Dance pad

Abstract

A dance pad having a plurality of conductive panels and incorporating a design which prevents electrostatic discharge from damaging electrical circuitry is disclosed. The dance pad provides the user with a tactile responsive feel, due to the use of resilient spacers and has a tapered perimeter to prevent tripping. The dance pad further incorporates a five handle perimeter design and a means for providing performance feedback to the user which can be audio, visual or vibrational.

1 . A dance pad for use by an individual comprising:
 a plurality of conductive panels;   at least one conductive lead for each conductive panel;   a conductive base;   a shell having:   a) a set of panel appropriately sized apertures for positioning a respective one of said plurality of conductive panels within;   b) a plurality of elongated handle apertures formed near the outer periphery of said shell; and,   c) a tapered outer periphery;   a respective insulation layer positioned upon said conductive base directly below a respective one of said plurality of conductive panels;   a conductive sheet attached to the top surface of each respective insulation layer;   a means for interconnecting said conductive panels to said conductive base;   a plurality of compressible, spacers substantially positioned about the periphery of each insulation layer, spaced apart from one another; and,   in response to a sufficient load being placed upon the top surface of at least one of said substantially square conductive panels by the individual's foot to compress said spacers and said conductive lead, the bottom surface of said conductive panel contacts said conductive sheet.   
     
     
         2 . The dance pad of  claim 1  wherein said shell is selected from the group consisting of: thermoplastic, polycarbonate, polyurethane, or an elastomeric rubberized compound. 
     
     
         3 . The dance pad of  claim 1  further comprising a microprocessor; a means for communicating with a remote computer, operatively connected to said microprocessor; a display screen operatively connected to said microprocessor; a power source for operating said microprocessor, and said display screen; and electrical circuitry operably connecting said microprocessor to each of said conductive panels. 
     
     
         4 . The dance pad of  claim 1  wherein the compression of said spacers and said conductive lead creates potential energy which is communicated to the individual's foot in the form of a tactile feel as the sufficient load is withdrawn and said respective conductive panel displaces upward. 
     
     
         5 . The dance pad of  claim 1  where said shell further comprises length and width dimensions forming a generally butterfly exterior configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The dance pad of  claim 1  wherein said conductive base is made from aluminum. 
     
     
         7 . The dance pad of  claim 5  wherein said conductive base includes a plurality of holes for liquid drainage. 
     
     
         8 . The dance pad of  claim 1  where at least one anti-skid cushion is attached to said conductive base. 
     
     
         9 . The dance pad of  claim 1  wherein said conductive panels are made from stainless steel. 
     
     
         10 . The dance pad of  claim 1  wherein said conductive panels are embossed. 
     
     
         11 . The dance pad of  claim 1  wherein said conductive base includes a plurality of holes for drainage. 
     
     
         12 . A dance pad having a microprocessor, a means for communicating with a remote computer, a plurality of conductive panels operatively connected to the microprocessor and responsive to the force applied by a user's foot, the improvement comprising:
 a. a plurality of compressible, resilient spacers substantially positioned about the periphery of each conductive panel and disposed between said each conductive panel and an electrical contact;   b. at least one compressible conical spring disposed between each conductive panel and said electrical contact;   where in response to a sufficient load being placed upon the top surface of at least one of the conductive panels by a user's foot said spacers and said compressible conical spring compress and the bottom surface of a respective conductive panel contacts said electrical contact creating potential energy which is thereafter communicated to the user's foot in the form of a tactile feel as the sufficient load is withdrawn and said respective conductive panel displaces upward.   
     
     
         13 . A dance pad having a microprocessor, a means for communicating with a remote computer, and a plurality of conductive panels operatively connected to the microprocessor and responsive to the force applied by a user's foot, the improvement comprising a means for providing performance feedback to the user. 
     
     
         14 . The dance pad of  claim 13  wherein said means for providing performance feedback further comprises a signal selected from the group consisting of: visual feedback, audio feedback, vibrational feedback or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . A dance pad for use by a participant comprising:
 a microprocessor, a means for communicating with a remote computer, a plurality of conductive panels operatively connected to said microprocessor and responsive to the force applied by a participant's foot; and,   a visual display operatively connected to said microprocessor for providing performance feedback to the user.   
     
     
         16 . A dance pad for use by a participant comprising:
 a microprocessor, a means for communicating with a remote computer, a plurality of conductive panels operatively connected to said microprocessor and responsive to the force applied by a participant's foot; and a means for preventing electrostatic discharge from damaging said microprocessor.   
     
     
         17 . The dance pad of  claim 16  wherein said means for preventing electrostatic discharge comprises:
 a conductive base plate;   at least one conductive lead for each conductive panel; and,   a means for interconnecting said conductive panels to said conductive base.   
     
     
         18 . The dance pad of  claim 17  wherein said means for interconnecting said conductive panels to said conductive base comprises: a respective insulation layer positioned upon said conductive base plate directly below a respective one of said plurality of conductive panels;
 a conductive sheet attached to the top surface of each respective insulation layer; and,   at least one pair of apertures, one aperture through a respective insulation layer and the other aperture through said conductive sheet, said aperture pair having a common axis of symmetry to one another and having a suitable diameter for a conical spring to be disposed within said aperture and connected on a first end to said conductive base and on the other end to a respective conductive panel.   
     
     
         19 . The dance pad of  claim 18  where the diameter of said pair of apertures is sufficient to create an air gap preventing electrostatic discharge from discharging from one of said conductive leads to a respective said conductive sheet. 
     
     
         20 . A dance pad comprising:
 a microprocessor, a means for communicating with a remote computer, a plurality of conductive panels operatively connected to said microprocessor, the dance pad further having a generally 4 sided exterior configuration having at least two handles on each of two opposing sides and a single handle on one of the other sides.   
     
     
         21 . A dance pad for use by an individual comprising:
 a plurality of substantially square conductive panels;   at least one conical spring connected to a respective conductive panel;   a conductive base plate to which each of said conical springs are connected;   a shell comprising:   a) a set of panel appropriately sized apertures for positioning a respective one of said plurality of conductive panels within;   b) a plurality of elongated handle apertures formed near the outer periphery of said shell; and,   c) a tapered outer periphery;   a respective insulation layer positioned upon said conductive base plate directly below a respective one of said plurality of substantially square conductive panels;   a conductive sheet attached to the top surface of each respective insulation layer;   at least one pair of apertures, one aperture through a respective insulation layer and the other aperture through said conductive sheet, said aperture pair having a common axis of symmetry to one another and having a suitable diameter for a respective said conical spring to be positioned;   a plurality of compressible, spacers substantially positioned about the periphery of each insulation layer, spaced apart from one another; and,   in response to a sufficient load being placed upon the top surface of at least one of said substantially square conductive panels by the individual's foot to compress said spacers and said conductive lead, the bottom surface of said substantially square conductive panel contacts said conductive sheet.   
     
     
         22 . The dance pad of  claim 21  wherein said shell is selected from the group consisting of: thermoplastic, polyurethane, or an elastomeric rubberized compound. 
     
     
         23 . The dance pad of  claim 21  further comprising a microprocessor; a means for communicating with a remote computer operatively connected to said microprocessor; a display screen operatively connected to said microprocessor; a power source for operating said microprocessor, and said display screen; and electrical circuitry operably connecting said microprocessor to each of said substantially square conductive panels.