Race progress apparatus

• US 9,961,432 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2016
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mi-Sport Global Limited
• Original Assignee: Mi-Sport Global Limited
• Inventors: Walsh, Duncan Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhu, Qin
• Application Number:
  US15/280,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20170019726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/44 Special adaptations for subaqueous use, e.g. for hydrophone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/09 Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2420/01 Enhancing the perception of the sound image or of the spatial distribution using head related transfer functions [HRTF's] or equivalents thereof, e.g. interaural time difference [ITD] or interaural level difference [ILD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/00 Indicating arrangements; Control arrangements, e.g. balance control

Abstract

A portable unit usable by a person when carrying out an exercise is described. The unit is programmable with details of a virtual athlete and their performance in a specific race, to enable the user to race against the virtual athlete. The unit informs the user through headphones of the progress of the virtual athlete during a race being carried out by a user. The unit may also be programmable with periodic encouragement messages for a user.

Claims

1. A set of earphones wearable by a person when carrying out exercise comprising:

a casing;

a device memory incorporated into the casing;

a programmable unit incorporated into the casing, the programmable unit comprising a processor and an input, wherein the programmable unit processor is programmable via the input to provide one or more messages stored in the device memory to the person, wherein the one or more messages are selected from;

audible encouragement messages, messages of instruction, and messages of time elapsed, and wherein the one or more messages are provided at programmable intervals;

a digital sound player incorporated into the casing to enable a user to listen to music when messages are not given by the unit; and

an input that enables a user to upload audio files to the device memory;

wherein the programmable unit and the digital sound player are separate, incorporated within the casing;

and wherein the programmable unit is configured to interrupt the playing of uploaded audio files by the digital sound player and provide one of the one or more messages to the person at the programmable intervals.

2. The set of earphones of claim 1, wherein the digital sound player is an MP3 player.

3. The set of earphones of claim 1, wherein the casing and the earphones are waterproof so that the apparatus is usable by a person swimming.

4. The set of earphones of claim 1, wherein one or more of the one or more messages can be personalized by a user.

5. A portable device comprising:

a set of earphones wearable by a person when carrying out exercise, wherein the set of earphones comprises;

a casing;

a device memory incorporated into the casing;

a programmable unit incorporated into the casing, the programmable unit being programmable to provide one or more messages stored in the device memory to the person;

wherein the one or more messages are selected from;

audible encouragement messages, messages of instruction, and messages of time elapsed, and wherein the one or more messages are provided at programmable intervals; and

a digital sound player incorporated into the casing;

wherein the programmable unit and the digital sound player are separate components incorporated within the casing; and

wherein the programmable unit is configured to interrupt the playing of audio files by the digital sound player when the programmable unit provides one of the one or more messages to the person.

6. The portable device of claim 5, wherein the digital sound player is an MP3 player.

7. The portable device of claim 5, wherein the casing and the earphones are waterproof so that the apparatus is usable by a person swimming.

8. The portable device of claim 5, wherein one or more of the one or more messages can be personalized by a user.