Electronic athlete trainer for improving skills in reflex, speed and accuracy

• US 4,627,620 A
• Filed: 12/26/1984
• Issued: 12/09/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John P. Yang
• Original Assignee: John P. Yang
• Inventors: Yang, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pinkham, Richard C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rose, Stuart W.
• Application Number:
  US06/686,467
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 273/1 GC, 273/1 GE, 273/374, 273/375, 273/390, 434/247, 434/251, 434/256, 434/258
• US Class Current: 273/446
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/00 Application of clubs, bats, rackets or the like to the sporting activity ; particular sports involving the use of balls and clubs, bats, rackets, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/04 Badminton
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/06 Squash
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2214/00 Training methods
• 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 2220/801 Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/10 Multi-station exercising machines
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0066 Rugby; American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/10 Combat sports
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0464 Walk exercisers without moving parts with movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0015 for cricket
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 for football American-football dummies A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0024 for hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0053 Apparatus generating random stimulus signals for reaction-time training involving a substantial physical effort
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0071 for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0095 for volley-ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/02 : for fencing , e.g. means for indicating hits
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/22 : mounted on, or suspended from, a fixed support
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/322 : to instruct user where to strike
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 : for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

An electronic apparatus for improving skills in reflex, speed and accuracy of the player as well as for recreational purposes is disclosed in which multiple targets spread around the player are selected with random sequence by an electronic device. The selections of targets are indicated by the visual indicators as well as an audio alarm on the electronic device. When the targets are selected, a timer on the electronic device is activated and the elapsed time is indicated by a display on the electronic device. The timer is halted when the targets are hit by the player. The indicators are then disabled and the elapsed time which measures the performance of the player is indicated by the display on the electronic device. The speed of target selection preceded by fake target selections is provided to improve player'"'"'s reflex.

Claims

1. A training apparatus comprising in combination multiple targets which are to be placed around the player with different distances and heights;

an electronic device having electronic components for controlling the operation of said training apparatus;

means for randomly selecting said targets;

sound generator means acting as a coordinating means to coordinate the hearing, vision and body control of the player, responsive to said target selection means to automatically create a sound as said targets are selected by said target selection means;

indicating means responsive to said target selection means for indicating when said targets are selected by said target selections;

means for resetting said target selections;

means for measuring elapsed time between said target selections and said target resettings;

indicating means for indicating elapsed time measured by said measuring means;

selection means for designating selection speeds of said target selections;

means for selecting fake mode of said target selections in which true target selection is preceded by fake target selections for improving the judgment and coordination abilities of the player;

means for communication between said electronic device and said targets whereby said targets can be placed at different distances and heights from the player, wherein means for supporting said target means and controlling means for generating reset signal is a rod with its top being connected to said target means and its bottom being hinged to said base means and positioned right on top of said means for generating reset signal whereby when said rod is in straight position, said means for generating reset signal is closed by the weight of said rod and when said rod is in tilted position due to the hitting of said target means by the player, said means for generating reset signal is open, thus generating a reset signal.

2. A training apparatus comprising in combination multiple targets which are to be placed around the player;

an electronic device having electronic components for controlling the operation of said training apparatus;

means for randomly selecting said targets;

sound generator means responsive to said target selection means to automatically create a sound as said targets are selected by said target selection means;

indicating means responsive to said target selection means for indicating when said targets are selected by said target selections;

means for resetting said target selections;

means for measuring elapsed time between said target selections and said target resettings;

indicating means for indicating elapsed time measured by said measuring means;

selection means for designating selection speeds of said target selections;

means for selecting fake mode of said target selections in which true target selection is preceded by fake target selections;

means for communication between said electronic device and said targets;

an oscillator;

a binary counter which generates multiple clocks with different frequencies by counting down the clock generated by said oscillator;

logic gates responsive to said selection means for designating selection speeds of said target selections to select one clock with desired frequency from said binary counter;

a pseudo random number generator;

a state decoder which converts the signals generated from said pseudo random number generator into multiple pseudo random states in which only one state is true at one clock period and each state represents one said target;

a state register which stores the multiple pseudo random states from said state decoder and randomly selects one of said targets with one of the true state at each clock period, the true state in said state register being cleared by reset signal generated by said means for generating reset signal in said selected target;

a display which displays the elapsed time measured in said decade counter;

a sound generator responsive to said target selection means to automatically create a sound as said targets are selected by said target selection means and to stop the sound as said targets are reset by said means for generating reset signal in said selected targets; and

a transmitter/receiver to communicate between said electronic device and said targets.