Exercise apparatus and method for tracking number of steps

Abstract

Disclosed is an exercise apparatus for use in accurately and automatically tracking number of steps taken by a user both on and off of an exercise machine. The apparatus comprises a step counter such as a pedometer for counting number of steps taken by a user, the step counter continually counting cumulative number of steps taken in a given time period both while the user is on and off of the exercise machine, the step counter having a first communication means for periodically communicating the current cumulative step count to a console of an exercise machine while the user uses the exercise machine; and, the console comprising, a second communication means for receiving the current cumulative number of steps from the step counter while the user uses the exercise machine. The apparatus may further comprise a data processor, a display and a memory means.

1 . An exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a. a step counter for continually counting a cumulative number of steps taken by a user throughout a period of time both while the user is on and off of an exercise machine, the step counter comprising a first communication means for periodically communicating a current value of the cumulative number of steps taken by the user to a console of the exercise machine while the user is on the exercise machine; and,    b. the console comprising, a second communication means for periodically receiving the current cumulative number of steps from the step counter while the user uses the exercise machine.    
   
   
       2 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the step counter comprises an accelerometer to determine step count.  
   
   
       3 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the exercise machine is selected from the group consisting of a treadmill and an elliptical trainer.  
   
   
       4 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein communication between the first and second communication means is wireless.  
   
   
       5 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the console further comprises a display.  
   
   
       6 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the console further comprises memory means for storing historical user data.  
   
   
       7 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the step counter further comprises memory means for storing historical user data.  
   
   
       8 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising memory means for storing historical user data comprising the cumulative number of steps taken by the user by time period.  
   
   
       9 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the console further comprises a third communication means for communicating with the memory means.  
   
   
       10 . An exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a. a step counter for continually counting a cumulative number of steps taken by a user throughout a period of time both while the user is on and off of an exercise machine, the step counter comprising a first communication means for periodically communicating a current value of the cumulative number of steps taken by the user to a console of the exercise machine while the user is on the exercise machine; and,    b. the console comprising, 
 i. a second communication means for periodically receiving the current cumulative number of steps from the step counter while the user uses the exercise machine; and,  
 ii. a data processor for calculating a current remainder number of steps yet to be taken as a difference between the current cumulative number of steps taken and a goal number of steps; and,  
 iii. a display for displaying the remainder number of steps.  
   
   
   
       11 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the step counter comprises an accelerometer to determine step count.  
   
   
       12 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the exercise machine is selected from the group consisting of a treadmill and an elliptical trainer.  
   
   
       13 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein communication between the first and second communication means is wireless.  
   
   
       14 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first communication means further communicates the goal number of steps to the console.  
   
   
       15 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the goal number of steps is input to the console.  
   
   
       16 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the console further comprises memory means for storing historical user data comprising the cumulative number of steps taken by the user by time period.  
   
   
       17 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the step counter further comprises memory means for storing historical user data comprising the cumulative number of steps taken by the user by time period.  
   
   
       18 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising memory means for storing historical user data comprising the cumulative number of steps taken by the user by time period.  
   
   
       19 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the console further comprises a third communication means for communicating with the memory means.  
   
   
       20 . An exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a. a step counter for continually counting a cumulative number of steps taken by a user throughout a period of time both while the user is on and off of an exercise machine, the step counter comprising a first communication means for periodically communicating a current value of the cumulative number of steps taken by the user to a console of the exercise machine while the user is on the exercise machine; and,    b. the console comprising, 
 i. a second communication means for periodically receiving the current cumulative number of steps from the step counter while the user uses the exercise machine; and,  
 ii. a display; and,  
 iii. a memory means for storing historical user data comprising the cumulative number of steps taken by the user by time period.  
   
   
   
       21 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the step counter comprises an accelerometer to determine step count.  
   
   
       22 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the exercise machine is selected from the group consisting of a treadmill and an elliptical trainer.  
   
   
       23 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein communication between the first and second communication means is wireless.  
   
   
       24 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein communication between the first and second communication means is wired.  
   
   
       25 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the console further comprises a data processor.  
   
   
       26 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the data processor retrieves the historical user data from the memory means and transforms said historical user data into a log format, and wherein the display displays the log-formatted historical user data.  
   
   
       27 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the data processor calculates progress toward a goal number of steps.  
   
   
       28 . An exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a. a step counter for continually counting a cumulative number of steps taken by a user throughout a period of time both while the user is on and off of an exercise machine, the step counter comprising a first communication means for periodically communicating a current value of the cumulative number of steps taken by the user to a console of the exercise machine while the user is on the exercise machine;    b. a memory means for storing historical user data comprising the cumulative number of steps taken by the user by time period; and,    c. the console comprising, 
 i. a second communication means for periodically receiving the current cumulative number of steps from the step counter while the user uses the exercise machine;  
 ii. a third communication means for communicating the cumulative number of steps to the memory means; and,  
 iii. a display.  
   
   
   
       29 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the historical user data comprises the cumulative number of steps taken by the user by time period.  
   
   
       30 . An exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a. a step counter for continually counting a cumulative number of steps taken by a user throughout a period of time both while the user is on and off of an exercise machine, the step counter comprising, 
 i. a first communication means for periodically communicating a current value of the cumulative number of steps taken by the user to a console of the exercise machine while the user is on the exercise machine;  
 ii. a memory means for storing historical user data comprising the cumulative number of steps taken by the user by time period; and,  
   b. the console comprising, 
 i. a second communication means for periodically receiving the current cumulative number of steps from the step counter while the user uses the exercise machine; and,  
 ii. a display.  
   
   
   
       31 . A method for tracking number of steps taken, comprising: 
 a. providing an exercise apparatus, comprising, 
 i. a step counter for counting a cumulative number of steps taken by a user during a time period, the step counter comprising a first communication means for communicating the cumulative number of steps taken by the user to a console of an exercise machine; and,  
 ii. the console in communication with the step counter while the user uses the exercise machine and comprising a second communication means for receiving the cumulative number of steps from the step counter;  
   b. at commencement of using the exercise machine, initiating communication between the step counter and the console; and,    c. exercising.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the console further comprises a data processor.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the console further comprises memory means for storing historical user data comprising the cumulative number of steps taken by the user by time period.