US20120035020A1

US20120035020A1 - Device Method and System for Exercising

Info

Publication number: US20120035020A1
Application number: US13/191,523
Authority: US
Inventors: Nony Kamm
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-07-28
Filing date: 2011-07-27
Publication date: 2012-02-09

Abstract

The present invention is a device, system and method for exercising. The elastic device possesses resilient qualities, such that resistance occurs when pressure is applied by feet, knees, arms or other limbs/body-parts. The elastic device, and/or a computerized communication device to which the exercising device is connected, may be structured to provide feedback when a certain amount of pressure is applied, thus marking the end point of a manipulation of the exercising device, the end point of a sub step(s) of a manipulation and/or the end point of a set of manipulations.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the fields of physical wellness, exercise equipment and exercising methods. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device, system and method that may promote the exercising of limbs/body-parts to improve muscle tone and blood circulation while providing user performance feedback.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is necessary in the physical wellness field to provide people who spend prolong hours in sitting positions with exercise equipment. Applications include for example, exercise equipment for travelers or office workers. To that end, the prior art, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,679,817, teaches a method and device of lower body exercising device for use while sedentary for prolonged periods during work or travel.
Although various devices, for example U.S. Pat. D471,637; U.S. Pat. D577,441; U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,923; U.S. Pat. No. 6,217,488; U.S. Pat. No. 5,201,568; U.S. Pat. No. 5,5577,806; are known, the known devices of the prior art fail to provide a compact exercise device, stable for dynamic exercise of all limbs, while in sitting positions; furthermore, a solution is often needed for an integrated exercise system and computerized devices, providing indication for completion of exercise manipulation, thus improving the exercise experience.
When travelers are seated for long periods of time, characterized as greater than 3-4 hours of travel time, there is pooling of the blood in the deep veins of the lower limbs, due to lack of body movement or restriction of venous flow, which results in poor circulation and swelling of the legs. There is also an increased risk for the development of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) or the formation of blood clots, known as the “economy class syndrome” that can result in stroke, which can cause brain damage or death if left untreated.
A research study by a UK medical research group (see Scurr et. al. 2001, Frequency and prevention of symptomless deep-vein thrombosis in long-haul flights: a randomized trial The Lancet, 357, 1485-1489) reported that symptomless DVT might occur in as many as 10% of long-haul travelers. They also concluded that it is the prolonged, inactive sitting which is most likely to promote the DVT and not the confined space, and that similar situation, such as sitting at a desk or computer may also produce DVT.
Office workers can typically spend 20 hours or more per week at their computers and are at risk to develop DVT or other related vascular conditions, including stroke. Exercising the limbs while sitting at a desk or in a plane seat can improve muscle tone and blood circulation. Experts recommend that employees should exercise for about 5 minutes for every 40 minutes of sitting. Travelers and office employees would benefit from the capability to exercise while sitting.
For travelers and office workers, exercising may be an uncomfortable and unpleasant experience in a confined space and often under social circumstances, and therefore it is often avoided. In known psychological theory of pleasurable experiences, two main components that accompanied the appearance of positive experiences were clear goals and clear feedback. (see Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow, the psychology of optimal experience. New York, N.Y.: HarperCollins Publishers). Following on this theory, providing clear goals and feedback for users' actions by means of tactile or electronic feedback to their actions, will improve their experience and promote their motivation to exercise.
To date, there are no satisfactory compact and light-weight exercising devices that promote, by offering tactile and/or electronic feedback, the exercise activity of travelers, office workers and others who would benefit from exercising and improving muscle tone and blood circulation, for example, while confined to a seat. Particularly for travelers, compact devices are essential as the confined space is normally unsuitable for exercising by means of stretching devices. Thus, there remains a need in the art for an improved exercise device and method.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a system, method and device for exercising. The exercising device may be of a substantially semi-spherical shape, made of an elastic and/or resilient material (e.g. silicon, rubber and/or foam material). The exercising device may accordingly possess elastic characteristics enabling a user to perform resistance training by altering the shape of the device using one or more body parts and/or one or more static bodies (e.g. the ground, a wall) and/or one or more body parts of an additional user (e.g. a training partner) and/or one or more additional, substantially similar, exercising devices.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the exercising device may be in the form of a semi-spherical elastic dome, an elastic material packed dome of a single material and/or a multi layer structure having one or more outer layers made of elastic materials and a core made from a different elastic material or a similar elastic material having different strength and/or elasticity characteristics (e.g. same foam like material having a different air to solid-substance ratio).
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the exercising device's elastic and/or resilient material may provide regressive resistance, allowing the device to contract in reaction to force/pressure being applied by the user. Reducing the applied force on the exercising device may allow it to expand back to its original shape, ready for the next manipulation.
