Patent Publication Number: US-2010113225-A1

Title: Counting device for a push-up exercise

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Example embodiments in general are directed to a counting device for push-up exercises. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Push-ups are one of the oldest and perhaps most effective exercises for a human being. The push-up exercise is employed by the military and competitive sports teams around the world to gauge overall fitness. 
     When exercising, many users desire to keep a count of repetitions performed. Historically, when the user desired to time the number of repetitions performed, the user typically had to maintain a mental count and observe a clock or watch; and/or set a timer on the clock or watch. If the user was performing a pushup exercise, counting repetitions within a specified time period proved difficult. 
     Counting devices have been developed to address this problem. In general for a push-up exercise, counters have been developed in which a user contacts a sensor (such as a button) with his or her chest. The sensor actuates a switch or counter within housing. The counted repetition could be embodied by an audible sound or an incremented count on a display. Other counters include a proximity sensor which does not contact the person&#39;s body. 
     However, conventional physical-touch sensor counters do not both count push-up repetitions and time the exercise. Additionally, conventional counters do not provide for “give-way” where an exerciser cannot support themselves in the push-up position; the contact surface is typically a static pad and the counter body is generally rigid. Proximity sensors are inapplicable to and hence ineffective for counting push-up exercises. 
     SUMMARY 
     An example embodiment of the present invention is directed to a counting device for a push-up exercise. The device includes a device body and a counter assembly having a display and a plurality of actuation buttons thereon. The counter assembly fits within a deformable foam ring that forms the top of the device. During exercise, a user depresses the foam ring downward with their chest a given distance so as to trigger at least one sensor in the counter assembly to register a repetition count on the display, along with an elapsed time of the exercise. 
     Another example embodiment is directed to a counting device for a push-up exercise that includes a device body including a sensor and a first transceiver in electrical connection with the sensor, a deformable foam ring attached to the device body so as to form the top of the counting device, and a removable counter display unit having a second transceiver that is configured to fit within the foam ring. With the counter display unit remote from the device, the sensor senses depression of the foam ring by a user during a push-up exercise and sends a count signal to the first transceiver, which is transmitted to the second transceiver to register a repetition count on the counter display unit along with an elapsed time of the exercise. 
     Another example embodiment of the present invention is directed to an exercise system. The system includes a pair of handle devices to be grasped by a user for performing a push-up exercise, a counting device positioned under the user&#39;s chest and including a sensor for detecting depression of a foam ring on the counting device by a user&#39;s chest, and a remote display unit in view of the user. Upon the sensor sensing contact therewith by a ring holder holding the foam ring, the counting device transmits a wireless signal that is received by the display unit and displayed as a repetition count along with an elapsed time of the exercise thereon. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Example embodiments will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are represented by like reference numerals, which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not limitative of the example embodiments herein. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a counting device for a push-up exercise in accordance with the example embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the counting device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the counting device to illustrate constituent components in more detail. 
         FIG. 4  is a cut-away view of the counting device to illustrate connection of the top screen to the bottom cup. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of a counting device for a push-up exercise in accordance with another example embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the counting device shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the counting device of  FIG. 5  to illustrate constituent components in more detail. 
         FIG. 8  is a cut-away view of the counting device of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 9  is an exercise system incorporating a counting device in accordance with another example embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Example embodiments in general are directed to a counting device for push-up exercises. In one example, the device includes a device body and a counter assembly. The device body includes a central aperture for receiving the counter assembly. The counter assembly includes a display for displaying repetition count and time elapsed. In an example, the counter assembly can be configured to have a set time period which counts down to zero. The counter assembly fits within the device body and includes a foam ring that forms the top of the device to expose a plurality of counter buttons. The device iterates a count when the user depresses the foam ring downward, triggering a count that registers on the display along with the elapsed time. The elapsed time of exercise can be understood as a time that decrements to zero from a given set exercise time, or as a time increasing from zero to a set ending time, for example. The device body itself may be deformable under the weight of the user to permit depression of the counting device beyond the distance required to trigger a count. A deformable device body may also provide a safety feature to prevent injury in the event a user loses muscle control during exercise, and to protect the device electronics. 
     In another example, the device includes a removable counter that remotely communicates with the device body. The device body includes a sensor that senses depression of the foam ring during a push-up exercise. The sensor is attached to a transceiver that transmits a signal that is received by a transceiver of a remote counter. The signal causes the counter to iterate a count that the user can view on a display thereof along with the time elapsed. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a counting device for a push-up exercise in accordance with the example embodiments, and  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the counting device  10 . The counting device  10  includes a device body  150  that supports a counter assembly  100 . In an example, the device body  150  may be configured as a tripod stand with spaced apart legs  152 ,  154 ,  156  to provide stability for the device  10 . In an example, the height of the counting device  10  may approximate the width of a fist. Military and fitness teams use buddies to count pushups by placing a fist sideways on the ground under their partner&#39;s chest. Device  10  simulates the height of the fist in order to count repetitions. 
