초록 ▼

An exercise system including a support base and an operable member movably coupled to the support base. Electrically coupled to the operable member is an interface console. The interface console includes a plurality of speed level keys and a plurality of grade level keys. The speed level keys enable

An exercise system including a support base and an operable member movably coupled to the support base. Electrically coupled to the operable member is an interface console. The interface console includes a plurality of speed level keys and a plurality of grade level keys. The speed level keys enable a user to selected different pre-set speeds of the operable member, while the grade level keys enable a user to select different pre-set grades of the operable member. Associated with the speed level and grade level keys are incremental keys that enable a user to incrementally increase and/or decrease the speed, grade, or resistance of the exercise system.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is: 1. An exercise system comprising: a support structure configured to support an operable member movably coupled to the support structure; and a virtual trail system simulating a trail to be traversed by a user as the user

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is: 1. An exercise system comprising: a support structure configured to support an operable member movably coupled to the support structure; and a virtual trail system simulating a trail to be traversed by a user as the user exercises using the exercise system, the virtual trail system comprising: (i) an interface console configured to adjust incline levels of said operable member and including multiple successive incline level keys and numeric indicia representative of specific incline levels corresponding to each incline level key, said interface console comprising indicator means for displaying workout information to the user at a rate proportional to the rate at which exercise is performed by the user, the indicator means displaying a topographical representation of a trail to be traversed by a user, and (ii) a braking means for electronically slowing the speed of the operable member, wherein the braking means comprises a means for dissipating power generated by the exercise system, wherein said means for dissipating power is activated at operational points that are partially dependent on user attributes including user mass and force exerted by the user and partially dependent on virtual trail system parameters including inclination or declination positions, operating speed, and overall virtual trail system resistance. 2. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein the operable member comprises a movable treadmill belt, the incline of which changes upon selecting one of said multiple successive incline level keys. 3. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein said interface console receives workout related control inputs from the user of the exercise system and changes an incline of said operable member as a controller within said interface console computes operational information based at least in part on said control inputs. 4. An exercise system as recited in claim 1, wherein said interface console is configured to adjust speed levels of said operable member, said interface console comprising: a first speed level key corresponding to a first speed level of said operable member; a second speed level key corresponding to a second speed level of said operable member that is higher than said first speed level; and a third speed level key corresponding to a third speed level of said operable member that is higher than said second speed level, wherein a user can directly increase said speed level of said operable member from said first speed level to said third speed level by selecting said third speed level key. 5. The exercise system of claim 4, wherein the operable member comprises a movable treadmill belt, the speed of which changes upon selecting one of said first speed level key, said second speed level key, and said third speed level key. 6. The exercise system of claim 4, wherein said interface console receives workout related control inputs from a user of the exercise system and changes a speed of said operable member as a controller within said interface console computes operational information based at least in part on said control inputs. 7. An exercise apparatus comprising: a support base; an operable member movably coupled to said support base; and a virtual trail system simulating a trail to be traversed by a user as the user exercises using the exercise apparatus, the virtual trail system comprising an interface console electrically coupled to said operable member, said interface console comprising: (i) indicator means for displaying workout information to the user at a rate proportional to the rate at which exercise is performed by the user, the indicator means displaying a topographical representation of a trail to be traversed by a user, wherein the workout information displayed by the indicator means comprises: percentage of trail workout completion and simulated trail elevation on the same display panel; and (ii) a plurality of direct speed level keys selectable by a user of the exercise system, wherein each speed level key defines a pre-set speed for the exercise apparatus and is configured to initiate a change in the speed of the exercise apparatus from a current speed to said pre-set speed upon being selected by the user of the exercise apparatus wherein upon selecting one of said plurality of speed level keys, the operable member automatically adjusts from a current speed to said pre-set speed. 8. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, further comprising a plurality of direct grade level keys selectable by a user of the exercise system, wherein each grade level key defines a pre-set grade for the exercise apparatus and is configured to initiate a change in the grade of the exercise apparatus from a current grade to said pre-set grade upon being selected by the user of the exercise apparatus, wherein upon selecting one of said plurality of grade level keys, the operable member automatically adjusts from a current grade to said pre-set grade. 9. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the virtual trail system further comprises a braking means for electronically slowing the speed of the operable member, wherein the braking means comprises a means for dissipating power generated by the virtual trail system, wherein said means for dissipating power is activated at operational points that are partially dependent on user attributes including user mass and force exerted by user and partially dependent on virtual trail system parameters including inclination or declination positions, operating speed, and overall virtual trail system resistance. 10. An apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the braking means dissipates excess power generated by the virtual trail system when the power generated by the system exceeds approximately 100 Watts to approximately 700 Watts. 11. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the system displays a pre-designed trail having at least a beginning point and an end point, said pre-designed trail selectively including at least one midway point. 12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said system comprises means for selecting a pre-designed trail containing routines including the average grade and distance to be traveled between the beginning point, the end point, and the selective midway points. 13. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the workout information displayed by the display comprises percentage of trail workout completion and elevation on the same panel. 14. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the indicator means comprises a plurality of workout segments represented between two points on a trail and wherein the segments reflect an average slope change between said two points. 15. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the system comprises a processor selected from the group consisting of a controller, state machine, microprocessor, embedded system, and other means for processing and displaying information. 16. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the interface console comprises: a first speed level key corresponding to a first speed level of said operable member; a second speed level key corresponding to a second speed level of said operable member that is higher than said first speed level; and a third speed level key corresponding to a third speed level of said operable member that is higher than said second speed level, wherein a user can directly increase said speed level of said operable member from said first speed level to said third speed level by selecting said third speed level key. 17. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the interface console further comprises: a first incline level key corresponding to a first incline level of said operable member; a second incline level key corresponding to a second incline level of said operable member that is greater than said first incline level; and a third incline level key corresponding to a third incline level of said operable member that is greater than said second incline level, wherein a user can directly increase said incline level of said operable member from said first incline level to said third incline level by selecting said third incline level key. 18. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the interface console further comprises an incremental control configured to incrementally change one of said plurality of pre-set speed levels selected by the user of the exercise system. 19. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the interface console further comprises: a direct grade adjustment keypad, said direct grade adjustment keypad comprising a plurality of preset grade keys, each key of said plurality of grade keys corresponding to a single preset operating grade of said operable member, wherein one touch of any of the preset grade keys changes any current operating grade of said operable member to the operating grade corresponding to the touched key. 20. An exercise system comprising: a support base; an operable member movably coupled to said support base; and a virtual trail system simulating a trail to be traversed by a user as the user exercises using the exercise system, the virtual trail system comprising: a control interface coupled to the operable member, the control interface enabling a user to control the operable member, the control interface comprising: (i) indicator means for displaying workout information to the user at a rate proportional to the rate at which exercise is performed by the user, the indicator means displaying a topographical representation of a trail to be traversed by a user, wherein the virtual trail system displays a pre-designed trail having at least a beginning point and an end point, said pre-designed trail selectively including at least one midway point, and wherein the virtual trail system comprises means for selecting a pre-designed trail containing routines including the average grade and distance to be traveled between the beginning point, the end point, and the selective midway points; and (ii) a direct adjustment keypad having a plurality of speed level keys, each of the plurality of speed level keys being associated with one of a plurality of pre-set speeds such that upon contacting any one key, the speed level of the operable member changes to the speed of the contacted key regardless of the current speed level of the exercise apparatus. 21. An exercise system comprising: a support base; an operable member movably coupled to said support base; and a virtual trail system simulating a trail to be traversed by a user as the user exercises using the exercise system, the virtual trail system comprising: an interface console electrically coupled to said operable member, said interface console comprising: indicator means for displaying workout information to the user at a rate proportional to the rate at which exercise is performed by the user, the indicator means displaying a topographical representation of a trail to be traversed by a user, wherein the workout information displayed by the display comprises percentage of trail workout completed and elevation on the same panel; the interface console further comprising: a first incline level key corresponding to a first incline level of said operable member; a second incline level key corresponding to a second incline level of said operable member that is greater than said first incline level; and a third incline level key corresponding to a third incline level of said operable member that is greater than said second incline level, wherein a user can directly increase said incline level of said operable member from said first incline level to said third incline level by selecting said third incline level key; and wherein said interface console is configured to adjust speed levels of said operable member, said interface console further comprising: a first speed level key corresponding to a first speed level of said operable member; a second speed level key corresponding to a second speed level of said operable member that is higher than said first speed level; and a third speed level key corresponding to a third speed level of said operable member that is higher than said second speed level, wherein a user can directly increase said speed level of said operable member from said first speed level to said third speed level by selecting said third speed level key. 22. An exercise system as recited in claim 21, further comprising means for selecting a pre-designed trail containing routines including the average grade and distance to be traveled between a beginning point, an end point, and at least one midway point of the pre-designed trail. 