U.S. patent application number 11/735453 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-16 for monitoring of a wearable athletic device.
Invention is credited to Gabriella I. Muri, John I. Muri.
Application Number | 20080254944 11/735453 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39854264 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080254944 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Muri; John I. ; et
al. |
October 16, 2008 |
Monitoring of a Wearable Athletic Device
Abstract
An athletic system for monitoring the condition of a wearable
athletic device includes the wearable athletic device, first and
second input parameters, a computer readable memory, and a
microprocessor. At least one of the parameters may be provided a
measurement device that may also be part of the athletic system or
may be separate therefrom. The first parameter comprises at least
one of an event count and a travel distance, while the second
parameter comprises at least one of an athletic footwear device
identifier, a physical property of the athletic footwear device, a
physiological condition, an environmental condition, an event rate,
a velocity, and an acceleration. The computer readable memory
contains instructions for calculating a condition of the athletic
footwear device. The microprocessor is configured to perform the
instructions in order to calculate the condition of the athletic
footwear device, the calculation being based at least in part on
the parameters.
Inventors: |
Muri; John I.; (Aliso Viejo,
CA) ; Muri; Gabriella I.; (Aliso Viejo, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
John I. Muri
46 Edmonton Place
Aliso Viejo
CA
92656
US
|
Family ID: |
39854264 |
Appl. No.: |
11/735453 |
Filed: |
April 14, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/8 ;
702/34 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2220/12 20130101;
A63B 2220/836 20130101; A63B 2225/15 20130101; A63B 2220/803
20130101; A63B 2230/06 20130101; A63B 2230/01 20130101; A63B
2220/22 20130101; A63B 2220/30 20130101; A63B 2220/40 20130101;
A63B 24/0062 20130101; A63B 2225/20 20130101; A63B 2225/50
20130101; A63B 2071/063 20130101; A63B 2230/30 20130101; A63B
69/0028 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/8 ;
702/34 |
International
Class: |
A63B 71/00 20060101
A63B071/00 |
Claims
1. An athletic system for monitoring the condition of athletic
footwear, comprising: an athletic footwear device; a first
parameter comprising at least one of an event count and a travel
distance; a second parameter comprising at least one of an athletic
footwear device identifier, a physical property of the athletic
footwear device, a physiological condition, an environmental
condition, an event rate, a velocity, and an acceleration; computer
readable memory containing instructions for calculating a condition
of the athletic footwear device; a microprocessor configured to
perform the instructions to calculate the condition of the athletic
footwear device, the calculation based at least in part on the
parameters.
2. The athletic system of claim 1, wherein the athletic footwear
device comprises an athletic shoe or a pair of athletic shoes.
3. The athletic system of claim 1, wherein the athletic footwear
device comprises a tennis shoe, a jogging shoe, a running shoe, a
basketball shoe, a soccer shoe, a hiking boot, a climbing boot, a
snow boot, a downhill ski, or a cross-country ski.
4. The athletic system of claim 1, further comprising a measurement
device configured to provide a first parameter.
5. The athletic system of claim 4, wherein the measurement device
comprises at least one of a counter, a pedometer, an accelerometer,
an altimeter, a compass, a watch, a stopwatch, an exercise machine,
a treadmill, and a GPS device.
6. The athletic system of claim 4, wherein at least one of the
measurement device, the microprocessor, the instructions, the first
parameter, and the second parameter is located on the athletic
footwear device.
7. The athletic system of claim 4, wherein at least one of the
measurement device, the microprocessor, the instructions, the first
parameter, and the second parameter is located on a wearer of the
athletic footwear device.
8. The athletic system of claim 4, wherein at least one of the
measurement device, the microprocessor, the instructions, the first
parameter, and the second parameter is located on a computer, the
computer being at least one of a custom circuit, a custom
electronic device, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a
notebook computer, and a mainframe computer.
9. The athletic system of claim 4, wherein at least one of
measurement device, the microprocessor, the instructions, the first
parameter, and the second parameter is located at a remote cite
accessible via a network connection.
10. The athletic system of claim 4, further comprising a second
measurement device configured to provide the second parameter, the
second measurement device comprising at least one of a counter, a
pedometer, an accelerometer, an altimeter, a compass, a watch, a
stopwatch, an exercise machine, a treadmill, and a GPS device.
11. The athletic system of claim 1, wherein the physiological
condition is that of a user of the athletic footwear device, the
physiological condition comprising at least one of a heart rate, a
pulse rate, a blood pressure, a respiration rate, a body
temperature, an age of the user, a weight of the user, a height of
the user, a length of a body part of the user, and a stride length
of the user.
12. The athletic system of claim 1, wherein the environmental
condition comprises at least one of an inclination, an altitude, a
temperature, a surface type, a surface roughness, a surface
condition, a stress in the athletic footwear device, a type of
exercise machine, a weather condition, the presence of rain, the
presence of snow, and the presence of ice.
13. The athletic system of claim 1, further comprising a third
parameter, wherein the calculation is based at least in part on the
third parameter, the third parameter comprising at least one of an
athletic footwear device identifier, a physical property of the
athletic footwear device, a physiological condition, an
environmental condition, an event rate, a velocity, and an
acceleration.
14. The athletic system of claim 1, further comprising at least one
of an input device for entering at least one of the parameters and
an output device for communicating the results of the
calculation.
15. The athletic system of claim 14, wherein the output device
comprises a video display and/or an audio device.
16. The athletic system of claim 1, wherein the condition of the
athletic footwear device is at least one of an amount of usable
life of the athletic footwear device, the amount of wear experience
by the athletic footwear device, the amount of use time left until
the athletic footwear device should be replaced, and the distance
remaining before the athletic footwear device should be
replaced.
