DE19641202A1 - Fitness training system with computer control and display - Google Patents

Abstract

In existing fitness apparatus to strengthen the heart circulatory system or specific muscle groups the user is fully aware of every single movement of his or her body as well as of his or her physical effort focusing fully on the latter. The fitness apparatus disclosed by the invention seeks to divert the concentration of the subject to the mastering of a computer game thereby purposely distracting him or her from the straining physical effort. A hard and boring training session becomes an entertaining game session. Several individual hard exercises can be performed from one chosen basic position of the body. For instance, in the case of the computer game Tetris, four individual physical exercises would be required. When a physical exercise is carried out a sensor emits an electric impulse that is passed on to a computer and used to control a digital computer game (e. g. Tetris). The pressing of a key in the computer keyboard is equivalent here to a physical exercise such as bending the knees and stretching them out again by overcoming a force of around 600 Newton.

Description

There are a variety of fitness equipment mainly for Strengthening the cardiovascular system and muscles or of special muscle groups. When using this Devices, you are fully focused on every effort and every effort is fully conscious of the actor. It is known that physical exertion when in Take place as part of a game, much easier for the actors fall because the whole concentration (consciousness) on the game and the essential game element (e.g. the Ball) and only after the end of the game Exhaustion (with the mental conclusion that a great physical exertion must have taken place knows is perceived.

One speaks of "hard training" (inter alia also under use extension of fitness equipment or of apparatuses that are used as loading components of fitness equipment are known) and of "Joy of the game", the physical exertion (per unit of time) usually still far within the scope of a game above that of the training.

Exactly this human peculiarity is Sports game device according to claim 1, 2 and 3 used. The hard fitness training becomes one Fitness training that is fun and perceived as entertaining that will.

Many computer games such as B. also Tetris simultaneously by two people in the form of a competition contest. With two devices according to claim 1, 2 and 3 this is of course also possible.

Since the force resistors are designed to be variably adjustable can be the device for the game on egg ne certain pulse frequency, which is for the exercise inks tity is set. This makes it a fair one Competition between players with the most varied  physical requirements with equal chances of winning possible.

The patent applicant is not playing with a strong body the same chances of winning z. B. between a father and known to his ten-year-old daughter.

This effect and possibility with an emphasis is not on fitness but on playful competition intended with the fitness or sports game device.

Since between different muscle groups (in the execution example game there are four) constantly changing and thus again and again these muscle groups are at rest for a short time a high load intensity (represented by the Pulse rate) possible over a long period of time. Better than e.g. B. in the widespread fitness equipment after Bicycle principle or the treadmills.

An embodiment of the invention is as follows described The computer game Tetris was chosen, which with four different buttons is controlled. This will be assigned to four different body movement cycles:

• - cycle AS. Arms from the angled home position Extend forward with force and start again keln. (With the oil chosen as force resistors pressure - damping cylinders is at the return about 10 to 15% of the force needed in the main direction. That would be the case when bending the arms.)
• - cycle AB. Extend your arms to the side and under About Bend the winding of the force resistance again, d. H. on angle.
• - cycle BS. Legs from the extended basic posture angle and stretch again under force.  
• - BH cycle. Legs stretched against the Raise and lower gravity.

The embodiment shown in the drawings is by further (not generally necessary) optio coined:

• - The device should also be seating, e.g. B. the chair in front of the computer. Suitable as a home device for smaller apartments as there is no additional one Space is necessary. Or if visibility a fitness device is not desired.
• - The actions with the device are aimed at the spine do not strain.

On page 10 ( Fig. 1), the basic body posture is Darge, from which each movement cycle is started and then returned again.

On page 12-top ( Fig. 4) the device is shown without a side cover, where no further measures regarding the operational readiness have taken place. The inclination of the backrest in relation to the vertical is 15 degrees when at rest.

The device is designed in such a way that readiness for operation can be achieved in the shortest possible time by folding, turning and spring-loaded latches. Only the foot pedals ( 2 ) on page 14 [ Fig. 8] have to be removed from under the seat and inserted into the corresponding holder at the top of the leg extension device.

Page 12-bottom ( Fig. 5) shows, among other things, a tilting of the entire chair forward by 10 degrees. This is to ensure that the resulting force from the effective body weight and the counterforce due to the leg extension points approximately vertically into the backrest in the area of the pelvis. Together with the stronger upholstery there, these forces are fully absorbed by the pelvis of the body and do not strain the spine.

In the operating state, the backrest is turned a further 30 degrees backwards so that the angle between the straight legs (seat level) and the backbone is 135 degrees. Smaller angles would hamper the free development of leg extension and elevation.

On page 13 ( Fig. 6 and Fig. 7) the device for arm movements is shown in isolation.

