RACE PROGRESS APPARATUS

• US 20130142377A1
• Filed: 04/05/2011
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Duncan Christopher Walsh
• Original Assignee: Duncan Christopher Walsh
• Inventors: Walsh, Duncan Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 9,460,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/374
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 33/00 Swimming equipment attachable to the head, e.g. swim caps or goggles diving masks B63C11/12; breathing aids, e.g. snorkels, B63C11/18
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/06 for rowing or sculling
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/10 Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones H04R1/28 takes precedence; stereophonic headphones H04R5/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

A portable unit usable by a person when carrying out an exercise. 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 pro grammable with periodic encouragement messages for a user.

Claims

1-26. -26. (canceled)

27. A portable unit wearable by a person when carrying out exercise, the unit being programmable to provide unique audible encouragement messages, messages of instruction, and/or messages of time elapsed, which messages can be personalized by a user and provided at required programmable intervals, the unit incorporating a digital sound player to enable a user to listen to music when messages are not given by the unit.

28. A portable unit according to claim 27, in which the digital sound player is in an MP3 format.

29. A portable unit according to claim 27, in which the unit is configured such that when the unit gives encouragement messages, messages of instruction, and/or messages of time elapsed, these interrupt the playing of the digital sound player.

30. A portable unit according to claim 27, in which the unit includes a set of headphones.

31. A portable unit according to claim 30, in which the unit is incorporated within a casing of the headphones.

32. A portable unit according to claim 31, in which the casing and headphones are waterproof so that the apparatus is usable by a person swimming.

33. A portable unit according to claim 27, in which the unit includes a screen to provide messages to a user.

34. A portable unit according to claim 27, in which the unit is mountable on a bike.

35. A portable unit usable by a person when carrying out exercise, the unit being programmable with details of a virtual athlete and their performance in a specific race, to enable the user to race against the virtual athlete, with the unit informing the user of the progress of the virtual athlete during a race being carried out by a user.

36. A unit according to claim 35, in which the unit informs the user of the virtual athlete'"'"'s progress at set time periods and/or particular stages in a race.

37. A unit according to claim 35, in which the unit is configured to provide an indication of the virtual athlete'"'"'s progress upon request by a user.

38. A unit according to claim 37, in which one or more controls are provided on the unit to enable a request to be made for an indication of the virtual athlete'"'"'s progress.

39. A unit according to claim 35, in which the unit enables the input of the virtual athlete'"'"'s finish time for a race.

40. A unit according to claim 35, in which the unit enables input of one or more split times for the virtual athlete for a race.

41. A unit according to claim 35, in which the unit enables the input of the virtual athlete'"'"'s finish time for a race within a range, and the unit will choose at random the actual finish time within the range for a specific race.

42. A unit according to claim 35, in which the unit enables input of one or more split times for the virtual athlete in a race within a range, with the actual split times being chosen at random within the respective range, by the unit.

43. A unit according to claim 35, in which the unit is configured such that information provided by the unit to a user is programmable.

44. A unit according to claim 43, in which the unit is configured such that information provided by the unit to a user is programmable to indicate the progress of the virtual athlete at set time periods.

45. A unit according to claim 35, in which the unit is configured such that it can be programmed to provide unique audible encouragement messages, messages of instruction, and/or messages of time elapsed.

46. A unit according to claim 45, in which the messages can be personalized by a user and provided at required programmable intervals.