Method for calibrating a punching glove

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for calibrating a punching glove (2) which comprises a pressure sensor (3), using a test bench (1) which comprises a force sensor and at least two holding positions (x1, x2), wherein a punching glove (2) located at a holding position (x1, x2) can be accelerated in the direction of the force sensor, the method comprising the steps: positioning the punching glove (2) at a first holding position (x1) and accelerating the punching glove (2) in the direction of the force sensor, recording at least a measured pressure value (p1) and a measured force value (F1), repeating said steps, and generating a correlation function (4) comprising at least the recorded measured pressure values and measured force values associated with the first and the second holding position (x1, x2).

Description

[0001] Procedure for calibrating a batting glove

[0002] The invention relates to a method and a device for calibrating a batting glove comprising a pressure sensor which is preferably located within a fluid-filled airtight body.

[0003] Martial arts typically involve two or more athletes competing in a ring, attempting to strike each other with punches, kicks, or other physical contact. Examples of such martial arts covered by this description include boxing, karate, kickboxing, taekwondo, kung fu, etc.

[0004] For competition purposes, but also for training and other tests, it is desirable to quantify a punch or kick, e.g. by assigning a punch frequency, acceleration, force, a value derived from the acceleration or force, or a combined variable such as the punching technique to the punch or kick. Various variants are known for measuring acceleration, e.g. by means of a video analysis of the athlete's movement or by means of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) built into a punching glove. The documents US 2017 / 134712, US 2018 / 001141, US 2012 / 144414 and WO 2019 / 106672 are cited as examples. However, it has been shown that acceleration is not sufficient to detect a hit on the opponent's body, since the punching athlete can, for example, intentionally decelerate their hand before impact, whereby no or only minimal force is transferred.A direct force measurement would therefore be advantageous.

[0005] For example, in the study "Walilko, TJ, Viano, DC, & Bir, CA (2005). Biomechanics of the head for Olympic boxer punches to the face. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 39(10), 710-719," forces from punches to the head of a dummy were measured. It would be advantageous to obtain measurements that occur in practice to determine correlations with injuries or athlete performance.

[0006] However, direct force measurement is hardly possible, as no methods are known for this. However, the document WO 2020 / 041806 describes punching gloves with built-in fluid bodies. When a hit is landed on an opponent with these punching gloves, the fluid body is compressed or pressurized. According to Boyle's law, when an air-filled body is compressed, the internal pressure increases inversely proportional to the volume. According to the information in WO 2020 / 041806, the corresponding force for the respective hit area can be calculated for each measured pressure value. As known to those skilled in the art, the basic formula for this calculation is p = F * A, where p is the pressure, F is the force, and A is the respective area.

[0007] WO 2020 / 041806 further describes that different thicknesses of damping material can be present over the sensor body for different target areas. To account for this in the calculation, different damping factors could be used, for example, which are known to those skilled in the art and could be incorporated into the aforementioned formula, for example, as a multiplicative factor k, so that p = F * A * k.

[0008] However, it has been found that the accuracy of this calculation is not always sufficient to calculate a representative value for the force from the measured pressure.

[0009] It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide improvements for a punching glove with a pressure sensor in order to more accurately correlate the pressure measurement value with an actually occurring force.

[0010] This object is achieved by a method for calibrating a batting glove comprising a pressure sensor preferably within a fluid-filled body, characterized by the combination of the steps:

[0011] Providing a test bench comprising a force sensor, a receiving device for the punching glove, an impact surface and at least two holding positions, wherein the force sensor is provided either on the impact surface or in the receiving device and wherein a punching glove located at the respective holding position can be accelerated in the direction of the impact surface and is preferably guided along a linear guide (when the punching glove is located at the respective holding position, it is usually already fixed to the receiving device), positioning the punching glove at a first holding position and accelerating the punching glove (preferably by the acting force of gravity) in the direction of the impact surface,

[0012] Recording at least one first pressure measurement value measured by the pressure sensor of the batting glove and at least one first force measurement value measured by the force sensor, positioning the batting glove at a second holding position and accelerating the batting glove towards the force measuring plate,

[0013] Recording at least one second pressure measurement value measured by the pressure sensor of the batting glove and at least one second force measurement value measured by the force sensor,

[0014] Creating a correlation function comprising at least the recorded pressure measurements and force measurements associated with the first and second holding positions.

