Fitness equipment with power generation

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of fitness equipment; particularly, to fitness equipment that, when operated by a user, generates an amount of electricity for storage and/or immediate use, either by the fitness equipment or by other devices that utilize electricity.

1 . An article of fitness equipment, comprising:
 an element configured to be actuated through an expenditure of energy by a user; and   a generator to convert to an electric current at least a portion of the energy expended by the user in actuating the article of fitness equipment.   
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , further comprising a battery to store energy converted by the generator. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 2 , further comprising a rectifier in electric communication between the generator and the battery. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of a stationary bicycle, a stepper, a treadmill, an elliptical machine and a weight machine. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the article is a stationary bicycle and the element is the pedals of the stationary bicycle. 
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 1 , configured to transmit and/or receive data through at least one communications network. 
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 6 , wherein the transmission and/or reception of data is performed through wiring, wirelessly or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 2 , further comprising an electrical apparatus at least partially powered by the electricity stored in the battery. 
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 1 , further comprising a monitor to display information. 
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 1 , configured to communicate with a game console and/or a video camera. 
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 1 , configured to provide energy converted by the generator to an external battery. 
     
     
         12 . In combination, at least two articles of fitness equipment, each comprising:
 an element configured to be actuated through an expenditure of energy by a user; and   a generator to convert to an electric current at least a portion of the energy expended by the user in actuating the article of fitness equipment.   
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein each article of fitness equipment further comprises a battery to store energy converted by the generator. 
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein each article of fitness equipment further comprises a rectifier in electric communication between the generator and the battery. 
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein each article of fitness equipment is independently selected from the group consisting of a stationary bicycle, a stepper, a treadmill, an elliptical machine and a weight machine. 
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein each article of fitness equipment is a stationary bicycle and the element is the pedals of the stationary bicycle. 
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein each article of fitness equipment is configured to transmit and/or receive data through at least one communications network. 
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein each article of fitness equipment is configured to communicate with a game console and/or a video camera. 
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein each article of fitness equipment is configured to provide energy converted by the generator to an external battery. 
     
     
         20 . A system, comprising:
 at least two articles of fitness equipment, each comprising:
 an element configured to be actuated through an expenditure of energy by a user, and 
 a generator to convert to an electric current at least a portion of the energy expended by the user in actuating the article of fitness equipment; 
   means for storage and/or transmission of the energy converted by the generator in each of the at least one article of fitness equipment; and   at least one display to depict information about the operation of the at least two articles of fitness equipment and/or about the operation of at least one article of fitness equipment in a location other than the room.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein each of the at least two articles of fitness equipment are a stationary bicycle and the element is the pedals of the stationary bicycle. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , configured for the users of the at least two articles of fitness equipment to compete in a game with the at least two articles of fitness equipment. 
     
     
         23 . A method of storing energy, comprising:
 operating an article of fitness equipment, comprising:
 an element configured to be actuated through an expenditure of energy by a user, and 
 a generator to convert to an electric current at least a portion of the energy expended by the user in actuating the article of fitness equipment; and 
   storing energy converted by the generator in a battery.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the article of fitness equipment further comprises a rectifier in electric communication between the generator and the battery. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the article of fitness equipment is selected from the group consisting of a stationary bicycle, a stepper, a treadmill, an elliptical machine and a weight machine. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the article of fitness equipment is a stationary bicycle and the element is the pedals of the stationary bicycle.