Pace calculation watch

• US 7,948,834 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2010
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Schrock, Allan M., Boyd, Edward L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leon; Edwin A.
• Application Number:
  US12/773,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20100217559A1
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• Field of Search: 368 46- 84, 368107-113
• US Class Current: 368/110
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• 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: G04G 9/0064 in which functions not related to time can be displayed digital output to display devices of digital computers G06F3/14
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/24 Race time-recorders

Abstract

A watch that advantageously allows an athlete, such as a runner, to conveniently and instantly calculate a pace at which a distance was traveled. The watch includes a chronographic process and a pace calculation process. In order to determine a pace, the athlete enters the travel distance into the pace calculation process. The athlete then initiates a count by the chronographic process when he or she starts traveling the designated distance. When the athlete finishes traveling the designated distance, he or she stops the count, so that the chronographic process measures the total elapsed time required to travel the designated distance. The pace calculation process then obtains the total elapsed time from the chronographic process, and divides the designated travel distance by the total elapsed time to calculate the pace at which the distance was traveled.

Claims

1. A device for calculating a pace, comprising:

a chronograph for measuring an elapsed time;

a distance memory for storing a distance;

a pace calculation system for calculating a pace from the distance stored in the distance memory and the elapsed time measured by the chronograph;

a first button, wherein the first button functions in a chronographic mode to start measurement of the elapsed time by the chronograph and in a data mode for incrementing a value in a selected data field; and

a second button, wherein the second button functions in the chronographic mode to stop measurement of the elapsed time by the chronograph and in the data mode for decrementing the value in the selected data field.

2. The device recited in claim 1, further comprising a display for displaying the calculated pace.

3. The device recited in claim 1, further comprising a chronometer.

4. The device recited in claim 1, wherein, in the data mode, the distance is input into the distance memory using the first button to increase a value for the distance input and using the second button to decrease the value for the distance input.

5. The device recited in claim 1, wherein the chronograph, the distance memory, the pace calculation system, the first button, and the second button are incorporated into a personal digital assistant.

6. The device recited in claim 1, wherein the chronograph, the distance memory, the pace calculation system, the first button, and the second button are incorporated into a watch.

7. The device recited in claim 6, wherein the watch is a wristwatch.

8. The device recited in claim 1, further including a memory for storing the calculated pace.

9. The device recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a third button that, when activated, allows switching between different modes of operation.

10. The device recited in claim 9, wherein the different modes of operation include at least a time mode, the chronographic mode, and the data mode.

11. The device recited in claim 9, further comprising:

a fourth button that, when activated, scrolls through a data field.

12. The device recited in claim 9, further comprising:

a fourth button that, when activated, clears stored content in a data field.

13. The device recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a third button that, when activated, scrolls through a data field.

14. The device recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a third button that, when activated, clears stored content in a data field.

15. A device for calculating a pace, comprising:

a chronograph for measuring an elapsed time;

a distance memory for storing a distance;

a pace calculation system for calculating a pace from the distance stored in the distance memory and the elapsed time measured by the chronograph;

a first button, wherein the first button allows for selection of a mode of operation among at least a chronographic mode for operating the chronograph and a data mode for inputting data;

a second button, wherein the second button functions in the chronographic mode to start measurement of the elapsed time by the chronograph and in the data mode for incrementing a value in a selected data field; and

a third button, wherein the third button functions in the chronographic mode to stop measurement of the elapsed time by the chronograph and in the data mode for decrementing the value in the selected data field.

16. The device recited in claim 15, further comprising a display for displaying the calculated pace.

17. The device recited in claim 15, wherein the chronograph, the distance memory, the pace calculation system, the first button, the second button, and the third button are incorporated into a personal digital assistant.

18. The device recited in claim 15, wherein the chronograph, the distance memory, the pace calculation system, the first button, the second button, and the third button are incorporated into a watch.

19. The device recited in claim 18, wherein the watch is a wristwatch.

20. The device recited in claim 15, further including a memory for storing the calculated pace.

21. The device recited in claim 15, further comprising:

a fourth button that, when activated, scrolls through a data field.

22. The device recited in claim 15, further comprising:

a fourth button that, when activated, clears stored content in a data field.