17. The athletic system of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is
further configured to calculate at least one of a distance, a
velocity, and an acceleration.
18. The athletic system of claim 1, wherein the athletic footwear
device identifier is at least one of a model number, a brand name,
a shoe size, a tread dimension, and a tread area.
19. A monitoring system for athletic footwear, comprising: a first
parameter comprising at least one of an event count and a travel
distance; a second parameter comprising at least one of an athletic
footwear device identifier, a physical property of the athletic
footwear device, a physiological condition, an environmental
condition, an event rate, a velocity, and an acceleration; computer
readable memory containing instructions for calculating a condition
of an athletic footwear device; a microprocessor configured to
perform the instructions to calculate the condition of the athletic
footwear device, the calculation based at least in part on the
parameters.
20. A method monitoring the condition of athletic footwear,
comprising: supplying an athletic footwear device for placement
onto a user; supplying or measuring a first parameter comprising at
least one of an event count and a travel distance; supplying or
measuring a second parameter comprising at least one of an athletic
footwear device identifier, a physical property of the athletic
footwear device, a physiological condition, an environmental
condition, an event rate, a velocity, and an acceleration;
supplying a microprocessor with instructions for calculating a
condition of the athletic footwear device; using the microprocessor
to calculate the condition of the athletic footwear device, the
calculation being based at least in part on the parameters.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention is generally directed to wearable
athletic devices and more specifically directed to devices,
systems, and method of monitoring the condition, wear, and/or
remaining life of wearable athletic devices.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Athletic footwear is generally designed to protect the feet
of the wearer under the demands of specific types of athletic
events or training regimen. For example, running shoes incorporate
devices such as highly cushioned materials and/or air soles to
protect the runner from excessive joint fatigue during high-speed
sprinting and/or extended periods of running. The amount of
protection provided by the footwear can vary depending on many
factors, such as the amount of cushioning in the shoe, the type
foot (pronator, supinator, neutral foot), the fit of the shoe to
the foot, and running/surface conditions. The selection of the
correct footwear based on these and other factors is important in
avoiding unwanted injuries to the ankles, legs, and/or back.
[0005] While selection of the proper footwear is critical in
preventing injuries, timely replacement of footwear as it ages has
also been found to be very important. This can be especially
important for the more serious runners who push their bodies and
equipment to the limit, or for older runners who may be more prone
to injuries and require more time to recover from such injuries
when they do occur. In any event, the appropriate time for
replacing older footwear may occur before obvious signs of shoe
fatigue or wear are generally visible. Thus, injury may occur long
before a runner realizes that it is time to look for new shoes.
This problem can become particularly complicated when an individual
has multiple pairs of athletic shoes and/or uses their shoes are
used in varying levels of athletic demand or in a variety of
environmental conditions.
[0006] In recent years, various technologies have matured to allow
a person to more easily monitor their athletic performance in an
automated fashion. This includes the use of various electronic
devices such as pedometers or GPS devices that may be attached to
the user, or even disposed on or within the user's shoe. These
devices can be used to determine the velocity and/or distance
traveled by a person during competitive event or exercising
session. The use of such technologies is disclosed, for example, in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,771,394; 5,640,786; and 6,882,955, and U.S. Patent
Application No. 2006/0283050, all of which are herein incorporated
by reference.
[0007] Other information and/or aspects of athletic performance
such foot position or "hang time" of the foot in the air have also
been disclosed, for example, as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,452,269 and
6,616,544, which are also herein incorporated by reference.
Furthermore, current technology has also been incorporated into
systems that allow the user to more easily and pleasingly track
their performance during an individual athletic activity and/or
over an extended period of time, for example, to track improvements
in performance. Examples of such systems include U.S. Pat. No.
6,819,258 and U.S. Patent Application Nos. 2006/0283050;
2006/136173; 2007/021269, which are also herein incorporated by
reference.
[0008] In light of the problems associated old or worn out athletic
footwear, devices and methods are needed (e.g., similar to those
used to evaluate an athlete's performance) to monitor and evaluate
the condition, wear, and/or life expectancy of the athletic
footwear, allowing users to be alerted to replace the footwear
before the risk of injury reaches an undesirable level.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Embodiments of the present invention are directed to devices
and methods for monitoring and evaluating of the condition or wear
of wearable athletic devices (e.g., athletic footwear such as
sports shoes, athletic boots, or snow skis). In one aspect of the
invention, an athletic system for monitoring and/or evaluating the
condition of a wearable athletic device includes the wearable
athletic device, first and second input parameters, a computer
readable memory, and a microprocessor. At least one of the
parameters may be provided by a measurement device that may be part
of the athletic system or may be separate therefrom. The first
parameter comprises at least one of an event count and a distance,
while the second parameter comprises at least one of a wearable
athletic devices identifier, a physical property of the wearable
athletic device, a physiological condition of a user, an
environmental condition, an event rate, a velocity, and an
acceleration. The computer readable memory contains instructions
for calculating a condition (e.g., an amount of wear or a remaining
life) of the wearable athletic device. The microprocessor is
configured to perform the instructions for calculating the
condition of the wearable athletic device, the calculation being
based at least in part on the parameters.
[0010] In another aspect of the present invention, a monitoring
system for monitoring and/or evaluating the condition of a wearable
athletic device, includes first and second input parameters, a
computer readable memory, and a microprocessor. The first parameter
comprises at least one of an event count and a distance, while the
second parameter comprises at least one of a wearable athletic
device identifier, a physical property of the wearable athletic
device, a physiological condition, an environmental condition, an
event rate, a velocity, and an acceleration. The computer readable
memory contains instructions for calculating a condition of a
wearable athletic device. The microprocessor is configured to
perform the instructions in order to calculate the condition of the
wearable athletic device, the calculation being based at least in
part on the parameters.
