Exercise apparatuses, components for exercise apparatuses and related methods

Abstract

Exercise apparatuses, components for exercise apparatuses and related systems and methods are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, an exercise apparatus includes a frame, structure associated with the frame that is moveable relative to the frame in a predefined pattern, a console and at least one display associated with the console. A processor is in communication with the at least one display and controls both an operational parameter of the exercise apparatus and an interactive game. The game may be manipulated, at least in part, based on selective actuation of an input device by a user and, at least in part, by an aspect of an operational parameter of the exercise apparatus. Thus, for example, if an individual is exercising at a high level, as may be exhibited by a speed measurement, the game play may be altered to make the interactive game easier in some manner.

1 . An exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a frame;    structure associated with the frame that is moveable relative to the frame in a predefined pattern;    a console;    at least one display associated with the console;    a primary processor configured to both control at least one operational parameter of the exercise apparatus and to conduct an interactive game using the at least one display.    
     
     
         2 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least a first input device in communication with the primary processor, the at least a first input device being operable by a user to selectively provide instructions to the primary processor regarding the at least one operational parameter of the exercise apparatus.  
     
     
         3 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one operational parameter of the exercise apparatus includes at least one of speed, incline and resistance.  
     
     
         4 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising at least a second input device in communication with the primary processor, the at least a second input device being operable by a user to selectively provide instructions to the primary processor regarding manipulation of at least one aspect of the interactive game.  
     
     
         5 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor in communication with the primary processor configured to determine a current state of the at least one operational parameter of the exercise apparatus.  
     
     
         6 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the primary processor is configured to alter at least one aspect of the interactive game based on information received from the at least one sensor.  
     
     
         7 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the primary processor is configured to control the at least one operational parameter, at least in part, based on at least one aspect of the interactive game.  
     
     
         8 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one actuator in communication with the primary processor, wherein the primary processor controls the at least one operational parameter of the exercise apparatus by providing information to the at least one actuator.  
     
     
         9 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the primary processor and the at least one display are cooperatively configured to selectively display the interactive game and information regarding the at least one operational parameter of the exercise apparatus.  
     
     
         10 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one display is configured as a touch screen.  
     
     
         11 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one display includes at least a first display cooperatively configured with the primary processor to display at least a second display cooperatively configured with the primary processor to display information related to the at least one operational parameter and the interactive game.  
     
     
         12 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the primary processor is configured as a microcontroller.  
     
     
         13 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the primary processor is configured to communicate with at least one removable media device.  
     
     
         14 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second processor in communication with the primary processor.  
     
     
         15 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the second processor is also in communication with the at least one display and wherein the second processor is configured as a video processor.  
     
     
         16 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the structure associated with the frame and moveable relative to the frame in a predefined pattern further includes at least one rotational mechanism and a pair of cranks coupled therewith.  
     
     
         17 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a pair of pedals, each pedal being coupled with an associated one of the pair of cranks.  
     
     
         18 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a pair of foot rails, each foot rails being pivotally coupled an associated one of the pair of cranks.  
     
     
         19 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the structure associated with the frame and moveable relative to the frame in a predefined pattern further includes at least one circuitous belt.  
     
     
         20 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the structure associated with the frame and moveable relative to the frame in a predefined pattern further includes a pair of movable handle bars.  
     
     
         21 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising at least one input device in communication with the primary processor, the at least one input device being operable by a user to selectively provide instructions to the primary processor regarding manipulation of at least one aspect of the interactive game, the at least one input device being physically associated with at least one of the pair of movable handle bars.  
     
     
         22 . An exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a frame;    structure associated with the frame that is moveable relative to the frame in a predefined pattern;    a console;    at least one display associated with the console;    a single processor configured to both control at least one operational parameter of the exercise apparatus and to conduct an interactive game using the at least one display.    
     
     
         23 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the single processor and the at least one display are cooperatively configured to selectively display information regarding the at least one operational parameter of the exercise apparatus and the interactive game.  
     
     
         24 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one display includes at a first display and a second display and wherein the single processor and the first display are cooperatively configured to exhibit the interactive game on the first display and wherein the single processor and the second display are cooperatively configured to display information regarding the at least one operational parameter of the exercise apparatus.  
     
     
         25 . An exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a frame;    structure associated with the frame that is moveable relative to the frame in a predefined pattern;    a console;    at least one display associated with the console;    a single primary processor configured to both control at least one operational parameter of the exercise apparatus and to conduct an interactive game using the at least one display.    
     
     
         26 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising at least one secondary processor in communication with the single primary processor.  
     
     
         27 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one secondary processor includes a video processor in communication with the at least one display.  
     
     
         28 . An exercise apparatus comprising 
 a frame;    structure associated with the frame that is moveable relative to the frame in a predefined pattern;    a console;    at least one display associated with the console;    at least one processor in communication with the at least one display;    at least one sensor in communication with the at least one processor and configured to determine an aspect of at least one operational parameter of the exercise apparatus and provide an input signal to the at least one processor representative of the aspect of the at least one operational parameter; and    at least one game input device selectively actuatable by a user of the exercise apparatus, wherein the at least one game input device is in communication with the at least one processor and configured to provide an input signal to the at least one processor when actuated by a user, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to conduct an interactive game using the at least one display based at least in part on the input signal from the at least one sensor and at least in part on the input signal from the at least one game input device.    
     
     
         29 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control the at least one operational parameter of the exercise apparatus.  
     
     
         30 . A method of operating an exercise apparatus, the method comprising: 
 determining an aspect of at least one operational parameter of the at least one exercise apparatus;    providing a signal to a processor representative of the aspect of the at least one operational parameter;    selectively actuating at least one input device;    providing a signal to the processor representative of the actuation of the at least one input device; and    conducting an interactive game on at least one display of the exercise apparatus based in part on the signal representative of the aspect of the at least one operational parameter and based in part on the signal representative of the actuation of the at least one input device.    
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein the aspect of at least one operational parameter includes a current speed of operation of a cyclical mechanism of the exercise apparatus.  
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 30 , further comprising selectively displaying information regarding the aspect of the at least one operational parameter and the interactive game on the at least one display of the exercise apparatus.  
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 30 , further comprising configuring at the exercise apparatus as at least one of an elliptical trainer, a stationary bike and a treadmill.  
     
     
         34 . A console for an exercise apparatus comprising: 
 at least one function key configured to control an operational feature of an exercise apparatus;    at least one display; and    at least one processor in communication with the at least one function key and the at least one display, wherein the at least one processor is configured to conduct an interactive game using the at least one display.    
     
     
         35 . An exercise apparatus comprising: 
 a frame;    structure associated with the frame that is moveable relative to the frame in a predefined pattern;    a console;    at least one input device configured to control an operational feature of an exercise apparatus;    at least one display associated with the console; and    at least one processor associated with the console, the at least one processor being in communication with the at least one input device and the at least one display, wherein the at least one processor is configured to conduct an interactive game using the at least one display.