GB2481020A

GB2481020A - Teaching aid for dance partners comprising glove or the like

Info

Publication number: GB2481020A
Application number: GB1009558.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Edward Ebdon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-06-08
Filing date: 2010-06-08
Publication date: 2011-12-14
Also published as: GB201009558D0

Abstract

A teaching aid 10 for dance partners comprises a glove 12, strap (Fig. 3) or the like for the hand of a dancer. The glove or strap comprises a detector 14,16 for detecting pressure or force applied to at least one region, in particular the palm, of the dancer's hand by the dancer's partner, and an indicator 28. The indicator provides a real-time indication to the dancer based upon the pressure or force applied to the region of the dancer's hand by the dancer's partner. The indicator may provide visual, e.g. LED, audible, e.g. buzzer or beeper, or vibratory feedback. The aid is designed to train the correct level of force or pressure necessary for one dancer to lead another. The aid is further provided with an on off switch, battery and circuit board (20, 22, 24 Fig. 2).

Description

TITLE

Teaching aid for dance partners

DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to a teaching aid for dance partners.

In many forms of social dancing performed by partners, one of the partners takes the lead, and the other partner follows. The general method of leading is for the partners to make contact through one or both hands with pressure applied by the leader to guide the follower.

This technique only works when resistance to some extent is returned by the follower.

Particularly amongst novices when learning a dance figure, it is often the case that a novice follower will anticipate the leader so that, although the partners appear to be dancing in unison, the leader is not actually leading the follower. Another common mistake is for either partner to apply far too much pressure or not enough. It is considered to be key for the follower to resist the leader to some extent. When this leader -follower' technique of partner dancing is mastered it places the dancers in good stead for performing popular unchoreographed or freestyle' partner dances such as Salsa and Modern Jive for which it essential that one partner leads and the other follows.

An aim of the present invention, or at least of specific embodiments of it, is to provide an aid to assist in teaching partner dancing.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a teaching aid for dance partners, comprising: attaching means for attaching the teaching aid to the hand of a dancer; detecting means mounted on the attaching means for detecting pressure or force applied to at least one region of the dancer's hand by the dancer's partner; and indicating means responsive to the detecting means for providing a real-time indication to the dancer and/or the dancer's partner in dependence upon the pressure or force applied to said one region of the dancer's hand by the dancer's partner.

The indicating means is preferably arranged to be mounted on the dancer's hand by the attaching means.

The indicating means may be arranged to provide a visual indication, an audible indication and/or a vibratory indication in dependence upon the pressure or force applied to said one region of the dancer's hand by the dancer's partner.

The indicating means may be arranged to change the indication when the pressure or force applied to said one region of the dancer's hand by the dancer's partner exceeds a first predetermined value. The indicating means may also be arranged to change the indication to the user when the pressure or force applied to said one region of the dancer's hand by the dancer's partner exceeds a second different predetermined value. For example, in the case of a visual indication, the indicating means may be arranged not to be illuminated when the pressure or force is less than the first predetermined value, to be illuminated in one colour when the pressure or force is between the first and second predetermined values, and to be illuminated in another colour when the pressure or force is greater than the second predetermined value. The, or at least one of the, predetermined values may be adjustable.

The detecting means may be arranged for detecting pressure or force applied to a portion of the palm of the dancer's hand. The detecting means may be arranged also to detect pressure or force applied to another region of the dancer's hand by the dancer's partner.

The attaching means may be in the form of a glove (with or without fingers) to be worn on the hand of the dancer. Alternatively, the attaching means may be in the form of a strap securable around the hand of the dancer.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of teaching dancing to a pair of dance partners, comprising: fitting a teaching aid according to the first aspect of the invention to the hand of one of the dance partners; and observing the indicating means as the dance partners dance.

