IP Library Granted Patent US 11,033,777
Granted Patent B1
US 11,033,777 · App. 17/178,173 · Granted Jun 15, 2021

Stationary exercise machine

Inventors: Eric S. Watterson (Logan, UT); Chase Brammer (Providence, UT); Christian Hathaway (Logan, UT); Rebecca Lynn Capell (Logan, UT)
Assignee: ICON HEALTH & FITNESS, INC.
A63B24/0087A63B22/0076A63B22/025A63B22/0605A63B22/0664A63B71/0622A63B2024/009A63B2024/0068A63B2024/0093A63B2071/0644A63B2220/806A63B2225/20A63B2230/062
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,033,777
App. No.
17/178,173
Granted
Jun 15, 2021
Kind
B1
Abstract

Stationary exercise machine. In one aspect of the disclosure, a stationary exercise machine may include one or more moveable members configured to be moved by a user, an actuator configured to selectively adjust the speed of, or the amount of resistance on, the one or more moveable members, and one or more processors. The one or more processors may be configured to receive a video workout program, execute the video workout program set to a first difficulty level, receive a second difficulty level, and execute the video workout program reset to the second difficulty level.

Claims (107)

1. A stationary exercise machine comprising:

one or more moveable members configured to be moved by, or for, a user;

an actuator configured to selectively adjust a speed of, or an amount of resistance on, the one or more moveable members;

a console that includes a touchscreen display; and

one or more processors configured to:

receive, at the stationary exercise machine over the Internet, a video workout program, the video workout program including a video depicting a trainer performing a workout, the video workout program further including at least a first time segment and a second time segment, the video workout program further including first exercise machine control commands synchronized with the video during the first time segment and second exercise machine control commands synchronized with the video during the second time segment, with changes between the first and second exercise machine control commands synchronized with associated changes in the workout depicted in the video between the first and second time segments;

execute, at the stationary exercise machine, the first time segment of the video workout program by displaying the first time segment of the video on the touchscreen display and by controlling the actuator according to the first exercise machine control commands automatically set to a baseline difficulty level;

in response to input from the user, receive, during execution of the first time segment of the video workout program, an updated difficulty level that is different from the baseline difficulty level;

in response to receiving the updated difficulty level, control, at the stationary exercise machine during execution of the first time segment of the video workout program, the actuator according to the first exercise machine control commands automatically reset to the updated difficulty level;

upon conclusion of the first time segment, execute, at the stationary exercise machine, the second time segment of the video workout program by displaying the second time segment of the video on the touchscreen display and controlling the actuator according to the second exercise machine control commands automatically set to the updated difficulty level;

receive, at the stationary exercise machine during execution of the second time segment of the video workout program, an override input by the user selecting an override control on the touchscreen display;

in response receiving the override input, continue to execute, at the stationary exercise machine, the second time segment of the video workout program by displaying the second time segment of the video on the touchscreen display but ceasing to control the actuator according to the second exercise machine control commands;

receive, at the stationary exercise machine during execution of the second time segment of the video workout program, a follow input by the user selecting a follow control on the touchscreen display; and

in response receiving the follow input, continue to execute, at the stationary exercise machine, the second time segment of the video workout program by displaying the second time segment of the video on the touchscreen display and again controlling the actuator according to the second exercise machine control commands.

2. The stationary exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the input from the user includes the user selecting the updated difficulty level on the touchscreen display.

3. The stationary exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein:

the baseline difficulty level and the updated difficulty level are included in a finite number of difficulty levels;

the finite number of difficulty levels includes an identical number of positive difficulty levels and negative difficulty levels;

the positive difficulty levels are more difficult than the baseline difficulty level; and

the negative difficulty levels are less difficult than the baseline difficulty level.

4. The stationary exercise machine of claim 1 , where the updated difficulty level is calculated using a formula based on the baseline difficulty level.

5. The stationary exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

not automatically reset a current difficulty level according to exercise machine control commands during a warmup period of the workout.

6. The stationary exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein:

the stationary exercise machine is a stationary exercise bike that includes a flywheel;

the one or more moveable members include pedals configured to be moved by the user to cause the flywheel to rotate; and

the actuator includes a brake configured to be used to selectively adjust the amount of resistance on the flywheel.

7. The stationary exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein:

the stationary exercise machine is a treadmill;

the one or more moveable members include a running belt; and

the actuator includes a belt motor configured to be used to selectively adjust the speed at which the running belt rotates.

