Sports training system

• US 9,375,620 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2014
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas Creguer
• Original Assignee: Thomas Creguer
• Inventors: Creguer, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Aryanpour, Mitra
• Application Number:
  US14/277,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20140248979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 473/422, 473/438, 473/450, 473/458, 473/464, 473569-571, 473/198, 473/200, 473/605, 482/8, 482/84, 738/18, 73/81, 73/82, 600/595
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0658 Position or arrangement of display
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0037 Basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0066 Rugby; American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0095 Volleyball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/00 Hollow inflatable balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/002 with special configuration, e.g. non-spherical discs for throwing A63B65/10
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/004 electrically conductive, e.g. for automatic arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/00 Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 for football American-football dummies A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

A method of operating a training device includes measuring a force applied to a training ball including an outer skin surrounding an inner bladder, determining if a force applied to the training ball decreases below a predetermined threshold, and indicating when the force applied to the training ball decreases below the predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. A method of using a sports training ball comprising:

measuring an elevated force applied to the sports training ball with at least one force sensor located in the sports training ball, the sports training ball including an outer skin surrounding an inner core and the at least one force sensor in contact with the outer skin;

a controller located in the sports training ball in electrical communication with the at least one force sensor, determining when the elevated force applied to the sports training ball measured by the at least one force sensor decreases below a predetermined elevated threshold with the controller; and

an indicator located in the sports training ball in electrical communication with the controller, indicating to a user when the elevated force measured by the at least one force sensor decreases below the predetermined elevated threshold with the indicator.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one force sensor is located between the outer skin and the inner core.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one force sensor is a pressure sensor.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one force sensor is a resistive flex sensor.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a first side of the at least one force sensor contacts the inner core and a second opposite side of the at least one force sensor contacts the outer skin.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further including activating the training ball by applying a compressive force to the training ball.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the sports training ball is a football.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one force sensor includes a first sensor located on a first side of the sports training ball, a second sensor located on a second side of the sports training ball opposite the first side, a third sensor located on a third side of the sports training ball, and a fourth sensor located on a fourth side of the sports training ball opposite the third side.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising transferring the force measured by the at least one force sensor to a remote device.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the indicating step only occurs when the elevated force decreases below the predetermined elevated threshold.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the indicating step includes displaying the force measured by the at least one force sensor on a display on the sports training ball.

12. A method of using a sports training ball comprising:

measuring an elevated force applied to the sports training ball with at least one force sensor located in the sports training ball, the sports training ball including an outer skin surrounding an inner core;

an indicator located in the sports training ball in electrical communication with the at least one force sensor, producing a change in an electrical signal to the indicator when the elevated force measured by the at least one force sensor decreases below a predetermined elevated threshold; and

the indicator indicating to a user when the indicator receives the change in the electrical signal corresponding to the elevated force measured by the at least one force sensor decreasing below the elevated predetermined threshold with a change in at least one of an audio signal or a visual signal.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, further including activating the sports training ball by applying a compressive force to the training ball.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the at least one force sensor is a pressure sensor.

15. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the at least one force sensor is a resistive flex sensor.

16. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein a first side of the at least one force sensor contacts the inner core and a second opposite side of the at least one force sensor contacts the outer skin.

17. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the sports training ball is a football.

18. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the at least one force sensor includes a first sensor located on a first side of the sports training ball, a second sensor located on a second side of the sports training ball opposite the first side, a third sensor located on a third side of the sports training ball, and a fourth sensor located on a fourth side of the sports training ball opposite the third side.

19. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the indicating step only occurs when the elevated force decreases below the predetermined elevated threshold.