APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS FOR FINGER EXERCISE

• US 20130196825A1
• Filed: 01/25/2013
• Published: 08/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cognatus Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: Cognatus Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Silagy, Robert, Waldman, Dennis
• Granted Patent: US 9,005,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/49
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/162 Testing reaction times
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/225 of the fingers, e.g. by monitoring hand-grip force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0683 Input by handheld remote control
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/023 Wound springs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0428 the ends moving relatively by linear reciprocation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/05 Linearly-compressed elements A63B21/028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4039 contoured to fit to specific body parts, e.g. back, knee or neck support arrangements for attaching exercising apparatus to the user's body A63B21/4001; handles, pedals, bars or platforms A63B21/4033
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/16 for hands or fingers for teaching typing G09B13/00
• 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: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 13/00 Teaching typing
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/06 Devices for exercising or strengthening fingers or arms; Devices for holding fingers or arms in a proper position for playing for teaching typing G09B13/00; exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles for physical training A63B21/00, A63B23/00

Abstract

An improved finger exerciser to exercise each finger individually by depressing directly against the resistance of a spring. Embodiments are described wherein the device includes an electronic controller in operative communication with individual finger exercise elements to sense exercise parameters and provide tactile feedback to a user. In embodiments, the disclosed finger exerciser is configured to communicate sensed measurements to an integrated controller and/or a mobile device, such as a distance each finger is pressed, speed, response time, repetition count, and so forth. In embodiments, the exerciser is configured to provide tactile feedback, such as vibration, to a user via the finger pads. The finger exerciser may receive communications from an integrated controller and/or mobile device to activate a tactile stimulator. In some embodiments, the finger exerciser includes one or more spatial sensors to monitor movement of the device and communicate spatial information to an integrated controller and/or mobile device.

Claims

1. An improved finger exerciser, comprising:

a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion;

a plunger assembly comprising;

a tubular shaft having a pad base defined at an upper end thereof, wherein the pad base is configured to operably engage a finger pad; and

a finger pad operably engaged with the pad base;

an opening defined in the upper portion of the housing configured to enable the tubular shaft to traverse therethrough;

a coil spring in operative association with the shaft and configured to urge the shaft in an upward direction; and

a grip defined in the lower portion, the grip comprising;

a first concave portion forming a thumb saddle defined in the grip;

a second concave portion forming a finger saddle defined in the grip; and

a convex portion forming a palm pad defined on the grip.

2. The improved finger exerciser in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a generally tubular shaft guide configured to slidably extend into an inner bore of the tubular shaft.

3. The improved finger exerciser in accordance with claim 2, wherein the tubular shaft guide extends from a guide frame.

4. The improved finger exerciser in accordance with claim 2, wherein the coil spring is concentrically disposed between the inner bore of the tubular shaft and an outer surface of the shaft guide.

5. The improved finger exerciser in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to communicate with at least one of a linear position encoder and a transducer.

6. The improved finger exerciser in accordance with claim 5, wherein the controller further comprises a data communication interface.

7. The improved finger exerciser in accordance with claim 5, further comprising a linear position encoder in operative association with the shaft and in operable communication with the controller.

8. The improved finger exerciser in accordance with claim 7, wherein the linear position encoder comprises:

a scale fixed on an outer surface of the shaft having encoded indicia disposed thereupon;

a light source configured to illuminate the scale; and

a light detector configured to detect reflected light from the scale.

9. The improved finger exerciser in accordance with claim 5, further comprising a piezoelectric transducer fixed to the pad base and in operable communication with the controller.

10. The improved finger exerciser in accordance with claim 9, wherein the controller includes:

a processor; and

a memory in operable communication with the processor and comprising a set of programmed instructions executable on the processor to vibrate the piezoelectric transducer in accordance with a predetermined pattern.

11. A finger exercising system, comprising:

a finger exerciser, comprising;

a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion;

a plunger assembly comprising;

a tubular shaft having a pad base defined at an upper end thereof, wherein the pad base is configured to operably engage a finger pad; and

a finger pad operably engaged with the pad base;

an opening defined in the upper portion of the housing configured to enable the tubular shaft to traverse therethrough;

a coil spring in operative association with the shaft and configured to urge the shaft in an upward direction; and

a grip defined in the lower portion, the grip comprising;

a first concave portion forming a thumb saddle defined in the grip;

a second concave portion forming a finger saddle defined in the grip; and

a convex portion forming a palm pad defined on the grip;

a controller configured to communicate with at least one of a linear position encoder, a spatial sensor, and a transducer and having a data communication interface configured to communicate with a remote handheld device;

a software application executable on a remote handheld device and configured to communicate with the controller to perform an action selected from the group consisting of receiving a linear position, receiving a spatial parameter, storing a linear position, storing a spatial parameter, displaying a linear position, displaying a spatial parameter, and transmitting a transducer command.

12. The finger exercising system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the spatial sensor is selected from the group consisting of a silicon accelerometer, a silicon gyroscope, and a silicon compass.

13. The finger exercising system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the software application is configured to communicate a linear position and/or a spatial parameter to an evaluating entity.

14. The finger exercising system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the linear position encoder is configured to encode a position of the shaft.

15. The finger exercising system in accordance with claim 11, further comprising a piezoelectric transducer fixed to the pad base and in operable communication with the controller and/or the software application.

16. A method of operating a hand exerciser, comprising:

providing a hand exerciser, comprising a finger-actuatable plunger having a finger-contacting portion and a biasing member that urges the plunger against finger pressure;

performing a gesture comprising depressing the finger-actuatable plunger to initiate an exercise routine; and

causing the finger contacting portion of the plunger to vibrate.

17. The method of operating a hand exerciser in accordance with claim 16, wherein causing the finger contacting portion of the plunger to vibrate comprises vibrating the finger contacting portion of the plunger in a predetermined pattern corresponding to the exercise routine.

18. The method of operating a hand exerciser in accordance with claim 16, further comprising selecting an exercise routine from a set of predetermined exercise routines in response to the performed gesture.

19. The method of operating a hand exerciser in accordance with claim 16, further comprising measuring a displacement of the shaft and/or a velocity of the shaft.

20. The method of operating a hand exerciser in accordance with claim 19, further comprising wirelessly communicating the measured displacement and/or velocity to a remote device.