Rage Relieving Device

Abstract

Implemented is a rage relieving device configured to receive physical strikes from a user to enable the user to unleash and release their rage. The user can hit the rage relieving device in a pound-like motion, and the device responsively outputs a sound. The rage relieving device includes one or more noise devices that output a sound responsive to being hit or receiving some impact. The rage relieving device may be comprised of one or more layers and, in typical implementations, may be a multi-layered construction. The outer shell may be a tougher skin such as lightweight cotton twill, whereas underneath the outer shell may be a foam-like material, microbeads, and/or some injection molding.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional utility patent application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/025,091, filed May 14, 2020, entitled “Rage Relieving Device,” the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

While playing video games, gamers often feel high levels of stress, or rage, which they take out on various inanimate objects, including their computer or gaming equipment such as the keyboard, monitor, mouse, controller, etc. Aside from damaging their equipment or other items, the gamer is also forced to spend money purchasing a replacement. Aside from gamers, the average person occasionally experiences high levels of stress and rage and can cause damage to various items.

SUMMARY

A rage relieving device is configured to receive physical strikes from a user and output a sound responsive to the received impact from the strike. The device is meant to enable the user to unleash and release their rage for comfort when stressed or angry. The user can hit the rage relieving device in a pound-like motion, and the device responsively outputs a sound. The rage relieving device includes one or more noise devices, like a speaker, that output a sound responsive to being hit or receiving some impact. The rage relieving device may be comprised of one or more layers and, in typical implementations, may be a multi-layered construction. The outer layer may be a tougher skin such as lightweight cotton twill, whereas underneath the outer shell may be a foam-like material, microbeads, and/or some injection molding.

Inside the layers of protection includes various hardware components, including sensors, one or more processors or microcontrollers, memory devices, wires, and a speaker. The sensor may be a pressure sensor configured to detect a level of impact from the user's strike and generate and transmit a corresponding signal. The signal may be transmitted over a wire that extends from the sensor to a central hardware component housing. The hardware component housing may host the one or more processors, memory devices, and speaker.

The sensors may be configured to issue a signal when a threshold level of impact is detected. The sensors may transmit a signal to the processor, which authorizes an output when the received signal indicates an impact beyond a threshold minimum level of pressure was detected at the sensor. This filter mechanism may prevent minor or inadvertent bumps from causing the rage relieving device to output a sound. When the received impact at the sensor is beyond the threshold minimum, the one or more processors may transmit an auditory signal to the speaker for output. The entire process may operate near real-time so that the user hears the sound virtually immediately after striking the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an illustrative perspective view of the rage relieving;

FIG. 2 shows an illustrative top plan view of the rage relieving device;

FIG. 3 shows an illustrative representation of an attachment mechanism on the bottom surface of the rage relieving device;

FIG. 4 shows an illustrative bottom plan view of rage relieving device and its attachment mechanism;

FIG. 5 shows an illustrative representation of the rage relieving device's internal hardware components;

FIG. 6 shows an illustrative representation of the rage relieving device's internal hardware components and layers;

FIG. 7 shows an illustrative layered architecture of the rage relieving device that may be used to implement the output application and features described herein;

FIG. 8 shows an illustrative schematic representation and real-life operational process of the rage relieving device;

FIG. 9 shows an illustrative process that may be implemented by the rage guard system, components, and output application; and

FIG. 10 shows a simplified block diagram of a computing device used to implement the system described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show illustrative representations of a rage relieving device 105, which has a top surface 110 and has multiple endpoints 115, each of which is divided by divisions 125. The divisions help emphasize the impact locations 130 on the rage relieving device, which are where the endpoints are located. The impact locations 130 are figurative and generally located on in a center of each pad of the endpoint. These are locations where the user may strike when relieving their stress or anger against the device 105. The rage relieving device includes an insignia 120 on the central area. In other implementations, each endpoint 115 may include some insignia on the top surface as a target for the user (not shown).

FIGS. 3 and 4 show illustrative representations of the rage relieving device 105 in which a bottom surface 305 is shown. The bottom surface can include an attachment mechanism 405, such as Velcro®, to which a strap 310 attaches to provide better handling for the user. The attachment mechanism may be attached to the bottom surface via, for example, adhesive. The outer facing layer may be a hook-and-loop fastener that attaches to the strap 310. The strap may include a corresponding hook-and-loop mechanism that attaches to the attachment mechanism. The strap may include a loop that the user can grab and hold onto when transporting the device.

FIGS. 5-7 show illustrative representations of the electrical and hardware components utilized within the rage relieving device's interior. The electrical components are implemented to output feedback to the user responsive to the rage relieving device 105 being hit.

FIG. 5 shows a simplistic schematic representation of the various hardware components and their general locations within the rage relieving device 105. The rage relieving device 105 includes multiple sensors 505 located at each endpoint 115. These sensors are generally centered within each endpoint and may correspond to the general impact locations 130 (FIG. 1). Individual wires extend from each sensor and are used within the system to transmit the generated signals from the sensor to the one or more processors located in the hardware components housing 515. The speaker 520 is viewable in FIG. 5 inside which the various other hardware components are located.

The sensors 505 may be pressure sensors that can detect an impact, such as a user pounding or otherwise hitting the rage relieving device 105. The pressure sensors may be button switches connected to the processor and/or output mechanism, such as via the wires 510. In typical implementations, each endpoint 115 of the rage relieving device may be sized to a standard user first so that each pressure sensor can be independently triggered. The hardware components may be configured to trigger an output when the degree of pressure received satisfies some minimum threshold pressure level to prevent the rage relieving device from outputting noise due to minor or inadvertent bangs or during transportation.

The pressure sensors 505 are connected to respective a wires 510 (e.g., a copper, aluminum, or steel wire), which transmits the detected signals from the pressure sensor to the processor 620. As shown in the illustrative cross-sectional diagram in FIG. 6, the hardware components housing 515 located in the rage relieving device's central area includes various components that facilitate an output. The hardware components housing 515 are stored within an outer housing for protection. The outer housing may include the openings for the speaker, such that the housing is the speaker that also hosts the operational components like the one or more processors and memory devices. The hardware components housing 515 include the processor 620, memory 625, which typically includes data and instructions (not shown), and a speaker 520, which outputs the sound. While sound is discussed herein as the output mechanism, other forms of output are also possible, such as vibrations, etc. Sounds may include pre-loaded sounds (e.g., bang, boom, crash), may include pre-recorded human vocal sounds (e.g., “OUCH”), may be animal sounds, etc.

FIG. 6 further shows the placement of the various sensors 505, wires 510, and hardware components 515 inside the layered construction of the rage relieving device 105. In typical implementations, the rage relieving device may be comprised of a lightweight cotton twill 615, a foam layer 610, and microbeads 605. Collectively, these protect the internal components while providing the user with a satisfactory surface to hit and pound.

FIG. 7 shows an illustrative layered architecture 700 of the rage relieving device 105, which may be utilized to implement the features and functionality described herein. The exemplary and simplified architecture is arranged in layers and includes a hardware layer 720, an operating system (OS) layer 715, and an application layer 710. The hardware layer 720 provides an abstraction of the various hardware used by the rage relieving device 105 to the layers above it. In this illustrative example, the hardware layer supports one or more processors 620, memory 625, a speaker 630, sensors 505, and wires 510 that connect the sensors to the processor.

In typical implementations, the one or more processors 620 may be a central processing unit (CPU) or a microcontroller configured to perform discrete operations. The one or more processors may verify that the received signals from the sensors 505 indicate that the impact satisfies a minimum threshold pressure level, which may be programmed into memory. The memory 730 may include data and instructions which are executable by the one or more processors, such as the minimum threshold levels and actions to perform when a satisfactory impact signal is received—such as play a sound on the speaker 630.

The OS layer 715 supports, among other operations, managing the operating system 755 and operating applications 750, as illustratively shown by the arrow. The OS layer may interoperate with the application and hardware layers to facilitate the execution of programs and perform various functions and features.

The application layer 710 can support various applications 760, including an output application 765. Any number of applications can be utilized by the rage relieving device 105, whether proprietary or third-party applications. In typical implementations, the applications may be implemented using locally executing code stored in memory 625, but remotely executing code may also be performed over a network interface (not shown).

The output application 765 may be configured to cause one or more processors 620 to output a sound using the speaker 630 responsive to an impact signal from the sensors 505. The output application may set the minimum threshold level for playing sound so that inadvertent or minor impacts against the device and sensors do not output a sound. The application may control the volume level output by the speaker. For example, softer pounds against the rage relieving device—but impactful enough to satisfy the minimum threshold level—may cause a relatively softer output. More substantial impacts against the device may correlate to louder outputs. Ultimately, the volume level may correlate to the level of impact against the rage relieving device's sensors.

FIG. 8 shows an illustrative representation in which a user 825 makes a striking motion toward one of the endpoints 115 on the rage relieving device 105. The endpoint has its own dedicated sensor 505 for detecting impact. Responsive to receiving the impact, the sensor generates a signal 805. While the signal may be generic in that the same signal is generated and transmitted regardless of the amount of pressure from the impact, in typical implementations, the sensor may generate a signal that corresponds to the level of pressure from the impact. For example, the signal may provide a quantitative value for the pressure, such as in millivolts per volt (mV/V). In some implementations, the sensor may be configured to output a signal when a minimum pressure is exerted against the sensor. This may remove the burden of verifying the amount of pressure at the processor 620 by putting such responsibility on the sensor.

The output signal 805 from the sensor 505 is transmitted to the one or more processors 620 inside the hardware component housing 515 (FIG. 5). The one or more processors may first verify that the signal's strength indicates that the amount of pressure exerted against the sensor satisfies some pre-set minimum threshold. The one or more processors may ignore the signal if the strength is unsatisfactory relative to the pre-set threshold. The one or more processors can output a sound signal to the speaker 630 if the sensor's signal satisfies the minimum pre-set threshold. The sound signal may be at a single volume level or increase and decrease in volume relative to the impact signal's strength.

The one or more processors 620, reading the instructions in memory 625, may have multiple sounds that it randomly or consecutively outputs after each new impact. Alternatively, each endpoint 115 and corresponding sensor 505 may have its own associated unique sound that is output. For example, one endpoint may cause the speaker to output a person saying “OUCH!” and another endpoint may cause the speaker 630 to output an explosive sound.

FIG. 8 shows an illustrative graph that shows the level of impact 810 along the y-axis and the output volume 805 along the x-axis. The physical impact and corresponding signal 815 indicate that the greater the impact, the louder the output volume. A sound will not be output unless the impact signal received from the sensor 505 surpasses the minimum impact threshold 830. The impact-volume correlation line 835 shows the correlation between the detected impact and the output speaker's volume.

FIG. 9 shows an illustrative process 900 that may be implemented by the rage relieving device 105. The order of the steps is exemplary, and other variations are also possible. Furthermore, variations of the process may also be possible and replace certain steps in the process 900, such as variations discussed herein.

In step 905, the rage relieving device receives an impact at one or more of the pressure sensors. The impact may be a strike, hit, or pound from a device user at one of the endpoints. If multiple sensors receive an impact, then each sensor may perform the subsequent steps (e.g., generate and transmit signal). In step 910, the sensor generates a corresponding impact signal responsive to the received impact. In step 915, the sensor transmits the generated impact signal to the one or more processors.

In step 920, the one or more processors verifies the impact signal satisfies some pre-set minimum pressure threshold, such as ten mV/V. In some scenarios, the sensor may be configured to transmit a signal if the received impact satisfies the pre-set threshold, thereby displacing the verification from the processor to the sensors. In step 925, the one or more processors ignore the impact signal when the impact signal fails to satisfy the minimum threshold level. In step 930, the one or more processor generates a sound signal responsive to the impact signal satisfying the minimum pressure threshold level.

In step 935, the one or more processors configures the sound signal's volume to correlate to the impact signal's pressure level. Thus, the softer or harder the user's strike against the sensor correlates to a relatively softer or louder volume. In step 940, the one or more processors transmit the configured sound signal to the speaker for auditory output. In step 945, the speaker outputs the sound signal. If the user struck multiple sensors and endpoints, then the rage relieving device may process and output a sound for each one simultaneously, or in the order the impact was received.

FIG. 10 shows an illustrative architecture 1000 for a rage relieving device 105 capable of executing the various features described herein. The architecture 1000 illustrated in FIG. 10 includes one or more processors 1002 (e.g., central processing unit, dedicated AI chip, graphics processing unit, etc.), a system memory 1004, including RAM (random access memory) 1006, ROM (read-only memory) 1008, and long-term storage devices 1012. The system bus 1010 operatively and functionally couples the components in the architecture 1000. A basic input/output system containing the basic routines that help transfer information between elements within the architecture 1000, such as during startup, is typically stored in the ROM 1008. The architecture 1000 further includes a long-term storage device 1012 for storing software code or other computer-executed code utilized to implement applications, the file system, and the operating system. The storage device 1012 is connected to processor 1002 through a storage controller (not shown) connected to bus 1010. The storage device 1012 and its associated computer-readable storage media provide non-volatile storage for architecture 1000. Although the description of computer-readable storage media contained herein refers to a long-term storage device, such as a hard disk or CD-ROM drive, it may be appreciated by those skilled in the art that computer-readable storage media can be any available storage media that can be accessed by the architecture 1000, including solid-state drives and flash memory.

