Leg mounted distance measuring device and guidance system

• US 3,898,886 A
• Filed: 03/25/1974
• Issued: 08/12/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alton B. Hamm
• Original Assignee: Alton B. Hamm
• Inventors: Hamm, Alton B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woodiel, Donald O.
• Application Number:
  US05/454,478
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 235/105 73/172,178R,432R 33/354
• US Class Current: 73/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers

Abstract

The specification discloses a leg mounted distance measuring device comprising a mount adapted to be coupled to a person'"'"''"'"'s leg. Following means is coupled to the mount for following at least partially the relative movement between the foot and the leg as a person takes a step. Means is provided for limiting the movement of the following means as a person'"'"''"'"'s foot moves about the ankle beyond a preset range relative to the mount and hence to the leg. In addition, means is provided which is responsive to the following means for producing an output which is a function of the movement of the following means. In one embodiment disclosed, there is provided a one-way clutch having a flexible cord coupled to its driving member and adapted to be coupled to a person'"'"''"'"'s foot offset from the ankle. Stops are provided for limiting movement of the driving member to reduce the one-way incremental rotation of the clutch as a person'"'"''"'"'s foot moves or swings about the ankle to limits beyond the preset range. A guidance system is provided for use with the leg mounted distance measuring device for allowing one to determine direction and distance back to a departure point. The guidance system includes a recording means adapted to have its center of gravity shifted as the distance and direction of travel varies.

Claims

1. A distance measuring device comprising:

support means, means for coupling said support means to a person'"'"''"'"'s leg, outPut producing means coupled to said support means for producing an output, and following means for following movement of the foot relative to the leg as a person takes a step for actuating said output means to produce an output indicative of the distance covered by said step and which is a function of the change in the angular relationship occurring between the foot and the leg as a person takes a step said following means being coupled to said output indicative of the distance covered by said step and producing means and including means adapted to be coupled to a person'"'"''"'"'s foot for following movement of the foot relative to the leg as a person takes a step.

2. A distance measuring device comprising:

support means, means for coupling said support means to a person'"'"''"'"'s leg, sensing means coupled to said support means and sensitive to the change in the angular relationship occurring between the foot and the leg within a predetermined range relative to said support means and hence to the leg, as a person takes a step, and means responsive to said sensing means for producing an output for each step taken indicative of the distance covered by each step taken and which is a function of the change in the angular relationship occurring between the foot and the leg within said predetermined range relative to the leg, as a person takes a step and indicative of distance.

3. A distance measuring device comprising:

support means, means for coupling said support means to a person'"'"''"'"'s leg, following means coupled to said support means for following at least partially the relative movement between the leg and the foot as a person takes a step, means for limiting the movement of said following means as a person'"'"''"'"'s foot moves about the ankle beyond a predetermined limit relative to said support means and hence to the leg, and means responsive to said following means for producing an output indictive of the distance covered by said step and which is a function of the change in the angular relationship occurring between the foot and the leg as a person takes a step.

4. A distance measuring device comprising:

support means, means for coupling said support means to a person'"'"''"'"'s leg, means coupled to said support means to be located above the ankle and below the knee when said support means is coupled in place and having a movable input means and an output means, and control means for controlling said input means to produce an output by said output means for each step taken indicative of the distance covered by each step taken and which is a function of the change in the angular relationship occurring between the foot and the leg, within a predetermined range relative to said support means and hence to the leg, as a person takes a step, said control means includes coupling means coupled to said input means and adapted to be coupled to a person'"'"''"'"'s foot for applying motion to said input means and which is a function of the change in the angular relationship occurring between the foot and the leg as a person takes a step.

5. A distance measuring device comprising:

support means, means for coupling said support means to a person'"'"''"'"'s leg, means coupled to said support means to be located above the ankle and below the knee when said support means is coupled in place and including a movable input means and a one-way rotatable output means, and control means for producing a rotational output by said output means for each step taken indicative of the distance covered by each step taken and which is a function of the change in the angular relationship occurring between the foot and the leg, within a predetermined range relative to said support means and hence to the leg, as a person takes a step, said control means includes coupling means coupled to said input means and adapted to be coupled to a person'"'"''"'"'s foot for applying motion to said input means to produce a rotational output by said output means which iS a function of the change in the angular relationship occurring between the foot and the leg within said predetermined range as a person takes a step.