According to some embodiments of the present invention the exercising device may comprise a ribbed, toothed and/or jagged bottom (i.e. base of semi-sphere) which may establish high traction and stability characteristics, for example, when used on different surfaces. The ribbed, toothed and/or jagged bottom may allow for the connection of two exercising devices (e.g. a first device's toothed bottom complements a second device's similarly toothed bottom) to form a substantially sphere shaped exercising device.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the exercising device may produce feedback relating to the exercise, in the form of a tactile response that may be sensed by the user and/or by triggering feedback-associated data transmission(s) to an electronic/computerized device adapted to alert the device user. Feedback may be provided when certain one or more point(s)/state(s)/threshold(s) of device contraction are reached, and may thus provide indication(s) of having completed the exercising device's manipulation, having completed one or more sub-step(s) of the manipulation, having completed a certain number or form of manipulations under certain criteria (e.g. (x) complete device manipulations within (y) seconds) and/or any combination or derivation thereof.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, threshold(s) may be dynamic, and may accordingly change based on the user's performance (e.g. in each device contraction the user reaches a level much higher than the set threshold leading the device to raise the threshold); and/or based on a predetermined scenario such as a training program that may also include a random or pseudo-random, or user performance based, component(s). Furthermore, according to some embodiments, device contraction data may be logged and accumulated by the device and the threshold(s) may be based on the accumulated contraction applied to the device as part of a set including multiple contractions. It is made clear that various additional, time, speed, distance, acceleration and/or force based thresholds may be measured by the device and indicated to the device user.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the exercising device may comprise: an electrical power source, a control logic, one or more load cells adapted to measure and output data associated with the load/pressure at one or more positions within the device to the control logic and a transmitter for transmitting data relating to the device's contraction (e.g. at least partially based on the load cells' load/pressure readings) to a computerized device (e.g. a smartphone, laptop or tablet computer). The computerized device may use the data relating to the device's contraction to indicate the completion of: a certain manipulation, one or more manipulation sub-step(s) and/or a combination of two or more manipulations. Furthermore, time domain related factors may be combined into the exercising device's contraction data as part of the requirements for triggering a completion indication.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the computerized device may provide information relating to a given user's performance along time, his performance of various different exercises and/or his performance in comparison to one or more additional users. The computerized device may be further utilized to provide user performance statistics, build custom fitted training programs (e.g. based on a given user's, or group of users', device contraction performance), adjust the levels of contraction threshold(s) indicating completion of the exercising device's manipulation and/or process the data relating to the device's contraction in combination with data from additional user monitoring device(s) (e.g. a user heart pulse meter).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the following portion of the description. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description when read with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1A-1C show exemplary exercises performed using an exercising device, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A-2C show exemplary structures of an exercising device, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A-3D show the course of an exemplary exercise performed using the exercising device, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A-4B show an exemplary exercising device comprising a ribbed, toothed and/or jagged bottom and the connection of a couple of such devices to each other, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary exercising device adapted to communicate with a computerized communication device, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 6A-6C show exemplary exercising devices adapted to physically or electronically indicate of a completed exercising device manipulation, or an exercise device adapted to cause a computerized communication device to indicate of a completed exercising device manipulation, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 7A-7B show exemplary engagement possibilities of a manipulation completion sensor's switch or button, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 8A-8D show exemplary exercising devices and possible positions for a manipulation completion sensor within these devices, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 9A-9B show an exemplary exercising device made of a dome and a material packed filing of a single material that may further comprise one or more interchangeable material packed filings, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 10A-10E show exemplary exercising devices wherein the manipulation completion sensor is in the form of a rigid ball positioned within the device, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 11A-11D show exemplary exercising devices wherein the manipulation completion sensor is in the form of a rigid leaf rib or platter positioned within the device, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 12 shows exemplary communication technologies that may be used for communication between an exercising device and a computerized communication device, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 13A-13C show exemplary communication and decision configurations between an exercising device completion sensor and a computerized communication device, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 14 shows exemplary inputs, outputs, responses and actions that may be taken by a computerized communication device in response to manipulation completion data received from an exercising device, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 15A-15C show exemplary connection configurations between exercising device(s) and computerized communication devices, and between two or more computerized communication devices to which exercising devices are connected, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 16 shows exemplary steps of a method executed by a system for exercising, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention; and

