Apparatus for cooling an exerciser having convenient centralized control of air outlets built into a stationary exercise device

Abstract

An apparatus for convenient centralized control of a personal cooling environment of an exerciser by the exerciser while exercising includes a plurality of air outlets and a control center. Each air outlet is capable of being in airflow communication with a cooling air source providing a flow of cooling air. The plurality of air outlets are arranged so as to direct cooling air toward the exerciser to create a personal cooling environment for the exerciser. At least one air outlet is adjustable in response to a control signal. The control center is easily accessible to the exerciser while exercising and generates control signals in response to input from the exerciser. The control signals cause at least one air outlet to change a characteristic of the cooling air flow therethrough. Together, the control signals control the personal cooling environment. The controllable air flow characteristics include one of flow direction and rate.

1 . An apparatus for convenient centralized control of a personal cooling environment of an exerciser by the exerciser while exercising, the apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of air outlets,
 each air outlet capable of being in airflow communication with a cooling air source providing a flow of cooling air; 
 the plurality of air outlets being arranged so as to direct cooling air toward the exerciser to create a personal cooling environment for the exerciser; and 
 at least one air outlet being adjustable in response to a control signal; and 
   a control center,
 the control center being easily accessible to the exerciser while exercising; 
 the control center generating control signals in response to input from the exerciser, the control signals causing the at least one air outlet to change at least one characteristic of cooling air flowing through the at least one air outlet; and 
 the control signals together controlling the personal cooling environment. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the cooling air being at least one of fresh air, chilled air, filtered air, ionized air, and dehumidified air. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the personal cooling environment includes a plurality of flows of cooling air directed at a plurality of regions of the exerciser. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of air outlets are built in to a stationary exercise device. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the personal cooling environment includes a plurality of flows of cooling air directed toward at least one of the following regions of the exerciser:
 head;   upper arm;   forearm;   upper front torso;   lower torso;   upper thigh;   calf;   upper back;   lower back; and   neck.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the personal cooling environment includes a plurality of individually adjustable flows of cooling air directed at a plurality of regions of the exerciser. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one characteristic is at least one of the following:
 direction of cooling air flow;   rate of cooling air flow;   temperature of cooling air flow;   humidity of cooling air flow; and   quantity of cooling mist injected into the cooling air flow.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the control signals is at least one of:
 a mechanical control signal;   an electro-mechanical control signal;   a pneumatic control signal;   a hydraulic control signal;   an electronic control signal; and   an electro-optical control signal.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the mechanical control signal is transmitted via at least one coaxial cable. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one air outlet is an adjustable nozzle. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control center includes a cooling air distribution center,
 the cooling air distribution center being able to receive a flow cooling air from the cooling air source,   the cooling air distribution center being able to supply a flow of cooling air to each of the plurality of air outlets, and   the cooling air distribution center having a plurality of valves, each valve being capable of separately adjusting a flow of cooling air to a cooperative air outlet.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of air outlets includes a plurality of flow directors, each of the plurality of flow directors being directed in a different direction, each of the flow directors being separately adjustable in flow rate. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the direction of the flow of cooling air from the at least one air outlet is controlled by controlling the flow rates of the plurality of flow directors. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the flow of cooling air from the at least one air outlet forms a substantially diverging pattern when cooling air is supplied uniformly to all of the flow directors. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control center includes a plurality of controls arranged in a pattern that facilitates recognition by the exerciser of a correspondence between each of the controls and a corresponding region of the exerciser's body, whereby adjustment of the control causes adjustment of a characteristic of the cooling air applied to the corresponding region of the exerciser's body. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the pattern resembles an outline of at least a portion of a human body. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a warm air source capable of supplying warm air to the exerciser. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cooling air output able to supply cooling air to a second apparatus for convenient centralized control of a second personal cooling environment of a second exerciser by the second exerciser while exercising. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling air source is built into the stationary exercise device. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling air source is external to the stationary exercise device. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling air source is a room air conditioner in airflow communication with the plurality of air outlets via an adaptor, the adaptor being able to collect cooling air from the room air conditioner, and able to facilitate movement of the cooling air to the plurality of air outlets. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the adaptor includes a booster fan, the booster fan being able to increase at least one of flow rate and pressure of the cooling air directed from the room air conditioner to the plurality of air outputs. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling air source is capable of providing cooling air to a thermally conductive surface that can come into thermal contact with at least a portion of the exerciser during exercise. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the thermally conductive surface is at least a portion of one of:
 a seat;   a backrest; and   a hand grip.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling air source is able to supply cooling air to a plurality of stationary exercise devices, the cooling air being supplied at a pressure and a flow rate which can meet the cooling requirements and preferences of exercisers using at least some of the stationary exercise devices. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one conductive cooling applicator capable of providing cooling by thermal conduction due to a flow of cooling air flowing within the conductive cooling applicator,
 the conductive cooling applicator being in airflow communication with a cooling air source providing the flow of cooling air, 
 the conductive cooling applicator being located so as to at least sometimes be in thermally conductive contact with a portion of the exerciser, 
 the conductive cooling applicator being responsive to control signals from the control center, 
 the control signals causing the conductive cooling applicator to change at least one characteristic of cooling air flowing through the conductive cooling applicator, 
 the control center being capable of enabling the exerciser to control both conductive cooling and cooling air. 
   
     
     
         27 . An apparatus for convenient centralized control of a personal cooling environment of an exerciser by the exerciser while exercising, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one conductive cooling applicator, each cooling applicator being capable of providing cooling to the exerciser by thermal conduction due to a flow of cooling fluid flowing within the conductive cooling applicator,
 each conductive cooling applicator being in fluid communication with a cooling fluid source providing the flow of cooling fluid, 
 each conductive cooling applicator being located so as to at least sometimes be in thermally conductive contact with a portion of the exerciser, 
 at least one conductive cooling applicator being responsive to control signals from the control center, 
 the control signals causing the conductive cooling applicator to change at least one characteristic of cooling fluid flowing through the conductive cooling applicator, 
   the control center being capable of enabling the exerciser to control at least conductive cooling.   
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , further including a least one air outlet, the air outlet capable of being in fluid communication with the fluid cooling source, the cooling fluid serving to cool a flow of air flowing through the air outlet so as to provide a flow of cooling air to the exerciser,
 the at least one air outlet being adjustable in response to a control signal from the control center,
 the control center being easily accessible to the exerciser while exercising; 
 the control center generating control signals in response to input from the exerciser, the control signals causing the at least one air outlet to change at least one characteristic of cooling air flowing through the at least one air outlet. 
   
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the cooling fluid is one of:
 water, air, water with anti-freeze, and freon.   
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein at least one characteristic of cooling fluid is at least one of:
 flow rate and flow temperature.