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Exercise device with on board personal trainerRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, Having Specific Electrical Feature, Equipment Control, Amount Of ResistanceExercise device with on board personal trainer description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080051256, Exercise device with on board personal trainer. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This non-provisional patent application claims priority to and the benefit of provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/918,250, entitled Exercise Device with On Board Personal Trainer, filed Mar. 14, 2007, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Further, this application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/916,687, entitled "Repetition Sensor in Exercise Equipment," filed Aug. 11, 2004. This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/315,682, entitled "Methods and Systems for Controlling an Exercise Apparatus Using a Portable Data Storage Device," filed Dec. 21, 2005, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/314,133, entitled "Methods and Systems for Controlling an Exercise Apparatus Using a USB Compatible Portable Remote Device," filed Dec. 21, 2005, each of which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/856,676, entitled "Methods and Systems for Controlling an Exercise Apparatus Using a USB Compatible Portable Remote Device," filed May 28, 2004, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/776,410, entitled "Methods and Systems for Controlling an Exercise Apparatus using a Portable Remote Device," filed on Feb. 2, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part of: (a) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/641,220, entitled "Systems and Methods for Interaction with Exercise Device," filed on Aug. 18, 2000; (b) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/641,600, entitled "Computer Systems and Methods for Interaction with Exercise Device," filed Aug. 18, 2000; and (c) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/641,627, entitled "System for interaction with Exercise Device," filed Aug. 18, 2000, each of which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/496,560, entitled, "System and Method for Selective Adjustment of Exercise Apparatus," filed on Feb. 2, 2000, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/349,608, entitled "Systems and Methods for Providing an Improved Exercise Device with Motivational Programming," filed on Jul. 8, 1999. The contents of each of the above-identified applications are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. The Field of the Invention [0003] This invention generally relates to exercise equipment and, more specifically, to equipment used for strength training and/or toning of muscles. [0004] 2. The Relevant Technology [0005] Exercise machines for strength training and/or toning of muscles are commonplace. As opposed to aerobic exercise machines such as treadmills, elliptical machines and stair climbers, strength training machines--typically referred to as anaerobic machines--often require familiarity with the machines before one knows how to use them. That is, upon walking up to a strength training machine in a gym today, one is usually bewildered as to how the machine works. This dilemma is particularly troublesome with some of the modern machines that offer multiple strength training exercises on a single machine. [0006] Further, in a training environment, those exercising on equipment for strength training and/or muscle toning are in constant need for motivation or encouragement by coaches or trainers. Some people, particularly those with sufficient resources, hire personal coaches or fitness trainers to do just that. A personal trainer will follow a trainee through a workout, showing the trainee which exercises to perform to build or tone certain areas of one's body, how to perform those exercises or any exercise desired, and provide motivation and encouragement along the way. [0007] Further, in a training environment, those exercising on equipment for strength training and/or muscle toning are in constant need for keeping track of their progress on a given exercise. For example, one such exerciser performing a military press exercise must keep track of not only the sets of such exercise, but also the repetitions within each set. Such record-keeping can be burdensome, especially when one is trying to focus on the exercise as well as keeping track of the progress. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] An exercise device with an on board personal trainer is provided. The on board personal trainer provides both graphical and audio instructions regarding a selected exercise program upon selection of such program by a user. Also, the on board personal trainer keeps track of the user's repetitions and sets of the user's particular exercise at a given time. [0009] Specifically, the exercise device comprises a frame, a movable element operatively coupled to the frame, a resistance assembly coupled to the frame and to the movable element such that the movable element moves against resistance provided by the resistance assembly, and a console coupled to the frame and electrically coupled to the movable element and/or the resistance assembly. The console is configured to display a menu structure to enable a user to select an exercise program, wherein the console provides graphical and audio instructions regarding the selected exercise program, such that the console enables (i) selection of a desired exercise program, (ii) a graphical display of the selected exercise program, and (iii) audio instructions relating to the selected exercise program. [0010] According to another embodiment, the exercise device further comprises a microcontroller, a user interface electrically coupled to the microcontroller, wherein the user interface has a plurality of user inputs, and a display screen electrically