SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ANALYZING ATHLETIC ACTIVITY

• US 20160016041A1
• Filed: 05/20/2015
• Published: 01/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Giedwoyn, Anna Antonia, Peyton, Lee, Andon, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 10,926,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0065 Evaluating the fitness, e.g. fitness level or fitness index
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• 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: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A system for transitioning from a first footwear type to a second footwear type is usable with an article of footwear including a sensor system with a plurality of force sensors engaged with an article of footwear and configured to sense force exerted by a foot of a user and an electronic module configured to collect data based on force input from the sensors and to wirelessly transmit data generated by the sensor system. An electronic device includes a processor that receives the data from the electronic module, compares the data to a footstrike template corresponding to a desired footstrike pattern of a footwear transitional program, determines whether a deviation from the footstrike template exists, and generates an indication to the user when the deviation from the desired footstrike pattern is determined to exist. The desired footstrike pattern corresponds to a preferred footstrike of the second type of footwear

Claims

1. A system for transitioning from a first footwear type to a second footwear type different from the first footwear type, comprising:

a sensor system configured to sense biomechanical movement of a foot of a user, the sensor system comprising;

a plurality of force sensors engaged with an article of footwear of the second footwear type and configured to sense force exerted by a foot of a user; and

an electronic module configured to collect data based on force input from the plurality of force sensors and wirelessly transmit data generated by the sensor system; and

an electronic device in communication with the electronic module, wherein the electronic device includes a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform a method comprising;

receiving the data from the electronic module;

comparing the data to a footstrike template corresponding to a desired footstrike pattern of a footwear transitional program to determine whether a deviation from the footstrike template exists, wherein the desired footstrike pattern corresponds to a preferred footstrike of the second footwear type; and

generating an indication to the user when the deviation from the desired footstrike pattern is determined to exist.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to perform:

recording a plurality of data points of the user during an athletic activity session; and

providing feedback to the user based on data recorded during the athletic activity session.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein providing feedback to the user includes providing a suggested activity report for a subsequent athletic activity.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the electronic device is further configured to:

record a plurality of athletic activities of a user; and

modify a duration of the transitional program based on at least one of an amount of recorded deviations, a total time of recorded data, and a total distance of recorded data.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the footwear transitional program is customizable by a user type.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein a user selects a customizable footwear transition program based on at least one of age, weight, gender, excursion distance, and speed.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the footwear transitional program includes a plurality of desired footstrike patterns varying throughout the transitional program, and wherein a final desired footstrike pattern corresponds to a most preferred footstrike of the second footwear type.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the deviation is determined to exist if the degree of deviation is determined to exceed a predetermined threshold.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is further configured to generate an alert to the user when a number of recorded deviations exceeds a predetermined deviation count threshold.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the second footwear type is a minimal footwear and the desired footstrike pattern is a midfoot or forefoot strike pattern.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein comparing the data to the footstrike template comprises:

detecting a footstrike pattern based on analysis of the data; and

comparing the footstrike pattern to the footstrike template.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of sensors are located in different locations on the article of footwear, and wherein the footstrike pattern is detected based on at least one of a sequence of the forces sensed by the sensors and a level of the forces sensed by the sensors.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of sensors are further configured to measure a pressure distribution under the foot and the electronic device is further configured to compare pressure distribution data to a foot pressure template.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a leg sensor system configured to sense force exerted on a leg of a user and operably connected to the electronic device, and

wherein the electronic device is further configured to;

compare the sensed force to a biomechanical movement template, the biomechanical movement template corresponding to a desired biomechanical movement pattern of the footwear transitional program, to determine whether a deviation from the biomechanical movement template exists; and

generate an indication to the user when the deviation from the desired biomechanical movement pattern is determined to exist, wherein the indication further includes a degree of deviation from the biomechanical movement template.

15. A system for transitioning from a first footwear type to a second footwear type, comprising:

a sensor system configured to sense biomechanical movement of a foot of a user, the sensor system comprising an electronic module configured to wirelessly transmit data generated by the sensor system; and

an electronic device in communication with the electronic module, wherein the electronic device includes a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform a method comprising;

selecting a footwear transition program, each footwear transition program comprising a plurality of desired footstrike patterns corresponding to a preferred footstrike of the second footwear type;

receiving the data from the electronic module;

comparing the data to a footstrike template to determine whether a deviation from the footstrike template exists, wherein the deviation is determined to exist if a degree of deviation from the footstrike template is determined to exceed a predetermined threshold; and

generating an indication to the user when the deviation from the desired footstrike pattern is determined to exist, wherein the indication further includes the degree of deviation.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the footstrike template comprises a midfoot-strike template or a forefoot-strike template, and the plurality of desired footstrike patterns include patterns that transition from a heel-strike pattern to a midfoot-strike pattern or a forefoot-strike pattern.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the footstrike templates of the footwear transition program vary based on collected user information.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the footstrike templates of the footwear transition program vary after a predetermined amount of usage.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to perform:

recording the data and

providing a summary of recorded data to the user.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to perform generating an alert to the user when a number of recorded deviations exceeds a predetermined deviation count threshold.