23. An exercise system as recited in claim 21, wherein the workout information displayed by the indicator means comprises: percentage of trail workout completion and simulated trail elevation on the same display panel. 24. An exercise system, comprising: a support base; an operable member movably coupled to said support base; and a virtual trail system simulating a trail to be traversed by a user as the user exercises using the exercise system, the virtual trail system comprising an interface console electrically coupled to said operable member, and wherein said interface console comprises: indicator means for displaying workout information to the user at a rate proportional to the rate at which exercise is performed by the user, the indicator means displaying a topographical representation of a trail to be traversed by a user, wherein the indicator means comprises a plurality of workout segments represented between two points on a trail and wherein the segments reflect an average slope change between said two points; wherein said interface console is configured to adjust speed levels of said operable member, said interface console further comprising: a first speed level key corresponding to a first speed level of said operable member; a second speed level key corresponding to a second speed level of said operable member that is higher than said first speed level; and a third speed level key corresponding to a third speed level of said operable member that is higher than said second speed level, wherein a user can directly increase said speed level of said operable member from said first speed level to said third speed level by selecting said third speed level key. 25. An exercise system as recited in claim 24, further comprising an incremental grade control configured to incrementally adjust a grade of the operable member. 26. An exercise system as recited in claim 24, wherein the workout information displayed by the indicator means comprises: percentage of trail workout completion and simulated trail elevation on the same display panel. 27. An exercise apparatus comprising: a support base; an operable member movably coupled to said support base; and a virtual trail system simulating a trail to be traversed by a user as the user exercises using the exercise apparatus, the virtual trail system comprising: an interface console configured to adjust speed levels of said operable member, said interface console comprising: indicator means for displaying workout information to the user at a rate proportional to the rate at which exercise is performed by the user, the indicator means displaying a topographical representation of a trail to be traversed by a user, wherein the workout information displayed by the indicator means comprises: percentage of trail workout completion and simulated trail elevation on the same display panel; said interface console further comprising: a first speed level key corresponding to a first speed level of said operable member; a second speed level key corresponding to a second speed level of said operable member that is higher than said first speed level; and a third speed level key corresponding to a third speed level of said operable member that is higher than said second speed level, wherein a user can directly increase said speed level of said operable member from said first speed level to said third speed level by selecting said third speed level key. 28. The exercise apparatus of claim 27, wherein said interface console receives workout related control inputs from a user of the exercise system and changes an incline of said operable member as a controller within said interface console computes operational information based at least in part on said control inputs. 29. The exercise apparatus of claim 27, wherein the operable member comprises a treadmill treadbase, the grade of which changes upon selecting a direct grade adjustment key associated with the interface console. 30. The exercise apparatus of claim 27, wherein the operable member comprises a movable treadmill belt, the speed of which changes upon selecting a speed level key. 31. The exercise apparatus of claim 27, wherein said interface console receives workout related control inputs from a user of the exercise system and changes a speed of said operable member as a controller within said interface console computes operational information based at least in part on said control inputs. 32. An exercise apparatus comprising: a support base; an operable member movably coupled to said support base; and a virtual trail system simulating a trail to be traversed by a user as the user exercises using the exercise apparatus, the virtual trail system comprising an interface console electrically coupled to said operable member, said interface console comprising indicator means for displaying workout information to the user at a rate proportional to the rate at which exercise is performed by the user, the indicator means displaying a topographical representation of a trail to be traversed by a user, wherein the virtual trail system displays a pre-designed trail having at least a beginning point and an end point, said pre-designed trail selectively including at least one midway point, and wherein the virtual trail system comprises means for selecting a pre-designed trail containing routines including the average grade and distance to be traveled between the beginning point, the end point, and the selective midway points; wherein said interface console is configured to adjust speed levels of said operable member, said interface console further comprising: a first speed level key corresponding to a first speed level of said operable member; a second speed level key corresponding to a second speed level of said operable member that is higher than said first speed level; and a third speed level key corresponding to a third speed level of said operable member that is higher than said second speed level, wherein a user can directly increase said speed level of said operable member from said first speed level to said third speed level by selecting said third speed level key. 33. An exercise apparatus of claim 32, wherein the operable member comprises a treadmill treadbase, a grade of which changes upon selecting a direct grade adjustment key associated with a console of the exercise system. 