Exercise monitor system and method

United States Patent m

Lapeyre

[ii] 4,278,095 [45] Jul. 14, 1981

[54] EXERCISE MONITOR SYSTEM AND METHOD

[76] Inventor: Pierre A. Lapeyre, P.O. Box 430, Houma, La. 70360

[21] Appl. No.: 45,627

[22] Filed: Jun. 5, 1979

Related U.S. Application Data

[63] Continuation of Ser. No. 831,666, Sep. 12, 1977, abandoned.

[51] Int. C1.3 A61B5/04

[52] U.S. CI 128/689; 128/707;

272/69

[58] Field of Search 128/696, 706, 707, 709,

128/689; 272/69-73, 99,97,100, DIG. 5, DIG.

6; 273/86 B, DIG. 28; 73/379

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

3,159,400 12/1964 Brass et al 35/29 R

3,419,732 12/1968 Lane 272/73 UX

3,454,942 7/1969 Chamberlin, Jr. et al. ... 272/DIG. 6

3,518,985 7/1970 Quintan 128/707

3,542,012 11/1976 Frieberger et al. 35/29 R UX

3,675,640 7/1972 Gatts 272/DIG. 6 X

3,834,702 9/1974 Bliss 273/86 B

3,845,756 11/1974 Olsson 272/DIG. 6 X

3,903,613 9/1975 Bisberg 35/11 R

3,991,307 11/1976 Hillsman 128/720 X

4,063,551 12/1977 Sweeney 128/666

4,112,928 9/1978 Putsch 128/707

4,141,630 2/1979 Emmons 272/73 X

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

966865 4/1975 Canada 272/69

Primary Examiner—Robert W. Michell
Assistant Examiner—Francis J. Jaworski
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Wilkinson, Mawhinney &
Theibault "'

[57] ABSTRACT

The invention encourages optimal exercise, particularly of the aerobic type, for cardiovascular fitness. The user powers an exerciser, such as a treadmill, simulated cycling or rowing, and the like, and a monitor displays the users speed and distance accomplished. A variable speed outdoor exercising scene (such as a person rowing a boat) is shown to the user when the monitor is a TV set. The users speed signal controls the speed of a videotape cassette player to proportionately change the speed of the outdoor exercising scene. The speed signal is converted to the reciprocal of speed i.e., minutes per mile and the distance is displayed to hundredths of miles. The latter two signals are converted to BCD digits and superimposed on the video through a TV positioning and generation circuit for display on the scene. The heart beat is picked up electrically or by infra red and converted into three digits of beats per minute, and also superimposed on the video for display on the monitor. In addition, the users pulse rate or heart beat is displayed.

2 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures