Apparatus for cooling an exerciser having manual local control of air outlets built into discrete cooling assemblies

Abstract

A cooling assembly is disclosed for cooling an exerciser while exercising. The cooling assembly includes a plurality of air outlets supported by at least one extended cooling structure, and includes at least one cooling air input. Each air outlet is in airflow communication with a cooling air input. The plurality of air outlets is arranged along the at least one extended cooling structure so as to at least partially surround the exerciser with cooling air. Each extended cooling structure is cooperative with at least one support mechanism for supporting the extended cooling structure. Each at least one cooling air input is connectable to a cooling air source for supplying a flow of cooling air. At least partially surrounding the exerciser with cooling air results in more comfortable exercise sessions, while also saving energy by more efficient cooling of each exerciser as compared with typical gym cooling systems.

1 . A cooling assembly for cooling an exerciser while the exerciser uses a stationary exercise device, the cooling assembly comprising:
 a plurality of air outlets;   at least one extended cooling structure supporting the plurality of air outlets; and   at least one cooling air input,
 each air outlet of the plurality of air outlets being in airflow communication with a cooling air input, the plurality of air outlets being arranged along the at least one extended cooling structure so as to at least partially surround the exerciser with cooling air, 
 each extended cooling structure being cooperative with at least one support mechanism for supporting and attaching the at least one extended cooling structure to the stationary exercise device, 
 each at least one cooling air input being connectable to a cooling air source, the cooling air source being capable of supplying a flow of cooling air. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cooling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one air outlet has a fan for blowing cooling air out of the air outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one support mechanism stabilizes and supports the at least one extended cooling structure. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one support mechanism includes a support leg for supporting at least a portion of the at least one extended cooling structure. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the stationary exercise device is one of:
 a treadmill, an elliptical machine, a stationary exercise cycle, a weight bench, a weight machine, a stair climbing machine, and a rowing machine.   
     
     
         6 . The cooling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each air outlet can be manually aimed so as to provide a flow of cooling air to a selectable portion of the exerciser. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each air outlet can be aimed only within a bounded range of directions so as to provide a flow of cooling air only to selectable portions of the exerciser. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each air outlet can be manually adjusted so as to change a rate of air flow from the air outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The cooling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each air outlet can be manually controlled so as to substantially block air flow from the air outlet. 
     
     
         10 . The cooling assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one extended cooling structure can pivot so as to allow the exerciser more easy access to and from the stationary exercise device. 
     
     
         11 . A cooling assembly for cooling an exerciser while exercising, the cooling assembly comprising:
 a plurality of air outlets;   at least one extended cooling structure supporting the plurality of air outlets; and   at least one cooling air input,
 each air outlet of the plurality of air outlets being in airflow communication with a cooling air input, the plurality of air outlets being arranged along the at least one extended cooling structure so as to at least partially surround the exerciser with cooling air, 
 each extended cooling structure being cooperative with at least one support mechanism for supporting the extended cooling structure, 
 each at least one cooling air input being connectable to a cooling air source, the cooling air source being capable of supplying a flow of cooling air. 
   
     
     
         12 . The cooling assembly of  claim 11 , wherein each air outlet of the plurality of air outlets is in airflow communication with a respective cooling air input. 
     
     
         13 . The cooling assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one extended cooling structure can pivot so as to allow the exerciser to more easily access a stationary exercise device used by the exerciser. 
     
     
         14 . The cooling assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the cooling air source is one of:
 a fresh air conduit, a dehumidifier, a high-velocity cooling source, a window air conditioner, a free-standing room air conditioner, and a central air conditioner.   
     
     
         15 . The cooling assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the cooling air source is able to supply cooling air to a plurality of stationary exercise devices, the cooling air being supplied at pressures and flow rates that meet the cooling requirements and preferences of exercisers using at least a subset of the exercise devices. 
     
     
         16 . The cooling assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one extended cooling structure is an extended cooling structure that substantially surrounds the exerciser. 
     
     
         17 . The cooling assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one extended cooling structure mounts to one or more of:
 a floor stand, a wall mount, and a suspended overhead mount.   
     
     
         18 . The cooling assembly of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the at least one extended cooling structure is cooperative with a stationary exercise device,   the stationary exercise device being one of a plurality of stationary exercise devices, which plurality includes a first stationary exercise device, and a second stationary exercise device in nearest neighbor relationship with the first stationary exercise device; and   the at least one extended cooling structure is one of a plurality of extended cooling structures,
 a first extended cooling structure of the plurality extended cooling structures being located between the first stationary exercise device and the second stationary exercise device, 
 the first extended cooling structure supporting a plurality of air outlets arranged along both sides of the first extended cooling structure so as to be able to direct cooling air toward and partially surrounding both a first exerciser and a second exerciser while exercising on the first exercise device and the second exercise device, respectively, 
 a second extended cooling structure of the plurality of extended cooling structures supporting a plurality of air outlets arranged along only one side of the second cooling structure, so as to be able to direct additional cooling air towards and partially surrounding the first exerciser while exercising on the first exercise device, thereby contributing to substantially surrounding the first exerciser with cooling air. 
   
     
     
         19 . The cooling assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one support mechanism for supporting the at least one extended cooling structure includes:
 an elongated common support member capable of supporting a plurality of extended cooling structures.   
     