[0015] The solution according to the invention has the advantage that the measurement data from an internal sensor (in the punching glove) are linked with the measurement data from an external sensor (e.g. a force plate on the impact surface or a load cell on the holder for the punching glove) in order to create a correlation function. The correlation function can then be used to correlate the pressure measurements occurring during use (e.g. during a competition) with force values ​​with a high degree of accuracy. For example, the aforementioned method can be followed by the following steps: hitting with the punching glove, recording at least one pressure measurement value measured by the pressure sensor of the punching glove and reading out at least one associated force value from the correlation function. This eliminates the need to perform a calculation that would have to include a previously stored area and, if applicable, damping factors.

[0016] The method according to the invention also has the advantage that different correlation functions can be created for different batting gloves. These correlation functions can, in particular, be created by the manufacturer and delivered on a data storage device with the batting gloves. This also ensures a particularly high level of user-friendliness, as the user does not have to perform the calculations themselves, but only needs to apply the existing correlation function to the measured pressure values.

[0017] As explained above, the positioning and repeating steps are repeated for at least two different holding positions. However, in order to create the correlation function even more precisely, it is preferable to repeat the positioning and recording steps for more than two different holding positions, preferably for at least five or at least eight different holding positions. Furthermore, it can be provided that the positioning and repeating steps are also repeated at least once for the same holding position in order to verify the recording. In one variant, it could be provided that only the maximum pressure measurement value and the maximum force measurement value are recorded, i.e. each test process comprising the positioning, acceleration and recording steps only leads to a single data pair. This makes it particularly easy to create the correlation function because the data pairs can simply be plotted on a coordinate system.

[0018] After two or more data pairs have been recorded or entered into the coordinate system (which may only be numerical and not graphical), additional data pairs can be added by interpolation or extrapolation, which can be done using well-known mathematical methods. Optionally, a mathematical function could also be created that maps all previously recorded data pairs, with the mathematical function preferably being a logarithmic function. The function could be determined in advance (e.g., if it is known that the correlation function will have a logarithmic form), so that only the additive and / or multiplicative factors of the function need to be determined from the data pairs.

[0019] In a further embodiment, however, not only the maximum pressure measurement value or the maximum force measurement value could be recorded, but also a "profile" of the pressure and / or the force measured over time (e.g., over a contact time). In other words, a chronological sequence of pressure measurements and / or a chronological sequence of force measurements can be recorded in the recording step, wherein the chronological sequence preferably begins from a maximum pressure measurement value and / or from a maximum force measurement value or even before. This has the advantage that not only can the maximum pressure be converted into a representative force value, but also the entire "impact profile" can be determined.It should be noted that this is not a direct conversion from pressure to force, since the temporal pressure distribution in the sensor pad of the punching glove does not directly correlate with the outwardly acting force due to the dynamic conditions after a punch.

[0020] At this point it should be emphasized that there is usually a rising edge before the maximum pressure measurement value or before the maximum force measurement value in the time course and a falling edge after the maximum pressure measurement value or after the maximum force measurement value in the time course. One or both edges can be determined. The force measurements during these edges cannot always be calculated from the pressure values ​​in the same way as the maximum values. This is because the mechanical properties of the individual materials may have different effects in the sub-maximum range, which can result in a different calculation function in areas of submaximal load. For easier processing the edges can be divided into parts, e.g. into quartiles. For easier processing the parts can be set in relation to the maximum value in order to create a different calculation function.

