Velocity-measuring device

• US 4,911,005 A
• Filed: 09/09/1988
• Issued: 03/27/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The John J HEYN Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The John J HEYN Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Heyn, John J., Caples, Allen S.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOODIEL, DONALD
• Application Number:
  US07/242,320
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 73/187, 73/186, 73/182, 73/183, 73/490, 364/424.01, 364/443
• US Class Current: 73/187
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/54 by measuring frequency of generated current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 5/07 with electrical coupling to the indicating device

Abstract

A combination of a movable structure (adapted to ride on or over a surface while supporting or carrying at least one person) and a velocity-measuring device which includes means responsive to air flow develop an electrical signal representative of current velocity of the movable structure. A voice synthesizing means, responsive to the electrical signal representation of current velocity, provides periodic voice synthesized audible outputs indicative of current velocity of the movable structure. The movable structure may be a snow ski, a water ski or a skateboard, as well as a number of other sport participating implements, such as a bicycle, an ice boat and the like.

Claims

1. In combination with a movable structure adapted to ride on or over a surface while supporting or carrying at least one person, a velocity-measuring device comprising means responsive to air flow for developing an electrical signal representative of current velocity of the movable structure, voice synthesizing means responsive to the electrical signal representation of current velocity for providing periodic voice synthesized audible output indicative of current velocity of the movable structure, and means responsive to the electrical signal for storing representations of velocity-based data for later retrieval.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said velocity-measuring device and the voice synthesizing means are removably fixed to the movable structure.

3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said means responsive to the electrical signal provides periodic voice synthesized audible output indicative of current velocity of the movable structure at substantially five second intervals.

4. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said means responsive to the electrical signal includes a loudspeaker for providing the voice synthesized audible output.

5. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said means responsive to the electrical signal includes earphone means for providing the voice synthesized audible output.

6. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said structure comprises a snow- or ice-engaging structure.

7. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said structure comprises a snow ski.

8. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said structure comprises a skateboard.

9. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said structure comprises a water ski.

10. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said structure comprises a surfboard.

11. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said structure comprises a wind-surfer.

12. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said structure comprises a bicycle.

13. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said structure comprises an ice-boat.

14. In combination with a structure adapted to be removably fixed to a person, a velocity-measuring device fixed to the structure and comprising means responsive to air flow for developing an electrical signal representative of current velocity of the structure and thus the person, voice synthesizing means responsive to the electrical signal representation of current velocity for providing periodic voice synthesized audible outputs indicative of current velocity of the structure and thus the person, and means responsive to the electrical signal for storing representations of velocity-based data for later retrieval.

15. The combination according to claim 14, wherein said means responsive to the electrical signal provides periodic voice synthesized audible output indicative of current velocity of the structure and thus the person at substantially five second intervals.

16. The combination according to claim 14, wherein said means responsive to the electrical signal includes a loudspeaker for providing the voice synthesized audible output.

17. The combination according to claim 14, wherein said means responsive to the electrical signal includes earphone means for providing the voice synthesized audible output.

18. The combination according to claim 14, wherein said structure comprises a band which is adapted to be attached to a person and carry the device.

19. The combination according to claim 18, wherein said band is an arm band.

20. A combination comprising a movable structure adapted to ride on or over a surface while supporting or carrying at least one person, a velocity-measuring device for developing an electrical signal representative of current velocity of the movable structure, voice synthesizing means responsive to the electrical signal representation of current velocity for providing periodic voice synthesized audible output indicative of current velocity of the movable structure, and means responsive to the electrical signal for storing representations of velocity-based data for later retrieval.

21. A combination comprising a structure adapted to be removably fixed to a person, a velocity-measuring device fixed to the structure for developing an electrical signal representative of current velocity of the structure and thus the person, voice synthesizing means responsive to the electrical signal representation of current velocity for providing periodic voice synthesized audible outputs indicative of current velocity of the structure and thus the person, and means responsive to the electrical signal for storing representations of velocity-based data for later retrieval.

22. A circuit for measuring velocity comprising means for producing an electrical signal representative of velocity, microprocessor means, including programming means, responsive to the electrical signal for generating output signals representative of current velocity, speech synthesizer means coupled to said microprocessor means and responsive to the output signals for developing synthesized audio signals representing velocity, sound producing means coupled to said speech synthesizer and responsive to the synthesized audio signals for producing an audible output reporting velocity and/or velocity-related data, and means responsive to the electrical signal for storing representations of velocity-based data for later retrieval.

