Sports ball system for monitoring ball and body characteristics and method therefor

• US 9,526,951 B1
• Filed: 01/21/2016
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Ganson
• Original Assignee: Michael Ganson
• Inventors: Ganson, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US15/003,423
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 473/570
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2037/125 stitchings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0006 for pitching
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0661 arranged on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/24 Angular displacement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/73 Altitude
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/74 Atmospheric pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/42 rate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 : Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 : Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/02 : Special cores balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball cores A63B37/005
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/06 : Elastic cores
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/004 : electrically conductive, e.g. for automatic arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 : for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/20 : Analysis of motion motion estimation for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/43, H04N19/51

Abstract

A sports ball system for calculating movement characteristics uses a sports ball having components for monitoring and calculating the movement characteristics of the sports ball. The components are mounted on a spherical circuit board within the sports ball so the sports ball is balanced. A plurality of wearable sensors is provided monitoring body characteristics of an individual throwing the sports ball.

Claims

1. A sports ball system for calculating movement characteristics comprising:

a sports ball having components for monitoring and calculating the movement characteristics of the sports ball, the components mounted on a spherical circuit board within the sports ball so the sports ball is balanced, wherein the sports ball comprises;

a spherical core, the spherical circuit board mounted within the spherical core;

a mounting unit formed within the spherical core for securing the spherical circuit board within the spherical core, the mounting unit comprising;

a platform housed within the spherical core; and

a plurality of mounting brackets positioned around a perimeter of the platform, the mounting brackets used to hold the spherical circuit board in place and deflect kinematic energy;

winding wrapped around the spherical core; and

a cover positioned around the winding; and

a plurality of wearable sensors monitoring body characteristics of an individual throwing the sports ball, wherein each of the plurality of wearable sensors comprises;

at least one monitoring sensor for monitoring a characteristic of a body the at least one monitoring sensor is positioned upon;

a processor coupled to the at least one monitoring sensor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

a device for downloading data monitored by the at least one monitoring sensor.

2. The sports ball system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plurality of wearable sensors comprises at least one wrist sensor.

3. The sports ball system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plurality of wearable sensors comprises at least one wrist sensor monitoring arm movement and muscle movement.

4. The sports ball system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plurality of wearable sensors comprises at least one foot sensor.

5. The sports ball system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plurality of wearable sensors comprises at least one foot sensor monitoring foot movement.

6. The sports ball system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plurality of wearable sensors comprises at least one chest sensor.

7. The sports system ball in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plurality of wearable sensors comprises at least one chest sensor monitoring at least one of chest movement, breathing patterns and heart rate.

8. The sports ball system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the device is a transmitter coupled to the processor.

9. The sports ball system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the device is a port coupled to the processor.

10. The sports ball system in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of wearable sensors comprises a screen coupled to the processor.

11. The sports ball in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sports ball comprises counterweights positioned on the spherical circuit board.

12. A sports ball system for calculating movement characteristics comprising:

a sports ball comprising;

a spherical core;

a spherical circuit board mounted within the spherical core and having components for monitoring and calculating a movement characteristics of the sports ball;

a mounting unit formed within the spherical core for securing the spherical circuit board within the spherical core, the mounting unit comprising;

a platform housed within the spherical core; and

a plurality of mounting brackets positioned around a perimeter of the platform, the mounting brackets used to hold the spherical circuit board in place and deflect kinematic energy;

winding wrapped around the spherical core; and

a cover positioned around the winding; and

a plurality of wearable sensors monitoring body characteristics of an individual throwing the sports ball, wherein the plurality of wearable sensors comprises at least one wrist sensor, at least one foot sensor and a chest sensor.

13. The sports ball system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the at least one wrist sensor monitoring arm movement and muscle movement.

14. The sports ball system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the at least one foot sensor monitoring foot movement.

15. The sports system ball in accordance with claim 12, wherein the chest sensor monitoring at least one of chest movement, breathing patterns and heart rate.

16. The sports ball system in accordance with claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of wearable sensors comprises:

at least one monitoring sensor for monitoring a characteristic of a body the at least one monitoring sensor is positioned upon;

a processor coupled to the at least one monitoring sensor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

a device for downloading data monitored by the at least one monitoring sensor.

17. A sports ball system for calculating movement characteristics comprising:

a sports ball comprising;

a spherical core;

a spherical circuit board mounted within the spherical core and having components for monitoring and calculating a movement characteristics of the sports ball;

a mounting unit formed within the spherical core for securing the spherical circuit board within the spherical core, the mounting unit comprising;

a platform housed within the spherical core; and

a plurality of mounting brackets positioned around a perimeter of the platform, the mounting brackets used to hold the spherical circuit board in place and deflect kinematic energy;

winding wrapped around the spherical core; and

a cover positioned around the winding; and

a plurality of wearable sensors monitoring body characteristics of an individual throwing the sports ball, wherein the plurality of wearable sensors comprises at least one wrist sensor, one foot sensor and one chest sensor, the at least one wrist sensor monitoring arm movement and muscle movement, the at least one foot sensor monitoring foot movement and the chest sensor monitoring at least one of chest movement, breathing patterns and heart rate.

18. The sports ball system in accordance with claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of wearable sensors comprises:

at least one monitoring sensor for monitoring a characteristic of a body the at least one monitoring sensor is positioned upon;

a processor coupled to the at least one monitoring sensor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

a device for downloading data monitored by the at least one monitoring sensor.