Software product for preventing and treating repetitive stress injuries

• US 6,579,209 B1
• Filed: 06/12/2000
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brett Valette, Lita Van Wagenen
• Original Assignee: Brett Valette, Lita Van Wagenen
• Inventors: Valette, Brett, Van Wagenen, Lita
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US09/591,823
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1-4, 482/8, 482/900, 434/227, 434/229, 601/33, 400/704
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2023/006 for stretching exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/12 for upper limbs or related muscles, e.g. chest, upper back or shoulder muscles bench press exercises A63B21/078; for teaching music G09B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26

Abstract

A software product and method are disclosed for preventing and treating Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSIs) in computer users. The software product is comprised of an exercise program stored on a storage medium. The exercise program operates with a computer to display images demonstrating a random set of exercises on a computer screen in the following situations. The computer displays the images demonstrating the set of exercises when the computer user selects an icon on the computer screen, when a certain amount of time has passed since the set of exercises has last been displayed, and as a screen saver. The images demonstrating the set of exercises shows the computer user how to perform exercises that are geared to prevent and treat RSIs. The software includes a version that accommodates children, a version that accommodates adolescents, a version that accommodates teenagers, and a version that accommodates adults. Each version includes images that distinctly appeal to the respective age group. The time period between exercise sessions and the screen saver time period are different for the adult'"'"'s and children'"'"'s versions.

Claims

1. A software product for preventing and treating Repetitive Stress Injuries in a computer user, comprising:

an exercise program configured when executed by a processor to;

display an image on a computer screen responsive to a command of the computer user;

display said image on the computer screen responsive to a first time period expiring, and display said image on the computer screen responsive to an event selected from the group consisting of;

the computer screen remaining uniform for a second time period and said processor receiving no manual input for said second time period;

a software storage medium configured to store said exercise program; and

wherein said image displayed on the computer screen demonstrates a physical exercise.

2. The software product in claim 1 wherein said exercise program is further configured to display an icon on the computer screen and said command of the computer user comprises the selection of said icon by the computer user.

3. The software product in claim 1 wherein said exercise program is further configured to stop running if the computer user manually inputs data to the processor.

4. The software product in claim 1 wherein said program is configured to display on said computer screen a plurality of images representing a plurality of exercises.

5. The software product in claim 4 wherein said exercise program is further configured to randomly select said exercise from the plurality of exercises.

6. The software product in claim 1 wherein said exercise program is further configured to prompt the computer user to change said first time period.

7. The software product in claim 1 wherein said exercise program is further configured to prompt the computer user to change said second time period.

8. The software product in claim 1 wherein said exercise program is further configured to generate sounds.

9. The software product in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of different exercise programs wherein each of said plurality of different exercise programs is designed for computer users of different age groups.

10. The software product in claim 9 wherein said plurality of exercise programs include a children'"'"'s version wherein said children'"'"'s version is designed for computer users between the ages of approximately 4 years to 7 years.

11. The software product in claim 9 wherein said plurality of exercise programs include an adolescent'"'"'s version wherein said adolescent'"'"'s version is designed for computer users between the ages of approximately 8 years to 12 years.

12. The software product in claim 9 wherein said plurality of exercise programs include a teenager'"'"'s version wherein said teenager'"'"'s version is designed for computer users between the ages of approximately 13 years to 18 years.

13. The software product in claim 9 wherein said plurality of exercise programs include an adult'"'"'s version wherein said adult'"'"'s version is designed for computer users approximately 19 years of age and above.

14. The software product in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of different said images wherein each of said plurality of different images is randomly selected.