Motion training apparatus and method

• US 20070238538A1
• Filed: 03/16/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William Priester
• Original Assignee: William Priester
• Inventors: Priester, William
• Granted Patent: US 8,597,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/131
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• 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 69/3608 Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3614 using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club
• 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 69/3632 Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00

Abstract

The invention is directed to a motion trainer for improving a person'"'"'s movement of an implement by allowing the person to visualize the path of the implement during the movement. The motion trainer comprises an implement having a plurality of motion characteristic sensors located thereon for determining, among other things, the direction of the movement and the orientation of the implement during the movement. Biofeedback devices provide the person information regarding the positioning of the implement during the movement.

Claims

1. A motion trainer for improving a person'"'"'s movement of an implement along a desired path, the motion trainer comprising:

an implement for the person to move;

at least one motion characteristic sensor disposed on the implement for generating motion characteristic signals related to characteristics of the implement during the movement thereof by the person;

a computing device for receiving the motion characteristic signals and for generating biofeedback information signals based on the motion characteristic signals; and

at least one biofeedback device for receiving the biofeedback information signals from the computing device and for providing to the person biofeedback information based on the biofeedback information signals.

2. The motion trainer of claim 1 wherein the at least one motion characteristic sensor comprises at least one accelerometer.

3. The motion trainer of claim 1 wherein the at least one motion characteristic sensor comprises at least one air pressure sensor.

4. The motion trainer of claim 1 wherein the at least one biofeedback device provides aural biofeedback.

5. The motion trainer of claim 1 wherein the at least one biofeedback device provides physical biofeedback.

6. The motion trainer of claim 1 wherein the at least one biofeedback device provides visual biofeedback.

7. The motion trainer of claim 6 wherein the at least one biofeedback device comprises a video display device for providing a visual representation of the movement of the implement.

8. The motion trainer of claim 7, wherein the video display device comprises video goggles.

9. The motion trainer of claim 6 wherein the at least one biofeedback device comprises at least one light emitting device disposed on the implement.

10. The motion trainer of claim 9 wherein the at least one light emitting device comprises at least one light emitting diode.

11. The motion trainer of claim 9 wherein the at least one light emitting device comprises at least one laser.

12. The motion trainer of claim 9 wherein the at least one light emitting device comprises a flexible organic light emitting device.

13. The motion trainer of claim 6, wherein the at least one biofeedback device comprises one or more columns of light emitting devices aligned with at least one axis of the implement.

14. The motion trainer of claim 13 wherein at least one of the columns of light emitting devices is aligned with an implement face plane of the implement and at least one of the columns of light emitting devices is aligned with an implement shaft plane of the implement.

15. The motion trainer of claim 14, wherein the light emitting devices in the at least one column aligned with the implement face plane emit light having a first color and the light emitting devices in the at least one column aligned with the implement shaft plane emit light having a second color that is distinct from the first color.

16. The motion trainer of claim 1, wherein the motion characteristic sensors generate signals related to at least one of a direction of the motion of the implement during the movement, an orientation of the implement during the movement, and a speed of the implement during the movement.

17. The motion trainer of claim 1, wherein the implement comprises a grip, a shaft attached to the grip and a golf club head attached to the shaft.

18. The motion trainer of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one video camera for capturing video images of the person moving the implement;

the computing device further for generating the biofeedback information signals comprising video representations of an implement face plane and an implement shaft plane of the implement; and

the at least one biofeedback device further comprising a video display device for simultaneously displaying the video images from the video camera and the video representations of the implement face plane and implement shaft plane.

19. The motion trainer of claim 1 wherein the implement is selected from the group consisting of a golf club, a baseball bat, a softball bat, a tennis racket, a racquetball racket, an axe, a hammer and a maul.

20. A motion trainer for improving a person'"'"'s movement of an implement along a desired path, the motion trainer comprising:

an implement for the person to move;

at least one accelerometer disposed on the implement for generating accelerometer signals related to characteristics of the implement during the movement;

a computing device for receiving the accelerometer signals and for generating biofeedback information based on the accelerometer signals;

at least one light emitting device disposed on the implement and coupled to the computing device for emitting light having light characteristics related to the biofeedback information; and

a video display device for providing a visual representation of the movement based at least in part on the light characteristics of the light emitted from the at least one light emitting device.