8. A stationary exercise machine comprising:

one or more moveable members configured to be moved by, or for, a user;

an actuator configured to selectively adjust a speed of, or an amount of resistance on, the one or more moveable members;

a console that includes a touchscreen display; and

one or more processors configured to:

receive, at the stationary exercise machine over the Internet, a video workout program, the video workout program including a video depicting a trainer performing a workout, the video workout program further including at least a first time segment and a second time segment, the video workout program further including first exercise machine control commands synchronized with the video during the first time segment and second exercise machine control commands synchronized with the video during the second time segment, with changes between the first and second exercise machine control commands synchronized with associated changes in the workout depicted in the video between the first and second time segments;

execute, at the stationary exercise machine, the first time segment of the video workout program by displaying the first time segment of the video on the touchscreen display and by controlling the actuator according to the first exercise machine control commands automatically set to a first difficulty level;

receive, during execution of the first time segment of the video workout program, a second difficulty level that is different from the first difficulty level;

in response to receiving the second difficulty level, control, at the stationary exercise machine during execution of the first time segment of the video workout program, the actuator according to the first exercise machine control commands automatically reset to the second difficulty level;

upon conclusion of the first time segment, execute, at the stationary exercise machine, the second time segment of the video workout program by displaying the second time segment of the video on the touchscreen display and controlling the actuator according to the second exercise machine control commands automatically set to the second difficulty level;

receive, at the stationary exercise machine during execution of the second time segment of the video workout program, an override input by the user selecting an override control on the touchscreen display;

in response receiving the override input, continue to execute, at the stationary exercise machine, the second time segment of the video workout program by displaying the second time segment of the video on the touchscreen display but ceasing to control the actuator according to the second exercise machine control commands;

receive, at the stationary exercise machine during execution of the second time segment of the video workout program, a follow input by the user selecting a follow control on the touchscreen display; and

in response receiving the follow input, continue to execute, at the stationary exercise machine, the second time segment of the video workout program by displaying the second time segment of the video on the touchscreen display and again controlling the actuator according to the second exercise machine control commands.

9. The stationary exercise machine of claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to receive the second difficulty level in response to input from the user.

10. The stationary exercise machine of claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to receive the second difficulty level in response to the user selecting the second difficulty level on the touchscreen display.

11. The stationary exercise machine of claim 8 , wherein:

the first difficulty level and the second difficulty level are included in a finite number of difficulty levels;

the finite number of difficulty levels includes a baseline difficulty level;

the finite number of difficulty levels includes an identical number of positive difficulty levels and negative difficulty levels;

the positive difficulty levels are more difficult than the baseline difficulty level; and

the negative difficulty levels are less difficult than the baseline difficulty level.

12. The stationary exercise machine of claim 11 , where the one or more processors are further configured to:

initially set the first difficulty level to the baseline difficulty level.

13. The stationary exercise machine of claim 12 , wherein the second difficulty level is calculated using a formula based on the baseline difficulty level.

14. The stationary exercise machine of claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

not automatically reset a current difficulty level according to exercise machine control commands during a warmup period of the workout.

15. The stationary exercise machine of claim 8 , wherein:

the stationary exercise machine is a stationary exercise bike that includes a flywheel;

the one or more moveable members include pedals configured to be moved by the user to cause the flywheel to rotate; and

the actuator includes a brake configured to be used to selectively adjust the amount of resistance on the flywheel.

16. The stationary exercise machine of claim 8 , wherein:

the stationary exercise machine is a treadmill;

the one or more moveable members include a running belt; and

the actuator includes a belt motor configured to be used to selectively adjust the speed at which the running belt rotates.

17. A stationary exercise machine comprising:

one or more moveable members configured to be moved by, or for, a user;

an actuator configured to selectively adjust a speed of, or an amount of resistance on, the one or more moveable members; and

one or more processors configured to:

receive, at the stationary exercise machine over the Internet, a video workout program, the video workout program including a video depicting a trainer performing a workout, the video workout program further including at least a first time segment and a second time segment, the video workout program further including first exercise machine control commands synchronized with the video during the first time segment and second exercise machine control commands synchronized with the video during the second time segment, with changes between the first and second exercise machine control commands synchronized with associated changes in the workout depicted in the video between the first and second time segments;

execute, at the stationary exercise machine, the first time segment of the video workout program by displaying the first time segment of the video on a touchscreen display and by controlling the actuator according to the first exercise machine control commands automatically set to a first difficulty level;

receive, during execution of the first time segment of the video workout program, a second difficulty level that is different from the first difficulty level;

in response to receiving the second difficulty level, control, at the stationary exercise machine during execution of the first time segment of the video workout program, the actuator according to the first exercise machine control commands automatically reset to the second difficulty level; and

upon conclusion of the first time segment, execute, at the stationary exercise machine, the second time segment of the video workout program by displaying the second time segment of the video on the touchscreen display and controlling the actuator according to the second exercise machine control commands automatically set to the second difficulty level.

18. The stationary exercise machine of claim 17 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to receive the second difficulty level in response to input from the user.

19. The stationary exercise machine of claim 17 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to receive the second difficulty level in response to the user selecting the second difficulty level on the touchscreen display.

20. The stationary exercise machine of claim 17 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

receive, at the stationary exercise machine during execution of the second time segment of the video workout program, an override input by the user selecting an override control on the touchscreen display; and

in response receiving the override input, continue to execute, at the stationary exercise machine, the second time segment of the video workout program by displaying the second time segment of the video on the touchscreen display but ceasing to control the actuator according to the second exercise machine control commands.

