Patents by Inventor William B. Priester
William B. Priester has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9981173Abstract: A reversibly attachable muscle trainer includes a multi-arm structure with motion sensors and force generators for exercising opposing muscles of a person moving an implement so as to maintain an ideal movement. When attached to the implement, the muscle trainer trains the opposing muscles to consistently move the implement in an ideal way. While the person moves the implement with the muscle trainer attached, a processor receives signals from the motion sensors and determines differences between the actual implement motion and an ideal implement motion. The difference indicates a dominating force direction in which the dominating muscles urge the implement. The processor activates the force generators to apply external forces to the implement to urge the implement in various types of training force directions.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2015Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Inventors: William B. Priester, Richard E. May, C. Bryan Dawson, David A. Ward, Georg Pingen
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Publication number: 20150367223Abstract: A reversibly attachable muscle trainer includes a multi-arm structure with motion sensors and force generators for exercising opposing muscles of a person moving an implement so as to maintain an ideal movement. When attached to the implement, the muscle trainer trains the opposing muscles to consistently move the implement in an ideal way. While the person moves the implement with the muscle trainer attached, a processor receives signals from the motion sensors and determines differences between the actual implement motion and an ideal implement motion. The difference indicates a dominating force direction in which the dominating muscles urge the implement. The processor activates the force generators to apply external forces to the implement to urge the implement in various types of training force directions.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2015Publication date: December 24, 2015Inventors: William B. Priester, Richard E. May, C. Bryan Dawson, David A. Ward, Georg Pingen
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Patent number: 9149705Abstract: A reversibly attachable muscle trainer includes a multi-arm structure with motion sensors and force generators for exercising opposing muscles of a person moving an implement so as to maintain an ideal movement. When attached to the implement, the muscle trainer trains the opposing muscles to consistently move the implement in an ideal way. While the person moves the implement with the muscle trainer attached, a processor receives signals from the motion sensors and determines differences between the actual implement motion and an ideal implement motion. The difference indicates a dominating force direction in which the dominating muscles urge the implement. The processor activates the force generators to apply external forces to the implement to urge the implement in various types of training force directions.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2012Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Inventors: William B. Priester, Richard E. May, C. Bryan Dawson, David A. Ward, Georg Pingen
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Patent number: 8827843Abstract: The invention is directed to a muscle trainer and methods for exercising opposing muscles of a person moving an implement. If the opposing muscles were of appropriate strength, the opposing muscles would apply forces in opposite directions to the implement to assist in maintaining an ideal movement of the implement. The methods train the opposing muscles to consistently move the implement in an ideal way to accomplish the function. The methods include: (a) moving the muscle trainer through an actual motion; (b) determining a difference between the actual motion and an ideal motion, the difference indicating a dominating force direction in which the dominating muscles urge the muscle trainer; (c) applying an external force to the muscle trainer to urge the muscle trainer in the dominating force direction; and (d) using the non-dominating muscles to urge the muscle trainer against the external force to thereby exercise the non-dominating muscles.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2012Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Inventors: William B. Priester, Richard E. May, C. Bryan Dawson, David A. Ward
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Patent number: 8597133Abstract: The invention is directed to a motion trainer for improving a person's movement of an implement by allowing the person to visualize the path of the implement during the movement. The motion trainer comprises an implement having a plurality of motion characteristic sensors located thereon for determining, among other things, the direction of the movement and the orientation of the implement during the movement. Biofeedback devices provide the person information regarding the positioning of the implement during the movement.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2006Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Inventor: William B. Priester
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Publication number: 20130150174Abstract: The invention is directed to a muscle trainer and methods for exercising opposing muscles of a person moving an implement. If the opposing muscles were of appropriate strength, the opposing muscles would apply forces in opposite directions to the implement to assist in maintaining an ideal movement of the implement. The methods train the opposing muscles to consistently move the implement in an ideal way to accomplish the function. The methods include: (a) moving the muscle trainer through an actual motion; (b) determining a difference between the actual motion and an ideal motion, the difference indicating a dominating force direction in which the dominating muscles urge the muscle trainer; (c) applying an external force to the muscle trainer to urge the muscle trainer in the dominating force direction; and (d) using the non-dominating muscles to urge the muscle trainer against the external force to thereby exercise the non-dominating muscles.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2012Publication date: June 13, 2013Inventors: William B. Priester, Richard E. May, C. Bryan Dawson, David A. Ward
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Patent number: 8398501Abstract: The invention is directed to a muscle trainer and methods for exercising a weaker of two sets of opposing muscles of a person moving an implement, such as a golf club, wherein, if the two sets of opposing muscles were of appropriate strength, the two sets of opposing muscles would desirably apply forces in opposite directions to the implement to assist in maintaining an ideal movement of the implement. In various embodiments, the invention provides methods for training the opposing sets of muscles to consistently move the implement in an ideal way to accomplish a useful or recreational function.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2008Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Inventors: William B. Priester, Richard E. May, C. Bryan Dawson, David A. Ward
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Publication number: 20130005496Abstract: A reversibly attachable muscle trainer includes a multi-arm structure with motion sensors and force generators for exercising opposing muscles of a person moving an implement so as to maintain an ideal movement. When attached to the implement, the muscle trainer trains the opposing muscles to consistently move the implement in an ideal way. While the person moves the implement with the muscle trainer attached, a processor receives signals from the motion sensors and determines differences between the actual implement motion and an ideal implement motion. The difference indicates a dominating force direction in which the dominating muscles urge the implement. The processor activates the force generators to apply external forces to the implement to urge the implement in various types of training force directions.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Inventors: William B. Priester, Richard E. May, C. Bryan Dawson, David A. Ward, Georg Pingen