FIGS. 17A-17B show an exemplary exercising device wherein the manipulation completion sensor is in the form of alternate elongated slices of the outer shell of the exercising device that are adapted to differently react to the exercising device's manipulation, and to thus visually indicate progress or completion of an exercise, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.
Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the specification discussions utilizing terms such as “processing”, “computing”, “calculating”, “determining”, or the like, refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or computing system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform data represented as physical, such as electronic, quantities within the computing system's registers and/or memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computing system's memories, registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.
Embodiments of the present invention may include apparatuses for performing the operations herein. Such apparatus may be specially constructed for the desired purposes, or it may comprise a general-purpose computer selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as, but is not limited to, any type of disk including floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs, magnetic-optical disks, read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs) electrically programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), electrically erasable and programmable read only memories (EEPROMs), magnetic or optical cards, or any other type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions, and capable of being coupled to a computer system bus.
The processes and displays presented herein are not inherently related to any particular computer or other apparatus. Various general-purpose systems may be used with programs in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove convenient to construct a more specialized apparatus to perform the desired method. The desired structure for a variety of these systems will appear from the description below. In addition, embodiments of the present invention are not described with reference to any particular programming language. It will be appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the teachings of the inventions as described herein.
The present invention is a system, method and device for exercising. The exercising device may be of a substantially semi-spherical shape, made of an elastic and/or resilient material (e.g. silicon, rubber and/or foam material). The exercising device may accordingly possess elastic characteristics enabling a user to perform resistance training by altering the shape of the device using one or more body parts and/or one or more static bodies (e.g. the ground, a wall) and/or one or more body parts of an additional user (e.g. a training partner) and/or one or more additional, substantially similar, exercising devices (FIGS. 1A-1C).
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the exercising device may be in the form of a semi-spherical elastic dome (FIG. 2A), an elastic material packed dome of a single material (FIG. 2B) and/or a multi layer structure having one or more outer layers made of elastic materials and a core made from a different elastic material (FIG. 2C) or a similar elastic material having different strength and/or elasticity characteristics (e.g. same foam like material having a different air to solid-substance ratio).
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the exercising device's elastic and/or resilient material may provide regressive resistance, allowing the device to contract in reaction to force/pressure being applied by the user. Reducing the applied force on the exercising device may allow it to expand back to its original shape, ready for the next manipulation (FIGS. 3A-3D).
According to some embodiments of the present invention the exercising device may comprise a ribbed, toothed and/or jagged bottom (i.e. base of semi-sphere) which may establish high traction and stability characteristics, for example, when used on different surfaces (FIG. 4A). The ribbed, toothed and/or jagged bottom may allow for the connection of two exercising devices (e.g. a first device's toothed bottom complements a second device's similarly toothed bottom) to form a substantially sphere shaped exercising device.
According to some exemplary embodiments, two substantially similar exercising devices may be placed in a position wherein the toothed bottom of the first device faces the toothed bottom of the second device and each tooth of the first device is adjacent to a respective tooth of the second device. From this position either one of the devices may be turned, around an imaginary axle running from the top of its semispherical shape to the center of its circular base, a distance equal to the width of a single tooth, to a position in which each of the devices' teeth faces a gap between two teeth of the other device (FIG. 4B); the two devices may then be brought towards each other and connected in a position in which each of a first device's teeth complements each of a second device's gaps. According to some embodiments the teeth, and gaps, of complementing/connectable exercising devices may be square, rectangular, triangular or else wise shaped.