Methods and apparatus for sports training

• US 5,372,365 A
• Filed: 11/12/1992
• Issued: 12/13/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Michael H. Mcteigue
• Original Assignee: Sportsense, Inc.
• Inventors: Zias, Art, McTeigue, Michael H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, Vincent
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wong, Steven B.
• Application Number:
  US07/974,563
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 273/187 R, 273/187 B, 273/188 R, 273/188 A, 273/189 R, 273/189 A, 273/190 R, 273/190 C, 273/183 B, 273/183 D, 273/186 R, 273/186 E, 273/440 , 273/193 R, 273/81 R, 273/81.2, 273/81.4, 340/323 R, 128/25 B, 177/210 C, 177/200, 177/199, 482/52, 482/7, 482/74, 73/379-381, 434/252, 434/253, 434/392
• US Class Current: 473/409
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0009 Computerised real time comparison with previous movements or motion sequences of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2055/605 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2060/464 Means for indicating or measuring the pressure on the grip
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/367 Detection of balance between both feet, i.e. weight distribution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0627 when used improperly, e.g. by giving a warning
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• 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 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/83 characterised by the position of the sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• 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 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 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 : for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 : for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0046 : for bowling
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0071 : for basketball
• 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 69/3632 : Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 : for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

A method and apparatus for training a user to move in a desired movement pattern, especially for training a golfer to swing a golf club. One or more sensors are placed adjacent the user, for example pressure sensors under the user'"'"'s feet and/or between the user'"'"'s hands and a golf club. The sensors generate signals corresponding to the user'"'"'s movement. A comparator and signal generator are used to compare a function of the user signals and a reference value, and to generate training signals which are communicated to the user, e.g. by radio frequency signals received by a headset worn by the user. In this way, the user senses, during the actual movement, training signals which represent a relationship between the actual movement pattern and a desired movement pattern. Preferably, the comparator determines whether a function of the user signals is above or below a preselected and adjustable reference value, and the training signals undergo a distinct change when the function of the user signals crosses the reference value.

Claims

1. A method of training a user to move in a desired movement pattern which results in an object being thrown or kicked by the user or being struck by a piece of sports equipment which the user grips and swings, which method comprises

(1) placing a sensor at a preselected location adjacent to the user, which sensor, when the user moves in an actual movement pattern similar to the desired movement pattern, can, continuously throughout the movement pattern, (i) sense changes in a user factor which are characteristic of the actual movement pattern and (ii) generate user signals corresponding to said changes;

(2) placing a comparator at a location where a function of the user signals generated by the sensor can be communicated to the comparator, which comparator, when the user moves in an actual movement pattern, can, continuously throughout the movement pattern, determine whether a function of the user signal is above or below a preselected and adjustable reference value;

(3) placing a signal generator at a location where

(i) results of the comparison made by the comparator can be communicated to the signal generator, continuously throughout the movement pattern, and

(ii) audible signals generated by the signal generator can be communicated to the user;

(4) causing the user to move in an actual movement pattern similar to the desired movement pattern;

(5) continuously throughout the movement pattern, causing the sensor to generate user signals which correspond to changes in the user factor sensed by the sensor;

(6) continuously throughout the movement pattern, communicating a function of the user signals to the comparator;

(7) continuously throughout the movement pattern, causing the comparator to determine whether a function of the user signals is above or below the reference value;

(8) continuously throughout the movement pattern, communicating the results of the determination made by the comparator to the signal generator;

(9) causing the signal generator to generate audible training signals which undergo a distinct change when said function of the user signals crosses the reference value; and

(10) communicating the audible training signals to the user;

steps (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9) and (10) being carried out substantially simultaneously, so that the user senses, during the actual movement pattern, training signals which represent a relationship between the actual movement pattern and the desired movement pattern.

2. A method according to claim 1 which comprises the steps of:

causing the user to adopt a desired starting position prior to step (4),

causing the signal generator to generate a starting signal after the user has adopted the desired starting position, and

ensuring that the signal generator does not generate training signals before expiry of a preselected delay period after the starting signal.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein

(i) the method makes use of two spaced-apart sensors, each of which generates distinct user signals,

(ii) the comparator compares a function of each of the distinct user signals with a respective reference value,

(iii) the signal generator generates distinct training signals which represent the results of the respective comparisons, and

(iv) the distinct training signals are communicated separately to the user.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein

(i) the method makes use of two spaced-apart sensors, each of which generates distinct user signals, and

(ii) the comparator makes a comparison between a function of one of the distinct user signals and a reference value which is a function of the other distinct user signals.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein

the reference value is a function of the user signals at an earlier time during the actual movement.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein

(i) the method makes use of a single sensor which is placed under one of the user'"'"'s feet and senses the force applied to said single sensor by the user'"'"'s weight, and

(ii) the training signal represents the results of comparing a function of the user signals generated by said single sensor and a reference value.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein

(i) the method makes use of two spaced-apart sensors,

(ii) one of the sensors is placed under one part of one of the user'"'"'s feet and senses the force applied to said sensor by the user'"'"'s weight, and