6. The distance measuring device of claim 5 wherein:

said input means is a two-way rotatable means and said output means is a one-way rotatable means adapted to be rotated in only one direction when said two-way rotatable means is rotated in a given direction, the amount of rotation of said one-way rotatable means being a function of the amount of two-way rotation applied to said two-way rotatable means in a direction opposite said given direction and in said given direction, said coupling means being coupled to said two-way rotatable means and adapted to be coupled to a person'"'"''"'"'s foot for rotating said two-way rotatable means in said given direction as a person takes a step, and return means for returning said two-way rotatable means in a direction opposite said given direction.

7. The distance measuring device of claim 6 comprising:

stop means for limiting the two-way rotation of said two-way rotatable means to reduce the incremental rotation of said one-way rotatable means when the foot moves about the ankle beyond a range which corresponds to the range of said stop means.

8. The distance measuring device of claim 7 wherein:

said coupling means includes a resilient means coupled therein, said return means comprises a resilient means coupled to said support means and to said two-way rotatable means.

9. The distance measuring device of claim 8 comprising means responsive to a given angular position of said one-way rotatable means for producing an electrical signal.

10. The distance measuring device of claim 8 comprising:

arm means connected to said two-way rotatable means, said coupling means being connected to said arm means, said stop means comprises two stops coupled to said support means for limiting the two-way rotation of said arm means.

11. A distance measuring device, comprising:

apparatus including a two-way rotatable means and a one-way rotatable means adapted to be rotated in only one direction when said two-way rotatable means is rotated in a given direction, means for coupling said apparatus to a person'"'"''"'"'s leg for locating said apparatus above the ankle and below the knee, linkage means coupled to said two-way rotatable means and responsive to the change in the angular relationship occurring between the foot and the leg as a person takes a step for rotating said two-way rotatable means in said given direction an amount indicative of the distance covered by said step, and return means for returning said two-way rotatable means in a direction opposite said given direction.

12. The distance measuring device of claim 11 comprising means responsive to the rotation of said one-way rotatable means for producing an output indicative of distance.

13. The distance measuring device of claim 11 wherein said linkage means comprises means which has one end coupled to said two-way rotatable means and an opposite end adapted to be effectively coupled to a person'"'"''"'"'s foot for following movement of the foot relative to the leg as a person takes a step for rotating said two-way rotatable means in said given direction an amount indicative of the distance covered by said step.

14. A distance measuring device comprising:

apparatus including a one-way rotatable means adapted to be rotated in only one direction, means for coupling said apparatus to a person'"'"''"'"'s leg above the ankle and below the knee, and means, including following means, for sensing the change in the angular relationship occurring between the foot and the leg as a person takes a step for rotating said one-way rotatable means an amount indicative of the distance covered by each step taken.

15. The distance measuring device of claim 14 wherein said following means comprises linkage means adapted to be effectively coupled to a person'"'"''"'"'s foot for following movement of the foot relative to the leg as a person takes a step.

16. The distance measuring device of claim 14 comprising means for reducing the rotational movement of said one-way rotatable means when said foot moves through an angular range relative to the leg while traveling uphill or downhill which is different from that which occurs while traveling generally horizontally.

17. The distance measuring device of claim 15 comprising means for reducing the rotational movement of said one-way rotatable means when said foot moves through an angular range relative to the leg while traveling uphill or downhill which is different from that which occurs while traveling generally horizontally.

18. A distance measuring device comprising:

means adapted to be coupled to a person'"'"''"'"'s leg and including means for sensing the change in the angular relationship occurring between the foot and the leg as a person takes a step, and means responsive to the change in the angular relationship sensed for producing an output which is indicative of the distance covered by said step.

19. A distance measuring device comprising:

means adapted to be coupled to a person'"'"''"'"'s leg above the ankle and below the knee and to the foot for following the change in the angular relationship occurring between the foot and the leg as a person takes a step, and output means responsive to the change in angular relationship occurring for producing an output indicative of the distance covered by said step.

20. A distance measuring device comprising:

support means. means for coupling said support means to the leg, means coupled to said support means and including means adapted to be coupled to the foot for sensing the change in the angular relationship occurring between the foot and said support means and hence between the foot and the leg as a person takes a step, and means responsive to the change in the angular relationship sensed for producing an output which is indicative of the distance covered by said step.