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Patent number: 7766760Abstract: The invention is directed to a muscle trainer for exercising opposing muscles of a person moving an implement, such as a golf club, wherein, if the opposing muscles were of appropriate strength, the opposing muscles would desirably apply forces in opposite directions to the implement to assist in maintaining an ideal movement of the implement. The contemplated muscle trainer of this invention includes a body and a force generator positioned at a prescribed location on the body for urging the body in a direction away from a force direction which a weaker set of the opposing muscles would normally apply to the implement in the movement of the implement by the person.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2007Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Inventors: William B. Priester, Richard E. May
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Publication number: 20090131191Abstract: The invention is directed to a muscle trainer for exercising opposing muscles of a person moving an implement, such as a golf club, wherein, if the opposing muscles were of appropriate strength, the opposing muscles would desirably apply forces in opposite directions to the implement to assist in maintaining an ideal movement of the implement. The contemplated muscle trainer of this invention includes a body and a force generator positioned at a prescribed location on the body for urging the body in a direction away from a force direction which a weaker set of the opposing muscles would normally apply to the implement in the movement of the implement by the person.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2007Publication date: May 21, 2009Inventors: William B. Priester, Richard E. May
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Publication number: 20090018795Abstract: The invention is directed to a muscle trainer and methods for exercising a weaker of two sets of opposing muscles of a person moving an implement, such as a golf club, wherein, if the two sets of opposing muscles were of appropriate strength, the two sets of opposing muscles would desirably apply forces in opposite directions to the implement to assist in maintaining an ideal movement of the implement. In various embodiments, the invention provides methods for training the opposing sets of muscles to consistently move the implement in an ideal way to accomplish a useful or recreational function.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2008Publication date: January 15, 2009Inventors: William B. Priester, Richard E. May, C. Bryan Dawson, David A. Ward
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Patent number: 7351157Abstract: The invention is directed to a muscle trainer and method for exercising a weaker of two opposing muscle groups of a person swinging an implement, such as a golf club, wherein, if the two opposing muscle groups were of appropriate strength, the two muscle groups would desirably apply forces in opposite directions to the implement to assist in maintaining the implement in an ideal club shaft plane. The contemplated muscle trainer of this invention includes a body having a grip surface located thereon, and a force generator positioned at a prescribed location on the body, which is spaced from the grip surface, for urging the prescribed location of the body in a direction away from a force direction which the weaker muscle would normally apply to the implement in the swinging thereof by the person.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2003Date of Patent: April 1, 2008Inventors: William B. Priester, Richard E. May
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Patent number: 7125340Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for exercising a weaker of two opposing muscle groups of a person moving an implement, such as a golf club, so that the two muscle groups apply forces in opposite directions to the implement to assist in maintaining the implement in an ideal motion path.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2005Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Inventors: William B. Priester, Richard E. May
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Patent number: 7027239Abstract: A data acquisition apparatus acquires an analog input signal from an analog sensor, and generates digital data based on the analog input signal for processing by a personal computing apparatus. The analog input signal generated by the analog sensor has a voltage component which varies according to a condition sensed by the analog sensor. The data acquisition apparatus includes a first conversion circuit, such as a voltage-to-frequency converter, coupled to the analog sensor which receives the analog input signal and generates an analog information transfer signal having a signal component which varies in relation to the voltage component of the analog input signal. A signal transfer device, such as a portable audio record/playback device, records the analog information transfer signal and transfers it to a first audio input of the personal computing apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2002Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Inventors: William B. Priester, Joseph H. Butler, Jr., Michael J. Twigg
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Patent number: 6890312Abstract: A joint angle indication system provides information related to an angular relationship between a first body part and a second body part that are pivotally coupled at a joint. The system includes a first arm member attached to the first body part, and a second arm member attached to the second body part. One end of the second arm member is pivotally coupled to one end of the first arm member. The system includes one or more joint angle variation sensors that provide one or more electrical characteristics that vary based on variation in the joint angle between the first and second arm members. The joint angle is variable over an angular range that includes a first angle and a second angle.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2001Date of Patent: May 10, 2005Inventors: William B. Priester, Joseph H. Butler, Jr., Michael J. Twigg
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Publication number: 20030137762Abstract: A data acquisition apparatus acquires an analog input signal from an analog sensor, and generates digital data based on the analog input signal for processing by a personal computing apparatus. The analog input signal generated by the analog sensor has a voltage component which varies according to a condition sensed by the analog sensor. The data acquisition apparatus includes a first conversion circuit, such as a voltage-to-frequency converter, coupled to the analog sensor which receives the analog input signal and generates an analog information transfer signal having a signal component which varies in relation to the voltage component of the analog input signal. A signal transfer device, such as a portable audio record/playback device, records the analog information transfer signal and transfers it to a first audio input of the personal computing apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2002Publication date: July 24, 2003Inventors: William B. Priester, Joseph H. Butler, Michael J. Twigg
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Patent number: 5568209Abstract: A lightweight, pocket-sized, hand-held near vision test apparatus that selectively retroilluminates different near vision test objects located on an interchangeable near vision test card, or alternatively, selectively displays near vision test objects on a flat panel display screen. The apparatus allows the examiner to electronically direct the patient's attention to selected near vision test objects, while providing a baseline amount of contrast illumination.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 1995Date of Patent: October 22, 1996Inventors: William B. Priester, Maxwell Cutler