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the exercising device may produce feedback relating to the exercise, in the form of a tactile response that may be sensed by the user and/or by triggering feedback-associated data transmission(s) to an electronic/computerized device adapted to alert the device user. Feedback may be provided when certain one or more point(s)/state(s)/threshold(s) of device contraction are reached, and may thus provide indication(s) of having completed the exercising device's manipulation, having completed one or more sub-step(s) of the manipulation, having completed a certain number or form of manipulations under certain criteria (e.g. (x) complete device manipulations within (y) seconds) and/or any combination or derivation thereof.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, threshold(s) may be dynamic, and may accordingly change based on the user's performance (e.g. in each device contraction the user reaches a level much higher than the set threshold leading the device to raise the threshold); and/or based on a predetermined scenario such as a training program that may also include a random or pseudo-random, or user performance based, component(s). Furthermore, according to some embodiments, device contraction data may be logged and accumulated by the device and the threshold(s) may be based on the accumulated contraction applied to the device as part of a set including multiple contractions. It is made clear that various additional, time, speed, distance, acceleration and/or force based thresholds may be measured by the device and indicated to the device user.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the exercising device may comprise: an electrical power source, a control logic, one or more load cells adapted to measure and output data associated with the load/pressure at one or more positions within the device to the control logic and a transmitter for transmitting data relating to the device's contraction (e.g. at least partially based on the load cells' load/pressure readings) to a computerized device (e.g. a smartphone, laptop or tablet computer). The computerized device may comprise a data analysis module/logic that may use the data relating to the device's contraction to indicate the completion of: a certain manipulation, one or more manipulation sub-step(s) and/or a combination of two or more manipulations (FIG. 5). Furthermore, time domain related factors may be combined into the exercising device's contraction data as part of the requirements for triggering a completion indication.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the computerized device may provide information relating to a given user's performance along time, his performance of various different exercises and/or his performance in comparison to one or more additional users. The computerized device may be further utilized to provide user performance statistics, build custom fitted training programs (e.g. based on a given user's, or group of users', device contraction performance), adjust the levels of contraction threshold(s) indicating completion of the exercising device's manipulation and/or process the data relating to the device's contraction in combination with data from additional user monitoring device(s) (e.g. a user heart pulse meter).
According to some embodiments of the present invention, an indication of a completed exercising device manipulation may be triggered by one or more manipulation completion sensor(s), in the form of mechanical and/or electronic load-cell(s)/switch(s)/sensor(s)/button(s), which are manipulated as part of the exercising device's contraction. The indication may be mechanically (FIG. 6A) or electronically (FIG. 6B) produced by the exercising device or a component thereof (e.g. electronic buzzer) and/or by an external communicated computerized device (FIG. 6C). The indication may be of an auditory, visual and/or tactile sensory type.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, a manipulation completion load-cell(s)/switch(s)/sensor(s)/button(s)) may be connected to the internal surface of an outer layer of the semi-spherical elastic dome of the exercising device (e.g. substantially at the top of the dome). As the exercising device is contracted, the distance between the manipulation completion sensor and the base/bottom of the now contracted dome may be reduced. Upon contact with, and/or pressure against, the base of the exercising device's dome and/or the surface on which the base of the exercising device's dome is positioned (FIG. 7A), or an additional manipulation completion sensor of a second, substantially similar, connected exercising device and/or the internal surface of a second, substantially similar, connected exercising device (FIG. 7B); the manipulation completion sensor's switch or button may be engaged.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, a manipulation completion sensor may be connected to the internal surface of an outer layer of the semi-spherical elastic dome of the exercising device (e.g. substantially at the center of the bottom of the dome) (FIG. 8A). As the exercising device is contracted, the distance between the manipulation completion sensor and the upper section of the now contracted dome may be reduced. Upon contact with, and/or pressure against, the upper section of the exercising device's dome; the manipulation completion sensor's switch or button may be engaged.