Apparatus for recording exercise data of a weight-stack machine

Abstract

An apparatus includes a measurement unit configured to measure exercise data as a result of an exercise performed on a weight-stack machine. The measurement unit includes a plurality of sub-measurement units. Each of the plurality of sub-measurement units comprises a proximity sensor. The proximity sensor is configured to detect presence of a nearby object. Each of the plurality of sub-measurement units is coupled to one of the plurality of weight plates in the weight-stack machine. When the person selects an amount of weights to exercise, presence of a selection means is detected by the proximity sensor in one of the plurality of sub-measurement units and, as a result, the measurement unit is capable of determining the amount of weights with which the person exercises.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a measurement unit configured to measure exercise data as a result of an exercise performed on a weight-stack machine,
 wherein the measurement unit comprises a plurality of sub-measurement units, 
 wherein each of the plurality of sub-measurement units comprises a proximity sensor, 
 wherein the proximity sensor is configured to detect presence of a nearby object, 
 wherein each of the plurality of sub-measurement units is coupled to one of the plurality of weight plates in the weight-stack machine, and 
 wherein, when a person selects an amount of weights to exercise, presence of a selection means is detected by the proximity sensor in one of the plurality of sub-measurement units and, as a result, the measurement unit is capable of determining the amount of weights with which the person exercises. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the proximity sensor comprises an emitter and a receiver,   wherein the emitter produces radiation that is to be detected by the receiver,   wherein the first sub-measurement unit and the last sub-measurement unit are coupled to another one of the plurality of sub-measurement units,   wherein each of the other sub-measurement units is coupled to two of the plurality of sub-measurement units,   wherein each of the plurality of sub-measurement units comprises a mechanism,   wherein the mechanism of the first sub-measurement unit is configured to receive signals as first-type input signals from output signals of the receiver of the first sub-measurement unit and to produce signals as output signals which are transmitted to the mechanism of the second sub-measurement unit,   wherein the mechanism of the last sub-measurement unit is configured to receive signals as the first-type input signals from output signals of the receiver of the last sub-measurement unit and signals as second-type input signals from output signals of the mechanism of the second to the last sub-measurement unit, and to produce signals as output signals which are transmitted to a processor, and   wherein the mechanism of each of the other sub-measurement units is configured to receive signals as the first-type input signals from output signals of the receiver of the sub-measurement unit and signals as the second-type input signals from output signals of the mechanism of the preceding sub-measurement unit, and to produce signals as output signals which are transmitted to the mechanism of the subsequent sub-measurement unit.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the output signals produced by the mechanism of the last sub-measurement unit comprise amounts of weights with which the person exercises on the weight-stack machine, and   wherein the exercise data comprise the amounts of weights.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the emitter comprises an infrared light emitter, and wherein the receiver comprises an infrared light receiver. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the proximity sensor comprises a capacitive sensor, an inductive sensor, a magnetic sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or another type of sensor. 
     
     
         6 . A system, comprising:
 a measurement unit configured to measure exercise data as a result of an exercise performed on a weight-stack machine,
 wherein the weight-stack machine comprises
 a plurality of weight plates, wherein each of the plurality of weight plates has a substantially vertical hole, wherein each of the plurality of weight plates has a transversal hole, and wherein, when the plurality of weight plates are aligned and stacked, a hollow channel is formed within the plurality of weight plates; 
 a stem, wherein the stem is housed within the hollow channel, wherein the stem has a plurality of transversal holes, and wherein the transversal hole in each of the plurality of weight plates aligns with one of the plurality of transversal holes in the stem such that a plurality of transversal channels are formed; and 
 a selection pin, wherein, when a person who exercises on the weight-stack machine desires to exercise on a certain amount of weights, the selection pin is inserted into one of the plurality of transversal channels such that, when the person applies force, the desired amount of weights is lifted through the stem; 
 
