Vision training system and method of use

• US 9,744,419 B1
• Filed: 09/02/2016
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dacks Rodriguez
• Original Assignee: Dacks Rodriguez
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Dacks
• Primary Examiner(s): Legesse, Nini
• Application Number:
  US15/256,021
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 473210, 473268, 473422, 473450, 473451, 473458, 473464
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/023 with variable transmission, e.g. photochromic for welding A61F9/067
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0034 during flight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0093 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0008 for batting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0666 worn on the head or face, e.g. combined with goggles or glasses
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/02 Tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/16 Table tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/182 Softball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/24 Ice hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• 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 2243/007 American football
• 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 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3608 Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 : Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/04 : Illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13306 : Circuit arrangements or driving methods for the control of single liquid crystal cells G02F1/132, G02F1/133382 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/291 : Two-dimensional analogue deflection
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/11 : involving infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/48 : Variable attenuator

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for training baseball and softball batters, to identify types of pitched balls (fast ball, curve ball, slider and changeup) and locations (strike or non-strike zone) of pitched balls in order to increase hitting accuracy A motion sensor can be triggered by the leading foot of a pitcher. The motion sensor can use cone or fan shaped sensor to detect the passage of a pitched ball from the pitcher. When the motion sensor is triggered, a signal can be sent to a black out lens that blocks the vision of a hitter being trained to identify the types and locations of the pitched balls. The training includes changing the lens from transparent to opaque at selected distances between the hitter and the pitcher. Batters can be trained to keep their eyes on the pitched balls until the ball reaches the batter. Golfers can be trained to not have to look up when their club hits the ball, where the black out lens are go opaque when the golf swing passes into the motion sensor.

Claims

1. A vision training system for training golfers from looking up during a golf swing, comprising:

a motion sensor triggered by a swinging golf club;

a black out lens adapted to be in front of a golfer being trained; and

a control changing the lens from transparent to opaque when the motion sensor is triggered by a swinging golf club travelling through a sensor path of the motion sensor.

2. The vision training system of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor includes:

a support for supporting the motion sensor, the motion sensor generating an upwardly facing ray-type cone, wherein the motion sensor is triggered by the swinging of the golf club that travels through the ray-type cone.

3. The vision training system of claim 1, further comprising:

an eyewear for supporting the blackout lens adapted to be worn by the golfer being trained.

4. The vision training system of claim 1, further comprising:

a timer connected between the motion sensor and the black out lens for delaying the control for changing the lens from transparent to opaque.

5. A vision training system for training baseball and softball batters, to identify types of pitched balls and locations (strike or non-strike zone) of pitched balls in order to increase hitting accuracy, comprising:

a tiltable motion sensor triggered when a pitched ball is sensed by the motion sensor;

a black out lens adapted to be in front of a batter being trained; and

a control for changing the lens from transparent to opaque at selected distances the pitched ball travels from the release of the pitched ball to before the pitched ball reaches the batter, wherein types of pitched balls and locations of pitched balls is identified.

6. The vision training system of claim 5, wherein the motion sensor includes:

a support for the tiltable motion sensor for generating a fan shape of sensitivity, wherein the motion sensor is adapted to be triggered when the pitched ball is being released based on sensing motion of a leading foot of a pitcher.

7. The vision training system of claim 5, wherein the tiltable motion sensor is adapted to be tilted toward the pitcher.

8. The vision training system of claim 5, wherein the tiltable motion sensor is adapted to be tilted toward the batter.

9. The vision training system of claim 5, wherein the tiltable motion sensor includes:

a graduated tilt scale for manually adjusting the tiltable motion sensor.

10. The vision training system of claim 5, wherein the tiltable motion sensor includes:

a motor for tilting the tiltable motion sensor in selected tilt angles.

11. The vision training system of claim 10, wherein the tiltable motion sensor includes:

a remote control for activating the motor for tilting the tiltable motion sensor in the selected tilt angles.

12. The vision training system of claim 5, further comprising:

an eyewear for supporting the blackout lens adapted to be worn by the batter being trained; and

a protective shield with the blackout lens, the protective shield adapted to be located in front of the batter, for substantially protecting the batter from being struck by the pitched ball.

13. The vision training system of claim 5, wherein the types of the pitched balls include:

fastballs, curveballs, sliders and changeups.

14. The vision training system of claim 13, wherein the locations of the pitched balls include:

the pitched balls being inside the strike zone or outside of the strike zone.

15. The system of claim 5, wherein the selected distances are between approximately zero and approximately 60 feet from the pitcher to the batter, or between approximately zero and approximately 45 feet from the pitcher to the batter.

16. The vision training system of claim 5, further comprising:

a chart for determining accuracy of the types of the pitched balls and the locations of the pitched balls identified from the batter in comparison with identifications of the types of pitched balls and the locations of the pitched balls identified from another source.

17. A vision training system for training batters to constantly follow the path of a pitched ball and prevent the batters from looking up from a batting swing, comprising:

a motion sensor triggered by a pitched ball;

a black out lens adapted to be in front of a pitcher being trained; and

a control changing the lens from transparent to opaque when the pitched ball travels through a sensor path of the motion sensor.

18. The vision training system of claim 17, wherein the motion sensor includes:

a support for the motion sensor for generating a cone of sensitivity, wherein the motion sensor is triggered when the pitched ball travels through a cone of sensitivity of the motion sensor.

19. The vision training system of claim 17, wherein the motion sensor includes:

a support for the motion sensor for generating a fan emission of sensitivity, wherein the motion sensor is triggered when the pitched ball travels through a fan emission of sensitivity of the motion sensor.

20. The vision training system of claim 17, further comprising:

eyewear for supporting the blackout lens adapted to be worn by the batter being trained; and

a protective shield adapted to be in front of the batter.