US5568928A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Video game controller for use with an exercise apparatus
Assignee: EXERTRON
•
Filing: 1995-02-01
•
Granted: 1996-10-29
•
Expires: 2015-02-01
Abstract
Abstract A video game controller for use with an exercise apparatus. The controller includes a gross motion sensor which is activated by the palm of the user's hand when the user's wrist is rotated. In this way, a "steering" input can be sensed by the controller and forwarded to the video game. The controller further includes a pair of "action" switches which may be conveniently activated by the user's fingers. The controller may be formed as an integral part of the exercise apparatus handle or as a separate member designed for convenient attachment to the handle in a retrofit application.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce N. Munson
- 👤 Steven C. Visser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 10:25
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/20; A63F13/24; G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/011; A63F13/21; A63F13/212; A63F13/245; A63F13/25; A63F13/28; A63F13/40; A63F13/80; A63F13/803; A63B; A63B21/00; A63B21/40; A63B21/4001; A63B21/4017; A63B71/00; A63B71/06; A63B71/0619; A63B71/0622; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/10; A63F2300/1012; A63F2300/1062; A63F2300/30; A63F2300/302; A63F2300/80; A63F2300/8017
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A video game controller for use with an exercise apparatus, comprising: a first portion; a second portion; a connecting portion coupling said first and second portions; a gross motion sensor integrated with said first portion; and output means for coupling a signal produced by said gross motion sensor to a video game apparatus; wherein said first portion, said connecting portion, and said second portion are coupled in a substantially U-shaped configuration in order to facilitate mounting said video game controller over a handle of said exercise apparatus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
A video game controller for use with an exercise apparatus, comprising: a first portion; a second portion; a connecting portion coupling said first and second portions; a gross motion sensor integrated with said first portion; and output means for coupling a signal produced by said gross motion sensor to a video game apparatus; wherein said first portion, said connecting portion, and said second portion are coupled in a substantially U-shaped configuration in order to facilitate mounting said video game controller over a handle of said exercise apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The video game controller of claim 1, wherein said gross motion sensor is operative to sense rotation of a user's wrist.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The video game controller of claim 1 wherein said gross motion sensor comprises: a first switch; and a second switch spaced from said first switch; wherein rotation of a user's wist in a first direction activates said first switch and rotation of said user's wrist in a second direction activates said second switch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The video game controller of claim 1, further comprising a switch integrated with said second portion, wherein said switch is operable by at least one finger of a user's hand and wherein said output means is further operable to couple n second signal produced by said, switch to said video game apparatus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
The video game controller of claim 1, further comprising: a first input for receiving a cadence signal representative of a cadence of an exercise being performed by a user on said exercise apparatus; and a second input for receiving a pulse signal representative of said user's heart rate; wherein said output means is further operable to couple said cadence signal and said pulse signal to said video game apparatus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The video game controller of claim 1, wherein said first portion, said second portion and said connecting portion are integrally formed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
81 words
An exercise apparatus including a video game controller, comprising: a handle adapted to be gripped by a user's hand while performing an exercise on said exercise apparatus; a gross motion sensor coupled to said handle; and output means for coupling a signal produced by said gross motion sensor to a video game apparatus: wherein said signal produced by said gross motion sensor is indicative of pressure applied to different points on said handle in response to flexure of said user's wrist.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
An exercise apparatus including a video game controller, comprising: a handle adapted to be gripped by a user's hand while performing an exercise on said exercise apparatus; a gross motion sensor coupled to said handle; and output means for coupling a signal produced by said gross motion sensor to a video game apparatus: wherein said signal produced by said gross motion sensor is indicative of pressure applied to different points on said handle in response to flexure of said user's wrist.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The exercise apparatus of claim 7, wherein said gross motion sensor comprises: a first switch; and a second switch spaced from said first switch; wherein rotation of a user's wrist in a first direction activates said first switch and rotation of said user's wrist in a second direction activates said second switch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The exercise apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a switch coupled to the handle, wherein said switch is operable by at least one finger of a user's hand and wherein said output means is further operable to couple a second signal produced by said switch to said video game apparatus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
The exercise apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: a first input for receiving a cadence signal representative of a cadence of an exercise being performed by a user on said exercise apparatus; and a second input for receiving a pulse signal representative of said user's heart rate: wherein said out, put means is further operable to couple said cadence signal and said pulse signal to said video game apparatus.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
102 words
A video game controller for use with an exercise apparatus, comprising: means for securing said video game controller to a handle of said exercise apparatus such that said video game controller may be gripped by a hand of a user of said exercise apparatus; a gross motion sensor integral with said video game controller; and output means for coupling a signal produced by said gross motion sensor to a video game apparatus; wherein said signal produced by said gross motion sensor is indicative of pressure applied to different points on said video game controller in response to flexure of said user's wrist.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
102 words
A video game controller for use with an exercise apparatus, comprising: means for securing said video game controller to a handle of said exercise apparatus such that said video game controller may be gripped by a hand of a user of said exercise apparatus; a gross motion sensor integral with said video game controller; and output means for coupling a signal produced by said gross motion sensor to a video game apparatus; wherein said signal produced by said gross motion sensor is indicative of pressure applied to different points on said video game controller in response to flexure of said user's wrist.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
The video game controller of claim 11, wherein said gross motion sensor comprises: a first switch: and a second switch spaced from said first switch; wherein rotation of a user's wrist in a first direction activates said first switch and rotation of said user's wrist in a second direction activates said second switch.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
The video game controller of claim 11, further comprising a switch integral with said video game controller, wherein said switch is operable by at least one finger of a user's hand and wherein said output means is further operable to couple a second signal produced by said switch to said video game apparatus.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
69 words
The video game controller of claim 11, further comprising: a first input for receiving a cadence signal representative of a cadence of an exercise being performed by a user on said exercise apparatus; and a second input for receiving a pulse signal representative of said user's heart rate; wherein said output means is further operable to couple said cadence signal and said pulse signal to said video game apparatus.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
70 words
The video game controller of claim 11, wherein said means for securing comprises: a first portion in which said gross motion sensor is integrated; a second portion; a connecting portion coupling said first and second portions; wherein said first portion, said connecting portion, and said second portion are coupled in a substantially U-shaped configuration in order to facilitate mounting said video game controller over a handle of said exercise apparatus.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3518985A
Cited
US4278095A
Cited
US4512566A
Cited
US4358118A
Cited
US4408613A
Cited
US4709917A
Cited
CA1183180A
Cited
US4512567A
Cited
US4542897A
Cited
US4630817A
Cited
US4637605A
Cited
US4711447A
Cited
US4790528A
Cited
US4735410A
Cited
US4976435A
Cited
US4909514A
Cited
USRE34728E
Cited
US4925189A
Cited
US5229756A
Cited
US5209662A
Cited
US5139261A
Cited
US5149084A
Cited
US5142358A
Cited
US5240417A
Cited
US5364271A
Cited
US5195746A
Cited
US5308296A
Cited
US5362069A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-10-29 | 2000-04-29 | 2000-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-10-29 | 2004-04-29 | 2004-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-10-29 | 2008-04-29 | 2008-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |