CN111343880A

CN111343880A - Glove with sensors for exercise tracking

Info

Publication number: CN111343880A
Application number: CN201880050080.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: R·卡斯尔
Original assignee: R Kasier
Current assignee: R Kasier
Priority date: 2017-06-11
Filing date: 2018-06-11
Publication date: 2020-06-26
Also published as: WO2018231699A1; CA3067025A1; US20180352880A1

Abstract

An exemplary glove includes a first enclosure configured to receive a hand of a user and a second enclosure configured to hold a mobile electronic device, wherein the second enclosure is affixed to the first enclosure. The second enclosure portion may be disposed on a back portion of the glove or a palm portion of the glove. An example system includes a glove including an enclosure for receiving a hand of a user, an accelerometer, and a transmitter configured to transmit data generated by the accelerometer. The glove may further comprise one or more additional sensors, such as a heart rate sensor or a pressure sensor. The glove may further include a processor configured to collect data from the sensors and perform analysis useful for fitness tracking, such as determining a heart rate of the user, a distance traveled by the user, or a rate traveled by the user.

Description

Glove with sensors for exercise tracking

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application 62/517,947 filed on day 11, 2017 and 62/607,596 filed on day 19, 2017, both entitled "GLOVE WITH sensor for external use TRACKING" and both applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to gloves having sensors for fitness tracking, including gloves having a sheath configured to hold a mobile electronic device with sensors, and gloves with built-in sensors.

Background

Many people use mobile electronic devices as part of their daily exercise. For example, many people utilize sensors included in their mobile devices to track exercise intensity, duration, body movements, and the like. Many people use a sheath or other housing for a mobile device while using their mobile phone, thereby eliminating the need to hold the mobile device while exercising. Typically, such a sheath is typically intended to be attached to the arm of a user.

Disclosure of Invention

An exemplary glove includes a first enclosure configured to receive a hand of a user and a second enclosure configured to hold a mobile electronic device, wherein the second enclosure is affixed to the first enclosure. The second enclosure portion may be disposed on a back portion of the glove or a palm portion of the glove.

An example system includes a glove including an enclosure for receiving a hand of a user, an accelerometer, and a transmitter configured to transmit data generated by the accelerometer. The glove may further comprise one or more additional sensors, such as a heart rate sensor or a pressure sensor. The glove may further include a processor configured to collect data from the one or more sensors and perform one or more analyses useful for fitness tracking, such as determining a heart rate of the user, a distance traveled by the user, or a rate traveled by the user.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a glove having a sheath for holding a mobile device.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the example glove of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the example glove of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the example glove of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a glove having a sheath for holding a mobile device.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the example glove of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a glove with a sheath for holding a mobile device.

FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of the example glove of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a fitness tracking system including a glove with sensors.

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a sheath for holding a mobile device.

Fig. 11 is a rear perspective view of the exemplary sheath of fig. 10, with the buckle and retainer of the sheath in a closed state.

Fig. 12 is a rear perspective view of the exemplary sheath of fig. 10, with the sheath of the retainer in an open state.

Fig. 13 is a top perspective view of the exemplary sheath of fig. 10.

Fig. 14 is a rear perspective view of the exemplary sheath of fig. 10, with the buckle of the sheath in a partially open state.

Fig. 15 is a rear perspective view of the exemplary sheath of fig. 10 with the buckle of the sheath in an open state.

FIG. 16 is a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a sheath for holding a mobile device.

Detailed Description

Known apparatus for utilizing mobile electronic devices may not fully utilize the motion tracking and other capabilities of those mobile electronic devices. For example, the present inventors have recognized that connecting a mobile phone to a user's hand while running tracks the user's running distance more accurately than connecting a phone to a runner's arm. Similar advantages can be obtained using "smart gloves" that include sensors in the glove itself.

The present inventors have further recognized that attaching the mobile device to the user's hand rather than the user's arm provides increased access to the phone screen so that if a sheath is placed over the user's hand, the user can view the screen of the mobile electronic device while the mobile electronic device is placed in the sheath.

Reference is made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to the same or similar features throughout the several views. Fig. 1-4 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a glove 10 having a sheath 12 for holding a mobile device. Glove 10 may include a body 14, body 14 defining a first enclosure 16 for receiving and retaining a user's hand. The portion of the glove body 14 defining the first enclosure 16 may be made of cloth, leather, wool, latex, neoprene, and/or any other acceptable material for gloves.

