Impact detection device

• US 8,011,222 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2008
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Decathlon SA
• Original Assignee: Decathlon SA
• Inventors: Wiber, Laurent
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo; Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUNLAP, JONATHAN M
• Application Number:
  US12/345,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20090176632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 73/120.9, 73/120.4, 73/120.5, 737/68, 737/77, 738/625.3, 738/626.21, 738/626.24, 738/626.25, 738/626.27, 482 83- 90
• US Class Current: 73/12.09
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0036 with fluorescent or phosphorescent parts
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/10 Combat sports
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/102 Boxing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/26 attached to the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/322 to instruct user where to strike
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/08 Body-protectors for players or sportsmen , i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions protective clothing or garments for sporting purposes A41D13/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/10 for the head A63B71/081 takes precedence ; in the form of caps or hats A42B1/08; helmets A42B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/141 in the form of gloves
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/284 for encapsulating mounted components H05K1/185 takes precedence

Abstract

An impact detection device, as well as a system that includes such a device for simulation of a combat sport, or more generally for use in a sport in which the user creates an impact by striking an adversary or an object. This device includes a sensor that detects an impact and its intensity, which is mounted on a printed circuit, together with an indicator that activates when the detector detects an impact and/or in order to indicate to a user that the user must generate an impact. The indicator is imbedded in a protective covering so that it is located near the surface of its embedding material. The indicating means are mounted directly on the printed circuit, so that the embedding material also covers the printed circuit and the sensor.

Claims

1. An impact detection device, intended in particular to be used in an electronic training system for a combat sport, that includes:

at least one sensor, designed in particular to detect an impact, and the intensity of this impact, and to be mounted on a printed circuit,

indicating means that include at least one means for the emission of a light signal, and that are designed to be activated when the sensor detects a first impact, and to indicate to a user that the user should initiate a second impact, with these indicating means being mounted directly on the printed circuit, embedded in a protective embedding material, and located close to the surface of the embedding material, where the embedding material also embeds the printed circuit and the sensor wherein, the device also includes a channel for transmission to the sensor of the light signal emitted by the means for the emission of said light signal.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the indicating means include at least one first indicating means designed to be activated when the sensor detects the first impact, and at least one second indicating means, separate from the first indicating means and designed to be activated so as to tell a user that the user should initiate the second impact.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein, the channel includes a tunnel, the means for the emission of a light signal being located close to the entrance or inside of the tunnel, and the sensor being located close to the exit of the tunnel.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the indicting means include a plurality of means for the emission of a light signal distributed around the sensor.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein a means for the transmission and reception of a signal is included.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the means for the transmission and reception of a signal emit a signal when the sensor detects a first impact, the signal emitted being a function of the intensity of the first impact, and receive a signal for activation of the indicating means.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the embedding material is made from a material with a diffraction index such that the light signal emitted by the means for the emission of a light signal is diffused so as to be visible from the outside of the device.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the embedding material also constitutes the outer envelope of the device.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the embedding material is substantially cylindrical.

10. A system for the practice of a combat sport or training for a combat sport, that includes a main body that is intended to receive impacts on the part of the user, wherein the main body includes at least one impact detection device according to claim 1.

11. A system according to claim 10, further comprising a control unit with means for the transmission and reception of a signal, the control unit emitting a signal to the impact detection device in order to activate the indicating means, and the control unit having a means to receive a signal from the impact detection device when a first impact is detected by the impact detection device.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the indicating means include means for the emission of at least one of a light signal of variable color or of variable intensity, the control unit being designed to activate the means for the emission of a at least one of light signal of a given color or with a given intensity according to at least one of a given training sequence or a given action to be executed by the user.

13. A system according to claim 10, wherein the main body constitutes a garment or part of a garment.

14. A system according to claim 10, wherein the main body constitutes an accessory to be worn on the body.

15. A system according to claim 10, wherein the main body constitutes a punchbag that includes an outer envelope that is at least partially filled with a padding.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the main body includes an inner envelope placed between the outer envelope and the padding, and in that the impact detection device is placed between these outer and inner envelopes.

17. An impact detection device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor, designed in particular to detect an impact, and the intensity of this impact, and to be mounted on a printed circuit is of the piezoelectric type.

18. An impact detection device according to claim 1, wherein the indicating means that include at least one means for the emission of a light signal is of the electroluminescent diode type.