[0021] Since the recorded data in the latter case is no longer formed by a simple data pair, it is no longer directly possible to store it in a two-dimensional coordinate system. This also makes it more difficult to interpolate or extrapolate further data points. In the simplest case, however, the steps of positioning, accelerating, and recording could simply be repeated several times to obtain as many reference points as possible for the correlation function. During operation, the pressure curve can then be measured and, for example, the most similar previously measured pressure curve can be found in the correlation function, and the corresponding force curve of this most similar pressure curve can be output for the measured pressure curve.

[0022] However, the above statements do not mean that interpolation or extrapolation of further data points for the correlation function is impossible. In particular, further data points could be interpolated or extrapolated, i.e., added, to the correlation function using a machine learning algorithm. In other words, the measured pressure curves and the associated measured force curves can be fed to a machine learning algorithm, which then outputs the correlation function if necessary. If a pressure curve is measured during use, it can be fed to the machine learning algorithm or the correlation function, resulting in a force curve.

[0023] Furthermore, the mechanical properties of the batting glove can be incorporated into the creation of the correlation function or calculated from the correlation function. If the mechanical properties of the batting glove are to be incorporated into the creation of the correlation function, they can be stored in a database, for example. If, for example, it is known that the foam of the batting glove has lower damping above a certain threshold value, a different mathematical function can be used before and after the threshold value and inserted into the data pairs. On the other hand, an already determined correlation function could be used to read out which mechanical properties or damping characteristics, for example, the foam or the outer skin of the fluid-filled body of the batting glove has. This could also be used to evaluate whether a batting glove is still suitable for use.

[0024] The following are examples of why different materials affect pressure changes differently:

[0025] A) The fluid-filled body influences the pressure at the sensor in that the elasticity of the material at the non-contact surface increases the total area of ​​the fluid-filled body and thus reduces the pressure per area.

[0026] B) The foam around the fluid-filled body dampens the impact force directly through its mechanical properties or compression resistance.

[0027] C) The leather distributes the pressure of the acting surface over the total surface in proportion to the elastic properties (the more elastic and loose the tension, the lower the pressure distribution).

[0028] All materials have a different underlying function in terms of pressure change and therefore act in different ratios when subjected to different forces.

[0029] Furthermore, the correlation function could be created for the batting glove in two or more different states of wear. In other words, the correlation function is first created, for example, for a new batting glove. Then, several thousand (e.g., 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, or 10,000) repetitions of the positioning and acceleration steps from a predetermined holding function could be carried out to simulate wear of the batting glove. After that, another correlation function is created that will differ from the first-mentioned correlation function because, for example, the damping properties of the batting glove's foam may have changed. If a new batting glove is to be used for a competition or the like, the first-mentioned correlation function is used to convert the measured pressure into a force.However, if it is known that the batting glove has already undergone a certain amount of wear, the second correlation function is used. It is understood that more than two correlation functions could be created for the same batting glove in several different states of wear.

[0030] In a further aspect, the invention relates to a device for calibrating a batting glove with a pressure sensor, the device further comprising a test bench with a force sensor, a receiving device for the batting glove, an impact surface and at least two holding positions, wherein the force sensor is provided either on the impact surface or in the receiving device and wherein the test bench is designed such that a batting glove located in the respective holding position can be accelerated in the direction of the impact surface, wherein the device further comprises an evaluation unit which is designed to receive and record pressure measured values ​​measured by the pressure sensor of the batting glove and to receive and record force measured values ​​measured by the force sensor, wherein the evaluation unit is further designed to create a correlation function,which comprises at least two recorded pressure measurements and force measurements associated with a first and second holding position.

[0031] The advantages and variants mentioned for the process are also used in this device.

[0032] According to the invention, a striking glove with a pressure sensor can further be provided, wherein the striking glove further comprises a computing unit and a correlation function which was created using the aforementioned method, wherein the computing unit is designed to assign force values ​​to the pressure measurement values ​​measured by the pressure sensor by means of the correlation function.

