Interactive step-type gymnastics practice device

• US 7,722,501 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2006
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bigben Interactive, SA
• Original Assignee: Bigben Interactive, SA
• Inventors: Claudel, Frederic, Nicolas, Frederic
• Primary Examiner(s): BAKER, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US11/445,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20060258512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 482/148, 482/52, 482/23, 482 1- 9, 482 51- 54, 482900-902, 345156-158, 345/184.419, 345/173, 847/24, 463 31- 37, 463 1- 2, 463/5, 463/7, 463 40- 42, 463 33- 4, 463/36, 463/47, 434/250, 434/247, 434307-309, 434/319, 200/85.R, 200/61.1, 200/86.5, 200520-521, 200/329, 200341-345, 200294-295, 702/127, 702150-153, 341/34, 341/20, 341/27
• US Class Current: 482/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00 Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices electric or electronic controls therefor A63B24/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4037 Exercise mats for personal use, with or without hand-grips or foot-grips, e.g. for Yoga or supine floor exercises mats for absorbing shocks A63B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/01 User's weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/04 for lower limbs training appliances for special sports A63B69/00; for the purpose of producing mechanical power F03G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0458 Step exercisers without moving parts with movable steps A63B22/04
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0494 primarily by articulating the knee joints A63B23/0405, A63B23/0476 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

The invention relates to an interactive gymnastics practice device which is used together with an image and sound system forming the gymnastics program to be followed by a user, comprising a first level of generally-pressure-sensitive surfaces, the surfaces extending essentially in a continuous manner and in substantially the same plane. The invention is characterized in that the device comprises at least one second level of surfaces which are pressure sensitive or which can control an action in response to a pressure, the second level surfaces extending essentially in a continuous manner and in substantially the same plane.

Claims

1. A device for performing interactive gymnastics in combination with an image and sound system that includes a gymnastics program to be followed by a user, said device comprising:

a first level of pressure-sensitive surfaces which extend substantially continuously and substantially in a first plane;

a second level of surfaces that are pressure-sensitive, said surfaces of said second level extending substantially continuously and substantially in a second plane above the first plane;

wherein;

said first level of pressure-sensitive surfaces is in the form of a mat; and

said second level of pressure-sensitive surfaces is installed on a top face of a parallelepiped block.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the parallelepiped block is situated in the center of the mat.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the length of said block is between 70 cm and 100 cm, the width of said block is between 20 cm and 40 cm, and the height of said block is between 10 cm and 30 cm.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the block is provided with a height adjustment mechanism for increasing or for reducing the height of said block.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said block has four pressure-sensitive surfaces.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein said block has one of said four pressure-sensitive surfaces arranged at least in part around the periphery of the top face of the block and surrounds, at least in part, the other of said four pressure-sensitive surfaces which are situated on the top face of the block.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein said first level has at least four pressure-sensitive surfaces.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein said first level has eight pressure-sensitive surfaces, which surfaces are disposed symmetrically about said block, such that two pressure-sensitive surfaces are disposed substantially in front of the block, two pressure-sensitive surfaces are disposed substantially behind the block, two pressure-sensitive surfaces are disposed substantially on the right of the block, and two pressure-sensitive surfaces are disposed substantially on the left of the block.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the mat has a central rectangular portion not provided with said pressure-sensitive surfaces and for receiving said block.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the surfaces of the first level and the surfaces of the second level are connected to the image and sound system via an electrical wired network.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the surfaces of the first level and the surfaces of the second level are connected to the image and sound system via a wireless link, said image and sound system having a specific receiver.

13. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one control button is situated on the first level, on the second level, or on a face of the block, and is used to send a signal to the image and sound system.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one pressure-sensitive surface has at least one vibration or impact sensor connected thereto in order to compare pressures applied to the at least one pressure-sensitive surface.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein information recorded by the vibration or impact sensor is sent to the image and sound system for processing or is transmitted directly to the user.

16. A device according to claim 1, wherein the parallelepiped block is provided with at least one recess suitable for stowing the mat between the first and second levels and the image and sound system.

2. A device for performing interactive gymnastics in combination with an image and sound system that includes a gymnastics program to be followed by a user, said device comprising:

a first level of pressure-sensitive surfaces which extend substantially continuously and substantially in a first plane;

a second level of surfaces that are pressure-sensitive, said surfaces of said second level extending substantially continuously and substantially in a second plane above the first plane;

wherein;

said first level of pressure-sensitive surfaces is in the form of a mat; and

a parallelepiped block is installed on a zone of said mat, which zone is provided with pressure-sensitive surfaces so said parallelepiped block forms said second level of pressure-sensitive surfaces.

17. A device according to claim 2, wherein the parallelepiped block is situated in the center of the mat.

18. A device according to claim 2, wherein the length of said block is between 70 cm and 100 cm, the width of said block is between 20 cm and 40 cm, and the height of said block is between 10 cm and 30 cm.

19. A device according to 2, wherein the block is provided with a height adjustment mechanism for increasing or for reducing the height of said block.

20. A device according to claim 2, wherein said first level has eight pressure-sensitive surfaces, which surfaces are disposed symmetrically about said block, such that two pressure-sensitive surfaces are disposed substantially in front of the block, two pressure-sensitive surfaces are disposed substantially behind the block, two pressure-sensitive surfaces are disposed substantially on the right of the block, and two pressure-sensitive surfaces are disposed substantially on the left of the block.