Exercise machine and method for performing an exercise

Abstract

An exercise machine of the treadmill type comprises a motor ( 5 ) connected to a belt ( 3 ) and able to be activated for driving the belt, an actuator ( 6 ) associated with the belt ( 3 ) for angling it, an interface ( 7 ) designed to allow the user ( 100 ) to set a basic pair of values relating to predetermined operating parameters and corresponding to a machine operating configuration. The machine also comprises a processor ( 8 ) programmed to derive a user ( 100 ) oxygen consumption value depending on the basic pair of values and for calculating, the oxygen consumption value being equal, at least one alternative pair of values which involves lower energy consumption by the motor ( 5 ) compared with the basic pair.

1 ) An exercise machine comprising:
 a belt ( 3 ) trained around at least two revolving rollers ( 4 ) to form an exercise platform ( 3   a ) for a user ( 100 ), allowing the user ( 100 ) to walk or run on the spot;   a motor ( 5 ) connected to at least one of the rollers ( 4 ) and able to be activated to drive the belt ( 3 );   an actuator ( 6 ) associated with the belt ( 3 ) to incline the exercise platform ( 3   a ) relative to a surface (A) supporting the machine ( 1 ), by rotation about an axis parallel with the axes of rotation of the rollers ( 4 );   an interface ( 7 ) designed to allow the user ( 100 ) to set a basic pair of values for parameters consisting of a belt ( 3 ) movement speed and an exercise platform ( 3   a ) incline; said basic pair of values defining a corresponding basic operating configuration of the machine;   a processor ( 8 ) associated with the motor ( 5 ) and with the actuator ( 6 ) for controlling them and connected to the interface ( 7 ) for receiving the basic pair of values set,   wherein the processor ( 8 ) is programmed for:
 estimating a value of a parameter representative of the exercise intensity, with the machine ( 1 ) in the basic operating configuration, depending on the basic pair of values; 
 deriving at least one alternative pair of values for the parameters, different to said basic pair of values and corresponding to an exercise intensity equal to the estimated value and to an energy consumption by the motor ( 5 ) lower than an energy consumption corresponding to the basic pair of values, the interface being designed to allow the user ( 100 ) to select an operating configuration of the machine corresponding to said at least one alternative pair of values, thus allowing the processor to control the motor ( 5 ) and the actuator ( 6 ) depending on the operating configuration selected. 
   
     
     
         2 ) The exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one alternative pair of values derived has a lower walking or running speed and a higher exercise platform ( 3   a ) incline compared with the basic pair set. 
     
     
         3 ) The exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the interface is designed to display to the user ( 100 ) said at least one alternative pair of values and/or a value representative of an energy saving of the motor ( 5 ) corresponding to said at least one alternative pair. 
     
     
         4 ) The exercise machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the interface ( 7 ) comprises a display defining a plurality of icons ( 9 ) associated with a corresponding plurality of alternative pairs of values of the parameters and/or with a corresponding plurality of motor ( 5 ) energy saving values corresponding to said alternative pairs; each icon ( 9 ) being selectable by the user ( 100 ) for controlling the actuator ( 6 ) and the motor ( 5 ) so as to bring the machine ( 1 ) into the operating configuration corresponding to the alternative pair of values and/or to the energy saving value selected. 
     
     
         5 ) The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the interface ( 7 ) comprises a tuning module ( 10 ) which can be used by the user ( 100 ), while exercising, to vary the energy consumption of the motor ( 5 ) between a maximum value, at which the values of the operating parameters correspond to those of the basic pair, and a minimum value at which, at the same exercise intensity, the incline of the exercise platform ( 3   a ) has a predetermined maximum value, the processor ( 8 ) being designed to receive said motor ( 5 ) energy consumption value set by the user, for calculating the corresponding pair of values of the parameters and consequently controlling the motor ( 5 ) and the actuator ( 6 ). 
     
     
         6 ) The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the interface ( 7 ) comprises one or more control elements ( 11 ), which can be displayed to the user ( 100 ) during the exercise and can be selected by the user for setting the value of corresponding parameters, said parameters being selected from the following list:
 belt ( 3 ) movement speed;   incline of the belt ( 3 ) exercise platform ( 3   a );   motor ( 5 ) energy saving;   exercise intensity.   
     
