Portable verticle jump measuring device

• US 5,838,638 A
• Filed: 02/10/1997
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: University of Tulsa
• Original Assignee: University of Tulsa
• Inventors: Tipton, Steven M., Hackworth, Matt, Willson, Kelly
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US08/797,395
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/12, 368/109-113, 36/132, 36/136, 36/137, 36/114, 482/1, 482/8, 482/79, 482/900, 482/901, 482/902, 73/379.01, 73/379.04, 73/379.06
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/081 High jumping
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/087 without take off run
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 5/16 Training devices for jumping; Devices for balloon-jumping; Jumping aids A63B25/02, A63B25/10 take precedence

Abstract

A method to measure height of a vertical jump of a jumper. At least one switch is deactivated by the jumper stepping thereon. The switch is initially activated by the jumper jumping upward therefrom and thereafter deactivated upon return. A time period is measured while the switch is activated. The square of the activated time period is calculated and thereafter the result is multiplied by a constant to derive vertical jump height. Finally, the resultant vertical jump height of the jump is displayed.

Claims

1. A portable vertical jump measuring device, which comprises:

a plurality of normally open switches wired in parallel, each said switch being adapted to deliver a signal and deactivated in response to a jumper stepping thereon, wherein said switches are embedded in a portable mat;

a timer connected to said switch and adapted to receive said switch signal to measure a time period said switch is activated while said jumper is in the air;

means to receive said measured time period and to calculate the square of said activated time period and thereafter multiply the result by a constant to derive vertical jump height; and

an output device connected to said means to display the resultant vertical jump height of said jumper.

2. A portable vertical jump measuring device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said switches are ribbon switches.

3. A portable vertical jump measuring device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said time is measured in seconds, said height is measured in inches and said constant is equal to 48.2625.

4. A portable vertical jump measuring device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said timer, said means to multiply, and said display are contained in a portable case.

5. A portable vertical jump measuring device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means to calculate is performed by a microprocessor.

6. A portable vertical jump measuring device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said microprocessor, said timer and said display are powered by at least one battery.

7. A method to measure vertical jump height of a jumper, which method comprises:

wiring a plurality of normally open switches in parallel and embedding said plurality of switches in a portable mat;

closing at least one of said plurality of normally open switches by said jumper stepping thereon;

opening said at least one switch by said jumper jumping therefrom and thereafter closing said switch;

measuring a time period while said at least one switch is open;

calculating the square of said open time period and thereafter multiplying the result by a constant to derive vertical jump height; and

displaying the resultant vertical jump height of said jump.

8. A method to measure vertical jump height as set forth in claim 7 including measuring said time period in seconds, measuring said vertical height in inches, and using a constant of 48.2625.

9. A method to measure vertical jump as set forth in claim 7 including performing said calculations with a microprocessor.

10. A portable vertical jump measuring device, which comprises:

a plurality of normally closed switches wired in parallel, each said switch being adapted to deliver a signal and activated in response to a jumper stepping thereon, wherein said switches are embedded in a portable mat;

a timer connected to said switch and adapted to receive said switch signal to measure a time period said switch is deactivated while said jumper is in the air;

means to receive said measured time period and to calculate the square of said activated time period and thereafter multiply the result by a constant to derive vertical jump height; and

an output device connected to said means to display the resultant vertical jump height of said jumper.