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Measuring deviceRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, User Manipulated Force Resisting Apparatus, Component Thereof, Or Accessory Therefor, Utilizing Weight Resistance, Including Stationary Support For Weight, Having Guide Around Or Through Weight, And Flexible Force Transmitting Linkage ElementMeasuring device description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060234842, Measuring device. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of PCT Patent Application No. PCT/JP2005/000361 filed on Jan. 14, 2005, which claims priority to Japan Patent Application No. 2004-008947 filed on Jan. 16, 2004. The entire disclosures of PCT Patent Application No. PCT/JP2005/000361 and Japan Patent Application No. 2004-008947 are hereby incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a measuring device for a training device. [0004] 2. Background Information [0005] Some training devices comprise a measuring device for measuring the exercise state of a trainee. For example, a conventional training device is known which comprises a measuring unit for counting the number of weights a trainee lifts and the number of times that he/she lifts them. The number of weights and the number of times the weights are lifted are counted with the measuring unit that is arranged in the training device, by means of a detecting unit that is arranged in each weight, and a plurality of detected units, which face the detecting units and are arranged in the main body of the training device. When a trainee lifts the weights, each of the detecting units in the weights being lifted passes in front of each of the detected units of the main body. The measuring unit counts the number of the detecting units that pass in front of the detected units, and the number of times that these units pass by, and displays to the trainee the total amount of weight he/she is using and the number of times that he/she lifts them. [0006] However, in order to perform this measurement with the abovementioned measuring unit, it is necessary to build a plurality of detecting units and detected units corresponding to the number of weights into a training device. Consequently, many more detecting units and detected units will be required to apply the above-described measuring unit to a variety of training devices, which makes their structures more complicated. In addition, in a training machine which has the above-described structure, a measuring unit is preliminarily built into the training machine. Therefore, if a fitness center and the like would like to introduce a training device that has a measuring unit, they will have to purchase a new training device, which will impose a heavy cost burden on them. [0007] In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved measuring device, which can be easily attached to an existing training device afterward, and which can measure a plurality of weights with a simple structure. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] To solve the abovementioned problems, a first aspect of the present invention provides a measuring device for a training device including a weight, an elongated member that is connected to one end of the weight, and a load generating unit for moving the weight upwards by moving the other end of the elongated member. The measuring device comprises a position detecting unit for detecting the position of the weight; a load detecting unit for detecting a load that is applied to the elongated member; and a display unit for displaying report data based on the detection data obtained by the position detecting unit and the load detecting unit. Each of the position detecting unit, the load detecting unit, and the display unit has an attachment portion which allows each unit to be detached from the training device. [0009] Here, the elongated member includes an elongated thin object such as a wire, an object that is flat in cross-section such as a belt, or the like, so long as it is flexible and extends from the load generating unit to the weight. [0010] The weight is connected to the elongated member, and the load generating unit moves the weight in conjunction with movements of the other end of the elongated which a trainee moves. A load is applied to the elongated member by the weight, and a trainee exercises by using the load applied to the elongated member. Take as an example a training device that has a weight connected to one end of the elongated member, and has a moving portion such as a pedal, a handle, a bar, and the like at the other end of the elongated member. With this training device, a trainee exercises by applying force to the moving portion so as to change the position of the moving portion. A position detecting unit, a load detecting unit, and a display unit that comprise a measuring device can be attached to a training device by means of the attachment portion, and allow a trainee to see report data based on the position of the weight and the load applied to the elongated member during his/her exercise. The report data may include the position of the weight, the number of the movements of the weight, the movement distance of the weight from an initial state, the acceleration of the weight, the load applied to the elongated member, the mass of the weight, and the like, for example. Therefore, a trainee can see his/her exercise status during an exercise. [0011] A second aspect of the present invention provides a measuring device according to the first aspect, further comprising a reflecting unit for reflecting light, which is arranged on the upper surface of the weight, wherein the position detecting unit has a light emitting portion for emitting light to the reflecting unit, and a light receiving portion for receiving reflected light from the reflecting unit. [0012] The reflecting unit is provided on the top surface of the weight, and light is emitted from the light emitting portion toward the reflecting unit. Then, the reflected light which is reflected at the reflecting unit is received by the light receiving portion. The position of a spot of the reflected light received