     
         7 ) The machine according to  claim 6 , wherein the processor ( 8 ) is programmed to determine the value of the remaining parameters depending on a parameter set by the user ( 100 ) by means of the corresponding control element ( 11 ), the interface ( 7 ) being designed to receive in real time the values of said parameters and to display them for the user ( 100 ). 
     
     
         8 ) The exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor ( 8 ) is programmed to calculate, depending on the alternative pair of values set and the basic pair of values, a value representative of the motor ( 5 ) energy saving as a consequence of the setting of the alternative pair, compared with the energy consumption corresponding to the basic pair, the interface ( 7 ) being set up to display to the user ( 100 ) said value representative of the energy saving. 
     
     
         9 ) The exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor ( 8 ) is programmed to calculate, depending on the alternative pair of values selected, a value representative of the amount of carbon dioxide not emitted into the environment as a consequence of the setting of the alternative pair, compared with the basic pair, the interface ( 7 ) being set up to display for the user ( 100 ) said value representative of the carbon dioxide not emitted. 
     
     
         10 ) The exercise machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the processor ( 8 ) is designed to receive as an input the duration of the exercise and to calculate, depending on said duration, a motor ( 5 ) energy saving value and/or a carbon dioxide saving value for the exercise, for making said value calculated available to the user. 
     
     
         11 ) The exercise machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the processor ( 8 ) is programmed to add together the motor ( 5 ) energy saving value and/or the carbon dioxide saving value for the exercise with a corresponding overall motor ( 5 ) energy saving value and/or carbon dioxide saving value for the previous exercises, for updating the overall value at the end of each exercise, the interface ( 7 ) being designed to display to each user ( 100 ) at the end of each exercise session said overall motor ( 5 ) energy saving value and/or said overall carbon dioxide saving value. 
     
     
         12 ) The exercise machine according to  claim 1 , comprising a switching unit ( 14 ) which can be selected by the user ( 100 ) for switching the machine ( 1 ) from an energy saving mode, in which the processor ( 8 ) calculates said at least one alternative pair and allows the user ( 100 ) to select the corresponding operating configuration, to a standard mode, in which the operating parameters remain those of the basic pair, and vice versa; the switching unit ( 14 ) being selectable at any time by the user ( 100 ). 
     
     
         13 ) The exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the parameter representative of the exercise intensity corresponds to user oxygen consumption in the unit of time. 
     
     
         14 ) A method for performing an exercise using an exercise machine comprising a belt ( 3 ) forming an exercise platform ( 3   a ) for a user ( 100 ) and trained around at least two revolving rollers ( 4 ) driven by a motor ( 5 ), allowing the user ( 100 ) to walk or run on the spot, wherein it comprises the following steps:
 setting a basic pair of values for parameters consisting of a belt ( 3 ) movement speed and an exercise platform ( 3   a ) incline;   estimating a value of the exercise intensity with the machine ( 1 ) in the basic operating configuration;   deriving at least one alternative pair of values for the parameters, different to the basic pair and corresponding to an exercise intensity equal to the estimated value and to an energy consumption by the motor ( 5 ) lower than that corresponding to the basic pair of values;   selection by the user ( 100 ) of a machine operating configuration corresponding to said at least one pair of values;   setting the machine in the corresponding operating configuration.   
     
     
         15 ) The method according to  claim 14 , comprising the following steps:
 providing the user ( 100 ) with a switching unit ( 14 ) selectable by the user ( 100 ) himself, before or during an exercise, for activating a motor ( 5 ) energy saving mode, the estimating, deriving, selecting and setting steps being performed in response to a selection of the energy saving mode using the switching unit.   
     
     
         16 ) The method according to  claim 14 , comprising the steps of:
 displaying, during the exercise, values relating to a plurality of parameters, said parameters being selected from the following list:   belt ( 3 ) movement speed;   incline of the belt ( 3 ) exercise platform ( 3   a );   motor ( 5 ) energy saving;   exercise intensity.   
     
     
         17 ) The method according to  claim 16 , comprising the steps of:
 selection by the user ( 100 ) of a first of said parameters as the fixed parameter, the value of that parameter selected remaining constant in subsequent calculations;   setting by the user ( 100 ) of the value of a second of said parameters, thus defining a control parameter;   calculation of the value of the remaining parameters depending on the value of the fixed parameter and on the value set for the control parameter.   
     
     
         18 ) The method according to  claim 17 , comprising a step of
 setting of the machine ( 1 ) in the operating configuration corresponding to the parameter values calculated, in real time, and/or a step of   displaying for the user the values calculated for said parameters.