| System for weight loss and improving physical fitness -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
System for weight loss and improving physical fitnessRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, Having Specific Electrical Feature, Equipment Control, Rate Of MovementSystem for weight loss and improving physical fitness description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060183602, System for weight loss and improving physical fitness. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] The present invention relates to a system for improving the physical fitness of a person, thereby reducing excess body fat resulting in long-term weight loss, and a method therefor, and more particularly, the invention relates to a method, system, and software for ascertaining the physical fitness level of a person and devising exercise routines to improve the fitness level of a person based upon that fitness level. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Good health and physical fitness go hand-in-hand. Numerous exercise books and diet programs have been promoted throughout the years to assist persons desiring to improve their physical fitness. Some involve complex formulas which take into account countless variables including percent body fat or bodily dimensions such as the circumference of the waist, arms and legs. Others involve eating and exercise regimens having point systems designed to limit a person's caloric or carbohydrate intake, or balance the consumption of certain food groups. Others involve measuring fitness based on the volume of oxygen consumed while exercising at maximum capacity (sometimes referred to as VO2 max), and then creating exercise workouts that raise the heart rate to between 65 and 85 percent of its maximum for at least 20 minutes three to five times a week. Yet others involve a mix of weight training, aerobic exercise and proper diet. Few work and fewer still are simple to use and easy to implement without the use of elaborate equipment, tedious measurements or complex tables. There is a need for a system to improve a person's physical fitness level that works for all body types. There is a need for a method to improve the physical fitness of a person, which method is easy to use and can be implemented without the need for expensive or specialized equipment, a trip to a gymnasium, or complicated measurements. There is also a need for a standardized method of measuring the physical fitness level of a person. Similarly, there is also a need for a standardized system to measure and provide exercise workouts that allow a person to improve from one fitness level to another. [0003] The present invention provides the solution for a simple system and method to measure and improve the physical fitness of a person. The system of the present invention incorporates years of experience in fitness training and the results of years of testing athletes as well as non-athletes in efficient exercise routines to maintain or improve the fitness level of a person. The present invention provides a standardized method of measuring and improving the physical fitness of a person. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION [0004] The following section of the written description describes some of the objects of the present invention, but the section is not exhaustive of all of invention's objects. [0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a system to measure the baseline physical fitness level of a person and determine timed physical fitness routines to maintain or improve the physical fitness level of that person based upon that person's fitness level. [0006] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for improving the physical fitness of a person by measuring that person's fitness level and prescribing a group of simple exercise routines based upon that fitness level. [0007] It is another object of the present invention to prescribe a group of exercise regimens based upon a person's fitness level wherein each regimen represents at least one timed exercise routine consisting of walking or running. [0008] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a process of measuring a person's fitness level based upon that person's maximum performance level while walking or running for a predetermined period of time not exceeding 10 minutes, and providing a choice of 5 exercise regimens consisting of exercises of varying repetition, each routine within a regimen requiring no more than 10 minutes of continuous walking or running at one time. [0009] It is a further object of the present invention to embody the system and method of measuring and improving the physical fitness level of a person in a simple slide rule. [0010] It is yet another object of the present invention to embody the system and method of measuring and improving the physical fitness level of a person in a portable electronic apparatus. [0011] It is a further object of the present invention to embody the system and method in a treadmill. [0012] It is yet a further object of the present invention to embody the system and method herein in a computer readable medium for application in a personal computer, via a network and a personal digital assistant (PDA). SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0013] Briefly, the present invention provides a system and method for ascertaining and improving the physical fitness of a person wherein the person performs at least one exercise routine consisting of walking or running to determine that person's then existing physical fitness level. Based on that fitness level, the present invention prescribes a variety of timed exercise routines consisting of walking or running for that person to perform. The timed fitness routines typically vary from 1 minute to 10 minutes in duration, and may vary in number of repetitions. The timed exercise routines are organized into regimens. In order to measure the person's fitness level, the person must conduct a fitness test during which any two performance variables from the variables consisting of time, speed and distance are measured. The person should perform the fitness test at substantially that person's maximum performance level for a period of time within a predetermined range of time periods, typically between 1 minute and 10 minutes. [0014] Based on the person's maximum performance during the fitness test stage, the method determines and prescribes a group of exercise regimens. Each regimen consists of at least one timed fitness training routine from a predetermined variety of exercise routines. Depending upon the fitness level of the person, the fitness routines may include walking fast and/or running. The person then selects one exercise regimen from the group and performs that selected regimen. In the preferred embodiment, no single fitness routine within an exercise regimen lasts longer than 10 minutes in duration. Thus, the longest, 10-minute fitness routine is performed once within an exercise regimen. The exercise routines of shorter duration should be repeated several times, increasing in number as the duration of the exercise routine becomes shorter. Accordingly, depending on the selected routine, the person will complete at least 10 minutes of exercise in a training session. The exercise regimens also include rest intervals between each fitness routine as applicable. Hence, an