Interactive step-type gymnastics practice device

Abstract

The invention relates to an interactive gymnastics practice device which is used together with an image and sound system forming the gymnastics program to be followed by a user, comprising a first level of generally-pressure-sensitive surfaces, the surfaces extending essentially in a continuous manner and in substantially the same plane. The invention is characterized in that the device comprises at least one second level of surfaces which are pressure sensitive or which can control an action in response to a pressure, the second level surfaces extending essentially in a continuous manner and in substantially the same plane.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for performing interactive gymnastics in association with an image and sound system that includes a gymnastics program to be followed by a user, said device comprising a protuberant object in the shape of a parallelepiped block, said block comprising;:
 one top surface for receiving the feet of a user; 
 at least two analog weight sensors each able to send to the image and sound system a signal that varies depending on the weight applied by the feet of the user on the top surface for causing an action to take place in response to the signal; 
 at least one command button located on a vertical face of said block. 
 
     
     
       2. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said weight sensors are located under said block. 
     
     
       3. The device according to  claim 2 , wherein said block comprises four weight sensors under said block. 
     
     
       4. The device according to  claim 3 , wherein said block comprises four legs located under said block. 
     
     
       5. The device according to  claim 4 , wherein said weight sensors are pressure-sensitive sensors. 
     
     
       6. The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the signal sent to the image and sound system causes a response in a choreography program. 
     
     
       7. The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the signal sent to the image and sound system causes a response in a step program. 
     
     
       8. A method for performing interactive gymnastics in association with an image and sound system, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a device according to  claim 1 ; 
 applying weight on the top surface by the feet of a user; and 
 sending to the image and sound system a signal from at least one analog weight sensor that varies depending on the weight applied by the feet of the user. 
 
     
     
       9. A The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the signal sent to the image and sound system causes a response in a choreography program. 
     
     
       10. A The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the signal sent to the image and sound system causes a response in a step program. 
     
     
       11. A device for doing interactive gymnastics in association with an image and sound system constituting a gymnastics program to be followed by a user, said device being a protuberant object in the shape of a block, said block comprising:
 one top surface for receiving the feet of a user;   at least two analog weight sensors each able to send to the image and sound system a signal that varies depending on the weight applied by the feet of the user on the top surface for causing an action to take place in response to the signal;   at least one command button located on a vertical face of said block.   
     
     
       12. The device of claim 11, wherein the block is parallelepiped. 
     
     
       13. The device of claim 11, wherein each of said signals transmitted by said at least two weight sensors is accompanied by a specific identifier signal making it possible to identify the device. 
     
     
       14. The device of claim 11, wherein said device recognizes the weight of said block. 
     
     
       15. The device of claim 14 wherein said device is self-calibrating. 
     
     
       16. The device of claim 11 wherein said device calculates a difference signal between said signals transmitted by said at least two analog weight sensors. 
     
     
       17. The device of claim 16 wherein said device estimates from said difference signal a location on said top surface at which said user has applied weight. 
     
     
       18. The device of claim 17 wherein said device estimates from said difference signal whether said user has applied weight to one or the other of said at least two analog weight sensors. 
     
     
       19. The device of claim 17 wherein said device estimates from said difference signal whether said user has applied weight in between said at least two analog weight sensors. 
     
     
       20. The device according to claim 11, wherein said at least two weight sensors are located under said block. 
     
     
       21. The device according to claim 20, wherein said block comprises four weight sensors located under said block. 
     
     
       22. The device according to claim 21, wherein said block comprises four legs located under said block. 
     
     
       23. The device of claim 22, wherein said block comprises a mechanism for increasing or reducing the height of said top surface. 
     
     
       24. The device of to claim 11 wherein said at least two weight sensors are pressure-sensitive sensors. 
     
     
       25. The device of to claim 11 wherein said block comprises Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). 
     
     
       26. The device of claim 11 wherein the signals sent to the image and sound system cause a response in a choreography program. 
     
     
       27. The device of claim 11 wherein the signals sent to the image and sound system cause a response in a step program.