By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable storage media may include volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. For example, computer-readable media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory), EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory), Flash memory or other solid-state memory technology, CD-ROM, DVDs, HD-DVD (High Definition DVD), Blu-ray, or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by the architecture 1000.

According to various embodiments, the architecture 1000 may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to remote computers through a network. The architecture 1000 may connect to the network through a network interface unit 1016 connected to the bus 1010. It may be appreciated that the network interface unit 1016 also may be utilized to connect to other types of networks and remote computer systems. The architecture 1000 also may include an input/output controller 1018 for receiving and processing input from a number of other devices, including a keyboard, mouse, touchpad, touchscreen, control devices such as buttons and switches, or electronic stylus (not shown in FIG. 10). Similarly, the input/output controller 1018 may provide output to a display screen, user interface, a printer, or other type of output device (also not shown in FIG. 10).

It may be appreciated that any software components described herein may, when loaded into the processor 1002 and executed, transform the processor 1002 and the overall architecture 1000 from a general-purpose computing system into a special-purpose computing system customized to facilitate the functionality presented herein. The processor 1002 may be constructed from any number of transistors or other discrete circuit elements, which may individually or collectively assume any number of states. More specifically, the processor 1002 may operate as a finite-state machine in response to executable instructions within the software modules disclosed herein. These computer-executable instructions may transform the processor 1002 by specifying how the processor 1002 transitions between states, thereby transforming the transistors or other discrete hardware elements constituting the processor 1002.

Encoding the software modules presented herein also may transform the physical structure of the computer-readable storage media presented herein. The specific transformation of physical structure may depend on various factors in different implementations of this description. Examples of such factors may include but are not limited to the technology used to implement the computer-readable storage media, whether the computer-readable storage media is characterized as primary or secondary storage, and the like. For example, if the computer-readable storage media is implemented as semiconductor-based memory, the software disclosed herein may be encoded on the computer-readable storage media by transforming the physical state of the semiconductor memory. For example, the software may transform the state of transistors, capacitors, or other discrete circuit elements constituting the semiconductor memory. The software may also transform the physical state of such components to store data thereupon.

As another example, the computer-readable storage media disclosed herein may be implemented using magnetic or optical technology. In such implementations, the software presented herein may transform the physical state of magnetic or optical media when the software is encoded therein. These transformations may include altering the magnetic characteristics of particular locations within given magnetic media. These transformations also may include altering the physical features or characteristics of particular locations within given optical media to change the optical characteristics of those locations. Other transformations of physical media are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the present description, with the foregoing examples provided only to facilitate this discussion.

In light of the above, it may be appreciated that many types of physical transformations take place in architecture 1000 in order to store and execute the software components presented herein. It also may be appreciated that the architecture 1000 may include other types of computing devices, including wearable devices, handheld computers, embedded computer systems, smartphones, PDAs, and other types of computing devices known to those skilled in the art. It is also contemplated that architecture 1000 may not include all of the components shown in FIG. 10, may include other components that are not explicitly shown in FIG. 10, or may utilize an architecture completely different from that shown in FIG. 10.

Various embodiments of the rage relieving device are disclosed herein. In one exemplary embodiment is a rage relieving device, comprising: a top surface; a bottom surface; and a central area which branches off to endpoints, wherein each endpoint is divided by divisions so that each endpoint can provide an independent functionality, wherein each endpoint includes a sensor that detects an impact, and wherein detection of an impact causes the rage relieving device to provide an output.

In another example, the output is an auditory sound that is output from a speaker, each endpoint being connected to the speaker. A further example comprises: one or more processors; and a hardware-based memory device having executable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the rage relieving device to: receive one or more signals from a sensor, in which the one or more signals reflect some detected impact; determine that the one or more signals satisfy a threshold degree of pressure; and output the auditory sound using the speaker responsive to the determination that the received one or more signals satisfy the threshold degree of pressure. In another example, a wire extends from each sensor to the speaker to transmit the one or more signals from the sensor, the speaker being positioned in the center of the rage relieving device. As a further example, the rage relieving device is comprised of a layered structure. In another example, the layered structure includes an outer layer, a foam layer, and an internal layer underneath the foam layer. As another example, the foam layer is positioned on an upper area of the rage relieving device and ceases at or adjacent to the bottom area.

