SPORTING-OBJECT TRAINING DEVICE WITH SKILLS-TRAINING MODE DETECTION

• US 20140171226A1
• Filed: 05/29/2013
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shooters Revolution, LLC
• Original Assignee: Shooters Revolution, LLC
• Inventors: Johnson, Michael, Costain, Kingsley, Holmes, Ryan
• Granted Patent: US 9,384,676 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/422
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/00 Hollow inflatable balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/008 with means for improving visibility, e.g. special markings or colours illuminating or reflecting means A63B43/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/083 for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports

Abstract

Described herein is a technology for facilitating skills-training mode in athletic sports that utilize a sporting-object.

Claims

1. A device that facilitates skills training with a sporting-object, the device comprising:

a rotational sensor configured to measure a series of angular velocities about a defined axis of a sporting object;

a launch determiner configured to determine whether the sporting object is in a skills-training mode based upon one or more measured angular velocities of the series;

a trainer configured to;

ascertain, during the skills-training mode, whether a consecutive sequence of measured angular velocities of the series falls within a defined range of angular velocities;

generate an audible signal in response to the ascertaining.

2. A device as recited by claim 1, wherein the launch determiner is configured to determine by:

observing that each of a consecutive sequence of measured angular velocities of the series represent no or nearly no angular velocity about the defined axis of the sporting object;

in response to the observing, triggering the skills-training mode.

3. A device as recited by claim 1, wherein the trainer is configured to generate the audible signal by:

producing one or more positive sounds in response to ascertaining that the consecutive sequence of measured angular velocities of the series falls within the defined range of angular velocities.

4. A device as recited by claim 1, wherein the trainer is configured to generate the audible signal at a time after launch that corresponds to an apex of an optimal launch of the sporting object.

5. A device as recited by claim 1, wherein:

the defined range of angular velocities is ten percent more or less of two revolutions of the sporting object about the defined axis.

6. A device as recited by claim 1, wherein the consecutive sequence of measured angular velocities of the series of the trainer occurs over two tenths of a second.

7. A device as recited by claim 1, wherein the consecutive sequence of measured angular velocities of the series of the launch determiner occurs over three tenths of a second.

8. A device as recited by claim 1, wherein the sporting object is selected from a group consisting of:

a basketball, a soccer ball, a softball, a baseball, a football, a cricket ball, a field hockey ball, an ice hockey puck, a tennis ball, a volleyball ball, a golf ball, a table tennis ball, a flying disc, a bowling ball, a discus, a shot, a hammer, a bocce ball, and a curling stone.

9. A method that facilitates sporting-object skills training, the method comprising:

measuring a series of angular velocities about a defined axis of a sporting object;

based upon one or more measured angular velocities of the series, determining whether a sporting object is in a skills-training mode;

in the skills-training mode, ascertaining whether a consecutive sequence of measured angular velocities of the series falls within a defined range of angular velocities;

in response the ascertaining, generating an audible signal.

10. A method as recited by claim 9, wherein the determining includes:

observing that each of a consecutive sequence of measured angular velocities of the series represent no or nearly no angular velocity about the defined axis of the sporting object;

in response to the observing, triggering the skills-training mode.

11. A method as recited by claim 9, wherein the generating includes:

producing one or more positive sounds in response to ascertaining that the consecutive sequence of measured angular velocities of the series falls within the defined range of angular velocities.

12. A method as recited by claim 9, wherein the generating includes:

producing one or more negative sounds in response to ascertaining that the consecutive sequence of measured angular velocities of the series falls outside a defined range of angular velocities.

13. A method as recited by claim 9 further comprising:

exiting the skills-training mode after the generating of the audible signal.

14. A method as recited by claim 9, wherein:

the defined range of angular velocities is ten percent more or less of two revolutions of the sporting object about the defined axis.

15. A method as recited by claim 9, wherein the consecutive sequence of measured angular velocities of the series of the ascertaining occurs over two tenths of a second.

16. A method as recited by claim 9, wherein the consecutive sequence of measured angular velocities of the series of the observing occurs over three tenths of a second.

17. A method as recited by claim 9 wherein:

the sporting object is selected from a group consisting of a basketball, a soccer ball, a softball, a baseball, a football, a cricket ball, a field hockey ball, an ice hockey puck, a tennis ball, a volleyball ball, a golf ball, a table tennis ball, a flying disc, a bowling ball, a discus, a shot, a hammer, a bocce ball, and a curling stone.

18. One or more computer-readable media with processor-executable instructions stored thereon which when executed by one or more processors cause performance of operations comprising:

measuring a series of angular velocities about a defined axis of a sporting object;

based upon one or more measured angular velocities of the series, determining whether a sporting object is in a skills-training mode;

in the skills-training mode, ascertaining whether a consecutive sequence of measured angular velocities of the series falls within a defined range of angular velocities.

19. One or more computer-readable media as recited by claim 18, wherein the determining includes:

observing that each of a consecutive sequence of measured angular velocities of the series represent no or nearly no angular velocity about the defined axis of the sporting object;

in response to the observing, triggering the skills-training mode.

20. One or more computer-readable media as recited by claim 18 further comprising:

generating an audible signal in response to ascertaining that the consecutive sequence of measured angular velocities of the series falls within a defined range of angular velocities.

21. One or more computer-readable media as recited by claim 18, wherein:

the defined range of angular velocities is fifteen percent more or less of an optimal number of revolutions of the sporting object about the defined axis.

22. One or more computer-readable media as recited by claim 18, wherein:

the sporting object is selected from a group consisting of a basketball, a soccer ball, a softball, a baseball, a football, a cricket ball, a field hockey ball, an ice hockey puck, a tennis ball, a volleyball ball, a golf ball, a table tennis ball, a flying disc, a bowling ball, a discus, a shot, a hammer, a bocce ball, and a curling stone.

23. A device that facilitates skills training with a sporting-object, the device comprising:

a rotational sensor configured to measure a series of motion properties about a defined axis of a sporting object;

a launch determiner configured to determine whether the sporting object is in a skills-training mode based upon one or more measured motion properties of the series;

a trainer configured to;

ascertain, during the skills-training mode, whether a consecutive sequence of measured angular velocities of the series falls within a defined range of angular velocities;

generate an audible signal in response to the ascertaining.

24. A device as recited by claim 23, wherein the measured motion properties are selected from a group consisting of angular momentum, acceleration, velocity, rotational acceleration, rotational axes, and orientation.