     The device body  150  maybe composed of a suitable plastic or rubber material that allows for some deformation. An example material may be thermoplastic rubber (TPR). This material provides for deformation or give of the device body  150  under stress. This prevents the device  10  from being destroyed in the event the user cannot hold their position above device  10 . The counter assembly  100  in this example includes a foam rubber ring  105  which supports a top screen  110  and a display unit  120 , as well as a plurality of actuation buttons  121 ,  123 ,  125  extending through bores formed in the top screen  110 . In an example, display unit  120  may include an LED display. 
     In general during operation, a user making a downward movement during a push-up exercise contacts the foam rubber ring  105 . The foam rubber ring  105  sits within a ring holder  107 . As the foam ring  105  deforms, this causes the ring holder  107  to depress downward a given distance before a count is registered. For example, as the foam rubber ring  105  deforms so that the holder  107  is displaced downward to about 0.5″ (3 mm travel) a count sequence is initiated to register the count on the display unit  120 . This is merely an example; deformation of the foam ring  105  so as to displace the holder  107  a distance in a range of about 2-7 mm could initiate a count sequence. At the given deformation distance, an underside of the holder  107  contacts one or more sensors in the device electronics so as to register a repetition. This count is displayed on display unit  120  along with the time elapsed. The time elapsed can be a time count down from a given starting time or a time count up from zero, for example. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the counting device to illustrate constituent components in more detail. The counter assembly  100  includes a top screen  110  that encircles a display  120 . The top screen  110  includes a plurality of bores  111  through which the actuation buttons  125  extend. The counter assembly  100  includes a bottom cup  130  which in this example threads onto the device body  150  via a threaded column  155 . The bottom cup  130  includes a series of holes  131  designed to receive the legs  112  of top screen  110 . The bottom cup  130  includes a cavity  132  designed to receive a battery holder  140  for batteries  142 . The batteries  142  power a PC board  117  of the display unit  120  so as to display count and time elapsed thereon. 
     The actuation buttons  121 ,  123 ,  125  extending through holes  111  in the top screen  110  can have given functions. One of the buttons may be an “On/Reset” button  121 . Another button  123  is provided for an “Increase time” function to increase the exercise time displayed on the display  120 , and a third button  125  is dedicated for a “Decrease time” function to decrease the exercise time displayed on display  120 . 
     In general, power to the counting device  10  is turned on by pressing the On/Reset button  121 . In one example, the display  120 , upon power on, defaults to display 2 minutes and 0 reps. When the first repetition is registered, the timer begins counting down, beeping on each repetition and registering the repetition by incrementing the count. The 2 minute exercise time is the basic exercise duration used by Navy SEALs, for example, although the default time could be set to a different default time. The user may increase the time using button  123  or decrease the time with button  125  before or during exercise. Alternatively, the counting device  10  may be set to a count up timer mode. In this mode, once power is on, the counting device  10  waits for the user to begin exercising with a default display of 0:00 minutes/0 reps. As the first repetition is performed, the timer would begin counting up on the display  120 . The display  120  has an automatic power-down function to save the batteries  142 . For example, after 4 minutes of non-use, display  120  powers down. 
     In operation, as the foam ring  105  is deformed under the weight of the user, it presses ring holder  107  down against one or more micro-switches  119 . This action registers a count. A plurality of springs  144  are secured between bosses  147  formed on an underside of the ring holder  107  and on a top surface of a spring plate  146 . The springs  144  provide a counterforce against the downward force of the ring holder  107  toward the micro-switches  119 . The micro-switches  119  are in electrical communication with the display  120  via PC board  117  and provide the count signal to the PC board  117  so as to register the count on the display  120 . 
