Programmatic climate control of an exercise environment
An apparatus is disclosed for programmatically controlling the climate of a localized exercise environment so as to accommodate the evolving needs of exercisers during a workout. In preferred embodiments, the localized environment is an enclosed exercise room or the area surrounding one or more stationary exercise machines. Heat is applied by convective, conductive, and/or radiant means, and/or removed by convective, conductive, and/or evaporative means. In various preferred embodiments the humidity, direction, and speed of the air flow are controlled, and/or a cooling mist is applied. In preferred embodiments, the climate control program is executed according to the passage of time, according to the rate of work and the amount of work performed, according to acoustic features of music, and according to physiological parameters of the exerciser such as heart rate, breathing rate, and skin temperature. In some preferred embodiments the climate control devices are attached directly to stationary exercise devices.
The invention generally relates to exercise environments, and more specifically to control of the climate within an exercise environment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONExercise is generally known to have many benefits for individuals of all ages. These benefits include improved cardiovascular health, reduced blood pressure, prevention of bone and muscle loss, maintenance of a healthy weight, improved psychological heath, and many others. Exercise is also used a means for monitoring the health of individuals through so-called “stress” tests. However, exercise is generally accompanied by a certain degree of discomfort, including overheating, sweating, etc, and this leads to a significant reduction in the amount of exercise undertaken by many individuals, thereby reducing the health benefits derived from recreational and conditioning exercise and the diagnostic accuracy of stress tests.
Because of weather variability, convenience, and time constraints, exercise often takes place indoors in a relatively confined environment, either in an exercise room, possibly as part of a group activity such as a dance club or an aerobics class, or localized on a stationary exercise machine such as a stepper, stationary bicycle, elliptical, treadmill, free weight machine, stress test machine, etc. Attempts are often made to increase the comfort of exercising individuals in these environments by optimizing climate factors such as the temperature, humidity, and air flow.
However, these approaches are largely unsatisfactory. For example, if the temperature is warm enough to encourage exercise at the beginning of a workout, when muscles are at rest and not warmed up, it will be too warm once exercise is well underway and the body is generating excess heat. Conversely, if the temperature is cool enough to be comfortable when exercise is well underway, it will not be comfortable at the beginning of the workout.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn apparatus and method of use are disclosed that significantly improve the comfort of an individual exercising in a localized environment, such as in an exercise room or on a stationary exercise device, by programmatically controlling the heating and/or cooling of the individual during a workout session. In preferred embodiments, the methods for controlling heating and cooling include heating and cooling of the surrounding air, heating and cooling of surfaces with which the individual comes into direct contact, radiant heating, control of the humidity of the surrounding air, application of liquid mist, and control of the flow of air within the environment using fans and/or similar devices.
In various preferred embodiments the programmatic control of the environment is executed according to elapsed time, the rate of exercise, the total amount of exercise performed, and even the temporal and acoustic features of music, as might for example be appropriate during an exercise program performed to music. In other preferred embodiments, the climate is controlled according to measured physiological parameters such as heart rate, rate of breathing, skin temperature, core body temperature, and degree of perspiration, as determined for example by galvanic skin conductivity.
In preferred embodiments, information regarding the current outdoor climate 114 and/or the average outdoor climate over the recent past also serves as an input to the program, since these factors can affect the comfort and preferences of exercisers. For example, individuals may find a warmer exercise climate more attractive and comfortable in the winter, especially at the beginning of an exercise session, whereas they may find a cooler exercise climate more attractive and comfortable in the Summer.
With reference to
In order to create or modify a program, a step is selected by pressing the Program Step # button 306 and entering the desired step number on a numeric keypad 308. The desired duration and set temperature for that step are then selected by up/down buttons 310, 312, and the step is saved in memory by pressing the “save step” button 314. The end of a program is indicated by entering a “zero-time” step at the end. Programs can be saved or recalled by pressing the “save program button” 316 or the “recall program” button 318 and entering a program number on the numeric keypad 308. Pressing the save program button 316 or recall program button 318 twice before entering a number causes the program to recall or save a program from a removable storage device. In this embodiment the storage device is a floppy disk inserted in a slot 320 in the panel. In other embodiments the storage device is a memory stick or similar device. Once the program has been recalled, entered, and/or edited, it is run by pressing the “Run Program” button 322. A “Hold Temp” button 324 is also provided to allow the programmatic controller to maintain a fixed temperature when a program is not being run.
The time duration of the workout is shown on in a window 334 located in the lower left of the display, and is set by touching up and down arrows 334 with the light pen 326. A similar window and set of up and down arrows also located in the lower left of the display 334 allows entry of the age of the exerciser. Similar embodiments allow entry of other parameters such as the height and/or the weight of the individual. Whenever the age, height, or weight setting is changed, the heating and cooling behavior shown in the plotted curves is modified in an appropriate fashion. This allows for use of a single climate control program by exercisers of different ages, physical characteristics, and fitness levels without the need to make detailed changes to the plotted curves. For example, in preferred embodiments the cooling is increased for individuals with higher than average weight to height ratios.
Programs names are entered by touching an alphanumeric keypad 336 with the light pen 326, and are stored, recalled, and started by touching the appropriate buttons in the same window 336. A memory stick (not shown) can be use to store programs so as to avoid exceeding the memory limit of the programmatic controller.
