PACE CAPTURE DEVICE FOR ASSISTING WITH A SPORTING ACTIVITY

• US 20080310579A1
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andre P. Boezaart
• Original Assignee: Andre P. Boezaart
• Inventors: Boezaart, Andre P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,980,456 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 377/24.2
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• 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 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers

Abstract

The present invention includes a system and method for monitoring a user'"'"'s pace and providing an indication of the user'"'"'s average pace in conjunction with performing an activity. The method according to one embodiment of the present invention includes monitoring a user'"'"'s pace relating to the performance of the activity and calculating pace data relating the user. In response to a first signal, the method stores the pace data and in response to a second signal retrieves the pace data. The method then calculates an assistance pace for the user over a defined time interval and transmits an output signal reflecting the assistance pace based the pace data, such as in the example of a golf club assisting in the swinging pace of the golf club.

Claims

1. A system for pace assistance with an activity, the system comprising:

a pace determining device operative to monitor a user'"'"'s pace relating to the performance of the activity and calculate pace data relating the user;

a data storage device operative to store the pace data therein;

a pace assistance device operative to retrieve the pace data from the storage device, calculate an assistance pace for the user over a defined time interval and transmit an output signal reflecting the assistance pace based the pace data; and

an output device operative to receive the output signal and output pace information to the user, the output pace information synchronized with the assistance pace.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the pace determining device includes a pedometer.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising an output router operative to route said output signal to a plurality of user-selectable output devices.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said output device includes at least one of:

a speaker, a vibrating device and a visual display.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said user'"'"'s pace relates to a walking pace of a user, including the real-time average stride rate of a user over a defined time interval.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the assistance pace assists a pace for swinging a golf club.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

an output signal data storage device including a plurality of output signals at a plurality of paces, the pace assistance further operative to retrieve one of the output signals at a pace consistent with the assistance pace and outputting the selected signals to the output device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the pace assistance device is an electronic foot strike device operative to determine the user'"'"'s pace relative to running and the output signal relating to a running pace.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the pace assistance device is an electronic cadence determining device operative to determine the user'"'"'s pace relative to cycling and the output signal relating to a cycling pace.

10. A method for pace assistance with an activity, the method comprising:

monitor a user'"'"'s pace relating to the performance of the activity and calculate pace data relating the user;

in response to a first signal, storing said pace data;

in response to a second signal, retrieving said pace data;

calculating an assistance pace for the user over a defined time interval; and

transmitting an output signal reflecting the assistance pace based the pace data.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein transmitting an output signal comprising routing said output signal to a plurality of user-selectable output devices.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein transmitting an output signal comprises transmitting said output signal to at least one of:

a speaker, a vibrating device and a visual display.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

storing a plurality of output signals at a plurality of paces; and

retrieving one of the output signals at a pace consistent with the assistance pace and outputting the selected signals to the output device

16. The method of claim 10 wherein monitoring a user'"'"'s pace comprises monitoring a user'"'"'s foot stride and determining the user'"'"'s pace relative to running and the output signal relating to a running pace.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein monitoring a user'"'"'s pace comprises monitoring a user'"'"'s cadence and determining the user'"'"'s pace relative to cycling and the output signal relating to a cycling pace.

13. The method of claim 13 wherein said user'"'"'s pace relates to a walking pace of a user, including the real-time average stride rate of a user over a defined time interval.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the assistance pace assists a pace for swinging a golf club.