Recreation apparatus

A recreation exercise system comprising:

• a video game apparatus of the type which displays one or more games on a screen including a controllable character and which normally employs a joystick for generating command signals to manipulate such character;
• and
• an exercise apparatus, said exercise apparatus including:
• base means;
• control rod means movably mounted to said base means so that said control rod means has a plurality of degrees of freedom of movement relative to said base means;
• foot operated means connected to said control rod means for moving said control rod means by a user's foot;
• resistance means associated with said control rod means for impeding movement of said control rod means within at least one of said degrees of freedom, said resistance means having sufficient impedance to require the use of substantial muscular exertion to be overcome;
• means for continuously sensing the position of said control rod means with respect to each of said degrees of freedom and generating a command signal which reflects the position of said control rod means with respect to said degrees of freedom and which signal is recognizable to manipulate a controllable character in said video game apparatus;
• and
• means for transmitting said command signal to the video game apparatus as a substitute for the signal normally received from the joystick, whereby, over a period of time, exertion of considerable physical energy is required to play the video game.

An exercise apparatus for use in conjunction with a video game apparatus of the type which displays one or more games on a screen including a controllable character and which employs a joystick for generating command signals to manipulate such character, said apparatus comprising:

• base means;
• control rod means movably mounted to said base means so that said control rod means has a plurality of degrees of freedom of movement relative to said base means;
• resistance means associated with said control rod means for impeding movement of said control rod means within at least one of said degrees of freedom, said resistance means having sufficient impedance to require the use of substantial muscular exertion to be overcome during play of a video game, and said resistance means including adjustment means for adjusting the magnitude of said impedance of said resistance means so as to vary the amount of work required to move said control rod means during the play of a video game;
• means for continuously sensing the position of said control rod means with respect to each of said degrees of freedom and generating a command signal which reflects the position of said control rod means with respect to said degrees of freedom and which signal is recognizable to manipulate a controllable character in a video game apparatus;
• and
• means for transmitting said command signal to the video game apparatus, whereby, over a period of time, exertion of considerable physical energy is required to play the video game.

An exercise apparatus for use in conjunction with a video game apparatus of the type which displays one of more games on a screen including a controllable character and which employs a joystick for generating command signals to manipulate such character, said apparatus comprising:

• base means;
• control rod means movably mounted to said base means so that said control rod means has a plurality of degrees of freedom of movement relative to said base means, said control rod means having an equilibrium position relative to said base means;
• resistance means associated with said control rod means for impeding movement of said control rod means away from said equilibrium position within at least one of said degrees of freedom, said resistance means being such that at least one pound of force must be exerted by an operator directly on said control rod means to move said control rod means from said equilibrium position during play of said video game;
• means for continuously sensing the position of said control rod means with respect to each of said degrees of freedom and generating a command signal which reflects the position of said control rod means with respect to said degrees of freedom and which signal is recognizable to manipulate a controllable character in a video game apparatus;
• and
• means for transmitting said command signal to the video game apparatus, whereby, over a period of time, exertion of considerably physical energy is required to play the video game.