140 by processor 2230 also configures mobile device 1990 to implement the following functions: a date range 2263 of the user's historical physical activity data 2160B is received from the user via the user input device 2291, during which date range 2263 the user's previous physical activity data was tracked. The mobile device 1990 adjusts the baseline physical activity data based on the user's historical physical activity data 2160B.

Fig. 23 shows an example of a hardware configuration for activity tracker 2010 of body fitness evaluation system 1900 of fig. 20-21. Physical fitness evaluation system 1900 includes an activity tracker 2010 to monitor physical activity of a user. As shown, the activity tracker 2010 includes an activity tracker device network communication interface (e.g., a short-range XCVR 2320 for communicating over a network 1925E) for communicating over a network 1995. The activity tracker 2010 includes a cardiac monitor 2325 configured to track a user's heart rate 2376A-2376N. Activity tracker 2010 also includes activity tracker device memory 2340A and activity tracker processor 2330 coupled to activity tracking networker communication interface 2320, cardiac monitor 2325, and activity tracker memory 2240A. Activity tracker 2010 also includes activity tracker programming 2315 in activity tracker memory 2340A.

Execution of activity tracker programming 2315 by activity tracker processor 2330 configures activity tracker 2010 to perform the function of tracking the heart rate 2376A through 2376N of the user over the duration 2377A through 2377N via heart monitor 2325. The activity tracker 2010 determines supplemental physical activity data 2375A of the user based on the heart rates 2376A to 2376N monitored over the durations 2377A to 2377N. The activity tracker 2010 sends the user's supplemental physical activity data 2375A over the network 1925E to the mobile device 1990 via the activity tracker network communication interface 2320.

Execution of body-building movement programming 2140 by processor 2230 also configures mobile device 1990 to implement the following functions: the tracked user's supplemental physical activity data 2375A is received from the activity tracker 2010 via the network communication interface 2220 over the network 1925E. The mobile device 1990 will compare the supplemental physical activity data 2375A of the user associated with the activity tracker 2010. Determining the functionality of the user's physical fitness assessment 2261 is also based on a comparison of supplemental physical activity data 2375A to supplemental baseline activity data 2160C.

In this example, activity tracker 2010 also includes a pedometer 2335 configured to track the number of steps 2378A-2378N that the user has taken over the duration of time 2377A-2377N. The activity tracker processor 2010 is coupled to a pedometer 2335. Execution of activity tracking programming 2310 by activity tracker processor 2330 further configures activity tracker 2010 to implement the following functions: the number of steps 2378A to 2378N that the user takes over the duration 2377A to 2377N is monitored via pedometer 2335. Activity tracker 2010 also determines supplementary physical activity data 2375A of the user based on the number of steps 2378A through 2378N monitored over the duration 2377A through 2377N.

As shown in fig. 22-23, the activity tracker 2010 or the mobile device 1990 includes an image display driver 2290, 2390 that controls the image display 2280, 2380 and the image display 2280, 2380. The image display 2280, 2380 and the user input device 2291, 2391 are combined together into a touch screen display. Examples of touch screen type mobile devices that may be used include, but are not limited to, smart phones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), tablet computers, laptop computers, or other portable devices. However, the structure and operation of a touch screen type device is provided by way of example; and the subject technology described herein is not intended to be so limited. For purposes of this discussion, fig. 22-23 thus provide block diagram illustrations of example mobile devices 390 and activity trackers 2010, the example mobile devices 390 and activity trackers 2010 having touch screen displays for displaying content and receiving user input as (or as part of) a user interface.

Activities of interest for discussion here generally include the following data communications: this data communication is related to detecting physical activity of the user of exercise device 100, 2100A-2100D and activity tracker 2010 (e.g., wearable device) and mobile device 1990 to provide a physical fitness assessment 2261. As shown in fig. 22-23, the mobile device 2290 and activity tracker 2010 include at least one digital transceiver (XCVR), shown as WWAN XCVR 2210, 2310, for digital wireless communication via a wide area wireless mobile communication network. The mobile device 1990 and activity tracker 2010 also include means for tracking activity, such as via NFC, VLC, DECT, ZigBee, Bluetooth^TMOr an additional digital or analog transceiver for short-range network communication over WiFi, such as short-range XCVR 2220, 2320. For example, the short-range XCVR 2220, 2320 may take the form of any available bidirectional Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) transceiver of the following type: the type is compatible with one or more standard protocols for communication implemented in the wireless local area network, such as one of the Wi-Fi standards under IEEE 802.11 and WiMAX.

To generate location coordinates for locating the mobile device 1990 and the activity tracker 2010, the mobile device 1990 and the activity tracker 2010 may include Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers. Alternatively or additionally, mobile device 1990 and activity tracker 2010 may utilize either or both of short-range XCVR 2220, 2320 and WWAN XCVR 2210, 2310 for generating location coordinates for positioning. E.g. cellular network based positioning system, WiFi or Bluetooth^TMCan generate very precise position coordinates, particularly inWhen used in combination, generate very accurate position coordinates. Such location coordinates may be transmitted to the exercise devices 100, 2100A through 2100D via XCVR 2210, 2220, 2310, 2320 over one or more network connections.

