U.S. Pat. No. 11,547,922

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments of the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. As used herein, the word “or” is intended to be inclusive.

Detailed reference will now be made to a first potential embodiment of the disclosure, which is illustrated inFIGS.1through4.

The exercise machine having integrated video gaming system100(hereinafter invention) comprises a frame200, a seat220, pedals230, a steering assembly, a display screen270, and a controller280. The invention100may be a device adapted to be used by a user while exercising. The invention100may encourage the user to move in a manner that strengthens muscles, increases lung capacity, increases metabolism, or combinations thereof. The seat220may be adapted for the user to sit upon while pedaling the pedals230. The steering assembly may be adapted to be held and moved by the user while exercising. The display screen270may be adapted to present still or moving images to the user while the user exercises. The display screen270, the steering assembly, the pedals230, or combinations thereof may be operable to interact with the controller280as a gaming system.

The frame200may comprise a longitudinal frame bracket202, a front lateral frame bracket204, a rear lateral frame bracket206, a rear arch208, a seat support214, a seat track210, and a front housing212. The frame200may support the seat220, the pedals230, and the steering assembly. The longitudinal frame bracket202may be oriented to run from front to rear adjacent to a floor900. The front lateral frame bracket204may be oriented to run laterally across the front of the frame200adjacent to the floor900. The center of the front lateral frame bracket204may be coupled to the front of the longitudinal frame bracket202. The rear lateral frame bracket206may be oriented to run laterally across the rear of the frame200adjacent to the floor900. The center of the rear lateral frame bracket206may be coupled to the rear of the longitudinal frame bracket202.

The rear arch208may be an armature in the shape of an inverted-U coupled to the rear lateral frame bracket206and rising vertically from the rear lateral frame bracket206. The seat support214may be a vertical armature that may support the seat track210. The bottom of the seat support214may be coupled to rear half of the longitudinal frame bracket202.

The seat track210may be an inclined pathway for the seat220to follow. The rear of the seat track210may be coupled to the rear arch208. A midpoint of the seat track210may be coupled to the top of the seat support214. The rear of the seat track210may be higher than the front of the seat track210.

The front housing212may cover mechanical components and the controller280to prevent injuries and to protect equipment. The front housing212may be located at the front of the frame200and may be coupled to the front lateral frame bracket204, the longitudinal frame bracket202, or both.

The seat220may be adapted for the user to sit on while exercising. The seat220may comprise a seat platform222and a seat back224. The user may sit on the seat platform222and lean back against the seat back224. The seat220may be slidably coupled to the seat track210via a seat carrier226.

The seat carrier226may be coupled to the bottom of the seat220. The seat carrier226may slidably couple to the seat track210such that the seat220may slide along the seat track210but is prevented from falling off of the seat track210. In some embodiments, one or more track stops228may prevent the seat carrier226from moving past either end of the seat track210.

The pedals230may be adapted to be foot-operated levers adjacent to the left and right of the front housing212. The pedals230may be coupled to a crank arm232such that the pedals230may be moved in a circular manner. A brake234within the front housing212may resist the motion of the pedals230. As non-limiting examples, the brake234may utilize mechanical friction or electromagnetic forces to resist the motion of the pedals230. In some embodiments, the amount of resistance provided by the brake234may be variable and under control of the controller280. The rotational position of the pedals230may also be sensed by the controller280.

The steering assembly may comprise a vertical steering post250, a steering extension post252, an elbow joint256, and a steering wheel260. The steering assembly may be adapted to enhance upper body strength of the user while exercising.

The vertical steering post250may be a vertical armature located at the front of the frame200. The vertical steering post250may rise to approximately the height of the chest of the seated user. The bottom of the vertical steering post250may be coupled to the front lateral frame bracket204or to the longitudinal frame bracket202. The top of the vertical steering post250may comprise the elbow joint256.

The steering extension post252may be a telescoping horizontal armature that is oriented to run from front to rear above the longitudinal frame bracket202of the frame200. The front end of the steering extension post252may be coupled to the elbow joint256. The rear of the steering extension post252may be coupled to the steering wheel260. The elbow joint256may be operable to allow up and down pivoting of the steering extension post252.

The steering extension post252may comprise an air shock254. The air shock254may be a pneumatic shock absorber. The air shock254may allow the steering wheel260to be moved in a forward direction as a forward force is applied to the steering wheel260and may return the steering wheel260to the original rearward position when the force is diminished.

The steering wheel260may be a circular armature. The center of the steering wheel260may be pivotably coupled to the rear end of the steering extension post252. The steering wheel260may be suspended in front of the user such that the user may turn the steering wheel260as though the user were driving a vehicle. In some embodiments, the rotational position of the steering wheel260may be sensed by the controller280.

The display screen270may be a flat-screen video display located at the center of the steering wheel260. The images presented on the display screen270may be sourced from the controller280.

The controller280comprise a microprocessor and a memory. The memory may store instructions and data. The instructions may cause the microprocessor to control the sequence and timing of the brake234, the display screen270, sensing the rotational position of the steering wheel260, or combinations thereof.