21. The motion trainer of claim 20 wherein the implement is selected from the group consisting of a golf club, a baseball bat, a softball bat, a tennis racket, a racquetball racket, an axe, a hammer and a maul.

22. A golf club swing training apparatus for providing biofeedback regarding errors in positioning of a club face plane in relation to a club shaft plane of a golf club as a person swings a swing training implement, the swing training apparatus comprising:

the implement for the person to swing;

at least one swing characteristic sensing device disposed on the implement for generating swing characteristic signals related to characteristics of the implement during the swing;

a computing device for receiving the swing characteristic signals and for generating biofeedback information signals based on the swing characteristic signals; and

at least one biofeedback device for receiving the biofeedback information signals from the computing device and for providing biofeedback information based on the biofeedback information signals, where the biofeedback information includes information indicating whether the swing exhibits an over-rotation or under-rotation of the club face plane in relation to the club shaft plane.

23. The golf club swing training apparatus of claim 22 wherein the at least one biofeedback device provides biofeedback information indicating whether the swing exhibits a behind-the-ideal-club-shaft-plane error or a front-of-the-ideal-club-shaft-plane error.

24. The golf club swing training apparatus of claim 23 wherein the at least one biofeedback device provides biofeedback information indicating whether the swing exhibits one or more swing errors in a two plane merger zone of the swing, the swing errors selected from the group consisting of:

a behind-the-ideal-club-shaft-plane with over-rotation error;

a behind-the-ideal-club-shaft-plane with under-rotation error;

a behind-the-ideal-club-shaft-plane and merged error;

an in-the-ideal-club-shaft-plane with over-rotation error;

an in-the-ideal-club-shaft-plane with under-rotation error;

a front-of-the-ideal-club-shaft-plane with over-rotation error;

a front-of-the-ideal-club-shaft-plane with under-rotation error; and

a front-of-the-ideal-club-shaft-plane and merged error.

25. The golf club swing training apparatus of claim 23 wherein the at least one biofeedback device provides information indicating an ideal swing which exhibits an ideal in-the-ideal-club-shaft-plane with merged condition in a two plane merger zone of the swing.

26. The golf club swing training apparatus of claim 22 wherein the at least one biofeedback device provides aural biofeedback information.

27. The golf club swing training apparatus of claim 22 wherein the at least one biofeedback device provides visual biofeedback information.

28. The golf club swing training apparatus of claim 22 wherein the at least one biofeedback device provides physical biofeedback information.

29. The golf club swing training apparatus of claim 22 wherein

the at least one swing characteristic sensing device further comprises a first accelerometer and a second accelerometer for generating swing characteristic signals indicative of a position of a club shaft plane during the swing, and a third accelerometer for generating a swing characteristic signal indicative of a position of a club face plane relative to the club shaft plane during the swing;

the computing device for receiving the swing characteristic signals from the first, second and third accelerometers, for determining whether the club face plane is substantially perpendicular to the club shaft plane at an impact position of the swing, and for generating the biofeedback information signals to be indicative of whether the club face plane is substantially perpendicular to the club shaft plane at the impact position of the swing; and

the at least one biofeedback device for providing information indicating that the swing exhibits an over-rotation or under-rotation of the club face plane in relation to the club shaft plane when the club face plane is not substantially perpendicular to the club shaft plane at the impact position of the swing.

30. The golf club swing training apparatus of claim 29 wherein the at least one biofeedback device provides information indicating that the swing exhibits one or more swing errors at the impact position of the swing, where the swing errors are selected from the group consisting of:

a non-ideal inside-out with hook error;

a non-ideal inside-out with square error;

a non-ideal inside-out with slice error;

an ideal inside-out with hook error;

an ideal inside-out with slice error;

an outside-in with hook error;

an outside-in with square error; and

an outside-in with slice error.

31. The golf club swing training apparatus of claim 29 wherein the at least one biofeedback device provides biofeedback information indicating an ideal swing which exhibits an ideal inside-out with square condition at the impact position of the swing.