The transceivers 2210, 2220, 2310, 2320 (network communication interfaces) are in accordance with one or more of the various digital wireless communication standards used by modern mobile networks. Examples of WWAN transceivers 2210, 2310 include (but are not limited to) the following transceivers: these transceivers are configured to operate in accordance with Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and 3GPP network technologies including, for example and without limitation, third generation partnership project (3GPP) type 2 (or 3GPP2) and LTE sometimes referred to as "4G". For example, transceivers 2210, 2220, 2310, 2320 provide two-way wireless communication of the following information: this information includes digitized audio signals, still images and video signals, web page information for display and web page related input, and various types of motion message communication to/from the activity tracker 2010 of the motion device 1990 or the mobile device 1990 for the physical fitness evaluation system 1900.

As previously described, several of these types of communications through the transceivers 2210, 2220, 2310, 2320 and the network involve protocols and procedures that support communications for detecting physical activity of users of the exercise devices 100, 2100A-2100D, activity tracker 2010 (e.g., wearable devices), and mobile device 1990 to provide a physical fitness assessment 2261. For example, such communications may transmit packet data to and from exercise devices 100, 2100A through 2100D via short range XCVR 2220 over wireless connections 1925 and 1937, as shown in fig. 19-21. Such communications may also utilize IP packet data transmissions to transmit data through the networks (e.g., Internet)1995 shown in fig. 19-21 via WWAN XCVR 2210, 2310, for example. Both the WWAN XCVR 2210, 2310 and the short range XCVR 2220, 2320 are connected to an associated antenna (not shown) by Radio Frequency (RF) transmit and receive amplifiers (not shown).

Fitness tracker 2010 and mobile device 1990 also include a microprocessor as shown by CPU 2230, CPU 2330, sometimes referred to herein as a master controller. A processor is a circuit having the following elements: these elements are structured and arranged to perform one or more processing functions, typically various data processing functions. Although different logic components may be used, these examples utilize components that form a programmable CPU. For example, a microprocessor includes one or more Integrated Circuit (IC) chips that incorporate electronic components to perform the functions of a CPU. For example, the processors 2230, 2330 may be based on any known or available microprocessor architecture as is commonly used today in mobile devices and other portable electronic devices, such as Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) using the ARM architecture. Of course, other processor circuits may be used for the CPU 2230, 2330 or processor hardware formed in smart phones, laptops and tablets.

The microprocessors 2230, 2330 serve as programmable master controllers for the mobile device 1990 and the activity tracker 2010 by configuring the mobile device 1990 and the activity tracker 2010 to perform various operations, e.g., in accordance with instructions or programs executable by the processors 2230, 2330. For example, such operations may include various general operations of the mobile device 1990 and the activity tracker 2010, as well as operations related to the body building movement programming 2140, the activity tracker programming 2310, and communications with the exercise devices 100, 2100A through 2100D and the server system 1998. Although the processor may be configured through the use of hardwired logic, a typical processor in a mobile device is a general-purpose processing circuit configured through the execution of a program.

The mobile device 1990 and the activity tracker 2010 include a memory system or a system of memory devices that store data and programming. In this example, the memory system may include flash memory 2240A, 2340A and Random Access Memory (RAM)2240B, 2340B. The RAMs 2240B, 2340B serve as short-term memories for instructions and data to be processed by the processors 2230, 2330, e.g., as working data processing memories. Flash memories 2240A, 2340A typically provide longer term storage. The mobile device 1990 and activity tracker 2010 may include a visible light camera 2270 and motion tracker 1918 for the mobile device 1990 as shown in fig. 22.

Thus, in the example of mobile device 1990 and activity tracker 2010, flash memories 2240A, 2340A are used to store programs or instructions for execution by processor 2230. Depending on the type of device, the mobile device 1990 and the activity tracker 2010 store and run a mobile operating system through which particular applications are executed. Applications such as body fitness evaluation programming 2140 and activity tracker programming 2310 may be local applications, hybrid applications, or web applications (e.g., dynamic web pages executed by a web browser) running on mobile device 1990 or activity tracking 2010. Examples of Mobile operating systems include Google Android, Apple iOS (I-Phone or iPad devices), Windows Mobile, Amazon Fire OS, RIM BlackBerry operating system, and the like.

It should be understood that mobile device 1990 is only one type of host computer in fitness evaluation system 1900, and that other arrangements may be used. For example, the server system 1998 shown in fig. 19 to 21 may be used.

Fig. 24 shows a schematic diagram of the information architecture of the physical fitness evaluation system 1900 of fig. 19-21. As shown, the physical fitness evaluation mobile programming 2140 implemented by the mobile device 1900 can register the physical fitness evaluation system 1900 for a new user using a social media account (e.g., Facebook or Google + (Google +)) or direct login account. During registration, the user creates a new user profile 2155A. After the user logs in, the physical fitness evaluation movement programming 2140 loads the existing user profile 2155A for the existing user.

