GB2407880A - Head mounted timer - Google Patents

Abstract

A timing device 11 is adapted for mounting on a human head 10, and has an audio output 19 for transmitting timing information to the human ear. The device is typically attached to a headband 12 for a swimmer. Preferably, the timing device is in the form of a clip with hinged parts connectable to the headband and can provide the swimmer with the usual timing related training information.

Description

1 2407880 Head Mounted Tinter This.;nvenlion relates to a head mounted

taming device for use in sports, and particularly for use in swimming.

Athctcs, whether professional or amateur, require to record lap and event times in order to gauge wl:ther they are reaching a required standard.

In the case of amateur or hobby atletcs' timing is of interest because there is often no independent assessmcut olperio=mce. Sac ale':e uses a lap or event time to record personal achievement, and suitably programmed wai:ches me well known for this propose.

The requirements of professional athletes are sornewlat {liffereut. anti Epically require speed training at prcdcl:crmined rates, for ich a watch having a display or split times is fiscal.

Manip1ation of watch buttons to record times can be awlcurard, And a nistelce naJ, cause dam to be lost; the concentration of the athlete Inapt be seriously effected. A special problem arises ire the case of swimmers, where actuation by one]:'and o a watch on He other hand will inevitably interrupt Q.smnoing.ske, and hence affect swimming speed.

In the case of switnmexs' it has bee,, proposed to provide a pressure actua.tcd board which hangs at the end of a sumn,;ng pool end displays time. Such boards arc somewhat bulky and depicted end in any event require die swimmer to brca.k smoke by looking up to read the display.

What is required is a lapievent tliner which overcomes the aforementioned problems.

According to the invention there is provided a mung device adapted for mounting on a hand head arid having an audio outpL7t for transrni,tti.7. 1g audio to the human ear.

In a preferred embodiment tile b'rr7.ing device is adapted for moating or a headband, and has an audio connection. to an ear plug. PrcLerably the device is adapted for Amounting at l:he rear of talc headband, and leas audio connection to both ears.

Suel, a device is particularly suitable for swimmers, many of whom wear a headband:; d fir goggles or the lilte, arid marry of wl'70m wear plain ear plugs to prevent water I O ingress' The device may Toe programmed in any suitable manner to give the required audio signal to the user.

I For example, the device may have an actuator l:o start timing an. event and to give al,' aurlio output of elapsed time at each sulysequent movement of the actuator. The actuator prctcrabl.y c07nprise a large resilient button or the like wlicl, cad easily be operated by the user, For example a simmer may position the device for convenient actuation during movement of a hand past the head. It is an important feature of the head mounting' Mat one laded actuation is provided, tl,us minimizers intctruption of the athletes action.

In another example, the timing device may be programmed to Eye au audio output at a pTe-set interval. Such an arrangement is uscLul for Me athlete trying to maintain a steady training schcdulc, for example swimming or g at, even pace. The audio output nary include audio alert sigrale l.o indicate the passage of a portion of the interval, so that the athlele can speed up or slow down as rcquircd. Me device may also proridc an audio countdown as the end of an interval approaches.

The timing device may further include background audio output of for example a radio or prerecorded mLtsi so as to entertain lye athlete during a training session. If required this output may be intenu.pted by audio timing events. Such an emlodunent can help an athlete overcome boredom during extended amnlng where there is little external stimulus, for example du=g dislodge imng of mm:ner:.

Other features of Me invention will be apparent Mom Me following description of a pref.e,ed embodiment sl,ou n, by Gray of example only, in the accompanying drawings in which: Fig.l is a rear view of a human head to which is mounted timing device according to the invention, Fig.2 is a side elevation of the timing device of Fig. 1; Fig.3 is a rear elevation of d timing device of Pig. 1; Fig.4 is a Dont execration of flee timing device of Fig. l; Fig.5 is a partial elevation on an enlarged scale of the main button mechanism.

Fig.1 illustrates a. human head 10 wearing goggles 1 1 supported by an elastic headband 12. The headband has depending portions 13,14 to ensure correct Ad comfortable fitted around t e eats 15, At the bulk of the leaclband is clipped a tirrung device 16 having dual output leads 17,18, each Connected to an earpiece 19 (one shown).

Fig.2 illustrates a typical timing device]6 comprising a main body 21 having a relatively large button 22 on the outer face thereof. A clip 23 extends along Me inner face of We body 21 and is pivoted adjacent the upper edge (as viewed) about a Verse axis 24. The lower end of the clip constitutes a spring arm 25 having a detent for engagement with Me base of the main body.

It will be appreciated that by unclipping Me spring ann 25, to clip can be hinged open in Me diction of arrow 27 to permit the headband 12 to enter into ':he somewhat rcetgular space 26 between the clip and main body. By this means the timing device cart be securely attached Ad detached Mom headband.

Also illustrated in Fig.2 arc an LED indicator 30 to Indicate e.g. radio on, typical Unction buttons 3t,3233 and root 34 of an earpiece lead. Other function buttons provide for 'sonic memory'' 'clear chronograph'' and 'restart'.

Programming buttons, andfor fimction luttons can also be provided on the rev side of the main body, where hey are protected ill use Mom madvexten. t actuation. Accordingly the user programs the device according to requirements, attaches the device to the headband' and starts the timer by pressing the larger button 22. Subsequenl. lining events arc initiatcd/recorded by suéssive aualions of Me button 22. 10:

The preferred crnbodiment. of the device;ncludcs a memory, and an LC1) display 35 on Me rod face of the main bow as illustrated in Fig.3. :Funclion buttons 3637, typically touch senst;,fe, permit recall of Me memory and display of elapsed times.

