US-12623135-B2 - Training accessory for electronic device

US12623135B2US 12623135 B2US12623135 B2US 12623135B2US-12623135-B2

Abstract

The invention concerns a training accessory for an electronic device and a training method configured to provide training feed-back in real-time. The training accessory comprises a housing suitable for holding the electronic device ( 400 ) having a graphical user interface ( 401 ), a data interface between the accessory ( 1 ) and the electronic device ( 400 ), one or more elastically deformable holding means ( 20 ), each of said holding means being configured to freely swivel around its attachment point, and one or more sensors ( 3 ), including at least a force sensor in the accessory ( 1 ), the force sensor being configured to determine the force exerted by the holding means ( 20 ). The method includes the steps of determining or receiving a safe training range of an individual user, receiving user training data pertaining to the user's execution of a training exercise in real-time, and based on said user training data calculating corrections in real-time and communicating instructions to the user in real-time to permit the user to correct his execution of the exercise such that the exercise is executed within a safe training range.

Inventors

Barbara TARNANAS
Antonis MPADANIS

Assignees

TELEPH0S LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20201221

Claims (16)

1 . An accessory for an electronic device for performing physical exercise, comprising: a housing suitable for holding the electronic device, the electronic device including a graphical user interface, a data interface between the accessory and the electronic device, one or more elastically deformable handle band systems, each comprising a handle and one or more stretchable bands suitable for pulling exercises, wherein the one or more stretchable bands are attached to the housing, such that each of the one or more elastically deformable handle band systems is capable of freely swivelling around its respective attachment point, one or more sensors, including at least a force sensor in the accessory, the force sensor being configured to determine a force exerted by the one or more elastically deformable handle band systems, and a locking fastener suitable for fixing mountable weights to the housing, or magnetic portions of the housing such that mountable weights are capable of being attached magnetically to the housing.
2 . A method for adjusting physical exercise to physical capabilities of users with reduced physical capabilities using the accessory of claim 1 , comprising through a processor contained in the electronic device or in the accessory determining or receiving an individual user safe training range, wherein the individual user safe range is dynamically refined based on the real time user training data, through a processor contained in the electronic device or in the accessory receiving user training data pertaining to an execution of a training exercise of a user in real time, and based on said user training data calculating corrections in real time through a processor contained in the electronic device or in the accessory and communicating instructions to the user in real time to permit the user to correct his execution of the training exercise such that the training exercise is executed within a safe training range.
3 . The method for adjusting physical exercise of claim 2 , including determining the safe training range of the user comprising defining a calibration exercise to be performed by the user on the accessory, through a processor contained in the electronic device or in the accessory receiving user calibration data pertaining to the execution of the calibration exercise by the user, through a processor contained in the electronic device or in the accessory defining a user profile based on the user calibration data or refining a predetermined/predefined user profile based on the user calibration data, defining the safe training range based on user calibration data for an individual user profile, which may be the user profile based on the user calibration data or the refined predetermined/predefined user profile based on the user calibration data.
4 . The method for adjusting physical exercise of claim 2 , wherein instructions for corrections are communicated to the user in respect of each user extremity operating at least one of the one or more elastically deformable handle band systems.
5 . The method for adjusting physical exercise of claim 2 , wherein instructions for corrections are communicated through the graphical user interface of the electronic device.
6 . The method for adjusting physical exercise of claim 2 , wherein instructions for corrections are communicated through the electronic device and through the accessory in the form of visual, acoustic and/or tactile cues.
7 . A computer program product which contains instructions for performing the method of claim 2 , which, when loaded on a computerised system or a computer, allows the computerised system or the computer to perform the method of claim 2 .
8 . A computer program product which contains instructions for performing the method of claim 2 , which, when loaded on a computerised system or a computer, allows the computerised system or the computer to perform the steps of the method of claim 2 .
9 . The accessory of claim 1 , comprising a bidirectional data interface.
10 . The accessory of claim 1 , each of the one or more elastically deformable handle band systems being pivotably attached on a separate attachment point to the housing.
11 . The accessory of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more elastically deformable handle band systems is configured to be elastically pulled.
12 . The accessory of claim 1 , the one or more elastically deformable handle band system consisting of two elastically deformable handle band systems, wherein a first elastically deformable handle band system is configured to be operated by a left hand of the user and a second elastically deformable handle band system is configured to be operated by a right hand of the user.
