Method and device for guiding a runner or walker along a predetermined running or walking path

• US 10,493,352 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2014
• Issued: 12/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Puma SE
• Original Assignee: Puma SE
• Inventors: Beneyto-Ferre, Jordi
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith-Stewart, Demetra R
• Application Number:
  US15/523,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20170319940A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,849 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/002 adapted to accommodate electronic equipment patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/01 with reflective or luminous safety means visible signalling arrangements G08B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2600/10 for sport activities
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 27/205 Pockets adapted to receive a mobile phone or other electronic equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 3/00 Overgarments fur garments A41D5/00; for children A41D11/00; professional or sporting protective garments A41D13/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0661 arranged on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence

Abstract

A method and device for guiding a runner along a predetermined running path including the steps: a) Determining the actual position of the runner by a GPS module; b) Assigning the actual position of the runner to a position along the predetermined path; c) Determining if the runner has to continue the predetermined path c1) straight ahead, or c2) by turning to the left or c3) by turning to the right; d) Controlling at least two light emitting elements arranged at or in a garment worn by the runner, wherein at least one left light emitting element is located in a left hand region of the garment and at least one right light emitting element is located in a right hand region of the garment, wherein d1) no activation of the light emitting elements is carried out in above case c1), d2) at least one left light emitting element is activated in above case c2), and d3) at least one right light emitting element is activated in above case c3).

Claims

1. A method for guiding a runner or walker along a predetermined running or walking path, wherein the method comprises the steps:

a) determining an actual position of the runner or walker by a GPS module;

b) assigning the actual position of the runner or walker to a position along the predetermined running or walking path;

c) determining if the runner or walker has to continue the predetermined running or walking path

c1) straight ahead or

c2) by turning to the left or

c3) by turning to the right,

d) controlling at least two light emitting elements which are arranged at or in a garment which is worn by the runner or walker, wherein at least one left light emitting element is located in a left hand region of the garment and wherein at least one right light emitting element is located in a right hand region of the garment, wherein the at least two light emitting elements are optical fibers arranged in arm sleeves of the garment, and

d1) no activation of the light emitting elements is carried out in above case c1),

d2) the at least one left light emitting element is activated in above case c2), and

d3) the at least one right light emitting element is activated in above case c3),

wherein the activation of the light emitting elements according to steps d2) and d3) is controlled in dependence from the distance to the point where the runner or walker has to turn according to steps c2) and c3) and wherein the activation of the light emitting elements is changed with respect to the color which is emitted by the light emitting elements.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the GPS module is located in a smart phone, wherein the smart phone is arranged in a receiving chamber in the garment or is held by a holding device in or at the garment.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication between the GPS module and a control element which controls the light emitting elements is wireless.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the wireless communication is a Blue Tooth connection.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one left light emitting element extends along a length of a left sleeve of the arm sleeves of the garment and the at least one right light emitting element extends along a length of a right sleeve of the arm sleeves of the garment.