Apparatus for testing physical condition of a self-propelled vehicle rider

• US 4,434,801 A
• Filed: 03/08/1982
• Issued: 03/06/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elexis Corporation
• Original Assignee: Biotechnology LLC
• Inventors: Bianco, Frank J., Jiminez, Oscar
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US06/355,329
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 33/DIG. 1, 33/125 R, 46/45, 73/518-520, 116/62.1-62.4, 235/95 R, 235/104, 272/73, 272/DIG. 6, 280/200, 280/289 R, 324/166, 350/97, 350/99, 364/413, 364/561, 364/565
• US Class Current: 600/502
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/01 User's weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles

Abstract

The physical condition of a bicycle rider is tested by monitoring the heart beat of the rider and the distance traversed during testing. A portable electronic instrument housing includes a digital computer responsive to signals indicative of the heart beat and travel distance, numerical quantities associated with physiological parameters of the rider, and a clock source to derive signals indicative of different physical activities of the rider. The distance signal is derived by mounting a permanent magnet in a reflector carried by wheel spokes of the bicycle. A first reed switch responds to flux from the permanent magnet to derive a pulse for each wheel revolution. A pulse for each revolution of the bicycle sprocket assembly, derived by a second permanent magnet-reed switch combination, is coupled to the computer and combined with the clock source to derive a signal indicative of number of sprocket assembly turns per unit length of time. A cueing signal to signal the cyclist when he should complete each pedal turn to assist in maintaining a constant forward speed, regardless of gear ratio, is derived by combining the pulses from the two reed switches with a desired forward speed signal.

Claims

1. A device for enabling the speed of a bicycle wheel having spokes to be determined comprising a bicycle reflector, a housing for carrying the reflector, means for mounting the housing on the spokes so the reflector is substantially broadside to the direction of wheel travel, and a permanent magnet carried by the housing in a position enabling magnetic flux to be coupled from the permanent magnet to a magnetic flux sensitive transducer mounted on a part of the bicycle stationary relative to the spokes and the reflector to be seen by viewers broadside of the wheel.

2. A device for enabling the speed of a bicycle wheel having spokes to be determined comprising a bicycle reflector, a first housing for carrying the reflector, means for mounting the first housing on the spokes so the reflector is substantially broadside to the direction of wheel travel, a magnetic flux transducer, a second housing for the transducer, means for mounting the second housing on a part of the bicycle stationary with respect to the wheel, and a permanent magnet carried by the first housing in a position enabling magnetic flux to be coupled from the permanent magnet to the transducer and the reflector to be seen by viewers broadside of the wheel.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the transducer includes a reed switch with contacts responsive to the magnetic flux.

4. The device of claim 2 or 3 wherein the second housing mounting means includes means for enabling the second housing to be selectively secured to and removed from the bicycle part.

5. Apparatus for testing the physical condition of a cyclist comprising means adapted to be mounted on the subject for monitoring and deriving a first signal indicative of heart activity of the subject, means adapted to be mounted on a cycle for deriving a second signal indicative of distance traversed by the cycle during testing, input means for deriving at least one signal indicative of a predetermined physiological parameter of the subject, a clock source for deriving a timing signal during testing of the cyclist, computer means responsive to the first, second, predetermined physiological parameter and timing signals for calculating deriving a signal indicative of physical activity of the cyclist being tested, and indicator means responsive to the physical activity signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first signal deriving means includes means for monitoring the number of heart beats of the subject.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the computer means responds to the second signal and the clock source for deriving another signal indicative of the speed of the bicycle during testing.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the computer means responds to the second signal and the clock source for deriving another signal indicative of the speed of the bicycle during testing.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 or 8 wherein the bicycle has a wheel with spokes, and second signal deriving means includes a bicycle reflector, a first housing for carrying the reflector, means for mounting the first housing on the spokes so the reflector is substantially broadside to the direction of wheel travel, and a permanent magnet carried by the first housing in a position enabling magnetic flux to be coupled from the permanent magnet to a magnetic flux sensitive transducer mounted on a part of the bicycle stationary relative to the spokes and the reflector to be seen by viewers broadside of the wheel.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, 6, 7 or 8 wherein the bicycle includes a sprocket assembly and further including means for deriving a pulse for each revolution of the sprocket assembly, the computer responding to the pulses and the clock source for calculating deriving a signal indicative of number of sprocket assembly turns per unit length of time.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the pulse deriving means includes a permanent magnet mounted on the sprocket assembly, and a magnetic flux sensor mounted on a part of the bicycle about which the sprocket assembly turns and positioned to respond to magnetic flux variations resulting from the permanent magnet turning with the sprocket assembly.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the pulse deriving means includes a permanent magnet mounted on the sprocket assembly, and a reed switch having contacts, the reed switch being mounted on a part of the bicycle about which the sprocket assembly turns and positioned so the contacts respond to magnetic flux variations resulting from the permanent magnet turning with the sprocket assembly.

20. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the pulse deriving means includes a permanent magnet mounted on the sprocket assembly, and a reed switch having contact, the reed switch being mounted on a part of the bicycle about which the sprocket assembly turns and positioned so the contacts respond to magnetic flux variations resulting from the permanent magnet turning with the sprocket assembly.

13. Apparatus for testing the physical condition of a subject riding a vehicle propelled by the subject comprising means adapted to be mounted on the subject for monitoring and deriving a first signal indicative of heart activity of the subject, means adapted to be mounted on the vehicle for deriving a second signal associated with distance traversed by the subject during testing, a portable electronic instrument housing, means for coupling said first and second signals to terminals on the instrument housing, said housing including:

(a) a keyboard for enabling signals to be derived indicative of numerical quantities associated with plural physiological parameters of the subject, (b) a clock source for deriving timing signals, (c) digital computer means responsive to the first, second, timing and keyboard signals for calculating plural digital output signals indicative of different physical activities of the tested subject, (d) visual digital indicator means, (e) plural key switches, each associated with a different one of the physical activities, and (f) means responsive to activation of the plural key switches for selectively coupling different ones of the plural output signals to the visual indicator means so only one of the output signals is supplied to the indicator means at a time.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first signal deriving means includes means for monitoring the number of heart beats of the subject.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the vehicle is a bicycle and the computer means responds to the second signal and the clock source for deriving another signal indicative of the speed of the bicycle during testing.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the vehicle is a bicycle and the computer means responds to the second signal and the clock source for deriving another signal indicative of the speed of the bicycle during testing.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 or 16 wherein the vehicle is a bicycle having a wheel with spokes, said second signal deriving means including a bicycle reflector, a first housing for carrying the reflector, means for mounting the first housing on the spokes so the reflector is substantially broadside to the direction of wheel travel, and a permanent magnet carried by the first housing in a position enabling magnetic flux to be coupled from the permanent magnet to a magnetic flux sensitive transducer mounted on a part of the bicycle stationary relative to the spokes and the reflector to be seen by viewers broadside of the wheel.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, 14 or 15 wherein the vehicle is a bicycle including a sprocket assembly and further including means for calculating a pulse for each revolution of the sprocket assembly, the computer responding to the pulses and the clock source for calculating a signal indicative of number of sprocket assembly turns per unit length of time.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the pulse deriving means includes a permanent magnet mounted on the sprocket assembly, and a magnetic flux sensor mounted on a part of the bicycle about which the sprocket assembly turns and positioned to respond to magnetic flux variations resulting from the permanent magnet turning with the sprocket assembly.

21. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the vehicle is a multigear cycle, means for deriving a cueing signal to assist the cyclist in maintaining a desired constant forward speed regardless of gear ratio, said cueing signal deriving means including transducer means for deriving third and fourth signals respectively indicative of pedal and wheel turning speeds, said computer means being responsive to the third and fourth signals and an indication of the desired, constant forward speed for calculating deriving the cueing signal.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the transducer means includes means for deriving a pulse each time the wheel turns.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 or 22 wherein the transducer means includes means for deriving a pulse each time the pedal turns.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the cueing signal is an aural pulse derived at a rate of once for each desired pedal turn.

25. The apparatus of claim 21 or 22 wherein the cueing signal is an aural pulse derived at a rate of once for each desired pedal turn.

26. Apparatus for supplying cueing signals to a cyclist of a multigear cycle propelled by turning of pedals, the cueing signal being designed to assist the cyclist in maintaining a desired, constant forward speed regardless of gear ratio, comprising transducer means for deriving first and second signals respectively indicative of pedal and wheel turning speeds, and means for combining first and second signals and an indication of the desired, constant forward speed for calculating the frequency of a cueing signal and for deriving a cueing signal at the computed frequency.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the transducer means includes means for deriving a pulse each time the wheel turns.

28. The apparatus of claim 26 or 27 wherein the transducer means includes means for deriving a pulse each time the pedal turns.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the cueing signal is an aural pulse derived at a rate of once for each desired pedal turn.

30. The apparatus of claim 26 or 27 wherein the cueing signal is an aural pulse derived at a rate of once for each desired pedal turn.