초록 ▼

An exercise apparatus is provided for enabling reciprocating motion of the user's legs or feet while the user remains generally stationary. The apparatus includes a stationary frame, a first longitudinal rail supported, at least partially, by the frame, and a second longitudinal rail also supported,

An exercise apparatus is provided for enabling reciprocating motion of the user's legs or feet while the user remains generally stationary. The apparatus includes a stationary frame, a first longitudinal rail supported, at least partially, by the frame, and a second longitudinal rail also supported, at least partially, by the frame and in generally parallel relation with the first rail. The apparatus further includes a first foot carriage assembly movably engageable along the first rail, a second foot carriage assembly movably engageable along the second rail, and an inertia drive assembly disposed proximate the first and second rails. The inertia drive assembly includes a first continuous belt that is engageable with the first carriage assembly such that movable operation of the first carriage assembly drives the inertia drive assembly, and a second continuous belt engageable with the second carriage assembly such that movable operation of the second carriage assembly also drives the inertia drive assembly. The first and second carriage assembly are interconnected such that, as each of the first and second carriage assembly initially advances rearwardly or forwardly along one of the rails, the inertia drive assembly can accelerate each carriage assembly, by way of one of the first and second belts.

대표청구항 ▼

An exercise apparatus is provided for enabling reciprocating motion of the user's legs or feet while the user remains generally stationary. The apparatus includes a stationary frame, a first longitudinal rail supported, at least partially, by the frame, and a second longitudinal rail also supported,

