Race progress apparatus

• US 9,460,050 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2011
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Duncan Christopher Walsh
• Original Assignee: Duncan Christopher Walsh
• Inventors: Walsh, Duncan Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhu, Qin
• Application Number:
  US13/639,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20130142377A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,009 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 33/00 Swimming equipment attachable to the head, e.g. swim caps or goggles diving masks B63C11/12; breathing aids, e.g. snorkels, B63C11/18
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/06 for rowing or sculling
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/10 Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones H04R1/28 takes precedence; stereophonic headphones H04R5/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

A portable unit usable by a person when carrying out an exercise. The unit is programmable with details of a virtual athlete and their performance in a specific race, to enable the user to race against the virtual athlete. The unit informs the user through headphones of the progress of the virtual athlete during a race being carried out by a user. The unit may also be programmable with periodic encouragement messages for a user.

Claims

1. A set of headphones wearable by a person when carrying out exercise comprising:

a programmable race progress unit incorporated into a casing of the set of headphones, the programmable race progress unit comprising a processor and an input, wherein the programmable race progress unit processor is programmable via the input to provide unique audible encouragement messages, messages of instruction, and messages of time elapsed, which messages can be personalized by a user and provided at required programmable intervals; and

a digital sound player incorporated into the casing of the set of headphones to enable a user to listen to music when messages are not given by the unit;

the programmable race progress unit and the digital sound player being separate electrical components incorporated within the casing of the set of headphones;

wherein the programmable race progress unit processor is configured such that when the unit gives encouragement messages, messages of instruction, and messages of time elapsed, the programmable race progress unit processor sends an interrupt signal to the digital sound player to interrupt the playing of the digital sound player.

2. The portable unit according to claim 1, in which the digital sound player is capable of playing sound files in MP3 format.

3. The portable unit according to claim 1, in which the casing and headphones are waterproof.