Training device and method

• US 7,383,081 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2005
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Suunto Oy (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Suunto Oy (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Butt, Phillip, Ahlstrom, Mikko, Pernu, Kimmo
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl
• Assistant Examiner(s): WU, TONG E
• Application Number:
  US11/181,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20070016091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 600/481, 600/508, 600/509, 600/519, 600/520, 600/522, 600/523, 600/525, 482/3, 368/277, 368/278, 368/281
• US Class Current: 600/523
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/025 for measuring physiological data

Abstract

A wristop heart rate monitor comprising a dial, which comprises a current heart rate indicator, which is responsive to a heart rate signal measured from a user of the wristop heart rate monitor and functionally connected to a heart rate scale, and a reference indicator defining a visually identifiable reference heart rate range. At least one of the indicators is rotatably adjustable relative to the dial, and the heart rate scale and the reference heart rate range are adjustable relative to each other. A method is also described for monitoring the heart rate of a sportsman. The wristop heart rate monitor provides a quickly perceivable and adjustable heart rate monitor structure.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a heart rate of a person using a wristop heart rate monitor having a dial, the method comprising

indicating current heart rate of the person with a first element rotatably adjustable with respect to the dial and responsive to a heart rate signal measured from the person, and

indicating a reference heart rate range by at least one second element, which is statically anchored to the dial, wherein indicating current heart rate is performed by using a heart rate scale, the heart rate scale not being shown explicitly in numbers, and the heart rate scale being adjustable relative to the reference heart rate range.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein indicating current heart rate is performed by highlighting segments of an electronic display, the display segments being arranged circumferentially and being highlightable one by one.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the heart rate scale is fitted to the reference heart rate range by using premeasured data on the physical properties of the person.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the heart rate scale is adjusted relative to the reference heart rate range by means of software included in the heart rate monitor.

5. A wristop heart rate monitor having a dial, the dial comprising

a current heart rate indicator, which is

rotatably adjustable with respect to the dial,

responsive to a heart rate signal measured from a user of the wristop computer, and

functionally connected to a heart rate scale, where the heart rate scale is not shown explicitly in numbers, and

a reference indicator, which

is statically anchored to the dial, and

defines a visually identifiable reference heart rate range,,

wherein the heart rate scale is adjustable relative to the reference heart rate range.

6. A wristop heart rate monitor according to claim 5, which comprises memory for storing heart rate data.

7. A wristop heart rate monitor according to claim 6, which comprises a communications interface for connecting the wristop heart rate monitor to a host device in order to transfer heart rate data to the host device.

8. A wristop heart rate monitor according to claim 5, wherein the indicators are positioned at least partly within each other on the fringe area of the dial.

9. A wristop heart rate monitor according to claim 5, wherein the reference indicator comprises an arc- or disc-shaped member having visually identifiable markers for a plurality of physical training areas.

10. A wristop heart rate monitor according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the indicators comprises a display portion having a plurality of display segments essentially radially arranged with respect to the dial, the display segments being highlightable one by one.

11. A wristop heart rate monitor according to claim 5, which comprises a first elliptical zone and a second elliptical zone, the zones being located within each other on the dial such that the first zone comprises the current heart rate indicator and the second zone comprises the reference indicator.

12. A wristop heart rate monitor according to claim 5, which comprises a communications interface for connecting the heart rate monitor to a host device in order to transfer data on the reference heart rate range to the heart rate monitor.

13. A wristop heart rate monitor according to claim 5, wherein the reference range comprises a lower level marker and a higher level marker and the heart rate scale is adjustable such that the lower level marker points to a lower heart rate and the higher level marker points to a higher heart rate, the lower and higher heart rates being defined using premeasured data on the physical properties of the user of the wristop computer.

14. A wristop heart rate monitor according to claim 5, which comprises a software for adjusting the heart rate scale with respect to the reference heart rate range.

15. A wristop heart rate monitor according to claim 5, which comprises means for fitting the heart rate scale to the reference heart rate range by using premeasured data on the physical properties of the user.