US4387437A — Runners watch

Claim 1

Independent Claim 165 words

A runners watch comprising: a case dimensioned to be worn on the wrist of the wearer; a display face on said case; clock means within said case for operating said display face for displaying time of the day to the wearer; sensor means in said case for detecting the occurrence of strides of the wearer while the wearer is running; input means for inputting and storing the number of strides required for the wearer to travel a prescribed distance, said prescribed distance being a fraction of a predetermined unit of distance; circuitry within said case responsive to said sensor means for computing the rate of travel by the wearer after the stored number of strides has been taken; circuitry within said case for transforming the rate of travel computed for the stored number of strides to the rate of travel over said unit of distance; and means on said case for displaying said computed rate of travel for said unit distance on said display face.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 165 words

A runners watch comprising: a case dimensioned to be worn on the wrist of the wearer; a display face on said case; clock means within said case for operating said display face for displaying time of the day to the wearer; sensor means in said case for detecting the occurrence of strides of the wearer while the wearer is running; input means for inputting and storing the number of strides required for the wearer to travel a prescribed distance, said prescribed distance being a fraction of a predetermined unit of distance; circuitry within said case responsive to said sensor means for computing the rate of travel by the wearer after the stored number of strides has been taken; circuitry within said case for transforming the rate of travel computed for the stored number of strides to the rate of travel over said unit of distance; and means on said case for displaying said computed rate of travel for said unit distance on said display face.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 21 words

The runners watch of claim 1 and further comprising: means in said casing for computing the distance run by the wearer.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

The runners watch of claim 2 and further comprising means for updating said computed rate of travel after the wearer travels a prescribed distance.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 30 words

The runners watch of claim 2 wherein said computed distance traveled and said computed rate of travel over said unit of distance may be simultaneously displayed on said display face.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 45 words

The runners watch of claim 1 wherein said sensor means comprises: a pendulum which moves from a first position to a second position in response to the occurrence of a stride by the user; and means for normally biasing said pendulum in said first position.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 17 words

The runners watch of claim 5 and further comprising circuitry for detecting valid actuations of said pendulum.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 20 words

The runners watch of claim 1 and further comprising: means for displaying an elapsed time interval on said display face.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 60 words

The runners watch of claim 2 wherein said computing circuitry comprises: means for timing the length of time required by the wearer to take a number of strides equal to the number of strides input by said input means; and means for multiplying said length of time by a factor to provide the rate of travel over said unit distance.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 27 words

The runners watch of claim 8 and further comprising means to update the computed rate of travel each increment of said prescribed distance traveled by the wearer.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 30 words

The runners watch of claim 1 wherein said sensor includes means for biasing said sensor such that said sensor does not detect strides due to normal walking of the wearer.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 86 words

The runners watch of claim 1 wherein said sensor means moves between open and closed positions while sensing strides and further including a debounce circuit comprising: a capacitor connected across said detector for being charged with a voltage when said detector is open and being discharged when said detector is closed; means for periodically interrogating the voltage level of said capacitor; and means for indicating the presence of a stride only when a predetermined number of consecutive interrogations indicate a predetermined voltage level across said capacitor.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 28 words

The runners watch of claim 11 and further comprising: means for recharging said capacitor with a voltage when said detector moves from a closed to an open position.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 46 words

The runners watch of claim 5 wherein said pendulum is normally biased to its open position and movable to its closed position by the acceleration occurring when the wearer's foot hits the ground during a stride; and means for detecting said closed position of said pendulum.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 19 words

The runners watch of claim 13 wherein said pendulum is normally biased by a spring to its open position.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 54 words

The runners watch of claim 14 wherein said spring is conductive and wherein said means for detecting said closed position comprises: a contact disposed adjacent said pendulum; a first conductor connected to said spring; a second conductor connected to said contact; and means for detecting a closed circuit between said first and second conductors.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 198 words

A runners watch comprising: a case dimensioned to be worn on the wrist of the wearer; a wrist band connected to said case for supporting said case on the wrist of the wearer; a display face on said case; sensor means in said case for detecting the occurrence of strides of the wearer while the wearer is running; input means for inputting the number of strides required for the wearer to travel one-tenth of a mile; storage means for storing said number of strides; circuitry within said case responsive to said sensor means for computing the distance traveled by the wearer; circuitry within said case responsive to said sensor means for measuring the length of time required for the wearer to take a number of strides equal to the stored number of strides; circuitry within said case for multiplying the length of time required by the wearer to take the stored number of strides by a factor of 10; circuitry within said case for storing the multiplied length of time as computed rate of travel; means on said case for being operated for displaying said computed distance traveled and said computed rate of travel on said display face.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 198 words

A runners watch comprising: a case dimensioned to be worn on the wrist of the wearer; a wrist band connected to said case for supporting said case on the wrist of the wearer; a display face on said case; sensor means in said case for detecting the occurrence of strides of the wearer while the wearer is running; input means for inputting the number of strides required for the wearer to travel one-tenth of a mile; storage means for storing said number of strides; circuitry within said case responsive to said sensor means for computing the distance traveled by the wearer; circuitry within said case responsive to said sensor means for measuring the length of time required for the wearer to take a number of strides equal to the stored number of strides; circuitry within said case for multiplying the length of time required by the wearer to take the stored number of strides by a factor of 10; circuitry within said case for storing the multiplied length of time as computed rate of travel; means on said case for being operated for displaying said computed distance traveled and said computed rate of travel on said display face.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1986-06-06	1986-12-06	1987-06-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1990-06-06	1990-12-06	1991-06-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1994-06-06	1994-12-06	1995-06-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Runners watch

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