Leg strength measuring apparatus

• US 7,442,150 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2006
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Japana Co., Ltd. (Alpen Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Japana Co., Ltd. (Alpen Company Limited)
• Inventors: Kawai, Shigehiro
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US11/380,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20060179938A1
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482900-902, 434/247, 702/127, 702/138, 702/101, 702/139, 702/129, 702/173, 702/182, 733/790.1, 601/23, 601 33- 35
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/22 Ergometry; Measuring muscular strength or the force of a muscular blow exercising apparatus A63B21/00 ; measuring of work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/18 for skiing

Abstract

A leg strength measuring apparatus is capable of measuring a gravity center distribution of loads and leg strength which can in turn serve as a reference for the selection of a ski, a snowboard, ski boots, or snowboarding boots appropriate for a user of the apparatus. The leg strength measuring apparatus includes two footplates upon which a person to be measured steps separately with his left and right feet, and load sensors for detecting loads applied to each of the footplates at least at three points.

Claims

1. Leg strength measuring apparatus comprising:

at least one footplate configured to receive and support a person whose leg strength is to be measured as the person stands on the footplate;

a load sensor operable to detect loads applied to the footplate;

load comparison apparatus operable to compare a plurality of loads detected by the load sensor as the person flexes and bends at the person'"'"'s knees while the person is standing on the footplate, wherein said load comparison apparatus is further operable to store data corresponding to a maximum detected load among the plurality of detected loads;

weight detection apparatus operable to store data corresponding to a load detected by the load sensor when the person is standing stationary on the footplate; and

leg strength calculation apparatus operable to calculate the person'"'"'s leg strength based on a comparison of the data corresponding to the maximum detected load and the data corresponding to the stationary load, and corresponding to a subtraction of the stationary load from the maximum detected load.

2. The leg strength apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one footplate comprises two footplates, each said footplate being configured to receive and support each one of two feet of the person whose leg strength is to be measured.

3. The leg strength measuring apparatus of claim 2, wherein the load sensor is operable to detect loads applied to each footplate at three or more points.

4. The leg strength measuring apparatus of claim 2, wherein the load sensor is operable to detect a vertical load applied to each footplate, and a moment associated with that vertical load.

5. The leg strength measuring apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising structure configured to receive and fix in place on the footplate a boot to be worn by the person whose leg strength is to be measured, while that person is standing on the footplate.

6. The leg strength measuring apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising structure configured to receive and fix in place on the footplate an item selected from the group consisting of a ski and a snowboard, while the person whose leg strength is to be measured is standing on the item on the footplate.

7. The leg strength measuring apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising structure operable to fix the footplate in a position inclined in at least one of a front-to-back and a transverse direction.