HOOP TRACKER

• US 20120322587A1
• Filed: 08/25/2011
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbourne Athletics Incorporated (Airborne Athletics)
• Original Assignee: Jason Duke
• Inventors: Duke, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 8,845,461 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/450
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/64 Frequency, e.g. of vibration oscillation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/00 Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0071 for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a wireless shot tracking system including a programmable electronic unit that is in electrical communication with a shot detector for automatically tracking and displaying real-time shooting percentages of basketball players during basketball shooting sessions, and a telescoping pole for mounting the shot detector to a basketball rim from the ground. The programmable electronic unit provides a program mode, a play mode, a review mode and a random mode to help improve the shooting skills of a basketball player from different shooting locations on a basketball court. The shot detector includes one or more vibration sensors to detect missed shots, and an activator that extends along a horizontal axis in a central region of the basketball hoop to detect made shots. The programmable electronic unit interfaces with a computer via a USB port for uploading or downloading program updates or shooting session data.

Claims

1. A wireless shot tracking system for tracking and displaying real time shooting data of basketball shooting sessions, said wireless shot tracking system comprising:

a programmable unit including a front panel, a liquid crystal display operatively depicting a basketball half court, input keys, a circuit board including a processor, memory, and an RF receiver mounted thereto, a power source, a rear panel, and a closure, said panels and said closure assembled together to form a waterproof enclosure for said liquid, crystal display, said circuit board, said power source and said input keys, said programmable unit configured to be removably attached to a wrist of an individual; and

a shot detector in electrical communication with said programmable unit, said shot detector including a power source, one or more vibration sensors, an activator, and an RF transmitter, where said shot detector is removably mounted to a basketball hoop.

2. The wireless shot tracking system of claim 1, wherein said front panel includes openings, and wherein said input keys includes an enter button, and a mode button, said buttons extending through said openings when said unit, is assembled.

3. The wireless shot tracking system of claim 2, wherein said, programmable unit further includes a program mode, a play mode, a data review mode, and a random mode, said modes being accessible via said mode button.

4. The wireless shot tracking system of claim 3, wherein said program mode includes a plurality of programs and a plurality of basketball shooting locations, each of said plurality of programs associated with one or more of said plurality of basketball shooting locations, said plurality of basketball shooting locations corresponding to a position on said basketball half court on said liquid crystal display.

5. The wireless shot tracking system of claim 4, wherein said play mode includes a plurality of preconfigured programs, each preconfigured program including a predetermined number of basketball shooting locations, each preconfigured program and predetermined number of basketball shooting locations selected by said scroll buttons and said enter button to provide a sequence of indicators displayed on said basketball half court on said liquid crystal display, said sequence of indicators representing said predetermined number of basketball shooting locations.

6. The wireless shot tracking system of claim 5, wherein said, play mode further includes real time shot data displayed on said liquid crystal display, said real time shot, data including percentages, or ratios of made basketball shots in which a basketball has passed through a basketball hoop, and missed basketball shots in which a basketball has not passed through a basketball hoop but has engaged said, basketball hoop or a backboard securing said hoop, said real time shot data further including dates or shooting session identifiers.

7. The wireless shot tracking system of claim 6, wherein said review mode includes any one of said real time shot data, or historical shot data, current dates, historical dates, and shooting session identifiers.

8. The wireless shot tracking system of claim 7, wherein said programmable unit further includes a random mode, said random mode selectively operated to generate a random number of programs and a random number of basketball shooting locations associated with said random number of programs, each random program and random number of basketball shooting locations selected by said scroll buttons and said enter button to provide a sequence of indicators displayed on said basketball half court on said liquid crystal display, said indicators representing said random basketball shooting locations.

9. The wireless shot tracking system of claim 8, wherein said programmable unit further includes an adjustable wrist strap, and a universal serial bus port for uploading said shot data to an external computer or storage device.

10. The wireless shot tracking system of claim 1, wherein said shot detector further includes a circuit housing having a front member, a circuit board with said one or more vibration sensors and said RF transmitter mounted thereto, a back member, and a back panel, said members and said panel assembled to together to form a waterproof enclosure for said circuit board, said one or more vibration sensors, said RF transmitter, and said power source.

11. The wireless shot tracking system of claim 10, wherein said activator comprises an elongated paddle having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end pivotably connected to a pair of posts extending from said front member.

12. The wireless shot tracking system of claim 11, wherein said shot detector further includes a mounting system for mounting said shot detector to said rim, said mounting system including a bracket, said circuit housing attached to said bracket.

13. The wireless shot tracking system of claim. 12, further including a telescoping pole having a tip, said tip removably engaging with said housing of said shot detector to elevate said shot detector from the ground to attach said shot detector to said hoop so that said bracket is coupled, to said rim.

14. The wireless shot tracking system of claim 13, wherein said shot detector is situated on said rim such that said paddle extends along a horizontal plane within a central region of said hoop.

15. The wireless shot tracking system of claim 14, wherein said bracket includes a receptacle holding a magnet therein.

16. The wireless shot tracking system of claim 14, wherein said programmable unit includes a button that when activated by a user, records and stores a missed basketball shot in said programmable unit.

17. A method of tracking basketball shots comprising:

constructing a programmable display unit including a waterproof enclosure housing a liquid crystal display, a power source, and a circuit board having a processor, memory, and a receiver mounted thereto, a program mode, a play mode, a review mode and a random mode;

constructing a basketball shot detector including a waterproof enclosure housing a power source, and a circuit board having a vibration sensor and a RF transmitter mounted thereto, and an activator pivotably attached to said housing; and

mounting said basketball shot detector to a basketball hoop of a basketball goal using a telescoping pole, and positioning said shot, detector so that said activator extends along a horizontal plane in a central region of said, basketball hoop.

18. The method of tracking basketball shots of claim 17, further including the step of entering said program mode and programming said unit by inputting a plurality of programs and a plurality of basketball shooting locations, each of said plurality of programs associated with one or more of said plurality of basketball shooting locations where said plurality of basketball shooting locations correspond to a position on a basketball half court displayed on said liquid crystal display.

19. The method of tracking basketball shots of claim 18, further including the step of selecting said, play mode and one of said plurality of programs associated with one or more of said plurality of basketball shooting locations, viewing an indicator shown on said basketball half court on said liquid crystal display, said indicator associated with said one or more of said plurality of basketball shooting locations, standing on a playing surface in the approximate area has shown by said indicator on said basketball half court, and throwing a basketball towards said basketball hoop.

20. The method, of tracking basketball shots of claim 19, further including the step of determining a made shot defined by a basketball passing through said hoop, where said vibration sensor and said activator are activated to generate signals that are transmitted to said receiver for processing and recording said made shot.

21. The method of tracking basketball shots of claim 20, further including the step of determining a made shot defined by a basketball passing through said hoop, where said activator generates a signal that is transmitted, to said, receiver for processing and recording said made shot.

22. The method of tracking basketball shots of claim 21, further including the step of determining a missed shot defined by a basketball hitting said hoop or a backboard of said basketball goal but not passing through said hoop, where said, vibration sensor of said shot, detector generates a signal that is transmitted to said receiver for processing and recording said missed shot.

23. The method, of tracking basketball shots of claim 22, further including the step of repeating said step of selecting and said steps of determining to generate statistical data of said made shots and said missed shots, said statistical data including real time or historical percentages or ratios of said made shots and said missed shots, the date of said shots, and the location associated, with said shots, said, statistical data stored, in said unit.

24. The method of tracking basketball shots of claim 23, further including the step of selecting said, review mode to view said statistical data of said shots on said liquid crystal display.