Programmatic climate control of an exercise environment

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for programmatically controlling the climate of a localized exercise environment so as to accommodate the evolving needs of exercisers during a workout. In preferred embodiments, the localized environment is an enclosed exercise room or the area surrounding one or more stationary exercise machines. Heat is applied by convective, conductive, and/or radiant means, and/or removed by convective, conductive, and/or evaporative means. In various preferred embodiments the humidity, direction, and speed of the air flow are controlled, and/or a cooling mist is applied. In preferred embodiments, the climate control program is executed according to the passage of time, according to the rate of work and the amount of work performed, according to acoustic features of music, and according to physiological parameters of the exerciser such as heart rate, breathing rate, and skin temperature. In some preferred embodiments the climate control devices are attached directly to stationary exercise devices.

1 . An apparatus for programmatically controlling the climate of a localized exercise environment, comprising:
 at least one climate control device, capable of controlling the exchange of heat between the localized exercise environment and at least one individual located within the localized exercise environment; and   a programmatic controller capable of controlling the at least one climate control device during an exercise session according to a program.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the localized exercise environment is an enclosed room. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the enclosing boundaries of the enclosed room include at least one large opening that can be closed to isolate the climate within the room from the climate immediately outside of the room, and can be opened to allow rapid equalization between the climate within the room and the climate immediately outside of the room. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of a fan and other air movement devices is used when the large opening is open to accelerate the equalization between the climate within the room and the climate immediately outside of the room. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the localized exercise environment is the environment immediately surrounding at least one stationary exercise device that enables an individual to vigorously exercise while remaining in essentially the same location. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the stationary exercise devices is one of an exercise cycle, a treadmill, an exercise stepper, an elliptical, a free weight machine, and an exercise mat. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the localized exercise environment surrounding at least one of the stationary exercise devices is at least partially enclosed by a closeable barrier. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the closable barrier is at least one of a flexible curtain, a semi-rigid plastic sheet, and a set of inter-connecting panels. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the localized exercise environment is composed of multiple, essentially identical localized exercise environments. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the climate control devices is able to control at least one of the direction and the flow rate of air within the localized exercise environment. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the climate control devices is able to control the humidity of the air within the localized exercise environment. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the climate control devices is able to apply heat to individuals located in the localized exercise environment through at least one of radiation, convection, and conduction. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the climate control devices is able to heat the air within the localized exercise environment. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the climate control devices includes a radiant heat source that can be directed toward at least one individual exercising in the localized exercise environment. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the climate control devices is able to heat at least one surface that is in physical contact with at least one of the body and the clothing of at least one individual exercising in the localized exercise environment. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the climate control devices is able to remove heat from at least one individual exercising in the localized exercise environment through at least one of convection, conduction, and evaporation. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the climate control devices is able to cool the air within the localized exercise environment. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the climate control devices is able to cool at least one surface that is in physical contact with at least one of the body and the clothing of at least one individual exercising in the localized exercise environment. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the climate control devices is able to apply a cooling liquid to the body of at least one individual exercising in the localized exercise environment, the cooling liquid being in the form of at least one of a flow of liquid and a mist of liquid droplets. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the cooling liquid is water. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the program used by the programmatic controller is executed at least partly according to elapsed time. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the program used by the programmatic controller is at least partially derived from at least one of the temporal and acoustic features of music. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the program used by the programmatic controller is executed at least partly according to at least one measured exercise parameter of at least one exerciser in the localized exercise environment. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one measured exercise parameter is at least one of the amount of exercise that has been performed and the rate at which exercise is being performed. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the program used by the programmatic controller is executed at least partly according to at least one of an average over time of at least one measured exercise parameter and an average over a plurality of exercising individuals of at least one measured exercise parameter. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the program used by the programmatic controller is executed at least partly according to at least one measured physiological parameter of at least one exerciser in the localized exercise environment. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one measured physiological parameter is at least one of the heart rate, breathing rate, skin temperature, and degree of perspiration. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one physiological parameter is measured by at least one of a sensor attached to an exerciser in the localized exercise environment and a sensor attached to a stationary exercise device in the localized exercise environment and in physical contact with an exerciser. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the program used by the programmatic controller is executed at least partly according to at least one of an average over time of the at least one measured physiological parameter and an average of the at least one measured physiological parameter over a plurality of exercising individuals in the localized exercise environment. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the program used by the programmatic controller is executed at least partly according to at least one of the age, the weight, and the height of at least one exerciser in the localized exercise environment. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the program used by the programmatic controller is executed at least partly according to at least one measured exercise parameter of the at least one exerciser in the localized exercise environment, and wherein the program evaluates the at least one measured exercise parameter according to at least one of the age, the weight, and the height of the at least one exerciser. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the program used by the programmatic controller is executed at least partly according to at least one measured physiological parameter of the at least one exerciser in the localized exercise environment, and wherein the program evaluates the at least one measured physiological parameter according to the age, the weight, and the height of the at least one exerciser. 
     
     
         33 . A method for programmatically controlling the climate of a localized exercise environment, comprising:
 providing at least one climate control device, capable of controlling the exchange of heat between the localized exercise environment and at least one individual located within the environment, and a programmatic controller capable of controlling the at least one climate control device during an exercise session according to a program;   commencing of an exercise session by at least one individual within the localized exercise environment; and   at least one of heating and cooling of the at least one individual during the exercise session by the at least one climate control device according to a program executed by the programmatic controller.