A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of the palm side of a teaching aid of a first embodiment of the invention, worn on the left hand of a dancer; Figure 2 is a schematic view of the rear side of the teaching aid of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic view of the palm side of a teaching aid of a second embodiment of the invention, worn on the right hand of a dancer; and Figure 4 is a schematic view of the rear side of the teaching aid of Figure 3.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the teaching aid 10 of the first embodiment of the invention is in the form of a glove 12 intended to be worn on the left hand of the leader of a dancing couple. The glove 12 is double-layered so that electrical components and wiring can be concealed between the inner and outer layers of the glove 12. A pair of pressure sensors 14,16 are concealed between the layers on the palm portion 18 of the glove 12. Specifically, when the glove 12 is worn, the pressure sensor 14 is disposed so that it lies above the distal end of the metacarpal for the index, or first, finger, and the pressure sensor 16 is disposed so that it lies above the distal end of the metacarpal for the ring, or third, finger. An on/off switch 20, battery 22 and circuit board 24 are concealed between the inner and outer layers of the rear portion 26 of the glove 12, and a light emitting diode (LED) 28 is mounted at the tip of the thumb portion of the glove 12 so that it is visible. The various electrical components 14,16,20,22,28 are connected to the circuit board 24 by wires 32 concealed between the inner and outer layers of the glove 12.

The pressure sensors 14,16 may take the form of thin switches each of which is in an off' state when the external force applied to it is less than a predetermined amount and is in an on' state when the external force applied to it is more than a predetermined amount. The on/off switch may be in the form of a thin switch which changes from off' to on' when it is pressed, and from on' to off' when it is pressed again. The battery 22 may be in the form of a thin button cell.

In one example of functionality of the teaching aid 10, the various electrical components 14,16,20,22,28 are connected by the circuit board 24 and wires 32 so that the LED 28 is illuminated only if the on/off switch 20 is in its on' state and either or both of the pressure sensors 14,16 is in its on' state. Therefore, in practice and with the on/off switch 20 in its on' state, the LED 28 will be illuminated only if the wearer's dance partner applies sufficient force to the wearer's hand to activate either or both of the pressure sensors 14,16. Being disposed at the tip of the wearer's hand, the LED 28, when illuminated, can readily be seen by the wearer (i.e. the leader of the couple) and by their dance partner (i.e. the follower of the couple).

In another example of functionality of the teaching aid 10, the various electrical components 14,16,20,22,28 are connected by the circuit board 24 and wires 32 so that the LED 28 is illuminated only if the on/off switch 20 is in its on' state and both of the pressure sensors 14,16 are in their on' state. Therefore, in practice and with the on/off switch 20 in its on' state, the LED 28 will be illuminated only if the wearer's dance partner applies sufficient force to the wearer's hand to activate both of the pressure sensors 14,16. This will therefore require a more uniform distribution of pressure between the dancers' hands than in the first example.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, the teaching aid 10 of the second embodiment of the invention is in the form of a strap 34 intended to be worn around the right hand of the follower of a dancing couple. The strap 34 is double-layered so that electrical components and wiring can be concealed between the inner and outer layers of the strap 34. The strap 34 has complementary pieces of hook-and-loop fastening material 36 at its opposite ends so that the strap can be secured in position around the wearer's hand as shown in the drawings with the hook-and-loop fastening material 36 at the rear of the wearer's hand. A pair of pressure sensors 14,16 are concealed between the layers on a palm portion 38 of the strap 34.

Specifically, when the strap 34 is properly positioned on the wearer's hand, the pressure sensor 14 is disposed so that it lies above the distal end of the metacarpal for the index, or first, finger, and the pressure sensor 16 is disposed so that it lies above the distal end of the metacarpal for the ring, or third, finger. An on/off switch 20, battery 22 and circuit board 24 and are concealed between the inner and outer layers of one end portion 40 of the strap 34, and an LED 28 is mounted on the end portion 40 of the strap 34 so that it is visible to the wearer at the rear of their hand. The various electrical components 14,16,20,22,28 are connected to the circuit board 24 by wires 32 concealed between the inner and outer layers of the strap 34 so that the teaching aid 10 functions in a similar way to either example described with reference to the first embodiment of Figures 1 and 2. Because the LED 28 of the second embodiment of Figures 3 and 4 is disposed to the rear of the wearer's hand, it is possible that it may not be visible all of the time to the leader of the dancing couple. However, the teaching aid 10 of Figures 3 and 4 is intended to be worn by the follower of the couple, and it is usually the follower who properly has the responsibility for determining how much resistance to provide to the leader.

