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Exercise equipment with interactive gaming componentRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, Having Specific Electrical Feature, Monitors Exercise ParameterExercise equipment with interactive gaming component description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070123390, Exercise equipment with interactive gaming component. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/740,477 filed Nov. 29, 2005 by C. E. Mathis, and which is entirely incorporated by reference herein. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to exercise devices and, more particularly to said devices coupled with interactive games. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Physical fitness requires exercise that works the muscles of one's body. Many people prefer to take their exercise in a controlled environment such as indoors where inclement weather or unsuitable location don't interfere. Calisthenics, jazzercise, isometrics, weight lifting, and so on can be very effective forms of exercise, but for many people they tend to be uninteresting and/or too rigorous (e.g., high impact aerobics). In order to maintain interest and incentive for ongoing exercise, and in order to provide indoor equivalents of popular sports, a great variety of exercise machines/devices have been developed for use as fitness/exercise equipment. Examples include treadmills for walking/running, stationary bicycles, stair steppers, elliptical trainers, rowing machines, and many more. [0004] Although the various exercise machines provide variety in forms of exercise activity, some desire more mental stimulation to encourage continued use, or to encourage more effective exercise. Some of this is provided by programmable machines, for example a treadmill that varies the speed and even the slope in order to simulate a cross-country run on varied terrain. [0005] Exercise videos have long been available to lead the exerciser in interesting exercise routines, for example kick boxing. Recently the popularity of video games has been utilized to enhance exercise by requiring concentration for mental stimulation and introducing challenging requirements such as certain exercising actions in response to, or as control inputs for, an interactive video game. [0006] The "Exerstation" by Powergrid Fitness of Laurel, Md. as seen at www.powergridfitness.com is an "isometric home gym fitness machine utilizing ISOCOR.TM. technology (located in the alloy steel tube that connects the controller to the base) which measures how hard the user is pushing and pulling on the controller," thereby using the whole body to play a video game. According to their advertisement: "Push the Exer-station controller in the direction you want your on-screen character to move. Two microprocessors translate the force into actual movement in the game. The harder you push, the faster you go. The Exer-station uses 4 strain gauges to measure forces applied in the X and Y axis. A new manufacturing technique was developed to integrate the sensor array inside the alloy steel tube that supports the controller. Two microprocessors are used to translate the pressure readings into a joystick data stream that is compatible with all major video game consoles. An LCD status display shows total workout time, pounds lifted, and current effort level." Instructions are given for adapting the Exer-station outputs to make suitable video console joystick inputs for a variety of their action games such as car races and the like. [0007] The Cateye Fitness Game Bike is sold online at www.videogamebikes.com by Health Edutainment Corporation of Agoura Hills, Calif. They describe it as follows: "It is a revolutionary plug and play Video Gamebike that fully controls every movement on the screen with your own body movements. Because the Game Bike is designed to serve as the Video Game Controller, when you pedal faster, the Bicycle, Car, Boat or Skier on screen goes faster. Steering the bike's handlebar moves the object in the direction that you are turning. These actions make the game even more realistic than using simply the game's controller. Over 70 Sony Play Station Video Racing Games can be used to with this bike. In addition, you can also purchase for a nominal fee, an adapter which also allows this Game Bike to interface with Game Cube, X Box or a Computer and all of the Video Racing Games that you already own. A wireless video game adapter is also available. If you purchase 2 bikes, then two people can race against each other on screen. The Game Bike has 8 different workload levels. Two sizes are available; one for kids (3'6'' to 5' tall, with a maximum weight of 250 pounds) and one for teens/adults (5' to 6'5'' tall with a maximum weight of 250 pounds)." [0008] As with any form of entertainment, user expectations continue to rise as the user becomes familiar with the current state of the art. An object of the present invention is to push the envelope of game-type exercise equipment by adding inventive features that make the games more interactive and thus more engaging for the user, thereby encouraging significant exercise by making the experience more enjoyable. [0009] Another object is to overcome limitations of the prior art game exercise machines wherein a game console and video display (e.g., television) are required external of the exercise machine. This is cumbersome outside a home environment, especially in a commercial fitness center where many exercise machines are concurrently in use and crowded into a limited area. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] According to the invention, an exercise-game machine, i.e., an exercise machine combined with an interactive game component, comprises: an exercise machine; a display built into the exercise machine; one or more sensors attached to the exercise machine; and a game controller that is electrically connected to the one or more sensors as inputs, and that is electrically connected to the display as an output. [0011] Further according to the invention, the game controller is preferably built into the exercise machine. [0012] Further according to the invention, preferably the one or more sensors are selected from the group consisting of: an exercise rate sensor, an exercise force sensor, an exercise frequency sensor, an exercise repetition counter, a push button, a trigger, a joystick, a steering wheel, a handlebar, a flight stick, a tilt sensor, a keypad, a touch screen, a switch, a sound detector, a temperature sensor, an odor sensor, and a moisture sensor; and also preferably the sensors are integrated into the exercise machine. [0013] According to the invention, the exercise-game machine further comprises one or more actuators that are electrically connected to the game controller as outputs, and that are actuatingly attached to the exercise machine. Preferably the one or more actuators are selected from the group consisting of a vibrator, an impact force actuator, a movement actuator, a heating device, a cooling device, a fan, a speaker, a display screen, an exercise resistance adjuster, a motor, a moisture dispenser and a scent dispenser; and the actuators are integrated into the exercise machine. [0014] According to the invention, the exercise-game machine further comprises: a built-in audio player with suitable speaker/headphone, amplifier, controls, and provisions for loading and unloading removable media, if any. [0015] According to the invention, the exercise-game machine further comprises provisions for temporarily connecting external audio players to a sound system and/or power supply of the exercise-game machine. [0016] According to the invention, the exercise-game machine further comprises a communication connection between the game controller and a network that includes another game controller. [0017] According to the invention, the exercise-game machine further comprises retractable wheels that can be lowered to rollingly support the exercise-game machine, and that can be raised to transfer support to stationary feet. [0018] According to the invention, the exercise-game machine further comprises rollers on one of the front and rear support legs that rollingly support one end of the exercise-game machine while the other of the front and rear support legs provides stationary support such that the stationary support leg must be raised to allow rolling movement of the exercise-game machine. [0019] According to the invention, an exercise-game machine comprises: an exercise machine; an interactive game controller that is built into the exercise machine; and one or more actuators that are actuatingly attached to the exercise machine and electrically connected to the interactive game controller as outputs. [0020] According to the invention, the exercise-game machine further comprises: one or more sensors that are sensingly attached to the exercise machine and electrically connected to the interactive game controller as inputs; wherein the one or more sensors are selected from the group consisting of: an exercise rate sensor, an exercise force sensor, an exercise frequency sensor, an exercise repetition counter, a push button, a trigger, a joystick, a steering wheel, a handlebar, a flight stick, a tilt sensor, a keypad, a touch screen, a switch, a sound detector, a temperature sensor, an odor sensor, and a moisture sensor; and the sensors are integrated into the exercise machine. Continue reading about Exercise equipment with interactive gaming component... 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