Grip pressure sensor

• US 8,033,916 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2007
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ning Chen, Theodore Caldwell
• Original Assignee: Ning Chen, Theodore Caldwell
• Inventors: Chen, Ning, Caldwell, Theodore
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall; Arthur O.
• Application Number:
  US11/733,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20080274819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,621 Days
• Field of Search: 463 2- 3, 463/5, 463/7, 463/23, 463 30- 32, 463 36- 37, 463 42- 43, 463 46- 47, 463/50, 463/53, 463/56, 273/108.2, 273/108.21, 273/150, 273/245, 273/317.1, 273/317.2, 273329-331, 273/359, 273366-368, 273406-408, 273/441, 273444-446, 273/453, 273460-461, 473/131, 473/136, 473140-141, 473/143, 473145-146, 473150-153, 473/156, 473/158, 473/160, 473/202, 473204-217, 473219-226, 473/231, 473/234, 473/257, 473/266, 473/280, 473/353, 473/405, 434/252, 702/141, 702/142, 702/160, 702/182
• US Class Current: 463/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2060/464 Means for indicating or measuring the pressure on the grip
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0627 when used improperly, e.g. by giving a warning
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0661 arranged on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3608 Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence

Abstract

Grip pressure is monitored by a collection of battery powered components embodied in an assembly analogous to an ordinary wrist watch, that is a watch housing or casement and a stretchable band. The system, which we shall refer to as a swing monitor, is worn on the wrist and deployed in such a way that the back of the housing or casement is cinched securely to the back or underside of the wrist. A pressure plate on the back of the watch makes contact with the pulse region of the wrist. The flexing and relaxing of the muscles and tendons of the wearer is read by an electronic pressure sensing device, a piezo sensor. A tighter grip will register greater pressure and a looser grip, less pressure. The device records grip pressure associated with the swing of a golf club, tennis racquest or baseball bat, among other articles of sports equipment meant to be swung. The grip pressure determined to be optimal, that is giving the desired result, can be SAVED in the memory of the swing monitor system. Subsequent swings and their associated grip pressures are compared with the SAVED value of the optimal or best swing. An audible signal alerts the wearer if the grip pressure departs from that registered on the optimal or best swing.

Claims

1. A housing configured for mounting to a human wrist, the housing comprising:

a wrist side configured for mounting adjacent to a palm side of the human wrist;

a pliable domed plate mounted on the wrist side of the housing and extending outwardly from the housing;

a piezo sensor physically connected to the pliable domed plate, the piezo sensor configured to provide input signals responsive to changes in shape of the pliable domed plate caused by moving tendons at the human wrist contacting the pliable domed plate; and

circuitry configured to provide output pressures exerted by a hand extending from the human wrist calculated from the input signals provided by the piezo sensor responsive to the changes in shape of the pliable domed plate, wherein the output pressures exerted by the hand are grip pressures applied to a sport implement.

2. The housing of claim 1 wherein the piezo sensor comprises a sensor strip.

3. The housing of claim 2 further comprising wires leading from the sensor strip to the pliable domed plate to physically connect the pliable domed plate to the sensor strip.

4. The housing of claim 1 wherein the grip pressures comprise grip pressures selected from a group consisting of golf club grip pressures, baseball bat grip pressures, squash racquet grip pressures, cricket bat grip pressures, and tennis racquet grip pressures.

5. The housing of claim 1 further comprising a strap configured to mount the housing to the human wrist.

6. The housing of claim 5 wherein the strap comprises a flexible strap.

7. The housing of claim 1 further comprising an accelerometer.

8. The housing of claim 1 wherein the circuitry comprises an analog-to-digital converter.

9. The housing of claim 8 wherein the circuitry comprises a microprocessor configured to receive signals from the analog-to-digital converter and configured to provide signals to a display.

10. The housing of claim 1 comprising a display side opposite the wrist side.

11. The housing of claim 1 wherein the pliable domed plate comprises a metal plate.

12. The housing of claim 1 further comprising a battery.

13. A method comprising:

receiving an input signal responsive to input pressure applied to a pliable domed plate by moving tendons at a palm side of a human wrist contacting the pliable domed plate wherein the contacting causes changing of shape of the pliable domed plate and a piezo sensor, physically connected to the pliable domed plate, to respond electronically so as to form the input signal;

processing the input signal; and

based on the processing, displaying a value to a display indicative of output pressure exerted by a hand extending from the human wrist, wherein the output pressures exerted by the hand are grip pressures applied to a sport implement.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising saving the value to memory.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising comparing the value to a value saved in memory.

16. The method of claim 13 comprising monitoring the output pressure exerted by the hand extending from the human wrist by repeating the receiving, processing and displaying.

17. The method of claim 13 comprising wires physically connecting the pliable domed plate and the piezo sensor.