EXERCISE DATA TRACKING SYSTEMS, KITS, AND METHODS OF USE

Abstract

An exercise kit and a corresponding exercise data tracking system include a pair of boxing gloves equipped with self-contained trackers, each tracker featuring a tracker processor, a tracker wireless transmitter/receiver, and a tracker motion sensor. Each boxing glove may be weighted by inserting a weighted block to increase the intensity of the exercise. A software application on a smartphone has an input block to enter the user's arm length and the value of the weight of the weighted block, making the tracking system more accurate in tracking the parameters characterizing the boxing exercise including unique data on punch speed, punch type, punch momentum, and punch kinetic energy. Punch type may be detected by comparing the motion pattern of the user against a typical motion pattern associated with common punch types.

Claims

1. An exercise data tracking system comprising: a pair of self-contained trackers configured to be associated with a pair of boxing gloves, each tracker comprising a tracker processor, a tracker wireless transmitter/receiver, and a tracker motion sensor, a set of pairs of weighted blocks of predetermined weights configured to be associated with the pair of boxing gloves, and a central computing block comprising: a central processor, a central wireless transmitter/receiver configured for independent two-way communication with both wireless tracker transmitter/receivers, an input block configured for entering arm length of a user and weight of each weighted block, and an output block for displaying the following information computed and communicated thereto by each tracker using input data for arm length and the weight of the weighted block: punch speed, punch momentum, and work.

2. The exercise data tracking system as in claim 1, wherein each tracker is operated via a replaceable battery or a rechargeable battery.

3. The exercise data tracking system as in claim 1, wherein the pair of boxing gloves is configured to removably accept the trackers and the weighted blocks.

4. The exercise data tracking system as in claim 1, wherein the set of pairs of weighted blocks includes pairs of weighted blocks with weights at or exceeding 0.5 lbs.

5. The exercise data tracking system as in claim 1, wherein the set of pairs of weighted blocks includes pairs of weighted blocks with weights at or below 3.5 lbs.

6. The exercise data tracking system as in claim 1, wherein the central processing block is a software application for an electronic computing device.

7. The exercise data tracking system as in claim 6, wherein the electronic computing device is a computer, a laptop, a tablet, a smartphone, or a smartwatch electronic device.

8. The exercise data tracking system as in claim 1, wherein the output block is configured to display exercise characterizing information individually for each of the boxing gloves.

9. The exercise data tracking system as in claim 1, wherein each tracker processor is configured to compare motion patterns during exercise against predetermined motion patterns characterizing typical punch types, thereby facilitating the central processing block to display a record of punch types performed during exercise.

10. The exercise data tracking system as in claim 1, wherein each tracker processor is configured to detect and transmit a punch count during exercise using data from the tracker motion sensor.

11. The exercise data tracking system as in claim 1, wherein each tracker processor is configured to detect and transmit the punch speed during exercise using data from the tracker motion sensor and arm length input.

12. The exercise data tracking system as in claim 1, wherein each tracker processor is configured to detect and transmit the punch wavelength velocity during exercise using data from the tracker motion sensor and arm length input.

13. The exercise data tracking system as in claim 1, wherein each tracker processor is configured to detect and transmit the punch momentum during exercise using data from the tracker motion sensor, arm length input, and weight of the weighted block input.

14. The exercise data tracking system as in claim 13, wherein each tracker processor is configured to detect and transmit the punch kinetic energy during exercise using data from the tracker motion sensor and arm length input, as well as calculated punch velocity and punch momentum.

15. The exercise data tracking system as in claim 14, wherein each tracker processor is configured to calculate and transmit the work during exercise using data from the tracker motion sensor and calculated punch kinetic energy.

16. An exercise kit for exercise data tracking, the exercise kit comprises: a pair of boxing gloves, each boxing glove equipped with a sealable pocket configured for removable insertion of a weighted block, a pair of self-contained trackers configured to be correspondingly placed onto each glove of the pair of boxing gloves, each tracker in turn comprising: a tracker processor, a tracker wireless transmitter/receiver, and a tracker motion sensor, a set of pairs of weighted blocks of predetermined weights, each pair of weighted blocks is configured to be inserted into corresponding sealable pockets of the boxing gloves, a central computing block comprising: a central processor, a central wireless transmitter/receiver configured for independent two-way communication with both wireless tracker transmitter/receivers of the pair of boxing gloves, an input block configured for entering arm length of a user and weight of each weighted block, and an output block for displaying exercise data, wherein the exercise data is computed and communicated to the central computing block by each tracker using input data for arm length and the weight of the weighted block, the exercise data comprises: punch speed, punch momentum, and work.

