Exercise Device Having Communication Linkage For Connection With External Computing Device

Abstract

In general, the present invention relates to exercise devices that lack, in whole or in part, a console. For example, an exercise device of the present invention may lack display screens and/or user input controls that selectively adjust an operating parameter of the exercise device. A console interface, or the portions of a console interface that are absent from an exercise device of the present invention may be provided by an external computing device that is communicatively connected to the exercise device. The external computing device may be individually and selectively connected to multiple exercise devices to as to provide a display screen and user input controls to a number of different exercise devices.

1 . An exercise device comprising:
 a frame;   a console attached to the frame, the console lacking display screens;   a mounting structure attached to the frame, wherein an external computing device can be selectively secured to the mounting structure;   a communication linkage that selectively and communicatively connects the console with the external computing device; and   a selectively adjustable actuator that adjusts one or more operating parameters of the exercise device and that is communicatively connected to the communication linkage, wherein the selectively adjustable actuator receives control commands from the external computing device via the communication linkage when the external computing device is communicatively connected to the console and secured to the mounting structure.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the console further lacks user input controls that cause the selectively adjustable actuator to adjust the one or more operating parameters of the exercise device. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the exercise device is communicatively connectable to the external computing device via a wired communication linkage. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise device of  claim 3 , wherein the wired communication linkage comprises a USB port. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the exercise device is communicatively connectable to the external computing device via a wireless communication linkage. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise device of  claim 5 , wherein the wireless communication linkage comprises either a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi wireless transmitter. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting structure selectively secures the external computing device through a gravitational attachment. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting structure includes either a magnet or a bracket, which assists in selectively securing the external computing device to the mounting structure. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the selectively adjustable actuator is a fan motor. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the exercise device is a treadmill and the selectively adjustable actuator is a belt motor. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the exercise device is either an elliptical machine or an exercise bike and the selectively adjustable actuator is a brake. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein data relating to an exercise being performed on the exercise device is sent to the external computing device via the communication linkage when the external computing device is communicatively connected to the console. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise device of  claim 12 , wherein the data sent to the external computing device via the communication linkage comprises cadence information, stride length information, or user weight information. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the console includes electronics which modify the control commands received through the communication linkage. 
     
     
         15 . An exercise system comprising:
 a first exercise device having:
 a first actuator that adjusts one or more operating parameters of the first exercise device; and 
 a first console lacking user input controls that cause the first actuator to selectively adjust the one or more operating parameters of the first exercise device; 
   a second exercise device having:
 a second actuator that adjusts one or more operating parameters of the second exercise device; and 
 a second console lacking user input controls that cause the second actuator to selectively adjust the one or more operating parameters of the second exercise device; and 
   an external computing device individually and selectively mountable on each of the first and second exercise devices and individually communicatively connectable to each of the first and second exercise devices, the external computing device having user input controls that cause the first actuator to adjust the one or more operating parameters of the first exercise device when the external computing device is communicatively connected to the first exercise device and that cause the second actuator to adjust the one or more operating parameters of the second exercise device when the external computing device is communicatively connected to the second exercise device.   
     
     
         16 . The exercise device of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second consoles each further lack display screens. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise device of  claim 16 , wherein the external computing device comprises a display screen that displays information related to an exercise being performed on the first exercise device when the first exercise device is communicatively connected to the external computing device and displays information related to an exercise being performed on the second exercise device when the second exercise device is communicatively connected to the external computing device. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise device of  claim 17 , wherein the external computing device is a telephone. 
     
     
         19 . A method for controlling an exercise device, the method comprising:
 loading console interface software onto an external computing device, the external computing device having a display and one or more user input controls;   initiating the console interface software on the external computing device;   establishing a communication link between the external computing device and an exercise device having a selectively adjustable actuator;   securing the external computing device to the exercise device; and   adjusting the selectively adjustable actuator in response to inputs received via the user input controls on the external computing device.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of displaying on the external computing device data relating to an exercise being performed on the exercise device.