Speed and/or agility training devices and systems and methods for use thereof

• US 8,702,566 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2011
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Evan Baumgarten, Paul Mazzanobile
• Original Assignee: Evan Baumgarten, Paul Mazzanobile
• Inventors: Mazzanobile, Paul, Baumgarten, Evan
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US13/339,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20120190501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482/148, 482900-902, 434/247, 446/431
• US Class Current: 482/4
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0072 Limiting the applied force, torque, movement or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0081 Stopping the operation of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0683 Input by handheld remote control
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/20 using rollers, wheels, castors or the like, e.g. gliding means, to be moved over the floor or other surface, e.g. guide tracks, during exercising
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/605 Floating
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/20 blood composition characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/30 blood pressure A63B2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/43 Composition of exhaled air
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/433 partial CO2 value
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/436 partial O2 value
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/65 skin conductivity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 calorie expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 26/003 for improving balance or equilibrium balance beams A63B4/00; apparatus for rope dancing A63B7/08; balancing drums, balancing boards or the like A63B22/16
• 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 71/06 : Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/00 : Toy vehicles, e.g. with self-drive; convertible into other toys A63H33/003; Cranes, winches or the like; Accessories therefor traffic games with figures moved by players A63F9/14
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 : using wireless transmission

Abstract

Disclosed herein are training devices useful for improving the agility and/or speed of a trainee, systems comprising same, and methods of improving a trainee'"'"'s agility and/or speed. In one embodiment a training device comprises a first sensor operatively associated with a control mechanism, wherein the control mechanism is optionally configured to enable the device to move (a) randomly, (b) in a predetermined movement pattern, or (c) in relation to a second sensor.

Claims

1. A training device comprising:

a housing comprising an opening, wherein said housing is operatively associated with at least one moving agency,

a shut-off unit removably mated with the opening,

a control mechanism operatively associated with the shut-off unit and a drive device said control mechanism enabling the drive device to cause the at least one moving agency to propel the training device when the shut-off unit is mated with the opening, and

a first sensor operatively associated with the control mechanism,

wherein the control mechanism is configured to enable the drive device to cause the at least one moving agency to;

(1) stop propelling the training device when a distance between the first sensor and a second sensor falls below a predetermined separation value;

(2) propel the training device away from the second sensor when a distance between the first sensor and the second sensor falls below a predetermined separation value;

(3) stop propelling the device when the distance between the first and second sensors exceeds a predetermined separation value; and

/or (4) propel the training device towards a second sensor when a distance between the first sensor and the second sensor exceeds a predetermined separation value.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the control mechanism is further configured to enable the drive device to cause the at least one moving agency to propel the training device in a direction associated with the second sensor when not stopping or propelling based on options (1)-(4) of claim 1.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a motion-control device configured to cause the device to move in a random movement pattern.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the shut-off unit comprises a visual enhancement.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the visual enhancement is a flag, a two-dimensional graphic or a three-dimensional graphic.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the visual enhancement is a three-dimensional graphic that resembles a rabbit.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising a motion-control device configured to cause the training device to move in a movement pattern that mimics a movement pattern of a rabbit.

8. The device of claim 4, wherein the visual enhancement is a flag and wherein the height of the flag is adjustable.

9. The device of claim 1 further comprising a memory unit operatively associated with the drive device, wherein the memory unit is configured to store movement data associated with the device.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising a movement selector operatively associated with the drive device.

11. The device of claim 10 further comprising a memory unit operatively associated with the drive device and the movement selector, wherein the memory unit is configured to store movement data associated with the device and the movement selector is configured to allow a user to select a movement pattern stored in the memory unit.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to allow a user to select from a plurality of difficulty settings.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is configured to detect a stationary or slow-moving object in its current path and wherein the drive device is configured to cause the at least one moving agency to stop or change direction upon said detection.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein the device is configured such that movement data is capable of being transferred from the memory unit to a computer.

44. The device of claim 1, wherein the control mechanism is configured to enable the drive device to cause the at least one moving agency to stop propelling the training device when one or more of a diagnostic of the trainee attains, surpasses, or falls below a particular level, threshold, and/or rate, and/or after one or more diagnostics has been maintained at a particular level over a period of time.

45. The device of claim 1, wherein the control mechanism is further configured to enable the drive device to cause the at least one moving agency to propel the training device towards the second sensor when a distance between the first sensor and the second sensor falls below a predetermined separation value.

15. A training device comprising:

a housing comprising an on/off switch, wherein said housing is operatively associated with at least one moving agency;

a first sensor associated with the housing;

a drive device operatively associated with the at least one moving agency; and

a control mechanism operatively associated with the first sensor and the drive device said control mechanism enabling the drive device to cause the at least one moving agency to propel the training device towards and/or away from a second sensor when the on/off switch is set to an “

on”

position;

wherein the control mechanism is configured to enable the drive device to cause the at least one moving agency to;

(1) stop propelling the training device when a distance between the first sensor and a second sensor falls below a predetermined separation value;

(2) propel the training device away from the second sensor when a distance between the first sensor and the second sensor falls below a predetermined separation value;

(3) stop propelling the device when the distance between the first and second sensors exceeds a predetermined separation value; and

/or (4) propel the training device towards a second sensor when a distance between the first sensor and the second sensor exceeds a predetermined separation value.

