FR2770992A1 - Physical form gauge for human subject - Google Patents

Abstract

The gauge has a seat (2) with an extension frame which can be altered in shape (3,4), both of which are connected to sensors (C1-4) for a computing circuits (6,7) which compare given parameters to those detected during exercise. The circuits are connected to displays and information input keyboards.

Description

DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE PHYSICAL FORM OF A SUBJECT
The present invention relates to a device for measuring the physical form of a subject. According to the invention, this measurement of physical fitness is obtained by flexibility measures, in particular of the joints and muscles.

 The term "physical form" should be understood in its broadest sense. It applies in particular to the field of rehabilitation and to the sporting field, so as to be able to objectively quantify the work and the progress made by a given subject as for the flexibility of his joints, in particular of the trunk, both in a folded-back position relative to the legs than in lateral rotation relative to the pelvis.

 In the known art, various devices have been used or have been used for this purpose for many years.

These are either manual devices or more complete benches.

We can cite, without being exhaustive, the Falcones anthropometer (year 1928), the plumb line goniometer (year 1937), used by Glanville and Kreezer, the flexometer of
Leighton (year 1942), the flexibility table used for the Wells test (year 1952), etc. In a more recent period, adjustable mechanical benches have been proposed, comprising an articulated seat, allowing length measurements (for example to measure extensions) or angles (for example to measure flexions).

 These various devices are not free from drawbacks and / or limitations. Manual devices can generally only respond to specific problems. Mechanical tables or benches offer a more complete range of functions, but are often complex to adjust. By adjustments, we mean being able to adapt various geometric parameters of these devices to the morphology of the user, morphology which varies, a priori, from one subject to another.

 In addition, they are not versatile, because they do not make it possible to move from one discipline to another, in particular in the sports field, or even from one subject to another, as regards its real needs (level reached in a given discipline). They also do not allow easy monitoring of the progress, or at least the evolution, of a subject over time, whether in the field of rehabilitation or sports training.

 The invention therefore sets itself the aim of overcoming the drawbacks of the devices of the known art and of meeting the needs which are being felt, some of which have just been mentioned.

 To do this, the invention provides a device for measuring physical fitness, in particular comprising a seat with an articulated support backrest. The subject is seated on the seat in an adjoining position against this backrest, legs stretched out.

Different organs measure variations in front flexion, lateral flexion, torso rotation and lengthening of the spine.

 More specifically to the invention, the various mechanical adjustments of the device, necessitated in particular by the morphology specific to the user, can be carried out automatically. In addition, these adjustments are stored in memory, so as precisely to serve as a reference for later use by the same user.

 The device, according to an important characteristic of the invention, is associated with an electronic data processing system with recorded program; this program allows a large number of variants, in particular related to the envisaged discipline and / or to the level of practice in this discipline.

 The programming data are either pre-recorded in the processing system or come from the outside and are loaded before use by a given subject.

 Finally, in a preferred embodiment, the electronic system controls display members visible to the user when he is in the working position on the device.

 The subject of the invention is therefore a device for measuring the physical form of a subject, in particular when performing joint and muscle exercises, comprising a seat for installing said subject in the flexibility measurement position, extended by an assembly forming a support for the legs and arms thereof, said assembly being adjustable in position, so that said legs and arms are in a predetermined initial position before these exercises, and being deformable so as to allow said exercises, characterized in that said seat and said assembly comprise means for measuring positions and relative angles of the various elements constituting them, means of measurement which are coupled to electronic means for processing digital data, provided with memory members intended to the recording of signals delivered by said measuring means and of a processor operating under the control of an in program recorded formatic.

The invention will be better understood and other characteristics and advantages will appear on reading the description which follows with reference to the appended figures, among which
- Figure 1 illustrates a practical embodiment of a fitness measurement device according to the invention
- Figure 2 is a theoretical diagram illustrating the initial geometric adjustment of this device
- And the figure schematically illustrates the electronic data processing system associated with the device.

 We will now describe an embodiment of a device 1 for measuring the physical form of a subject S according to the invention with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

 The mechanical part of the device 1 comprises two main organs: an articulated seat 2 and assemblies of uprights 3 and 4, also articulated and adjustable in position.

 The articulated seat 2 includes a seat 21 on which the subject S comes to sit and a backrest 20 against which he presses his trunk T. One can provide attachment means (not shown), such as straps, to fix the trunk T resting on the backrest 20. The seat 2 is supported by feet 22 which rest on the ground So.

The backrest 20 is capable of rotation relative to the seat 21, about a vertical axis AV-
On the back of the backrest 20, a vertical upright 24 is provided, along which slides a horizontal strip 23. This horizontal strip 23 rests on the head Te of the subject S.

 The seat 21 of the seat 2 is extended forward by a first assembly 3, adjustable in length, comprising a horizontal upright 30. The free end of this horizontal upright is mechanically coupled to a second assembly 4, comprising an upright 40 , vertical in the initial state of adjustment of the device 1. it is provided with rollers 44 at its lower end, rollers which rest on the ground So, and which allow back-and-forth movements during the adjustments. At the level of the coupling between the assemblies 3 and 4, a support 43 has been placed allowing the feet P of the subject S to be wedged, both vertically and horizontally. To do this, this support 43 comprises a horizontal shelf 430 and a vertical wall 431, forming a stop.

 The upper end of the vertical upright 40 is provided with a horizontal arm 41 adjustable in position, along a horizontal axis AH2, located in the plane of Figure 1, and rotating around an axis AH3, also horizontal, but perpendicular in the plane of Figure 1. The end of this horizontal arm 41 is provided with a horizontal shelf 42 on which rest the hands M of the subject S.

 The mechanical coupling between the assemblies 3 and 4, and more particularly, between the horizontal 30 and vertical 40 uprights is not rigid. In addition to the possibility of an adjustment in length, so that the subject S can have his legs J horizontal, it also allows rotation around a horizontal axis AHl, perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1.

 The device according to the invention is finally provided with a number of position and angle sensors. To fix the ideas, without this being in any way limiting the scope of the invention, it is assumed, as illustrated in FIG. 1, that there are four series of sensors, some of which are multi-function , or at the very least consist of assembling several unitary sensors. These sensors are referenced C1 to C4. They can be of any known type, with for example optical sensors with photoelectric cells and coded disc (in particular as regards the sensors used for angular measurements), with magnetic transducer, rheostatic, etc.

The multiple sensor C1 is arranged at the junction between the uprights 30 and 40. The first function of this sensor C1 is to measure the distance from the support shelf 43, and more precisely from the wall 431, of the seat 21 of the seat 2, in a direction parallel to the axis AH2. This distance depends on the length of the legs
J of the subject S. It is assumed that, in the initial state, the subject S has the legs J elongated, these being able to be made integral with the upright 30 using any conventional fastening means (not shown) , like straps. The second function of the sensor C1 is to measure the angle that the upright 40 forms with the upright 30, it being understood that in the initial setting state of the device 1, the upright 40 is vertical (as illustrated diagrammatically on the figure 2).

 The sensor C2 makes it possible to know the position of the tablet 23 along the upright 20, that is to say the height of the trunk T and its elongation (extension) during the exercise phases.

 The multiple sensor C3 makes it possible to know the distance of the tablet 42 relative to the vertical upright 20 and to check the parallelism (rotation around the axis AH3). The distance from the tablet 42 depends on the length of the outstretched arms J of the subject S.

The sensor C4 makes it possible to know the angle of rotation of the backrest 20 of the seat 2, that is to say the rotation of the trunk T of the subject S, around the vertical axis AV-
The device 1 which has just been described allows numerous movements of the members of the subject S and of the trunk T, and especially their measurements using the sensors, C1 to C4 (in the example described): elongation, rotation, bending , lateral deviations, etc.

