EP4034263A1

EP4034263A1 - Training device comprising an elastic resistance band

Info

Publication number: EP4034263A1
Application number: EP20792539.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stefan Weiss; Torben HELLMUTH; Hanno STORZ
Original assignee: Straffr GmbH
Current assignee: Straffr GmbH
Priority date: 2019-09-27
Filing date: 2020-09-25
Publication date: 2022-08-03
Also published as: WO2021058793A1; US20220339483A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a training device which has an elastic resistance band (10) comprising an integrated strain sensor and an electronic measuring unit (20). The training device is characterised in that a thickened portion (13) is formed at the ends of the resistance band (10), said thickened portion locally enlarging the cross-section of the resistance band (10).

Description

Training device with an elastic training band

The invention relates to a training device having an elastic training band with an integrated strain sensor and an electronic measuring unit.

Such a training device is known from the document DE 102016003 697 A1. The training band consists of a stretchable plastic that is made conductive in a core area by adding e.g. carbon-based materials, the resistance of the training band depending on its state of stretch. Both ends of the training tape are inserted into the electronic measuring unit so that the resistance and thus the state of elongation of the training tape can be measured and evaluated.

One difficulty lies in the sufficiently good connection between the sensorically active core area and the electronic measuring unit. The document DE 102016003697 A1 describes the advantages of the design associated with a changeable connection of the tape to the electronic measuring unit. The connection or contact between the strip and the core material must be sufficiently tensile strength and at the same time create a good electrical connection in order to deliver valid measurement results. If the contact, as shown in DE 102016003697 A1, is implemented by a solid electrical conductor, there is a risk that this electrical contact surface will slip and the measurement results will either be falsified or cannot be recorded at all.

In the applications described in the sporting sector, forces from 100 N (Newtons) to over 600 N can sometimes be applied. If the training band is only clamped in the fixed surrounding housing, there is a risk that the band will detach from the housing due to the cross-sectional constriction under the tensile forces described. If the tape is rolled up or folded in order to counteract this problem, contacting the inner conductor material is made more difficult and the tape therefore takes up twice as much space. Any application of holes or similar recesses through the tape causes the tape to tear or be damaged by this application of a predetermined breaking point. Furthermore, the document US2014 / 0221178 A1 describes a changeable connection Ver of conventional elastic sports bands with a handle. The interchangeable connection is realized by two opposing wedges, which enclose and thus secure the respective thickened end when the tape is pulled. The problem with this version is mainly in the large construction space that this device requires. On the other hand, the components of the handle, more precisely the wedges, must be removable to enclose the force in order to be able to change the tape. The large installation space results on the one hand from the required thickening of the belt and on the other hand from the required wedges, which are used to absorb the force.

The invention specified in the claims is based on the problem of creating a training device of the type mentioned, in which the connection between the training band and the electronic measuring unit is changeable, inexpensive, space-saving and long-lasting, taking into account the force, and a good electrical connection offers.

This object is achieved by a training device with the features of the independent claim. Advantageous refinements and developments are given in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, the training device is characterized in that a thickening is formed at the ends of the training band, which locally increases the cross-section of the training band. By thickening the cross-section, the tape can be adequately clamped to the surrounding or integrated housing. Furthermore, the connection can be placed in a space-saving manner and, in particular, be thinner than twice the cross-section of the Ban.

In one embodiment, the thickening can consist of the same basic material as the training band. You can then be herge integrally with the tape. Alternatively, the thickening can consist of a different material than the training tape. If, for example, silicone or a similar material is used, the thickening can be connected to the band in one piece and cohesively afterwards or already in the manufacturing process of the training band.

The thickening preferably has a tougher or harder material, which can be stretched less as a result. A material with a higher Shore hardness on the one hand enables a connection between the tape and the housing. In addition, the thickening does not pull itself out of the housing due to a smaller cross-section reduction in the case of tensile force compared to the strip material. The thickening thus forms a stable connection between the housing and the band, which also withstands tensile forces of well over 100 N.

In a further embodiment of the training device, at least one groove is formed in a housing of the measuring unit, into which the thickening can be placed, in particular inserted, in order to create a form-fitting and thus secure connection between the training band and the measuring unit.

Alternatively or additionally it can be provided that at least one rib is formed in the housing of the measuring unit, which rib engages in a groove of the thickening. Preferably, several such ribs and associated grooves can be present one behind the other, which enable a secure and highly resilient fastening of the training tape in the measuring unit and also prevent moisture, dust and liquid from penetrating the measuring unit in the manner of a labyrinth seal.

In a further embodiment of the training device, the thickening is electrically conductive and is electrically connected to an electrically conductive core area of the training band. If the surrounding material is also electrically conductive or partially electrically conductive, there is the advantage that the connecting piece both serves to absorb mechanical force and, on the other hand, is also electrically conductive and can thus be used for secure contacting. The inner strip material is thus connected to a printed circuit board in the interior of the sensor housing via the conductive thickening.

The printed circuit board can be connected to the conductive connection material or the thickening of the tape via contact surfaces metallized directly in the manufacturing process. In this way, reliable and cost-effective contacting of the tape with the measuring unit can be achieved.

Another advantage of the embodiment described is that the tape can be made changeable through the thickening. This ensures that the measurement is valid even when high forces are applied, and that the belt can be changed in a way that conserves resources. Since the thickening can be applied from the outside, an external shape of the thickened tape ends is possible. This point can be designed in such a way that the band has a local recess into which a securing element engages. This enables the tape to be secured to one another in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the band can also be secured against sliding sideways by a form-fitting connection.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments with the aid of figures. The figures show:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a training band and a

Measuring unit of a training device;

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the measuring unit and an end section of the training band according to FIG. 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the end portion of the training tape according to Figure 1;

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a printed circuit board of a measuring unit of the training device;

FIG. 5 shows an isometric exploded view of a training band and a measuring unit of a training device in a second exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6 shows a sectional illustration through the measuring unit according to FIG. 5;

Figure 7 is an isometric detailed representation of an end portion of the

Training band according to Figure 5; and

FIG. 8 shows a plan view of a printed circuit board of the measuring unit of the training device according to FIG. 5.

In Figures 1 to 3 described below, a first embodiment of a training device with a training tape 10 and an electronic measuring unit 20 is shown in different views. FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a printed circuit board 23 of the measuring unit 20. In all the figures, the same reference symbols denote elements that are the same or have the same effect. FIG. 1 initially shows the training band 10 and the measuring unit 20 separated from one another in an isometric overview illustration. From the training tape 10, only the end regions that are used in the measuring unit 20 are reproduced. The training band 10 is between the illustrated Endbe range continuously and closed.

In use, the end regions of the training tape 10 are used in the Messein unit 20, where they are mechanically attached and electrically contacted who the. This is explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

The training band 10 is elastic and can preferably be stretched repeatedly for training purposes. Due to the integrated sensor system, a state of stretching of the training band 10 is detected by the measuring unit 20 and either stored in it and / or transmitted wirelessly in the form of data from it to another unit, for example a mobile phone.

FIG. 2 shows a section of the training band 10 and the measuring unit 20 separated from one another in a schematic sectional illustration.

The training band 10 consists of the band material 11, for example an elastic plastic material, which is made conductive in a core area 12 by adding conductive particles, for example carbon-based or metallic conductive particles. An expansion of the strip material 11 leads to a change in resistance of the core area 12, which is detected by the measuring unit 20.

In the end of the training tape 10 this is seen with a thickening 13 ver. In the example shown, this comprises a spring 14 which is arranged on the end face of the strip material 11. Around the band material 11 is formed in the end area egg ne connected to the spring 14 or possibly also in one piece with this hergestell te edging 15, which protects the transition area between the band material 11 and the spring 14 and an additional mechanical connection between the band material 11 and the spring 14 represents.

To connect the training band 10 to the measuring unit 20, the measuring unit 20 has a housing 21 with laterally formed grooves 22. The training band 10 with one of the end springs 14 is pushed into each of these grooves 22. The tongue and groove connection is simple and exchangeable and optionally producible by inserting the training band 10 with its end area. The training band 10 can thus be exchanged in a simple manner, for example in order to be able to use training bands 10 with different mechanical properties with a measuring unit 20.