32. The golf club swing training apparatus of claim 22 wherein

the at least one swing characteristic sensing device further comprises a first accelerometer and a second accelerometer for generating swing characteristic signals indicative of a position of a club shaft plane during the swing, and a third accelerometer for generating a swing characteristic signal indicative of a position of a club face plane relative to the club shaft plane during the swing;

the computing device for receiving the swing characteristic signals from the first, second and third accelerometers, for determining whether the club face plane is substantially merged with the club shaft plane in a two plane merger zone of the swing, and for generating the biofeedback information signals to be indicative of whether the club face plane is substantially merged with the club shaft plane in the two plane merger zone of the swing; and

the at least one biofeedback device for providing information indicating that the swing exhibits an over-rotation or under-rotation of the club face plane in relation to the club shaft plane when the club face plane is not substantially merged with the club shaft plane in the two plane merger zone of the swing.

33. The golf club swing training apparatus of claim 32 wherein the at least one biofeedback device provides biofeedback information indicating whether the swing exhibits one or more swing errors in the two plane merger zone of the swing, the swing errors selected from the group consisting of:

a behind-the-ideal-club-shaft-plane with over-rotation error;

a behind-the-ideal-club-shaft-plane with under-rotation error;

a behind-the-ideal-club-shaft-plane and merged error;

an in-the-ideal-club-shaft-plane with over-rotation error;

an in-the-ideal-club-shaft-plane with under-rotation error;

a front-of-the-ideal-club-shaft-plane with over-rotation error;

a front-of-the-ideal-club-shaft-plane with under-rotation error; and

a front-of-the-ideal-club-shaft-plane and merged error.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the at least one biofeedback device provides biofeedback information indicating an ideal swing which exhibits an ideal in-the-ideal-club-shaft-plane with merged condition in the two plane merger zone of the swing.

35. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising:

at least one video camera for capturing video images of the person swinging the implement;

the computing device further for generating the biofeedback information signals comprising video representations of the club face plane and the club shaft plane of the implement; and

the at least one biofeedback device further comprising a video display device for simultaneously displaying the video images from the video camera and the video representations of the club face plane and club shaft plane.

36. A method for improving a person'"'"'s movement of an implement along a desired path, the method comprising:

(a) providing an implement for the person to move, where the implement includes at least one motion characteristic sensor and at least one light emitting device disposed thereon;

(b) generating motion characteristic signals using the motion characteristic sensor, where the motion characteristics are related to characteristics of the implement during the movement;

(c) generating biofeedback information signals based on the motion characteristic signals;

(d) emitting light from the at least one light emitting device, where the light has light characteristics related to the biofeedback information signals; and

(e) providing a visual representation of the movement of the implement based at least in part on the light characteristics of the light emitted from the at least one light emitting device.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising (f) providing to the person aural biofeedback information based on the biofeedback information signals.

38. The method of claim 36 further comprising (f) providing to the person physical biofeedback information based on the biofeedback information signals.

39. The method of claim 36 further comprising (f) providing to the person visual biofeedback information based on the biofeedback information signals.

40. The method of claim 36 further comprising:

(f) capturing video images of the person moving the implement;

step (c) further comprising generating the biofeedback information signals comprising video representations of an implement face plane and an implement shaft plane of the implement; and

step (e) further comprising simultaneously displaying the video images and the video representations of the implement face plane and implement shaft plane.

41. The method of claim 36 wherein the implement is selected from the group consisting of a golf club, a baseball bat, a softball bat, a tennis racket, a racquetball racket, an axe, a hammer and a maul.

42. A method for improving a person'"'"'s movement of an implement along a desired path, the method comprising:

(a) providing an implement for the person to move, where the implement includes at least one motion characteristic sensor disposed thereon;

(b) generating motion characteristic signals using the motion characteristic sensor, where the motion characteristics are related to characteristics of the implement during the movement;

(c) generating biofeedback information signals based on the motion characteristic signals; and

(e) providing a visual representation of the movement of the implement based at least in part on the biofeedback information signals.

43. The method of claim 42 further comprising (f) providing to the person aural biofeedback information based on the biofeedback information signals.

44. The method of claim 42 further comprising (f) providing to the person physical biofeedback information based on the biofeedback information signals.

