Sports training device and implementation thereof

• US 9,457,249 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2014
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Marc Goldberg
• Original Assignee: Robert Marc Goldberg
• Inventors: Goldberg, Robert Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Aryanpour, Mitra
• Application Number:
  US14/193,919
• Publication Number:
  US 20150246275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 473/422, 473/446, 473/478, 473454-456, 473/477, 273/400
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/14 Lacrosse
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/22 Field hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/00 Targets or goals for ball games golf cups A63B57/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/004 Goals of the type used for football, handball, hockey or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/06 Revolving targets ; Moving targets, e.g. moving or revolving on impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/00 Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 for football American-football dummies A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0026 for ice-hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724

Abstract

Embodiments of a sports training device that incorporates structure to facilitate installation and transport. These embodiments include a frame with one or more articulating sections that can change the configuration of the frame. The different configurations can change the dimensions of the sports training device, e.g., reducing the dimensions for transport and increasing the dimensions to match the opening of a goal.

Claims

1. A sports training device, comprising:

a frame at least partially circumscribing a frame opening, the frame comprising a top frame member, a bottom frame member, and a pair of peripheral frame members including a first peripheral frame member and a second peripheral frame member, one each coupled to opposite sides of the top frame member and the bottom frame member,

wherein each of the top frame member and the bottom frame member include joints that are configured to permit the first peripheral frame member and second peripheral frame member to rotate inwardly toward a center plane of the frame; and

a target assembly coupled with the frame, the target assembly comprising a first target member that is configured to couple with either the first peripheral frame member or the second peripheral frame member, the first target member having a target disposed in the frame opening,

wherein rotation at the joints causes the frame to assume a first frame configuration and a second frame configuration that is different from the first frame configuration,

wherein the first frame configuration and the second frame configuration define a frame member distance between the first peripheral frame member and the second peripheral frame member, and

wherein the frame member distance has a first frame member distance in the first frame configuration and a second frame member distance in the second frame configuration that is less than the first frame member distance.

2. The sports training device of claim 1, wherein the target member is configured to assume a first orientation and a second orientation, wherein the first orientation positions the target substantially parallel to a plane that is tangent to a point on the first peripheral frame member and a point on the second peripheral frame member, and wherein the second orientation positions the target at an angle to the plane.

3. The sports training device of claim 2, wherein the target member comprises a biasing element that is configured to move the target member from the second orientation to the first orientation.

4. The sports training device of claim 2, wherein the target member is configured to generate an output that indicates the orientation of the target.

5. The sports training device of claim 4, wherein the target member comprises a sensor member that is configured to generate the output.

6. The sports training device of claim 1, wherein the target assembly comprises a first set of target members disposed on the first peripheral frame member and a second set of target members disposed on the second peripheral frame member.

7. The sports training device of claim 6, further comprising a device input coupled with the frame and a wiring harness coupled with the device input and extending along the frame, the wiring harness comprising wires that couple the first set of target members and the second set of target members to the device input.

8. A sports training device, comprising:

a frame having a top frame member, a bottom frame member, and a pair of peripheral frame members including a first peripheral frame member, a second peripheral frame member, one each coupled to opposite sides of the top frame member and the bottom frame member so as to form a frame opening, the frame comprising a center plane disposed between the first peripheral frame member and the second peripheral frame member;

a joint assembly comprising a first joint and a second joint integrated into the top frame member and the bottom frame member, the first joint and the second joint having an axis of rotation that allows the first peripheral section and the second peripheral section to rotate relative to the top frame member and the bottom frame member; and

a target assembly comprising a first target member and a second target member, one each disposed on the first peripheral frame member and the second peripheral frame member, the first target member and the second target member having a target with at least one orientation that configures the target at an angle to a plane that is tangent to at least two points on the frame.

9. The sports training device of claim 8, wherein the frame has a first configuration and a second configuration that define an outer dimension for the frame, and wherein the outer dimension in the first configuration is greater than the outer dimension in the second configuration.

10. The sports training device of claim 8, wherein the target members comprise a target articulating joint with a biasing element that returns the target member to a first orientation from a second orientation disposed at the angle.

11. The sports training device of claim 8, wherein the target members comprise a sensor member that is configured to generate the output.

12. A training system, comprising:

a device comprising a frame with a plurality of target members disposed thereon, the frame having a top frame member, a bottom frame member, and a pair of side frame members coupled to opposite sides of the top frame member and the bottom frame member to form a frame opening, the top frame member and the bottom frame member including joints for articulating part of the top frame member and part of the bottom frame member so as to cause the pair of side frame members to rotate inwardly toward a center plane of the frame, the target members comprising a target disposed on at least one of the side frame members and with at least one orientation that configures the target at an angle to a plane that is tangent to at least two points on the frame; and

a control device that is configured to connect with the device, the control device configured to generate an output that instructs operation of the device between a number of operating modes that define a scoring protocol for the device.

13. The training system of claim 12, wherein the operating modes comprise a first operating mode in which the scoring protocol assigns a scoring value to each of the target members.

14. The training system of claim 13, wherein the operating modes comprise a second operating mode in which the scoring protocol assigns the target members a position in a sequential listing, and wherein the sequential listing identifies an order that registers scoring values for each of the target members.

15. The training system of claim 12, wherein the target assembly comprises a first set of target members and a second set of target members disposed on the pair of side frame members.

16. The training system of claim 15, wherein the target assembly includes at least one target member disposed on the top frame member and the bottom frame member.