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, a manipulation completion sensor may be positioned between an outer layer and the core (FIG. 8B), or between two outer layers, of an exercising device having one or more outer layers and a core (FIG. 8C); or within the packed material of an exercising device made of a material packed dome (e.g. of a single material) (FIG. 8D). As the exercising device is contracted, the pressure between the now contracted outer layers or between an outer layer and the core or the pressure of the packed dome's material may increase and the manipulation completion sensor's switch or button may be engaged.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, an exercising device made of a dome and a material packed filing of a single material (FIG. 9A) may further comprise one or more interchangeable material packed filings. Various material packed filings may offer different levels of device resistance, based on either the material from which a given filling is made of or based on the density of the material used (FIG. 9B).
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the manipulation completion sensor may be in the form of a rigid ball, or differently shaped element, positioned within the exercising device. As the exercising device is contracted beyond a certain point, the user may feel the rigid element pressing against a relatively small area of the body part engaged in the training activity, indicating a certain compression threshold has been met (FIGS. 10A-10E).
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the manipulation completion sensor may be a completion indication providing manipulation sensor, for example, in the form of a rigid leaf rib or platter, positioned within the exercising device and connected to the internal sides/walls in at least two spots substantially in its lower portion (FIG. 11A). The rigid leaf/rib/platter may be at least slightly bent such that its central part, under the top of the dome shaped device, is higher than its side section(s) which are closer to the sides/walls (FIGS. 11B-11C). As the exercising device is contracted beyond a certain point, the rigid leaf/rib/platter may bend. As the bending rigid leaf/rib/platter passes beyond its flat/straight shape it may buckle and snap into a position substantially symmetrical to its initial position, where its central part, under the top of the dome shaped device, is lower than its side section(s) which are closer to the sides/walls (FIG. 11D). As the rigid leaf/rib/platter snaps, it may produce a direct tactile output (e.g. snap sound/vibration) indicating the manipulation completion.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the exercising device may comprise wireless transmission means, which wireless transmission means may, for example, comprise a power source, a radio transmitter/receiver, an antenna and a controller adapted to receive manipulation completion indicating data from the manipulation completion sensor. According to some embodiments, the wireless transmission means may utilize any wireless communication method, device or protocol, such as, but in no way limited to: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Infra-red (IR), Sound wave based signaling or any other form of wireless, and/or wired, communication known today or to be devised in the future; to transmit manipulation related data to one or more receiving computerized device (FIG. 12). According to some embodiments, the exercising device may comprise an active or passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag(s). Data related to the manipulation of the exercising device may be transmitted by an active RFID periodically or when a manipulation threshold/scenario is met, alternatively, a computerized communication device may periodically interrogate a passive RFID tag(s) located on the exercising device for manipulation related data.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, an exercising device manipulation completion sensor, reaching a certain threshold may, in response, initiate a transmission to the computerized device. The meeting of a certain threshold may be triggered directly by the effect of the device manipulation on the manipulation completion sensor (FIG. 13A), or may alternatively be triggered by a Data Analysis Module (may include a clock), adapted to intermittently interrogate/receive manipulation related data from the manipulation completion sensor and to decide when a threshold is met, at least partially based on the received manipulation related data. The Data Analysis Module may be in the form of a software application, a hardware circuit and/or any combination of software and hardware elements. Furthermore, it may reside either in/on the exercising device itself (FIG. 13B) or in/on the communicated computerized device(s) adapted to inform the user of the manipulation completion/threshold meeting (FIG. 13C).
