ROWING FORCE AND ROWING PERFORMANCE MONITORING DEVICE

• US 20160263438A1
• Filed: 03/08/2016
• Published: 09/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RhoForce LLC
• Original Assignee: RhoForce LLC
• Inventors: Donohoe, Thomas J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,016,158 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/224 Measuring muscular strength
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6895 Sport equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/06 for rowing or sculling
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 16/06 Rowlocks; Mountings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01

Abstract

A force measurement device capable of wirelessly transmitting information about strokes produced by a rower rowing a boat. The device itself attaches to an oarlock without requiring any modification to the oarlock, riggers, or boat. One device shall be required per oarlock. The device may be self powered or utilize an energy storage device.

The device will transmit the information gathered by the sensors via wireless communications to a smart device in the boat or a nearby location. This smart device will display the information in a manner easily interpreted to the user, store received data and transmit the data.

Claims

1. A force measurement device for use with an oarlock of a boat, comprising of:

at least one force sensing element disposed on a housing configured to secure to an oarlock, wherein at least one force sensing element is positioned to contact an oar shaft when the oarlock is being used for rowing, and wherein the at least one force sensing element is configured to measure the force applied thereto by the movement of the oar shaft.

2. The force measurement device of claim 1, further comprising a piezoelectric element configured to produce an electrical potential from force applied by the oar shaft, and wherein the electrical potential is used to power the device.

3. The force measurement device of claim 1, further comprising at least one microprocessor in communication therewith configured to run software that can display force information in the form of gradients.

4. The force measurement device of claim 1, further comprising at least one microprocessor in communication therewith configured to run software that can indicate information about the timing of an individual rower'"'"'s stroke relative to a stroke seat.

5. The force measurement device of claim 1, further comprising a gravity toggle switch configured to deactivate the device when the device is inverted relative to an activated position.

6. The force measurement device of claim 1, further comprising at least one microprocessor in communication therewith configured to run software that offers a different possibility of actions based on the user type, wherein the user types are chosen from group comprising a coxswain, a rower, and a coach.

7. The force measurement device of claim 1, further comprising at least one accelerometer.

8. The force measurement device of claim 1, further comprising at least one electronic compass.

9. The force measurement device of claim 1, further comprising at least one accelerometer and at least one electronic compass.