Timing device for exercise program with signalling means

• US 3,973,251 A
• Filed: 04/25/1975
• Issued: 08/03/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stephans J. Larry
• Original Assignee: Stephans J. Larry
• Inventors: Stephans, J. Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wannisky, William M.
• Application Number:
  US05/571,643
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 340/309.1, 340/309.2, 340/309.3, 340/309.4, 128/2.06 R, 128/208, 272/69, 272/73, 58/9, 58/21.16, 58/130, 58/145, 200/27 B, 200/38 B, 307/139
• US Class Current: 340/309.7
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/22 Ergometry; Measuring muscular strength or the force of a muscular blow exercising apparatus A63B21/00 ; measuring of work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 5/02 Metronomes

Abstract

A physiotherapy timing and control device for instructing a patient to perform a prescribed program of exercise including a series of "exercise" periods each followed by a "rest" period at the start of which the patient is required to read and record his pulse, includes a spring-wound timer having a dial time-graduated in intervals corresponding to the periods of the exercise program to provide visual guidance concerning the progress of the program, and signal generating means actuable in response to operation of the timer for generating an audible signal of relatively short duration at times corresponding to the start of an exercise period, and an audible signal of longer duration at times corresponding to the start of a rest period. In the preferred embodiment the longer audible signal has a duration of fifteen seconds so that a pulse count observed during the signal when multiplied by four gives the patient'"'"'s pulse rate in beats per minute.

Claims

1. Apparatus for instructing a patient to perform a prescribed program of exercise including a series of "exercise" periods each followed by a "rest" period at the start of which the patient is required to read and record his pulse rate, said apparatus comprising, in combination,

spring-wound timer means having a timing cycle at least as long as the prescribed exercise program and a timer motor having a shaft to one end of which is secured a winding knob which also serves as a pointer,

a dial supported in cooperative relationship with said knob, said dial being time-graduated in intervals corresponding to the intervals of the prescribed exercise program, and

signal generating means including cam-controlled switches operative in response to the operation of said timer means for generating first and second audible signals of predetermined durations at times synchronized with the time graduations on said dial, the first signal generated at the times corresponding to the start of a "rest" period having a duration equal to a sub-multiple of 60 seconds thereby establishing a period during which the patient reads his pulse which reading when multiplied by said multiple gives his pulse rate in beats per minute, and the second signal generated at the times corresponding to the start of an "exercise" interval having a duration substantially shorter than the first signal.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first audible signal has a duration approximately equal to 15 seconds and said second signal has a duration approximately equal to 1 second.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said signal generating means is controlled by electronic timing means energizable from a battery, and first and second toothed cams supported on and driven in rotation by the shaft of said timer motor, the teeth on said first and second cams being differently spaced as determined by the desired time of initiation of said first and second audible signals and arranged to actuate first and second switches.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first switch is normally open and when closed by a tooth on said first cam is operative to energize said electronic timing means to generate said second audible signal, and wherein said second switch is normally closed and when its contacts are opened by a tooth on said second cam a small fraction before the contacts of said first switch are closed by a tooth on said first cam, said electronic timing means is energized to generate said first audible signal.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said first audible signal has a duration approximately equal to 15 seconds and said second audible signal has a duration approximately equal to 1 second.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the intervals on said time-graduated dial corresponding to "exercise" periods of said exercise program are distinguished by a first color and the intervals of said time-graduated dial corresponding to "rest" periods of said exercise program are distinguished by a second color.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the intervals on said time-graduated dial corresponding to "exercise" periods of said exercise program have indicia between the time-graduations defining the intervals having differing radial dimensions for signifying the stress level at which the exercise is to be performed during each of the "exercise" periods.