[0033] Advantageous and non-limiting embodiments of the invention set out in the claims are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0034] Figure 1 shows a variant of the test bench used in the method according to the invention.

[0035] Figure 2 shows a batting glove that can be used in the present invention.

[0036] Figure 3 shows a diagram in which data pairs of pressure measurements and force measurements are entered, which were determined using the test bench of Figure 1.

[0037] Figures 4a and 4b show diagrams in which a profile of the pressure curve and force curve, respectively, is plotted over time during a test procedure with the test bench of Figure 1.

[0038] Figure 1 shows a test bench 1 for a batting glove 2, which includes a pressure sensor 3. If the batting glove 2 is worn on one hand, for example, by an athlete, the pressure occurring in the pressure sensor during a batting action can be measured. Prior art assumed that the pressure had a predetermined relationship to the force exerted during the batting action. However, it has been found that this relationship cannot be predicted with sufficient accuracy. As explained below, the test bench 1 is used to create a correlation function 4, by means of which the measured pressure can be converted into an actually occurring force.

[0039] Before the test bench 1 and the correlation function 4 are discussed, an example structure of a batting glove 2 that can be used for the invention presented here is explained with reference to Figure 2. The batting glove 2, like almost any other batting glove 2, comprises a foam body 5, on the outside of which a leather cover 6 can be located. The pressure sensor 3, which can be formed, for example, by a container 8 filled with fluid 7, is embedded in the foam body 5. A sensor 9 located in the container 8 can measure the fluid pressure and send it via cable or wirelessly to an external unit, e.g. to an evaluation unit 10 or to a computing unit 11. The difference between the evaluation unit 10 and the computing unit 11 is that the evaluation unit 10 receives pressure measurements and force measurements and creates the correlation function 4 from them.In contrast, the correlation function 4 is already stored in the computing unit 11, so that the computing unit can receive pressure measurements, apply them to the correlation function 4, and subsequently output the corresponding force values. The evaluation unit 10 is thus used in advance in conjunction with the test bench 2 and is not required for the operation of the punching glove 2. The computing unit 11, however, is used during the operation of the punching glove 2 to output the force values ​​corresponding to the measured pressure values. However, the evaluation unit 10 and the computing unit 11 could also be formed by the same unit.

[0040] If the punching glove 2 is struck against an object, this can be detected by the pressure sensor 3. During a strike, at least a portion of the foam body 5 and the leather cover 6 are typically located between the object and the pressure sensor 3. However, it is understood that the invention described herein is not limited to this specific design of the punching glove 2, but can also be used with any other punching glove 2 that includes a pressure sensor 3.

[0041] To create the correlation function 4, by means of which the pressure measurements provided by the pressure sensor 3 can be converted into actually occurring force values, the test bench 1 shown in Figure 1 is used. The test bench 1 comprises a typically substantially horizontally arranged force plate 12, which measures and outputs force measurements, and at least two holding positions x1, x2. The force plate 12 can have a sensor range of, for example, up to 4.5 kN or 5 kN, since these are the largest expected force measurements.

[0042] In the example shown, the holding positions xl, x2 are located at different distances vertically above the force plate 12. If the punching glove 2 is now moved to one of the holding positions xl, x2 and dropped, it is accelerated by gravity toward the force plate 12. An iteration of positioning and acceleration is referred to below as the test procedure. Due to the different distances of the holding positions xl, x2 from the force plate 12, the punching glove will impact the force plate 1 at a different speed, so that dropping it from the two holding positions xl, x2 will lead to different maximum pressure measured values ​​or maximum force measured values ​​- or more generally, to different curves of the pressure measured values ​​or force measured values.