The user profile 2155A includes profile settings 2256A-2256E, which profile settings 2256A-2256E may include basic information such as age 2256A, gender 2256B, height 2256C, weight 2256D, race 2256E, or another profile indicator related to the user's body or other condition or feature. The profile may include fitness preset target or baseline physical activity data, such as target physical activity data 2160A. Physical fitness statistics, such as current physical activity data 1975A-1975D and historical physical activity data 2160B sent from the various exercise devices 100, 2100A-2100D, may be generated and presented to the user on the image display 2280 of the mobile device 1990. The physical fitness assessment 2261, shown as a fitness IQ score, may track preset goals, which may vary depending on the type of exercise device 2100A-2100D.

As further shown, product-based body fitness tracking enables current physical activity data 1975A-1975N to be tracked by exercise devices 100, 2100A-2100D, activity tracker 2010, and smart mass device 2410, and then sent to mobile device 1990. The current physical activity data 1975A-1975N is then received by the mobile device 1990 and presented to the user as physical fitness statistics, which may include the current physical activity data 1975A-1975D and historical physical activity data 2160B, on an image display 2280 of the mobile device 1990. Alternatively, mobile device 1990 compares the user's current physical activity data 1975A-1975N to baseline physical activity data associated with the exercise device, activity tracker 2010, or smart macro device; based on the comparison, mobile device 1990 determines a physical fitness assessment 2261 of the user.

For activity tracker 2010, current physical activity data 2470 includes step numbers 2378A-2378N, travel distances 2405A-2405N, calories burned 2406A-2406N, durations 2377A-2377N, and heart rates 2376A-2376N, e.g., where a-N correspond to respective segments of divided physical activity (e.g., respective segments as divided by bursts or time of physical activity). For the kettle-bell exercise device 100, 2100A (or dumbbell exercise 2100B), the current physical activity data 1975A includes the number of groups 1969A through 1969N, the number of repetitions 1970A through 1970N, the durations 1974A through 1974N, and the magnitudes of weights 1973A through 1973N.

For smart mass device 2410, current physical activity data 2475 includes various physical attributes. For example, current physical activity data 2475 optionally includes body weight 2411, body fat 2412, body water 2413, muscle mass 2414, Body Mass Index (BMI)2415, basal metabolic rate 2416(BMR — e.g., in kilocalories), bone mass 2416, and/or visceral fat 2418.

Fig. 25 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a method of providing a physical fitness assessment 2261 to a user that may be implemented in the physical fitness movement programming 2140 of the mobile device 1990. Beginning with block 2500, the method includes receiving tracked current physical activity data 1975A-1975N of a user from an exercise device 100, 2100A-2100D via a host computer communication interface 2220. Proceeding to block 2510, the method further includes receiving a physical fitness assessment selection 2259 via the host computer user input 2291. Continuing to block 2520, the method further includes obtaining a physical fitness assessment 2261 of the user based on the determined relationship of the current physical activity data 1975A-1975N to the baseline physical activity data 2160A-2160N associated with the exercise device 100, 2100A, as indicated by the received physical fitness assessment selection 2259.

Ending now with block 2530, the method further includes presenting the physical fitness assessment 2261 to the user via the host computer user interface 2280. In some examples, a subset or all of the blocks may be implemented in exercise device programming 1945, fitness evaluation server programming 2150, or activity tracker programming 2315.

Any of the functions described herein for exercise devices 100, 2100A-2100D, activity tracker 2010, mobile device 1990, server system 1998, and smart mass device 2410 may be implemented in more applications or firmware as previously described and stored in a machine-readable medium. According to some embodiments, a "function," "functions," "application," "applications," "instruction," "instructions," or "programming" is a program that performs a function defined in the program. Various programming languages may be used to create one or more of the applications structured in various ways, such as an object-oriented programming language (e.g., in Objective-C, Java or C + +) or a procedural programming language (e.g., C or assembly language). In a particular example, the ANDROID is used by a third party application (e.g., by an entity other than the vendor of the particular platform)^TMOr IOS^TMAn application developed by a Software Development Kit (SDK) may be running on a mobile operating system such as an IOS^TM、ANDROID^TM、Mobile software on a cell phone or other mobile operating system. In this example, the third party application may invoke an API call provided by the operating system to facilitate the functionality described herein.

Thus, a machine-readable medium may take many forms of tangible storage media. Non-volatile storage media includes, for example, optical or magnetic disks, any of which such as in the storage of any computer or the like, such as may be used to implement the exercise devices 100, 2100A-2100D, activity tracker 2010, mobile device 1990, server system 1998, smart mass device 2410 shown in the figures. Volatile storage media includes dynamic memory, such as the main memory of such a computer platform. Tangible transmission media include coaxial cables; copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a bus within a computer system. Carrier-wave transmission media can take the form of electrical or electromagnetic signals or acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during Radio Frequency (RF) and Infrared (IR) data communications. Thus, common forms of computer-readable media include, for example: a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD or DVD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards, any other physical storage medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave transporting data or instructions, cables or links transporting such a carrier wave, or any other medium from which a computer can read programming code and/or data. Many of these forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to a processor for execution.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be understood that these embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or principles of the invention. It is therefore intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications that fall within the spirit, scope, or principle of the invention.