TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention refers to the development of a programmable counter for bodybuilding devices, referring particularly to the device that can be coupled to a bodybuilding device, e.g. leg extensor, leg-press, flyer, etc., where such counter is capable of receiving a determined programming that numerically controls the series and repetitions by signalizing the end of the series being done and the end of the number of repetitions to the user; it also shows the beginning and end of resting time between each of the series by informing these indicators on a display, whereby the controller can receive a command via typing, password or a magnetic card.

TECHNICAL STATE OF THE INVENTION The use of electronic counters is extremely important in diverse industries and commercial segments, as well as for domestic uses.

The mechanical counting gadgets will not be discussed in this work for they present a functionality which does not allow pre-programming of different activities from a set of previously stipulated information. Therefore, the presence of electronic controllers in diverse daily activities can be seen. From searches performed within the pertinent technical state of international classes B26B 21/40, G06M 7/08, G07D 3/00 and G07C 9/00, we can select a great variety of controlling devices. The following patent documents with illustrations of the state of the art were separated. - Pl 9.805.645 that refers to an electronic device that is destined to be used in the controlling sector, and flow measurement of passengers in collective transportation vehicles, being constituted by two structures installed next to the access doors of the vehicle; one has a multitude of infrared light transmitters (1), located in pairs at different heights, being directed to a multitude of photo- sensitive sensors (2) located in positions that coincide to the confronting structure, forming so a luminous barrier that allows counting the number of passengers by means of the interruption of the light beams, still verifying their way (entry or exit) and classifying them by height (adult or child), being even provided with the

means to avoid attempts to restrain the counting, thereby using a sonorous and luminous signal (4) for the sending of redundant signals to the microprocessor (3), for the frontal closing of structures, hiding the position of the transmitters (1) and sensors (2), and still, of the reflexive sensors (6) which use infrared light reflection that takes place by the crossing of passengers to perform the counting, making it possible, even when one of the structures is completely covered; the flow controller can total the number of passengers in predetermined time intervals or, alternatively, when the door of the vehicle is closed, being also outfitted with a closing sensor (7), or after predetermined traveled distances indicated by a sensor in the box [sic] of the vehicle (8), being also outfitted with a sensor in the luggage compartment (9) so as to total the number of times the driver withdraws passengers' luggage. The withdrawal or visualization of stored information can only be made after introducing a password, in the controller itself, via a serial portal (12), or automatically at the vehicle's garage by means of radio frequency or infrared [sic] (13).

- MU 7.000.240 for a universal beard counter in disposable beard trimming devices. It is constituted by any mobile, fixed, mechanical or electronic mechanism, incorporated or not to the disposable beard device that allows the user to count how many times it has been used. - Pl 0.102.239 is an electronic counter for pedestrians (people) who circulate in a restricted area such as the aisle of a -building, entry/exit of a company, or the entry/exit of any vehicle that is used for the collective transportation of passengers; the counting is done through the activation of diverse sensors, all mounted inside a blanket that is similar to a rug, made of flexible material, fixed to the floor of the place where the movement occurs; the sensors are activated by the pressure exerted by the pedestrian's feet during the movement. The technical sector to which this invention refers to is electro-electronic; the aim of this invention is to count people who circulate in restricted areas by using a microprocessed electronic plate, and as inventive novelty, a set of sensors in the physical format of a grid and mounted inside a blanket, made of flexible material.

This blanket, which is similar to a rug, is fixed to the location where the people go through in that place; the sensors are individual keys, similar to those used in electronic equipment in general, and they are mounted onto a grid format, as well

as a conventional keyboard, that allow the precise identification of the line and column of the activated sensor element; when the pedestrian sets foot onto the sensitive blanket, diverse sensitive elements are activated, allowing thus, by the design of the person's foot sole and the movement he makes onto the sensitive blanket, to determine if he concluded the shift and in which way it took place by means of especial algorithms in the microprocessed plate.

