APPARATUS FOR COOLING AN EXERCISER FOR USE WITH AN EXERCISE MACHINE
An apparatus is disclosed that cools an exerciser using an exercise machine by blowing chilled air directly onto the exerciser from an airflow director that is independent of the exercise machine. The airflow director is either located within the living space of the exercise room, or able to project a directed stream of chilled air into the living space of the exercise room. The airflow director can include adjustments for chilled air direction, flow rate, and other qualities. The chilled air source can include adjustments for temperature, humidity, and other qualities. A plurality of airflow directors can be included, so as to provide uniform cooing and/or to deliver chilled air to a plurality of exercise machines. A barrier and/or chilled air return vent can be included, so as to save energy and enhance the localization of the chilled air. Some embodiments can also warm the exerciser using warmed air.
The invention generally relates to exercise machines, and more specifically to devices for cooling an individual while using an exercise machine.
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. However, exercise is generally accompanied by a certain degree of discomfort, including overheating, sweating, fatigue, etc, and this leads to a significant reduction in the amount of exercise undertaken by many individuals, thereby reducing the health benefits derived from exercise.
Because of weather variability, convenience, and time constraints, exercise often takes place indoors using an exercise machine such as a stepper, stationary bicycle, elliptical, treadmill, etc. Attempts are sometimes made to increase the comfort of exercising individuals in these environments by optimizing the surrounding temperature, but this can be largely unsatisfactory because exercisers generally require different degrees of cooling depending on individual physiology and on how long and how vigorously they have been exercising. If the surrounding air is warm enough to be comfortable for individuals just beginning an exercise session, it will be too warm for individuals well into a vigorous session. And if the surrounding air is cool enough to be comfortable for an individual who has been exercising vigorously for a significant amount of time, it will be too cold for individuals just beginning to exercise.
Some exercise machines include a fan that can direct a flow of air onto some portion of an exerciser's body during exercise, thereby providing a certain degree of cooling that can be initiated and controlled by the exerciser. However, such fans can provide only a small amount of cooling, and they are typically limited to cooling only the face of the exerciser, and/or some other fixed, limited region of the exerciser's body. Also, many exercise machines do not include any facilities for cooling an exerciser, and it can be prohibitively expensive to replace an exercise machine merely for the purpose of obtaining a similar exercise machine that includes a cooling fan.
Another approach is to place an exercise machine near a fixed vent of a built-in air conditioning system. However, this requires that such a vent be available in a convenient location. If a plurality of exercise machines are to be placed within the same room, it is highly unlikely that each of them can be placed near a conveniently located air conditioning vent. Fixed air conditioning vents and ducts are typically either built into a wall, floor, or ceiling, or they are mounted directly onto a wall, floor, or ceiling. In all such cases, vents and ducts for built-in air conditioning systems are located within a space that can be considered not to be part of the “living space” of a room, even though the vent, and even the duct, may be visible from within the room. This places significant limits on how closely an exercise machine can be placed to an outlet vent of a built-in air conditioning system. And even when an exercise machine can be placed near a conveniently located air conditioning vent, the vent is typically not configured so as to direct a localized flow of cooling air that can be directed specifically onto an exerciser using the exercise machine.
Yet another approach is to position a fan or portable air conditioner on the floor, on a table, or on some other support near an exercise machine, and to direct therefrom a flow of cooling air toward the exercise machine. However, a fan can provide only limited cooling, and a portable air conditioner provides only a very limited ability to target the local environment of an exerciser.
If a plurality of exercise machines are arranged in close proximity to one another, a portable air conditioner directed toward one of the exercise machines will necessarily tend to affect the environment of nearby exercise machines, thereby reducing the ability of each exerciser to control his or her individual exercise environment. Even if only a single exercise machine is present, it is difficult or impossible using a portable air conditioner to cool only the region immediately surrounding an exerciser. As a result, energy will be wasted and cost will be increased in cooling the entire room in which the exercise machine is located.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn apparatus is disclosed for cooling an exerciser while using an exercise machine in an exercise room. The apparatus includes an airflow director that is either located within the living area of the exercise room and able to direct chilled air onto an exerciser while using the exercise machine, or supported by a wall, the floor, or the ceiling of the exercise room, and able to project a directed stream of chilled air directly upon the exerciser. The airflow director is connectable to a chilled air source by an air duct. In preferred embodiments, the airflow director can be free standing and movable, or fixed to an adjoining structure such as a wall or ceiling. Airflow directors can be adjustable so as to allow the exerciser to control the speed, volume, and/or direction of the chilled air. The chilled air source can include a controller that provides for control of the temperature, humidity, speed, and volume of the chilled air.