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the threshold for the exercising device's manipulation completion in some embodiments where the manipulation completion sensor is pressured against an additional manipulation completion sensor of a second substantially similar symmetrically connected exercising device, may be based on: either an ‘AND’, an ‘OR’, a ‘XOR’ or any other logical condition. For example—both sensors must be engaged (AND), only one of the sensors must be engaged (OR), or at least one of the sensors must be engaged (XOR)—for the completion threshold to be met.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the computerized communication device may comprise a Data Analysis Module that based on the transmitted manipulation related data received by the device, and possibly by utilizing other functionally associated components of the computerized communication device, may: (1) log the type of completion accomplished (e.g. a full manipulation of the device, a sub-step of manipulation and which type of sub-step, a predefined number or set/combination of manipulations) and the corresponding time read; (2) indicate (e.g. make a sound, vibrate, display) the user of the manipulation completion and possibly its type; (3) indicate (e.g. make a sound, display) the user of the time period it took him to complete the manipulation; and (4) use the transmitted manipulation related data for statistical and/or performance improvement purposes such as competitive games.
According to some embodiments, the Data Analysis Module may be further adapted to receive and analyze additional data from sources such as, but in no way limited to, biometric sensors (e.g. a heart bit rate sensor, a blood pressure sensor), environmental sensors (e.g. a thermometer, a humidity level sensor) and/or data from other networked exercising devices or users thereof. Furthermore, the Data Analysis Module may use networked resources (e.g. a server, a database) to store and/or further analyze its data (e.g. run its manipulation log and statistical module on a remote server/database) and/or transfer data for output. (FIG. 14).
According to some embodiments of the present invention, transmitted manipulation related data may be used for personal statistical purposes; comparative (e.g. to other user(s)) statistical purposes; the building of custom (e.g. past performance based) training programs and the management of training games such as games interactively encouraging the user to perform better or faster; ‘on-line’ type games between two or more users wherein each users' computerized device is connected to his own one or more exercising device(s) on one end, and to other user(s)' computerized devices on the other end (e.g. over a distributed data network); and/or games wherein two or more exercise devices transmit manipulation data to a single computerized device. One or more given users may need (as part of a game), for example, to accomplish similar exercising device manipulations or keep up with the pace of manipulations of one or more other given users. According to some embodiments, a given computerized communication device may communicate with, or receive readings from, one or more exercise devices (FIG. 15A); Two or more exercising devices' manipulation data may be shared, and/or jointly used, by respective computerized communication devices communicating with each other over a distributed network (e.g. Internet, cellular) (FIG. 15B), a peer-to-peer configuration (FIG. 15C) and/or any other network or communication configuration known today or to be devised in the future.
According to some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an exercising system may implement some or all of the following exemplary steps: (1) Sense pressure applied to the sensor unit of the exercising device, (2) Transmit sensor unit pressure related data (e.g. sensor readouts) to a computerized communication device, (3) Log the received sensor unit pressure data, (4) Receive data from additional sources (e.g. biometric sensors, similar networked exercising devices), (5) Process received data using a data analysis module, and (6) Provide the user with exercising feedback by outputting data analysis based alerts/notices (FIG. 16).
According to some embodiments of the present invention, a manipulation completion sensor of an exercising device having one or more outer layers and a core may comprise one or more areas where the exercising device's outer layer is thinner and/or is made of a more elastic material. According to one exemplary embodiment, alternate elongated slices of the outer shell may be constructed of a thinner material and may thus have higher elasticity characteristics. As the exercising device is contracted these areas may stretch further than other areas of the outer shell of a ‘regular’ thickness. Thinner areas may be differently colored or designated, and as they may stretch further than other areas during contraction, the now (after some contraction of the device) higher ratio of thinner-area-color to regular-thickness-area-color may visually indicate the user of his advancement through and/or completion of the exercising device's manipulation (FIGS. 17A-17B).
While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A device for exercising comprising:

