Grip pressure detector assembly

• US 6,716,034 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2000
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hafez Elfarnawani, Manuel M. Casanova Jr
• Original Assignee: Hafez Elfarnawani, Manuel M. Casanova Jr
• Inventors: Elfarnawani, Hafez, Casanova, Manuel M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hughes, S. Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): RADA, ALEX P
• Application Number:
  US09/728,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20030036436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 434/247, 434/252, 434/257, 434/258, 434/365, 434/392, 473/201, 473/202, 473/203-204, 473/205-206, 482/5-8, 482/49, 733/790.1, 733/790.2
• US Class Current: 434/252
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2060/464 Means for indicating or measuring the pressure on the grip
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/22 Field hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/70 with bent or angled lower parts for hitting a ball on the ground, on an ice-covered surface, or in the air, e.g. for hockey or hurling
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/46 Measurement devices associated with golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like for measuring physical parameters relating to sporting activity, e.g. baseball bats with impact indicators or bracelets for measuring the golf swing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 for golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3632 Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00

Abstract

Apparatus and method for training a novice comprising the steps of providing a sports related implement to at least one expert player for executing a sports related movement. Initiating at least one repetition of the movement. Measuring a variable characteristic of the at least one repetition to provide a sequential record of the variable characteristic produced by the at least one expert player. Transferring the sports implement to a novice player to execute the sports related movement. Activating feedback of the sequential record of the variable characteristic during execution of a comparable movement by the novice player to signal deviation of the comparable movement from the sports related movement, thereby providing expert training to the novice player.

Claims

1. A method for training accurate replication of an exercise, the method comprising:

providing a recording arrangement that records sequential readings of a pressure of an actor'"'"'s grip on a sports equipment through an exercise;

recording pressure readings from multiple repetitions of a particular exercise being performed by a first actor using said arrangement; and

compiling a plurality of said readings recorded during said multiple repetitions and synthesizing a representative performance of the exercise by the first actor using the compiled readings.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

reading a

second actor'"'"'s performance of the exercise; and

comparing the second actor'"'"'s performance of the exercise to the synthesized representative performance of the exercise by the first actor.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

providing substantially instantaneous feed back to the second actor regarding the exercise comparison thereby aiding the second actor'"'"'s replication of the synthesized representative performance of the exercise by the first actor.

4. The method as recited in claim 2,

wherein the recording arrangement is wholly integrated with the sports equipment;

and

wherein the method further comprises;

providing substantially instantaneous feed back to the second actor regarding the exercise comparison thereby notifying the second actor of deviation from the synthesized representative performance of the exercise by the first actor.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

providing the substantially instantaneous feed back to the second actor in the form of an audible signal.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

varying an intensity of the audible signal commensurate with a magnitude of deviation of the second actor'"'"'s replication from the synthesized representative performance of the exercise by the first actor.

7. The method as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

providing the substantially instantaneous feed back to the second actor in the form of a visual signal.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

varying an intensity of the visual signal commensurate with a magnitude of deviation of the second actor'"'"'s replication from the synthesized representative performance of the exercise by the first actor.

9. The method as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

providing the substantially instantaneous feed back to the second actor in the form of a light source.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

varying an intensity of the light source commensurate with a magnitude of deviation of the second actor'"'"'s replication from the synthesized representative performance of the exercise by the first actor.

11. The method as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

providing the substantially instantaneous feed back to the second actor in the form of a progressive dot bar display.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

varying a linear progression along the progressive dot bar display commensurate with a magnitude of deviation of the second actor'"'"'s replication from the synthesized representative performance of the exercise by the first actor.

13. The method as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

providing the substantially instantaneous feed back to the second actor in the form of a virtual representation of the first actor.

14. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the first actor is an experienced athlete and the second actor is a less experienced athlete desirous of replicating the first actor'"'"'s proficiency in performing the exercise.

15. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the first actor is a golf professional and the second actor is a novice golfer desirous of replicating the golf professional'"'"'s proficiency in performing a golf swing.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

recording the comparisons for statistical analysis of the novice golfer'"'"'s progress toward accurate replication of the synthesized representative performance of the exercise by the golf professional.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

utilizing an adapted golf club to detect and record the sequential readings of the quantitative characteristic of the golf professional'"'"'s movement through a golf swing.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

incorporating a strain gauge into the adapted golf club for sensing grip pressure upon the adapted golf club by a golfer.

19. The method as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

providing the substantially instantaneous feed back to the second actor in the form of a digital read-out display.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, further comprising:

varying a numerical read-out on the digital read-out display commensurate with a magnitude of deviation of the second actor'"'"'s replication from the synthesized representative performance of the exercise by the first actor.

21. A method for training a novice comprising the steps of

providing a sports equipment to at least one expert player for executing a sports related movement;

initiating at least one said movement;

measuring the expert player'"'"'s grip pressure on the sports equipment during said movement to provide a sequential record of grip pressure produced by the expert player;

transferring said sports equipment to a novice player to execute a movement comparable to said sports related movement;

activating feedback of said sequential record of grip pressure during execution of said comparable movement by the novice player to signal deviation of said comparable movement from said sports related movement, thereby providing expert training to the novice player.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein,

wherein a recording arrangement is wholly integrated with the sports equipment; and said sports equipment is selected from the group consisting of golf clubs, tennis racquets, and hockey sticks.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said sports related movement is an arcuate movement.