17. A method of determining a punch type for a boxing exercise, the method comprising the following steps: a. providing an exercise system comprising a pair of boxing gloves, each boxing glove is configured to accept one of several paired weighted blocks of predetermined weights, each boxing glove is associated with a tracker comprising a tracker processor, a tracker wireless transmitter/receiver and a tracker motion sensor, the exercise system further comprises a central computing block equipped with a central processor, a central wireless transmitter/receiver configured for independent two-way communication with both wireless tracker transmitter/receivers of the pair of boxing gloves, an input block and an output block, b. recording calibrating motion data for a plurality of users performing known types of boxing punches using the boxing gloves from step (a) to determine unique motion patterns for each punch type, c. comparing detected motion data for a new user using the pair of boxing gloves from step (a) against the unique motion patterns for each punch type recorded in step(b) to determine the punch type performed by the new user, and d. displaying the punch type detected in step (c) for the user via the output block.

18. The method as in claim 17, wherein the calibrating data in step (b) is recorded for at least 20 users.

19. The method as in claim 17, wherein calibrating data in step (b) is recorded individually for each user and for different weights of the weighted blocks.

20. The method as in claim 17, wherein the known types of boxing punches comprise a straight punch, a hook punch, an uppercut punch, and a cross punch.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Subject matter is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a general schematic view of the system of the invention showing the flow of data between the trackers and the central computing block.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0021] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to a few preferred embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known process steps and/or structures have not been described in detail in order to not obscure the present invention.

[0022] One or more different inventions may be described in the present application. Further, for one or more of the invention(s) described herein, numerous embodiments may be described in this patent application, and are presented for illustrative purposes only. The described embodiments are not intended to be limiting in any sense. One or more of the invention(s) may be widely applicable to numerous embodiments, as is readily apparent from the disclosure. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice one or more of the invention(s), and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural, logical, software, electrical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the one or more of the invention(s). Accordingly, those skilled in the art will recognize that the one or more of the invention(s) may be practiced with various modifications and alterations. Particular features of one or more of the invention(s) may be described with reference to one or more particular embodiments or figures that form a part of the present disclosure, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments of one or more of the invention(s). It should be understood, however, that such features are not limited to usage in the one or more particular embodiments or figures with reference to which they are described. The present disclosure is neither a literal description of all embodiments of one or more of the invention(s) nor a listing of features of one or more of the invention(s) that must be present in all embodiments.

[0023] Headings of sections provided in this patent application and the title of this patent application are for convenience only and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way.

[0024] Devices that are in communication with each other need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. In addition, devices that are in communication with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.

[0025] A description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. To the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of one or more of the invention(s).

[0026] Further, although process steps, method steps, algorithms, or the like may be described in sequential order, such processes, methods, and algorithms may be configured to work in alternate orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may be described in this patent application does not, in and of itself, indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order. The steps of described processes may be performed in any order practical. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously despite being described or implied as occurring non-simultaneously (e.g., because one step is described after the other step). Moreover, the illustration of a process by its depiction in a drawing does not imply that the illustrated process is exclusive of other variations and modifications thereto, does not imply that the illustrated process or any of its steps are necessary to one or more of the invention(s), and does not imply that the illustrated process is preferred.

[0027] When a single device or article is described, it will be readily apparent that more than one device/article (whether or not they cooperate) may be used in place of a single device/article. Similarly, where more than one device or article is described (whether or not they cooperate), it will be readily apparent that a single device/article may be used in place of more than one device or article.

[0028] The functionality and/or the features of a device may be alternatively embodied by one or more other devices that are not explicitly described as having such functionality/features. Thus, other embodiments of one or more of the invention(s) need not include the device itself.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a general schematic view of the novel tracking system 10, which may include a pair of self-contained trackers 12 and 22, and a pair of weighted blocks 11 and 21 inserted into or otherwise associated with a pair of boxing gloves 40 and 50. As described above, the pair of weighted blocks may come in a form of a set of pairs of weighted blocks of predetermined weights. In one example, each pair of weighted blocks may have a total weight in a range from 0.5 lbs to 3.5 lbs, such as at least 0.5 lbs, at least 1 Ib, at least 1.5 lbs, at least 2 lbs, at least 2.5 lbs, at least 3 lbs, at least 3.5 lbs, or even higher as the invention is not limited in this regard. The weighted blocks 11 and 21 may be configured to be inserted into respective pockets or compartments of the gloves 40 and 50. Alternatively, they may be attached to the outside or the inside of these gloves in other removable ways. The weighted blocks may be appropriately marked so that the user can select the desired weight of the weighted blocks easily.

