Swimming goggles

• US 10,029,149 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2016
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Shau
• Original Assignee: David Shau
• Inventors: Shau, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Won, Bumsuk
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARBADIA, BALRAM T
• Application Number:
  US15/275,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20170007889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0009 Computerised real time comparison with previous movements or motion sequences of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/03 the user being in water
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/12 with mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/60 Apparatus used in water
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 33/00 Swimming equipment attachable to the head, e.g. swim caps or goggles diving masks B63C11/12; breathing aids, e.g. snorkels, B63C11/18
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 33/004 comprising two separate lenses joined by a flexible bridge
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/02 Methods for producing synthetic speech; Speech synthesisers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones

Abstract

Swimming goggles are developed to allow a swimmer to see the end of the pool without moving their head while swimming in backstroke. Using a light reflector, a swimmer can see through a backstroke viewing window, allowing them to see along the direction that they are moving when swimming backstroke. Using a motion sensor and electric control circuits, a swimming goggle can provide optimum views for the swimmer wearing the swimming goggle. Using a sound speaker, a swimming goggle can play music and provide voice reports to the swimmer.

Claims

1. A swimming goggle comprising:

an eye socket having a transparent forward viewing window attached to a goggle frame;

an accelerometer that is attached to the swimming goggle at a fixed position with respect to the forward viewing window of said eye socket in an orientation such that one measurement axis of the accelerometer is pointing towards the viewing direction through the forward viewing window of the swimming goggle, wherein the accelerometer outputs electric signals related to the swimming strokes of the swimmer wearing the swimming goggle; and

an integrated circuit that is able to use the outputs of said accelerometer to measure the angle between the gravity acceleration vector (g) and the viewing direction through the forward viewing window, and determine whether or not the swimmer wearing the swimming goggle is swimming backstroke while the swimmer wearing the swimming goggle is swimming in water;

when the viewing direction through the forward viewing window points up, meaning that the viewing direction through the forward viewing window is opposite of the direction of the gravity acceleration vector (g), the swimmer is swimming backstroke;

otherwise, the swimmer is not swimming backstroke.

2. The eye socket of the swimming goggle in claim 1 further comprises:

a backstroke viewing window opened on a top portion of the goggle frame disposed away from the transparent forward viewing window; and

a position-switchable light blocking cover attached to an edge of the backstroke viewing window that can switch positions with respect to the edge of the backstroke viewing window;

where the position of the position-switchable light blocking cover is controlled electronically by the integrated circuit in a way such that said position-switchable light blocking cover is open only when the swimmer wearing the swimming goggle is swimming backstroke.

3. The swimming goggle in claim 1 further comprises a position-switchable light reflector that can switch positions with respect to the front viewing window of the eye socket, and the position of said position-switchable light reflector is controlled electronically by the integrated circuit in the swimming goggle so that said position-switchable light reflector switches positions based on whether or not the swimmer wearing the swimming goggle is swimming backstroke.

4. The accelerometer of the swimming goggle in claim 1 is placed in an orientation such that one measurement axis of the accelerometer is pointing towards the viewing direction through the backstroke viewing window.

5. The swimming goggle in claim 1 wherein the integrated circuit uses the outputs of the accelerometer to determine the swimming speed of the swimmer wearing the swimming goggle.

6. The swimming goggle in claim 1 wherein the integrated circuit uses the outputs of the accelerometer to determine the number of laps the swimmer wearing the swimming goggle has swum.

7. The swimming goggle in claim 1 wherein the integrated circuit uses the outputs of the accelerometer to determine the stroke of the swimmer wearing the swimming goggle;

when the viewing direction through the forward viewing window points up, the swimmer is swimming backstroke;

when the viewing direction through the forward viewing window continually points down, the swimmer is likely swimming freestyle;

when the viewing direction through the forward viewing window points forward for a brief period of time during each stroke, the swimmer is swimming either breaststroke or butterfly.

8. The swimming goggle in claim 1 comprises a battery.

9. The integrated circuit of the swimming goggle in claim 1 comprises a nonvolatile memory device.

10. The integrated circuit of the swimming goggle in claim 1 is programmable by a computer or a mobile electric device.

11. The swimming goggle in claim 1 further comprises:

an electric sound speaker attached to said swimming goggle;

wherein said swimming goggle is able to control the outputs of said electric sound speaker while the swimmer wearing the swimming goggle is swimming in water.

12. The electric sound speaker of the swimming goggle in claim 11 is able to play music while the swimmer wearing the swimming goggle is swimming in water.

13. The electric sound speaker of the swimming goggle in claim 12 is able to change how the music is played based on the motions of the swimmer wearing the swimming goggle.

14. The electric sound speaker of the swimming goggle in claim 13 is able to play music at a beat that is related to the motions of the swimmer wearing the swimming goggle.

15. The electric sound speaker of the swimming goggle in claim 13 is able to play music at a volume that is related to the motions of the swimmer wearing the swimming goggle.

16. The electric sound speaker of the swimming goggle in claim 11 provides a voice that can report the swimming speed of the swimmer wearing the swimming goggle.

17. The electric sound speaker of the swimming goggle in claim 11 provides a voice that can report the number of laps the swimmer wearing the swimming goggle has swum.

18. The electric sound speaker of the swimming goggle in claim 11 provides a voice that can report the time that the swimmer wearing the swimming goggle has swum.

19. The integrated circuit of the swimming goggle in claim 11 comprises a nonvolatile memory device.

20. The integrated circuit of the swimming goggle in claim 11 is programmable by a computer or a mobile electric device.