It will be appreciated that many modifications and developments may be made to the embodiments of the invention described above.

For example, one of the pressure sensitive switches 14,16 may be omitted, or further pressure sensitive switches may be included. Particularly in the case of the first embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, one of more additional pressure sensitive switches may be provided on the finger portions of the glove 12.

Instead of employing pressure sensitive switches 14,16, one or more pressure sensitive devices may be employed which provide a signal which changes progressively with changing pressure, for example through varying electrical resistance or capacitance. The circuit board 24 may then include circuitry which determines from that signal when to illuminate the LED. The circuitry may be adjustable. In this case, more than one LED 28, or a multicolour LED may be employed and the circuitry may be arranged not to illuminate the LED when less than a first threshold pressure is being applied, to illuminate the LED in one colour (e.g. green) when pressure between the first threshold and a second threshold is being applied, and to illuminate the LED in a different colour (e.g. red) when more than the second threshold pressure is being applied. The teaching aid can therefore provide an indication of whether the follower of the dancing couple is being too compliant or too resistant.

Instead of providing an indication to the follower, or the leader and follower, by way of an LED 28, other indicating means may be provided. For example, a buzzer or beeper may be provided which provides an audible indication, in which case the frequency may be varied in accordance with the detected pressure. Alternatively, a vibrator may be provided mounted on the glove 12 or strap 34 over the palm of the wearer, so that its vibrations can be felt by both dance partners. In this case, the frequency of vibration may be varied in accordance with the detected pressure.

It should be noted that the embodiments of the invention have been described above purely by way of example and that many other modifications and developments may be made thereto within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A teaching aid for dance partners, comprising: attaching means for attaching the teaching aid to the hand of a dancer; detecting means mounted on the attaching means for detecting pressure or force applied to at least one region of the dancer's hand by the dancer's partner; and indicating means responsive to the detecting means for providing a real-time indication to the dancer and/or the dancer's partner in dependence upon the pressure or force applied to said one region of the dancer's hand by the dancer's partner.
2. A teaching aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the indicating means is arranged to be mounted on the dancer's hand by the attaching means.
3. A teaching aid as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein: the indicating means is arranged to provide a visual indication in dependence upon the pressure or force applied to said one region of the dancer's hand by the dancer's partner.
4. A teaching aid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein: the indicating means is arranged to provide an audible indication in dependence upon the pressure or force applied to said one region of the dancer's hand by the dancer's partner.
5. A teaching aid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein: the indicating means is arranged to provide a vibratory indication in dependence upon the pressure or force applied to said one region of the dancer's hand by the dancer's partner.
6. A teaching aid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein: the indicating means is arranged to change the indication when the pressure or force applied to said one region of the dancer's hand by the dancer's partner exceeds a first predetermined value.
7. A teaching aid as claimed in claim 6, wherein: the indicating means is arranged to change the indication when the pressure or force applied to said one region of the dancer's hand by the dancer's partner exceeds a second different predetermined value.
8. A teaching aid as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein: the, or at least one of the, predetermined values is adjustable.
9. A teaching aid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein: the detecting means is arranged for detecting pressure or force applied to a portion of the palm of the dancer's hand.
10. A teaching aid as claimed in claim 9, wherein: the detecting means is arranged also to detect pressure or force applied to another region of the dancer's hand by the dancer's partner.
11. A teaching aid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein: the attaching means is in the form of a glove to he worn on the hand of the dancer.
12. A teaching aid as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, wherein: the attaching means is in the form of a strap securable around the hand of the dancer.
13. A teaching aid for dance partners, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
14. A method of teaching dancing to a pair of dance partners, comprising: fitting a teaching aid as claimed in any preceding claim to the hand of one of the dance partners; and observing the indicating means as the dance partners dance.