13 . The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the accessory is configured for communicating visual, audio and/or tactile cues to a user.
14 . The accessory of claim 1 , wherein, in addition to the one or more sensors, the accessory in combination with the electronic device comprises a gyroscope and/or an accelerometer.
15 . The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors include a heart rate sensor, a pulse sensor, and/or a sensor to determine galvanic skin response or other electrodermal responses, which are preferably comprised in the handles of at least one of the one or more the elastically deformable handle band systems.
16 . The accessory further to claim 1 , the accessory in combination with the electronic device comprising a processor for receiving real time input data and for generating output data in real time.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION This application is a national phase of International Application No. PCT/IB2020/062271, filed on Dec. 21, 2020. The entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. TECHNICAL DOMAIN The present invention concerns an accessory for a handheld electronic device and a method for performing and adjusting physical exercise. RELATED ART Training experience and effectiveness for a user can be significantly enhanced by providing a tailored feed-back to the user on his performance of a training exercise. This is widely recognized, and training systems conventionally include sensors and processing units to determine user performance and/or physical parameters of the user. Safe performance of training exercises is of particular importance for persons with impaired physical capabilities, such as users with reduced neurological function or elderly people. For this group of individuals, an incorrectly executed exercise can very rapidly have damaging consequences. Due to the weakened or imbalanced muscular system of these individuals, even small, repeated errors in the performance of an exercise, or overperformance of an exercise may result in an injury. Individuals with reduced physical capacity require a training system, which allows them to perform training exercises safely in order to achieve the desired effect and a positive training outcome. Such reduced physical capacity may for example be due to muscle atrophy, neurological dysfunction or a physical weakness due to an injury. In addition, individuals with impaired cognitive function often face difficulties in performing physical exercise accurately according to the given instructions. As a result, the exercises may be performed incorrectly and can lead to adverse effects or, at a minimum, not be effective. In the prior art several systems and approaches have been described for collecting and analyzing user training data and providing a feed-back of the user's overall performance. However, conventional systems merely collect and display user data without providing the user with useful advice as to how to correctly and safely perform a given exercise. Such conventional systems are not particularly suited for users with reduced physical, cognitive, and neurological function. WO2017202487A1 discloses a training device assembly for detecting physical performance values of a test subject, with a force sensor and an evaluation unit. The force applied to the force sensor by the test subject can be indicated on a display of the evaluation unit. The device includes further sensors, such as a body fat sensor. The evaluation unit contains a microcontroller (MCU) for evaluation of the values determined by the sensors. The system does however not teach how to adjust the execution of a particular training exercise performed by the user on the training device. U.S. Pat. No. 7,238,147B2 describes a handheld exercise device with a housing, a pair of rotatable handle assemblies within the housing, and a cavity within the housing for receiving one or more removable weights. The weights can be adapted according to the preferences and capabilities of the user. The system does not provide feed-back to the user on his performance of the exercise. U.S. Pat. No. 7,238,147 discloses an apparatus for physical exercise with a handle and vibrating means, which are coupled to said the handle and connected to a processing and controlling device, which is used to set a vibration frequency of the vibrating means. The apparatus provides mechanical neuro-muscular stimulation produced through the mechanical vibrations exerted through the handle. The device does not provide feed-back on the correct execution of a training exercise. US2018214755 concerns a set of juggling modules with cohesive handles, which can be attached to a fastening system on the juggling module. The handles are connected to links, which provide the physical connection between the juggling module and other juggling modules, respectively props, such as to result in an interconnected set of juggling modules. US2017036063 describes an exercise apparatus with two cords, which are both pullable and retractable around a pully mechanism, which is disposed inside the apparatus. US2020023229 discloses a portable strength training apparatus comprising a platform base with a plurality of base attachment mechanisms. Resistance bands can be removably attached to one or more base attachment mechanisms. US2017036063 concerns a portable isotonic compression-expansion exercise device. The device may comprise an elastomeric, resilient ball with a detachable, removable and interchangeable exterior resistant band with two opposing handles. None of the approaches provided today provides a satisfactory training system tailored around an individual user's physically, neurologically and/or cognitively capability and weaknesses, such that the training can be performed safely with minimal risk of injury or damage. The pr