21. A distance measuring device comprising:

first and second linkages, pivot connection means for pivotally connecting a first end of said first linkage to a first end of said second linkage, the second end of said second linkage being adapted to be fixedly connected to a person'"'"''"'"'s shoe or the like at a position offset from one'"'"''"'"'s ankle when the shoe is in place, coupling means coupled to the second end of said first linkage and adapted to be coupled to a person'"'"''"'"'s leg above the ankle and below the knee for holding the second end of said first linkage above the ankle, said first and second linkages when coupled in place to the leg and to the shoe being adapted to pivot about said pivot connection as the foot moves about the ankle relative to the leg as a person takes a step, apparatus mounted to said first linkage at a position such that said apparatus will be located above the ankle and below the knee when said first and second linkages are coupled in place to the leg and to the shoe respectively, said apparatus comprising a two-way movable means adapted to be moved in opposite directions and a one-way rotatable means adapted to be rotated in only one direction when said two-way movable means is moved in a given direction, connecting means coupled to said two-way movable means and to said second linkage for moving said two-way movable means in said given direction an amount indicative of the length of a step taken as a person takes a step, and return means for returning said two-way movable means in a direction opposite said given direction.

22. The distance measuring device of claim 21 comprising:

first gear means coupled to said one-way rotatable means for rotation therewith, second gear means adapted to be driven by said first gear means, and a counter coupled to said second gear means for producing a digital output indicative of distance as said first gear means is rotated by said one-way rotaTable means.

23. The distance measuring device of claim 21 comprising:

adjustable linkage means having a first end pivotally connected to said second linkage at a pivot position spaced from said pivot connection between said first and second linkages, said connecting means having a first end coupled to said two-way movable means and a second end coupled to said adjustable linkage means at a connection point spaced from said pivot position, and adjustable means for locating said connection point of said adjustable linkage at different positions relative to said pivot connection between said first and second linkages.

24. The distance measuring device of claim 21 wherein said connecting means comprises:

a first connector having a first end coupled to said two-way movable means, an intermediate arm having a first end pivotally connected to said second linkage at a given pivot point, said first connector having a second end connected to said intermediate arm at a position spaced from said given pivot point, a second connector having a first end connected to said intermediate arm at a position spaced from said given pivot point said second connector having a second end coupled to said second linkage, said first and second connectors being adapted to move said intermediate arm about its pivot point as said first and second linkages pivot about their pivot connection as the foot moves about the ankle relative to the leg as a person takes a step, and said intermediate arm being adapted to pivot about its pivot point within a predetermined angular range when a person takes a normal step over level ground, two adjustable stop means located on opposite sides of said intermediate arm for limiting pivotal movement of said intermediate arm.

25. The distance measuring device of claim 21 wherein:

said first linkage is elongated and has an elongated slot formed in its second end, the length of said slot extending in the direction of the length of said first linkage, said coupling means comprises a member located in said slot to allow said first linkage to move up or down relative to said coupling means and hence to the leg if the foot turns outward or inward while taking a step.

26. The device of claim 25 wherein:

said first and second linkages are adapted to be located on one side of the foot and leg when coupled in place to the leg and foot respectively, said second end of said second linkage being adapted to be coupled to a person'"'"''"'"'s shoe below the ankle when the shoe is in place on the foot, said second linkage between said pivot connection and its second end, including a thin flat like portion having its thin plane generally parallel with the side of the foot when coupled in place and being relatively flexible through its thin plane to allow said portion to bend inward or outward if the foot turns inward or outward when taking a step.

27. The distance measuring device of claim 24 wherein:

said first linkage is elongated and has an elongated slot formed in its second end, the length of said slot extending in the direction of the length of said first linkage, said coupling means comprises a member located in said slot to allow said first linkage to move up or down relative to said coupling means and hence to the leg if the foot turns outward or inward while taking a step.

28. The device of claim 27 wherein:

said first and second linkages are adapted to be located on one side of the foot and leg when coupled in place to the leg and foot respectively, said second end of said second linkage being adapted to be coupled to a person'"'"''"'"'s shoe below the ankle when the shoe is in place on the foot, said second linkage between said pivot connection and its second end, including a thin flat like portion having its thin plane generally parallel with the side of the foot when coupled in place and being relatively flexible through its thin plane to allow said portIon to bend inward or outward if the foot turns inward or outward when taking a step.