Did You Know...
...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7690556 | Step counter accounting for incline A method and apparatus for a step counter system is described. The step counter system comprises an accelerometer to detect motion of a user, a step calculation logic to utilize the motion detected by the accelerometer to detect and count steps, and an incline logic... | 04/06/2010 |
| 7571847 | Apparatus for measuring number of footsteps and method thereof A footstep measuring apparatus and a method thereof are provided. The apparatus includes: a terrestrial magnetism sensor for outputting digital values of each axis according to movements of a body; a reference digital value generator for generating a reference digit... | 08/11/2009 |
| 7503476 | Pedometer and method of advertising A compact multifunction pedometer and method of advertising includes a computerized calculating function to accurately determine the calorie consumption, distance and the time for exercise duration. Utilizing input data of the user's height, weight, average stride a... | 03/17/2009 |
| 7353986 | Electronic pedometer An electronic pedometer has a walk detecting sensor to detect a walking movement of a user and to output a walk signal corresponding to the walking movement. A walk judging circuit judges, based on a walk signal from the walk detecting circuit, whether or not the us... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7353137 | Shoe-based weight measuring system A shoe-based weight measuring system, comprising: a shoe; one or more weight sensitive detectors constructed and arranged with the shoe to sense weight of a person wearing the shoe and walking or standing; a processor for processing signals from the detectors to det... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7333914 | Two-way motion sensor meter for measuring arm exercise A two-way motion sensor meter for measuring arm exercise. The meter is mounted on a wrist band adapted to be affixed to a user's wrist. The meter includes numeric display means driven by an electronic or mechanical system. The electronic or mechanical system include... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7263461 | Electronic pedometer An electronic pedometer has a walk sensor that detects a walking movement of a user and outputs a walk signal corresponding to the walking movement. The walk sensor has a sensitivity axis along which a detection sensitivity of the walking movement by the walk sensor... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7251454 | Athletic performance monitoring system and method An athletic performance monitoring system and method are disclosed that assist a user in monitoring an athletic endeavor. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a local area wireless transceiver capable of receiving ... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7212943 | Body motion detection device, pitch meter, wristwatch-type information processing device, method for controlling thereof, control program, and storage medium A body motion detection device is provided that is configured to be attached to a forearm of a user to detect a body motion of the human body to detect body motions of the user. The body motion detection device basically comprises a body motion sensor unit and a bod... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7200517 | Monitoring activity of a user in locomotion on foot In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a mount, a housing, and a sensor. The mount is adapted to be disposed at least partially underneath a shoelace of a shoe. The housing is configured and arranged to be placed in at least first and second states in relation to... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7172563 | Gait detection system, gait detection apparatus, device, and gait detection method A walking gait detection apparatus includes a microphone for picking up low-frequency-band sounds that are transmitted through the body of a pedestrian while walking and an analyzer for performing analysis. Accordingly, the gait of the pedestrian is detected. It is ... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7103471 | Multi-mode navigation device and method A method and apparatus for providing dead reckoning position data, orientation, and heading of a person is disclosed. The apparatus uses an algorithm that automatically determines the appropriate set of navigation functions for personal navigation based upon the ori... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7072791 | Pedometer for use with pregnant woman A pedometer is provided for use by a pregnant woman. Embodiments include a pedometer having a number-of-activity step acquisition unit that acquires the number of activity steps taken by the pregnant woman, an activity energy consumption calculation unit that calcul... | 07/04/2006 |
| 7062225 | Pedometer system and method of use A pedometer system and method of use are disclosed that assist a user in monitoring an athletic endeavor. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a pedometer housing component at least partially defining an enclosure.... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7044361 | Walker distance measuring device A walker and/or wheelchair distance measuring device comprising a wheel assembly, a measuring assembly and a display. The wheel assembly is capable of attachment to a walker, and includes a support and a wheel. The measuring assembly comprises a sensor having a trig... | 05/16/2006 |
| 7023422 | Cell accommodating portion structure A simple structure is provided for a cell accommodating portion of a device, in which a cover of the device is closed whether the device is being used or unused, and a cell lid of the device is prevented from being disengaged from the device. In a structure for a ce... | 04/04/2006 |
| 6958045 | Gait detection system, gait detection apparatus, device, and gait detection method A gait detection apparatus includes a microphone for picking up low-frequency-band sounds which are transmitted through the body of a pedestrian while walking and an analyzer for performing analysis. Accordingly, the gait of the pedestrian is detected. It is also po... | 10/25/2005 |
| 6860835 | Exercise signal generator of exercise load meter Disclosed is an exercise amount measuring device using as an exercise signal generator an inclination detector commercially available, which can detect two-dimensional movements. Use of such inclination detectors facilitates the assembly of exercise amount measuring... | 03/01/2005 |
| 6604419 | Apparatus and method for measuring the maximum speed of a runner over a prescribed distance A method and apparatus for calculating, presenting, recalling and recording the maximum running speed of a user over a prescribed distance in miles per hour or meters per second. The result is shown in digital and iconic form on a liquid crystal display (... | 08/12/2003 |
| 6418181 | Method and measuring arrangement for determining speed of runner, walker or another moving and living object The invention relates to a method and a measuring arrangement for determining the speed of a runner, walker or another moving and living object by a measuring arrangement. In the actual determination of speed during use the method comprises measuring at l... | 07/09/2002 |
| 6386041 | Step counting device incorporating vibration detecting mechanism A step counting device includes a top casing, a bottom casing, a display, and two operating buttons. A circuit board is arranged in the space between the top casing and the bottom casing. An open area is formed on the edge of the circuit board and a ceram... | 05/14/2002 |
| 6302789 | Pedometer with game mode An object of the present invention is to provide a new pedometer with game mode which can be used as a game by a child to get some exercise such as walking and/or running without reluctance. When a vibration is detected by a vibration detector, the count ... | 10/16/2001 |
| 6298314 | Detecting the starting and stopping of movement of a person on foot Various methods for monitoring movement of a person involve using a sensor to generate a signal in response to movement of a person. In one embodiment, a characteristic in the signal is identified that indicates the person is walking or running and, in re... | 10/02/2001 |
| 6254513 | Pedometer A pedometer includes a main body 1, two acceleration sensors 3 and 4 supported in an oscillating manner in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction at a substrate 2 within the main body 1, an angle detection sensor 5 for detecting an angle of incli... | 07/03/2001 |
| 6219625 | Shoe including weight and distance traveled monitor A shoe including weight and distance traveled monitoring device for determining a weight and distance traveled by a person wearing the shoe. The weight and distance traveled monitoring device includes a device for sensing a pressure and generating a signa... | 04/17/2001 |
| 6213872 | Pedometer with game mode An object of the present invention is to provide a new pedometer with game mode which can be used as a game by a child to get some exercise such as walking and/or running without reluctance. When a vibration is detected by a vibration detector, the count ... | 04/10/2001 |
| 6018705 | Measuring foot contact time and foot loft time of a person in locomotion The time period that a foot is in contact with the ground during a stride taken by a user, and the period that the foot is not in contact with the ground between strides taken by the user are determined by processing and analyzing the output signal of an ... | 01/25/2000 |
| 5724265 | System and method for measuring movement of objects A device that measures the distance traveled, speed, and height jumped of a person while running or walking. Accelerometers and rotational sensors are placed in the sole of one shoe along with an electronic circuit that performs mathematical calculations ... | 03/03/1998 |
| 5689099 | Speed/distance measuring assembly for runner Method and assembly for measuring the speed of or distance covered by a runner. According to the invention, the angular displacement of the foot is measured, and the distance of the trunk from a reference, such as the foot or the ground, is determined. On... | 11/18/1997 |
| 5684284 | Apparatus for measuring distances in the game of golf An apparatus for measuring distance in the game of golf includes an electro-mechanical DriveGauge™ which is provided with a large, easy-to-read display and which registers the player's strides in yards. The apparatus is preferably contained in an attrac... | 11/04/1997 |
| 5650945 | Wrist watch with sensors for detecting body parameters, and an external data storage device therefor A received data processing system is composed of a transmitter which includes a transmission unit which sends by radio sensor data such as a pulse rate obtained by a pulse sensor, a wrist watch which receives the sensor data from the transmitter using a r... | 07/22/1997 |
| 5526290 | Pace calculation devices A pace calculation device including an oscillator and a frequency divider used for timing purposes, an amplifier and a speaker for generating a signal sound, and a CPU for performing an operation. Times taken for a runner to run any first distance twice e... | 06/11/1996 |
| 5033013 | Method and apparatus for measuring the amount of exercise A method and apparatus for accurately measuring an amount of exercise taken by a walker in terms of a walking speed, the distance traveled and the energy consumed. Impacts made by contacts of a foot of the walker with the ground are detected by a detector... | 07/16/1991 |
| 4991126 | Electronic-automatic orientation device for walkers and the blind The automatic orientation device according to the invention for walkers and the blind is a small light weight and easily man-carried instrument. It contains an electronic-digital-calculating for continually determining the vectorial sum of the steps made ... | 02/05/1991 |
| 4962469 | Exercise measuring instrument An exercise measuring instrument according to the present invention employs an acceleration sensor which comprises a piezoelectric piece having a pair of piezoelectric elements stuck to each other. An output waveform of the acceleration sensor is supplied... | 10/09/1990 |
| 4956628 | Electronic monitoring of ground contact by an athlete's shoes An electronic monitoring apparatus for detecting and indicating contact and non-contact of an athlete's shoes with the ground has pressure sensitive means on each shoe on the bottom surface. The pressure sensitive means are connected to a signal generator... | 09/11/1990 |
| 4876500 | User carried sensor for detecting displacement relative to the ground A sensor to be activated by the ground for sensing a user's movements includes a conductor that contacts the user's skin or maintains a specific distance relative to the user's skin; an electronic device connected to the conductor and responding to change... | 10/24/1989 |
| 4855942 | Pedometer and/or calorie measuring device and method The number of calories consumed by subject performing an exercise routine is approximated with a computer having a predetermined cycle time during which the distance travelled by the subject is determined. Indications of the subject weight, sex and age ar... | 08/08/1989 |
| 4846459 | Exercise measuring device There is described an exercise measuring device intended to be attached to a person's body or clothing to indicate that a predetermined level of activity is being maintained. In the form of the device shown a pendulum is mounted for movement between two a... | 07/11/1989 |
| 4821218 | Method and apparatus for determining at least one characteristic value of movement of a body With the apparatus of the invention, any acceleration/deceleration in the direction of movement is sensed by a pendulum. Electrical signals derived therefrom are used for solving the differential equation of oscillation of the pendulum for determining the... | 04/11/1989 |