- Pl 0.103.489 for an electronic, programmable counter for coin machines which combines the recollection of data from the coin machines (credit and debit), stores in non-volatile [sic] memory and transmits data to microcomputers via a standard serial exit. The electronic counter receives the logical signals from the coin machines (+12v) through the connectors (7) and (8) that are stored in the programmable counter (2), and transmitted afterwards through connectors (9), (10) and (11), and the standard serial connector (1) to a microcomputer, resulting thus in an excellent safety margin because there is no human interference during the entire process.

These examples show that counting gadgets can be employed in the most diverse human activities. Nevertheless, no application of the counter is known for mechanical bodybuilding devices.

Currently, some are known, such as the programmable electronic gadgets which define and control speed, time of duration of the effort, cardiac frequency, burnt calories during the exercise, etc., especially those particularly employed in ergometric treadmills, "transportation" devices and other electro- electronic bodybuilding equipment. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION So, due to considerations regarding the previously judged state of the art, the aim of this descriptive report for the application of the invention is the development of a programmable counter for bodybuilding devices that is outfitted with the following characteristics:

- The programmable counter can be adapted to any type of mechanical bodybuilding device, such as, flyer, supine in multiple bars, leg-press, extensor, etc.

- The counter admits the insertion of a set of instructions via typing, by sweeping a magnetic card through it, or via a password.

- The device allows counting the number of series a user will perform, and the number of repetitions of each series.

- From a vocal or sonorous indicating device, the counter "lets" the user know that the programmed number of series and repetitions is over. - A vocal sonorous indication of each of the functions as previously established by the programming has also been foreseen.

- The counter is outfitted with an indicative display for performed functions, allowing the typing of the password, the number of series, and the number of repetitions.

- The counter admits a connection to a microcomputer, e.g. an electronic turnstile with a digital fingerprint display to control access of students, where, by typing the password in the counter, the equipment already programs itself with the series recommended for the student as previously elaborated by the instructor.

- The counter can work by means of a mechanical coupling where the repetitions are counted by the intervention of this coupling, or the counting can be made through optical or magnetic interruption, etc.

FIGURE DESCRIPTION

The characterization of this document for the patent of the invention proposed herein is done through representative drawings of the programmable counter for bodybuilding devices, in such a way that the device can be integrally reproduced with adequate technique, allowing the full characterization of the functionality of the presented object.

From the elaborated figures, which express the best or preferential way to perform the idealized product, the descriptive part of the report is based on detailed and consecutive enumeration where the latter clarifies aspects that can be inferred from the adopted representation so as to clearly determine the protection pretended herein. These figures are merely illustrative, having thus the possibility to present variations, provided they do not disagree with the initial presentation.

Therefore, we have:

Figure 1 - illustrates a schematic representation of the programmable counter; Figure 2 - illustrates a connection scheme between the programmable counter and any type of bodybuilding equipment;

Figure 3 - illustrates the block diagram of the functionality of the counter;

Figure 4 - illustrates a perspective of the preferential shape of the programmable

portable counter for bodybuilding;

Figure 5 - illustrates the rear view of the preferential shape of the counter; Figure 6 - illustrates another diagram of the functionality of the counter; Figure 7 - illustrates the block diagram of the preferential electronic programmable counter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The programmable counter of the invention, as shown in the figure 1, comprehends a carcass (1) where an alphanumeric keyboard (2) can be found, which permits typing the password or to introduce the series or repetitions number to be done; it is outfitted with a display (3) that is capable of presenting information regarding the series or repetitions, containing also a sonorous or vocal alarm (4) that indicates the beginning and end of the activities, as well as the end of the resting period between each series; it also presents a reading gadget (5) for magnetic cards that allows reading the user's card, establishing thus a connection with a microcomputer.

The figure 2 shows the counter (1) that is coupled to a piece of bodybuilding equipment (6), where the counter can receive information from the equipment through an adequate connection (7), where the series and repetition count is done through a control (8) which can be optical, magnetic or electronic, forwarding that information to the controlling counter.