The glove body 14 may be formed of an inner layer that contacts the user's hand, an outer layer, and zero, one, two, or more layers or types of insulating material between the inner and outer layers.

The glove body 14 may define one or more openings for accessing the first enclosure 16. For example, as shown in fig. 1-4, openings 18 for one or more fingers (not all such openings 18 are designated in the figures) may be provided, and a cuff opening 20 for insertion and removal of a user's hand may be included in body 14 of the glove.

The glove may further include a case 12, the case 12 defining a second enclosure 22, the second enclosure 22 being configured to hold a mobile electronic device, such as a mobile telephone only. In one embodiment, the sheath may include an inner surface 24 closest to the user's hand and an outer surface 26 furthest from the user's hand. In one embodiment, the outer surface 26 may be or may include a transparent or translucent material, such as a transparent plastic. Thus, the outer surface 26 may enable a user to view a screen of the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is positioned in the second enclosure.

In one embodiment, sheath 12 may include one or more openings for accessing the second enclosure. For example, the sheath may include an opening 28 for insertion and removal of the mobile electronic device. In one embodiment, such an opening 28 may be provided on the end of the sheath closest to the user's thumb, such that when the user dons the glove, the opening 28 faces upward. In one embodiment, the case may additionally include one or more openings for accessing buttons or other controls of a mobile electronic device disposed in the case.

The second enclosure 22 may be sized and shaped to tightly secure the mobile electronic device. For example, in one embodiment, the second enclosure may have an interior width of 2-3.5 inches and an interior length of 3-7 inches.

The second enclosure 22 may be made of cloth, leather, wool, latex, neoprene, and/or any other acceptable material for an enclosure for a mobile electronic device.

In one embodiment, the second enclosure 22 may be affixed to the first enclosure 20. That is, in one embodiment, the jacket 12 may be affixed to the glove body 14. In one embodiment, the cover 12 may be attached to the glove body 14 by stitching. Additionally or alternatively, some other acceptable means of affixing the cover 12 to the glove body 14 may be used. The cover 12 may be affixed to the glove body 14 so as not to impede the movement of the user's fingers. For example, in one embodiment, the sheath 12 may be affixed to a central portion of the glove body 14, but not directly to the fingers of the glove body. In one embodiment, the cover 12 may be stitched to a portion of the back side of the glove body 14 adjacent to the opening of the user's wrist, and may also be stitched to a portion of the back side of the glove body 14 adjacent to the user's fingers. Thus, the sheath can readily conform to a user's hand while still allowing the user to bend his or her fingers and use his or her fingers for other purposes, such as grasping objects during weight lifting, rowing, cycling, and the like.

As shown in fig. 1-4, the second enclosure portion 22 may be affixed to the back side of the glove body 14. As used herein, the "back" side of glove body 14 may refer to the side of the glove that is proximate to the back of the user's hand. The "front" side of the glove body 14 may refer to the side of the glove opposite the back side of the glove body 14, proximate the palm of the user. In one embodiment, the sheath 12 may be affixed to the back side of the glove body 14 when the glove is intended for holding another object, such as a handlebar of a bicycle.

Fig. 5 and 6 show a second exemplary embodiment of a glove 10', the glove 10' having a sheath for holding a mobile device. The exemplary glove 10 'of fig. 5 and 6 is identical to the exemplary glove 10 of fig. 1-4, but the jacket 12 is affixed to the front side of the glove body 14 of the glove 10'.

Fig. 7 and 8 show a third exemplary embodiment of a glove 30, the glove 30 having a sheath 12 for holding a mobile device. The example glove 30 of fig. 7 and 8 includes a glove body 32 and a jacket 12 affixed to the glove body 32, the glove body 32 defining a first enclosure 34, and the jacket 12 defining a second enclosure 22. The glove may also include a third enclosure 34 configured to secure one or more accessories. For example, the third enclosure 34 may be configured to hold an external battery that may be used to charge a mobile electronic device disposed in the second enclosure 22. In one embodiment, third enclosure 34 may be defined by glove body 32 and may be disposed between the inner and outer layers. In one embodiment, third enclosure 34 may be disposed on cuff portion 36 of the glove body.

Fig. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the fitness tracking system 40, the fitness tracking system 40 including a glove 42 having sensors. The system 40 may include a mobile computing device 44 and a glove 42. The glove 42 may include one or more accelerometers 46, one or more heart rate sensors 48, one or more pressure sensors 50, and/or other sensors. In one implementation, the mobile computing device 44 may be a smartphone, tablet, or other computing device.