17. The device of claim 15, further comprising a motion-control device configured to cause the device to move in a random movement pattern.

18. The device of claim 15 wherein the housing is associated with a visual enhancement.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the visual enhancement is a flag, a two-dimensional graphic or a three-dimensional graphic.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the visual enhancement is a three-dimensional graphic that resembles a rabbit.

21. The device of claim 20, further comprising a motion-control device configured to cause the training device to move in a movement pattern that mimics a movement pattern of a rabbit.

22. The device of claim 18, wherein the visual enhancement is a flag and wherein the height of the flag is adjustable.

23. The device of claim 15 further comprising a memory unit operatively associated with the drive device, wherein the memory unit is configured to store movement data associated with the device.

24. The device of claim 15 further comprising a movement selector operatively associated with the drive device.

25. The device of claim 24 further comprising a memory unit operatively associated with the drive device and the movement selector, wherein the memory unit is configured to store movement data associated with the device and the movement selector is configured to allow a user to select a movement pattern stored in the memory unit.

26. The device of claim 15, wherein the device is configured to allow a user to select from a plurality of difficulty settings.

27. The device of claim 15, wherein the first sensor is configured to detect a stationary or slow-moving object in its current path and wherein the drive device is configured to cause the at least one moving agency to stop or change direction upon said detection.

28. The device of claim 23, wherein the device is configured such that movement data is capable of being transferred from the memory unit to a computer.

29. The device of claim 15, wherein the control mechanism is configured to enable the drive device to cause the at least one moving agency to stop propelling the training device when one or more of a diagnostic of the trainee attains, surpasses, or falls below a particular level, threshold, and/or rate, and/or after one or more diagnostics has been maintained at a particular level over a period of time.

30. The device of claim 15, wherein the control mechanism is further configured to enable the drive device to cause the at least one moving agency to propel the training device in a direction associated with the second sensor when not stopping or propelling based on options (1)-(4) of claim 15.

46. The device of claim 15, wherein the control mechanism is further configured to enable the drive device to cause the at least one moving agency to propel the training device towards the second sensor when a distance between the first sensor and the second sensor falls below a predetermined separation value.

16. A training device comprising:

a housing comprising an opening and operatively associated with at least one moving agency;

a first sensor associated with the housing;

a drive device operatively associated with the at least one moving agency;

a control mechanism operatively associated with the first sensor, and the drive device, and a

a visual enhancement removably associated with the opening and comprising a motion-control device configured to cause the device to change directions in one or more preselected movement patterns and/or propel the device at one or more predetermined speeds and such that when the visual enhancement is removably mated with the opening wherein the control mechanism is configured to enable the drive device to cause the at least one moving agency to;

(1) stop propelling the training device when a distance between the first sensor and a second sensor falls below a predetermined separation value;

(2) propel the training device away from the second sensor when a distance between the first sensor and the second sensor falls below a predetermined separation value;

(3) stop propelling the device when the distance between the first and second sensors exceeds a predetermined separation value; and

/or (4) propel the training device towards a second sensor when a distance between the first sensor and the second sensor exceeds a predetermined separation value.

31. The device of claim 16, wherein the control mechanism is configured to enable the drive device to cause the at least one moving agency to stop propelling the training device when one or more of a diagnostic of the trainee attains, surpasses, or falls below a particular level, threshold, and/or rate, and/or after one or more diagnostics has been maintained at a particular level over a period of time.

32. The device of claim 16, further comprising a motion-control device configured to cause the device to move in a random movement pattern.

33. The device of claim 16, wherein the visual enhancement is a flag, a two-dimensional graphic or a three-dimensional graphic.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein the visual enhancement is a three-dimensional graphic that resembles a rabbit.

35. The device of claim 34, further comprising a motion-control device configured to cause the training device to move in a movement pattern that mimics a movement pattern of a rabbit.

36. The device of claim 16, wherein the visual enhancement is a flag and wherein the height of the flag is adjustable.

37. The device of claim 16 further comprising a memory unit operatively associated with the drive device, wherein the memory unit is configured to store movement data associated with the device.

38. The device of claim 16 further comprising a movement selector operatively associated with the drive device.

39. The device of claim 38 further comprising a memory unit operatively associated with the drive device and the movement selector, wherein the memory unit is configured to store movement data associated with the device and the movement selector is configured to allow a user to select a movement pattern stored in the memory unit.

40. The device of claim 16, wherein the device is configured to allow a user to select from a plurality of difficulty settings.

41. The device of claim 16, wherein the first sensor is configured to detect a stationary or slow-moving object in its current path and wherein the drive device is configured to cause the at least one moving agency to stop or change direction upon said detection.

42. The device of claim 37, wherein the device is configured such that movement data is capable of being transferred from the memory unit to a computer.

43. The device of claim 16, wherein the control mechanism is further configured to enable the drive device to cause the at least one moving agency to propel the training device in a direction associated with the second sensor when not stopping or propelling based on options (1)-(4) of claim 16.

47. The device of claim 16, wherein the control mechanism is further configured to enable the drive device to cause the at least one moving agency to propel the training device towards the second sensor when a distance between the first sensor and the second sensor falls below a predetermined separation value.