 wherein the measurement unit comprises a plurality of sub-measurement units, 
 wherein each of the plurality of sub-measurement units comprises an emitter and a receiver, 
 wherein the emitter produces radiation that is to be detected by the receiver, 
 wherein each of the plurality of transversal holes in the stem is coupled to one of the plurality of sub-measurement units, 
 wherein the emitter produces radiation which travels across the coupled transversal hole in the stem and is detected by the coupled receiver, and 
 wherein, when the person desires to exercise on a certain amount of weights such that the selection pin is inserted into one of the plurality of transversal channels, optical path of the radiation produced by the emitter corresponding to the transversal channel is blocked, the coupled receiver is not able to detect the radiation and, as a result, the measurement unit is capable of determining the amount of weights with which the person exercises. 
   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the emitter comprises an infrared light emitter, and wherein the receiver comprises an infrared light receiver. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the receiver comprises a capacitive sensor, an inductive sensor, a magnetic sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or another type of sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the emitter and the receiver are positioned opposite to each other across one of the plurality of the transversal holes in the stem. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the measurement unit further comprises an accelerometer configured to measure numbers of repetition the person performs for each set on a certain amount of weights, numbers of sets, and lengths of rest periods between two consecutive sets. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the exercise data comprise the amounts of weight the person exercised, numbers of repetition the person performed for each set for a certain amount of weights, numbers of sets, lengths of rest periods between two consecutive sets, specific settings, another type of data, or any combination thereof, and   wherein the specific settings comprise seat heights or orientations when the person exercised on an adjustable weight-stack machine.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a signal receiving device configured to receive signals, wherein the signals represent identification information of the person who exercises on the weight-stack machine,   a processor configured to process the signals, the exercise data, and information associated with the weight-stack machine;   a memory configured to store the signals, the exercise data, and the information associated with the weight-stack machine; and   a communication device configured to transmit the signals, the exercise data, and the information associated with the weight-stack machine to a server, a device, or both.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the measurement unit, the signal receiving device, the processor, the memory, and the communication device are located in the weight-stack machine. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 ,
 wherein the processor comprises a microcontroller,   wherein the signal receiving device comprise a Bluetooth networking device, an IEEE 802.15.4 networking device, a Cellular networking device, or another type of short range wireless communication device, and   wherein the communication device comprises a Wi-Fi device, an IEEE 802.15.4 device, or another type of wireless communication device.   
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising:
 inserting a selection pin into one of a plurality of transversal channels of a weight-stack machine to select a certain amount of weights with which a person is to exercise,
 wherein the weight-stack machine comprises 
 a plurality of weight plates, wherein each of the plurality of weight plates has a substantially vertical hole, wherein each of the plurality of weight plates has a transversal hole, and wherein, when the plurality of weight plates are aligned and stacked, a vertical channel is formed within the plurality of weight plates; and 
 a stem, wherein the stem is housed within the vertical channel, wherein the stem has a plurality of transversal holes, and wherein the transversal hole in each of the plurality of weight plates aligns with one of the plurality of transversal holes in the stem such that the plurality of transversal channels are formed; and 
   performing exercises on the weight-stack machine such that the desired amount of weights is lifted through the stem,
 wherein exercise data are measured by a measurement unit, 
 wherein the measurement unit comprises a plurality of sub-measurement units, 
 wherein each of the plurality of sub-measurement units comprises a proximity sensor, 
 wherein each of the plurality of transversal holes in the bar is coupled to one of the plurality of sub-measurement units, 
 wherein the proximity sensor is configured to detect presence of a nearby object, and 
 wherein, when the person exercises, presence of a selection means is detected by the proximity sensor in one of the plurality of sub-measurement units and, as a result, the measurement unit is capable of determining the amount of weights with which the person exercises. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 ,
 wherein the proximity sensor comprises an emitter and a receiver,   wherein the emitter produces radiation that is to be detected by the receiver,   wherein the emitter comprises an infrared light emitter, and   wherein the receiver comprises an infrared light receiver.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the measurement unit further comprises an accelerometer configured to measure numbers of repetition for each set for a certain amount of weights with which the person performed, numbers of sets, and lengths of rest periods between two consecutive sets. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 ,
 wherein the exercise data comprise the amounts of weight the person exercised, numbers of repetition for each set for a certain amount of weights with which the person performed, numbers of sets, lengths of rest periods between two consecutive sets, specific settings, another type of data, or any combination thereof, and   wherein the specific settings comprise seat heights or orientations when the person performed an exercise on an adjustable weightstack machine.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 ,
 wherein signals representing identification information of the person who exercises on the weight-stack machine are detected by a signal receiving device,   wherein the signals, the exercise data, and information associated with the weight-stack machine are processed by a processor,   wherein the signals, the exercise data, and the information associated with the weight-stack machine are stored in a memory,   wherein the signals, the exercise data, and the information associated with the weight-stack machine are transmitted to a server, a device, or both, and   wherein the measurement unit, the signal receiving device, the processor, the memory, and the communication device are located in the weight-stack machine.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 ,
 wherein the processor comprises a microcontroller,   wherein the signal receiving device comprise a Bluetooth networking device, an IEEE 802.15.4 networking device, a Cellular networking device, or another type of short range wireless communication device, and   wherein the communication device comprises a Wi-Fi device, an IEEE 802.15.4 device, or another type of wireless communication device.