Sensing presence or absence of a projectile on sports equipment

• US 10,137,327 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2017
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Marc Goldberg
• Original Assignee: Robert Marc Goldberg
• Inventors: Goldberg, Robert Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Legesse, Nini
• Application Number:
  US15/448,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20170173388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 473409, 473512-514
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0053 for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0658 Position or arrangement of display
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/14 Lacrosse
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/24 Angular displacement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/20 having means, e.g. pockets, netting or adhesive type surfaces, for catching or holding a ball, e.g. for lacrosse or pelota
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/00 Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports

Abstract

A sports training aid is configured to help improve a player'"'"'s skills in the game of lacrosse. The sports training aid can embody a lacrosse stick with a head and shaft. In one implementation, the lacrosse stick includes one or more sensors that change state. A controller couples with the sensors to administer one or more training modes. Each training mode can cause the controller to associate the change in state of the sensors in response to movement of the head.

Claims

1. Sports equipment, comprising:

a frame with a top and a bottom and forming a central open region, the frame having an opening at the bottom;

an elongated shaft having a first end coupled to the bottom of the frame at the opening;

netting disposed on the frame forming a pocket area in the central open region that supports a ball, the pocket area being configured to allow a majority of the ball to enter the frame as measured relative to an edge of the frame; and

a sensor member in position to generate a signal corresponding with presence or absence of the ball in the pocket area, the sensor member comprising an emitter and a detector, one each disposed on opposing sides of the frame, the emitter configured to generate a light beam across the central open region and the detector configured to receive the light beam.

2. The sports equipment of claim 1, wherein the sensor member is disposed on the frame.

3. The sports equipment of claim 1, wherein the sensor member is disposed in the central open region.

4. The sports equipment of claim 1, wherein the sensor member resides on the elongated shaft.

5. The sports equipment of claim 1, wherein the sensor member does not make contact with the ball to generate the signal.

6. Sports equipment, comprising:

a frame with a top, a bottom, a front, and a back, the frame forming a central open region, the frame having an opening at the bottom;

an elongated shaft coupled on a first end to the bottom of the frame at the opening;

netting disposed on the frame forming a pocket area in the central open region that supports a ball, the pocket area being configured to allow a majority of the ball to enter the frame as measured relative to an edge of the frame; and

a sensor member in position to generate a signal in response to contact of the frame with a surface, the sensor member comprising a first sensor disposed on a side of the frame between the front and the back and outwardly-facing to contact the surface.

7. The sports equipment of claim 6, wherein the first sensor is disposed on the frame.

8. The sports equipment of claim 6, further comprising a second sensor, wherein the first sensor member and the second sensor member are found on opposite sides of the frame.

9. Sports equipment, comprising:

a lacrosse head;

an elongated, hollow shaft with two ends, one of which can couple with the lacrosse head to allow a player to retain a ball;

a sensor member resident on the lacrosse head so as to generate a signal responsive to presence or absence of the ball at a location spaced apart from and separated from the shaft, the sensor member comprising an emitter and a detector, one each disposed on opposing sides of the lacrosse head, the emitter configured to generate a light beam and the detector configured to receive the light beam; and

a control member coupled with the sensor member to receive the signal, the control member comprising executable instructions for translating presence or absence of the ball into an indicator that causes a player to perform an action.

10. The sports equipment of claim 9, wherein the sensor is disposed on the lacrosse head in proximity to the shaft.

11. The sports equipment of claim 9, wherein the location of the ball is at the lacrosse head.

12. The sports equipment of claim 9, wherein the control member is configured to generate a perceptible indicator in response to the signal from the sensor member.

13. A method, comprising:

generating a light beam across a location on a frame found on a piece of sports equipment;

sensing presence or absence of a ball at the location as travel of the ball through the light beam and relative to the frame and into a central open region that allows a majority of the ball to enter the frame as measured relative to an edge of the frame;

generating an electronic signal in response to travel of the ball; and

generating an indicator in response to the electronic signal to convert the presence or absence of the ball into an instruction that causes a player to perform an action.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving properties of the electronic signal, wherein presence or absence of the ball corresponds to the properties.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the electronic signal originates from a sensor on the frame.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the light beam originates from an emitter on the frame and proximate the central open region.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the electronic signal originates from a sensor disposed on an elongate shaft that couples with the frame.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

generating the indicator as an audible sound.