Wrist-worn physical activity measurement apparatus

• US 10,449,415 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2014
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Original Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Inventors: Komulainen, Olli, Lumme, Lauri
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Hoai V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Techane, Muna A
• Application Number:
  US14/556,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20160151669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,786 Days
• Field of Search: 702160, 368281, 59 80, 24365
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/0015 providing information, e.g. bracelets with calendars identification bracelets G09F3/005
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/105 with links made of one piece and linked together by one connecting element
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• 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: G01C 22/006 Pedometers

Abstract

A wrist-worn physical activity measurement apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a bracelet comprising a plurality of links, each link being formed at one side to comprise a part and at the opposite side a counterpart interlocking with a part of an adjacent link, and a flexible casing encasing the plurality of the links. The apparatus is attachable around a curvature of a wrist of a user such that the links and the adjacent links are pivotably lockable in relation to each other in order to wrap and lock around the wrist.

Claims

1. A wrist-worn physical activity measurement apparatus comprising:

an inelastic bracelet comprising a first end, a second end and a plurality of links therebetween, each link being formed at one side to comprise a part and at an opposite side a counterpart interlocking with the part of an adjacent link, except for the links that form the first and second ends, which are only interlocked on one side;

a flexible casing surrounding the plurality of links, wherein the apparatus is attachable around a curvature of a wrist of a user such that the links and the adjacent links are pivotably lockable in relation to each other in an open position and a closed position in order to wrap and lock around the wrist while the first and second ends of the bracelet remain unconnected in the closed position, wherein the apparatus forms an open loop when in the open position such that it is positionable around the wrist, and the apparatus forms an open loop when in the closed position wrapped and locked around the wrist, wherein the first and second ends of the bracelet are closer to each other in the closed position than in the open position, but are not connected to each other; and

an electronics module coupled with the bracelet, wherein the part and the counterpart are positioned, dimensioned and adapted such that the links and the adjacent links are pivotable in relation to each by a limited angle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronics module is attached to at least one of the links.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronics module is attached between two of the links.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the links is a special link, in which the electronics module is integrated.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronics module comprises at least one of a biosignal measurement sensor, a processor module comprising one or more processors and one or more memories including computer program code.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronics module comprises:

a sensor for measuring physical activity of the user, an electronic circuit for wireless communication, one or more processors, and one or more memories including computer program code.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bracelet is dimensioned and adapted such that it is attachable around the wrist by pressing it from outwards towards the wrist by the user.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the links and the adjacent links are pivotable such that they exert a clamping force against the wrist.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the links and the adjacent links are positioned, dimensioned and adapted such that a greater clamping force is directed towards ulna and radius bones of the wrist than towards the palm side of the wrist and the back of the hand side of the wrist.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible casing in the inside of the bracelet, which comes into contact with the wrist when attached, comprises non-skid material.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the link and the adjacent link are identical.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the part and the counterpart comprise a snap-fit joint.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the part and the counterpart comprise a ball and a socket joint.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the part and the counterpart comprise an eccentric joint.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the part and the counterpart comprise a gear wheel mechanism causing the links and the adjacent links to be stepwise pivotable in relation to each other.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising friction structures causing friction between the part and the counterpart as the link and the adjacent link are moved relative to each other.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising feedback structures causing senseable feedback to the user while pivoting the links and the adjacent links.