The figure 3 details a block diagram of the functionality of the counter (1) that is connected to the bodybuilding device (6) through an adequate connection (7). The counter can be programmed by direct typing (10) or by establishing a connection to a PC (9) through a password. When the counter (1) receives the programming, it can determine the numbers of series (11) and repetitions (12), having sonorous or vocal indicators for the end of the series (13), end of repetitions (14), and an indication for the end of the resting period.

The counter is programmed to accept a determined number of series from 1 to n, a determined number of repetitions from 1 to p, by typing directly onto the keyboard (2), or by predetermined information given by the PC (9) when accessed via password or card. The counter can accept a series from 1 to n, interposed with sequential or intermittent repetitions from 1 to p, e.g., 4 series with 12 repetitions each, or 4 series with 12, 10, 8 and 6 repetitions each.

A preferential embodiment of the programmable counter is shown in the figures 4 and 5 and comprehends a carcass in some adequate format (1'), where the control buttons (2'), and the on/off button (2") are located, which allow programming the controller and defining the number of repetitions to be done, adopting a display (3') that presents information regarding the series, repetitions, heartbeat, amount of calories, and clock function, having also a visual or sonorous/vocal alarm (13') through a honking-sound device (14') that indicates the beginning and end of the activities, as well as the end of the resting period between each of the series, having also a connector (15) to control the heartbeat. The counter (1') is outfitted with a magnetic element (16) that allows fixing the device to any metallic part on a bodybuilding device.

The figure 6 illustrates an other diagram of the functionality of the counter of the counter (1 ¹ ) that has a circuit destined to control the bodybuilding equipment (6), fed by an adequate battery (17) which supplies energy for the operation of the counter, allowing the management of program (10') by controlling the programmed functions and series (11'), the heartbeat sensor (18), the amount of calories (19), and the clock function (20). Complete the diagram a sonorous or visual alarms (13') and a magnetic element (16).

The counter (1 ¹ ) can accept a determined number of series from 1 to n, a determined number of repetitions from 1 to p, by typing directly onto the keyboard (2'), or by predetermined information, when accessed via password or card. The counter can accept a series from 1 to n, interposed with sequential or intermittent repetitions from 1 to p, e.g., 4 series with 12 repetitions each, or 4 series with 12, 10, 8 and 6 repetitions each. The figure 7 illustrates a preferential block diagram of the programmable counter that has an energy source (17), whose tension is regulated and reduced by a filter (21). The counter has five switches (programming buttons 25 to 29), which allow to change the variables from the physical memory - EPROM (23), and those of the microcontroller (24). Those switches (25 to 29) allow the entry of the values that act directly on their processing of the final signal, i.e., the microcontroller (24) and the EPROM (23) begin the processing through them.

The microcontroller (24) receives the signals from the switches (25 to 29) through its entry portal and processes them through internal programming,

releasing signals 0 or 1 (yes/no) at the exit portal, which are temporized by the internal clock (30) and received by the data sheets (31 to 35).

The data sheets (31 to 35) receive the signals and transform them to electric power to operate the LEDs of the display (36), where the information for the user, time to execute the exercises, the amount of repetitions and number of series can all be seen.

It is still integrated by audio and visual communication through a honk (37) and a LED (38), which are operated by the microcontroller (23), which activates the respective data sheets (31 to 35). The honk (37) and the LED (38) area activated each time the end of the exercises and the end of the series.

The programmable counter is activated through the ON switch (25). A second PR switch (26) allows access to diverse programming parts contained in the memory. A third SET switch (27) allows the selection of that part of programming to be altered. With one of the switches + (28) or - (29), it is possible to decrease or increase the number of repetitions, of series and/or the intervals of that selected programming. These numbers appear on the display (36). After programming the numbers of series and repetitions, the SET switch (27) is pressed again, and the display (36) will show a second value that corresponds to the time interval between one series and another. When the SET switch (27) is pressed a third time, the repetition time between one exercise and another appears on the display (36), which can be altered by the switches (28 and 29). One last press on the-SET switch (27) closes the first programming that corresponds to exercise. The counter can suffer diverse sets of programming to guide the user when practicing different exercises.