Interactive step-type gymnastics practice device

• US RE44,895 E1
• Filed: 08/17/2011
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bigben Interactive, SA
• Original Assignee: Bigben Interactive, SA
• Inventors: Nicolas, Frederic, Claudel, Frederic
• Primary Examiner(s): BAKER, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US13/211,990
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 482/148, 482 1- 9, 482 51- 54, 482/23, 482900-902, 434/250, 434/247, 434307-309, 434/36, 434/47
• 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 association with an image and sound system that includes a gymnastics program to be followed by a user, said device comprising a protuberant object in the shape of a parallelepiped block, said block comprising;

;

one top surface for receiving the feet of a user;

at least two analog weight sensors each able to send to the image and sound system a signal that varies depending on the weight applied by the feet of the user on the top surface for causing an action to take place in response to the signal;

at least one command button located on a vertical face of said block.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said weight sensors are located under said block.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein said block comprises four weight sensors under said block.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein said block comprises four legs located under said block.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said weight sensors are pressure-sensitive sensors.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the signal sent to the image and sound system causes a response in a choreography program.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the signal sent to the image and sound system causes a response in a step program.

8. A method for performing interactive gymnastics in association with an image and sound system, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a device according to claim 1;

applying weight on the top surface by the feet of a user; and

sending to the image and sound system a signal from at least one analog weight sensor that varies depending on the weight applied by the feet of the user.

9. A The method according to claim 8, wherein the signal sent to the image and sound system causes a response in a choreography program.

10. A The method according to claim 8, wherein the signal sent to the image and sound system causes a response in a step program.

11. A device for doing interactive gymnastics in association with an image and sound system constituting a gymnastics program to be followed by a user, said device being a protuberant object in the shape of a block, said block comprising:

one top surface for receiving the feet of a user;

at least two analog weight sensors each able to send to the image and sound system a signal that varies depending on the weight applied by the feet of the user on the top surface for causing an action to take place in response to the signal;

at least one command button located on a vertical face of said block.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the block is parallelepiped.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein each of said signals transmitted by said at least two weight sensors is accompanied by a specific identifier signal making it possible to identify the device.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein said device recognizes the weight of said block.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein said device is self-calibrating.

16. The device of claim 11 wherein said device calculates a difference signal between said signals transmitted by said at least two analog weight sensors.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein said device estimates from said difference signal a location on said top surface at which said user has applied weight.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein said device estimates from said difference signal whether said user has applied weight to one or the other of said at least two analog weight sensors.

19. The device of claim 17 wherein said device estimates from said difference signal whether said user has applied weight in between said at least two analog weight sensors.

20. The device according to claim 11, wherein said at least two weight sensors are located under said block.

21. The device according to claim 20, wherein said block comprises four weight sensors located under said block.

22. The device according to claim 21, wherein said block comprises four legs located under said block.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein said block comprises a mechanism for increasing or reducing the height of said top surface.

24. The device of to claim 11 wherein said at least two weight sensors are pressure-sensitive sensors.

25. The device of to claim 11 wherein said block comprises Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).

26. The device of claim 11 wherein the signals sent to the image and sound system cause a response in a choreography program.

27. The device of claim 11 wherein the signals sent to the image and sound system cause a response in a step program.