Coupon Redeemable Upon Completion of a Predetermined Threshold of Physical Activity

• US 20080093838A1
• Filed: 09/26/2007
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Switch2Health, Inc.
• Inventors: Tropper, Seth, Gardner, John, Wickstead, James, Batour, Amado
• Granted Patent: US 8,177,260 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 283/67
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/02 Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1126 using a particular sensing technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6828 Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

A coupon for providing an incentive for a user to participate in physical activity. The coupon detects the physical activity of a user and indicates to the user when the threshold of physical activity has been reached. Once the coupon has indicated that the threshold has been reached, the user may redeem the coupon for a reward.

Claims

1. A redeemable coupon comprising:

a motion detector to detect a predetermined amount of motion of the coupon;

an indicator activated by the motion detector upon detecting the predetermined amount of motion.

2. The coupon of claim 1 wherein the motion detector comprises two or more chemicals adapted to mix together upon motion of the coupon.

3. The coupon of claim 1 wherein the motion detector comprises a chemical solution and the indicator is the change in color of the chemical solution.

4. The coupon of claim 1 wherein the motion detector comprises microencapsulated spheres and an abrasive that breaks the spheres upon motion of the coupon.

5. The coupon of claim 1 wherein the motion detector comprises a magnet, a coiled wire, and an inductor adapted to generate an electrical current upon motion of the coupon.

6. The coupon of claim 1 wherein the motion detector comprises at least one ratchet gear adapted to turn upon motion of the coupon.

7. The coupon of claim 1 wherein the motion detector comprises a conductive object within a channel bounded by one or more electrical contacts whereby a circuit is closed upon contact of the conductive object and one of the electrical contacts.

8. The coupon of claim 7 wherein the conductive object is coupled to at least one end of the channel including a spring.

9. The coupon of claim 1 wherein the motion detector comprises a conductive object in a space bound by a plurality of electrical contacts.

10. The coupon of claim 9 wherein the space is a cross-shaped channel.

11. The coupon of claim 1 wherein the motion detector comprises one or more conductive members suspended adjacent to one or more electrical contacts adapted to close a circuit between the one or more conductive members and the one or more electrical contacts upon motion of the coupon.

13. The coupon of claim 1 wherein the indicator is a code which may be used for redeeming the coupon from a remote location

14. The coupon of claim 13 wherein the coupon may be redeemed via a web site.

15. The coupon of claim 13 wherein the coupon may be redeemed via a portable electronic device.

16. The coupon of claim 15 wherein the portable electronic device is a telephone.

17. The coupon of claim 1 wherein the motion detector activates a plurality of indicators upon the attainment of a plurality of predetermined limits.

18. The coupon of claim 1 wherein the motion detector is adapted to deactivate the indicator when a predetermined threshold of inactivity is reached.

19. The coupon of claim 1 wherein the motion detector comprises a micro-pump which is activated by motion and adapted to combine a plurality of chemicals.

20. The coupon of claim 1 wherein the motion detector comprises a plurality of micro-pumps which are activated by motion and adapted to combine a plurality of chemicals.

21. The coupon of claim 1 wherein the coupon is a bracelet.

22. The coupon of claim 1 wherein the coupon is formed of flexible material.

23. The coupon of claim 1 wherein the coupon is wearable.

24. A method of providing an incentive for a user to exercise comprising:

providing the user with a coupon to be coupled to the user;

monitoring the motion of the user with a motion sensor included in the coupon;

activating the coupon when the motion sensor has detected a predetermined amount of motion such that the coupon becomes redeemable by the user.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising indicating to the user when the motion sensor has detected a predetermined amount of motion.

26. A method of providing an incentive for a user to participate in physical activity comprising:

(a) providing a user with a coupon;

(b) monitoring the physical activity of the user with a motion detector disposed in the coupon;

(d) modifying the appearance of the coupon when a predetermined threshold of physical activity has been achieved;

(d) providing the user with a reward upon the redemption of the modified coupon.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the motion detector comprises two or more chemicals adapted to mix together upon motion of the coupon.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the motion detector comprises a chemical solution and the indicator is the change in color of the chemical solution.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein the motion detector comprises microencapsulated spheres and an abrasive that breaks the spheres upon motion of the coupon.

30. The method of claim 26 wherein the motion detector comprises a magnet, a coiled wire, and an inductor adapted to generate an electrical current upon motion of the coupon.

31. The method of claim 26 wherein the motion detector comprises at least one ratchet gear adapted to turn upon motion of the coupon.

32. The coupon of claim 26 wherein the motion detector comprises a conductive object within a channel bounded by one or more electrical contacts whereby a circuit is closed upon contact of the conductive object and one of the electrical contacts.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the conductive object is coupled to at least one end of the channel including a spring.

34. The method of claim 26 wherein the motion detector comprises a conductive object in a space bound by a plurality of electrical contacts.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the space is a cross-shaped channel.

36. The method of claim 26 wherein the motion detector comprises one or more conductive members suspended adjacent to one or more electrical contacts adapted to close a circuit between the one or more conductive members and the one or more electrical contacts upon motion of the coupon.

37. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

(e) resetting the coupon to be used again.