Sport performance system with ball sensing

• US 9,517,397 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2013
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Gaff, Bradley L., Thurman, Robert T., Krysiak, Kevin L., Proeber, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Myhr, Justin
• Application Number:
  US14/071,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20140135958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/44 Angular acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• 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 69/002 for football American-football dummies A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports

Abstract

A player training apparatus for use with a portable performance system. The portable performance system includes a processor, a memory and a display. The training apparatus includes an American-style football, at least one sensor coupled to the football, at least one transmitter coupled to the football and operably coupled to the sensor, and a non-transient computer-readable medium containing code. The code directs the processor to: receive input pertaining to motion of the football; derive at least one football motion parameter from the input pertaining to the motion of the football; and display information relating to the input. The at least one football motion parameter includes spiral efficiency.

Claims

1. A player training apparatus for use with a portable performance system including a processor, a memory and a display, the training apparatus comprising:

an American-style football;

at least one sensor coupled to the football;

at least one transmitter coupled to the football and operably coupled to the sensor; and

a non-transient computer-readable medium containing code to direct the processor to;

receive input pertaining to motion of the football;

determining, from the input, a first time corresponding to the initiation of cocking of an arm and a second time corresponding to the launching of the football by the arm;

derive at least one football motion parameter from the input pertaining to the motion of the football, the at least one football motion parameter including pass release time, the pass release time comprising a duration of time between the first time and the second time; and

display information relating to the input, the information comprising the pass release time.

2. The training apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory includes previously stored football motion parameters, and wherein the code further directs the processor to compare the derived football motion parameter with previously stored football motion parameters.

3. The training apparatus of claim 2, wherein the derived football motion parameters relate to performance by a person and wherein the previously stored football motion parameters relate to a previous performance by the same person.

4. The training apparatus of claim 2, wherein the derived football motion parameters relate to performance by a first person and wherein the previously stored football motion parameters relate to football motion parameters relating to performance by a second person, different than the first person, the second person being a celebrity.

5. The training apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one football motion parameter further includes one or more parameter selected from the group consisting of football speed, football launch angle, spin about a non-longitudinal axis, spin about a longitudinal axis of the football, direction of the football, spiral efficiency, trajectory, pass release time, distance, and combinations thereof.

6. The training apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one football motion parameter is selected from a series of events resulting from the input and is selected from the group consisting of snap to catch time, snap to football release time, snap to punt time, snap to kick time, punt to catch time, punt to impact with ground time and combinations thereof.

7. The training apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one football motion parameter further includes a quarterback snap to football release time, wherein the quarterback snap to football release time is measured from the snap of a football at rest to the passing of the football by the player.

8. The training apparatus of claim 7, wherein the code is further configured to direct the processing unit to generate control signals for an auditory source such that the auditory source produces sound based upon the control signals.

9. The training apparatus of claim 7, wherein the control signals causing auditory source to produce an alert sound at a predefined time following signals indicating a snap of the football.

10. The training apparatus of claim 7, wherein the control signals causing auditory source to produce alert sounds at a predefined frequency following signals indicating a snap of the football, and wherein the control signals for an auditory source are terminated upon signals indicating the passing of the football.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the code is further configured to direct a processor to:

store each determined football motion parameter; and

present a graph of the stored football motion parameters.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the code is further configured to direct a processor to compare the determined football motion parameter to a predefined threshold value.