Pressure sensing system

• US 20090135001A1
• Filed: 10/28/2008
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lo Tong Yuk
• Original Assignee: Lo Tong Yuk
• Inventors: Yuk, Lo Tong
• Application Number:
  US12/290,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20090135001A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.110
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/00 Footwear for sporting purposes non-skid devices, e.g. ice-spurs or studs for football shoes, A43C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1036 Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0627 when used improperly, e.g. by giving a warning
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/52 Weight, e.g. weight distribution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

A system includes a pressure sensor communicating directly, or indirectly, via a data processor, with a feedback device. The pressure sensor is located in an athletic surface, such as in footwear, sports boards, decks, or the like, to measure the pressure and/or force transmitted to a user'"'"'s leg, ankle, knee, and so forth. The feedback device produces a signal, optionally an audible, visible, and/or tactile signal, to alert the user that the pressure or force has exceeded a pressure threshold.

Claims

1. A method of alerting a user to a condition comprising:

providing a sensor between the user'"'"'s foot and a surface;

using the sensor to monitor the condition;

providing a feedback module worn above the user'"'"'s waist;

providing a communication link between the sensor and the feedback module;

using the sensor to determine a state of the condition;

using the feedback module to alert the user when the condition exceeds a predetermined level.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the communication link as a wireless communication link.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the surface as at least one selected from the group consisting of footwear, an athletic surface, a sports board, a sports deck and a deck of an exercise machine.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the feedback module as an electronic device;

using the sensor as a pressure sensor;

obtaining the state of the condition as an impact force condition.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

providing the electronic device as a wrist watch;

providing the alert as at least one selected from the group consisting of audible, visual and tactile.

6. A method of alerting a user to a pressure condition comprising:

providing a pressure sensor between a user'"'"'s foot and a surface;

providing a feedback module separate from a user'"'"'s footwear;

establishing a communication link between the pressure sensor and the feedback module;

using the pressure sensor to determine a state of pressure;

using the communication link to transmit the state of pressure to the feedback module;

using the feedback module to alert the user when the pressure condition exceeds a predetermined pressure threshold.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

providing the communication link as a wireless communication link.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

providing the surface as at least one selected from the group consisting of an athletic surface, a sports board, a sports deck and a deck of an exercise machine.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

providing the wireless communication link as a Bluetooth™

communication link.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

installing the pressure sensor directly below a user'"'"'s heel in the footwear;

determining the state of pressure using the pressure sensor installed directly below the user'"'"'s heel;

determining the state of pressure during a sporting activity;

setting the predetermined pressure threshold based on the sporting activity;

alerting the user to an unsafe condition based on the sporting activity and the predetermined pressure threshold.

11. A device for alerting a user to a condition comprising:

a sensor to monitor the condition between the user'"'"'s foot and a surface;

a feedback module worn above the waist by the user;

a communication link between the sensor and the feedback module;

wherein the feedback module alerts the user when the condition exceeds a predetermined level.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

the communication link is a wireless communication link.

13. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

the surface is at least one selected from the group consisting of footwear, an athletic surface, a sports board, a sports deck and a deck of an exercise machine.

14. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

the feedback module is an electronic device;

the sensor is a pressure sensor;

wherein the condition is an impact force condition.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising:

the electronic device is a wrist watch;

wherein the alert is at least one selected from the group consisting of audible, visual and tactile.

16. A device for alerting a user to a pressure condition comprising:

a pressure sensor to measure a pressure between a user'"'"'s foot and a surface;

a feedback module separate from a user'"'"'s footwear;

a communication link between the pressure sensor and the feedback module;

wherein the communication link transmits a state of pressure to the feedback module and;

wherein the feedback module alerts the user when the pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure threshold.

17. The device of claim 16, further comprising:

the communication link is a wireless communication link.

18. The device of claim 16, further comprising:

the surface is at least one selected from the group consisting of an athletic surface, a sports board, a sports deck and a deck of an exercise machine.

19. The device of claim 17, further comprising:

the wireless communication link is a Bluetooth™

communication link.

20. The device of claim 19, further comprising:

the pressure sensor is installed only directly below a user'"'"'s heel in the footwear;

wherein the state of pressure is determined during a sporting activity;

wherein the predetermined pressure threshold is set based on the sporting activity and;

wherein the user is alerted to an unsafe condition based on the sporting activity and the predetermined pressure threshold.

21. An apparatus for alerting a user to a condition comprising:

a sensor to monitor the condition between the user'"'"'s foot and a surface;

a feedback module worn above the waist by the user;

a communication link between the sensor and the feedback module;

wherein the feedback module alerts the user when the condition exceeds a predetermined level.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

the communication link is a wireless communication link.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

the surface is at least one selected from the group consisting of footwear, an athletic surface, a sports board, a sports deck and a deck of an exercise machine.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

the feedback module is an electronic device;

the sensor is a pressure sensor;

wherein the condition is an impact force condition.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising:

the electronic device is a wrist watch;

wherein the alert is at least one selected from the group consisting of audible, visual and tactile.