EXERCISE, TRAINING, AND THERAPY TOOL AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20140295983A1
• Filed: 03/12/2014
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Butler Nooner
• Original Assignee: Butler Nooner
• Inventors: Nooner, Butler
• Application Number:
  US14/207,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20140295983A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/223
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0071 Distinction between different activities, movements, or kind of sports performed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/026 Bars; Tubes; Leaf springs A63B21/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4033 Handles, pedals, bars or platforms
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/58 slideably retracted in a housing when not in use
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/44 Angular acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0238 Spinal column for the neck A63B23/025
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3623 for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence

Abstract

An exercise tool includes an elongated bar configured to be positioned behind a user such that a midpoint of the elongated bar is substantially aligned with a spine of the user. The exercise tool includes a sensing unit configured to be operational during rotation of the bar by the user about the midpoint of the elongated bar. The sensing unit is configured to sense at least one of a speed associated with the bar, an acceleration associated with the bar, a number of times the bar has been rotated, an angle between a plane of rotation and a reference plane or reference line, a range of rotation, and an amount of deviation from which the plane of rotation varies from a standard or a measured plane.

Claims

1. An exercise tool comprising:

an elongated bar configured to be positioned behind a user such that a midpoint of the elongated bar is substantially aligned with a spine of the user;

a sensing unit configured to be operational during rotation of the bar by the user about the midpoint of the elongated bar, the sensing unit configured to sense at least one of a speed associated with the bar, an acceleration associated with the bar, a number of times the bar has been rotated, an angle between a plane of rotation and a reference plane or reference line, a range of rotation, and an amount of deviation from which the plane of rotation varies from a standard or a measured plane.

2. The exercise tool of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit is mounted to the elongated bar at approximately the midpoint of the elongated bar.

3. The exercise tool of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit is configured to worn by or mounted to the user.

4. The exercise tool of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit is at least one of a gyroscopic sensor, an accelerometer, an inclinometer, a magnetic sensor, a load sensor, and a location sensor.

5. The exercise tool of claim 1 further comprising a storage unit configured to store data sensed by the sensing unit.

6. The exercise tool of claim 5, wherein the stored data may be compared to exemplary data collected from a third party using a similar exercise tool.

7. The exercise tool of claim 6, wherein the third party is a professional athlete.

8. A method of exercising comprising:

positioning an elongated bar behind a neck of a user and aligning a midpoint of the elongated bar with a spine of the user;

rotating the elongated bar and a portion an upper body of the user about an axis of rotation that substantially corresponding to a longitudinal axis of the spine, the path of the elongated bar during rotation defining a rotational plane;

collecting data regarding at least one of a speed associated with the rotation of the elongated bar, an acceleration associated with the rotation of the elongated bar, a number of times the bar has been rotated, an angle between the rotational plane and a reference plane or reference line, a range of rotation, and an amount of deviation from which the rotational plane varies from a standard or a measured plane.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

storing the data.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

comparing the stored data to exemplary data collected from a third party using a similar exercise tool.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

reviewing or replaying a portion of the stored data.

12. A system for teaching a golf swing, the system comprising:

an exercise and training tool that is sized and configured to be positioned behind the shoulder blades of the user with the arms of the user wrapping around a top surface of the tool and extending out toward each end of the tool, the tool comprising;

a sleeve having a first end configured to engage a first collar and a second end configured to engage a second collar, the sleeve having a first inner diameter stop positioned a first distance from the midpoint of the sleeve and a second inner diameter stop positioned a second distance from the midpoint of the sleeve on the opposite side of the midpoint from the first inner diameter stop;

a first telescoping member operable to extend from and retract into the first end of the sleeve, the first telescoping member having an outer diameter that is less than the inner diameter of the sleeve, wherein the first telescoping member has a first outer diameter stop positioned along an outer surface of the first telescoping member;

a second telescoping member operable to extend from and retract into the second end of the sleeve, the second telescoping member having an outer diameter that is less than the inner diameter of the sleeve, wherein the second telescoping member has a second outer diameter stop positioned along an outer surface of the second telescoping member;

the first collar being coupled to the first end of the sleeve and the second collar being coupled to a second end of the sleeve;

a computing device coupled to the midpoint of the sleeve;

wherein the first collar is operable to engage the first telescoping member and the first end of the sleeve to fix the position of the first telescoping member relative to the sleeve;

wherein the second collar is operable to engage the second telescoping member and the second end of the sleeve to fix the position of the second telescoping member relative to the sleeve; and

wherein the computing device comprises a display, a vibratory motor, a speaker, a memory, a processor, and one or more sensors.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the memory comprises instructions for:

receiving user input indicating one or more user parameters that the user desires to track;

receiving sensor input from one or more sensors indicating that the user has started using the exercise tool, and starting a tracking process based on the sensor input; and

providing feedback to the user to indicate the tracked one or more user parameters.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the memory further comprises instructions for estimating user motion paths based on the received sensor input.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the memory comprises instructions for tracking and recording the rotational motion of the training tool in multiple axes as it is moved by the user.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more sensors includes a sensor selected from the group consisting of a gyroscope, an accelerometer, and an inclinometer.