on the light receiving portion changes depending on the distance between the light emitting portion and the reflecting unit. The position of the weight having the reflecting unit can be calculated by measuring the change in the position of the spot. [0013] A third aspect of the present invention provides a measuring device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the load detecting unit can be attached to the elongated member, and has a distortion receiving portion for receiving the tension applied to the elongated member, and a distortion measuring portion for measuring the distortion of the distortion receiving portion. [0014] The distortion receiving unit provided for the elongated member is distorted in accordance with the amount of tension applied to the elongated member by the weight. A tension applied to the elongated member can be measured by measuring the distortion of the distortion measuring portion. Then, a load applied to the elongated member can be detected based on the tension. [0015] A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a measuring device according to any of the first to third aspects, further comprising a data processing unit for performing data processing in order to display report data on the display unit, based on detected data obtained by the load detecting unit and the position detecting unit, wherein the data processing unit has a position monitoring unit for monitoring changes in the position of the weight based on the detected data detected by the position detecting unit, a load monitoring unit for monitoring changes in a load based on the detected data detected by the load detecting unit, and a mass calculation unit for calculating the mass of the weight based on the changes in the position of the weight and the changes in the load. [0016] In the above-described training device, the weight is connected to the elongated member, and the position of the weight changes depending on the movement of the other end of the elongated member. In addition, the load is applied to the elongated member by the weight. The position monitoring unit of the measuring device monitors changes in the position of the weight. A change in the position of the weight means that the weight is moving or is stopped. Specifically, a change in the movement distance of the weight from the initial state, a change in the movement speed of the weight, a change in acceleration, and the like are cited as examples. Furthermore, the load monitoring unit monitors the load which is applied to the elongated member by the weight. The load F applied to the elongated member is represented by the following formula (1). F=m.times..alpha.+m.times.g (1) [0017] Here, F is the load applied to the pedal 5, m is the mass of the weight connected to the pedal 5, .alpha. is the acceleration of the weight, and g is the acceleration due to gravity. [0018] The position of the weight changes in accordance with movements of the other end of the elongated member, and the load applied to the elongated member changes in accordance with a change in the acceleration .alpha.. When the weight is stopped, F is nearly equal to mg (F.apprxeq.mg) because the acceleration .alpha. is nearly equal to 0 (.alpha..apprxeq.0). [0019] Here, the load F includes a dynamic load Fa and a static load Fs. The dynamic load Fa is the load that is applied to the elongated member when the position of the weight is changing, and the weight is moving with acceleration. The dynamic load Fa is represented as F=m.times..alpha.+m.times.g (.alpha..noteq.0) based on the above-described formula (1). In contrast, the static load Fs is the load that is applied to the elongated member when the weight is stopped, or when the weight is moving at a constant speed (acceleration .alpha. of the weight.apprxeq.0), which is represented as F.apprxeq.mg. Then, the mass calculating unit calculates the mass of the weight, based on the changes in the position of the weight and the load applied to the elongated member. In other words, the acceleration .alpha. of the weight is monitored based on the changes in the position of the weights, and the mass of the weight is calculated based on the load that is applied to the elongated member when the weights are stopped and the acceleration .alpha. of the weight is nearly equal to 0 (.alpha..apprxeq.0). Alternatively, the mass of the weight is calculated based on the acceleration .alpha. of the weight which is detected when the weight is moving according to the above-described formula (1). [0020] As described above, the measuring device according to the present invention can calculate the mass of the stopped weight and display the above-mentioned data on the display unit as well as detect the load which is applied to the elongated member. When the weight is moving, the load being lifted by the trainee is displayed. For example, the more the weight is moved vigorously, the larger the displayed value of the load will become. Consequently, this gives a trainee incentive to work out. In addition, when the weight is stopped, the mass of the weight is displayed. Therefore, the measuring device provides excellent operability in that a trainee does not have to look at the weight itself as he/she does with a conventional weight training machine, and a trainee can easily check the mass of the weight which is being used at present, the number of times he/she performed a movement in a work out, and the like by just looking at the display while maintaining his/her training position. [0021] A fifth aspect of the present invention provides a measuring device according to the fourth aspect, wherein the mass calculation unit calculates the mass of the weight based on a load detected by the load monitoring unit, and displays the mass on the display unit when the position monitoring unit detects that the weight has stopped after movement of the weight. Continue reading about Measuring device... Full patent description for Measuring device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Measuring device 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. 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