Vision training aid for baseball and softball tees and soft toss

• US 9,956,465 B1
• Filed: 08/03/2017
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• 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 F
• Application Number:
  US15/668,326
• Time in Patent Office: 271 Days
• Field of Search: 473210, 473268, 473422, 473450, 473458, 473464, 473409
• 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 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/182 Softball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2214/00 Training methods
• 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 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/10 Golf tees
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0075 Means for releasably holding a ball in position prior to kicking, striking or the like golf tees A63B57/10
• 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: A63B 69/3623 for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0045 specially adapted for games played with rackets or bats A63B60/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/022 Backstops, cages, enclosures or the like, e.g. for spectator protection, for arresting balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/023 Supports, e.g. poles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 : Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

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. Baseball and softball batters can be trained to focus on the contact point between the ball and a swinging bat.

Claims

1. A vision training system for training batters to see contact between a swinging bat and a ball, comprising:

a motion sensor triggered by a moving object;

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

a timer control changing the lens from transparent to opaque and remain in a black out condition for a selected time period when the moving object travels through a sensor path of the motion sensor, wherein the system is useful for training the batter to see the contact between the swinging bat and the ball.

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

a support for the motion sensor for generating an upwardly facing ray-type cone, wherein the motion sensor is adapted to be triggered when the moving object travels through the cone of sensitivity of the motion sensor.

3. The vision training system of claim 2, wherein the support includes a tripod.

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

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

5. The vision training system of claim 1, wherein the timer control is connected between the motion sensor and the blackout lens for controlling a delay for changing the lens from transparent to opaque.

6. The vision training system of claim 5, wherein the delay is between approximately 0.1 second to approximately 0.7 second.

7. The vision training system of claim 1, wherein the selected time period for the blackout condition is approximately 2 seconds.

8. The vision training system of claim 1, wherein the moving object includes a moving bat.

9. The vision training system of claim 1, wherein the moving object includes a pitched ball.

10. The vision training system of claim 1, wherein the moving object is adapted to includes the batter.

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

a tee for supporting the ball in front of the batter.

12. The vision training system of claim 1, wherein the ball is selected from:

a softball and a baseball.

13. The vision training system of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is supported up to approximately 6 feet from the batter.

14. The vision training system of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is supported between approximately 2 feet to approximately 4 feet from the batter.

15. A method for training batters to focus on and remain focused on watching contact between a ball and a swinging bat, comprising the steps of:

positioning a motion sensor adjacent to a batter being trained;

providing a black out lens in front of the batter being trained;

sensing a moving object with the motion sensor;

changing the lens from transparent to opaque after the sensing of the moving object; and

causing the lens to remain in a black out condition for a selected time period when a moving object travels through a sensor path of the motion sensor, wherein the system is useful for training the batter to see the contact between the swinging bat and the ball.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of positioning the motion sensor includes the step of:

positioning the motion sensor between approximately 2 feet to approximately 4 feet from the batter.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the selected time period for the blackout condition is approximately 2 seconds.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the moving object is a pitched ball.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

supporting the ball on a tee.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

controlling a delay for changing the lens from transparent to opaque, the delay is between approximately 0.1 second to approximately 0.7 second.