Biofeedback system for training abdominal muscles

• US 5,728,027 A
• Filed: 06/03/1997
• Issued: 03/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation (ThreeSixty Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Robert J. Sinaiko
• Inventors: Sinaiko, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US08/868,040
• Time in Patent Office: 287 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1-9, 482/148, 482/900, 482/909, 340/500, 340/573, 340/540, 340/689, 73/379.01, 73/379.02, 73/379.08
• US Class Current: 482/4
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0211 moving torso with immobilized lower limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0244 with signalling or indicating means, e.g. of incorrect posture, for deep-breathing exercises

Abstract

A biofeedback system for training the abdominal muscles uses a belt or waistband with a buckle which includes switches, at least one switch modifying a music tape source which is, for example, mounted on the belt. The belt buckle is expandable so that with the abdominal muscles (abs) relaxed, a switch will be in one position, and with the abs tensed, it will be in another, to appropriately modify the sound source. This is fed back to the user via the headphones so that when he recognized the modification the user will be encouraged to re-tense the abs.

Claims

1. A biofeedback system for training a person'"'"'s abdominal muscles by contraction and relaxation comprising:

a waistband for placement around said person'"'"'s waist having expandable buckle means for fastening together the ends of said waistband and for sensing contraction or expansion of said waist caused by the tensing or relaxation of said abdominal muscles;

an audio source having a stereo audio output carryable by said person and a pair of headphones wearable by said person and connected to said audio source by left and right stereo channel wires and a common wire which is connected to both headphones by a common ground connection between headphones;

said buckle means including at least one switch means connected to said audio source in series with said common wire and activated between a closed and open condition by said contraction or expansion of said waist for modifying the audio output of said audio source as heard by said person in response to said activation of said switch means, said modification being a lower quality sound when said common wire is opened by said switch means when said waist is expanded, said lower quality sound being produced by partial cancellation of said left and right channels via said common ground connection whereby feedback as to the state of said abdominal muscles is given to said person only through said headphones.

2. A biofeedback system as in claim 1 where said buckle means further includes a switching member attached to said waistband mounted for linear in-and-out movement from said buckle and spring biased to tension said waistband and having a normal retracted switching position when said waist is contracted, and an expanded or extended opposite switching position when said waist is relaxed.

3. A biofeedback system as in claim 2 where said switching member includes a leaf spring mounted in said buckle means which is electrically connected to said audio source.