JUMP ROPE WITH PHYSIOLOGICAL MONITOR

• US 20070129220A1
• Filed: 12/05/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ilir Bardha
• Original Assignee: Ilir Bardha
• Inventors: Bardha, Ilir
• Granted Patent: US 7,354,383 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/82
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 5/20 Skipping-ropes or similar devices rotating in a vertical plane

Abstract

A jump rope incorporates a sensor in at least one handle which contacts the hand of an exerciser holding the handle. The output signal from the sensor is provided to a microprocessor programmed to analyze the signal and derive a physiological factor of the exerciser such as heart rate and provide a signal of the derived factor to an output device which may be a display or an audio signal generator.

Claims

1. A jump rope, comprising:

an elongated flexible member;

first and second handle grips connected to opposed ends of the flexible member;

at least one of the handles supporting a sensor element adapted to contact the hand of an exerciser gripping the handles and to generate an electrical output signal which is a function of a physiological factor of the exerciser;

electronic circuitry adapted to receive and process the sensor signal; and

an output unit adapted to generate a signal to the exerciser related to the physiological factor of the exerciser and based upon the output of the sensor.

2. The jump rope of claim 1 wherein the output unit constitutes a two-dimensional display of the measured physiological factor.

3. The jump rope of claim 1 wherein the output comprises an audio signal conveying information relating to the physiological factor.

4. The jump rope of claim 1 wherein the electrical circuitry comprises a microprocessor programmed to operate on the sensor signal and generate an output signal.

5. The jump rope of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises an electrode which contacts the hand of the exerciser when the exerciser grips said at least one handle and further comprising a second electrode in the other handle which contacts the other hand of the exerciser, and further comprising means for transmitting the EKG signal from one handle to the other handle containing the microprocessor.

6. The jump rope of claim 5 wherein the means for transmitting the signal from the sensor incorporated in the other handle to the microprocessor comprises a conductor extending through the elongated flexible member.

7. The jump rope of claim 5 wherein the means for transmitting the signal from the sensor in one handle to the other handle comprises a wireless link.

8. The jump rope of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a wrist cuff for sensing the exerciser'"'"'s pulse rate.

9. The jump rope of claim 1 wherein the sensor incorporates a light transmitter and a photo detector for light reflected from an artery of the exerciser.

10. The jump rope of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a pressure-sensitive resistor in contact with a hand of the exerciser.

11. The jump rope of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is disposed in one of the pair of handles.

12. The jump rope of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is associated with the remote output unit and a wireless link connects the microprocessor to a handle.

13. An exercise apparatus comprising:

an elongated flexible cord;

a pair of handles fixed to opposite ends of the flexible cord so as to allow an exerciser gripping the handles to swing the flexible cord allowing the exerciser to jump rope;

electrodes disposed in each of the handles adapted to contact the exerciser'"'"'s hands as the exerciser jumps rope;

a microprocessor connected to both of the electrodes;

a program for the microprocessor adapted to process the signals received by the microprocessor from the two electrodes and to generate a signal proportional to the exerciser'"'"'s heart rate; and

an output device for communicating the processed heart rate signal to the exerciser.

14. The exercise device of claim 13 wherein the microprocessor is disposed in one of the handles and is in electrical connection with the sensor disposed in that handle and is connected to receive the output of the electrode in the other handle.

15. The exercise device of claim 14 wherein the connection between the sensor and the other handle and the microprocessor is through the conductor disposed in the flexible cord.

16. The exercise device of claim 14 wherein the connection between the electrode disposed in the other handle and the microprocessor comprises a wireless link.

17. The exercise device of claim 16 wherein the microprocessor is associated with a display, remote from the jump rope, and wireless links connect the two electrodes to the microprocessor.