coupled to the microcontroller, wherein the display screen displays operating parameters of the exercise device, instructions relating to exercises to be performed, and/or parameters for the user of the exercise device. This embodiment also may include one or more ports for receiving data or instructions, the one or more ports being linked to the microcontroller. The one or more ports also may include a physical port configured to receive data from a storage device insertable or otherwise connectable to the console. Alternatively, the one or more ports also may include a wireless port, an infrared port, a microwave port, or another port capable of receiving or transmitting data or information via electromagnetic radiation carrier waves. [0011] In some embodiments, the exercise program further comprises at least one control signal, the microcontroller controlling the exercise device in response to the at least one control signal. In certain of these embodiments, at least a portion of the at least one control signal is audibly presented by means of an audio output device associated with the exercise device. [0012] According to one embodiment, the console provides audio instructions and/or motivational content regarding how a selected exercise program is to be performed and further provides graphical instructions demonstrating graphically how the selected exercise program is to be performed. In this embodiment, the console includes a display screen that displays graphically a representation of an exerciser demonstrating how an exercise program is to be performed. In this embodiment, the console further provides audio instructions telling the user how to perform the exercise program and further shows the user how to perform the exercise program by showing on the display a representation of an individual performing the exercise program. Further, in this embodiment, the graphical instructions may comprise an animation or a video presentation of an exerciser. In this embodiment, prior to performing an exercise program, the user watches the graphical instructions and/or listens to the audio instruction regarding how to perform the exercise program. [0013] According to certain embodiments of the exercise device of the present invention, the movable element comprises a cable and pulley system. In some embodiments, the resistance assembly comprises an arm movably coupled to the frame and to the cable and pulley system, the arm coupled to at least one resilient member. In these embodiments, the at least one resilient member is a resilient member selected from the group consisting of a shock, an elastic band, and a spring. [0014] Certain embodiments of the exercise device of the present invention further comprise a storage structure associated with the console, the storage structure storing the exercise programming. The storage structure comprises a removable storage structure or non-removable storage structure, wherein the removable storage structure comprises a removable flash memory card, a solid state memory device, or a USB enabled memory device. [0015] According to another embodiment, the console is configured to maintain a record of progress of a user of the exercise device. In certain embodiments, the console provides the record of such progress in a graphical and/or audio form. In some embodiments, the console counts repetitions of a given exercise. In some embodiments, the console counts sets of a given exercise. The console provides the record of such progress on a recurrent basis, which may be provided on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, for example. [0016] According to certain embodiments, the console further comprises at least one output device and at least one input device. In some embodiments, the at least one output device and the at least one input device comprises at least one touch-sensitive visual display. In some embodiments, the at least one output device comprises at least one audio delivery device. [0017] According to another embodiment, the exercise device of the present invention comprises a frame, a movable element operatively coupled to the frame, and a console coupled to the frame and electrically coupled to the movable element. In this embodiment, the console is configured to display a menu structure to enable a user to select an exercise program, wherein the console provides graphical and audio instructions regarding the selected exercise program prior to the user performing the selected exercise program. [0018] According to another embodiment, the exercise device of the present invention comprises at least one element movable during performance of an exercise by an exerciser, and a console electrically coupled to the at least one element and having a microcontroller capable of controlling the at least one element. In this embodiment, the console includes at least one display capable of presenting graphical and audio instructions regarding an exercise program selected from a plurality of exercise programs accessible by the console, the graphical instructions illustrating performance of the exercise program prior to the performance of the exercise by the exerciser. [0019] These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0020] To further clarify the above and other advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: Continue reading about Exercise device with on board personal trainer... Full patent description for Exercise device with on board personal trainer Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Exercise device with on board personal trainer patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Exercise device with on board personal trainer or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Leg exercise apparatus Next Patent Application: Playground equipment Industry Class: Exercise devices ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Exercise device with on board personal trainer patent info. 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