The humidity follows a similar pattern during the 30 minute workout. It begins at a relatively high 65% during the initial five minute warm up 410, after which it falls steadily during the next 20 minutes 412 as the rate of perspiration increases, finally reaching 25%. During the final 5 minute cool down period 414, the humidity is maintained at 25%, since perspiration can be expected to remain heavy during this time.
Other modifications and implementations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as claimed. Accordingly, the above description is not intended to limit the invention except as indicated in the following claims.
Claims
1. An apparatus for programmatically controlling the climate of a localized exercise environment, comprising:
- at least one climate control device, capable of controlling the exchange of heat between the localized exercise environment and at least one individual located within the localized exercise environment; and
- a programmatic controller capable of controlling the at least one climate control device during an exercise session according to a program.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the localized exercise environment is an enclosed room.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the enclosing boundaries of the enclosed room include at least one large opening that can be closed to isolate the climate within the room from the climate immediately outside of the room, and can be opened to allow rapid equalization between the climate within the room and the climate immediately outside of the room.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein at least one of a fan and other air movement devices is used when the large opening is open to accelerate the equalization between the climate within the room and the climate immediately outside of the room.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the localized exercise environment is the environment immediately surrounding at least one stationary exercise device that enables an individual to vigorously exercise while remaining in essentially the same location.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least one of the stationary exercise devices is one of an exercise cycle, a treadmill, an exercise stepper, an elliptical, a free weight machine, and an exercise mat.
7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the localized exercise environment surrounding at least one of the stationary exercise devices is at least partially enclosed by a closeable barrier.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the closable barrier is at least one of a flexible curtain, a semi-rigid plastic sheet, and a set of inter-connecting panels.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the localized exercise environment is composed of multiple, essentially identical localized exercise environments.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the climate control devices is able to control at least one of the direction and the flow rate of air within the localized exercise environment.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the climate control devices is able to control the humidity of the air within the localized exercise environment.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the climate control devices is able to apply heat to individuals located in the localized exercise environment through at least one of radiation, convection, and conduction.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein at least one of the climate control devices is able to heat the air within the localized exercise environment.
14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein at least one of the climate control devices includes a radiant heat source that can be directed toward at least one individual exercising in the localized exercise environment.
15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein at least one of the climate control devices is able to heat at least one surface that is in physical contact with at least one of the body and the clothing of at least one individual exercising in the localized exercise environment.
16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the climate control devices is able to remove heat from at least one individual exercising in the localized exercise environment through at least one of convection, conduction, and evaporation.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one of the climate control devices is able to cool the air within the localized exercise environment.
18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one of the climate control devices is able to cool at least one surface that is in physical contact with at least one of the body and the clothing of at least one individual exercising in the localized exercise environment.
19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one of the climate control devices is able to apply a cooling liquid to the body of at least one individual exercising in the localized exercise environment, the cooling liquid being in the form of at least one of a flow of liquid and a mist of liquid droplets.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the cooling liquid is water.
21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the program used by the programmatic controller is executed at least partly according to elapsed time.
22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the program used by the programmatic controller is at least partially derived from at least one of the temporal and acoustic features of music.
23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the program used by the programmatic controller is executed at least partly according to at least one measured exercise parameter of at least one exerciser in the localized exercise environment.
24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one measured exercise parameter is at least one of the amount of exercise that has been performed and the rate at which exercise is being performed.
25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the program used by the programmatic controller is executed at least partly according to at least one of an average over time of at least one measured exercise parameter and an average over a plurality of exercising individuals of at least one measured exercise parameter.
26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the program used by the programmatic controller is executed at least partly according to at least one measured physiological parameter of at least one exerciser in the localized exercise environment.
27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the at least one measured physiological parameter is at least one of the heart rate, breathing rate, skin temperature, and degree of perspiration.
28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the at least one physiological parameter is measured by at least one of a sensor attached to an exerciser in the localized exercise environment and a sensor attached to a stationary exercise device in the localized exercise environment and in physical contact with an exerciser.
29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the program used by the programmatic controller is executed at least partly according to at least one of an average over time of the at least one measured physiological parameter and an average of the at least one measured physiological parameter over a plurality of exercising individuals in the localized exercise environment.
30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the program used by the programmatic controller is executed at least partly according to at least one of the age, the weight, and the height of at least one exerciser in the localized exercise environment.
31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the program used by the programmatic controller is executed at least partly according to at least one measured exercise parameter of the at least one exerciser in the localized exercise environment, and wherein the program evaluates the at least one measured exercise parameter according to at least one of the age, the weight, and the height of the at least one exerciser.
32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the program used by the programmatic controller is executed at least partly according to at least one measured physiological parameter of the at least one exerciser in the localized exercise environment, and wherein the program evaluates the at least one measured physiological parameter according to the age, the weight, and the height of the at least one exerciser.
33. A method for programmatically controlling the climate of a localized exercise environment, comprising:
- providing at least one climate control device, capable of controlling the exchange of heat between the localized exercise environment and at least one individual located within the environment, and a programmatic controller capable of controlling the at least one climate control device during an exercise session according to a program;
- commencing of an exercise session by at least one individual within the localized exercise environment; and
- at least one of heating and cooling of the at least one individual during the exercise session by the at least one climate control device according to a program executed by the programmatic controller.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 31, 2007
Publication Date: Apr 30, 2009
Inventors: Richard Goldmann (Poughkeepsie, NY), Russ Weinzimmer (Milford, NH), Douglas P. Burum (Acton, MA)
Application Number: 11/982,176