Exercise devices – Having specific electrical feature – Monitors exercise parameter
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-16
2004-03-16
Richman, Glenn E. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
Having specific electrical feature
Monitors exercise parameter
C482S007000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06705972
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to an exercise assisting meter and, more particularly, to an exercise assisting meter for enumerating the amount of repetitive physical exercise performed by the user and outputting the enumeration information.
A pedometer is a typical example of an exercise assisting meter of this kind.
BACKGROUND ART
The conventional pedometer is a simple device that places emphasis on functionality and that indicates one's daily number of steps (number of oscillations) by a numerical value or graph or by a value calculated in terms of distance or calories.
If the device does nothing more than inform one of one's daily number of steps, however, it acts merely as a simple measuring instrument with which the user quickly loses interest, especially when exercise is performed over an extended period of time. In addition, merely being informed of one's daily number of steps does not concretely furnish one with a feeling of satisfaction (results) from continuous use over, say, a period of one week. In particular, if a day of rest intervenes during the exercise routine, the feeling of satisfaction after one week is nil.
The cumulative number of steps over several days can be calculated even with a conventional pedometer if the pedometer is not reset daily. However, if the user is informed of a cumulative number of steps extending over several days, the user will no longer be able to tell whether a daily norm (target value) that he or she has decided on has been attained. The only way to ascertain this is to record it separately in a diary, and thus the user is compelled to perform a troublesome management task in addition to the exercise routine.
Further, the conventional pedometer is such that it is employed by a user who decides upon a norm, as mentioned above. However, the number of steps taken during one day differs from person to person, depending upon individual physical stamina or lifestyle, etc. Moreover, a beginner usually does not know how much he or she can walk in one day. If the beginner decides upon the target value of his or her own volition, therefore, the individual tends t decide upon an excessively high value and will not continue with the exercise routine for long. If the beginner attempts to decide upon an appropriate target value, on the other hand, he or she will be constrained to record the daily number of steps before use and to undertake the burden of carefully analyzing the recorded data.
Thus, the conventional pedometer is a simple device that merely indicates a daily number of steps as by a numerical value. Consequently, the device not only does not enable exercise to be performed enjoyably but also fails to appropriately support exercise (health) management over long period of time.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been devised in view of the problems of the prior art mentioned above and an object thereof is to provide an exercise assisting meter that makes it possible to exercise enjoyably and to appropriately support exercise (health) management over a long period of time.
The foregoing object is attained by the arrangement shown in FIG.
1
. Specifically, an exercise assisting meter according to claim (1) of the present invention comprises an exercise-amount enumeration unit for enumerating amount of repetitive exercise of a user, a memory storing image information on virtual organisms of a plurality of grades, a controller for managing a relative period, which extends from a reference time, and evaluating continuously the amount of exercise enumerated by the exercise-amount enumeration unit every relative period and selecting a virtual organism of a corresponding grade, and a display unit for reading image information on the selected virtual organism out of the memory and displaying this image information on a screen.
The controller manages a relative period, which extends from a reference time, evaluates continuously the amount of exercise enumerated by the exercise-amount enumeration unit every relative period and selects a virtual organism of a corresponding grade. By virtue of this arrangement, it is possible to exercise enjoyably and to appropriately (continuously) support exercise (health) management over a long period of time. Further, the controller evaluates, every relative period, the amount of exercise enumerated by the exercise-amount enumeration unit every relative period. By virtue of this arrangement, the user basically is not informed of progress on the way from the previous evaluation to the current evaluation, as a result of which the user looks forward to the current evaluation with greater anticipation. Further, the controller continuously evaluates the amount of exercise enumerated by the exercise-amount enumeration unit every relative period. By virtue of this arrangement, it is possible to reflect the results of one, two or more past evaluations, which are made every relative period, in the results of the current evaluation. This makes it possible to provide unexpected results of evaluation in response to continuous effort by the user.
The amount of repetitive exercise of the user mentioned above means the number of times repetitive exercise, such as walking, weightlifting, expander exercises and abdominal-muscle exercises, is performed by the user. The exercise-amount enumeration unit, therefore, consists essentially of a counter, for example, and does not signify inclusion of an exercise measuring device (an oscillation sensor, etc.) that converts exercising (such as walking) per se to a repetitive signal. The aforesaid virtual organisms mean actual and imaginary organisms (animals, fish, insects, plants, dinosaurs, aliens, etc.). The grades signify ranks inclusive of a superior/inferior concept, or simple grade divisions. In the case of the former (the superior/inferior concept), image information representing virtual organisms expressing the concept of superiority (high level, healthy, happy, etc.) and the concept of inferiority (low level, obese, dejected) is provided to correspond to large and small amounts of exercise, respectively. In the case of the latter (simple grade divisions), any image information representing virtual organisms subjected to simple grade division irrespective of ranking is provided to correspond to large and small amounts of exercise. The latter case offers the enjoyment and surprise of not being able to guess which virtual organism will appear.
Preferably, in claim (2) of the present invention, the memory in claim (1) of the present invention stores image information of a plurality of grades relating to species, forms, expressions and/or motion of virtual organisms.
For example, two-legged, four-legged and legless types of organisms are stored. Furthermore, forms of human health, obesity and illness, for example, are stored. Also stored, for example, are human smiling faces and ordinary or dejected (melancholic) expressions. Furthermore, human wellness and motion (action) representing ordinariness or depression, for example, are stored. In accordance with (2) of the present invention, therefore, the results of evaluating amount of exercise can be expressed very richly to include not only species but also the form, expression and action of the species.
Preferably, the controller of the present invention causes the species of a virtual organism to evolve or causes the form of the virtual organism to grow with a continuous evaluation.
The reference time refers to a reference day at which an exercise starts, for example, and the relative period which starts from the reference time refers to a first period (first day) and a second period (second day) counting from the reference time (reference day). In accordance with claim (3) of the present invention, exercise over a long period of time can be enjoyed in conjunction with evolution or growth of a virtual organism, not simply by counting the number of days.
Preferably, in claim (4) of the present invention, the controller in claim (1) of the present invention retains a target value of an amo
Demura Takahiko
Nagayama Yutaka
Takano Toshiya
Hudson Co., Ltd.
Richman Glenn E.
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