Patent Application
20240335726
Not Applicable
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The disclosure relates to counting devices and more particularly pertains to a new counting device for counting repetitions of an exercise motion. The present invention discloses a counting device that tracks repetitions of exercise motions and notifies a user when a set has been completed, thereby allowing the user to concentrate on the movements required for the exercise, rather than counting the number of repetitions.
The prior art relates to counting devices, which may comprise user worn or equipment attachable proximity sensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers. Prior art counting devices also may comprise contact sensors, wherein each contact with the user corresponds to a repetition, and video capture devices programmed to recognize and count repetitions. What is lacking in the prior art is a counting device that is positionable on a flat surface to position a motion sensor for detecting movements during performance of an exercise for determining a count of repetitions and for notifying the user upon completion of a set.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a housing, which defines an interior space. A plate is hingedly attached to the housing proximate to a top of the housing. The plate is selectively hingable from a stowed configuration, wherein the plate is substantially parallel to and in abutment with a back of the housing, and a deployed configuration, wherein the plate extends angularly from the housing. The plate and the housing are configured to be positioned on a substantially horizontal surface. A sensor is attached to the housing and is configured to detect motion. A counter is attached to the housing, is positioned in the interior space, and is operationally engaged to the sensor. The counter thus is enabled to maintain a count of motion events detected by the sensor. A notification module is attached to the housing and is operationally engaged to the counter. The notification module is configured to notify a user when the count of motion events reaches a preset value.
Another embodiment of the disclosure includes a repetition counting method comprising the steps of providing a repetition counting device, according to the disclosure above, positioning the repetition counting device on a substantially horizontal surface, performing the repetitive exercise movement, allowing the counter to maintain a count of motion events detected by the sensor. A fifth step of the method is allowing the notification module to notify the user when the count of the motion events reaches the preset value.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
The repetition counting device 10 also may comprise magnet 22, which is attached to a rear of the plate 16 and which is configured to magnetically attach the plate 16 and the housing 12 to a paramagnetic object. The magnet 22 provides an alternative to the plate 16 in stabilizing the repetition counting device 10 for use.
A sensor 24 is attached to the housing 12 and is configured to detect motion. As shown in
A notification module 28 is attached to the housing 12 and is operationally engaged to the counter 26. The notification module 28 is configured to notify a user when the count of motion events reaches a preset value. The present invention is anticipated to be of particular use in counting motion events associated with repetitive exercise routines, which typically comprise “sets of reps” having particular values, such as three sets of ten reps, or the like. Most typically, these movement entail two motion events, such as when performing pushups, as is depicted in
The notification module 28 comprises one or both of a speaker 30 and a display screen 32. The speaker 30 is configured to emit an audio signal when the count of motion events reaches a preset value. The display screen 32 is configured to provide visual notification of the count of motion events. The present invention also anticipates the notification module 28 comprising other notification means, such as, but not limited to bulbs that are selectively illuminated when the count of motion events reaches a preset value.
A battery 34 and a microprocessor 36 are attached to the housing 12 and are positioned in the interior space 14, with the microprocessor 36 being operationally engaged to the battery 34, the sensor 24, the counter 26, and the notification module 28. The microprocessor 36 thus is enabled to monitor the count of the motion events and to selectively actuate the notification module 28 to notify the user when the count of motion events reaches the preset value.
A data storage module 38 is attached to the housing 12, is positioned in the interior space 14, and is operationally engaged to the microprocessor 36. The microprocessor 36 thus is enabled to selectively send the count of motion events to the data storage module 38.
A control panel 40 is attached to the housing 12 and is operationally engaged to the microprocessor 36. The control panel 40 is configured to be manipulated by the user to communicate commands to the microprocessor 36, such as, but not limited to, a preset value.
The control panel 40 comprises a power button 42, a clear button 44, a set count button 46, an audio activation button 48, a memory command button 50, and a volume control button 52. The power button 42 is configured to be depressed a first time to operationally engage the microprocessor 36 to the battery 34 and to be depressed a second time to disengage the microprocessor 36 from the battery 34. The clear button 44 is configured to be depressed to signal the microprocessor 36 to clear the count of the motion events. The preset invention also anticipates the clear button 44 being configured to be depressed for a set period of time to operationally engage the microprocessor 36 to the battery 34 and to disengage the microprocessor 36 from the battery 34, thereby eliminating a requirement for the power button 42.
The set count button 46 is configured to be depressed to select the preset value of the count to be reached prior to the microprocessor 36 actuating the notification module 28. The audio activation button 48 is configured to be depressed to selectively actuate the speaker 30 so that the speaker 30 is enabled to emit the audio signal when the count of motion events reaches the preset value. This capability is useful should there be others present while exercising who might be annoyed by the audio signal. The memory command button 50 is configured to be depressed to signal the microprocessor 36 to send the count of motion events to the data storage module 38, effectively logging the number of repetitions completed. The volume control button 52 is configured to be depressed to set a volume of the speaker 30.
The functions of the control panel 40 represent anticipated base features of the repetition counting device 10. The present invention also anticipates the display screen 32 being touch enabled and capable of emulating the clear button 44, the set count button 46, the audio activation button 48, the memory command button 50, and the volume control button 52. Additionally, the present invention anticipates programming code 54 positioned on the microprocessor 36 enabling the user to enter, via a touch enabled display screen 32, an exercise routine comprising a variety of exercises, with each exercise having a user adjustable number of sets and each set having a user adjustable number of repetitions.
The battery 34 is rechargeable by means of a port 56 and a charging cord 58. The port 56 is attached to the housing 12, positioned in the interior space 14, and operationally engaged to the battery 34. The charging cord 58 has a first plug 60 and a second plug 62, which are complementary to the port 56 and an outlet of a source of electrical current, respectively. The first plug 60 is selectively insertable into the port 56 to operationally engage the charging cord 58 to the battery 34. The second plug 62 is configured for selective insertion into the outlet to operationally engage the battery 34 to the source of electrical current to charge the battery 34.
In use, the repetition counting device 10 enables a repetition counting method 64 comprising a first step 66 of providing a repetition counting device 10 according to the specification above. A second step 68 of the method 64 is positioning the repetition counting device 10 on a substantially horizontal surface so that the sensor 24 is pointed toward a location where a repetitive exercise movement is to be performed. A third step 70 of the method 64 is performing the repetitive exercise movement. A fourth step 72 of the method 64 is allowing the counter 26 to maintain a count of motion events detected by the sensor 24. A fifth step 74 of the method 64 is allowing the notification module 28 to notify the user when the count of the motion events reaches the preset value.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