[0030] Each shock-resistant tracker 12 and 22 may be self-contained (enclosed in a dedicated housing and equipped with a suitable power supply, such as a coin battery or a rechargeable battery) and include a wireless transmitter/receiver with a suitable antenna configured for two-way communication allowing wireless transmission of data to the tracker 12 or 22 from the central computing block 35 and transmission of other data in the opposite direction. Any suitable wireless communication protocol may be used to communicate between the trackers and the central computing block 35, such as WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, Z-Wave, and others. Each tracker 12 and 22 may be made to be small enough so as to be attached to or be incorporated with the respective boxing gloves 40 and 50 in an unobtrusive manner so as not to interfere with the boxing exercise.

[0031] Each tracker 12 and 22 may comprise a tracker processor and a tracker motion sensor, in addition to the battery and the wireless transmitter/receiver. The tracker motion sensor may be an accelerometer, such as a unidimensional, two-dimensional, or three-dimensional accelerometer, which may be built into the chip containing the tracker processor or represent a separate stand-alone component, as the invention is not limited in this regard. In other embodiments, the motion sensor may include an optical marker or another sensing technology allowing the system to detect the motion of the respective glove associated therewith.

[0032] Each tracker processor may be configured to accept data transmitted by the central computing block 35, accept data from the tracker motion sensor, and compute a list of parameters characterizing the boxing session as described below.

[0033] The central computing block 35 may be made as a stand-alone electronic device or it may be incorporated as a software application with a conventional electronic computing device 30 such as a computer, a laptop, a tablet, a smartphone, a smartwatch, etc. Functionally, the central computing block 35 may include a central processor, a central wireless transmitter/receiver configured for independent two-way communication with both wireless tracker transmitters/receivers, an input block configured for entering user-specific parameters, and an output block for displaying the information related to the boxing session.

[0034] The initial setup of the system may include entering the name of the user, and at least one user-specific parameter, such as an arm length measured from the shoulder to the hand. Arm length is a critical parameter that is used in various calculations as described below. Another parameter that may be entered during initial setup is the weight of the weighted blocks 11 and 21, if any.

[0035] Other optional information entered into the input block may include user gender, age, height, weight, and other parameters that may be useful in subsequent analysis of the boxing exercise session.

[0036] During use, the central computing block 35 may be configured to transmit at least the arm length and the weight of the weighted block to the respective trackers 12 and 22. The motion of the glove 40 or 50 may be recognized by using a corresponding tracker motion sensor and notion data may be recognized and analyzed by the tracker processor. Each tracker processor may be further configured to determine at least some from a number of parameters characterizing the exercise session as follows: [0037] Punch type (by comparing motion data to the motion signature of different punch types, as described in more detail below), [0038] Punch count (using at least the motion sensor data) [0039] Punch speed (rate of motionusing the motion sensor data and arm length measurement) [0040] Punch wavelength velocity (rate of motion and direction of motionusing the motion sensor data and arm length measurement) [0041] Punch momentum (using arm length, wavelength velocity, and the weight of the weighted block) [0042] Punch kinetic energy (using momentum and velocity or speed calculations) [0043] Work (using kinetic energy calculations) [0044] Calories expensed or burnt during exercise (using work calculations)

[0045] The calculated data for each individual arm may then be transmitted back to the central computing block 35, displayed for the user, or communicated further for additional analysis and processing.

[0046] Punch type determination is another advantageous feature of the present invention. Conventional trackers are generally not capable of determining this parameter of the boxing exercise. A typical list of common boxing punch types may include: [0047] Straight punch, [0048] Hook punch, [0049] Uppercut punch, and [0050] Cross punch.

[0051] One novel method of detecting the type of punch performed by a user is to recognize that all the punch types have individual motion signature, or a common motion pattern that is different between different punch types. To recognize these motion patterns, big data processing algorithms and artificial intelligence may be advantageously used to process calibrating data. Such calibrating data may include records of motion patterns for a large number of diverse users who are asked to perform common punch types in a known order. After providing the system of the trackers and, optionally, the sets of paired weighting blocks to this plurality of users, data collection may be performed by recording motion data from all of these users and correlating them to known types of punches.

[0052] As a result, motion data for each type of punch from a plurality of users may be collected and analyzed to identify specific patterns characterizing each type of boxing punch and separating each punch type from other punch types.

[0053] This effort may produce a digital signature identifying unique motion patterns for each punch type. This information may then be loaded into each tracker processor. Once this information is available, the tracker processor may be configured to compare motion data acquired from each new user against digital signatures and patterns associated with common boxing punch types. Thereafter, in use, the system of the invention may provide not only the information as discussed above but supplement this information with the punch type for each individual arm of the user.