 In the initial state, that is to say when the position of the different elements is adjusted before an effective work of the subject S, the different organs and uprights are inscribed in a rectangular parallelogram, as shown more particularly in the diagram schematic of Figure 2.

 According to a very important aspect of the invention, the different geometric parameters (lengths and angles) are not only measured by the sensors C1 to C4, but transmitted to an electronic data processing system 6, at least for being recorded there. There is shown in Figure 1, in schematic form, a data transmission bus making the link between the sensors C1 to C4, under the unique reference Bt. The different types of bus will be specified below with reference to the description of Figure 3.

 The measurements are not only carried out during actual work (sports exercises or rehabilitation), but also, according to an important characteristic of the invention, during the initial adjustment of the device 1, that is to say when the subject S s 'installs on it (initial state of Figure 2). The geometric data acquired during this initial phase are recorded in the data processing system 6, or more precisely in its memory organs.

 These recordings make it possible to measure (by comparison operations) the changes in the geometry of the device 1 during the exercises carried out by the subject S.

According to another important aspect of the invention, the data initially acquired can be used later.

 Similarly, during the year, the acquired data can also be saved for later use.

By way of nonlimiting example, the data acquired initially and saved can be used for an adjustment, under the same conditions, of the device 1, when a given user uses it again. The data acquired during exercises can be used as history and allow the monitoring of progress made by this same given user. It can thus be seen that the device 1 can be used by different users, without interference.

 Before describing other possibilities of the device 1 according to the invention, various possible embodiments of the electronic data processing system will be specified, with reference to FIG. 3.

 The system 6 is based on a central unit 60 comprising, in addition to various well-known conventional circuits (not shown): power supply, mass memory (hard disk, card or other), clock circuits, etc., a processor 63 and random access memory ("RAM") and fixed memory ("ROM") intended to record programs and data.

 The processor 63 can, for its part, be of different types: a standard microprocessor, if the central unit is a universal microcomputer, a microcontroller, or even a specific circuit, for example of the "ASIC" type (for "Application -Specific Integrated Circuit ".

The series of sensors (for example sensors C1 to
C4 in figs 1 and 2) is connected to the processor via the data transmission bus Bt and one or more ports, standard or specialized, under the single reference 64. It can be a RS 232 serial port, for example . But it must be clear that the data transmission bus is not necessarily a "physical" bus, that is to say a wired bus. It is also possible to use radio or optical waves, in particular infrared link channels. There are commercially available specialized cards for this type of communication (for example, for portable microcomputers, cards of the "PCMCIA" type with an integrated antenna). For radio links, the IEEE 802.11 protocol will advantageously be used.

 It was assumed above that the measurement signals delivered by the sensors, C1 to C4, consist of digital data. If this is not the case, the signals can be transmitted, directly in analog form, to a specialized card (not shown) of the central unit 6, card comprising analog-to-digital conversion circuits. It is also possible to associate the sensors C1 to C4 with analog-digital converters.

 The programs necessary for the proper functioning of the system 6 can either be pre-recorded in a fixed memory of the "ROM" type, referenced 66, or be loaded before each use, from an internal hard disk (not shown) or by external means which will be explained, in the latter case certain programs which may however be resident in the fixed memory (in particular the so-called "BIOS" programs). The programs can also be modified during use, for example to adapt the level of exercises to be performed by a given subject S.

This second mode is naturally more flexible. It also makes it possible, in a preferred variant of the invention, to load specific programs, not only adapted to a given subject, but taking account of a large number of other parameters. For example, the program loaded in memory can be specific to the exercises to be performed for a given sports discipline, taking into account the level of performance reached or to be achieved by the subject.
S, or exercises to be performed as part of a rehabilitation program.

 The processor 63 can therefore take into account not only the data acquired by the sensors, but also specific data associated with the loaded program and, as indicated, the accumulated data of the saved history.