An exercise apparatus is provided for enabling reciprocating motion of the user's legs or feet while the user remains generally stationary. The apparatus includes a stationary frame, a first longitudinal rail supported, at least partially, by the frame, and a second longitudinal rail also supported, at least partially, by the frame and in generally parallel relation with the first rail. The apparatus further includes a first foot carriage assembly movably engageable along the first rail, a second foot carriage assembly movably engageable along the second rail, and an inertia drive assembly disposed proximate the first and second rails. The inertia drive assembly includes a first continuous belt that is engageable with the first carriage assembly such that movable operation of the first carriage assembly drives the inertia drive assembly, and a second continuous belt engageable with the second carriage assembly such that movable operation of the second carriage assembly also drives the inertia drive assembly. The first and second carriage assembly are interconnected such that, as each of the first and second carriage assembly initially advances rearwardly or forwardly along one of the rails, the inertia drive assembly can accelerate each carriage assembly, by way of one of the first and second belts. nal content and at least two bursts of one or more control signals for controlling said one or more operating parameters of said exercise device, said motivational content including an audio portion; means for reproducing said programming, including said audio portion of said motivational content and said one or more control signals, said one or more control signals substantially suppressing said audio portion upon said means reproducing said one or more control signals; and means, responsive to said one or more control signals, for controlling said operating parameters of said exercise device in synchronization with said motivational content. 13. The improved exercise device of claim 12, wherein each of said one or more control signals comprises and each of said one or more control signals comprising: a first byte of data indicating a first operating parameter value for one of one or more operating parameters of the exercise device; a second byte of data indicating a second operating parameter value for another of said one or more operating parameters of the exercise device; and a third byte of data indicating a checksum of said first byte of data and said second byte of data. 14. The improved exercise device of claim 13, wherein each of the at least two bursts is substantially identical. 15. The improved exercise device of claim 12, wherein said one or more operation parameters comprising at least one of speed, inclination, and resistance. 16. The improved exercise device of claim 12, wherein the improved exercise device is a treadmill, the treadmill including a tread base and a belt. 17. The improved exercise device of claim 12, wherein each of said one or more control signals has a duration of less than one-quarter second. 18. The improved exercise device of claim 12, wherein said one or more control signals are carried by a carrier signal. 19. The improved exercise device of claim 12, wherein each of said one or more control signals acts as an audible cue to a change in said one or more operating parameters. 20. The improved exercise device of claim 12, wherein the programming is a television broadcast, a radio broadcast, a live broadcast, or a prerecorded broadcast. 21. The improved exercise device of claim 20, wherein the broadcast is transmitted by a transmission medium, the transmission medium is over the air waves, via cable, via satellite, or via the internet. 22. The improved exercise device of claim 12, wherein the programming is stored in nonvolatile memory. 23. The improved exercise device of claim 12, wherein the programming is prerecorded and stored on a storage medium. 24. The improved exercise device of claim 12, wherein said one or more control signals are synchronized with said motivational content. 25. The improved exercise device of claim 12, wherein said means for reproducing the programming is integrated into said exercise device. 26. The improved exercise device of claim 12, wherein said means for reproducing the programming is separate from said exercise device. 27. The improved exercise device of claim 12, wherein said controlling means comprises: means for decoding said control signals having an input and an output, the input of said decoding means being electrically coupled to the output of said reproducing means; and means, electrically coupled to the output of said decoding means, for driving said one or more motors or other electrically driven actuators in response to the decoded control signal. 28. The improved exercise device of claim 27, wherein said controlling means comprises: sensor means for sensing and converting the audio portion of the reproduced programming to an electrical signal, the sensor means having an output for outputting said electrical signal; means for decoding said control signals having an input and an output, the input of said decoding means being electrically coupled to the output of said sensing means; and means, electrically coupled to the outpu t of said decoding means, for driving said one or more motors or other electrically driven actuators in response to the decoded control signal. 29. The improved exercise device of claim 12, wherein said reproducing means comprises a loudspeaker, an RF transmitter, or an infrared transmitter. 30. The improved exercise device of claim 29, wherein said sensor means comprises a microphone, an RF receiver, or an infrared receiver. 31. An improved exercise device having one or more motors or other electrically driven actuators for controlling one or more operating parameters of said exercise device, the improved exercise device comprising: programming having motivational content and one or more control signals synchronized with said one or more control signals for controlling said one or more operating parameters of said exercise device, said one or more control signals comprising at least two transmission bursts; means for reproducing said programming; and means, responsive to said one or more control signals, for controlling said operating parameters of said exercise device in synchronization with said motivational content. 32. The improved exercise device of claim 31, wherein the motivational content comprises an audio portion and a video portion. 33. The improved exercise device of claim 32, wherein said one or more control signals substantially suppressing said audio portion upon said means reproducing said one or more control signals. 34. The improved exercise device of claim 31, wherein said one or more control signals are carried in a 2 kHz carrier signal. 35. The improved exercise device of claim 31, wherein each of the at least two bursts is substantially identical. 36. The improved exercise device of claim 31, wherein each of said one or more control signals comprises a byte of data indicating a value of said one or more operating parameters. 37. The improved exercise device of claim 31, wherein each of said one or more control signals comprises: (a) a first byte of data indicating a selected speed of the exercise device; (b) a second byte of data indicating a selected inclination of the exercise device; and (c) a third byte of data indicating a checksum of said first byte of data and said second byte of data. 38. The improved exercise device of claim 31, wherein said one or more control signals use a RS232 protocol. 39. A method of operating an exercise device having one or more motors or other electrically driven actuators for controlling one or more operating parameters of said exercise device, the method comprising: a step for receiving programming having motivational content and two bursts of one or more control signals configured to control one or more operating parameters of the exercise device, said motivational content comprising an audio portion synchronized with said one or more control signals; a step for reproducing the received programming, including said audio portion of said motivational content and said one or more control signals, said one or more control signals substantially suppressing said audio portion of said motivational content; and upon decoding said one or more control signals, a step for adjusting said one or more operating parameters of said exercise device in response to said decoded control signals. 40. The method of claim 39, further comprising transmitting said motivational content and said one or more control signals to the exercise device. 41. The method of claim 40, wherein the transmitting step comprises broadcasting said programming over air waves, broadcasting said programming via cable, broadcasting said programming via satellite, or broadcasting said programming over the internet. 42. The method of claim 39, further comprising identifying a first byte of data, a second byte of data, and a third byte of data included in each of said one or more control signals. 43. The method of claim 42, further comprising comparing said third byte of data against said first byte of data and said second byte of data to detect errors. 44. The method of claim 39, further comprising comparing said one or more control signals contained in a first burst of said two bursts against said one or more control signals contained in a second burst of said two bursts. 45. The method of claim 39, wherein said one or more control signals comprises at least one speed signal and at least one incline signal.