Training device

• US 8,936,523 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2012
• Issued: 01/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David W. Manners, Michael F. Cerimele Jr
• Original Assignee: Michael F. Cerimele Jr
• Inventors: Manners, David W., Cerimele, Michael F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Aryanpour, Mitra
• Application Number:
  US13/621,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20140080637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 473/422, 473/438, 473/446, 473/610, 473/570, 473/571, 473/599, 473/597
• US Class Current: 473/438
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0066 Rugby; American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/002 with special configuration, e.g. non-spherical discs for throwing A63B65/10
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/00 Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 for football American-football dummies A63B69/34

Abstract

A training device is disclosed that has a depressable element and an indicator element that provides a perceivable indication, for example an audible alarm, to a user when an amount of force being applied to the training device along the major axis of the training device is less than a desired amount of depressing force. In some embodiments, the training device is in the shape of a prolate sphere and approximates the size and shape of a ball typically used in American football. The training device may be configured so that no perceivable indication is provided while either little to no force is being applied to the training device along its major axis or while an adequate amount of force is being applied to the training device along the major axis thereof.

Claims

1. A training device comprising:

a body having a prolate spheroid shape, the body comprising a depressible element and an indicator element, the depressible element having an undepressed position and a plurality of depressed positions into which the depressible element can be depressed

wherein the indicator element is operationally configured to provide a perceivable indication while the depressible element is being depressed to a first position of the plurality of depressed positions that is located equal to or greater than a first distance from the undepressed position and less than a second distance from the undepressed position, the second distance being greater than the first distance;

wherein the indicator element does not provide the perceivable indication while the depressible element is being depressed to a second position of the plurality of depressed positions that is located less than the first distance from the undepressed position; and

wherein the indicator element does not provide the perceivable indication while the depressible element is being depressed to a third position of the plurality of depressed positions that is located equal to or greater than the second distance from the undepressed position.

2. The training device of claim 1, wherein the perceivable indication is an audible alarm.

3. The training device of claim 1, wherein the perceivable indication is a vibration.

4. The training device of claim 1, wherein when the depressible element is not being depressed, the depressible element automatically returns to the undepressed position.

5. The training device of claim 1, wherein the depressible element comprises a spring.

6. The training device of claim 1, wherein the body has a major axis corresponding with a maximum axial length of the prolate spheroid shape, and the depressible element is coaxially aligned with the major axis.

7. The training device of claim 1, wherein the body is in the approximate shape of a ball commonly used in the game of American football.

8. The training device of claim 1, wherein the body has a major axis corresponding with a maximum axial length of the prolate spheroid shape, the body further comprising a first nosepiece located at one end of the major axis and a second nosepiece located at an opposing end of the major axis, wherein one of the first nosepiece and the second nosepiece is moveable and the other of the first nosepiece and the second nosepiece is stationary.

9. A training device comprising:

a body having a prolate spheroid shape, the body comprising a depressible element and an indicator element, the depressible element having an undepressed position and a plurality of depressed positions into which the depressible element can be depressed;

wherein the indicator element is operationally configured to provide a perceivable indication while the depressible element is being depressed to a first depressed position that is located equidistant with or further than a first distance from the undepressed position and less than a second distance from the undepressed position, wherein the first distance is greater than zero and the second distance is greater than the first distance; and

wherein the indicator element does not provide the perceivable indication while the depressible element is being depressed to a second depressed position that is located equidistant with or further than the second distance from the undepressed position.

10. The training device of claim 9, wherein the perceivable indication is an audible alarm.

11. The training device of claim 9, wherein the perceivable indication is a vibration.

12. The training device of claim 9, the body having a major axis corresponding with a maximum axial length of the prolate spheroid shape, wherein the depressible element is coaxially aligned with the major axis.

13. The training device of claim 9, wherein when the depressible element is not being depressed, the depressible element automatically returns to the undepressed position.

14. The training device of claim 9, the body having a major axis corresponding with a maximum axial length of the prolate spheroid shape, the body further comprising a first nosepiece located at one end of the major axis and a second nosepiece located at the other end of the major axis, wherein one of the first nosepiece and the second nosepiece is moveable and the other of the first nosepiece and the second nosepiece is stationary.

15. A training device comprising:

a body having a prolate spheroid shape, the body comprising a depressible element, an indicator element, and a major axis corresponding with a maximum axial length of the prolate spheroid shape, the depressible element being coaxially aligned with the major axis and having an undepressed position and a plurality of depressed positions into which the depressible element can be depressed, the indicator element being operationally configured to provide a perceivable indication;

wherein while a depressing force is being applied to the depressible element along the major axis, the indicator element provides the perceivable indication while the depressing force has a value that is equal to or greater than a value of a first force and less than a value of a second force, the value of the second force being greater than the value of the first force;

wherein the indicator element does not provide the perceivable indication while the depressing force has a value that is less than the value of the first force; and

wherein the indicator element does not provide the perceivable indication while the depressing force has a value that is equal to or greater than the value of the second force.

16. The training device of claim 15, wherein the value of the first force is equal to at least 1 pound of pressure and the value of the second force is equal to at least 8 pounds of pressure.

17. The training device of claim 15, wherein the perceivable indication is an audible alarm.

18. The training device of claim 15, wherein the perceivable indication is a vibration.

19. The training device of claim 15, wherein the depressible element comprises a spring.

20. The training device of claim 15, the body further comprising a first nosepiece located at one end of the major axis and a second nosepiece located at an opposing end of the major axis, wherein one of the first nosepiece and the second nosepiece is moveable and the other of the first nosepiece and the second nosepiece is stationary.