ELECTRONIC METER FOR AN EXERCISE APPARATUS

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Fields of the Invention

The invention relates to an electronic meter for an exercise apparatus, and more particularly, to an electronic meter in which the “constant wattage” serves as an exercise response parameter so that the operator can exactly conduct the exercise session to achieve the expected exercise effect.

2. Description of the Related Art

As shown in FIG. 1, a prior art of U.S. Pat. No. 6,967,904 (disclosed by the same applicant of the invention and titled: “ELECTRONIC WATCH FOR SPORTS APPARATUS) proposed a microprocessor (not shown) installed in an electronic meter 20 of an exercise apparatus. An optimal exercise session for a particular user will be automatically determined by use of the body weight difference between the particular user's real weight and a preset international standard body weight. In this way, the particular user is able to fully conduct the proper exercise and training for achieving the expected exercise effect.

The above-mentioned object is indeed a practical product in use and the results are very remarkable. In addition, it ensures a long-term use and is well accepted by users by gaining trust of consumers. However, a long-term observation by the inventor shows that it often happens that the users can't fully conduct the whole exercise session which is set by the built-in program in the microprocessor just due to their own physical factors or any other factors. Thus, the final exercise results are affected slightly and/or negatively.

The above-mentioned problem is caused by users themselves who can't fully meet the requirements of the exercise session. However, the manufacturer should also do their best to possibly assist the users to achieve the expected exercise effect in the most natural and easy way such that it can be regarded as an excellent sports apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide an electronic meter for an exercise apparatus in which the “constant wattage” serves as an exercise response parameter. According to the speed of the sports apparatus operated by the user, the resistance level and the total operation time of the sports apparatus 10 can be adjusted by an microprocessor at any time so that the operator can exactly conduct the exercise session to achieve the expected exercise effect.

According to the invention, the body mass index (BMI) and the standard heart rate parameter list are stored in a microprocessor of the electronic meter. After the user inputs his personal basic data (such as height, weight, gender, age, etc.), the microprocessor will determine the weight difference for the user. According to this result, an optimal exercise session suitable for the user will be automatically determined and executed. When the microprocessor executes the exercise session program, the “constant wattage” serves as an exercise response parameter for the sports apparatus. According to the speed of the sports apparatus operated by the user, the resistance level and the total operation time of the sports apparatus can be adjusted at any time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accomplishment of this and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and its accompanying drawing of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention will now be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings that show various embodiments of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an electronic meter 20 is installed on the sports apparatus 10. The body mass index (BMI) and the standard heart rate parameter list are stored in a microprocessor (not shown) of the electronic meter 20. After the user inputs his personal basic data (such as height, weight, gender, age, etc.), the microprocessor will determine the weight difference for the user. According to this result, an optimal exercise session suitable for the user will be automatically determined.

When the microprocessor executes the exercise session program, the “constant wattage” serves as an exercise response parameter for the sports apparatus.

According to the speed of the sports apparatus 10 operated by the user, the resistance level and the total operation time of the sports apparatus 10 can be adjusted at any time.

In other words, the above-mentioned “wattage” is the amount of “work” done by the operator and applied to the sports apparatus 10. This quantitative value is obtained by a basic physics formula with three elements of movement speed, movement resistance and movement time. Thereafter, the calories consumed by the operator can be calculated by means of the above-mentioned “work”. In short, when the “constant wattage” of the sports apparatus 10 is set, the operator is asked to apply a certain amount of “work” to the sports apparatus 10. That is, when the exercise speed of the operator becomes slower, the exercise resistance will be enhanced and the exercise duration will be increased. The microprocessor will automatically and reversely adjust the exercise resistance and the exercise time at any time.

An optimal exercise session for a certain user will be automatically set according to the above-mentioned body weight difference. At the same time, the “constant wattage” serves as an goal for an exercise session. The user only needs to exercise and complete the exercise session without worrying about other relevant factors such as speed, resistance, or time. In this way, the exercise effect may be easily, conveniently and reliably achieved.

Many changes and modifications in the above-described embodiments of the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.