[0054] In embodiments, the method of determining a punch type for a boxing exercise may include the following steps: [0055] (a) providing an exercise system as described above, namely a system comprising a pair of boxing gloves adapted to accept one of several paired weighted blocks of predetermined weights, each boxing glove is associated with a battery-operated tracker comprising, in turn, a tracker processor, a tracker wireless transmitter/receiver and a tracker motion sensor, the exercise system further comprises a central computing block equipped with a central processor, a central wireless transmitter/receiver configured for independent two-way communication with both wireless tracker transmitter/receivers of the pair of boxing gloves, an input block and an output block, [0056] (b) recording calibrating motion data for a plurality of users performing known types of boxing punches using the boxing gloves from step (a) to determine unique motion patterns for each punch type, [0057] (c) comparing detected motion data for a new user using the pair of boxing gloves from step (a) against the unique motion patterns for each punch type recorded in step(b) to determine the punch type performed by the new user, and [0058] (d) displaying the punch type detected in step (c) for the user via the output block.

[0059] At least 20 users may be required to record reliable calibration data, with a higher number providing higher confidence in the result, such as that collected from at least 25 users, at least 30 users, at least 35 users, or at least 40 users. In addition, the boxing gloves may be equipped with weighted blocks of various weights, so the calibration data may be recorded for each weight set individually, in repeated calibration recording sessions.

[0060] Overall, there are several important advantages of the present invention as compared to traditional trackers positioned on boxing gloves: [0061] High accuracy: each hand is individually tracked, and the calculated data accounts for the individual size of the user; [0062] Real-time data: data is synched with the central computing block, such as an app on the user's phone in real-time; [0063] New parameters are tracked in addition to conventional parameters, including momentum, kinetic energy, and work, based on the input of arm length; [0064] Punch type is recognized using artificial intelligence and big data analysis methods; and [0065] Accounts for weighted gloves via weight entry at the user input portion of the central computing block.

[0066] It is contemplated that any embodiment discussed in this specification can be implemented with respect to any method of the invention, and vice versa. It will be also understood that particular embodiments described herein are shown by way of illustration and not as limitations of the invention. The principal features of this invention can be employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, numerous equivalents to the specific procedures described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims.

[0067] All publications and patent applications mentioned in the specification are indicative of the level of skill of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. All publications and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Incorporation by reference is limited such that no subject matter is incorporated that is contrary to the explicit disclosure herein, no claims included in the documents are incorporated by reference herein, and any definitions provided in the documents are not incorporated by reference herein unless expressly included herein.

[0068] The use of the word a or an when used in conjunction with the term comprising in the claims and/or the specification may mean one, but it is also consistent with the meaning of one or more, at least one, and one or more than one. The use of the term or in the claims is used to mean and/or unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternatives are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and and/or. Throughout this application, the term about is used to indicate that a value includes the inherent variation of error for the device, the method being employed to determine the value, or the variation that exists among the study subjects.

[0069] As used in this specification and claims, the words comprising (and any form of comprising, such as comprise and comprises), having (and any form of having, such as have and has), including (and any form of including, such as includes and include) or containing (and any form of containing, such as contains and contain) are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps. In embodiments of any of the compositions and methods provided herein, comprising may be replaced with consisting essentially of or consisting of. As used herein, the phrase consisting essentially of requires the specified integer(s) or steps as well as those that do not materially affect the character or function of the claimed invention. As used herein, the term consisting is used to indicate the presence of the recited integer (e.g., a feature, an element, a characteristic, a property, a method/process step or a limitation) or group of integers (e.g., feature(s), element(s), characteristic(s), propertie(s), method/process steps or limitation(s)) only.

[0070] The term or combinations thereof as used herein refers to all permutations and combinations of the listed items preceding the term. For example, A, B, C, or combinations thereof is intended to include at least one of: A, B, C, Aft AC, BC, or ABC, and if order is important in a particular context, also BA, CA, CB, CBA, BCA, ACB, BAC, or CAB. Continuing with this example, expressly included are combinations that contain repeats of one or more item or term, such as BB, AAA, Aft BBC, AAABCCCC, CBBAAA, CABABB, and so forth. The skilled artisan will understand that typically there is no limit on the number of items or terms in any combination, unless otherwise apparent from the context.

[0071] As used herein, words of approximation such as, without limitation, about, substantial or substantially refers to a condition that when so modified is understood to not necessarily be absolute or perfect but would be considered close enough to those of ordinary skill in the art to warrant designating the condition as being present. The extent to which the description may vary will depend on how great a change can be instituted and still have one of ordinary skill in the art recognize the modified feature as still having the required characteristics and capabilities of the unmodified feature. In general, but subject to the preceding discussion, a numerical value herein that is modified by a word of approximation such as about may vary from the stated value by at least ?1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 20 or 25%.

[0072] All of the devices and/or methods disclosed and claimed herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the devices and methods of this invention have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the devices and/or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the concept, spirit, and scope of the invention. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope, and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims.