Physical fitness evalution system

• US 5,435,315 A
• Filed: 01/28/1994
• Issued: 07/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Healthfirst Corporation (Polar Electro Oy)
• Original Assignee: Brad Sparlin, Ron J. Mcphee, Samuel J. Troutman, William Hayward
• Inventors: McPhee, Ron J., Sparlin, Brad, Troutman, Samuel J., Hayward, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NASSER, ROBERT L
• Application Number:
  US08/188,249
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 128/668, 128/670-672, 128/677, 128/689, 128/706, 128/707, 128/713, 128/716, 128/725, 128/774, 482/8, 482/500-502, 607/23
• US Class Current: 600/483
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4872 Body fat

Abstract

A device for evaluating the physical fitness of an individual. The device obtains signals indicative of personal data of the individual, including cardiovascular fitness data including one of blood pressure data, heart rate data, treadmill energy expenditure data, and bicycle energy expenditure data. The device further obtains strength fitness data selected from at least one of isometric fitness data and hand strength data, flexibility fitness data, body composition data selected from at least one of weight data and percentage body fat data. The device then calculates overall fitness indices from the obtained data and outputs the indices.

Claims

1. An apparatus for evaluation of the physical fitness of an individual comprising:

means for obtaining personal data from an individual for classifying said individual on the basis of said data;

means for receiving signals from cardiovascular fitness measurements of said individual wherein said means for receiving signals has a cardiovascular fitness output, said cardiovascular fitness measurements including at least one parameter selected from the group of blood pressure measurement, heart rate measurement, treadmill energy expenditure measurement and bicycle energy expenditure measurement;

means for measuring strength fitness of said individual having a strength fitness output, said strength fitness measurement including at least one parameter selected from the group of hand strength measurement and isometric strength measurement;

means for measuring flexibility fitness of said individual having a flexibility fitness output,

means for measuring body composition of said individual having a body composition output, said body composition measurement including at least one parameter selected from the group of weight measurement and percentage of body fat measurement;

means for calculating overall physical fitness indices from the obtained personal data, the cardiovascular fitness measurements, the strength fitness measurement, the flexibility fitness measurement and the body composition measurement by comparison with standard physical fitness values; and

,

means for outputting said calculated overall physical fitness indices, wherein, at least one of the group of cardiovascular fitness output, strength fitness output, flexibility fitness output and body composition output is electronically linked to said means for calculating whereby manual entry of said at least one of said parameters is avoided.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein all of the group of cardiovascular fitness output, strength fitness output, flexibility fitness output and body composition output are electronically linked to said means for calculating whereby manual entry of said parameters is avoided.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for measuring flexibility is electronically linked to said calculating means.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for measuring strength fitness and having a strength fitness output comprises means for measuring hand strength having a hand strength output means for measuring isometric strength and having an isometric strength output, each electronically linked to said calculating means.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for receiving signals from cardiovascular fitness measurements comprises means for receiving an output of blood pressure and means for receiving an output of heart rate measurements, each electronically linked to said calculating means.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for receiving signals from cardiovascular fitness measurements further comprises means for receiving an output from energy expenditure on a treadmill by the individual and means for receiving an output from energy expenditure on a bicycle by the individual, each electronically linked to said calculating means.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for measuring body composition a body composition output comprises means for measuring weight having a weight output and means for measuring percentage of body fat having a body fat output, each electronically linked to said calculating means.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for measuring body composition a body composition output comprises means for measuring weight having a weight output and means for measuring percentage of body fat having a body fat output, each electronically linked to said calculating means.

9. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for receiving signals from cardiovascular fitness measurements comprises means for receiving an output of blood pressure measurements and means for receiving an output of heart rate measurements, each electronically linked to said calculating means.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for receiving signals from cardiovascular fitness measurements further comprises means for receiving an output from energy expenditure on a treadmill by the individual and means for receiving an output from energy expenditure on a bicycle by the individual, each electronically linked to said calculating means.

11. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for measuring body composition a body composition output comprises means for measuring weight having a weight output and means for measuring percentage of body fat having a body fat output, each electronically linked to said calculating means.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for measuring strength fitness comprises means for measuring hand strength and means for measuring isometric strength, each electronically linked to said calculating means.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for receiving signals from cardiovascular fitness measurements comprises means for receiving an output of blood pressure measurements and means for receiving an output of heart rate measurement, each electronically linked to said calculating means.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said means for receiving signals from cardiovascular fitness measurements further comprises means for receiving an output from energy expenditure on a treadmill by the individual and means for receiving an output from energy expenditure on a bicycle by the individual, each electronically linked to said calculating means.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for measuring body composition body composition output comprises means for measuring weight having a weight output and means for measuring percentage of body fat having a body fat output, each electronically linked to said calculating means.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for measuring flexibility fitness of said individual comprises a system including a footplate, a handle adapted for gripping by said individual, said handle connected to a retractable measuring cable, and a wheel having a defined diameter, said cable in contact with said wheel whereby retraction of said cable rotates said wheel in a defined fashion allowing measurement of the distance moved by said gripped handle.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for measuring weight of said individual and having a weight output comprises a lower plate situated upon the ground, an upper plate situated a defined distance above said lower plate by at least one spacer, and a multiple strain gauge attached to said upper plate whereby the weight of an individual upon the upper plate can be determined.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the means for measuring isometric strength comprises said lower plate, said upper plate, and said multiple strain gauge, and further includes a post attached to the lower plate and an adjustable strap and handle attached to said post whereby the isometric strength of said individual can be measured when said individual exerts an upward force upon said strap and handle.

19. A method of evaluating the physical fitness of an individual comprising:

obtaining personal data from an individual for classifying said individual on the basis of said data;

receiving signals from cardiovascular fitness measurements of said individual wherein said received signals are a cardiovascular fitness output, said cardiovascular fitness measurements including at least one parameter selected from the group of blood pressure measurement, heart rate measurement, treadmill energy expenditure measurement and bicycle energy expenditure measurement;

measuring strength fitness of said individual by measuring at least one parameter selected from the group of hand strength measurement and isometric strength measurement;

measuring flexibility fitness of said individual using a system including a footplate, a handle adapted for gripping by said individual, said handle connected to a retractable measuring cable, and a wheel having a defined diameter, whereby retraction of said cable rotates said wheel in a defined fashion allowing measurement of the distance moved by said gripping handle;

measuring body composition of said individual by measuring at least one parameter selected from the group of weight measurement and percentage of body fat measurement;

calculating overall physical fitness indices from the obtained personal data, the cardiovascular fitness measurements, the strength fitness measurement, the flexibility fitness measurement and the body composition measurement by comparison with standard physical fitness values; and

,

outputting said calculated overall physical fitness indices.