[0011] In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method
monitoring the condition of a wearable athletic device comprises
supplying a wearable athletic device for placement onto a user. The
method further comprises supplying or measuring a first parameter
comprising at least one of an event count and a travel distance.
The method additionally comprises supplying or measuring a second
parameter comprising at least one of a wearable athletic device
identifier, a physical property of the wearable athletic device, a
physiological condition, an environmental condition, an event rate,
a velocity, and an acceleration. The method also comprises
supplying a microprocessor with instructions for calculating a
condition of the wearable athletic device and using the
microprocessor to calculate the condition of the wearable athletic
device, the calculation being based at least in part on the
parameters.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Embodiments of the present invention may be better
understood from the following detailed description when read in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Such embodiments, which
are for illustrative purposes only, depict novel and non-obvious
aspects of the invention. The drawings include the following
figures.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic of a monitoring system for determining
the condition, wear, and/or remaining life of a wearable athletic
device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a representation of at least a portion of an
athletic system according to an embodiment of the present invention
illustrating a runner wearing a portable device in communication
with a running shoe.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a front view of the portable device illustrated in
FIG. 2.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a front view of the portable device illustrated in
FIG. 2 in communication with a personal computer.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a block diagram representation of a method
according to the present invention for monitoring the condition of
a wearable athletic device.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a schematic of a monitoring system for determining
the condition, wear, or remaining life of a plurality of wearable
athletic devices.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The present invention is generally directed to devices,
systems, and methods for evaluating the performance of a wearable
athletic device (e.g., athletic footwear such as athletic shoes,
athletic boots, or snow skis) and/or determining or estimating the
condition, wear, and/or remaining life of a wearable athletic
device.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, in certain embodiments of the
invention, an athletic system 10 for monitoring a wearable athletic
device comprises a wearable athletic device 12 and a monitoring or
tracking system 14 for monitoring or tracking the condition or
health of the wearable athletic device 12. The wearable athletic
device 12 may interact with the monitoring system 14, for example,
by supplying one or more inputs into the monitoring system 14
(e.g., by supplying identity information such as a model number or
serial number, or by supplying environmental or structural
information of the wearable athletic device 12 such as a stress,
load, impact/step count, temperature, and the like). Conversely,
the monitoring system 14 may interact with the wearable athletic
device 12 providing an output that results in an action being taken
on the wearable athletic device 12 (e.g., resulting in the wearable
athletic device 12 being replaced, reconditioned, or otherwise
adjusted). In some embodiments, the only interaction between the
monitoring system 14 and the wearable athletic device 12 is that
the wearable athletic device 12 is replaced, reconditioned, or
repaired based on an output from the monitoring system 14.
[0021] As illustrated in the FIG. 1, the monitoring system 14
comprises a first parameter 20 that is generally, but not
necessarily, supplied by a first measurement device 16. The first
parameter 20 is used to determine or estimate the condition, wear,
and/or remaining life of the wearable athletic device 12. The
monitoring system 14 further comprises a second parameter 22 that
provides additional information for making the determination or
estimate. Alternatively, the second parameter 22 may provide
redundant information similar to that contained in the first
parameter 21. The monitoring system 14 also comprises a computer
readable memory 24 and a processor or microprocessor 26. The
computer readable memory 24 may contain instructions 30 for
determining a condition, wear, and/or remaining life of the
wearable athletic device 24. The computer readable memory 24 may
also contain other information used by the microprocessor 26, such
as stored values for the first and/or second parameters 20, 22. The
microprocessor 26 is generally configured to perform the
instructions 30 so as to calculate the condition of the wearable
athletic device 12, the calculation being based at least in part on
the parameters 20, 22. As used herein, the term "condition" of a
wearable athletic device includes the general condition of the
device, an amount of wear, or a remaining life of the wearable
athletic device. The term may additionally or alternatively include
the amount of fatigue or deterioration experienced by the wearable
athletic device. As used herein, the term "wear" generally refers
gradual removal of material from a wearable athletic device and/or
the deterioration in the properties or performance of a wearable
athletic device or material used therein during use thereof or over
a specific period of time. The "remaining life" of wearable
athletic device may generally be related in an inverse manner to
the "wear" of the wearable athletic device (e.g., as the amount of
wear increases, the remaining life decreases).
[0022] The wearable athletic device 12 may comprise an athletic
shoe (or pair of athletic shoes) or other athletic footwear, for
example, a tennis shoe, a jogging shoe, a running shoe, a
basketball shoe, a soccer shoe, and so forth. Alternatively, the
wearable athletic device 12 may comprise a boot for outdoor
sporting use, such as a hiking boot, a climbing boot, or a snow
boot. In some embodiments, the wearable athletic device 12
comprises a device that is attached to the foot such as a ski, for
example a downhill ski or a cross-country ski. The criteria and/or
methodology for determining the condition of the wearable athletic
device 12 will generally vary in accordance with the type of device
it is and possibly on other parameters, for example, the amount and
accuracy of information available for making a determination of the
condition of the wearable athletic device 12.