(1) shows the position of the sensors for the motion sensor Generation and pulse generation of the AB, AS and BH cycles.

(2) is the device which, by folding about 110 degrees, allows the "chair" to be tilted by 10 degrees. The arm levers ( 8 ) are in this view in the position "arms extended laterally" within the movement cycle AB. The associated two oil pressure damping cylinders ( 3 ) are firmly connected to each other - in the central plane of the device. The force resistance is effective when the movable rods ( 5 ) are inserted into the cylinder, in contrast to all other cylinders, where the decisive work has to be done when pulling them out. The rods of the damping cylinder ( 4 ) for AS are firmly coupled to the cylinders for AB. This takes advantage of the fact that the rod of a cylinder can always rotate freely in it. As a result, the cylinders from AB always have the same lateral direction to the plane formed by the cylinders for AS.

The lower axis ( 6 ) rotates in the chair frame and is always in the level of the arm levers, which - as far as the movement in the sense of cycle AS is concerned - are therefore always synchronous.

Joints are located at ( 7 ). They only allow rotations on one level.

annotation

The device allows another cycle of movement, d. H. another muscle group could be stressed. poor Extend sideways, your arms stretched under force exercise (the combination of the force resistances of AB and AS) in front of the body and bend it again. Consequently would also be a computer with this embodiment  game that needs five different impulses, controllable. This would only add an additional requirement to the Sensor circuit mean.

Would you then in a modification the leg extension zy Remove the clusters and use z. B. a core flexion cycle (Backrest is already rotatable. Only coupling the Body to the backrest z. B. with a strap and on replacement of a force resistor), that would be it modified device is also good for many wheelchair users is suitable for a cardiovascular training from their special often need a lot of feelings.

On page 14 ( Fig. 8 and Fig. 9) the device for the cycle BS and BH is shown in isolation.

The rotatable mounting in ( 3 ) and the cushioning ( 1 ) when lowering the straight legs are decisive for the BH leg lifting cycle. The feet sit in pedals rotatable about an axis ( 2 ) and are z. B. fastened by tapes with Velcro there.

For leg extension is in a "<normal" adult about a play of 500 mm (510 mm are in the Drawing shown on page 30) necessary.

A damping cylinder always allows movement play space of about 60% of its total length. For 600 mm length (This is the length of the "<chair interior" of the execution for example. A 600 mm long cylinder would be straight could still be accommodated.) would only be a freedom of movement given by 360 mm.

For this reason, two cylinders ( 7 ) (each 530 mm in length) must be moderately "connected in series". This is realized by the elements ( 4 ) (fixed connection with the lower cylinder. The upper cylinder slidably guided in four rollers.) And 4 a (upper cylinder firmly connected to the movable rod ( 7 a) of the lower damping cylinder).

The coil springs ( 8 ) are used to quickly return to the state of the leg angle by serving to overcome the "return force" of the damping cylinder (10 to 15% of the main force).

For those not related to their force-displacement ratio nearen (the damping cylinder is quasi linear Force-path relationship at a constant speed of movement digkeit) springs are about force resistance in the tensioned state readings from 40 (upper spring) to 60 (lower spring) Newton intended.

For each of the four damping cylinders is the mean (because variably adjustable force) to choose about 250 Newtons.

(9) shows the bracket for the foot pedal axle.

With the rail ( 6 ) the individual (long or short legs) operating range of the leg extension is set before the start of use, ie the cylinders can be moved as a whole forward and fixed there for the action.

(5) shows the position of the motion sensor. Proposed a light barrier based on reflection (emitter and Receivers side by side. Only slightly dependent on ambient light.) with further processing by a monoflop circuit.

The sensor is firmly attached to the upper cylinder and picks up the reflected light of a highly reflective, am un fixed cylinder surface. Shortly before reaching the reversal point of the movement cycle should be the sensor enter the area of the reflection surface and him of course leave on return (generation of a pulse and computer-compatible with a monoflop circuit Processing.) The turning point should still be in lie within the reflection zone. Otherwise two would Impulses arise.

Here is also the reason why the lower spring should be slightly stronger than the upper one, namely when the legs are bent, the upper cylinder with the Sensor is located safely within the reflection zone, d. H. the reversal point of the movement cycle is exactly defined here kidney. The exact position of the foot pedal bracket, i.e. H. the Push back into the upper cylinder, regarding the Impulse generation is then irrelevant.  

The reflective surface should be for individual adjustment solution of the action area to be movable.