 By conventional operations, in particular comparison operations, the processor 63, under the guidance of the loaded or preloaded program, can develop, in real time, data and instructions intended for the subject during the exercises on the device of the invention. Here the term "instruction" should be understood in its current sense.

 The aforementioned data and instructions are displayed on a screen 5 plugged into a standard connector 50 of the central unit. Advantageously, this screen can be placed on the device 1 (see FIG. 1), for example on the support plate 43, so as to be always visible to the subject, without forcing him to perform movements not provided for in his exercise program.

 Programs from the outside world can be loaded in a variety of ways. A number of possibilities have been illustrated in FIG. 3, it being understood that in a practical embodiment all these possibilities do not generally coexist simultaneously on the same system.

 Conventionally, the program can be loaded using a magnetic medium, such as a DK floppy disk inserted into a reader 62. It is also possible to envisage an optical disk reader (not shown). A floppy disk can also be used to save data specific to a given subject S, this same data being reloaded during subsequent use by the latter. This method makes it possible not to clutter the mass memory of the central unit (hard disk) with data relating to various subjects and, incidentally, saves confidentiality, in particular for medical applications (rehabilitation).

 If it is a portable microcomputer, it is possible to use a memory card, of the "PCMCIA" type, pluggable into a slot 68 provided for this purpose.

 The programs can also come from a local area network RL to which the central unit 6 would be connected (network card or port 65), or even be loaded from the Internet network I, from remote databases.

The use of a local RL network can be advantageous, for example, in the case of a gymnasium comprising several devices. In this case, the teacher can collect data specific to each subject remotely, but also intervene in real time on the current exercise program, or even transmit personal messages (instructions or other) via the processor 63 and the display 5 assigned to a given subject.

 Program loading operations are generally carried out under the control of a keyboard 61 connected to the central unit 60 by a standard connector 610, or of a pointing device on the screen, such as a stylus, finger or a mouse 69. Elementary instructions, if not a complete program, can also be entered in this way and entered into the central unit 60.

 Likewise, it is possible to use an infrared remote control Tic, optically coupled to a specific port 67. This remote control Tlc can advantageously be within easy reach of the subject, which allows him to modify parameters of the program in real time. 'exercises in progress, or even record useful comments for a later session. Advantageously, standard instructions and / or comments can be associated with keys and / or predefined key combinations.

 Conventionally, the central unit 6 can include a printing port 70 (for example parallel) to which a printer 7 is connected. This can in particular be used to print, before the session, the exercises to be carried out by a subject given, and during and / or after this exercise session, statistical data, curves, history, initial settings of device 1 specific to the subject, etc. If the central unit 63 is connected to a local area network RL, a centralized printer can naturally be used for this purpose.

 Finally, if we refer again to FIG. 1, and if the device 1 is provided with one or more motors allowing the adjustment of the various members, in particular the relative positions of the uprights, the data can be used during a first initial adjustment period for a subject S for automatically adjusting the geometrical parameters of the device 1. In fact, as indicated, this data can be acquired and stored. It is therefore possible to use them, when the same subject S reuses the device 1, to reset all the settings automatically. In FIG. 3, the motor or motors are represented under a single reference M. They are controlled by the processor 63 via an appropriate port and power relay members (not shown). It has been assumed here that they are controlled via the same serial ports as the sensors C1 to C4.

 On reading the above, it is easy to see that the invention achieves the goals it has set for itself.

 It allows, in particular, an easy and personalized initial adjustment of the various geometric parameters of the device, or even an automatic adjustment. It allows the storage of these adjustment parameters, as well as measurements, for later use, also personalized. In addition, according to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, it allows easy adaptation to physical preparation for many disciplines, with adaptation by level. In other words, the device according to the invention has a great degree of versatility.

 It should be clear, however, that the invention is not limited to only the embodiments explicitly described, in particular in relation to FIGS. 1 to 3.

