FOOT ACTIVATED ASSEMBLY FOR HANDS FREE WIRELESS CONTROL OF EXERCISE EQUIPMENT

Abstract

A foot control for a Bluetooth device, the Bluetooth device controlling an operation of exercise equipment, the foot controller includes a housing. The housing has a floor with a first edge and a second edge. A first wall extends from the first edge of the floor and a second wall extends from the second edge of the floor in parallel with the first wall. A stabilization core is disposed between the first wall and the second wall. The stabilization core receives the Bluetooth device thereon. The Bluetooth device has an external actuator switch. A flipper is rotatably mounted in the housing between the first wall and the second wall and rotates between a first position providing access to the Bluetooth device and at least a second position in contact with the actuator switch.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hands free operation of Bluetooth enabled exercise equipment, and more particularly a system which houses the exercise control device enabling foot activated operation of a wireless control; in a hands free manner.

During the Covid pandemic home gyms grew in popularity, including sophisticated interactive gyms from Peloton, Tonal or the like. These gyms were typically wall mounted, and adaptable to a variety of exercises. They include a number of tension adjustable cables and pulleys to provide a number of exercise choices and resistance. The gyms also include processors for tracking the exercises as performed and providing a user interface to set up and track the exercise performance.

The cables are often provided with handles at the end for gripping during exercises. The handle included a switch or button which when activated indicated the start or completion of an exercise. This prior art is satisfactory when located on the handle such as the apparatus for doing curls or other isolated arm exercises.

For some exercises, such as bench press, lat pull downs, or any exercise where it is beneficial to have both arms and legs working in unison the exercise apparatus substitutes the handles at the end of each cable with a bar extending between the two cables. In this way both arms are acting on a single bar to move both pulleys as known in the art. However, the hands are placed apart from the ends so it is inconvenient to activate the apparatus for each exercise using a button at the end of the long bar at a position away from the hands of the user.

In other exercises a rope is substituted for the handles. The ropes do not have electronics therein enabling control of the apparatus as discussed above.

To overcome this shortcoming, an adapter has been developed which is secured to the bar or rope, as needed, at a position along the bar or rope. The adaptor is in Bluetooth, or other wireless, communication with the processor of the device. A button on an outer surface of the Bluetooth device activates the device and begins communication with the processor to track and enable operation during the exercise. When done the button is activated again to indicate the end of the exercise.

The prior art adapter has been satisfactory. However, because it must fit both a rope and a bar, it fits neither particularly well. As a result during an exercise it may move position along the bar, by way of example, distracting the user. Because of this movement, or depending on placement of the device, it is not readily reachable by a single finger to activate/deactivate. Additionally, because it must fit on both ropes and bars it does not fully secure either and is prone to shifting position along the apparatus during use as it is not tightly secured. As a result the user must shift their hands while holding the bar/rope under tenson to activate the equipment which can lead to injury.

Accordingly, there is a need for a an exercise actuator which overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A foot activated wireless control device for controlling an operation of exercise equipment includes a housing. The housing has a floor with a first edge and a second edge. A first wall extends from the first edge of the floor and a second wall extends from the second edge of the floor in parallel with the first wall. A stabilization core is disposed between the first wall and the second wall. The stabilization core receives a wireless device thereon. The wireless device has an external actuator switch. A flipper is rotatably mounted in the housing between the first wall and the second wall and rotates between a first position providing access to the wireless device and at least a second position in contact with the actuator switch to operate the wireless device.

In one embodiment of the invention, the flipper operates the Wireless device when in contact with the wireless device. The flipper is provided with ridges to prevent the foot from sliding along the flipper during operation. The flipper am have an opening formed therein to reduce the weight of the device while providing a grip for hand carrying.

In another embodiment of the invention the stabilization core is shaped to prevent rotation and movement of the a wireless device when disposed thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention in which like elements are labeled similarly and in which:

FIG. 1 is a right side rear perspective view of a foot pedal control constructed in accordance with the invention showing the flipper in a closed position;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the foot pedal constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the invention taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the foot pedal constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 5 is a left side front perspective view of a foot pedal control constructed in accordance with the invention showing the flipper in an open position;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the floor of the foot pedal control constructed in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is initially made to FIGS. 1-6 wherein, a wireless device, such as a Bluetooth device control, or controller, generally indicated as 100, for wirelessly controlling the gym equipment is provided. Bluetooth device control 100 is generally a foot control and includes a housing with a floor 102 having a first side edge 102a and an opposed second side edge 102b. A first sidewall 104 extends upwardly from floor 102 from first edge 102a. A second, opposed, wall 106 extends from the second edge 102b of floor 102 in a parallel facing relationship with wall 104. In a preferred, nonlimiting embodiment housing 102 may be formed as a unitary construction.