[0043] In order to automate this test bench 1, the striking glove 2 can be placed on a holding device (not shown in detail), which can also be loaded with a certain mass (e.g. 3 kg). The holding device can preferably have the shape of a human hand in order to better simulate the actual conditions. The holding device is preferably mounted on a linear guide, on which the holding device can move up and down essentially vertically. By means of an optional motor, the holding device can now be moved from the force plate 12 to the respective holding position xl, x2 and then decoupled from the motor, so that the holding device with the striking glove 2 is accelerated to the force plate 12 by gravity.However, the motor could also accelerate the support device toward the force plate 12, allowing accelerations greater or smaller than the acceleration due to gravity. In this manner, the force plate 12 could also be arranged vertically, and the linear guide could allow the support device to move horizontally when it is accelerated by the motor toward the force plate 12. Other angular positions are also possible.

[0044] In order to record and correlate the pressure and force measurements, the pressure sensor 3 of the striking glove 2 and the force plate 12 are connected to the evaluation unit 10. The evaluation unit 10 can either record only the maximum pressure measurement or the maximum force measurement that occurs during a test procedure, or the evaluation unit 10 can record the entire temporal progression of the pressure measurements or the force measurements, e.g. starting from the maximum pressure measurement or force measurement and over a predefined period or up to a threshold value. If necessary, the recording could also begin before the maximum measurements. It should be emphasized that in order to provide the temporal progression of the pressure measurements or the force measurements, the pressure sensor 3 and the force plate 12 can output these at time intervals, e.g. at a rate of 1000 Hz.Preferably, the pressure sensor 3 and the force plate 12 output the respective measured values ​​at the same rate.

[0045] With reference to Figure 3, the creation of the correlation function 4 is now explained when the evaluation unit 10 only records the maximum pressure measurement values ​​or the maximum force measurement values.

[0046] In a first test procedure, the striking glove 2 is brought to the first holding position xl, whereby dropping it from the holding position xl onto the force plate 12 results in a first pressure measurement value p1, which is measured by the pressure sensor 3, and a first force measurement value F1, which is measured by the force plate 12. The striking glove 2 is then brought to the second holding position x2, whereby dropping the striking glove 2 from the second holding position xl onto the force plate 12 results in a second pressure measurement value p2, which is measured by the pressure sensor 3, and a second force measurement value F2, which is measured by the force plate 12. These measured values ​​are plotted in the diagram of Figure 3 in a coordinate system, with the pressure p plotted on the y-axis and the force F plotted on the x-axis.

[0047] As soon as at least two data pairs have been entered into the coordinate system, further points can be interpolated or extrapolated. This can be done using known mathematical methods which will not be discussed in detail. As a first approximation, for example, a linear curve could be assumed. However, if several tests are carried out and all associated data pairs are entered into the coordinate system, it becomes apparent that there is generally a logarithmic relationship between force and pressure. In practice, it has proven useful to record between 5 and 10 data pairs, i.e. test procedures are carried out from 5 to 10 different holding positions. At this point it should be mentioned that the test procedures could be repeated from the same holding position and the data pair is generated, for example, as an average value of the measurements. This can be provided for all of the embodiments explained here.Once 5 to 10 data pairs have been entered into the coordinate system, a mathematical function can be entered with great precision that encompasses the data pairs as best as possible. As already mentioned, it has been found that this will usually be a logarithmic function. Armed with this knowledge, the logarithmic function could also be pre-modeled, e.g., as p = a + b * In (F + c), where p is the pressure, F is the force, and a, b, and c are constants determined from measured data pairs. It is therefore not essential to record as many data pairs as possible, although this will increase accuracy.