The spring 14 is made of a likewise conductive material, for example from the material of the core area 12, and contacts the core area 12. The spring 14 is therefore not only used to mechanically fix the training band 10 in the housing 21 of the measuring unit 20, but also the contact between the training band 10 and the measuring unit 20.

The measuring unit 20 comprises a printed circuit board 23 on which electrical or electronic functional components of the measuring unit 20 are arranged. The printed circuit board 23 ends laterally in contact surfaces 24 which contact the spring 14 and thus the training tape 10. In this way, by pushing the spring 14 into the groove 22 of the measuring unit, not only the mechanical, but also an electrical connection between the two components is established.

FIG. 3 shows an end area of the training band 10 in a plan view, where a recess 16 in the spring 14 can be seen. The recess 16 can also be designed as a breakthrough. A bolt, split pin or the like can be inserted into this recess 16 as a securing element in order to fix it there after the tongue 14 has been inserted into the groove 22. The housing 21 of the measuring unit 20 has a corresponding receptacle for the securing element. Instead of a loosely inserted securing element, a locking securing element can also be formed on the housing 21.

FIG. 4 shows an alternatively usable printed circuit board 23 of the measuring unit 20. In this printed circuit board 23, contact surfaces 24, which serve to make contact with the spring 14, are formed as metallized areas directly on the printed circuit board 23.

FIGS. 5-8 show a second exemplary embodiment of a training device with a training band 10 and a measuring unit 20 in a second exemplary embodiment. In this exemplary embodiment, the same reference symbols identify elements that are the same or have the same effect as in the first exemplary embodiment. In its basic structure, the training device of the second exemplary embodiment corresponds to that of the first exemplary embodiment. Reference is hereby made explicitly to the description of the figures relating to the first exemplary embodiment. In the following, differences between the two exemplary embodiments are explained in particular.

Figure 5 first shows the training device of the second Ausführungsbei game in an isometric exploded view. FIG. 6 shows a sectional illustration of the measuring unit 20 of the training device in the assembled state.

In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, the training device of the second exemplary embodiment is mounted as a firmly joined unit, in which the training band 10 is not interchangeably arranged in the measuring device 20. Again, the training band 10 has a band material 11, at the ends of which thickenings 13 are arranged. In this exemplary embodiment, the thickenings 13 are preferably also made of an elastomer, i.e. the same or similar material as the core area 12. The material of the thickening 13 advantageously has a higher degree of hardness than the band material 11 and the material of the core area 12.

The thickening 13 is also made of an electrically conductive material. For this purpose, for example, an elastomeric base material can be made conductive by adding conductive particles, for example graphite particles. The thickening 13 is preferably injected or molded onto a cut-to-size strip material 11 at the ends in order to establish a mechanically resilient, cohesive connection with the strip material 11.

Figure 7 shows the thickening 13 in an enlarged view. A special feature of the thickening 13 lies in at least one, in the present case two circumferential grooves 17. With these grooves 17, the thickening 13 is inserted into the housing 21, which in the example shown is made up of two housing half-shells. These housing half-shells each have a hollow 25 at their end, through which the training band 10 is guided to the outside. Within the half-shells of the housing 21, webs 26 are also formed, which engage in the grooves 17 of the thickening 13. The interaction of the webs 26 and the grooves 17 leads to a mechanically highly resilient accommodation of the thickening 13 and thus the training band in the measuring unit 20. The arrangement of webs 26 also represents a type of labyrinth seal, so that penetration of moisture from the side into the measuring unit 20 is prevented.

In each of the front end areas of the thickenings 13, a transverse slot 18 is introduced into which an edge area of the circuit board 23 is set. As already described in connection with FIG. 4, this has metallized contact surfaces in the lateral edge regions which contact the electrically conductive material of the thickening 13 within the slot 18. A connection from the printed circuit card 13 to the conductive core area 12 of the strip material 11 is thus achieved via the conductive material of the contact. This creates a connection that has a con tacting with a defined resistance that does not change even after many loading cycles of the training band 10.

