Apparatus for surrounding an exerciser with cooling air having manual local control of air outlets built into a stationary exercise device

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed that cools an individual while using a stationary exercise device by supplying cooling air that mostly surrounds the individual, herein called the SurroundCool™ effect. A plurality of air outlets provides a flow of cooling air from a plurality of locations and/or directions to generate the SurroundCool™ effect. Each air outlet is independently adjustable in direction over a range of directions for accommodating various exerciser shapes and sizes. Each air outlet is also independently adjustable in flow rate over a range of flow rates, including fully open and fully closed, so as to help provide a desired level of cooling. Some embodiments allow control of at least one characteristic of the cooling air, including temperature, flow rate, and humidity. In some embodiments, the range of directions is bounded so as to ensure that each cooling air outlet can only be directed at the individual, thereby saving energy.

1 . An apparatus for cooling an exerciser while the exerciser uses a stationary exercise device, the apparatus being built into the stationary exercise device, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one cooling air input that is connectable to a cooling air source, the cooling air source being capable of supplying a flow of cooling air; and   a plurality of air outlets built into the stationary exercise device,
 each air outlet being in airflow communication with the at least one cooling air input, 
 at least one air outlet being independently adjustable in direction over a range of directions, and 
 the plurality of air outlets being arranged so as to mostly surround the exerciser with cooling air. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the range of directions is bounded so as to ensure that the at least one air outlet remains directed toward at least a part of the exerciser. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the cooling air being at least one of cool fresh air, chilled air, filtered air, and dehumidified air. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an air characteristic controller able to control at least one characteristic of the cooling air supplied to at least some of the plurality of air outlets, the characteristic being at least one of:
 fresh air content;   temperature;   flow rate; and   humidity.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of air outlets is divided into at least two groups, and the air characteristic controller is able to independently control the at least one characteristic of the cooling air for each of the at least two groups. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the air outlets includes a flow rate adjuster that enables manual adjustment of a flow rate, within a range of flow rates, of the cooling air flowing out of the at least one air outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the range of flow rates includes zero air flow. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the air outlets includes a shut-off mechanism that is able to prevent cooling air from flowing out of the at least one air outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the range of directions is bounded so as to allow a range of directions shaped like one of:
 a rectangle;   an ellipse;   a diamond;   a hexagon   an octagon   a square;   a circle;   a polygon; and   an outline of a person.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling air source is one of:
 a fresh air conduit;   a dehumidifier;   a window air conditioner;   a free-standing room air conditioner; and   a central air conditioner.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling air source is built in to the stationary exercise device. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of air outlets are built into at least one extended member of the stationary exercise device, the extended member being extended so as to enable the air outlets to contribute to mostly surrounding the exerciser with cooling air. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one air outlet is a directable nozzle having a rotatable ring that can be rotated to control the air flow rate, including being able to completely stop air flow from the nozzle. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one air outlet is a cooling air outlet with two sets of mutually perpendicular and independently movable louvers, and a tab for directing both sets of louvers. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one air outlet includes a mechanism for closing the cooling air outlet. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the air outlets is a cooling air outlet having a rotatable ball with an array of square air channels, the cooling air outlet also having a central joystick that can be used to direct the rotatable ball and to shut off the cooling air outlet by rotating the joystick. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of air outlets are arranged to suggest that the exerciser is within a vehicle cockpit. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each air outlet can be manually and independently adjusted using only one hand. 
     
     
         19 . 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 regulated so as to be supplied at a pressure and flow rate that enables each exerciser to meet individually-selected cooling preferences. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for cooling an exerciser while the exerciser uses a stationary exercise device, the apparatus being built into the stationary exercise device, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one cooling air input that is connectable to a cooling air source,
 the cooling air source being capable of supplying a flow of cooling air, 
 the cooling air being at least one of cool fresh air, chilled air, and filtered air; and 
   a plurality of air outlets built into the stationary exercise device,
 each air outlet being in airflow communication with the at least one cooling air input, 
 at least one air outlet being manually and independently adjustable in direction over a range of directions, the range of directions being bounded so as to ensure that the air outlet remains directed toward at least a part of the exerciser, 
 at least one of the air outlets including a flow rate adjuster that enables manual adjustment of the flow rate, within a range of flow rates, of the cooling air flowing out of the at least one air outlet, 
 at least one of the air outlets including a shut-off mechanism that is able to prevent cooling air from flowing out of the at least one air outlet, and 
 the plurality of air outlets being arranged so as to mostly surround the exerciser with cooling air. 
   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of the plurality of air outlets is built into an extended member of the stationary exercise device, the extended member being extended so as to enable the at least one air outlet to contribute towards mostly surrounding the exerciser with cooling air. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the cooling air source is able to supply cooling air to a plurality of stationary exercise devices, the cooling air being regulated so as to be supplied at a pressure and flow rate that enables each exerciser to meet individually-selected cooling preferences. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , 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 apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the conductive cooling applicator is included in at least one of:
 a handle;   a seat; and   a backrest.