exercise regimen calling for five runs each lasting 5 minutes will also prescribe a 5-minute rest interval between each of the five runs. The method for improving the fitness level of a person includes performance of the predetermined exercise regimen on a regular basis, depending upon the current fitness level of that person and how quickly or aggressively that person seeks to improve his or her fitness level. By repeating and varying which of the predetermined exercise regimens is performed, the person masters a particular fitness level and eventually becomes capable of performing at the next higher fitness level. According to the method of the present invention, a person should perform a predetermined exercise regimen exercise no more than twice a day. Ideally, the person performing the exercise regimens varies the workouts such that same regimen is not performed sequentially. The number of fitness levels is predetermined. That is, in one embodiment there are twenty-one fitness levels beginning with level one and ending at level twenty and including an interim level between level seven and eight. In this exemplary, fitness level one is representative of a beginner and level twenty is representative of a world-class athlete. [0015] The present invention also includes several embodiments. The system may be embodied in a slide rule. [0016] The system may also be embodied in a portable, electronic fitness training device for determining timed fitness training routines based on a person's fitness level. The portable device may be hand-held, designed to be strapped to apparel or shoes, or may be designed to be worn around the arm, wrist, ankle or neck. The device includes a memory for storing user entered data, an operating program and a plurality of user prompts for the operating program. The device also includes a user interface to enable a user to enter data into the memory, and a display to visually display information to the user. A command and control circuit executes the program, performs mathematical calculations, and generates control signals based upon inputted data from the user interface. The command and control circuit is coupled with the user interface and display, and accepts data inputted via the user interface and generates an output to the display based upon the inputted data and execution of the program. The fitness training device prompts a user to input data based upon the two performance variables from the variables consisting of time, speed and distance based upon the user walking or running at substantially his or her maximum performance level for a period of time within a predetermined range of time periods. Based upon the user input, the fitness training device determines a group of exercise regimens each consisting of at least one timed fitness training routine from a predetermined variety of walking or running routines to be performed by the user. The predetermined variety of timed routines are selected based upon the measured performance variables inputted by the user. The device then displays the group of exercise regimens on the display. The portable fitness training device may be programmed to prompt the user to select from among the displayed exercise regimens, in addition to having the capacity to measure a timed fitness training routine during its performance by the user. [0017] The system of the present invention maybe embodied in a computer readable medium including computer instructions for fitness training. The computer instructions include instructions for storing a user's fitness level based upon input from the user, determining exercise regimens consisting of at least one exercise routine from a predetermined group of exercise routines consisting of timed walking and running routines, and displaying the determined exercise regimens. [0018] The system of the present invention may also be embodied in a programmable exercise treadmill. Programmable treadmills are known in the art and include a frame structure having two rotatable pulleys, the pulleys being positioned substantially parallel to each other, and a pair of spaced apart longitudinal frame members for providing longitudinal structural support for said frame structure. The treadmill also includes a motor for rotating at least one of the pulleys, a belt secured over the pulleys so as to move the belt in a longitudinal direction when the pulley is rotated, and a control panel secured to the frame structure. The control panel is operatively connected to a control system. The control system is operatively connected to the motor and is capable of being programmed with instructions for the operation of the treadmill. The control panel includes at least one display and a set of user controls for controlling the treadmill. The programmable exercise treadmill includes programming instructions for the control system. The programming instructions control the operation of the treadmill such that the program prompts a user via the display for a test performance. Upon affirmative input from the user, the program controls the treadmill to perform a test performance. The program then determines timed fitness training routines from a predetermined variety of exercise routines from the group of routines consisting of walking routines and running routines based upon the duration and distance covered during the test performance. The program then instructs the control system to display a group of exercise regimens, each regimen consisting of at least one exercise routine, via the display and prompts the user for input. The user may then select from among the displayed routines to begin a fitness training workout regimen. The programmable treadmill may include additional features. For example, the treadmill may allow for use by multiple users and may store each user's fitness level and exercise history. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing, and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention are shown and described in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments which should be viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: [0020] FIG. 1A diagrammatically illustrates a slide rule embodiment of the system of the present invention used to measure the physical fitness level of a person and determine timed physical fitness routines to maintain or improve the physical fitness level of that person; Continue reading about System for weight loss and improving physical fitness... Full patent description for System for weight loss and improving physical fitness Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this System for weight loss and improving physical fitness 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 System for weight loss and improving physical fitness or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Virtual reality system locomotion interface utilizing a pressure-sensing mat Next Patent Application: Portable device for weight loss and improving physical fitness and method therefor Industry Class: Exercise devices ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the System for weight loss and improving physical fitness patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.14272 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Novartis , Pfizer , Philips , Polaroid , Procter & Gamble , 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