[0048] Using the method described above, the correlation function 4 for a batting glove 2 can be obtained. However, it has been found that a batting glove 2 is subject to degradation during use, for example because the elasticity of the foam body 5 decreases or the tension of the leather cover 6 weakens. This does not mean, however, that a batting glove 2 must be disposed of immediately; rather, it can continue to be used. It is therefore advantageous if another correlation function 4' is created for a degraded batting glove 2'. Although the batting glove 2 and the degraded batting glove 2' are structurally identical, the degraded batting glove 2 has slightly changed material properties due to wear. To create the another correlation function 4', a degraded batting glove 2' that has actually been used can be used.However, it is preferred if a new batting glove 2 is first provided, for which the correlation function 4 is initially created as described above. The batting glove 2 is then subjected to several—usually several thousand—test operations from one of the holding positions x1, x2 (usually the highest holding position x2) to simulate wear. In this case, the data pairs do not need to be recorded; that is, only the positioning and acceleration steps are performed. The further correlation function 4' is then created, as was the case above for the first-mentioned correlation function 4.

[0049] The result, i.e. these two correlation functions 4, 4' of the same batting glove 2, 2' in different states of wear, can be seen in Figure 3. As shown, the data pairs p1', F1' and p2', F2' of the further correlation function 4' will usually be "larger" than the corresponding data pairs p1, F1 and p2, F2 of the correlation function 4, which are assigned to the same holding position xl, x2, since, for example, the foam body 6 has lower damping properties. It should be noted, however, that the correlation functions 4, 4' are only shown schematically in Figure 3. As can be seen from the two correlation functions 4, 4', the material properties, i.e. the mechanical properties, of the batting glove 2 play a significant role in the shape of the correlation function 4, 4'.A further insight of the invention is that the previously known material properties can also be used to model the correlation function more precisely. For example, if it is known that the damping properties of the foam body 5 decrease abruptly above a certain (pressure or force) threshold value, two different partial correlation functions can be used to create correlation function 4, with one partial correlation function describing correlation function 4 before the threshold value, and the other partial correlation function describing correlation function 4 after the threshold value.

[0050] Conversely, the material properties of the hitting glove 2 could also be determined from the correlation function 4, 4'. For example, the two correlation functions 4, 4' can be measured and stored in advance. Afterwards, for a different hitting glove 2, which is, however, of the same type (i.e., the same model), another test procedure can be carried out, e.g. from the holding position xl (or generally a new correlation function 4 can be created for this hitting glove 2). If this data pair now lies on the correlation function 4, it can be concluded that this is a new hitting glove 2. If, however, the data pair lies on the further correlation function 4', it can be concluded that this is a degraded hitting glove 2'.

[0051] With reference to Figures 4a and 4b, it will now be explained that the aforementioned method can also be used to determine further properties of a punch delivered using the punching glove 2. As explained previously, in the coordinate system of Figure 3, only the maximum pressure measurement value and the maximum force measurement value were recorded, thus generating the data pair. However, in the case of a punch, not only the maximum punch force can be relevant, but also, for example, the force behavior during the punch, i.e. a force curve before and after the maximum pressure measurement value or force measurement value. Figure 4a shows the pressure curve 13 that was measured by the pressure sensor 3 during a single test procedure from the holding position xl. It can be seen that the pressure is initially stiff, then a pressure peak is measured approximately in the middle over time, and then a decreasing and oscillating pressure behavior is measured.If each data point were converted individually using the correlation function 4, one would expect that the force plate 12 would also initially measure a force peak and, before and after, a decreasing and oscillating force behavior. Surprisingly, this is not the case; instead, in some cases the force plate 12 measures a force peak and, before and after, a linearly decreasing, i.e., non-oscillating, force behavior. This measured force curve 14 is shown schematically in Figure 4b. It is assumed that the oscillating pressure behavior in the punching glove occurs due to the internal boundary conditions in the punching glove, e.g., due to the limited volume of the container 8 and the foam body 5 enclosed in the leather cover 6. However, these internal oscillations are not transmitted to the outside, or not to the same extent, so that the force plate 12 detects a different force behavior.