As seen more particularly in FIG. 3, a stabilization core 300 is disposed between the first wall 104 and the second wall 106. Stabilization core 300 is affixed to the housing so as no to rotate. Stabilization core 300 receives a Bluetooth device 400 for controlling a piece of exercise equipment; the Bluetooth actuator device having an external actuator switch 410 thereon. The stabilization core 300 has a shape for receiving the Bluetooth device 400 thereon while preventing rotation of the Bluetooth device 400 thereabout. As seen from the above, in a preferred non limiting embodiment, device 400 is a Bluetooth device, but any device which wirelessly communicates with the remaining exercise equipment (“gym”), such as other radio frequency regimes (“RF”), Wi-Fi, or cellular may be used.

In a preferred non limiting embodiment Bluetooth device 400 has, in this exemplary, non limiting preferred embodiment, an interior curved surface 402 for receiving a bar or rope of the exercise equipment. Stabilization core 300 has a first section which is shaped to be received within and mate with interior surface curved surface 402, i.e. curved to be received by and mate with surface 402. In this way stabilization core 300 engages and supports Bluetooth device 400. Stabilization core 300 has a second section 304 extending from first section 302, to engage legs 404a, 404b of Bluetooth device 400, acting as a stop to any rotation of Bluetooth device 400.

A flipper 200, rotatably mounted between walls 104, 106 to the housing, has a distal end 214 and a proximal end 216 relative to Bluetooth device 400. Flipper 200 is rotatably mounted about a pivot 202 extending between first wall 104 and second wall 106, selectively rotating from a first position providing access to the interior (opening, FIG. 5) of controller 100 to at least a second position preventing access to the interior (closing, FIG. 1) of controller 100.

Flipper 200, as seen more particularly in FIGS. 3 and 5 has a ridges 204 along a length of flipper 200 to provide traction for the user, to prevent foot slippage during use. As seen in FIG. 5, flipper 200 has an actuator portion 210 projecting from flipper 200, at proximal end 216, to contact and activate actuator switch 410 when flipper 200 is rotated into the closed position and pressure is applied. In this way, while flipper 200 may rotate to contact actuator switch 410, it does not inadvertently trigger Bluetooth device 400 until additional pressure is applied.

Preferably controller 100 is light weight, but also durable. To that end, it is preferably made of metal, and more preferably Aluminum. However, part of the structure is constructed with the goal of providing internal clearance, portability and reduced weight. A stepped portion 220, disposed between distal end distal end 214 and proximal end 216, is thinned relative to adjacent sections, requiring less material than is needed to accommodate the pivot 202, at one end. This also reduces the weight without sacrificing structural integrity for the intended purpose. Flipper 200 is also formed with a window 206 therein which allows a viewing portion to ensure that actuator portion 210 is in contact with actuator switch 410. It also provides a secondary grip to grasp flipper 200 for rotation.

At the same time, in a non-limiting preferred embodiment, floor 102 is formed with three distinct stepped regions 110, 114 and 118, each formed with a respective opening 112, 116, 120 therein. Again this reduces the overall weight of the device, provides carrying grips without reducing the structural integrity for the intended purpose.

During use, at set up, flipper 200 is moved to the open position. This provides the clearance to mount Bluetooth device 400 about stabilization core 300. Flipper 200 is then rotated about pivot 202 until actuator portion 210 of flipper 200 rests against actuator switch 410 of Bluetooth device 400. When a user is ready to begin an exercise they merely step on flipper 200, actuating Bluetooth device 400 which indicates to the equipment the stage of the exercise. When done the user merely steps on flipper 400 to indicate completion of the exercise. No movement of the hands during the exercise is required.

By providing a structure which moves control of the exercise equipment away from the equipment itself, no awkward manipulation of the exercise equipment itself is needed. Furthermore, movement of the wireless control device during exercise does not occur. As a result the user can maintain their proper form throughout an exercise

It should be further recognized that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described above. Accordingly, numerous modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A foot activated wireless control device for controlling an operation of exercise equipment comprises:

a housing; the housing having: a floor with a first edge and a second edge, a first wall extends from the first edge of the floor and a second wall extends from the second edge of the floor in parallel with the first wall; and a stabilization core disposed between the first wall and the second wall, the stabilization core receiving a wireless device thereon, the wireless device having an external actuator switch; and

a flipper is rotatably mounted in the housing between the first wall and the second wall, the flipper rotating between a first position providing access to the wireless device and at least a second position in which the flipper is in contact with the actuator switch to operate the wireless device upon the application of pressure to the flipper.

2. The foot activated wireless control device of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is a Bluetooth device.

3. The foot activated wireless control device of claim 1, wherein the flipper has a distal end and a proximal end, the flipper being in contact with the actuator at the proximal end, and further comprising an opening at the proximal end.

4. The foot activated wireless control device of claim 1, wherein the stabilization core has a first portion having a shape to mate with an interior surface of wireless device, and a second portion having a shape to prevent rotation of the wireless device about the stabilization core.