Stimulant target unit and accessory for a stimulant target unit

• US 9,791,246 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2015
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fitlight USA Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fitlight Sports Corp.
• Inventors: D'Andrade, Derek
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAHAM, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US14/839,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20170059286A1
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 473446, 273371, 273372, 273374, 273375, 273376
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/162 Testing reaction times
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/004 Multiple detectors or sensors each defining a different zone
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2214/00 Training methods
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• 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 63/004 Goals of the type used for football, handball, hockey or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0024 for hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0026 for ice-hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0053 Apparatus generating random stimulus signals for reaction-time training involving a substantial physical effort
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 1/01 Target discs characterised by their material, structure or surface, e.g. clay pigeon targets characterised by their materialF41J5/044 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 1/10 Target stands; Target holders
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 5/056 : Switch actuation by hit-generated mechanical vibration of the target body, e.g. using shock or vibration transducers
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 5/14 : Apparatus for signalling hits or scores to the shooter, e.g. manually operated, or for communication between target and shooter; Apparatus for recording hits or scores

Abstract

A stimulant target unit including: a housing, at least one stimulation source configured to provide a stimulus to stimulate a user, a contact sensor configured to detect an impact to the stimulant target unit and triggered by an impact that is within a selected range of impact forces, a feedback system configured to inform the user the stimulant target unit has been actuated in response to the stimulus, a controller programmed to register triggering of the contact sensor, a protective cover configured to retain the stimulant target unit and a mounting structure configured to connect the stimulant target unit to a support structure. The mounting structure includes a vibration isolator configured to, over the selected range of impact forces, inhibit transmission of force from an impact within the selected range of impact forces on the support structure to the contact sensor sufficiently to prevent the triggering of the contact sensor.

Claims

1. A stimulant target unit, comprising:

a housing;

at least one stimulation source coupled to the housing, the stimulation source configured to provide a stimulus to stimulate a user;

a contact sensor coupled to the housing and configured to detect an impact to the stimulant target unit;

a feedback system configured to inform the user that the stimulant target unit has been actuated in response to the stimulus;

a controller programmed to register triggering of the contact sensor;

a protective cover configured to be positioned in front the housing and to transmit some impact force to the housing during some impacts; and

a mounting structure configured to connect the stimulant target unit to a support structure, wherein the mounting structure includes a vibration isolator configured such that wherein, over a selected range of impact forces, the contact sensor is configured to be triggered by an impact that is within the selected range of impact forces, and wherein the vibration isolator inhibits transmission of force from an impact within the selected range of impact forces on the support structure to the contact sensor sufficiently to prevent the triggering of the contact sensor,

wherein the housing includes a first shell connected to a second shell via an elastomeric rim,

and wherein the rim has opposing first and second grooves and the first shell has a first axially extending flange along a periphery thereof,

the second shell has a second axially extending flange along a periphery thereof,

the first flange is disposed in said first groove and the second flange is disposed in the second groove, and

the first flange ordinarily not bottoming in the first groove and the second flange ordinarily not bottoming in said second groove to thereby enable the first shell to move axially relative to the second shell upon impact.

2. A stimulant target unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one stimulation source includes at least one of an auditory source to generate sound and a light source configured to generate light to be transmitted through the protective cover.

3. A stimulant target unit according to claim 2, wherein the light source includes a light emitting diode.

4. A stimulant target unit according to claim 1, wherein the vibration isolator includes at least one of a resilient member and a damping member.

5. A stimulant target unit according to claim 4, wherein the resilient member includes a spring.

6. A stimulant target unit according to claim 4, wherein the damping member includes a deformable member configured to absorb at least a portion of impact force on the support structure.

7. A stimulant target unit, comprising:

a housing;

at least one stimulation source coupled to the housing, the stimulation source configured to provide a stimulus to stimulate a user;

a contact sensor coupled to the housing and configured to detect an impact to the stimulant target unit;

a feedback system configured to inform the user that the stimulant target unit has been actuated in response to the stimulus;

a controller programmed to register triggering of the contact sensor, wherein the housing includes a primary contact member that is contactable to trigger the contact sensor over a first range of impact forces;

a protective cover positioned in front of the housing and spaced by a selected spacing from the primary contact member, wherein the spacing is selected to permit the protective cover to receive an impact and transmit the impact to the primary contact member to trigger the contact sensor over a second range of impact forces that is higher than the first range of impact forces, wherein the protective cover is removable so as expose the primary contact member of the stimulant target unit; and

a mounting structure configured to connect the stimulant target unit to a support structure.

8. A stimulant target unit according to claim 7, wherein the primary contact member is a first shell and wherein the housing includes a second shell to which the first shell is connected via an elastic member, such that the first shell is movable relative to the second shell upon impact on the protective cover in the second range of impact forces.