(iii) the other sensor is placed under another part of the same one of the user'"'"'s feet and senses the force applied to said other sensor by the user'"'"'s weight.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein

(i) the sensor is placed between a substrate and at least one of user'"'"'s hands, and senses the grip pressure applied by the user to the substrate, and

(ii) the user signals change continuously in response to changes in the grip pressure.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein

(i) the sensor is placed between a substrate and at least one of the user'"'"'s hands, and senses the grip pressure applied by the user to the substrate, and

(ii) the reference signal is a function of the maximum grip pressure which the user can apply to the substrate.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein

(i) the sensor is one which can be calibrated relative to a fixed point, direction or plane and which, after being so calibrated, can generate user signals which represent the relationship between the sensor and the fixed point, direction or plane;

and

(ii) the sensor is calibrated relative to a fixed point, direction or plane before steps (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9) and (10).

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein

the sensor, the comparator and the signal generator are carried by the user during the actual movement pattern.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein the user grips a piece of sports equipment and is trained to swing that piece of equipment to strike a ball.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein a golfer is trained to swing a golf club.

14. A method of training a user to move in a desired movement pattern, which method comprises

(1) placing a sensor at a preselected location adjacent to the user, which sensor, when the user moves in an actual movement pattern similar to the desired movement pattern, can, continuously throughout the movement pattern, (i) sense changes in a user factor which are characteristic of the actual movement pattern and (ii) generate user signals corresponding to said changes;

(2) placing a comparator at a location where a function of the user signals generated by the sensor can be communicated to the comparator, which comparator, when the user moves in an actual movement pattern, can, continuously throughout the movement pattern, determine whether a function of the user signals is above or below a preselected and adjustable reference value;

(3) placing a signal generator at a location where

(i) results of the comparison made by the comparator can be communicated to the signal generator, continuously throughout the movement pattern, and

(ii) audible signals generated by the signal generator can be communicated to the user;

(4) causing the user to move in an actual movement pattern similar to the desired movement pattern;

(5) continuously throughout the movement pattern, causing the sensor to generate user signals which correspond to changes in the user factor sensed by the sensor;

(6) continuously throughout the movement pattern, communicating a function of the user signals to the comparator;

(7) continuously throughout the movement pattern, causing the comparator to determine whether a function of the user signals is above or below the reference value;

(8) continuously throughout the movement pattern, communicating the results of the determination made by the comparator to the signal generator;

(9) causing the signal generator to generate audible training signals which undergo a distinct change when said function of the user signals crosses the reference value; and

(10) communicating the audible training signals to the user;

steps (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9) and (10) being carried out substantially simultaneously, so that the user senses, during the actual movement pattern, training signals which represent a relationship between the actual movement pattern and the desired movement pattern; and

the method having at least one of the following characteristics (A) to (J)

(A) the method comprises the steps of;

causing the user to adopt a desired starting position prior to step (4),

causing the signal generator to generate a starting signal after the user has adopted the desired starting position, and

ensuring that the signal generator does not generate training signals before expiry of a preselected delay period after the starting signal;

(B) (i) the method makes use of two spaced-apart sensors, each of which generates distinct user signals,

(ii) the comparator compares a function of each of the distinct user signals with a respective reference value,

(iii) the signal generator generates distinct training signals which represent the results of the respective comparisons, and

(iv) the distinct training signals are communicated separately to the user;

(C) (i) the method makes use of two spaced-apart sensors, each of which generates distinct user signals, and

(ii) the comparator makes a comparison between a function of one of the distinct user signals and a reference value which is a function of the other distinct user signals;

(D) the reference value is a function of the user signals at an earlier time during the actual movement;

(E) (i) the method makes use of a single sensor which is placed under one of the user'"'"'s feet and senses the force applied to said single sensor by the user'"'"'s weight, and

(ii) the training signal represents the results of comparing a function of the user signals generated by said single sensor and a reference value;

(F) (i) the method makes use of two spaced-apart sensors,

(ii) one of the sensors is placed under a first part of one of the user'"'"'s feet and senses the force applied to said sensor by the first part of the user'"'"'s foot, and

(iii) the other sensor is placed under a second part of the same one of the user'"'"'s feet and senses the force applied to said other sensor by the second part of the user'"'"'s foot;

(G) (i) the sensor is placed between a substrate and at least one of user'"'"'s hands, and senses the grip pressure applied by the user to the substrate, and

(ii) the user signals change continuously in response to changes in the grip pressure;

(H) (i) the sensor is placed between a substrate and at least one of the user'"'"'s hands, and senses the grip pressure applied by the user to the substrate, and

(ii) the reference value is a function of the maximum grip pressure which the use can apply to the substrate;

(I) (i) the sensor is one which can be calibrated relative to a fixed point, direction or plane and which, after being so calibrated, can generate user signals which represent the relationship between the sensor and the fixed point, direction or plane; and

(ii) the sensor is calibrated relative to a fixed point, direction or plane before steps (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9) and (10); and

(J) the sensor, the comparator and the signal generator, and any other equipment needed to carry out the method, are carried by the user during the actual movement pattern.