[0052] This information can now be used to expand the correlation function 4. Thus, during a test procedure from a holding position xl, x2, not only the maximum pressure or the maximum force is measured, but a temporal sequence of pressure measurements and / or a temporal sequence of force measurements. The temporal sequence usually contains a rising edge before the respective maximum value and a falling edge after the respective maximum value. However, this multitude of information does not always make it possible to use a two-dimensional coordinate system such as in Figure 3. For example, the shapes of pressure curves could be classified so that for each previously classified shape of pressure curve (e.g. a specific oscillation behavior in the pressure curve 13), a correspondingly classified force curve 14 is assigned, whereby this assignment is part of the correlation function 4.The classification can also extend corresponding data points of the correlation function 4.

[0053] In practice, however, it is more appropriate to use a machine learning algorithm instead of manual classification. For this purpose, a few test procedures can initially be carried out from several holding positions x1, x2. In order to record different temporal profiles of the pressure or force for the same maximum pressure and force measured values, the force plate 12 could optionally be adjustable by an angle and / or an adjustable spring system could be provided between the punching glove 2 and a holder for the punching glove 2 on the test bench 1. Subsequently, several test procedures could be carried out from a single holding position x1, x2 with such modifications, i.e., several different angular positions of the force plate 12 or several different spring settings.This allows as many different pressure and force curves as possible to be recorded, which can also have the same maximum pressure or maximum force. These results can then be fed into the machine learning algorithm, which outputs the correlation function 4 or generates it itself. When the punching glove 2 is used in practice, its pressure sensor 3 records a temporal pressure curve 13 during a punch, which is fed into the correlation function 4. The machine learning algorithm or the correlation function 4 outputs the corresponding temporal force curve 14 as a result, which is based on the previously input "data pairs" of measured pressure curves and measured force curves.

[0054] In the embodiments explained above, the force measuring plate 12 serves as a force sensor provided on an impact surface. In other words, the force measuring plate comprises the impact surface and the force sensor. In other embodiments, however, it could be provided that a simple impact surface is used instead of the force measuring plate, e.g. a rigid plate or even a model head without a force measuring function. In this case, a force sensor (e.g. a load cell) could be provided in the holder for the striking glove. Surprisingly, it has been found that the force sensor can also be placed in the holder and the force does not have to be measured directly on the struck object (here the impact surface).The reason for this seems to be that the impact force is the integral of the mass of the holding device and the glove times the braking acceleration upon impact, so that it should be irrelevant whether the force sensor is located in the striking object or on the struck object.

[0055] Figure 1 shows that the fluid-filled chamber with the pressure sensor is arranged on the front of the punching glove 2 to detect a punch. However, it is understood that the punching glove 2 could also comprise two or more fluid-filled chambers. Alternatively or additionally, a second fluid-filled chamber with a second pressure sensor could be used, located on the back of the hand to detect a back of the hand strike. Alternatively or additionally, a third fluid-filled chamber with a third pressure sensor could be used, located in the thumb area to detect an inner hand edge strike. With fluid-filled chambers arranged in this way, all permitted boxing techniques in kickboxing could be covered.For such a striking glove 2 with two or more fluid-filled chambers, each with its own pressure sensor, a separate calibration could be performed for each pressure sensor as described above. For this purpose, the mounting device for the striking glove 2 could be rotated with respect to the direction of acceleration, so that the striking glove 2 impacts the impact surface with the front side for first calibration processes, with the back of the hand for second calibration processes, and in the thumb area for third calibration processes. This allows two or more correlation functions 4 to be generated for the respective pressure sensors.

