Method and device for training body parts of a person

• US 6,334,837 B1
• Filed: 07/19/2000
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Achim Hein, Markus Becker
• Original Assignee: Achim Hein, Markus Becker
• Inventors: Becker, Markus, Hein, Achim
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US09/554,436
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1-9, 482/900, 482/902, 600/587, 600/595, 733/790.1, 733/790.8
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 15/004 Seating furniture for specified purposes not covered by main groups A47C1/00 or A47C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/002 Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 other optical apparatus G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0354 with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for training body parts of a person in a sitting position, by preselecting a desired movement and generating movement signals form a movement of a sitting person, via a sensor unit.

Claims

1. A device for training body parts of a person in a sitting position comprising:

a) a seat device to be supported by a support surface, said seat device having a seating surface upon which a person is to be seated;

b) display means for displaying to the person a desired movement to be performed by the person;

c) a sensor arrangement for generating movement signals corresponding to a movement of the person on said seating surface, said sensor arrangement being connected to said seat device; and

d) a processing unit connected to said sensor arrangement for generating a presentation of the movement from said movement signals, said presentation of the movement being displayed by said display means.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises a multitude of sensor elements, which are arranged on a surface.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises a plate-shaped rigid element, said plate-shaped element is mounted in a tilt mechanism, and the tilt mechanism comprises at least two rotation sensors.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the plate-shaped element has a concave surface.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises a net-like element and a plurality of sensors, said net-like element is secured along its edges in at least three fastening points, and said sensors are provided at the fastening points.

6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one gyroscope connected to said seat device to detect a rotary movement of said seat device.

7. The device according to claim 6, further comprising a transmitter connected to said gyroscope for a wireless transmission of the rotary movement signals.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said seat device comprises an electric energy source.

9. A method for training body parts of a person in a sitting position comprising the following steps:

a) providing a seat device having a seating surface thereon;

b) seating a person on said seating surface;

c) specifying to the person desired movements to be performed by the person;

d) measuring movements of the person on the seating surface by means of a sensor arrangement and generating corresponding movement signals;

e) generating a presentation of the movements from said movement signals by means of a processing unit; and

f) displaying said presentation by display means.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the display means comprise a monitor.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the presentation of the movements takes place in the form of a cursor, the location of which on the monitor is derived from said movement signals.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the desired movements are specified in the form of a desired path to be traveled by a cursor on the monitor.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein a presentation of the desired movements takes place on the same monitor that displays the movements of the person.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the seat device comprises a ball seat and movements of the sitting person is transmitted via the ball seat to the sensor arrangement.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the movement signals are generated quasi-continuously.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising forming a quality signal from the desired movements and the movement signals, as a measure for the correspondence between the desired movements and the measured movements.

17. A device for training body parts of a person in a sitting position comprising:

a) a seat device to be supported by a support surface, said seat device being designed as a ball seat upon which a person is to be seated;

b) display means for displaying to the person a desired movement to be performed by the person;

c) a sensor arrangement for generating movement signals corresponding to a movement of the person on said ball seat, said sensor arrangement being connected to said seat device; and

d) a processing unit connected to said sensor arrangement for generating a presentation of the movement from said movement signals, said presentation of the movement being displayed by said display means.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises a multitude of sensor elements, which are arranged on a surface.

19. The device according to claim 17, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises a plate-shaped rigid element, said plate-shaped element is mounted in a tilt mechanism, and the tilt mechanism comprises at least two rotation sensors.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein the plate-shaped element has a concave surface.

21. The device according to claim 17, wherein the sensor arrangement comprises a net-like element and a plurality of sensors, said net-like element is secured along its edges in at least three fastening points, and said sensors are provided at the fastening points.

22. The device according to claim 17, further comprising at least one gyroscope connected to said seat device to detect a rotary movement of said seat device.

23. The device according to claim 22, further comprising a transmitter connected to said gyroscope for a wireless transmission of the rotary movement signals.

24. The device according to claim 17, wherein the seat device comprises an electric energy source.