45. The method of claim 42 further comprising (f) providing to the person visual biofeedback information based on the biofeedback information signals.

46. The method of claim 42 further comprising:

(f) capturing video images of the person moving the implement;

step (c) further comprising generating the biofeedback information signals comprising video representations of an implement face plane and an implement shaft plane of the implement; and

step (e) further comprising simultaneously displaying the video images and the video representations of the implement face plane and implement shaft plane.

47. The method of claim 42 wherein the implement is selected from the group consisting of a golf club, a baseball bat, a softball bat, a tennis racket, a racquetball racket, an axe, a hammer and a maul.

48. A method for providing biofeedback regarding a rotational relationship of an implement face plane of an implement to an implement shaft plane of the implement during a person'"'"'s movement of the implement along a desired path, the method comprising:

(a) providing the implement for the person to move, where the implement includes at least one motion characteristic sensor;

(b) generating motion characteristic signals using the motion characteristic sensor, where the motion characteristics are related to characteristics of the implement during the movement;

(c) generating biofeedback information signals based on the motion characteristic signals; and

(d) providing biofeedback information based on the biofeedback information signals, where the biofeedback information includes information indicating whether the movement exhibits an over-rotation or under-rotation of the implement face plane in relation to the implement shaft plane.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein step (d) further comprises providing biofeedback information indicating whether the movement exhibits a behind-the-ideal-implement-shaft-plane error or a front-of-the-ideal-implement-shaft-plane error.

50. The method of claim 48 wherein the implement is a golf club, the movement is a swing of the golf club and step (d) further comprises providing biofeedback information indicating whether the movement exhibits one or more swing errors in a two plane merger zone of the swing, the swing errors selected from the group consisting of:

a behind-the-ideal-implement-shaft-plane with over-rotation error;

a behind-the-ideal-implement-shaft-plane with under-rotation error;

a behind-the-ideal-implement-shaft-plane and merged error;

an in-the-ideal-implement-shaft-plane with over-rotation error;

an in-the-ideal-implement-shaft-plane with under-rotation error;

a front-of-the-ideal-implement-shaft-plane with over-rotation error;

a front-of-the-ideal-implement-shaft-plane with under-rotation error; and

a front-of-the-ideal-implement-shaft-plane and merged error.

51. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein step (d) further comprises providing biofeedback information indicating an ideal movement which exhibits an ideal in-the-ideal-implement-shaft-plane with merged condition in a two plane merger zone of the swing.

52. The method of claim 48 wherein the implement is a golf club, the movement is a swing of the golf club and step (d) further comprises providing biofeedback information indicating whether the swing exhibits an inside-out error or an outside-in error at an impact position of the swing.

53. The method of claim 48 wherein the implement is a golf club, the movement is a swing of the golf club and step (d) further comprises providing biofeedback information indicating whether the swing exhibits one or more swing errors at an impact position of the swing, where the swing errors are selected from the group consisting of:

a non-ideal inside-out with hook error;

a non-ideal inside-out with square error;

a non-ideal inside-out with slice error;

an ideal inside-out with hook error;

an ideal inside-out with slice error;

an outside-in with hook error;

an outside-in with square error; and

an outside-in with slice error.

54. The method of claim 48 wherein the implement is a golf club, the movement is a swing of the golf club and step (d) further comprises providing biofeedback information indicating an ideal swing having an ideal inside-out with square condition at an impact position of the swing.

55. The method of claim 48 wherein the implement is selected from the group consisting of a golf club, a baseball bat, a softball bat, a tennis racket, a racquetball racket, an axe, a hammer and a maul.

56. The method of claim 48 further comprising (e) providing to the person aural biofeedback information based on the biofeedback information signals.

57. The method of claim 48 further comprising (e) providing to the person physical biofeedback information based on the biofeedback information signals.

58. The method of claim 48 further comprising (e) providing to the person visual biofeedback information based on the biofeedback information signals.

59. The method of claim 48 further comprising:

(e) capturing video images of the person moving the implement;

(f) generating the biofeedback information signals comprising video representations of the implement face plane and the implement shaft plane of the implement; and

step (d) further comprising simultaneously displaying the video images and the video representations of the implement face plane and implement shaft plane.