Systems for assessing athletic performance

• US 7,072,789 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2004
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: PhatRat Technology Incorporated (PhatRat Technology)
• Inventors: Marshall, Charles, Darcy, Dennis, Vock, Curtis A., Flentov, Peter, Bodkin, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): O MALLEY, MARY CATHERINE
• Application Number:
  US10/842,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20040225467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 482/8, 600/301, 340/539.12, 340/573.1, 702/139, 702/141, 702/142, 702/182, 702/188
• US Class Current: 702/141
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/18 Measuring a physical parameter, e.g. speed, distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 5/06 with special devices thereon, e.g. steering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/16 for erasable recording, e.g. magnetic recording
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/42 Devices characterised by the use of electric or magnetic means G01P3/66 takes precedence; measuring electric or magnetic values in general G01R
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/50 for measuring linear speed G01P3/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/14 using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/60 wherein the transmitter and receiver are mounted on the moving object, e.g. for determining ground speed, drift angle, ground track
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 8/08 Means used apart from the time-piece for starting or stopping same

Abstract

Sensors detects loft time, speed, power and/or drop distance of a vehicle and/or person. The sensors couple with multiple persons during athletic activity. Data from the sensors downloads to a database so that users may compare athletic performances (e.g., speed) between the persons, such as through the Internet.

Claims

1. A system for comparing athletic performance between multiple persons, comprising:

a mobile sensor for each of the persons;

a database for downloading data generated by the mobile sensor and processing the data to compare athletic performances of the multiple persons, the database being accessible through the Internet to review the athletic performances between the persons.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile sensor comprises a wireless transmitter for wirelessly communicating between the mobile sensor and a wireless receiver connected with the database.

3. The system of claim 1, the mobile sensor comprising a speed sensor, the athletic performances comprising speed associated with the persons.

4. The system of claim 3, the speed sensor comprising an altimeter used to determine the speed.

5. The system of claim 3, the speed sensor comprising a pressure sensor used to determine the speed.

6. The system of claim 1, the mobile sensor comprising an airtime sensor, the athletic performances comprising airtimes associated with the persons.

7. The system of claim 1, the mobile sensor comprising a drop distance sensor, the athletic performances comprising drop distances associated with the persons.

8. The system of claim 1, the mobile sensor comprising a mobile power sensor, the athletic performances comprising power associated with the persons.

9. The system of claim 8, the mobile power sensor determining an amount of energy expended by each of the persons during athletic activity.

10. The system of claim 8, the mobile power sensor determining an amount of unpact energy received by each of the persons during athletic activity.

11. The system of claim 8, the mobile power sensor determining an aggressiveness corresponding to motion of each of the persons during athletic activity.

12. The method of claim 1, the mobile sensor comprising a watch.

13. The system of claim 1, the database processing the data to compare velocity of each of the persons.

14. The system of claim 1, the mobile sensor being configurable to attach to a body or clothing of an individual.

15. The system of claim 1, the database processing the data to compare altitude variation between each of the persons.

16. The system of claim 1, the mobile sensor comprising a GPS reeeiver.

17. The system of claim 1, the mobile sensor concurrently communicating wireless data from the multiple persons.