[0023] The monitoring system 14 is generally configured to
determine a condition of the wearable athletic device 12. The
condition may comprise, but is not limited to, the amount of wear
and/or deterioration experienced by the wearable athletic device
14, the remaining amount of usable life of the wearable athletic
device 14, the amount of use time left until the wearable athletic
device 14 should be replaced, the distance remaining before the
wearable athletic device 14 should be replaced, and the like. At
least a portion of one or more elements of the monitoring system 14
may be partially or entirely disposed on or inside the wearable
athletic device 12. Also, at least a portion of one or more
elements of the monitoring system 14 may be disposed on a personal
computer, on a portable device carried by or attached to the user,
and/or at a remote location that is accessible via a local area
network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN), such as the internet or
World Wide Web.
[0024] The first parameter 20 may be either an event count (e.g., a
number of steps taken) or a distance traveled by the wearable
athletic device 12 and/or by a user (not shown) that is wearing the
wearable athletic device 12. An event may include, but is not
limited to, an individual step, completion of a predetermined
number of steps, completion of a cycle (or predetermined number of
cycles or portion of a cycle), an electrical signal (e.g., a
voltage, current, impedance, or phase), passage of a predetermined
duration of time (e.g., a millisecond, second, minute, hour, or
day), or an electrical signal or code indicative of a total number
of steps taken, distance travel, or duration of time. The first
parameter 20 may be provided in a automated manner by the
measurement device 16 or may be manually provide by a user, for
example, using an input device such as a keyboard, keypad, computer
mouse, or a touch screen. When the first parameter 20 is a distance
traveled, the distance may be the result of a direct measurement
(e.g., base on the output of a GPS device) or be based on a
calculation (e.g., based on the number of step taken by the user or
based on a velocity, acceleration, or rate that is integrated over
a time period).
[0025] The first measurement device 16 may include a counter or a
pedometer for determining the number of steps taken by a wearer of
the wearable athletic device 12, wherein the microprocessor 26 can
correlate the number of steps to a condition of the wearable
athletic device 12, either based on the number of steps alone or in
conjunction with other information. Alternatively, the
microprocessor 26 or another processor or microprocessor may
convert steps to a distance from which the condition of the
wearable athletic device 12 is calculated or estimated. In some
embodiments, the first measurement device 16 is an accelerometer or
strain gauge from which the number of steps or distance traveled
may be determined or estimated. In other embodiments, the first
measurement device is an altimeter, a compass, a watch, or a
stopwatch.
[0026] In certain embodiments, the first measurement device 16 is a
GPS device. In such embodiment, the distance traveled may be
determined from coordinates provided by the GPS device. This
information may be used directly by the microprocessor 26 to
determine an amount of wear. Alternatively, the distance traveled
may be converted to an estimated number of steps taken based either
on a predetermined stride length or an estimated stride length,
where the stride length estimate may be based on a user input or
other information available to the monitoring system 14 (e.g., from
an accelerometer).
[0027] In other embodiments, the first measurement device 16 is at
least a portion of an exercise machine (e.g., a treadmill). For
example, the exercise machine may provide the monitoring system a
distance, velocity, number of steps, machine characteristic (e.g.,
model number or running surface hardness), pulse rate, and the
like. The microprocessor 26 may then determine a condition of the
wearable athletic device 12 based at least in part on this
information. In some embodiments, a portion of the monitoring
system 14 or the entire monitoring system 14 is incorporated into
the exercise machine. In such embodiments, the monitoring system 14
may be used in combination with another monitoring system to allow
the cumulative wear of the wearable athletic device 12 to be
determined or estimated based on use of the wearable athletic
device 12 both on and off of the exercise machine.
[0028] The second parameter 22 is generally used in conjunction
with the first parameter 20 to determine a condition of the
wearable athletic device 12. In certain embodiments, the second
parameter 22 may be an event count or a distance traveled that may,
for example, replace or supplement the first parameter 20. As such,
the second parameter 22 may be used to check the accuracy of the
first parameter 20, calibrate the first parameter 20, provide a
redundant input value that is averaged with the value provided by
the first parameter 20, or be used as an alternative to the first
parameter 20. As an example of the latter, the first parameter 20
may be the output from a GPS device (e.g., when the wearable
athletic device 12 traverses a distance during use) and the second
parameter is the output of a exercise machine such as a treadmill,
wherein the wearable athletic device 12 is stationary during use,
but still experiences a certain degree of wear. Thus, the
monitoring system 12 and/or a user can select either the first
parameter 20 or the second parameter 22 depending on the
circumstances or conditions under which the wearable athletic
device 12 is used. In such embodiments, a calculated rate of wear
of the wearable athletic device 12 may vary depending on whether
the first parameter 20 or the second parameter 22 has been
selected.
[0029] In other embodiments, the second parameter 22 may comprises
information that is of a different type from that of the first
parameter 20. In such embodiments, the second parameter 22 may be
used in combination with the first parameter 20 to determine a
condition of the wearable athletic device 12. For example, the
second parameter 22 may comprise a wearable athletic device 12
identifier, a physical property of the wearable athletic device 12,
a physiological condition of a wearer, an environmental condition,
an event rate (e.g., step rate), a velocity and/or acceleration of
a user, or the like. In certain embodiments, the second parameter
22 is a rate of wear of the wearable athletic device 12 or is
proportional to an expected rate of wear of the wearable athletic
device 12.
[0030] When the second parameter 22 is physiological condition,
this may include a heart rate, a pulse rate, a blood pressure, a
respiration rate, a body temperature, the age of the user, the
weight of the user, the height of the user, the length of a body
part of the user (e.g., the leg length), or the stride length of
the user. For example, the rate of wear per step or unit distance
may be at least partially correlated to the weight of the wearer,
the model number of the wearable athletic device 12, or the
condition of the surface upon which the wearable athletic device 12
is being used, and the like. In some embodiments, an increase in
heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure, or body temperature
may be correlated with an increased rate of wear of the wearable
athletic device 12.
[0031] When the second parameter 22 includes a wearable athletic
device 12 identifier, the identifier may include a model number or
a brand name of the wearable athletic device 12. In such cases, the
rate of wear or total allowable wear of the wearable athletic
device 12 may depend on the identifier information. Alternatively
or additionally, the wearable athletic device 12 identifier may
include such information as a shoe size, a tread dimension, a tread
area, or some structural or material property of the wearable
athletic device 12. In the case of a ski, the wearable athletic
device identifier may include the length of the ski, the width of
the ski, ski material, and/or other physical characteristics of the
ski.
[0032] When the second parameter is the environmental condition,
this may include such information as an inclination (e.g., of a
hill), an altitude, a temperature, a surface type, a surface
roughness, a surface condition, a stress in the wearable athletic
device (e.g., provided by a stain gauge disposed on or within the
device 12), a type of exercise machine, a weather condition, the
presence or amount of rain, the presence or quality of snow, the
presence or quality of ice, etc. Such environmental conditions may
be used to adjust a wear calculation or rate of wear of the
wearable athletic device 12. For example, a rough surface (e.g.,
asphalt or cement), or a high temperature or inclination, may be
correlated with a higher amount of wear per step or unit distance
traveled.
[0033] In certain embodiments, at least one of the parameters 20,
22 may comprise an array of inputs, for example, similar to a
record item in a database structure. For instance, the first
parameter 20 may be a step count or travel distance, while the
second parameter 22 is an array of inputs such as a shoe
identifier, a user weight, and/or a surface condition. It will be
appreciated that other combinations of input parameters may be
selected depending on considerations such as the desired accuracy
of a wear calculation or what parameters in a particular situation
are determined to have a greater impact on the wear or life of the
wearable athletic device 12. In some embodiments, the elements of
the array of input may change during use of the wearable athletic
device 12. For example, one of the array inputs may be a velocity
of a user, which in term may affect the rate of wear of the
athletic wearable device 12.
[0034] The parameters 20, 22 may be automatically or
semi-automatically input into the monitoring system 14. For
example, the first parameter 20 may be a step count that is
provided to the monitoring system 14 by a pedometer, while the
second parameter 22 is an identifier code of the wearable athletic
device 12 that is semi-automatically input by a user by scanning a
barcode located on the wearable athletic device 12 itself or
associated with the wearable athletic device 12. Alternatively, at
least one of the parameters may be manually input by a user. For
example, the identifier code may be manually input by typing in the
code on a keypad or touch screen. In some embodiments, at least one
of the parameters 20, 22 is automatically or semi-automatically
input, but then manually overridden by the user. For example, the
identifier may be initially scanned from a barcode, but then
manually overridden when it is discovered that the identification
information is incorrect. As another example, the distance input by
a pedometer is converted to a distance; however, the distance is
latter overridden by the user based on a priori knowledge (e.g.,
knowing that six times around a track is equal to 1.00 miles, while
the calculated distance based on the pedometer is only 0.95
miles).
[0035] In some embodiments, the second parameter 22 may be provided
by a user input 32, as illustrated by the dashed box and connected
line in FIG. 1 (e.g., from a keyboard, keypad, touch screen, or
audible or voice command). In other embodiments, the second
parameter 22 may be provided by a second measurement device 32
(again illustrated by the dashed box and connected line in FIG. 1).
The second measurement device 32 may comprise a counter, a
pedometer, an accelerometer, an altimeter, a compass, a watch, a
stopwatch, at least a portion of a treadmill or other exercise
machine, or a GPS device. For example, when the first device 16 is
a treadmill, the second device 32 may be a pedometer located in the
wearable athletic device 12 or attached to the body of a wearer of
the wearable athletic device 12, thereby allowing the user to use
either the treadmill and/or the pedometer, either in the
alternative or in combination with one another (e.g., to increase
accuracy of a wear measurement). Alternatively, first measurement
device 16 may be a pedometer and the second measurement device 32
may be altimeter, where the altimeter is used to determine an
inclination in the terrain, which might impact the rate of wear
of\the wearable athletic device 12.
[0036] In some embodiments, the first and/or second parameters 20,
22 are stored in the computer readable memory 24 for use by the
microprocessor 26. Alternatively or additionally, at least one of
the parameters 20, 22 is directly sent to the microprocessor 26 or
to a memory location on the microprocessor 26. Such a configuration
is illustrated by the dashed line between the first parameter 20
and the computer readable memory 24 and the dashed line between the
second parameter 22 and the computer readable memory 24.
[0037] While the monitoring system 14 will generally comprise at
least two parameters 20, 22, the monitoring system 14 may
alternatively comprise only a single parameter 20. For example, the
monitoring system 14 may comprise a single parameter 20 that is a
count of the number of steps taken by a user while using the
wearable athletic device 12. Thus, a user may be able to obtain at
least an approximation of amount a wear for any pair of athletic
shoes, even when no other information is available regarding the
identity of the shoes, the material properties of the shoes, the
environment in which the shoes are used, or the like. In some
embodiments, the monitoring system 14 provides an approximate wear
calculation for a wearable athletic device 12 when only a single
parameter 20 is available, for example, because a second parameter
22 is temporarily or permanently unavailable (e.g., due to a sensor
defect or poor signal quality). If the second parameter 22
subsequently becomes available again, the system 14 may resume
making a more accurate wear calculation based on both the first and
second parameters 20, 22. In such embodiments, the computer
readable memory 24 may comprise instructions for use by the
microprocessor 26 when only one of the first and second parameters
20, 22 is available. Under normal circumstances, the microprocessor
26 calculates a condition or wear of the wearable athletic device
12 with a first accuracy when both the first and second parameters
20, 22 are available. However, the microprocessor is also
configured to estimate a condition or wear of the wearable athletic
device 12 with a reduced second accuracy when only one of the first
and second parameters 20, 22 is available.
[0038] The monitoring system 14 may comprise additional parameters
(e.g., a third, fourth, and/or fifth parameter; not illustrated),
wherein the calculation is based at least in part on the additional
parameter(s). The additional parameter(s) may comprise, but is not
limited to, an event count, a distance traveled, a wearable
athletic device identifier, a physical property of the wearable
athletic device, a physiological condition, an environmental
condition, an event rate, a velocity, or an acceleration. The
additional parameter(s) may be used, for example, to provide
redundancy, check accuracy of the first or second parameters 20,
22, provide calibration, and/or provide additional information that
is different from that provided by either the first or second
parameters 20, 22.
[0039] The microprocessor 26, in conjunction with the readable
computer memory 24, is used to provide a calculation or estimate of
the condition of the wearable athletic device 12. For example the
microprocessor 26 may be provided with instructions contained in
the readable computer memory 24 for making a wear or remaining life
calculation. The calculation may be used to determine the amount of
wear the device 12 has experience and/or the amount useful or
expected remaining life of the device 12 (e.g., in terms of a time,
distance, or number of steps). The microprocessor 26 may be such as
is commonly known in the art, or may comprise a custom designed
chip or circuit specifically configured to provide a wear or
remaining life calculation. The output from the microprocessor 26
includes information regarding the condition of the wearable
athletic device 12. This output may be sent to the output device 34
and/or stored on the computer readable memory 24 or other memory
device for later use. In one embodiment the output from the
microprocessor includes other information (e.g., time and/or date
information, temperature, environmental conditions, etc.) that is
periodically stored along with the condition data to a storage
device such as the computer readable memory 24. In this manner, a
user or another device can later access this information to track
this information and/or perform other functions (e.g., produce a
graphical display or provide an analysis, such as statistical
analysis).
[0040] The computer readable memory 24 may be provided by an
off-the-shelf memory chip or may be custom made. In some
embodiments, at least a portion of the computer readable memory 24
is physically located the same integrated circuit or chip as the
microprocessor 26. For example, the instructions 30 may be located
in a memory area of the microprocessor 26 and the parameters 20, 22
are stored on an external memory chip that is in communication with
the microprocessor 26. In some embodiments, the output of the
microprocessor 26 may be stored on the computer readable memory 24
or on a separate memory chip and subsequently sent to an output
device 34 for display and/or audio notification of a user.
[0041] The output device 34 is configured to receive and relay
information regarding the condition of the wearable athletic device
12 (or for allowing calculation of the condition) and other
optional information (e.g., time, date, and/or environmental
information) from the microprocessor 26 or other elements of the
monitoring system 14. Information from the monitoring system 14 may
be automatically sent to the output device 34 when a certain
condition or conditions of the wearable athletic device 12 has been
reached. Additionally or alternatively, information from the
monitoring system 14 may be manually requested by a user and then
sent to the output device 34. The output device 34 may comprise a
computer monitor, an audio device, a portable audio device, a
portable video device, or a combined portable audio/video device.
In some embodiments, the output device 34 comprises a radio, a cell
phone, an earphone, an earbud, a headset (e.g., a handsfree
headset), and/or a compact disc or MP3 player. The output device 34
may be in the form of an audio signal that advises a user that the
condition of the wearable athletic device 12 has reached a
predetermined level and/or that it is recommended that the wearable
athletic device 12 be replaced, either eminently or within a
prescribed time period. The audio signal can be in the form of a
verbal indication, a tone, a pitch, a series or tones, and the
like. In some embodiments, a different verbal indication is
provided depending on differing wear conditions of the wearable
athletic device 12. For example, a change in pitch or a different
verbal command may be produced, depending on the value of an
estimate of the wear or remaining usable life of the wearable
athletic device 12.
[0042] Input to and output from the monitoring system 14 may be
provided via a wired and/or wireless connection. Similarly,
communication between the various elements, components, or
subsystems of the monitoring system 14 may be provided by wired
and/or wireless connections therebetween. For example, the first
and/or second parameters 20, 22 may be located on or inside the
wearable athletic device 12 and delivered to the microprocessor 26
and/or the computer readable memory via a wireless connection, the
latter components being located on a device worn by a user and/or
on a portable computer (e.g., a laptop or desktop computer).
Similarly, the computer readable memory 24 may be disposed inside
the wearable athletic device 12 or on a portable device that is
strapped to or carried by a user, whereby communication
therebetween is provided by a wired and/or wireless connection. In
any event, a wireless connection may comprise, but is not limited
to, a wireless local area networks (WLAN), for example one based on
the IEEE 802.11 specifications. A suitable WLAN includes, but is
not limited to, those defined under the Bluetooth or Wi-Fi
standards.
[0043] All, or nearly all, the elements of the monitoring system 14
shown in FIG. 1 may be disposed on a single device, such as a
portable device that is carried or worn by a user of the athletic
system 10. Alternatively, one or more of the elements of the
monitoring system 14 may be distributed on different device with
communications between individual elements provided using a wired
or wireless connection. In some embodiments, an individual element
of the monitoring system 14 may be distributed between different
devices or systems. For example, the microprocessor 26 may comprise
two or more processor systems (e.g., one processor system may be
disposed on a portable device carried by a user for accumulating
and/or storing data received by one or more measurement systems,
while a second processor system disposed on a desktop or portable
computer may be used to calculate the condition or wear of the
wearable athletic device 12).