The

sensors

46, 48, 50 may be provided at appropriate locations in the body of the glove 42. For example, in one embodiment, the accelerometer 46 may be disposed on the back or front of the glove body. In one embodiment, one or more heart rate sensors 48 may be disposed in the cuff portion of the glove body and/or the fingers of the glove body. In one embodiment, one or more pressure sensors 50 may be disposed in the finger portion of the glove body. In one embodiment, the glove body may be in one of the forms shown in fig. 1-8.

The glove 42 may also include a processor 52, a program memory 54, and a data memory 56. Program memory 54 may store instructions that are executable by processor 52 to perform one or more methods, techniques, steps, etc., of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the program memory 54 may include one or more programs, processes, etc. for analyzing data from the

sensors

46, 48, 50 and determining a rate of movement, distance traveled, heart rate, energy expended (e.g., calories burned), or other metric useful for fitness tracking. For example, data from one or more accelerometers 46 may be used to determine the velocity or travel and/or distance traveled by the user. Data from one or more heart rate sensors 48 may be used, for example, to determine the heart rate of the user and information that may be derived from the heart rate, such as calories burned. The process may be specifically calibrated to the position of the sensor on the user's hand. Data from the one or more pressure sensors 50 may be used to measure an object in the glove, such as a ball gripped by a user's glove (e.g., in embodiments where the glove is a baseball or football/soccer glove), or a force impacting the glove. Additionally or alternatively, one or more pressure sensors 50 may be used to measure the depth of the user underwater (e.g., while diving).

The processor 52 may be in electronic communication with the data store 56 and the

sensors

46, 48, 50, and may be configured to receive data from the

sensors

46, 48, 50, analyze the information according to instructions stored in the program memory 54, and store the received data and/or results of the analysis of the data in the data store 56.

The glove 42 may also include a transmitter/receiver 58 in electronic communication with the processor 52 and configured to receive and transmit data under the control of the processor 52. For example, in one embodiment, the processor 52 may instruct the transmitter 58 to transmit data stored in the data storage 56.

In one embodiment, the transmitter 58 may be in direct electronic communication with one or more of the

sensors

46, 48, 50 (i.e., without a processor therebetween). In such embodiments, when data is generated by the

sensors

46, 48, 50, the transmitter 58 may transmit the data to an external computing device, such as the mobile computing device 44. For example, in embodiments of glove 42 lacking processor 52, such capability may be provided.

The transmitter/receiver 58 may communicate in accordance with or may be compatible with any suitable communication protocol. For example, in an embodiment, the transmitter/receiver may communicate in accordance with one or more of bluetooth, WiFi, WIMAX and/or RF.

In one embodiment, the electronic components of glove 42 may be disposed between the outer layer of the glove and the inner layer of the glove. In one embodiment, two or more electronic components of the glove may be disposed on a single integrated circuit. In one embodiment, the electronic components of glove 42 may include one or more batteries for powering the electronic device. The battery may be coupled to a port (e.g., a micro-USB port, a USB-C port, etc.) on the glove to charge the battery. Additionally or alternatively, the glove may include one or more non-rechargeable replaceable batteries.

Glove 42 may be configured (via a transmitter/receiver) to electronically communicate with mobile computing device 44 to perform one or more fitness tracking procedures or programs. The processes or programs may be embodied in computer-executable instructions in program memory 54 (for execution by processor 52) and/or on mobile computing device 44. Data may be generated by one or more accelerometers 46, one or more heart rate sensors 48, and/or one or more pressure sensors 50, and may be transmitted from glove 42 to mobile computing device 44 before or after analysis so that the user may view an analysis of his or her exercise or other activity being performed while wearing the glove. Accordingly, glove 42 may be configured to analyze raw data from

sensors

46, 48, 50, store the analysis, and then transmit the analysis or results of the analysis to mobile computing device 44. Additionally or alternatively, glove 42 may be configured to collect and store raw data from

sensors

46, 48, 50, and subsequently transmit that data to mobile computing device 44 for analysis by mobile computing device 44. Additionally, or alternatively, the glove 42 may be configured to collect data from the

sensors

46, 48, 50 and stream it to the mobile computing device 44 for display and/or analysis in substantially real-time.

In addition to or instead of the mobile computing device 44, the glove 42 may also be configured to communicate (via the transmitter/receiver 58) with one or more other computing devices (e.g., personal computers, portable computers, etc.). For example, glove 42 may communicate with a computing device in the manner and for the purpose of communicating between glove 42 and mobile computing device 44 described herein. Mobile computing device 44 and/or another computing device may additionally include one or more applications, processes, etc., specifically designed to analyze data from the glove in the same manner in which a processor of the glove may analyze such data as described above.

Fig. 10-15 are various views of an exemplary embodiment of a sheath 60 for holding a mobile device. In an embodiment, the sheath 60 may be worn by the user on and/or around the user's hand. The sheath 60 may define an enclosure 62, the enclosure 62 being configured to hold only a mobile electronic device, such as a mobile phone, for example. In one embodiment, the sheath 60 may include an inner surface 64 configured to be closest to the user's hand when the sheath is worn by the user and an outer surface 66 configured to be furthest from the user's hand when the sheath is worn by the user. In one embodiment, the outer surface 66 may be or may include a transparent or translucent material, such as a transparent plastic. Thus, the outer surface 66 may enable a user to view a screen of the mobile electronic device when the mobile electronic device is placed in the second enclosure.

In one embodiment, the sheath 60 may include one or more openings 68 for accessing the enclosure. For example, the sheath 60 may include an opening 68 for insertion and removal of a mobile electronic device. In one embodiment, the opening 68 may be covered by a flexible and movable flap 70. The tabs 70 may include fastener portions 72 that mate with fastener portions 74 on the inner surface of the sheath. The

fastener portions

72, 74 may be complementary portions of, for example, hook and loop fasteners. Alternatively, in embodiments, the

fastener portions

72, 74 may include buttons or other fasteners. In one embodiment, the case 60 may additionally include one or more openings for accessing buttons or other controls of a mobile electronic device disposed in the case.

The enclosure 62 may be sized and shaped to tightly secure the mobile electronic device. For example, in one embodiment, the enclosure 62 may have an interior width of 2-3.5 inches and an interior length of 3-7 inches in an embodiment.

The sheath 60, and in particular the portions defining the enclosure 62, may be made of cloth, leather, wool, latex, neoprene, and/or any other acceptable material for an enclosure for a mobile electronic device.

The sheath 60 may include a clasp 76 for attaching the sheath to a user's body, such as a user's hand. In one embodiment, the retaining ring 76 may include first and

second portions

78, 80 coupled to opposite ends of the inner surface 64 of the sheath 60. In one embodiment, the first and

second portions

78, 80 of the retaining ring 76 may include respective

complementary coupling structures

82, 84. For example, in some embodiments, the first and

second portions

78, 80 may include complementary hook and loop fastener portions. In other embodiments, the first and

second portions

78, 80 may include buttons or other fasteners. The grommet 76 may be made of cloth, leather, wool, latex, neoprene, and/or any other acceptable material. In one embodiment, the clasp 76 (e.g., the first and/or

second portions

78, 80 thereof) may be made of a flexible, resilient material. In operation, a user may open the clasp 76 (as shown in fig. 15) and then close the clasp 76 around the user's hand by engaging the

coupling structures

82, 84 with one another (as shown in fig. 11). The flexibility of the

clasp portions

78, 80 and/or the presence of the

coupling structures

82, 84 may enable the clasp to fit securely on the hands of many different sized users.

In some embodiments, the first portion 78 of the buckle may include two

arms

86, 88 that are directly coupled to the inner surface 64 of the sheath 60 and the body portion 90. The second portion 80 of the buckle may similarly include two

arms

92, 94 that are directly coupled to the inner surface 64 of the sheath 60 and a body portion 96. The first and

second portions

78, 80 of the buckle may define

respective apertures

98, 100 that may, in embodiments, receive a user's thumb, for example, when the sheath 60 is worn by a user.

In one embodiment, the case 60 may further include a second enclosure 102, for example, the second enclosure 102 is configured to receive and retain accessories for mobile devices stored in the first enclosure 62. In one embodiment, the second enclosure 102 may be disposed on the inner surface 64 of the sheath and below the closed clasp 76. In one embodiment, the second enclosure 102 may be made of a flexible, resilient material. For example, the second enclosure 102 may be sized and shaped to secure a portable external battery.

Fig. 16 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a sheath 110 for holding a mobile device. The sheath 110 of fig. 16 may be the same as the sheath 60 of fig. 10-15, but may have a different clasp configuration in one embodiment. In one embodiment, the sheath 110 may include a buckle 112, the buckle 112 including a body 114, one or

more arms

116, 118, 120 secured to the inner surface 64 of the sheath 110, and a strap 122 adjustably coupled to both the inner surface 64 of the sheath 110 and the body 114. Accordingly, the user may slide his hand between the body 114 and the inner surface 64 of the sheath 110 and tighten or loosen the buckle 112 by adjusting the strap 122.

While the present disclosure has described certain embodiments, it should be understood that the claims are not intended to be limited to these embodiments except as expressly recited in the claims. On the contrary, the present disclosure is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, in the detailed description of the present disclosure, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that systems and methods consistent with the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present disclosure.

Some portions of the detailed descriptions of the present disclosure have been presented in terms of procedures, logic blocks, processing, and other symbolic representations of operations on data bits within a computer or digital system memory. These descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. A procedure, logic block, process, etc., is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps or instructions leading to a desired result. The steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these physical manipulations take the form of electrical or magnetic data capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated in a computer system or similar electronic computing device. For convenience, and with reference to general usage, such data is referred to as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like, in reference to various embodiments of the invention. It should be borne in mind, however, that these terms are to be interpreted as referring to physical manipulations and quantities and are merely convenient labels that are to be further interpreted in accordance with the terminology commonly used in the art. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the discussion herein, it is appreciated that throughout the discussion of the embodiments, discussions utilizing terms such as "determining" or "outputting" or "transmitting" or "recording" or "locating" or "storing" or "displaying" or "receiving" or "approving" or "utilizing" or "generating" or "providing" or "accessing" or "checking" or "notifying" or "delivering" or the like, refer to the actions and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data. The data is represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers and memories and is converted to other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices described herein or other means understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.

Claims

1. A glove, comprising:

a first enclosure configured to receive a user's hand;

a second enclosure configured to hold a mobile electronic device, wherein the second enclosure is affixed to the first enclosure.

2. The glove of claim 1, wherein the second enclosure is affixed to a back side of the first enclosure, wherein the back side of the first enclosure corresponds to a back side of a user's hand when received within the first enclosure.

3. The glove of claim 1, wherein the second enclosure is affixed to a front side of the first enclosure, wherein the front side of the first enclosure corresponds to a palm side of a user's hand when received within the first enclosure.

4. The glove of claim 1, wherein the second enclosure comprises a first side affixed to the first enclosure and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the second side comprises a transparent or translucent portion.

5. The glove of claim 1, further comprising an opening for accessing the second enclosure, wherein the opening is disposed on a side of the second enclosure that is closer to a thumb of the user than to a back of a hand of the user when the glove is donned by the user.

6. The glove of claim 1, further comprising a third enclosure configured to hold a portable battery.

7. The glove of claim 6, wherein the third enclosure is disposed on a cuff portion of the glove.

8. The glove of claim 6, wherein the third enclosure is smaller than the second enclosure.

9. The glove of claim 1, wherein the second enclosure is sewn to the first enclosure.

10. A system, comprising:

a glove, the glove comprising:

an enclosure for receiving a user's hand;

an accelerometer; and

a transmitter configured to transmit data generated by the accelerometer.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the glove further comprises:

a data storage configured to store data collected from the accelerometer.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the glove further comprises:

a processor in electronic communication with the data store and configured to operate the transmitter to transmit data from the data store.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the glove further comprises:

a program memory storing computer readable instructions;

wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to collect data from the accelerometer, determine a distance traveled based on the data collected from the accelerometer, and transmit the distance traveled with the transmitter.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a mobile computing device configured to execute computer-readable instructions to receive data generated by the accelerometer and transmitted by the transmitter, determine a distance traveled based on data collected from the accelerometer, and display a distance traveled by a user.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the glove further comprises a heart rate sensor.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the heart rate sensor is disposed in a cuff portion of the glove.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the glove further comprises:

a program memory storing computer readable instructions;

wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to collect data from the accelerometer and pressure sensor, determine an amount of energy consumed by a user, and transmit the amount of energy with the transmitter.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the glove further comprises one or more pressure sensors.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the one or more pressure sensors is disposed in a finger portion of the glove.

20. The system of claim 10, wherein the transmitter and the accelerometer are electronically configured to transmit data generated by the accelerometer in substantially real time.