US 2,009,047,645 · Filed 2007-08-17
How Adidas Built the Blueprint for Modern Sports Wearables
Imagine a wristband or armband that tracks how fast you're running, your heart rate, and temperature, then tells you whether you're hitting your workout goals. This patent covers the whole system—the sensors, the portable device that reads them, and how it all talks to the internet to give you real-time feedback.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a complete sports training system made up of wearable monitors (like motion sensors for speed and distance, heart rate monitors, temperature sensors, and altimeters) that wirelessly send data to a portable electronic device. What's protected here is the combination of receiving that data and using it to generate real-time training feedback—telling an athlete whether they're meeting their workout targets. The patent also covers the ability for this portable device to connect to other devices and internet-based applications to enhance functionality.
Why it matters
This patent represents an early architectural blueprint for the fitness wearables category. By filing in 2007, Adidas was staking a claim to the integrated approach of combining multiple sensor types with a processing hub and internet connectivity—the exact model that later dominated the market with devices like Fitbit, Apple Watch, and Garmin sports watches. The patent locks down not just individual sensors, but the system for collecting, interpreting, and delivering coaching feedback in real time.
Real-world use
Every time a runner puts on a sports watch that tracks pace and heart rate while coaching them to stay in a target zone, they're using technology covered by this foundational patent.
Original USPTO abstract
A sports electronic training system, and applications thereof, are disclosed. In an embodiment, the system comprises at least one monitor and a portable electronic processing device for receiving data from the at least one monitor and providing feedback to an individual based on the received data. The monitor can be a motion monitor that measures an individual's performance such as, for example, speed, pace and distance for a runner. Other monitors might include a heart rate monitor, a temperature monitor, an altimeter, et cetera. Feedback provided to a user typically includes, for example, training information such as whether the user is satisfying specific workout and/or training criteria. In an embodiment, the functionality of the sports electronic training system is enhanced by enabling the portable electronic processing device to interact with other devices and applications, for example, using the Internet.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 2,009,047,645
- Filing date
- 2007-08-17
- Grant date
- Application — not yet granted
- Assignee
- Adidas International Marketing B.V.
- Inventor(s)
- DIBENEDETTO CHRISTIAN, OLESON MARK ARTHUR, SEYDEL ROLAND G., TOMLINSON SCOTT, VAN NOY ALLEN W., VATERLAUS AMY JONES, VINCENT STEPHEN MICHAEL
- CPC class
- G09B19/0038
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