Athletic training device

• US 7,901,325 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2009
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joe Henderson
• Original Assignee: Joe Henderson
• Inventors: Henderson, Joe
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh; Loan
• Assistant Examiner(s): GINSBERG, OREN ISAAC
• Application Number:
  US12/559,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20100227738A1
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1, 482 3- 9, 482 83- 90, 600/300, 600/587, 600/592, 600/595, 601 23- 36, 434/247, 434/255, 434/258, 731/72, 733/790.1, 733/790.4, 733/790.5, 738/654, 702/33, 702 41- 44, 702182-185, 705/2, 463/1, 463 7- 8, 463/36, 607/49, 700 91- 93
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0015 Comparing movements or motion sequences with computerised simulations of movements or motion sequences, e.g. for generating an ideal template as reference to be achieved by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/54 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/62 posture
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for accurate measurement, compilation, and presentation of sprinting and running technique data. In one embodiment, the apparatus, system and method includes a knee pad configured to contain a knee pad sensor, a foot pad configured to contain a foot pad sensor and a main trunk that connects the foot pad and the knee pad. The knee pad sensor and the foot pad sensor sense movement near the sensors and contact to the sensors. Data from the sensors is output to a CPU. In one embodiment, the apparatus, system and method include arm sensors. The arm sensors sense arm movement of a user and report arm movement data to the CPU. In a further embodiment, the apparatus may be configured to contain a harness positioned opposite the main trunk.

Claims

1. An apparatus to train athletes, the apparatus comprising:

a knee pad comprising a knee pad sensor, wherein the knee pad sensor senses movement near the knee pad sensor and contact to the knee pad sensor and reports movement and contact data to a CPU;

a foot pad comprising a foot pad sensor, wherein the foot pad sensor senses movement near the foot pad sensor and contact to the foot pad sensor and reports movement and contact data to the CPU;

a main trunk configured to connect the foot pad and the knee pad;

wherein a user can stand on the foot pad, run in place contacting the foot pad with their feet and contacting the knee pad with their knees; and

compiling knee pad sensor data and foot pad sensor data in a compilation module of the CPU.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the foot pad is located in a horizontal plane and the knee pad is located in a parallel plane above the foot pad, the main trunk connecting the foot pad and the knee pad and maintaining the position of the knee pad with respect to the foot pad.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the location and angle of the foot pad and the knee pad are adjustable on the main trunk.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the knee pad sensor is configured to measure knee force, knee cadence and knee frequency and to output knee force, knee cadence and knee frequency data to the CPU.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the foot sensor is configured to measure foot force, foot cadence, foot frequency and foot torque and to output foot force, foot cadence, foot frequency and foot torque data to the CPU.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the foot pad sensor is further configured to sense foot position on the foot pad, foot angle on the foot pad and foot stepping area on the foot pad.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the foot pad sensor is further configured to measure foot torque, wherein foot torque comprises negative foot speed and force.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising arm sensors configured to sense arm movement of a user, wherein the arm sensors report arm sensor data to the CPU.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the arm sensors are configured to measure arm speed, arm cadence and arm frequency and to output arm speed, arm cadence and arm frequency data to the CPU, wherein arm speed comprises forward arm speed and backward arm speed.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a harness, the harness positioned opposite the main trunk.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the harness comprises a harness sensor configured to report harness sensor data to the CPU.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the harness is configured to measure harness force, body trunk angle and body posture and to output harness force, body trunk angle and body posture data to the CPU.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the harness comprises a plurality of harnesses connected with portions of a user'"'"'s back, the plurality of harnesses configured to output a body posture measurement to the CPU.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a video recording mechanism capable of video recording and outputting real-time video of a user while the user is running or sprinting in place on the apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the compilation module compiles and organizes sensor data and outputs sensor data, wherein sensor data comprises data output by the knee pad sensor, the foot pad sensor, the arm sensors, the harness sensor and the video recording mechanism.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the compilation module detects user training errors, wherein detecting user training errors comprises comparing knee pad sensor data with foot pad sensor data to measure coordination of foot and knee movement.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the compilation module receives sensor data and outputs user readable data comprising frequency, power, position, and orientation, wherein the compilation module also outputs coordination data between feet, knees and arms and compares sensor data over a specified time period.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein compilation module compiles sensor data and outputs customized training advice and techniques for the user corresponding to sensor data received by the CPU.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the compilation module compares frequency, force, torque and speed over a specified time period and give a percentage corresponding to the consistency of each of frequency, force, torque and speed.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the compilation module compares the user'"'"'s sensor data to ideal sensor data for each phase of a sprint.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a viewing mechanism that displays real-time data from the knee, foot, arm and harness sensors and the video recording mechanism.

22. A method for accurately measuring, compiling, and presenting sprinting and running data, the method comprising:

providing a knee pad configured to contain a knee pad sensor wherein the knee pad sensor senses movement near the knee pad sensor and contact to the knee pad sensor and reports movement and contact data to a CPU;

providing a foot pad configured to contain a foot pad sensor wherein the foot pad sensor senses movement near the foot pad sensor and contact to the foot pad sensor and reports movement and contact data to the CPU; and

providing a main trunk configured to connect the foot pad and the knee pad;

standing on the foot pad;

running in place and contacting the foot pad with feet;

contacting the knee pads with knees;

reporting knee pad sensor data and foot pad sensor data to the CPU;

compiling knee pad sensor data and foot pad sensor data in a compilation module of the CPU; and

outputting compiled sensor data in a format readable by a user.

23. An apparatus to train athletes, the apparatus comprising:

a knee pad configured to contain a knee pad sensor wherein the knee pad sensor senses movement near the knee pad sensor and contact to the knee pad sensor and reports movement and contact data to a CPU;

a foot pad configured to contain a foot pad sensor wherein the foot pad sensor senses movement near the foot pad sensor and contact to the foot pad sensor and reports movement and contact data to the CPU;

a main trunk configured to connect the foot pad and the knee pad;

arm sensors configured to sense arm movement of a user situated in the knee pad, the arm sensors reporting data to the CPU;

a harness positioned opposite the main trunk, wherein the harness contains a harness sensor configured to report harness sensor data to the CPU;

a compilation module of the CPU, wherein the compilation module compiles and organizes sensor data and outputs sensor data, wherein sensor data comprises data output from the knee pad sensor, the foot pad sensor, the arm sensors, and the harness sensor; and

a viewing mechanism configured to allow the user to view data reported to the CPU and data compiled by the compilation module.