     
         20 . The cooling assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the elongated common support member is supported by at least one of:
 a floor stand;   a wall mount;   a suspended overhead mount; and   at lease one stationary exercise device.   
     
     
         21 . A cooling assembly for cooling an exerciser while the exerciser uses a stationary exercise device, the cooling assembly comprising:
 at least one extended cooling structure;   at least one cooling air input; and   at least a pair of air outlets,
 each extended cooling structure having at least one support mechanism for attaching the at least one extended cooling structure to the stationary exercise device so as to support the at least one extended cooling structure, 
 each cooling air input being connectable to a cooling air source, the cooling air source being capable of supplying a flow of cooling air, 
 each air outlet being in airflow communication with at least one cooling air input, each air outlet being positioned and oriented so as to direct cooling air toward the exerciser. 
   
     
     
         22 . The cooling assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one extended cooling structure is a vertical extended cooling structure having at least two air outlets. 
     
     
         23 . The cooling assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 at least one conductive cooling applicator,   the conductive cooling applicator being 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 the cooling air source.   
     
     
         24 . The cooling assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the conductive cooling applicator is included in at least one of:
 a handle, a seat, and a backrest.   
     
     
         25 . An apparatus for cooling a plurality of exercisers while using a corresponding plurality of stationary exercise devices, the apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of extended cooling structures,
 each extended cooling structure having a support mechanism for supporting the extended cooling structure in mutual symmetric relationship with at least one other extended cooling structure about a stationary exercise device, such that each exercise device is located between a pair of extended cooling structures, 
 at least one of the plurality of extended cooling structures having air outlets on both a right side and a left side of each extended cooling structure, each air outlet being able to provide a flow of cooling air so as to contribute to substantially surrounding each exerciser with cooling air. 
   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , each extended cooling structure having an air inlet for supplying cooling air to the plurality of air outlets. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , at least one of the air outlets being a directable nozzle. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , the support mechanism for supporting at least one of the extended cooling structures including a support leg attached to the extended cooling structure so as to stabilize and support the extended cooling structure. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , at least one of the air outlets being capable of being manually directed so as to provide a flow of cooling air to a selectable portion of the body of the exerciser. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , at least one of the air outlets being capable of being manually directed within a bounded range of directions so as to provide a flow of cooling air only to selectable portions of the body of the exerciser. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , at least one of the air outlets being capable of being manually adjusted so as to change a rate of air flow from the air outlet. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , at least one of the air outlets being capable of being manually controlled so as to substantially block air flow from the air outlet. 
     
     
         33 . An apparatus for cooling an exerciser while using a stationary exercise device, the apparatus comprising:
 a pair of extended cooling structures, each extended cooling structure being cooperative with a support mechanism for supporting the pair of extended cooling structures in mutual symmetric relationship about an exerciser to be located between the pair of extended cooling structures, the support mechanism including a connector for attaching the extended cooling structures to the stationary exercise device so as to stabilize and support the extended cooling structures,   each extended cooling structure having a plurality of cooling air outlets, each cooling air outlet being able to provide a flow of cooling air so as to substantially surround the exerciser with cooling air,   each extended cooling structure having an air inlet for receiving cooling air to be supplied to the plurality of cooling air outlets.   
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein at least a portion of one extended cooling structure is able to swing up so as to allow the exerciser to more easily access the stationary exercise device. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the connector for attaching at least one extended cooling structure to the stationary exercise device includes a mechanism to allow the extended cooling structure to swing up so as to allow the exerciser to more easily access the stationary exercise device. 
     
     
         36 . An apparatus for cooling a plurality of exercisers while using a corresponding plurality of stationary exercise devices, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one spine module able to connect to a cooling air source,
 each at least one spine module being able to support a pair of extended cooling structures, 
 each at least one spine module being able to interlock with at least one other spine module; and 
   a plurality of extended cooling structures including at least a pair of extended cooling structures,
 each extended cooling structure being supported by at least one spine module, 
 each extended cooling structure being supported in mutual symmetric relationship with at least one other extended cooling structure about a stationary exercise device, such that each stationary exercise device is located between a pair of extended cooling structures, 
 each extended cooling structure having cooling air outlets, each cooling air outlet being able to provide a flow of cooling air so as to contribute to substantially surrounding with cooling air each exerciser using a stationary exercise device. 
   
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein at least one of the plurality of extended cooling structures has cooling air outlets on both a right side and a left side of the extended cooling structure, each cooling air outlet being able to provide a flow of cooling air so as to contribute to substantially surrounding with cooling air an exerciser both to the right and to the left of the extended cooling structure. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein at least one spine module has a plurality of cooling air outlets. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein at least one spine module has an extended member having a plurality of cooling air outlets. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , each extended cooling structure having an air inlet for receiving cooling air from the cooling air source. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , each cooling air outlet being capable of being manually aimed so as to provide a flow of cooling air to a selectable portion of the body of the exerciser. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , each cooling air outlet being capable of being manually aimed within a bounded range of directions so as to provide a flow of cooling air only to selectable portions of the body of the exerciser. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , each cooling air outlets being capable of being manually adjusted so as to change a rate of air flow from the air outlet. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , each cooling air outlets being capable of being manually controlled so as to substantially block air flow from the air outlet.