       FIG. 4  is a cut-away view of the counting device to illustrate connection of the top screen to the bottom cup. Threaded engagement of the bottom cup  130  threads  133  onto the threaded column  155  of device body  150  secures the bottom cup  130  to the device body  150 . The legs  112  of the top screen  110  include threaded bores  113  therein. By aligning the holes  131  of the bottom cup  130  with the bores  113  within the legs  112 , fasteners  134  may be inserted to engage the threaded bores  113  so as to secure the top screen  110  and display  120  to the bottom cup  130 . In  FIG. 4 , one of the springs  144  is shown compressed between the spring plate  146  and ring holder  107 . 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of a counting device for a push-up exercise in accordance with another example embodiment;  FIG. 6  is a side view of the counting device shown in  FIG. 5 . Referring collectively to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the counting device  10 ′ in this example is similar to that shown in the previous embodiment, with the exception of the device body  150 ′. In this example, the device body  150 ′ includes a hard plastic ring  160  around the bottom to connect legs  152 ,  154 ,  156 . The ring  160  is provided to add stability to the device  10 ′ as the user presses down to deform the foam rubber ring  105 . The device body  150 ′ is also deformable under user weight. 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the counting device of  FIG. 5  to illustrate constituent components in more detail, and  FIG. 8  is a cut-away view of the counting device of  FIG. 5 . Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the component arrangement within device  10 ′ is slightly different then shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . The bottom cup  130  contains a battery compartment  135  to receive batteries  142 , with a cover  137  to enclose the batteries  142  therein. The micro-switches  119  are shown in greater detail in their relation to the underside of the ring holder  107 . Each of the On/reset button  121 , increasing time button  123  and decreasing time button  125  is also shown in more detail relative to their connective positions on PC board  117  (not shown, but beneath spring plate  146 ). 
     In an example, the device  10 ′ is configured to enable an additional 1-4″ of deformation due to the elasticity of the device body  150 ′. A durometer is a measurement indicating the hardness of a material or the material&#39;s resistance to permanent indentation. There are several measuring scales; the two most common are the ASTM D2240 type A and type D scales. The A scale is for softer plastics, while the D scale is for harder ones. In this example, the materials composing device body  150 ′ can have a hardness of between 60-100 durometers using the type A scale, with a desired hardness range of between about 65 to 75 durometers. In one example, the device body  150 ′ can be composed of a thermoplastic rubber (TPR) that has a measured hardness of approximately 65 durometers. The entire device body  150 ′ can be compressed or deformed downward (analogous to depressing a toilet plunger for example) until the hard plastic battery cover  137  on the underside of the bottom cup  130  bottoms out. This provides a safety feature to prevent injury in the event a user loses muscle control during exercise, and protects the device electronics as well. 
       FIG. 9  is an exercise system incorporating a counting device in accordance with another example embodiment. The counting device  10 ″ is similar to that described in  FIGS. 1-8 ; differences are noted in detail below. The system  1000  includes a pair of handle devices to use for push-ups. In one example, these may be rotatable push-up exercise devices  200 , although the counting device  10 ″ may be used with no hand devices, raised surfaces for the hands and/or as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     In this embodiment, the display unit, referred to in this example as counter display unit  300 , is shown removed and remote from the device  10 ″. The counter display unit contains its own electronics to power the display. The device body  150 , with bottom cup  130 , foam rubber ring  105 , PC board  107  and micro-switches  119  arranged on the spring plate  146 , and springs  144  between the spring plate  146  and the ring holder  107 , remain beneath the user in the contiguous counting device  10 ″. 
     In this embodiment, the counter display unit  130  and device  10 ″ can communicate remotely via wireless communications, such as RF, IF, etc. In one example, RF data communications can be performed between transceivers in the device  10 ″ and counter display unit  300 , such that a wireless signal is transmitted from the device  10 ″ to the counter display unit  300 . The dotted line  500  represents the wireless signal communicated between the counting device  10 ″ and the counter display unit  300 . The signal path is shown in two directions to signify that the display unit  300 , in one embodiment, could transmit a confirmation wireless signal back to the transmitter at device  10 ″. Example transceivers suitable for the device  10 ″ and counter display unit  300  can include the 900-MHz AC4490-1x1 FHSS transceiver by AeroComm, which measures 1 in 2  and is a self-contained PCB-mountable radio modem module; and the MICRF505 by Micrel, a self-contained transceiver that fits into a 5 mm 2  footprint. 
     In operation, a user grasps the push-up exercise devices  200  and begins a downward movement of the push-up exercise so as to contact the foam rubber ring  105 . The foam rubber ring  105  deforms a given distance downward against the springs  144  such that the micro-switches  119  come into contact with the underside of the ring holder  107 , generating a signal to the device  10 ″ transceiver. The device  10 ″ transceiver transmits this signal  500  to the receiver at the counter display unit  300 . This signal  500  is recognized as a count and is displayed on the display along with the time elapsed. 
     In other words, the counting device  10 ″ with removable counter display unit  300  registers a count in exactly the same way as counting devices  10 ,  10 ″, once signal  500  is received. The only difference in this embodiment is that the display unit  300  can be removed and repositioned away from the device body  150 , providing an easier reading position. The foam ring  105  and device electronics (PC board  107  and micro switches  119 ) remain in the device body  150 . It would be evident to one skilled in the art that each of the counting devices  10  and/or  10 ′ in  FIGS. 1-8  could be configured with a removable display having a transceiver therein. 