[0044] In certain embodiments, one or more of the elements of the
monitoring system 14 (e.g., at least one of the measurement devices
16, 32, the microprocessor 26, the instructions 30, and at least
one of the parameters 20, 22) is located on the wearable athletic
device 12. Alternatively or additionally, at least one of these
elements may be located on a user of the wearable athletic device
12. Alternatively or additionally, at least one of these elements
may be located on a local computer and/or at a remote cite
accessible via a network connection such as a LAN connection or an
internet connection. For example, one or more of the elements of
the monitoring system 14 may be associated with an address on the
internet or World Wide Web.
[0045] With further reference to FIG. 2, in certain embodiments, a
runner 50 utilizes an athletic system 10' according to an
embodiment of the present invention. The athletic system 10'
comprises athletic footwear 52 (which is an example of a wearable
athletic device 12) and a portable device 54 that is carried by the
runner 50. The athletic footwear 52 and the portable device 54
together include at least some of the elements of the monitoring
system 14 schematically represented in FIG. 1. In the illustrated
embodiment, the athletic footwear 52 comprises a pair of running
shoes 52A and 52B, at least one of which includes a pedometer 16'
operably coupled to an antenna 56 for transmitting step or travel
distance information from the pedometer 16' to the portable device
54. The portable device 54 may include the microprocessor 26 and an
antenna 60 for receiving the step information from the pedometer
16'. The microprocessor 26 may utilize the step or distance
information to determine or estimate the condition of one or both
of the running shoes 52A, 52B. Alternatively, the portable device
54 does not contain the microprocessor 26, but instead comprises at
least a portion of the computer readable memory 24 for storing step
information received from the pedometer 16', which is later
utilized by a microprocessor 26 elsewhere disposed (e.g., on a
personal computer or internet site).
[0046] With further reference to FIG. 3, the portable device 54 may
include a display 62 and a keypad or other input device 64 that may
be used to access, configure, calibrate, and/or otherwise
communicate with the monitoring system 14. It will be appreciated
that the portable device 54 may also incorporate other devices,
systems, and functionality. For example, the portable device 54 may
include entertainment functions in the form of an audio and/or
visual output. Additionally, the portable device 54 may utilize
elements of the monitoring system for providing other information
such as information regarding the athletic performance of the
runner 50. In some embodiments, at least some of the elements and
functionality of the monitoring system 14 are incorporated into a
portable audio and/or video device, such as an MP3 player or
compact disc player, a cell phone, a radio, an earphone, an earbud,
or a headset.
[0047] In the illustrated embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the input
device 64 and the display 62 may be configured to allow the user to
input information into the monitoring system 14. A menu 66 may be
displayed for allowing the user to input a shoe type or other
information previously discussed herein. The display device 62 may
also be used to display the condition of the athletic footwear 52,
for example, the amount of wear or remaining life of the athletic
footwear 52 (e.g., in units of hours, miles, kilometers, or steps).
The portable device 54 may also provide audio or verbal indications
regarding the condition of the athletic footwear 52 as described in
greater detail above herein with regard to the output device
34.
[0048] With further reference to FIG. 4, the portable device 54 may
be coupled to another device or system, for example, a personal
computer 66. Communication may include, but is not limited to,
transfer of output from the portable device 54 to the personal
computer 66 (e.g., wear/condition data or calculations) or
information from the personal computer 66 to the portable device 54
(e.g., for configuring or calibrating the portable device 54 or the
monitoring system 14). The transfer of information from the
portable device 54 may be used to display data regarding the
condition or wear of the footwear 52, the performance of the
runner, and the like. Communication between the portable device 54
and the personal computer 66 may be via a hardwire connection 70,
such as a serial or parallel port connection (e.g., a USB port,
IEEE 1394 interface, etc.). Alternatively or additionally,
communication between the portable device 54 and the personal
computer 66 may be made via a wireless connection (e.g., utilizing
the antenna 60 of the portable device 54 and an antenna). In some
embodiments, the portable device 54 or other portions of the
monitoring system 14 communicate to a remote computer or site via
network system such as a local area network (LAN) or a wide area
network (WAN), for example, via an internet connection to a
location on the World Wide Web.
[0049] Referring again to FIG. 1, in certain embodiments, the
condition of the wearable athletic device 12 is the total wear on
the wearable athletic device 12, and depends on the amount of time
the wearable athletic device 12 is in use, the distance over which
the wearable athletic device 12 device travels while worn, or the
total number of steps taken while worn. In such embodiments the
total wear at any given time may be compared to a predetermined
upper limit and an output signal generated when the total wear
exceeds the predetermined upper limit. In such events, a signal may
be provided to notify a user that the wearable athletic device 12
should be replaced. The upper limit may be varied, depending of the
type, brand, model, age, etc. of the wearable athletic device 12.
In other embodiments, various predetermined wear levels may be
selected at which different output signals are generated as the
total wear exceeds each level. Alternatively or additionally, the
user may manually monitor the wear of the wearable athletic device
12. The rate at which the total wear of the wearable athletic
device 12 increases may be adjusted according to certain parameters
that are input into the monitoring system 14 such as, but not
limited to, the weight of a user or the hardness of a surface of
the wearable athletic device 12 (e.g., the hardness of the sole of
an athletic shoe).