Claims

Claims:

1. A method for calibrating a batting glove (2) comprising a pressure sensor (3), characterized by the combination of the steps: Providing a test bench (1) which comprises a force sensor, a receiving device for the striking glove, an impact surface and at least two holding positions (xl, x2), wherein the force sensor is provided either on the impact surface or in the receiving device and wherein a striking glove (2) located on the respective holding position (xl, x2) can be accelerated in the direction of the impact surface and is preferably guided along a linear guide (L), Positioning the striking glove (2) at a first holding position (xl) and accelerating the striking glove (2) in the direction of the impact surface, recording at least one first pressure measurement value (pl) measured by the pressure sensor (3) of the striking glove (2) and at least one first force measurement value (Fl) measured by the force sensor, Positioning the striking glove (2) at a second holding position (x2) and accelerating the striking glove (2) in the direction of the impact surface, recording at least one second pressure measurement value (p2) measured by the pressure sensor (3) of the striking glove (2) and at least one second force measurement value (F2) measured by the force sensor, Creating a correlation function (4) comprising at least the recorded pressure measurement values ​​(pl, p2) and force measurement values ​​(Fl, F2) associated with the first and second holding positions (xl, x2).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the recording step only one maximum pressure measurement value and one maximum force measurement value are recorded.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the maximum pressure measurement value and the maximum force measurement value of a respective holding position (xl, x2) are linked as a data pair and a mathematical function is formed which maps all data pairs, wherein the mathematical function is preferably a logarithmic function.

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein in the recording step a time sequence of pressure measurement values ​​and / or a time sequence of force measurement values ​​is recorded, wherein the time sequence preferably begins from a maximum pressure measurement value and / or from a maximum force measurement value.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein further data points of the correlation function (4) are interpolated or extrapolated by means of a machine algorithm.

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the mechanical properties of the striking glove (2) are calculated from the correlation function (4).

7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the mechanical properties of the striking glove (2) are stored in a database and used to create the correlation function (4).

8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the correlation function (4) is created for the batting glove (2) in two different states of wear.

9. A device for calibrating a batting glove (2) comprising a pressure sensor (3), comprising a test bench (1) with a force sensor, a receiving device for the batting glove, an impact surface, and at least two holding positions (x1, x2), wherein the force sensor is provided either on the impact surface or in the receiving device, and wherein the test bench (1) is designed such that a batting glove (2) located at the respective holding position (x1, x2) can be accelerated in the direction of the impact surface, wherein the device further comprises an evaluation unit (10) designed to receive and record pressure measurements measured by the pressure sensor (3) of the batting glove (2) and to receive and record force measurements measured by the force sensor, wherein the evaluation unit (10) is further designed to create a correlation function (4),which comprises at least two recorded pressure measurements and force measurements associated with a first and second holding position (xl, x2).

10. Device according to claim 9, wherein the evaluation unit (10) is designed to record a maximum pressure measurement value and a maximum force measurement value, wherein the evaluation unit (10) is preferably further designed to link the maximum pressure measurement value and the maximum force measurement value of a respective holding position (xl, x2) as a data pair and to form a mathematical function which maps all data pairs, wherein the mathematical function is preferably a logarithmic function.

11. Device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the evaluation unit (10) is designed to record a temporal sequence of pressure measurement values ​​and / or a temporal sequence of force measurement values, wherein the temporal sequence preferably begins from a maximum pressure measurement value and / or from a maximum force measurement value.

12. Device according to one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the evaluation unit (10) is designed to interpolate or extrapolate further data points of the correlation function (4) by means of a machine learning algorithm.

13. Device according to one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the evaluation unit (10) is designed to calculate the mechanical properties of the batting glove (2) from the correlation function (4), or wherein the mechanical properties of the batting glove (2) are stored in a database which the evaluation unit (10) is designed to use the mechanical properties to create the correlation function.

14. Device according to one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the evaluation unit (10) is designed to create the correlation function (4) for the batting glove (2) in two different states of wear.

15. A striking glove (2) with a pressure sensor (3), characterized in that the striking glove (2) further comprises a computing unit (11) and a correlation function (4) which was created using a method according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the computing unit (11) is designed to assign force values ​​to the pressure measurement values ​​measured by the pressure sensor (3) by means of the correlation function (4).

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