     In a further variant, the counting device  10 ″ and/or counter display unit  300  may communicate with other remote devices, such as a hand-held or personal computer, a laptop, etc. Further, the counting device  10 ″ and/or counter display unit  300  could be configured with memory to store records of repetitions by the user during exercise events. Connectivity with a computing device provides for the download of records and/or the upload of workout routines, for example, which could be displayed on the counter display unit  300 . For example, the counter display unit  300  could have its own microprocessor and advanced display features to display examples of aerobic workouts and to give the user a set number of reps to perform, a rest period, then another set of reps. 
     Any of the counting devices  10 ,  10 ′,  10 ″ described herein may be used with a user performing an exercise with their hands on the floor, by grasping a handle bar or by placing their hands on other raised surfaces. The example of  FIG. 9  illustrates use of the counting device with just one example of push-up exercise devices for the hands. The push-up exercise device  200  includes a single molded housing  210  with a circular lower base  212 . The housing  210  includes an integral facing  214  formed around a circumference of the lower base  212 . In an example, the facing may incline slightly downward and outward from the base  212 . The housing  210  includes a pair of columns  215  formed into part of the base  212  of the housing  210 , with a lower end of each column  215  forming part of the facing  214  at opposing sides thereof to receive an end of a handle  220  there between. In an example, each column  215  slopes upward from the lower base  212 , gradually narrowing to secure the handle  220  at its upper end. 
     Each rotatable device  200  includes a fixed base support  230  operatively attached to the housing  210 . The device  200  further includes a bearing assembly (not shown) operatively attached within the housing  210  to permit rotation of the contiguous handle  220  and housing  210  by a user, with the fixed base support  230  resting on a planar surface. Example bearing assemblies are described in detail with regard to  FIGS. 3 ,  8 A,  8 B and the associated description thereof in the co-pending and commonly assigned application Ser. No. 11/996,152 to Hauser, et al., filed Jan. 18, 2008 and entitled “PUSH-UP EXERCISE UNIT AND DEVICE”, the relevant contents describing device  200  being hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     In general, the housing  212  can be formed by an injection molding process from a medium or heavy gauge impact plastic such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). ABS is an easily machined, tough, low-cost, rigid thermoplastic material with medium to high impact strength, and is a desirable material for turning, drilling, sawing, die-cutting, shearing, etc. ABS is merely one example material; equivalent materials include various thermoplastic and thermoset materials that have characteristics similar to ABS. For example, polypropylene, high-strength polycarbonates such as GE Lexan, and/or blended plastics may be used instead of, or in addition with ABS. The materials comprising device  200  (plastic such as ABS, rubber and lightweight metal materials) provide for a light yet durable construction. An exemplary injection molding system for forming molded plastic articles included in device  200  may be the Roboshot® injection machine from Milacron-Fanuc. The Roboshot is one of many known injection molding machines for forming plastic injection molds. 
     The handle  220  may be composed of a metal handle-rod (not shown) sheathed within a grip  225 . For example, the handle  220  may have a chrome steel handle-rod overlaid with or sheathed within a rubberized grip  225 . The handle-rod may alternatively be comprised of an aluminum hollow member and is received within corresponding recesses (not shown) formed in the columns  215 . The grip  225  may be made of a foam rubber or suitable elastomeric material and has a wider or thicker center portion which tapers down to the end portions of grip  147 . 
     Device  200  includes a solid rubber gripping surface configured as a non-slip pad (not shown herein, but shown and described in detail with regard to  FIG. 5  and the associated description thereof in the co-pending and commonly assigned &#39;152 application). The non-slip pad is provided on the underside of the base support  230  and offers a friction surface when the device  220  is resting on a flat surface. The pad may be adhered to the underside of the base support  230  via suitable epoxy or adhesive, for example. The non-slip rubber pad grips well on carpet and hard floor surfaces. 
     A gap (not shown herein, but shown and described in detail with regard to  FIG. 2  and the associated description thereof in the co-pending and commonly assigned &#39;152 application) is provided between the lower base  212  of housing  210  and the base support  230  to assist in permitting rotational movement of the housing  210  and handle  220 , ostensibly by providing clearance for the bearing assembly while the base support  230  remains fixed in place. 
     Therefore, the example embodiments provide for a counting device for push-up exercises that is compact, accurate and which provides both the count of repetitions and time-elapsed on a single display. Remote communications between the counting device and a removable counter display unit facilitate the user&#39;s ability to track repetitions and time elapsed. Moreover, the height of the counting device prevents a user from cheating, they must lower their chest sufficiently to engage the foam ring  105  and register a repetition on the display. 
     The example embodiments being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. For example, the counting devices  10  and  10 ′ can be configured with or without a removable counter display unit. The counting devices described herein are applicable to user&#39;s performing conventional push-ups as well as for use with the system of  FIG. 9 . Such variations are not to be regarded as departure from the example embodiments, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included herein.