an elastic semi-sphere to provide regressive resistance against a human organ manipulating its shape,

one or more manipulation sensors to measure levels of manipulation related pressure applied to said elastic semi-sphere; and

a transmitter adapted to transmit information related to the levels of manipulation related pressure.

2. The device according to claim 1 further adated to connect to a substantially similar device and create a sphere shaped exercising device.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the transmitter is adapted to transmit the information when a threshold level of pressure is measured by at least one of the one or more manipulation sensors.

4. The device according to claim 3 further comprising:

a manipulation log to record the information related to the levels of manipulation related pressure along time;

5. The device according to claim 4 further comprising:

a decision logic to determine the threshold level of pressure at least partially based on information previously recorded to the manipulation log.

6. The device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a manipulation log to record the information related to the levels of manipulation related pressure along time; and

a decision logic to reference said manipulation log and to trigger a transmission when a predetermined manipulation log scenario has been met;

7. The device according to claim 6 wherein the transmission includes information related to the met log scenario.

8. The device according to claim 1 wherein the transmitter is adapted to transmit the information periodically.

9. The device according to claim 1 wherein the manipulation sensor is a load cell.

10. A system for exercising comprising:

an exercising device comprising:

one or more manipulation sensors to measure the levels of manipulation related pressure applied to said elastic semi-sphere, and

a transmitter adapted to transmit information related to the levels of manipulation related pressure; and

a computerized communication device comprising:

a receiver to receive the information related to the levels of manipulation related pressure,

a decision logic to determine if the level of manipulation related pressure has met a predetermined threshold, and

one or more output means to alert when the predetermined threshold is met.

11. The system according to claim 10 wherein the alert includes one or more output types selected from a set including: visual, auditory and tactile output types.

12. The system according to claim 11 wherein the output includes verbal messages.

13. A device for exercising comprising:

an elastic semi-sphere to provide regressive resistance against a human organ manipulating its shape; and

a completion indication providing manipulation sensor to sense and alert when the manipulation of the device has reached a predetermined threshold.

14. The device according to claim 13 wherein the manipulation completion sensor is a flexible arced leaf that snaps into an arc shape which is substantially symmetrical to its original position, when pushed at the outer center of the arc beyond a straight position.

15. The device according to claim 13 wherein the manipulation completion sensor is a rigid object positioned substantially at the center of the base of the elastic semi-sphere and is felt through the domed part of the semi-sphere when it is pushed towards the base beyond a certain point.

16. The device according to claim 13 wherein the manipulation completion sensor is in the form of at least one elongated slice running from the top section of the exercising device to its bottom section, wherein the at least one elongated slice is more flexible than the rest of the device and is differently colored; and wherein contraction of the device causes the at least one elongated slice to stretch out more than the rest of the device causing it to visually stick out.

17. The device according to claim 13 wherein the manipulation completion sensor comprises:

a load cell adapted to measure the level of manipulation related pressure applied to the elastic semi-sphere; and

one or more output means to alert when the manipulation related pressure has met a predetermined threshold.

18. The device according to claim 17 wherein the alert includes one or more output types selected from a set including: visual, auditory and tactile output types.

19. The system according to claim 10 further comprising:

one or more additional exercising devices;

one or more additional computerized communication devices, wherein said computerized communication device, and each of said additional computerized communication devices, are capable of exchanging data over a communication network; and

wherein said exercising device or any of said additional exercising devices transmits exercising performance related data to one of said computerized communication devices, the receiving computerized communication device transmits the data to at least one other of said computerized communication devices and the at least one other computerized communication device transmits the data to at least one other of said exercising devices.