Consumer useable testing kit

• US 10,315,070 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2015
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Homsi, Kristopher L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Joshua
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abyaneh, Shila Jalalzadeh
• Application Number:
  US14/854,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20160001132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,365 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0065 Evaluating the fitness, e.g. fitness level or fitness index
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4037 Exercise mats for personal use, with or without hand-grips or foot-grips, e.g. for Yoga or supine floor exercises mats for absorbing shocks A63B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/22 Field hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/24 Ice hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/52 Weight, e.g. weight distribution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/72 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/096 : automatically adjusted according to anthropometric data of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 : with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 : with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 : Football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0037 : Basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 : American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 : Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 : Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/00 : Hollow inflatable balls
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 : for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

Systems and techniques relating to evaluating performance characteristics are provided. One or more fitness devices, for example, a ball and/or a mat, may have sensors for measuring a user'"'"'s actions during an activity protocol, such as a testing drill. Sensor configured to detect if the fitness device meets operational criteria are disclosed. In one embodiment, the fitness device may comprise a ball and the operational criteria may relate to the weight, dimensions, and/or internal pressure of the ball. In one embodiment, data from fitness device(s) may be used to calculate a score. In other embodiments, a score may be calculated; however, it may not be associated with credentials or certified if an operational criteria is not met.

Claims

1. A method of evaluating performance characteristics of a user, comprising:

electronically detecting at a first electronic device, a ball comprising at least two sensors, wherein a first sensor of the at least two sensors of the ball is configured to measure a first parameter and a second sensor of the at least two sensors of the ball is configured to measure an operational criterion of the ball;

receiving at the first electronic device, a signal from the second sensor indicative of an internal pressure of the ball associated with a grip applied to the ball; and

selecting, by the first electronic device when the internal pressure of the ball meets a predefined threshold of the operational criterion, at least a first activity protocol of a plurality of activity protocols to be available for subsequent selection by the user of the first electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first parameter comprises one of velocity, acceleration, location, energy transfer, temperature, orientation, light, sound, magnetism, or a particular motion along two or more axes.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

calculating a plurality of performance characteristics from data collected from the at least two sensors of the ball during the user'"'"'s performance of the first activity protocol.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the performance characteristics are selected from the group consisting of:

power, agility, speed, reaction, quickness, and combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving data from a third sensor of a second electronic device; and

cross-referencing data collected from the at least two sensors of the ball and the third sensor of the second electronic device to validate actions selected from the group consisting of;

timing between two user actions, timing of a specific user action, location of the user, location of a fitness device, velocity of the user, velocity of the fitness device, acceleration of the user, acceleration of the fitness device, detection of a fourth sensor, detection of the fitness device, and combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined threshold of the operational criterion specifies a range relating to the internal pressure of the ball.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using the at least two sensors of the ball to determine if an apparatus external to the ball meets a predefined threshold of an operational criterion of the apparatus.