On pages 15 to 18 ( Fig. 10 to Fig. 65) a whole game round with all four movement cycles is shown:

• - Movement cycle AS on page 15 ( Fig. 10 to Fig. 23). In the middle picture of the page ( Fig. 16 and Fig. 17) at the reversal point of the movement cycle, triggering of the pulse by shifting the "game piece" (game object symbol) by one position to the left.
• - Movement cycle AB on page 16 ( Fig. 24 to Fig. 37). In the middle picture of the page ( Fig. 30 and Fig. 31) at the reversal point of the movement cycle, triggering of the pulse by shifting the counter by one position to the right.
• - BS movement cycle on page 17 ( Fig. 38 to Fig. 51). In the middle picture of the page ( Fig. 44 and Fig. 45) at the reversal point of the movement cycle triggering the pulse with rotation of the tile by 90 degrees counterclockwise.
• - BH movement cycle on page 18 ( Fig. 52 to Fig. 65). In the middle picture of the page ( Fig. 58 and Fig. 59) at the reversal point of the movement cycle, triggering of the pulse with lowering of the counter to the very bottom.

For the performance of the embodiment the fitness or sports game device would be the following to deliver.

It is proposed for customization Type of oil pressure damping cylinder to use Force resistance is variably adjustable. The right one However, the force averages for the Be known to "ordinary people".

• 1. Oil pressure - damping cylinder and coil spring (or Rubber spring) for cycle BS From both legs - from a purely mechanical point of view - a force (damping cylinder plus spring) of 600 New ton at a path of 510 mm, d. H. a work of 306 joules can be applied. If the Movement cycles in the order of 1.5 seconds, whereby for the actual force action 1 second and the return (for AS) or "in - starting position - bring to action "(for BS and AB) 0.5 seconds to be estimated, this corresponds to a service of 306 watts.
• 2. Oil pressure - damping cylinder for the cycle AS The distance between the arm lever joint to the middle of the hand Actor is 910 mm and up to the point of damping cylinder 172 mm, d. H. the effective one at hand Force resistance is based on a factor of 5.29 Resistance of the damping cylinder reduced. For egg A resistance of 500 Newtons is effectively obtained 94.5 Newtons and with a travel of 425 mm a job of around 40 joules. So 80 for both arms together Joule work and at a second duration the main force taktion 80 watts of power. For the arm lever return 15% of the main force must be applied, i. H. a Power at 0.5 seconds from 24 watts. So together an output of 104 watts.
• 3. Oil pressure - damping cylinder for cycle AB With a force resistance of 250 Newtons per damper cylinder and a path of 465 mm are available for both arms a work of around 44 joules and at 1.5 An output of around 29 watts in seconds. Along with the performance for the second half period of around 13 watts, so 42 watts.
• 4. Forces for the BH cycle  With an effective leg weight of 100 Newtons and egg effective device weight of 40 Newtons like a path of 476 mm results in a work of around 67 joules and an output of 67 watts.

These are all work and performance values from a pure mechanical point of view. The corresponding biomechanical energy and power quantities that are strongly dependent on the muscle groups used, could use special literature from it be derived.

With a mechanical performance range between 42 and 306 Watts and a weighted average (depending on the proportion of Cycles in the tetris game) of 124 watts comes to ordinary people in the lower level of Tetris on a pulse between about 120 and 140 beats per minute.

The high level range (high sink rate of the game blocks) from Tetris is with the described execution example - with today's personal computers their very high clock frequency - not achievable. So if a large finely graded level range (in the Windowsver sion z. B. 10) also available for this application should be a simple software change occur. An overall decrease in sink rate by a factor of 3 (with respect to the e.g. relatively fast Windows version) would be appropriate.

Among the numerous versions of the Tetrisorgi There are variants, especially the 3D version, which does this are more suitable from the outset.

Claims (3)

1. Fitness or sports game device, designed in such a way that the implementation of various body movement cycles for the purpose of training several muscle groups or the cardiovascular system in overcoming resistance (e.g. coil springs, oil pressure - damping cycles, weight, body weight or the Weight of body parts) is possible, characterized in that the device for registering the individual body movement cycles with z. B. is equipped with electromechanical or electronic sensors or switches, whereby a power-sapping, physical control of a certain type of computer games z. B. the popular Tetris. Four sensors and four cycles would be needed here (analogous to the otherwise usual push of a button on the computer keyboard with one finger, this device generates a computer-compatible pulse for each individual body movement cycle that takes place and supplies it to the computer). 2. Fitness or sports game device according to claim 1, characterized, that the force resistors are arranged in the device are that starting from a chosen body reason attitude a seamless, immediate transition from one Body movement cycle (e.g. arms under force stretch the wall forward and bend it again) to the other (e.g. stretch your arms to the side and apply force bend the wall again) is guaranteed. Each of the movement cycles begins and ends in the  a predetermined posture. 3. fitness or sports game device according to claim 1, characterized, that the sensors or switches are arranged in such a way that they take into account the body movement cycles taking place the vicinity of the planned reversal points of the regi cycles strure, which makes the possibility of "self-deception" is avoided.