Sports training aid

• US 9,604,100 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2015
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Marc Goldberg
• Original Assignee: Robert Marc Goldberg
• Inventors: Goldberg, Robert Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): LEGESSE, NINI F
• Application Number:
  US14/872,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20160096066A1
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 473/409, 473512-514
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0053 for locating an object, e.g. a lost ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0658 Position or arrangement of display
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/14 Lacrosse
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/24 Angular displacement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• 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 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 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/20 having means, e.g. pockets, netting or adhesive type surfaces, for catching or holding a ball, e.g. for lacrosse or pelota
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/00 Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports

Abstract

A sports training aid is configured to help improve a player'"'"'s skills in the game of lacrosse. The sports training aid can embody a lacrosse stick with a head and shaft. In one implementation, the lacrosse stick includes one or more sensors that change state. A controller couples with the sensors to administer one or more training modes. Each training mode can cause the controller to associate the change in state of the sensors in response to movement of the head.

Claims

1. A lacrosse stick, comprising:

a head with a frame that forms a central open region;

a netting that couples with the frame to cover the central open region and to form a pocket area, wherein the netting flexes relative to the frame so as to allow a majority of a ball to pass through the frame to enter and exit the pocket area;

a sensor member disposed on the head to indicate presence or absence of the ball in the pocket area; and

a control member coupled with the sensor member,

wherein the control member is configured to operate in a training mode that causes the control member to associate a change in state of the sensor member with presence or absence of the ball in the pocket area.

2. The lacrosse stick of claim 1, wherein the sensor member is located in the central open region and in position in the pocket area to change state in response to interaction with the ball.

3. The lacrosse stick of claim 1, wherein the sensor member forms a beam that extends across at least part of the central open region so that the ball passes through the beam to enter and exit the pocket area on the frame.

4. The lacrosse stick of claim 1, further comprising an elongate shaft that couples with the head, wherein the control member is disposed inside of the elongate shaft.

5. The lacrosse stick of claim 4, wherein the control member comprises a display disposed at an opening in the elongate shaft.

6. The lacrosse stick of claim 5, wherein the control member is configured to generate a visual indicator on the display that describes the training mode.

7. The lacrosse stick of claim 4, wherein the control member comprises speakers disposed proximate apertures in the elongate shaft, wherein the apertures allow sounds waves to escape from inside of the elongate shaft.

8. The lacrosse stick of claim 7, wherein the control member is configured to generate an audio indicator from the speakers.

9. The lacrosse stick of claim 1, wherein the training mode further causes the control member to,

generate a first indicator that starts the training mode;

increment a value for a counter in response to the change in state of the sensor member; and

generate a second indicator that stops the training mode in response to the value of the counter.

10. The lacrosse stick of claim 1, wherein the training mode further causes the control member to,

generate a first indicator that starts the training mode;

increment a value for a counter; and

generate a second indicator that stops the training mode in response to the value of the counter.

11. A lacrosse stick, comprising:

a head with a frame having a top, a bottom, and sidewalls that, collectively, bound a central open region;

a netting that couples with the frame to cover the central open region and to form a pocket area, wherein the netting flexes relative to the frame so as to allow a majority of a ball to pass through the frame to enter and exit the pocket area;

a sensor member disposed on the head, the sensor member comprising a first sensor and a second sensor, one each coupled to opposite sidewalls, and

a control member coupled with the sensor member,

wherein the control member is configured to operate in a training mode that causes the control member to associate a change in state of the sensor member with movement of the head, and

wherein the change in state corresponds with movement of the frame to contact the frame against a surface.

12. The lacrosse stick of claim 11, wherein the change in state corresponds with contact of one of the sidewalls of the frame with the surface.

13. The lacrosse stick of claim 11, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are in position on the sidewalls so that the change of state corresponds with contact of a side of the frame and a back of the frame with the surface.

14. The lacrosse stick of claim 11, further comprising an elongate shaft that couples with the head, wherein the control member is disposed inside of the elongate shaft.

15. The lacrosse stick of claim 14, wherein the control member comprises a display disposed at an opening in the elongate shaft.

16. The lacrosse stick of claim 15, wherein the control member is configured to generate a visual indicator on the display.

17. The lacrosse stick of claim 15, wherein the control member is configured to generate a visual indicator from the speakers.

18. The lacrosse stick of claim 14, wherein the control member comprises speakers disposed proximate apertures in the elongate shaft, wherein the apertures allow sounds waves to escape from inside of the elongate shaft.

19. The lacrosse stick of claim 11, wherein the training mode further causes the control member to,

generate a first indicator that starts the training mode;

increment a value for a counter in response to the change in state of the first sensor; and

generate a second indicator that stops the training mode in response to the value of the counter.

20. The lacrosse stick of claim 11, wherein the training mode further causes the control member to,

generate a first indicator that starts the training mode;

increment a value for a counter; and

generate a second indicator that stops the training mode in response to the value of the counter.

21. A method, comprising:

on a lacrosse stick with a head and shaft;

providing netting to cover a central open region on the head, the netting forming a pocket area, wherein the netting flexes so as to allow a majority of a ball to pass into the head to enter and exit the pocket area;

coupling a sensor to the head in position to interact with the ball in the pocket area; and

disposing a control member in the shaft, the control member configured for,

generating a first indicator that starts a training mode;

monitoring a state of the sensor;

incrementing a value for a counter in response to a change in state of the sensor from a first state to a second state, one each corresponding with the ball entering and exiting the pocket area on the head; and

generating a second indicator that stops the training mode in response to the value of the counter.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

coupling the sensor to the netting in the central open region.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

using the sensor to generate a beam across the central opening.