U.S. Pat. No. 8,512,142

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The detailed embodiment of the present invention is disclosed herein. It should be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as the basis for the claims and as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention.

For the purposes of the present invention, the combined sliding and stepping apparatus can be used in place of the game controller identified as numeral (10) as displayed in the interactive gaming system as disclosed in United States Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0261696 to Yamazaki et al, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, and commonly referred to as a “Wii Fit”.

The detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It should be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limited, but merely as the basis for the claims and as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention.

Referring to the drawings of the present invention,FIG. 1shows a controller in the form of a combination step and slide exerciser10which may be used for interactive aerobic exercising whereby a user2can step upwardly and downwardly, and/or slide on the top of the exerciser10in conjunction with an interactive gaming system. An elevated step platform12is located at each end of the step and slide exerciser10. A slider section16, having a central sliding area16a(FIG. 2) and slightly concave ends16b(FIG. 2), is connected between opposite sides of the stepping platforms12whereby the user may slide in the area between these platforms12.

Preferably each step platform12has an uppermost foot engaging, stepping area20which is generally rectangular or recto-semicircular in configuration and a side surface24which is angular with respect to the top stepping area20and the lowest area of the slider section16. Pluralities of load sensors14are located in both the stepping area20and the slider section16and are installed and utilized in accordance with the structure and procedure as displayed in United States Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0261696 to Yamazaki et al.

The central sliding area16is preferably divided into equal two section along seam28includes a hinge42on the bottom for use in folding the exerciser10in half during storage. The exerciser can optionally have latching means (not shown) to secure both halves of the exerciser10when folded during storage.

In use, when one wishes to exercise with the apparatus of the invention, the exerciser10is unhinged by opening and positioned flatly on the ground allowing a user to smoothly glide over the top of the central sliding area16thereof when exercising. It will be appreciated that a user may step up and down on each of the steps12and also step inwardly onto the sliding area16for sliding movement thereon. Thus, the exercise equipment of the present invention combines the features of an aerobic stepping device with an aerobic sliding device, enabling a user to work an exercise program whereby both a stepping motion and sliding motion type of exercise may be performed without the necessity of using multiple exercise apparatus. In a further embodiment an elastic strap32can be secured into a locking channel22to permit additional exercising movements.

With further reference toFIG. 1, a game controller exerciser10according to an embodiment of the present invention is a manipulation device or input device for game. The step and slide exerciser10is a game controller board on which a player rides or slides with the board containing load sensors14that detect loads applied on the board. The load sensors14are accommodated in the board, and a possible arrangement of the load sensors14is shown by dotted line inFIG. 2.

In the stepping area20, multiple load sensors14are arranged at predetermined intervals. In the preferred embodiment, the four load sensors14are arranged in peripheral portions of the stepping area20, specifically, at the four corners. The interval between the load sensors14is set an appropriate value such that player's intention can accurately be detected for the load applied to the board in a game manipulation. Similarly, multiple load sensors14are preferably placed in along the lengthwise center axis of the central slider area16.

As displayed in United States Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0261696, the load sensors14are formed by, e.g., a strain gage (strain sensor) type load cell, and the load sensor14is a load transducer that converts the input load into an electric signal. In the load sensor14, a strain inducing element is deformed to generate a strain according to the input load. The strain is converted into a change in electric resistance by a strain sensor adhering to the strain inducing element, and the change in electric resistance is converted into a change in voltage. Accordingly, the load sensor14outputs a voltage signal indicating the input load from an output terminal when the voltage is imparted to the load sensor14from a power supply terminal. The load sensor14is formed by, e.g., a strain gage (strain sensor) type load cell, and the load sensor14is a load transducer that converts the input load into an electric signal. In the load sensor14, a strain inducing element is deformed to generate a strain according to the input load. The strain is converted into a change in electric resistance by a strain sensor adhering to the strain inducing element, and the change in electric resistance is converted into a change in voltage. Accordingly, the load sensor14outputs a voltage signal indicating the input load from an output terminal when the voltage is imparted to the load sensor14from a power supply terminal. Other types of load sensors such as a folk vibrating type, a string vibrating type, an electrostatic capacity type, a piezoelectric type, and gyroscope type may be used as the load sensor14.

As displayed inFIG. 3showing the bottom surface of the game controller exerciser10includes a microcomputer26that controls an operation of the game controller exerciser10. The microcomputer26includes a ROM and a RAM (not shown) and a power source30and controls the operation of the game controller exerciser10according to a program stored in the ROM. The step and slide exerciser10includes rubber gripping members40on a bottom surface thereof to engage a support surface so it will not slip when it is used.

The game controller exerciser10may directly be connected to a game machine using a connector or the game controller exerciser10may be connected to a device that can conduct communication with the game machine.

The electric power may be supplied to the load sensor14and the transfer of the outputs from each load sensor14indicating the input load, in accordance with the any of the techniques and system design displayed in United States Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0261696.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the load sensors14are arranged in the peripheral portion of the step platform12or along the central axis of the slider section16. However, the load sensors14can be arranged at any predetermined intervals so as to ensure the accuracy of load detection.

While the preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.