21. The stationary exercise machine of claim 20 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

receive, at the stationary exercise machine during execution of the second time segment of the video workout program, a follow input by the user selecting a follow control on the touchscreen display; and

in response receiving the follow input, continue to execute, at the stationary exercise machine, the second time segment of the video workout program by displaying the second time segment of the video on the touchscreen display and again controlling the actuator to according to the second exercise machine control commands.

22. The stationary exercise machine of claim 17 , wherein:

the first difficulty level and the second difficulty level are included in a finite number of difficulty levels;

the finite number of difficulty levels includes a baseline difficulty level;

the finite number of difficulty levels includes an identical number of positive difficulty levels and negative difficulty levels;

the positive difficulty levels are more difficult than the baseline difficulty level; and

the negative difficulty levels are less difficult than the baseline difficulty level.

23. The stationary exercise machine of claim 22 , where the one or more processors are further configured to:

initially set the first difficulty level to the baseline difficulty level.

24. The stationary exercise machine of claim 23 , wherein the second difficulty level is calculated using a formula based on the baseline difficulty level.

25. The stationary exercise machine of claim 17 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

not automatically reset a current difficulty level according to exercise machine control commands during a warmup period of the workout.

26. The stationary exercise machine of claim 17 , further comprising:

a console that includes the touchscreen display.

27. The stationary exercise machine of claim 17 , wherein:

the touchscreen display is included in a tablet that is separate from the stationary exercise machine and that communicates with the stationary exercise machine via a wireless network connection.

28. The stationary exercise machine of claim 17 , wherein:

the stationary exercise machine is a stationary exercise bike that includes a flywheel;

the one or more moveable members include pedals configured to be moved by the user to cause the flywheel to rotate; and

the actuator includes a brake configured to be used to selectively adjust the amount of resistance on the flywheel.

29. The stationary exercise machine of claim 17 , wherein:

the stationary exercise machine is a treadmill;

the one or more moveable members include a running belt; and

the actuator includes a belt motor configured to be used to selectively adjust the speed at which the running belt rotates.

30. The stationary exercise machine of claim 17 , wherein the first and second exercise machine control commands of the video workout program are encoded separately from the video of the video workout program.

Assignments (16)
RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY INTEREST (4TH LIEN) Recorded May 28, 2025
From: LC9 CONNECTED HOLDINGS, LP
To: IFIT INC.; ICON IP INC.
Reel/Frame 071429/0479 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 27, 2025
From: LC9 CONNECTED HOLDINGS, LP
To: IFIT INC.; ICON IP INC.
Reel/Frame 071407/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 23, 2025
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: IFIT, INC. (F/K/A ICON HEALTH & FITNESS, INC.); ICON IP, INC.
Reel/Frame 071351/0624 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 23, 2025
From: PLC AGENT LLC
To: IFIT INC.; ICON IP, INC.
Reel/Frame 071358/0584 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 21, 2025
From: ICON PREFERRED HOLDINGS, L.P.
To: IFIT INC.; ICON IP INC.
Reel/Frame 071336/0725 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2025
From: IFIT, INC.
To: CERBERUS BUSINESS FINANCE AGENCY, LLC
Reel/Frame 071278/0707 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2023
From: IFIT INC.; ICON IP, INC.
To: LC9 CONNECTED HOLDINGS, LP
Reel/Frame 066094/0529 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 5, 2022
From: IFIT INC.; ICON IP, INC.
To: LC9 CONNECTED HOLDINGS, LP
Reel/Frame 059857/0830 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE ASSIGNEE'S ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 059633 FRAME: 0313. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Apr 28, 2022
From: IFIT INC.
To: ICON PREFERRED HOLDINGS, L.P.
Reel/Frame 060512/0315 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 1, 2022
From: IFIT INC.
To: ICON PREFERRED HOLDINGS, L.P.
Reel/Frame 059633/0313 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2022
From: IFIT INC.
To: PLC AGENT LLC
Reel/Frame 059249/0466 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2022
From: IFIT INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 059086/0284 →
TO CORRECT AN ERROR IN A COVER SHEET PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 058742/0476 - CORRECT ASSIGNEE NAME IFIT INC TO IFIT INC. Recorded Jan 31, 2022
From: ICON HEALTH & FITNESS, INC.
To: IFIT INC.
Reel/Frame 058957/0531 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 12, 2022
From: ICON HEALTH & FITNESS, INC.
To: IFIT INC
Reel/Frame 058742/0476 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2021
From: ICON HEALTH & FITNESS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 056238/0818 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 18, 2021
From: WATTERSON, ERIC S.; BRAMMER, CHASE; HATHAWAY, CHRISTIAN; CAPELL, REBECCA LYNN
To: ICON HEATLH & FITNESS, INC.
Reel/Frame 055314/0520 →