# US 7,743,656 B1 · System and method for measuring flexibility > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,743,656 B1 - Document ID: US7743656B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 12/337,616 - Filed: 2008-12-17 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2007-12-19 - Assignees: Physi-Cal Enterprises LP - Inventors: Elisabeth Dickinson; Manson Fei - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7743656B1 ## CPC - A63B 21/0552: {Elastic ropes or bands} - A63B 21/0555: {Details of the rope or band, e.g. shape or colour coding} - A63B 71/0622: {Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user} - A63B 2209/00: Characteristics of used materials - A63B 2220/51: Force - A63B 2225/20: with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like - A63B 2225/50: Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract An apparatus, method and system for measuring an individual's flexibility are disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a first flexible fabric strap portion, a flexible e-textile fabric portion, a monitoring device and a second flexible fabric strap portion connected to a second end of the monitoring device. The system further includes a communication device for receiving a signal from the apparatus and a computing device for processing the signal from the apparatus. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for measuring an individual's flexibility, the apparatus comprising: a first flexible fabric strap portion; a flexible e-textile fabric portion the flexible e-textile fabric portion connected to the flexible fabric strap portion; and a monitoring device having a first end and a second end, the monitoring device comprising a microprocessor, a display member, a plurality of control buttons, and means for wireless communication, the first end of the monitoring device connected to the flexible e-textile fabric portion wherein the flexible e-textile fabric portion is in electrical communication with the microprocessor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises a second flexible fabric strap portion connected to the monitoring device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the first flexible fabric portion and the second flexible fabric portion are composed of a nylon material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the display member is a liquid crystal display. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the wireless communication means is a BLUETOOTH device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus has a width, W, ranging from 1 centimeter to 5 centimeters, and a length, L, ranging from 1 meter to 3 meters. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 flexible e-textile fabric portion has a length, Le, ranging from 1 centimeter to 10 centimeters. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 flexible e-textile fabric portion has a width, We, ranging from 1 centimeter to 5 centimeters and a thickness ranging from 0.1 centimeter to 1.0 centimeter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus is a legging. ### Claim 10 A system for measuring an individual's flexibility, the system comprising: an apparatus for measuring an individual's flexibility and range of motion, the apparatus comprising a first flexible fabric strap portion, a flexible e-textile fabric portion having a first end and a second end, a first end of the flexible e-textile fabric portion connected to the flexible fabric strap portion, a monitoring device having a first end and a second end, the monitoring device comprising a microprocessor, a display member, and a plurality of control buttons, the first end of the monitoring device connected to the second end of the flexible e-textile fabric portion wherein the flexible e-textile fabric portion is in electrical communication with the microprocessor, a second flexible fabric strap portion connected to the second end of the monitoring device, and a wireless transceiver for transmitting a signal, the signal comprising a flexibility value for the individual; a communication device for receiving the signal from the apparatus; and a computing device for processing the signal from the apparatus. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10 wherein the communication device and the computing device are integrated as a single machine. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10 further comprising a network and wherein the communication device communicates with the computing device over the network. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system according to claim 12 wherein the network is the Internet. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system according to claim 13 wherein computing device is accessible through a website using a HTTP protocol. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10 wherein the communication device is a PDA or mobile telephone. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10 wherein the flexible e-textile fabric portion is composed of a textile fabric substrate and a nanolayer of a conductive material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10 wherein the apparatus has a length, L, ranging from 1 meter to 3 meters and a thickness ranging from 0.1 centimeter to 1.0 centimeter. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10 wherein the communication device is a watch configured to utilize a 2.4 gighertz communication protocol for receiving the signal from the apparatus, the watch comprising a display member for displaying the flexibility value, the strength value and the range of motion for the individual. ### Claim 19 A method for measuring an individual's flexibility, the method comprising: stretching an apparatus, the apparatus comprising a first flexible fabric strap portion, a flexible e-textile fabric portion having a first end and a second end, a first end of the flexible e-textile fabric portion connected to the flexible fabric strap portion, a monitoring device having a first end and a second end, the monitoring device comprising a microprocessor, a display member, and a plurality of control buttons, the first end of the monitoring device connected to the second end of the flexible e-textile fabric portion wherein the flexible e-textile fabric portion is in electrical communication with the microprocessor, and a second flexible fabric strap portion connected to the second end of the monitoring device; transmitting an electrical transmission through the flexible e-textile fabric portion; measuring the resistance of the electrical transmission through the flexible e-textile fabric portion to generate a resistance value; converting the resistance value into a flexibility value with the microprocessor; and displaying the flexibility value on the display member.