On-field vision training system

• US 8,062,037 B1
• Filed: 07/23/2008
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Wojciechowski, Justin, Collier, Michael, Wojciechowski, Bruce, Chapa, Rodolfo Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fernstrom; Kurt
• Application Number:
  US12/178,587
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 434/247, 434/248, 434/251, 434/252, 473/422, 473/438, 473/569, D21/712
• US Class Current: 434/251
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• 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 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0071 for basketball

Abstract

An on-field vision training system is disclosed that provides a visual identifier near the athlete during game play and training exercises and other visual identifier positioned away from the athlete, but so as to still be seen by the athlete during game play and training exercises. The athlete uses the visual identifiers during game play and training exercises to improve vision, focus, and concentration. An American football having unique visual identifiers for use as an in-flight visual training tool is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A football comprising:

a prolate spheroid having an axis of symmetry extending from a first end to a second end;

an equatorial diameter on an equatorial plane perpendicular to the axis of symmetry located about a center point of the axis of symmetry;

a first visual display positioned about the first end of the prolate spheroid;

a second visual display positioned about said second end;

the first visual display and the second visual display each comprising a pattern of concentric circles originating from a first circle centered about the respective end and at least one circle of said pattern of concentric circles for each display has a different color than a second circle of the same display; and

wherein the first concentric circle of the first visual display has a first diameter that is larger than a second diameter of the first concentric circle of the second visual display.

2. The football of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the first concentric circle of the first end is larger than a diameter of a second concentric circle of the second end.

3. The football of claim 1, wherein the first concentric circle of the first visual display is a first color and the first concentric circle of the second visual display is a second color.

4. The football of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the collective concentric circles of the first visual display is larger than the diameter of the collective concentric circles of the second visual display.

5. The football of claim 1, wherein the first visual display consists of two concentric circles and the second visual display consists of three concentric circles.

6. The football of claim 1, wherein the first visual display extends less than 10% of the distance from the first end to the second end when measured along the axis of symmetry.

7. The football of claim 1, wherein the first visual display extends less than 5% of the distance from the first end to the second end when measured along the axis of symmetry.

8. The football of claim 6, further comprising:

a first plurality of elongate, concentrically-aligned, spaced apart lines located on the prolate spheroid between the first visual display and the equatorial diameter.

9. The football of claim 8, further comprising:

a second plurality of elongate, concentrically-aligned, spaced apart lines located on the prolate spheroid between the second visual display and the equatorial diameter, wherein at least one of the second plurality of lines is a different color than at least one of the first plurality of lines.

10. The football of claim 8, further comprising:

a second plurality elongate, concentrically-aligned, spaced apart lines located on the prolate spheroid between the second visual display and the equatorial diameter, wherein at least one of the second plurality of lines is thicker than at least one of the first plurality of lines.

11. A method of performing a vision training exercise comprising:

selecting by a first user whether to direct a first end or a second end of a prolate spheroid towards a second user during a flight of the prolate spheroid, wherein the prolate spheroid comprises;

an axis of symmetry extending from the first end to a second end and an equatorial diameter on an equatorial plane perpendicular to the axis of symmetry located about a center point of the axis of symmetry;

a first visual display positioned about the first end of the prolate spheroid;

a second visual display positioned about said second end;

the first visual display and the second visual display each comprising a pattern of concentric circles originating from a first circle centered about the respective end; and

at least one circle of said pattern of concentric circles for each display has a different color than a second circle of the same display; and

wherein the first concentric circle of the first visual display has a first diameter that is larger than a second diameter of the first concentric circle of the second visual display; and

propelling the prolate spheroid into the flight causing it to spin on the axis of symmetry such that the selected end is consistently directed in a direction towards the second user and the other end is consistently directed in a direction away from the second user to permit the second user to visually discern a property of the visual display located on the selected side during the flight.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

requesting feedback from the second user during the flight of the prolate spheroid relating to the property of the visual display selected to be directed towards the second user.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving feedback from the second user during the flight of the prolate spheroid relating to a property of the visual display selected to be directed towards the second user by the first user, such that the feedback requires a second user to locate and discern the property of the selected visual display during flight.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the received feedback from the second user during the flight of the prolate spheroid comprises audio feedback relating to the color of at least one concentric circle of the visual display selected to be directed towards the second user by the first user.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the received feedback from the second user during the flight of the prolate spheroid comprises audio feedback relating to the position of at least one concentric circle of the visual display selected to be directed towards the second user by the first user relative to another concentric circle of the same visual display.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the flight is a first flight and the method further comprising:

based upon the second user'"'"'s feedback during the first flight, selecting by the first user whether to direct the first end or the second end of the prolate spheroid towards the second user during a second flight of the prolate spheroid.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the diameter of the first concentric circle of the first end of the prolate spheroid is larger than a diameter of a second concentric circle of the second end.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the first concentric circle of the first visual display of the prolate spheroid is a first color and the first concentric circle of the second visual display is a second color.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the first visual display extends less than 10% of the distance from the first end to the second end when measured along the axis of symmetry.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the prolate spheroid used by the first user further comprises:

a first plurality of elongate, concentrically-aligned, spaced apart lines located on the prolate spheroid between the first visual display and the equatorial diameter; and

a second plurality of elongate, concentrically-aligned, spaced apart lines located on the prolate spheroid between the second visual display and the equatorial diameter, wherein at least one of the second plurality of lines is a different color or thickness than at least one of the first plurality of lines.