Conventional means for downloading to computer may be included. Id Fig.3 the clip 23 is shown open' and duplicate buttons 3233 are provided.

simplified LCD display (showing '83') i,$ illustrated; however it wt11 be understood that a much more complex display' including icons, is possible according to the fi.nctionality available In LCI:' watches, 2a Fig.4 illustrates the outer face with button 22 prominent. llibs 28 may bc moulded on Tic button to prevent slip.

:Fig 5 shows Me button necl;,amsm schematically, eu:d on an enraged scale, The button 22 is sccuxed in the main body in airy suitable manner for relative movemcut the direction of arrow 40 against a printed circuit bowl 41. A resilient Icey mechanism 42 is adapted to mace and break circuit connection according to tl:xe relative position of contact member 43, which is itself directly actuated by the button. 22. Terminals connect the PCB to other conpone',ts of the crevice.

Within lice clcYiee, a::td scat shown, are the usual battery, 1;C:D light source? memory and integrated circuit. Suitable waterproofing treasures are provided and the battery is provided with art access door for replacement [hereof. selectable decor panel 38 may clip on the outer face to permit personalizat;ox of He dewce, Typically functions provided by a timer according to teds embodiment Delude: 1. treat Time Unctions - Year, :[)ay of week, Month, Day, Hour' Minute' Second - Dual Time (TllT2) 12124 Hour system selectable I O - Real time am ounc em ents 2, Swim function a. Lap Clonograph - Record up to 200 lap records in Hour, Minute, Second, 11100 Second.

- All lap records ase stored into lap memory up to 200 laps and can be retrieved in Data Mode.

- Celorie calculation - Announcement of lap chronograph inf.ormation b. Lap Pace Chronograph - Record up to 200 lap recaps in Hour, Minute, Second, 1/100 Second.

- User settablc tarot lap time to compare with chary lap time already completed. Target diiTercncc will be slalom, stored and announced.

Caloric calculation.

- AD lap records are stored into lap memory up to 2no laps and can be retrieved In Data horde.

- Announcement of lap pace chronogrepl in:Formatiox.

c Best Chronograph (nest Cl:>allecr) Keeps the 3 best times - The best times are extracted from the tithing records of the lap Chronograph and Lep Pace Chronograph.

- Best record can also be mput manually.

- IJser can retricc the best Run and By to beat it. If tl:e best Run is beaten, the new best lion will be stored and short congratulation beeps will be generated.

Announcement oftining information.

3, lData function - Records up to 200 lap records from Lap Chtograph and Lap Pace Chronograph.

- Review the lap record data of lap tune, split time for a Lap Cl:uonoaph Run.

- Review the lap record data of tap tinder targelap difPercnce for a Imp Pace Chronograph Run.

- Review the repod of each Run, i.e. the total time, best lap time, avenge lap time. total calories.

4. Timer Function - Display: HQUr, Minute, Second - Count Down Report:, Count Down Stop and Count Up Timer can be selected.

5.M.eximrm count down time up to 23 hour 59 minute 59 second.

- Announcement of count clown for last 30s and timing inf.onnation.

5. Daily Alarm In.tormatton - Alarrn display: Hour, Minute I O - Alann output beeps wren alann time reached.

6. Auto Report fmctioz - Auto report for timing;nf.ormation during Swim mode and Timer function.

- can be enabled. or disabled.

I - Auto report period can be selected from 1 minute to 60 minute.

- Calo lie bum of the timed period - Maximum heart rate during the tirnccl period.

- Minimum linear rate during the timed period 2Q 7. I::aily Alarm function - Aladdin clisplay; Hour Minute - Alarm beeps output when alarm time reached 8. Auto-Report fimction - Auto report for the timing data and heart rate information in Chronograph function and Timer fixation.

- Carl be enabled or disabled.

- Auto report period can be selected from 1 to 60 minute.

Ir, use the timi.n device is attached to a headband after being programmed according to the users mshes' An external actuator is typically provided to allow l;he user to easily switch between different kinds of audio output, for example 1imiDS signals only, background audio only, and bac.kgrouncl audio interrupted by timing signals.

Claims (1)

1. Claims 1. A Emit device adapted for nouns on a human head and having audio

   output for transmitting liming information to the loud ear.

   S

   2. A device according to claim 1, wl:erein the tumult device is adapted for mounting on a. headband, and:6u,er includes an ear plug having an audio connections to said device.

   3 A device according to claim 2, and alapted for mounting at the rear of the headband, the dewce having two ear plugs with said audio connection.

   4. device according to any preceding clain and fZr:lr including an actuator to starl: timing en event, and adapted lo give an audio ousts of elapsed time at each subsequent movcmert of said actuator.

   S. device according to claim 4, wherein said actuator comprises a resilient external button.

   6. A device according to any preceding claim and being pronmable.

   7. device according to claim and adapted to be programmed to give an audio output at a pre-set interval.

   2S S. A device according to claim G or claim 7 Id adapted to provide audio aler: signals to idical$ the passage of a portion of a time intervad.

   9. A device according to any of claims 6-S and adapted to provide an audio countdown at the end of a time interval.

   A device according to any preceding claim and fumier adapted to provide

   background audio,

   11. hi device according to claim 10 and Elmer aptcd to artomadcaJly interrupt said background audio with an audio tidbits signal.

   12. A swimming timing device comprising a keadbd, a ';img device attached to die leadband, and an ear mounted speaker' Tic timing device being adaptccl to provide timing infor':netion to said spcalccr for audio output.