As another embodiment, implemented is a rage relieving device, comprising: an outer layer that completely encapsulates the rage relieving device; hardware components that are completely encapsulated inside the outer layer, the hardware components including: sensors that individually receive external input; a speaker; one or more processors; and one or more hardware-based memory devices which store computer-readable instructions that are executable by the one or more processors; and a central area which branches off to endpoints, wherein each endpoint is divided by divisions so that each endpoint can provide an independent functionality, wherein each endpoint includes a sensor which detects an exterior input against the outer layer, and wherein detection of an impact causes the sensor to output a signal to the one or more processors.

As another example, a hardware component housing is positioned inside the outer layer, the hardware component housing hosts the speaker, one or more processors, and the one or more hardware-based memory devices, and the sensors are separated by a distance from the hardware component housing. In another example, further comprising wires that respectively connect the sensors to the hardware component housing, in which the wires transfer signals output by the sensors. As another example, the exterior input is an impact against the outer layer, and the sensors translate the impact to a signal, in which the signal varies based on a level of impact detected by the sensors. As another example, the hardware components are surrounded by a central interior layer for protection. In a further example, the sensors are positioned against an upper interior layer that is adjacent to the outer layer to accurately detect a level of the exterior impact. As another example, the central interior layer is comprised of microbeads, and the upper interior layer is foam.

Claims

1. A rage relieving device, comprising:

a top surface;

a bottom surface; and

a central area which branches off to endpoints, wherein each endpoint is divided by divisions so that each endpoint can provide an independent functionality,

wherein each endpoint includes a sensor that detects an impact, and

wherein detection of an impact causes the rage relieving device to provide an output.

2. The rage relieving device of claim 1, wherein the output is an auditory sound that is output from a speaker, each endpoint being connected to the speaker.

3. The rage relieving device of claim 2, further comprising:

one or more processors; and

a hardware-based memory device having executable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the rage relieving device to: receive one or more signals from a sensor, in which the one or more signals reflect some detected impact; determine that the one or more signals satisfy a threshold degree of pressure; and output the auditory sound using the speaker responsive to the determination that the received one or more signals satisfy the threshold degree of pressure.

4. The rage relieving device of claim 3, wherein a wire extends from each sensor to the speaker to transmit the one or more signals from the sensor, the speaker being positioned in the center of the rage relieving device.

5. The rage relieving device of claim 4, wherein the rage relieving device is comprised of a layered structure.

6. The rage relieving device of claim 5, wherein the layered structure includes an outer layer, a foam layer, and an internal layer underneath the foam layer.

7. The rage relieving device of claim 6, wherein the foam layer is positioned on an upper area of the rage relieving device and ceases at or adjacent to the bottom area.

8. A rage relieving device, comprising:

an outer layer that completely encapsulates the rage relieving device;

hardware components that are completely encapsulated inside the outer layer, the hardware components including: sensors that individually receive external input; a speaker; one or more processors; and one or more hardware-based memory devices which store computer-readable instructions that are executable by the one or more processors; and

a central area which branches off to endpoints, wherein each endpoint is divided by divisions so that each endpoint can provide an independent functionality,

wherein each endpoint includes a sensor which detects an exterior input against the outer layer, and

wherein detection of an impact causes the sensor to output a signal to the one or more processors.

9. The rage relieving device of claim 8, wherein a hardware component housing is positioned inside the outer layer, the hardware component housing hosts the speaker, one or more processors, and the one or more hardware-based memory devices, and the sensors are separated by a distance from the hardware component housing.

10. The rage relieving device of claim 9, further comprising wires that respectively connect the sensors to the hardware component housing, in which the wires transfer signals output by the sensors.

11. The rage relieving device of claim 10, wherein the exterior input is an impact against the outer layer, and the sensors translate the impact to a signal, in which the signal varies based on a level of impact detected by the sensors.

12. The rage relieving device of claim 11, wherein the hardware components are surrounded by a central interior layer for protection.

13. The rage relieving device of claim 12, wherein the sensors are positioned against an upper interior layer that is adjacent to the outer layer to accurately detect a level of the exterior impact.

14. The rage relieving device of claim 13, wherein the central interior layer is comprised of microbeads, and the upper interior layer is foam.