[0050] In certain embodiments, a method 100 of monitoring a
wearable athletic device 12 (e.g., the athletic footwear 52)
comprises an operational block 110 of supplying the wearable
athletic device 12 for placement onto a user. The method further
comprises an operational block 120 of supplying or measuring the
first parameter 20. The method also comprises an operational block
130 of supplying or measuring the second parameter 22. The method
additionally comprises an operational block 140 of supplying the
microprocessor 26 with instructions for determining a condition of
the wearable athletic device 12. The method also comprises an
operational block 150 of using the microprocessor 26 to calculate
the condition of the athletic footwear device based at least in
part on the parameters 20, 22.
[0051] In certain embodiments, the wear of the wearable athletic
device 12 may be calculated based on the amount of use (e.g.,
number of steps, distance, or period of use) multiplied by a
predetermined estimated wear rate at which the wearable athletic
device 12 deteriorates with use. In some embodiments, the wear of
the wearable athletic device 12 may be related to the product of
the first parameter 20 multiplied by the second parameter 22:
w=Cp.sub.1p.sub.2, (1)
[0052] where C is a constant of proportionality, p.sub.1 is the
number of steps taken with the wearable athletic device 12 and
p.sub.2 is a valued based on a wearable athletic device identifier
or on a physical property of the wearable athletic device 12 (e.g.,
the reciprocal of the hardness of the sole material of a running
shoe). Alternatively, p.sub.1 may be a distance traveled by the
wearable athletic device 12 or an amount of use time of the
wearable athletic device 12.
[0053] In other embodiments, the wear of the wearable athletic
device 12 depends on parameters that may vary during use of the
wearable athletic device 12. Such parameters may include, but are
not limited to, the instantaneous velocity or acceleration of the
user, the inclination terrain over which the wearable athletic
device 12 is used, or the type of surface over which the wearable
athletic device 12 is used at a particular moment or for a
particular event or exercise session. Such parameters may be
accounted for by integrating the instantaneous rate of wear over a
time, distance, or number of steps. This may be calculated base on
a relationship such as:
w=C.intg..sub.tf.sub.1(x.sub.1)f.sub.2(x.sub.2)dt, (2)
where w is the total integrated amount of wear, t is a number of
steps taken (or a duration of time or a travel distance), f.sub.1,
f.sub.2 are functions, and x.sub.1, x.sub.2 are parameters
affecting the rate of wear. As a hypothetical example, the rate of
wear may varying as a function of the surface hardness (e.g.,
f.sub.1(x.sub.1)=A+B.sub.x.sub.1, where x.sub.1 is the surface
roughness and A, B are constants) and as a function of velocity or
a step rate (e.g., f.sub.2(x.sub.2)=C+D.sub.x.sub.2.sup.2, where
x.sub.2 is the instantaneous velocity and C, D are constants). In
some embodiments, the instantaneous value of one of the functions
f.sub.1(x.sub.1),f.sub.2(x.sub.2) may be a determined by reference
to a lookup table.
[0054] Equations (1) and (2) are illustrative only and should not
be interpreted as limiting the scope of the present invention.
Other forms and relationships for correlating the total wear or
expected remaining life of the wearable athletic device 12 are
anticipated. It will also be appreciated that equations similar to
those of Equations (1) and (2) may be used to calculate an expected
remaining life of the wearable athletic device 12. Alternatively or
additionally, the expected remaining life of the wearable athletic
device 12 may be determined from a calculated wear of the wearable
athletic device 12 using a wear equation such as Equations 1 and/or
2.
[0055] As previously described, the monitoring system 14 may be
used to track the wear or life of a plurality of wearable athletic
devices 12. In such embodiments, the values for the parameters used
in a wear or remaining life calculation (e.g., in Equations 1 or
2), or the form of the equation itself, may be varied by a user or
the monitoring system 14, depending on which wearable athletic
device 12 of the plurality is in current use. In some embodiments,
the parameters of a wear equation or remaining life equation may be
manually changed by a user, for instance to see the change affects
the remaining life of the wearable athletic device 12. For example,
a user may change a weight parameter or an expected running
condition parameter in order to determine how such a change might
increase or decrease remaining life of the wearable athletic device
12.
[0056] Referring to FIG. 6, in certain embodiments, the monitoring
system 14 and/or the method 100 (or similar such method) may be
used to track or monitor the condition or wear of a plurality 80 of
wearable athletic devices 12 (e.g., various pairs of athletic
footwear 52). In such embodiments, each of the plurality 80 of
wearable athletic devices 12 (labeled 12A, 12B, and 12C) may be
registered with or paired to the monitoring system and each
assigned an identifier or code to distinguish it from other
wearable athletic devices 12 of the plurality 80. Each of the
wearable athletic devices 12A-C may be manually registered with the
monitoring system 14, for example, using an input device and
display such as that for the portable device 54. Alternatively, a
wired or wireless communication between the wearable athletic
devices 12A-C may be used register at least some of the members of
the plurality 80 in an automated or semi-automated manner. For
example, the plurality 70 of wearable athletic devices 12 may be
configured to conform to a Bluetooth standard and registered in a
manner similar to that used in pairing one or more hands free
headsets to a cell phone. Additionally or alternatively, one or
more of the plurality 80 of wearable athletic devices 12 may
comprise a readable barcode or radio frequency code that is
readable by the monitoring system 14 and/or the portable device
54.
[0057] The above description of the invention and its applications
as set forth herein is illustrative only and should be interpreted
as limiting the scope of the invention. Variations and
modifications of the embodiments disclosed herein are anticipated.
Practical alternatives to the various elements of the embodiments
would be understood to those of ordinary skill in the art. These
and other variations and modifications of the embodiments disclosed
herein may be made without departing from the scope of the
invention.
* * * * *