Various embodiments include a plurality of independent airflow directors that enable chilled air to be directed onto the exerciser from multiple directions, thereby improving the efficiency and uniformity of cooling of the exerciser while improving the localization of the cooling to the immediate region of the exercise machine. In some embodiments, a partial wall or other structure is included that tends to confine the chilled air to a region immediately surrounding the exerciser. Other embodiments include an air return vent that removes and recirculates chilled air from the region surrounding the exerciser, thereby limiting the impact of the chilled air on other, nearby exercisers and on the surrounding environment. And some embodiments include multiple, independent airflow directors are connected to a common source of chilled air and provide cooling to a plurality of exercise machines.
One general aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for cooling an exerciser while using an exercise machine in an exercise room. The apparatus includes an airflow director located in a living region of the exercise room and supported independently of the exercise machine, the airflow director being able to blow chilled air directly upon the exerciser, thereby providing cooling that is localized to the exerciser, and an air duct that is connectable to a chilled air source and able to convey the chilled air from the chilled air source to the airflow director.
In preferred embodiments, the airflow director is free-standing. In some preferred embodiments, the airflow director is adjustably locatable within the living region of the exercise room. In some preferred embodiments the airflow director is supported by a structure located near the exercise machine. In some of these embodiments the structure is a mounting bracket attached to a wall, a mounting bracket attached to a ceiling, a mounting bracket attached to a floor, an air duct extending from a wall into the living region of the exercise room, an air duct extending from a ceiling into the living region of the exercise room, a floor stand, an article of furniture, and/or a stand supporting a video display, the video display being located within view of the exerciser.
In certain preferred embodiments, a quality of the chilled air blown upon the exerciser is adjustable by the exerciser. In some of these embodiments the quality of the chilled air is, distance from the exerciser of an origin of flow of the chilled air, direction of flow of the chilled air, rate of flow of the chilled air, concentration of flow of the chilled air, and/or percentage of admixture of the chilled air with ambient air in the flow of the chilled air. And other of these preferred embodiments further include a remote control in wireless communication with the airflow controller, the remote control enabling the exerciser to remotely adjust the at least one quality of the chilled air blown upon the exerciser.
In various embodiments, the apparatus includes at least one additional airflow director. In some of these embodiments a quality of the chilled air blown upon the exerciser by at least one of the airflow directors is adjustable by the exerciser independently of the other airflow directors. And in other of these embodiments at least one of the airflow directors is adjustably locatable within the living region of the exercise room independently of the other airflow directors. In still other of these embodiments at least two of the airflow directors are configured so as to blow chilled air directly onto the exerciser from substantially opposing sides of the exerciser. And in yet other of these embodiments the airflow directors are configured so as to deliver chilled air from the cooling air source to a plurality of exercisers, each exerciser using a respective exercise machine.
In preferred embodiments, the apparatus further includes a chilled air return vent configured so as to withdraw chilled air after it is blown directly onto the exerciser, thereby tending to confine the effects of the chilled air to a region immediately surrounding the exerciser. And in some of these embodiments the airflow director and the chilled air return vent are located on substantially opposing sides of the exerciser and configured so as to direct the chilled air across the exerciser.
In various preferred embodiments the apparatus further includes a chilled air controller that is able to control a property of the chilled air that is speed of flow of the chilled air, volume of flow of the chilled air, temperature of the chilled air, humidity of the chilled air, and quantity of cooling mist included in the chilled air.
In preferred embodiments, the apparatus further includes an airflow barrier configured so as to form at least a partial barrier to airflow, thereby tending to confine the chilled air to a region surrounding the exerciser. And in some of these embodiments the airflow barrier is configured to at least partly surround the exerciser.
In some preferred embodiments the source of chilled air provides outdoor air, where the outdoor air is cooler than the air inside the exercise room. In other preferred embodiments the airflow director includes a fan, an electrostatic air mover, a directable vent, a vent with fixed air directors that tend to direct the chilled air onto the exerciser, a vent with adjustable louvers, and/or an airflow valve.
In certain preferred embodiments the apparatus further includes a warm air source capable of supplying warm air to the airflow director so as to warm an individual while using the exercise machine.
Another general aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for cooling an exerciser while using an exercise machine in an exercise room. The apparatus includes an airflow director supported by one of a wall, a floor, and a ceiling of the exercise room, and able to project a directed stream of chilled air directly upon the exerciser, thereby providing cooling that is localized to the exerciser, and an air duct that is connectable to a chilled air source and able to convey the chilled air from the chilled air source to the airflow director.
In preferred embodiments a quality of the chilled air blown upon the exerciser is adjustable by the exerciser. In some of these embodiments the quality of the chilled air direction of flow of the chilled air, rate of flow of the chilled air, concentration of flow of the chilled air, and/or percentage of admixture of the chilled air with ambient air in the flow of the chilled air.
In various preferred embodiments the airflow director includes at least one nozzle. And in certain preferred embodiments the airflow director includes a fan, an electrostatic air mover, a directable vent, a vent with fixed air directors that tend to direct the chilled air onto the exerciser, a vent with adjustable louvers, and/or an airflow valve.
With reference to
With reference to
A close-up view of the airflow director 202 of
In the prior art approaches illustrated by
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 cooling an exerciser while using an exercise machine in an exercise room, the apparatus comprising:
- an airflow director located in a living region of the exercise room and supported independently of the exercise machine, the airflow director being able to blow chilled air directly upon the exerciser, thereby providing cooling that is localized to the exerciser; and
- an air duct that is connectable to a chilled air source and able to convey the chilled air from the chilled air source to the airflow director.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the airflow director is free-standing.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the airflow director is adjustably locatable within the living region of the exercise room.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the airflow director is supported by a structure located near the exercise machine.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the structure is at least one of:
- a mounting bracket attached to a wall;
- a mounting bracket attached to a ceiling;
- a mounting bracket attached to a floor;
- an air duct extending from a wall into the living region of the exercise room;
- an air duct extending from a ceiling into the living region of the exercise room;
- a floor stand;
- an article of furniture; and
- a stand supporting a video display, the video display being located within view of the exerciser.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a quality of the chilled air blown upon the exerciser is adjustable by the exerciser.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the quality of the chilled air is one of:
- distance from the exerciser of an origin of flow of the chilled air;
- direction of flow of the chilled air;
- rate of flow of the chilled air;
- concentration of flow of the chilled air; and
- percentage of admixture of the chilled air with ambient air in the flow of the chilled air.
8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a remote control in wireless communication with the airflow controller, the remote control enabling the exerciser to remotely adjust the at least one quality of the chilled air blown upon the exerciser.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes at least one additional airflow director.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a quality of the chilled air blown upon the exerciser by at least one of the airflow directors is adjustable by the exerciser independently of the other airflow directors.
11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of the airflow directors is adjustably locatable within the living region of the exercise room independently of the other airflow directors.
12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least two of the airflow directors are configured so as to blow chilled air directly onto the exerciser from substantially opposing sides of the exerciser.
13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the airflow directors are configured so as to deliver chilled air from the cooling air source to a plurality of exercisers, each exerciser using a respective exercise machine.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a chilled air return vent configured so as to withdraw chilled air after it is blown directly onto the exerciser, thereby tending to confine the effects of the chilled air to a region immediately surrounding the exerciser.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the airflow director and the chilled air return vent are located on substantially opposing sides of the exerciser and configured so as to direct the chilled air across the exerciser.
16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a chilled air controller that is able to control a property of the chilled air that is one of:
- speed of flow of the chilled air;
- volume of flow of the chilled air;
- temperature of the chilled air;
- humidity of the chilled air; and
- quantity of cooling mist included in the chilled air.
17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an airflow barrier configured so as to form at least a partial barrier to airflow, thereby tending to confine the chilled air to a region surrounding the exerciser.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the airflow barrier is configured to at least partly surround the exerciser.
19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the source of chilled air provides outdoor air, where the outdoor air is cooler than the air inside the exercise room.
20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the airflow director includes at least one of:
- a fan;
- an electrostatic air mover;
- a directable vent;
- a vent with fixed air directors that tend to direct the chilled air onto the exerciser;
- a vent with adjustable louvers; and
- an airflow valve.
21. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a warm air source capable of supplying warm air to the airflow director so as to warm an individual while using the exercise machine.
22. An apparatus for cooling an exerciser while using an exercise machine in an exercise room, the apparatus comprising:
- an airflow director supported by one of a wall, a floor, and a ceiling of the exercise room, and able to project a directed stream of chilled air directly upon the exerciser, thereby providing cooling that is localized to the exerciser; and
- an air duct that is connectable to a chilled air source and able to convey the chilled air from the chilled air source to the airflow director.
23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein a quality of the chilled air blown upon the exerciser is adjustable by the exerciser.
24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the quality of the chilled air is one of:
- direction of flow of the chilled air;
- rate of flow of the chilled air;
- concentration of flow of the chilled air; and
- percentage of admixture of the chilled air with ambient air in the flow of the chilled air.
25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the airflow director includes at least one nozzle.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 9, 2009
Publication Date: Sep 9, 2010
Inventors: Richard Goldmann (Poughkeepsie, NY), Russ Weinzimmer (Milford, NH), Douglas P. Burum (Acton, MA)
Application Number: 12/400,216
International Classification: F24F 11/053 (20060101); F24F 7/06 (20060101); F24F 13/08 (20060101);