Sporting Equipment Fit Using Body Segments and Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the correct size of sporting equipment, such as bike frames, are inadequate for users with out-of-the-norm body segment ratios and do not account for mobility restrictions, leading to discomfort and difficulty in achieving optimal riding positions.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that uses video or image data to determine body segment lengths and mobility, generating a user model to select equipment that fits the user's body shape and mobility, incorporating a calibration factor and mobility assessment to optimize the fit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If standardized sizing formulas based on rider height and inseam are used, then the sizing process is simple and quick, but the fit accuracy deteriorates for users with out-of-the-norm body segment ratios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the body into multiple distinct parts (thigh, shin, torso, arm, forearm) rather than using overall height and inseam measurements. This allows each segment to be measured and evaluated independently, capturing the nuanced proportions of users with out-of-the-norm body segment ratios while maintaining a systematic approach to sizing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional standardized charts to three-dimensional body scanning and modeling. By capturing depth information and generating 3D avatars, the system accurately represents complex body geometries and segment proportions that cannot be captured by traditional 2D measurements, thereby improving fit accuracy for diverse body types.
2Ease of operation
If traditional sizing methods are used, then the equipment selection process is straightforward, but mobility restrictions are not accounted for
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary mobility assessments and flexibility evaluations before equipment selection. By capturing range of motion data and identifying mobility restrictions in advance, the system can pre-adjust recommendations to accommodate users with back issues, limited flexibility, or other mobility constraints, ensuring they can achieve proper riding positions without discomfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts equipment sizing parameters based on mobility assessment results. For users with restricted mobility, the system modifies recommended frame sizes, reach distances, and positioning parameters to ensure comfortable and achievable riding positions, thereby enhancing adaptability while maintaining a streamlined selection process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If average body shape assumptions are made, then the sizing system is universally applicable, but individual body proportion variations are not captured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by measuring and analyzing each body segment (thigh, shin, torso, arm, forearm) with specific attention to its unique characteristics and proportions. Rather than applying a uniform sizing approach based on average body shapes, the system captures localized segment measurements and uses them to generate personalized equipment recommendations that account for individual proportion variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates accurate digital copies (3D avatars) of individual users' bodies based on scan data. These virtual models replicate the user's specific body geometry and segment proportions, allowing the system to simulate equipment fit and positioning on a precise digital replica rather than relying on average body shape assumptions, thereby maintaining universal applicability while capturing individual variations.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for determining a proper fit of a sporting equipment are disclosed. The method includes receiving, at a processor, from a camera video or image data of a user comprising a series of movements of the user; detecting, at the processor, coordinates of a plurality of joints of the user from the video or image data; generating, at the processor, a calibrated body segment length of the user; assessing, at the processor, mobility of the user based on the video or image data; generating, at the processor, a model of the user using the calibrated segment length; and selecting, at the processor, the sporting equipment based on the model.