The instructions may control the sequence and timing of the invention100such that the invention100functions as the gaming system. As a non-limiting example, the controller280may present images on the display screen270showing full motion video of scenes on a road trip. The controller280may sense the rotational speed of the pedals230and may time the presentation of images on the display screen270to match the apparent speed of the invention100based upon the rotational speed of the pedals230. The controller280may increase and decrease resistance to pedaling using the brake234such that the user experiences perceived uphill and downhill segments of the imagery road trip. The controller280may sense the position of the steering wheel260and may modify the images to represent perceived changes in direction.

In use, the user may sit on the seat220, place their feet on the pedals230, and grasp the steering wheel260with their hands. The user may exercise by pedaling the pedals230, moving the seat220up and down the seat track210, manipulating the steering assembly, or combinations thereof. Manipulating the steering assembly may refer to turning the steering wheel260, pushing the steering wheel260against the steering extension post252to compress the air shock254, or both. The controller280may cause the invention100to operate as a gaming system. As non-limiting examples, the controller280may present still or moving images on the display screen270located on the steering wheel260, may increase and decrease resistance to pedaling, may track steering motions in reference to a virtual course shown on the display screen270, and may compute and display a score based upon the user's ability to follow and complete the virtual course in minimal time.

Definitions

Unless otherwise stated, the words “up”, “down”, “top”, “bottom”, “upper”, and “lower” should be interpreted within a gravitational framework. “Down” is the direction that gravity would pull an object. “Up” is the opposite of “down”. “Bottom” is the part of an object that is down farther than any other part of the object. “Top” is the part of an object that is up farther than any other part of the object. “Upper” may refer to top and “lower” may refer to the bottom. As a non-limiting example, the upper end of a vertical shaft is the top end of the vertical shaft.

As used herein, “approximate” and “approximately” indicate that information that is being presented is not critical for proper functioning of the invention and that the information is being provided only to assist in a better understanding of some physical characteristic of an embodiment of the invention. As a non-limiting example, a device that is described as “cubical and approximately 1 inch long on each side” is not required to be precisely 1 inch long on each side and the reader may understand that the device will likely fit in their pocket.

As used in this disclosure, a “brake” may be a device that is used to slow or stop the motion of a machine or a vehicle.

In this disclosure, “compress” may refer to forcing into a smaller space.

As used herein, the words “couple”, “couples”, “coupled” or “coupling”, may refer to connecting, either directly or indirectly, and does not necessarily imply a mechanical connection.

As used herein, the words “data” and “information” may be used interchangeably to refer to raw, unprocessed facts and to facts that have been processed, structured, organized, or presented in a context that makes the facts useful.

As used in this disclosure, a “display” may be a surface upon which is presented an image, potentially including, but not limited to, graphic images and text, that is interpretable by an individual viewing the image. When used as a verb, “display” may be defined as presenting such an image.

As used herein, “front” may indicate the side of an object that is closest to a forward direction of travel under normal use of the object or the side or part of an object that normally presents itself to view or that is normally used first. “Rear” or “back” may refer to the side that is opposite the front.

As used in this disclosure, “horizontal” may be a directional term that refers to a direction that is perpendicular to the local force of gravity. Unless specifically noted in this disclosure, the horizontal direction is always perpendicular to the vertical direction.

As used in this disclosure, a “housing” may be a rigid or semi-rigid casing that encloses and protects one or more devices.

As used herein, the words “invert”, “inverted”, or “inversion” refer to an object that has been turned inside out or upside down or to the act of turning an object inside out or upside down.

As used in this disclosure, the word “lateral” may refer to the sides of an object or movement towards a side. Lateral directions are generally perpendicular to longitudinal directions. “Laterally” may refer to movement in a lateral direction.

As used herein, the word “longitudinal” or “longitudinally” may refer to a lengthwise or longest direction.

As used here, the word “midpoint” may refer to a point that is between the ends of an object. An “exact midpoint” may refer to a midpoint that is equidistant from edges of the object in at least one direction. Unless otherwise stated, a midpoint is not required to be at the exact center of the object but instead may be within 50% of the distance from the exact midpoint to the farthest edge, farthest end, or farthest corner.

As used herein, the terms “processor”, “central processor”, “central processing unit”, “CPU”, or “microprocessor” refer to a digital device that carries out the instructions comprising a computer program by performing basic arithmetic, logical, control, and input/out operations. The term “microprocessor” may additionally imply a level of miniaturization and power reduction that makes the device suitable for portable or battery operated systems.

As used in this disclosure, “telescopic”, “telescoping”, and “telescopically” refer to an object made of sections that fit or slide into each other such that the object can be made longer or shorter by adjusting the relative positions of the sections.

As used in this disclosure, a “track” may be a device that is used to control the path of motion of an object in at least one dimension.

As used in this disclosure, “vertical” may refer to a direction that is parallel to the local force of gravity. Unless specifically noted in this disclosure, the vertical direction is always perpendicular to horizontal.

With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationship for the various components of the invention described above and inFIGS.1through4, include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the invention.

It shall be noted that those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous adaptations and modifications which can be made to the various embodiments of the present invention which will result in an improved invention, yet all of which will fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.