Heart rate monitor for swimmers

• US 7,787,943 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2007
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel K. Mcdonough
• Original Assignee: Daniel K. Mcdonough
• Inventors: McDonough, Daniel K
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stice; Paula J
• Application Number:
  US11/828,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20090030333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 725/10, 600/529, 600/519, 600/518, 600/514, 600/509, 600/502, 600/500, 600/483, 600/481, 600/390, 600/388, 600/382, 600/300, 482/3, 482/8, 482/11, 482/51, 482/55, 441/106, 441/123, 441 91- 96, 428 4- 9
• US Class Current: 600/519
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02455 provided with high/low alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation

Abstract

There provided a heart rate monitor that includes a pair of electrodes, a program control panel having a power supply, a vibration feedback module for advising the user when predetermined heart rates have been reached, and a data retrieval member. The electrodes are arranged to be in contact with the swimmer'"'"'s body and connected to a microcontroller in a program control panel. The program control panel has a plurality of heart rate selection members that provide a signal for sending to the swimmer when the predetermined heart rate has been reached. When the predetermined heart rate is reached, the signal is sent to a vibration feedback module. Another aspect of the present invention is to log heart rate data and swimming duration. This is accomplished by providing the program control panel with blue tooth zone selectors that export data from the program control panel and imports the data to a hand held computer. There are several embodiments of the heart rate monitor described, each of which uses various aspects of a swimsuit depending upon the style and convenience desired by the user.

Claims

1. A device for measuring a heart rate of a swimmer comprising:

a pair of measurement electrodes arranged to be in contact with an area of the swimmer'"'"'s body to pick up heart rate signals, said electrodes being connected to a program control panel;

said program control panel held in place in an area of said swimmer'"'"'s swimsuit, said program control panel comprising;

a power supply for powering a microcontroller,

said microcontroller for receiving said heart rate signals from said electrodes and

a keypad having a plurality of heart rate selection members that are used to set said microcontroller at a predetermined heart rate wherein said microcontroller provides a vibrating signal to a vibration feedback module when said predetermined heart rate has been reached; and

said vibration feedback module signals said swimmer when said predetermined heart rate has been reached, said vibration module being separate from and located at some other area of the swimmer'"'"'s swimsuit other than the area of said program control panel.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said program control panel further includes a blue tooth module to load settings and off load heart rate logs and a data retrieval member programmed to analyze the swimmer'"'"'s performance.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein said program control panel and said vibration feedback module are located separate from each other on an elastic belt around the swimmer'"'"'s chest.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein said program control panel is located within a pocket on a sleeve of said swimsuit and said vibration feedback module is fitted into a sewn pocket inside the swimsuit.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein said program control panel is located within a pocket on the front of said swimsuit and said vibration feedback module fitted into a sewn pocket inside the swimsuit.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein said program control panel is located on a leg of said swimsuit.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein said program control panel is located on a sleeve of said swimsuit and said power supply is located on an elastic belt around said swimmer'"'"'s chest.

8. A device for measuring a heart rate of a swimmer comprising:

a pair of measurement electrodes arranged to be in contact with an area of the swimmer'"'"'s body to pick up heart rate signals, said electrodes being connected to a program control panel;

said program control panel held in place at an area of said swimmer'"'"'s swimsuit, said program control panel comprising;

a power supply for powering a microcontroller;

said microcontroller for receiving said heart rate signals from said electrodes and

a keypad having a plurality of heart rate selection members that are used to set said microcontroller at a predetermined heart rate wherein said microcontroller provides a vibrating signal to a vibration feedback module when a predetermined heart rate has been reached;

said vibration feedback module signals said swimmer when said predetermined heart rate has been reached, said vibration module being separate from and located at some other area of the swimmer'"'"'s swimsuit other than the area of said program control panel;

a wireless communications module connected to said microcontroller to load settings and off load heart rate logs; and

a data retrieval member connected to said wireless communications module programmed to analyze the swimmer'"'"'s performance.

9. The device according to claim 8 wherein said program control panel and said vibration feedback module are located separate from each other on an elastic belt around said swimmer'"'"'s chest.

10. The device according to claim 8 wherein said program control panel is located within a pocket on a sleeve of said swimsuit and said vibration feedback module is fitted into a sewn pocket inside the swimsuit.

11. The device according to claim 8 wherein said program control panel is located within a pocket on the front of said swimsuit and said vibration feedback module is fitted into a sewn pocket inside the swimsuit.

12. The device according to claim 8 wherein said program control panel is located on a leg of said swimsuit.

13. The device according to claim 8 wherein said program control panel is located on a sleeve of said swimsuit and said power supply is located on an elastic belt around said swimmer'"'"'s chest.

14. The device according to claim 8 wherein said wireless communications module to load settings and off load heart rate logs is a blue tooth module.