Electronic tracking system for a combination of sporting articles consisting of more than one sporting article and the use of same

• US 7,017,808 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2003
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Atomic Austria GmbH (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Atomic Austria GmbH (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Holzer, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Stcyr, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hess, Daniel A.
• Application Number:
  US10/685,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20040074966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 235/385, 340/572.1, 340/540
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/48 with transmitting devices, e.g. GSM or Wi-Fi®
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/24 Processing or storing data, e.g. with electronic chip
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 9/00 Ski bindings
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic tracking system (1) for a combination of sporting articles (2) consisting of more than one sporting article and the potential applications thereof. At least two code transmitters (7) are provided, which are assigned to at least two structurally separate sporting articles. For the purposes of the invention, these code transmitters (7) or their data can be contactlessly detected by at least one separate control unit (6; 9). In another embodiment of the invention, a data transmission between the code transmitters (7) and a separate control unit (6; 9) via an encryption module (32) in a network can not be mistaken or account is taken of the fact that predefined sporting articles are designed beforehand as belonging to one another. In another embodiment of the invention, the control unit (6; 9) can record the codes of sporting articles belonging to a combination of sporting articles (2) and/or the code transmitters (7) of these sporting articles are assigned a code to designate that the various sporting articles belong to a combination of sporting articles (2). In yet another embodiment of the invention, the code transmitters (7) and/or at least one of the code transmitters (7) and the control unit (6; 9) are able to communicate up to a distance of 30 m.

Claims

1. An electronic tracking system for a combination of sporting articles consisting of a plurality of structurally different sporting articles including a retaining mechanism for a sport shoe and a sport shoe, comprising

(a) at least two code transmitters integrated respectively in the retaining mechanism for the sport shoe and in the sport shoe and assigned to the retaining mechanism and the sport shoe,

(1) at least one of the code transmitters assigned to the retaining mechanism containing and displaying data relating the properties and/or settings of the retaining mechanism, and

(2) at least one of the code transmitters assigned to the sport shoe containing and displaying data relating the properties and/or settings of the sport shoe, and

(b) at least one control unit for contactlessly detecting the data of the code transmitters integrated respectively in the retaining mechanism for the sport shoe and in the sport shoe, the control unit being arranged to analyze the data and to ascertain whether the retaining mechanism for the sport shoe and of the sport shoe have the properties and/or settings to make their combination safe.

2. The electronic tracking system of claim 1, wherein the control unit has a maximum detection range of 3 m.

3. The electronic tracking system of claim 1, wherein the control unit has a maximum detection range of 1 m.

4. The electronic tracking system of claim 1, wherein the retaining mechanism is a board-type runner device.

5. The electronic tracking system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the code transmitters is designed to communicate with other code transmitters and/or at least one of the control units.

6. The electronic tracking system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is a software-operated, commercially available portable computer.

7. The electronic tracking system of claim 6, wherein the computer has at least one interface for local or remote transmission of signals and data via a local-area or global network.

8. The electronic tracking system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is a so-called palmtop or a mobile telephone.

9. The electronic tracking system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is a computer in the form of a wrist watch which can be worn on the human body and is supplied by an electric mains network or a separate power supply.

10. The electronic tracking system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is a software-operated mobile telephone for UMTS mobile telephone networks.

11. The electronic tracking system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the code transmitters of the sport articles belonging together or intended to be used together have a code that cannot be mistaken for codes of other sport article groups.

12. The electronic tracking system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the code transmitters contains and displays physiological and/or performance-related data pertaining to a user.

13. The electronic tracking system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the control units can be worn on the body and contains and displays physiological and/or performance-related data pertaining to a user.

14. The electronic tracking system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the control units is stationary and disposed at an access area to a sports facility.

15. The electronic tracking system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the control units has a visual and/or acoustic output device for issuing information.

16. The electronic tracking system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sporting articles has a visual and/or acoustic output device for issuing information.

17. The electronic tracking system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the code transmitters contains and displays personal data and owner-related data.

18. The electronic tracking system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the control units checks the data of the code transmitters assigned to the retaining mechanism and the sport shoe to ascertain that they are correctly used and that they belong together.

19. The electronic tracking system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the control units checks the date of the code transmitter assigned to the retaining mechanism and the data of a code transmitter of a user or of a personal, user-side control unit to ensure correct use and that they belong to each other.

20. The electronic tracking system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the control units has a standard communication interface for loading and/or downloading data from and/or to a public communication network.

21. The electronic tracking system of claim 1, wherein the data of at least one of the code transmitters are codes or pointers for data sets stored in at least one of the control units and/or in an external data network.

22. The electronic tracking system of claim 1, wherein the data of the code transmitters can be fixed and/or edited exclusively by an authorized point.

23. The electronic tracking system of claim 1, comprising a sensor connected to at least one of the code transmitters for detecting system-related parameters or changing parameter values.

24. The electronic tracking system of claim 23, wherein the sensor is designed to detect a release force of the retaining mechanism.

25. The electronic tracking system of claim 23, wherein the sensor is designed to detect a Z-value setting of a safety ski binding.

26. An electronic tracking system for a combination of sporting articles consisting of a plurality of structurally separate sporting articles including sporting articles designed for use in pairs, comprising

(a) at least two code transmitters assigned to the pairs of sporting articles, at least one of the code transmitters signaling intended use on the left and/or right, and

(b) a network for transmitting data between the code transmitters and at least one control unit for detecting that the sporting articles are used on the intended side.

27. The electronic tracking system of claim 26, wherein at least one of the control units distinguishes between a sporting article intended for use on the right-hand and/or left-hand side and checks that they are being used correctly.

28. The electronic tracking system of claim 26, wherein the sporting articles designed for use in pairs are board-type runner devices, further comprising a code transmitter assigned to a sport shoe, and at least one of the control units checking the use of at least one of the board-type runner devices on the designated side of a user.

29. The electronic tracking system of claim 26, wherein at least one of the code transmitters and of control units keeps a constant log of changing data and stores at least the last up-to-date set of data in a memory device.

30. An electronic tracking system for a combination of sporting articles consisting of a plurality of structurally separate sporting articles, comprising

(a) at least two code transmitters respectively assigned to two sporting articles,

(b) at least one control unit in contactless communication with the code transmitters for communication between the code transmitters and the control unit over a range of 30 m,

(1) at least one code transmitter and/or the control unit has a distance-measuring system for determining the distance from a possible communication response point, and

(2) the control unit has a programming mode enabling the code transmitters to detect the sporting articles of the combination automatically.