SPORTS TRAINING DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR TRAINING ATHLETES

• US 20140309059A1
• Filed: 04/16/2014
• Published: 10/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Keith D. Minch
• Original Assignee: Keith D. Minch
• Inventors: MINCH, Keith D.
• Application Number:
  US14/254,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20140309059A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/422
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• 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 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 for football American-football dummies A63B69/34
• 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: G09B 19/0038 Sports

Abstract

A sports training device is provided that includes a housing. The housing has a size, shape and configuration that mimics the size, shape and configuration of a sports equipment member such as a baseball or football. A sensor is provided for sensing an impact on the sports training device and a signaling device is in communication with the sensor for selectively emitting and not emitting the human detectable display in response to an impact sensed by the sensor. A timer is provided that is in communication with the sensor and the signaling device for controlling the timing of the signaling device.

Claims

1. A sports training device comprising

a housing having a size, shape and configuration that mimics the size, shape and configuration of a sport equipment member, the sports training device comprising

a sensor for sensing an impact on the sports device

a signaling device in communication with the sensor for selectively emitting and not emitting a human detectable display in response to an impact sensed by the sensor, and

a timer in communication with the sensor and the signaling device for controlling the timing of the display of the signaling device.

3. The sports training device of claim 1 wherein the device is placeable in sleep mode wherein an impact will not cause the signaling device to emit a human detectable display and a ready mode whenever an impact will cause the display to emit a human detectable display, further comprising a user actuable switch for permitting a user to place the device in the ready mode.

4. The sports training device of claim 3 wherein the switch is capable of placing the device in a first ready position wherein an impact sensed by the sensor activates the timer to actuate the signaling device to emit a human detectable display for a predetermined time interval after impact.

5. The sports training device of claim 4 wherein the switch is further capable of placing the device in a second ready position wherein an impact sensed by the sensor actuates the timer to emit a actuate the signaling device to emit the human detectable display after a predetermined time interval has elapsed.

6. The sport training device of claim 3 wherein the switch is capable of placing the device in a second ready position wherein an impact sensed by the sensor actuates the timer to actuate the signaling device to emit the human detectable display after a predetermined time interval has elapsed.

7. The signaling device of claim 1 wherein the sensor is configured for sensing the impact of a club or stick like object on the sports training device.

8. The signaling device of claim 1 wherein the sensor is configured for sensing the impact of a human body part on the sports training device.

9. The signaling device of claim 1 wherein the timer controls the time period during which the signaling device emits the human detectable display.

10. The signaling device of claim 9 where the timer is a variable timer for permitting the user to vary the time period during which the signaling device emits the human detectable display.

11. The signaling device of claim 1 wherein the timer controls a time interval that is allowed to elapse between the impact and a point in time when the signaling device emits the human detectable display.

12. The signaling device of claim 1 wherein the timer comprises a variable timer for permitting the user to vary the time interval that is allowed to elapse between the impact and the point in time wherein the signaling device emits the human detectable display.

13. The sports training device of claim 1 further comprising a reset switch for causing the device to move from a sleep mode where an impact will not cause the signaling device to emit a human detectable display to a ready mode wherein an impact will cause the signaling device to emit a human detectable display wherein the reset switch changes the nature of the display.

15. The sports training device of claim 1 wherein the sports training device comprises at least

a first sports training device member having a signaling device comprising a light source capable of emitting a first color of light,

a second sports training device having a signaling device comprising light source capable of emitting a second color of light, and

a third sports training device having a signaling device comprising a light source capable of emitting a third color of light.

16. The sports training device of claim 1 where the signaling device includes a light source capable of selectively emitting a first color, a second color and a third color and a controller member for switching between an emission of the first color, second color and third color.

17. The sports training device of claim 16 where the controller includes a human actuable switch member for permitting a user to switch the signaling device among the first, second and third members, and to switch the device between the sleep mode and the ready mode.

18. The sports training device of claim 1 where the signaling device includes at least one of a sound emitter for emitting an audible display, and a vibratory emitter for emitting a vibrational display.

19. The sports training device of claim 1 wherein the training device includes an interior core portion and an exterior surface, and where the signaling device includes a light emitter disposed in the core of the training device and a tube lighting member extending generally between the core and the exterior surface for conducting light emitted from the light source from the core to the exterior surface of the training device.

2. The sports training device wherein the housing has a size, shape and configuration that mimics the size, shape and configuration of at least one of a baseball, a softball, a lacrosse ball, a hockey puck, a football, a soccer ball, a kick-ball, a tennis ball, a golf ball, a volleyball, a bossa ball, a badmitten shuttlecock, a biribol ball, a fistball ball, a footbag, a football tennis ball, basketball, jianzi shuttlecock, a Jokgu ball, a peteca shuttlecock, a pickleball ball, a sepaktakraw ball, a sipa ball, a throwball ball, a wallyball ball, a korflatball, a netball ball, a slamball ball, a cork ball ball, a Brannball ball, a cricket ball, a Danish longball ball, a ping pong ball, a Lapta ball, a Matball ball, an Oina ball, over-the-line ball, pesapollo ball, a rounders ball, a broom ball ball, a rugby ball, paddleball ball, paddle tennis ball, a roller hockey ball, and a street hockey ball, and a polo ball.

14. The sports training device wherein the reset switch is actuated upon the sensor sensing an impact on the sports training device, and wherein the human detectable display comprises a lighted human detectable display capable of displaying at least a first, second and third color, wherein the actuation of the reset switch causes the signaling device to select one of the at least first, second and third colors for display upon a subsequent impact on the sports training device.

20. A method of training a student to concentrate on a particular sports training device when interacting with the sports training device comprising

providing a sports training device comprising a housing having a size, shape and configuration that mimics the size, shape and configuration of a sports equipment member, the sports training device including a sensor for sensing an impact on the sports training device, a signaling device in communication with the sensor for selective emitting and not emitting a human detectable display in response to an impact sensed by the sensor, and a timer in communication with the sensor and the signaling device for controlling the timing of the display of the signaling device;

delivering the training device to a student, for permitting the student to impact the training device,

emitting a human detectable display in response to the impact of the device cause by the student striking the device,

actuating a timer to control the timing of the display, and

causing the student to observe the display to report upon the nature of the display.