23. In combination, a support, a velocity-measuring device comprising means responsive to air flow for developing an electrical signal representative of current velocity of the support, voice synthesizing means responsive to the electrical signal representative of current velocity for providing voice synthesized audible outputs indicative of current velocity of the support, and a fabric mounting system for removably fixing the velocity-measuring device to the support.

24. The combination according to claim 23, wherein said fabric mounting system comprises a first elongated fabric member fixed to a surface of the support and a second fabric member fixed to a surface of the device.

25. The combination according to claim 23, wherein said velocity-measuring device and the voice synthesizing means are removably fixed to the movable structure.

26. The combination according to claim 23, wherein said means responsive to the electrical signal provides periodic voice synthesized audible output indicative of current velocity of the movable structure at substantially five second intervals.

27. The combination according to claim 23, wherein said means responsive to the electrical signal includes a loudspeaker for providing the voice synthesized audible output.

28. The combination according to claim 23, wherein said means responsive to the electrical signal includes earphone means for providing the voice synthesized audible output.

29. The combination according to claim 23, further including means responsive to the electrical signal for storing representations of velocity-based data of the movable structure for later retrieval.

30. The combination according to claim 23, including means responsive to the electrical signal for producing and storing representations of average speed, maximum speed, elapsed time and distance for later retrieval.

31. The combination according to claim 23, wherein said structure comprises a snow- or ice-engaging structure.

32. The combination according to claim 23, wherein said structure comprises a snow ski.

33. The combination according to claim 23, wherein said structure comprises a skateboard.

34. The combination according to claim 23, wherein said structure comprises a water ski.

35. The combination according to claim 23, wherein said structure comprises a surfboard.

36. The combination according to claim 23, wherein said structure comprises a wind-surfer.

37. The combination according to claim 23, wherein said structure comprises a bicycle.

38. The combination according to claim 23, wherein said structure comprises an ice-boat.

39. In combination with a movable structure adapted to ride on or over a surface while supporting or carrying at least one person, a velocity-measuring device comprising means responsive to air flow for developing an electrical signal representative of current velocity of the movable structure, voice synthesizing means responsive to the electrical signal representation of current velocity for providing periodic voice synthesized audible output indicative of current velocity of the movable structure, and means responsive to the electrical signal for producing and storing representations of average speed, maximum speed, elapsed time and distance for later retrieval.

40. The combination according to claim 39, wherein said velocity-measuring device and the voice synthesizing means are removably fixed to the movable structure.

41. The combination according to claim 39, wherein said means responsive to the electrical signal provides periodic voice synthesized audible output indicative of current velocity of the movable structure at substantially five second intervals.

42. The combination according to claim 39, wherein said means responsive to the electrical signal includes a loudspeaker for providing the voice synthesized audible output.

43. The combination according to claim 39, wherein said means responsive to the electrical signal includes earphone means for providing the voice synthesized audible output.

44. The combination according to claim 39, wherein said structure comprises a snow- or ice-engaging structure.

45. The combination according to claim 39, wherein said structure comprises a snow ski.

46. The combination according to claim 39, wherein said structure comprises a skateboard.

47. The combination according to claim 39, wherein said structure comprises a water ski.

48. The combination according to claim 39, wherein said structure comprises a surfboard.

49. The combination according to claim 39, wherein said structure comprises a wind-surfer.

50. The combination according to claim 39, wherein said structure comprises a bicycle.

51. The combination according to claim 39, wherein said structure comprises a ice-boat.

52. In combination with a structure adapted to be removably fixed to a person, a velocity-measuring device fixed to the structure and comprising means responsive to air flow for developing an electrical signal representative of current velocity of the structure and thus the person, voice synthesizing means responsive to the electrical signal representation of current velocity for providing periodic voice synthesized audible outputs indicative of current velocity of the structure and thus the person, and means responsive to the electrical signal for producing and storing representations of average speed, maximum speed, elapsed time and distance for later retrieval.

53. The combination according to claim 52, wherein said means responsive to the electrical signal provides periodic voice synthesized audible output indicative of current velocity of the structure and thus the person at substantially five second intervals.

54. The combination according to claim 52, wherein said means responsive to the electrical signal includes a loudspeaker for providing the voice synthesized audible output.

55. The combination according to claim 52, wherein said means responsive to the electrical signal includes earphone means for providing the voice synthesized audible output.

56. The combination according to claim 52, wherein said structure comprises a band which is adapted to be attached to a person and carry the device.

57. The combination according to claim 56, wherein said band is an arm band.