 It has been shown in particular that various types of processors could be used, that the programs could reside permanently in the data processing circuits, in read-only memory or on a hard disk, or on the contrary be loaded from the outside, and that the means for loading the programs, and more generally for controlling the device, could take many forms.

 It should also be clear that, although particularly suitable for measuring the physical form of a subject, the invention cannot be confined to this only type of application. It also applies, in particular, as has been indicated, to muscle rehabilitation.

Claims (10)

 1. Device (1) for measuring the physical form of a subject (S), in particular when performing joint and muscle exercises, comprising a seat (2) for installing said subject (S) in the position of measure of flexibility, extended by an assembly (3, 4) forming a support (43) of the legs (J) and of the arms (B) thereof, said assembly (3, 4) being adjustable in position, so that that said legs (J) and arms (B) are in a predetermined initial position before these exercises, and being deformable so as to allow said exercises, characterized in that said seat (2) and said assembly (3, 4) comprise means for measuring (C1-C4) of positions and relative angles of the different elements constituting them (20, 21, 3, 4), said measuring means (C1-C4) being coupled (Bt) to electronic processing means digital data (6, 7) provided with memory elements (66) intended for the recording of signals delivered by said s measurement means (Cl-C4) and a processor (63) operating under the control of a recorded computer program.  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said predetermined initial position of the legs (J) and of the arms (B) being a taut horizontal position, said assembly (3, 4) comprises supports (43, 42) for the feet (P) and hands (M) of said subject (S) and telescopic members (30, 41) for initial adjustment of their relative positions relative to said seat (2) so as to obtain said horizontal stretched position, in that said seat (2) and said assembly (3, 4) form a parallelogram, deformable during said exercises, and in that said measuring means (C1-C4) deliver signals representative of the deformation of said parallelogram.  3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said seat (2) further comprises a backrest (20), against which is pressed the trunk (T) of said subject (S) and which is movable in rotation around a vertical axis (au), so as to allow torsional movements of said trunk (T), and in that it is associated with at least one of said measuring means (C4, C2), so as to allow a measurement of angle of rotation of said backrest (20) around said vertical axis (AV) and extension of said trunk (T).  4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said electronic digital data processing means (6) comprise a display member (5) displaying, under the control of said processor (63) and said computer program, signals delivered by said measurement means (Cl-c4) representing the efforts made by said subject (S), during said exercises, and / or the instructions intended for him, and in that said display means (5) are arranged on said assembly (3), within sight of said subject (S).  5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said memory means (66) record, during a preliminary phase of adjusting the relative positions of said seat (2) and said assembly (3, 4), data delivered by said measuring means (C1-C4), so as to obtain said predetermined position of the legs (J) and arms (B) of a determined subject (S) and to use them for a later adjustment for this same subject (S).  6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said memory means (66) record, during said exercises, data delivered by said measurement means (C1-C4), so that said processor (63) use them, in real time and / or deferred, in conjunction with data associated with said recorded computer program, for the conduct of exercises performed by said subject (S).  7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said electronic digital data processing means (6) are associated with input-output members (DK, 61, 69, Tlc, RL, I, PCMCIA) allowing the loading of specific computer programs and / or instructions, so as to adapt the operation of said processor (63) to a program of predetermined exercises, to be executed by said subject (S).  8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that said input-output means allowing the loading of programs and / or computer instructions comprise a magnetic media reader (DK) or optical disc, a memory card ( PCMCIA) an infrared remote control (Tic), a data entry keyboard (61) and / or a pointing device on screen (69), and / or input-output circuits (65) connected to a network local (RL) or distant (I).  9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises printing means (7), for the output on a material medium, of textual and / or graphic data, representing at least the signals delivered by said measuring means (C1-C4) during said initial adjustment phase and / or during said exercises.  10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises motors (M) actuating said assembly (3, 4) and in that these motors (M) are under the control of said electronic means processing digital data (6), so as to carry out said determined initial position adjustment of the legs (J) and arms (B) of said subject (S).