34. A treadmill, comprising: a support base; a treadbase coupled to said support base; and a virtual trail system simulating a trail to be traversed by a user as the user exercises using the exercise treadmill, the virtual trail system comprising indicator means for displaying workout information to the user at a rate proportional to the rate at which exercise is performed by the user, the indicator means displaying a topographical representation of a trail to be traversed by a user, wherein the workout information displayed by the indicator means comprises: percentage of trail workout completion and simulated trail elevation on the same display panel; and an interface console electrically coupled to said treadbase, said interface console having a direct adjustment keypad, said direct adjustment keypad comprising a plurality of preset keys, each key of said plurality of keys corresponding to a single preset operating parameter of said treadbase, wherein one touch of any of said preset keys changes any current operating parameter of said treadbase to the operating parameter corresponding to the touched key regardless of the level of the current operating parameter, wherein the direct adjustment keypad comprises: a first grade level key corresponding to a first grade level of said treadbase; a second grade level key corresponding to a second grade level of said treadbase that is higher than said first grade level; and a third grade level key corresponding to a third grade level of said treadbase that is higher than said second grade level, wherein a user can directly increase said grade level of said treadbase from said first grade level to said third grade level by activating said third grade level key. 35. A treadmill as recited in claim 34, wherein the treadbase comprises a moveable treadmill belt, the speed of which changes upon selecting a direct speed adjustment key. 36. An exercise apparatus as recited in claim 34, wherein said interface console is configured to adjust speed levels of said operable member, said interface console comprising: a first speed level key corresponding to a first speed level of said operable member; a second speed level key corresponding to a second speed level of said operable member that is higher than said first speed level; and a third speed level key corresponding to a third speed level of said operable member that is higher than said second speed level, wherein a user can directly increase said speed level of said operable member from said first speed level to said third speed level by activating said third speed level key. 37. An exercise apparatus comprising: a support base; an operable member movably coupled to said support base; and a virtual trail system simulating a trail to be traversed by a user as the user exercises using the exercise apparatus, the virtual trail system comprising: an interface console electrically coupled to said operable member, said interface console comprising: (i) indicator means for displaying workout information to the user at a rate proportional to the rate at which exercise is performed by the user, the indicator means displaying a topographical representation of a trail to be traversed by a user wherein the workout information displayed by the indicator means comprises percentage of trail workout completion and simulated trail elevation on the same display panel; and (ii) a plurality of direct grade level keys selectable by a user of the exercise system, wherein each grade level key defines a pre-set grade for the exercise apparatus and is configured to initiate a change in the grade of the exercise apparatus from a current grade to said pre-set grade upon being selected by the user of the exercise apparatus, wherein upon selecting one of said plurality of grade level keys, the operable member automatically adjusts from a current grade to said pre-set grade. 38. A system as recited in claim 37, further comprising a direct adjustment keypad having a plurality of speed level keys, each of the plurality of speed level keys being associated with one of a plurality of pre-set speeds such that upon contacting any one key, the speed level changes to the speed of the contacted key regardless of the current speed level of the exercise apparatus. 39. A system as recited in claim 37, wherein upon touching one of the plurality of grade level keys, the operable member is adjusted to a pre-set grade associated with the touched key. 40. A system as recited in claim 37, further comprising an incremental grade control. 41. The exercise system in claim 37 wherein the operable member comprises a treadmill treadbase, and wherein selection of a preset key changes a grade of the treadmill treadbase to a grade corresponding to the selected key regardless of the current grade of the treadmill treadbase. 42. The system as recited in claim 37, wherein said interface console comprises a plurality of direct speed adjustment keys, each of said plurality of direct speed adjustment keys being associated with a single preset speed of said operable member, each of said plurality of direct speed adjustment keys being selectable to automatically change any current speed of said operable member to the single preset speed associated with the selected direct speed adjustment key of said plurality of direct speed adjustment keys. 43. An apparatus as recited in claim 37, wherein the interface console further comprises a direct adjustment keypad configured to adjust the speed of the operable member, said direct adjustment keypad comprising a plurality of keys, each key of said plurality of keys corresponding to only one pre-set speed, wherein a touch of any one key of said plurality of keys changes any current speed of the operable member to the pre-set speed corresponding to the touched key.