After plugging the thickenings 13 onto the circuit card 23 and the A set of the unit of circuit board 23 and the training tape 10 or its thickenings 13 in the lower of the half-shells of the housing 21, the housing 21 can be closed by placing the upper half-shell 21. Contact areas of the two housing half-shells are preferably glued or welded to one another in order to seal the housing as hermetically as possible from the outside.

An actuating element 27 is incorporated in the upper housing half-shell, preferably formed integrally in an injection molding process, which can be pressed in. Its movement is transmitted to a button arranged on the circuit board 23, which can be used, for example, to switch the measuring unit on and off. This creates a hermetically sealed Actuate supply option. A connection element 29 is available as an interface to the outside, which is arranged next to other components 28 on the circuit board 23.

One possible embodiment of the printed circuit board 23 is shown in a schematic sketch in FIG. 8 in a top view. The connection element 29 is laterally accessible from the outside through an opening in the housing 21. For example, it can be a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection option, for example according to the micro USB or the USB-C standard, via which current can be supplied to the measuring unit 20 to charge a battery. The connection element 29 can be sealed to the outside, for example in that the sections of the half-shells of the housing 21 which bear against it are provided with a softer sealing lip in a co-extrusion process.

In the illustrated second exemplary embodiment, the thickening 13 in the direction of the strip material 11 has an edging 15 in the form of a collar, which extends to outside of the measuring unit 20. The collar represents a kink protection for the band material 11 on the edge of the housing 21.

In the two embodiments described above, instead of a training tape 10 which has a homogeneous tape material 11 (with the exception of the core area 12), a configuration of the training tape 10 in which a plurality of elastic strands are woven with fabric fibers is also possible. The elastic strands run in the longitudinal direction of the training tape 10 and the fabric fibers in a direction transverse to it.

In such a training band 10, at least one, preferably several of the elastic strands are designed to be conductive, for example by using a conductive polymer or by adding conductive particles. The conductive elastic strands functionally represent the core area 12 of the training tape 10 described above. A mechanical and electrical connection of such a tape material 10 to the thickening 13 placed on the end can be analogous to the configurations described above. Alternatively, it is also conceivable to sew an end region of the strip material configured in this way with the thickening in order to create a firm and secure connection.

Reference number

10 training tape

11 tape material 12 core area

13 thickening

14 spring

15 edging

16 recess 17 groove

18 slot

20 measuring unit

21 housing 22 groove

23 PCB

24 contact area

25 well

26 rib 27 actuator

28 electrical or electronic component 29 connection element

Claims

Expectations

1. Training device, comprising an elastic training band (10) with an integrated strain sensor and an electronic measuring unit (20), characterized in that a thickening (13) is formed at the ends of the training band (10) which defines the cross section of the training band (10) ) locally enlarged.

2. Training device according to claim 1, characterized in that the thickening (13) consists of the same basic material as the training band (10).

3. Training device according to claim 1, characterized in that the thickening (13) consists of a different material than the base material of the training band (10).

4. Training device according to claim 3, characterized in that the thickening (13) has a tougher or harder material, which can thereby be stretched less.

5. Training device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the thickening (13) is formed in one piece with a band section of the training band (10).

6. Training device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one groove (22) are formed in a housing (21) of the measuring unit (20), into which the thickening (13) can be inserted.

7. Training device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in a housing (21) of the measuring unit (20) at least one rib (26) is formed which engages in a groove (17) of the thickening (13).

8. Training device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the thickening (13) is electrically conductive and is electrically connected to an electrically conductive core area (12) of the training band (10).

9. Training device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the described thickening (13) in a housing (21) of the measuring unit (20) is in direct contact with a circuit board (23) and thereby establishes an electrical connection.

10. Training device according to claim 9, characterized in that a portion of the electrically conductive thickening (13) protrudes from the housing (21).

11. Training device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the training band (10) with the thickening (13) with ver different housings (21) and / or measuring units (20) is exchangeable.

12. Training device according to claim 1 to 11, characterized in that the training band (10) within the thickening (13) has a constriction or recess (16) to secure the training band (10) in the housing (21).