# US 10,118,078 B2 · System, apparatus and method for ball throwing machine and intelligent goal > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,118,078 B2 - Document ID: US10118078B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/374,984 - Filed: 2016-12-09 - Published: 2017-04-06 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-11-02 - Assignees: TOCA Football, Inc. - Applicants: Toca Football, Inc. - Inventors: Edward J. Lewis; Steven J. Barberi; Steven Eannarino; Thomas Denison - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118078B2 ## CPC - A63B 63/004: {Goals of the type used for football, handball, hockey or the like} - A63B 24/0062: {Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance} - A63B 24/0075: {Means for generating exercise programmes or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases} - A63B 47/002: {Devices for dispensing balls, e.g. from a reservoir (automatic teeing devices A63B57/0006; devices for projecting balls A63B69/40)} - A63B 69/002: {for football (American-football dummies A63B69/34)} - A63B 69/40: Stationarily-arranged devices for projecting balls {or other bodies} ({golf cups with ball ejector means A63B57/405;} traps for clay-pigeon targets F41J9/18) - A63B 69/406: {with rotating discs, wheels or pulleys gripping and propelling the balls or bodies by friction} - A63B 71/0605: {Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration} - A63B 71/0619: {Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills} - A63B 71/0622: {Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user} - G06Q 10/40: Business processes related to social networking or social networking services - G09B 5/02: with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip - G09B 19/0038: {Sports} - G16H 20/30: relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising - A63B 24/0087: {Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load} - A63B 2022/0092: {for training agility or co-ordination of movements} - A63B 2024/0034: {during flight} - A63B 2069/402: {giving spin} - A63B 2071/0063: {Shock absorbers} - A63B 2071/0072: {Limiting the applied force, torque, movement or speed} - A63B 2071/0081: {Stopping the operation of the apparatus} - A63B 2071/0625: {Emitting sound, noise or music} - A63B 2071/063: {Spoken or verbal instructions} - A63B 2071/0677: {Input by image recognition, e.g. video signals} - A63B 2071/068: {Input by voice recognition} - A63B 2071/0683: {Input by handheld remote control} - A63B 2071/0694: {Visual indication, e.g. Indicia} - A63B 2102/02: Tennis - A63B 2102/06: Squash - A63B 2102/065: {Racketball} - A63B 2102/14: Lacrosse - A63B 2102/18: Baseball, rounders or similar games - A63B 2102/182: {Softball} - A63B 2102/20: Cricket - A63B 2208/12: specially adapted for children - A63B 2209/10: with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener - A63B 2210/50: Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport - A63B 2220/17: Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed - A63B 2220/53: Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch - A63B 2220/56: Pressure - A63B 2220/801: Contact switches - A63B 2220/802: Ultra-sound sensors - A63B 2220/805: Optical or opto-electronic sensors - A63B 2220/806: Video cameras - A63B 2220/833: Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement - A63B 2220/836: Sensors arranged on the body of the user - A63B 2225/20: with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like - A63B 2225/50: Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry - A63B 2225/74: with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights - A63B 2230/00: Measuring physiological parameters of the user - A63B 2230/06: heartbeat rate only - A63B 2230/062: used as a control parameter for the apparatus - A63B 2230/75: calorie expenditure - A63B 2243/0025: Football - A63B 2243/0095: Volleyball - G08C 2201/93: Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B) - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA - G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G) ## Abstract A goal apparatus comprising a cross bar, a first side post and a second side post is described. The first side post and the second side post are connected to the cross bar such that the first side post, the second side post and the cross bar form a plane (“a goal plane”). Further, one or more sensor pairs are coupled to the first side post and the second side post, wherein a first sensor pair of the one or more sensor pairs includes a first sensor and a second sensor. The first sensor is coupled to the first side post and the second sensor is coupled to the second side post and is also aligned horizontal to the first sensor. In addition, the first sensor pair is located in a first zone, wherein the first zone is a first portion of the goal plane. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A goal apparatus comprising: a cross bar; a first side post and a second side post, the first side post and the second side post connected to the cross bar, wherein the first side post, the second side post and the cross bar form a goal plane; and a plurality of sensor pairs coupled to the first side post and the second side post including (i) a first sensor pair that includes a first sensor and a second sensor, and (ii) a second sensor pair, wherein the first sensor pair and the second sensor pair are configured to establish a first zone according to a first training drill via receipt of a first software instruction, and subsequently, one or more of the first sensor pair and the second sensor pair are reconfigured to establish a second zone according to a second training drill via receipt of a second software instruction, the first zone being a first portion of the goal plane and the second zone being a first second portion of the goal plane, wherein the first portion is different than the second portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The goal apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: the second sensor pair includes a third sensor and a fourth sensor, the third sensor coupled to the first side post and the fourth sensor coupled to the second side post and aligned horizontal to the third sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The goal apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first zone is formed by a first subset of the plurality of sensor pairs including the first sensor pair, and the second zone is formed by a second subset of the plurality of sensor pairs including the second sensor pair. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The goal apparatus of claim 1, wherein a through-beam is transmitted between the first sensor and the second sensor, and one or more of the first sensor or the second sensor are configured to detect an interrupt in the through-beam. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The goal apparatus of claim 4, wherein a detected interrupt in the through-beam is transmitted to logic configured to determine whether the first zone corresponds to one or more required zones required by a selected training drill. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The goal apparatus of claim 5, further comprising: a first set of one or more lights, wherein when the first zone is determined to correspond to the one or more required zones required by the selected training drill, the first set of one or more lights is configured to transition from a first state to a second state. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The goal apparatus of claim 5, further comprising: one or more speakers, wherein when the first zone is determined to correspond to the one or more required zones required by the selected training drill, the one or more one or more speakers are configured to generate an audible cue. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The goal apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a housing; one or more processors stored in the housing; and a storage device stored in the housing and communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, the storage device having stored thereon logic that, when executed by the one or more processors causes operations to be performed including: receiving information associated with a selection of the first training drill; receiving a first signal from the plurality of sensor pairs signifying a through-beam interrupt has been detected; recording a timestamp corresponding to detection of the through-beam interrupt; and determining whether a zone of the goal plane corresponding to the first signal corresponds to one or more zones required by the first training drill. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The goal apparatus of claim 8, further comprising: a speaker communicatively coupled to the logic stored in the storage device, the speaker configured to receive data from the logic and, according to the data, provide an audible cue pertaining to at least one of the first training drill, a method of performing the first training drill, scoring or timing, wherein the speaker is a set of wireless headphones. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The goal apparatus of claim 9, wherein the speaker is configured to provide alerts pertaining to a beginning of the first training drill, an end of the first training drill, or instructions for performing the first training drill and play music. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The goal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensor pairs are coupled to the first side post and the second side post via physical integration of each of the sensors of the plurality of sensor pairs into one of the first side post or the second side post. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The goal apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first side post and the second side post include a front portion and a back portion, and wherein a first portion of the plurality of sensor pairs is coupled to the first side post through physical integration to the back portion of the first side post, and a second portion of the plurality of sensor pairs is coupled to the second side post through physical integration to the back portion of the second side post. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The goal apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a speaker attached to one of the cross bar, the first side post, or the second side post, the speaker configured to provide an audible cue pertaining to at least one of the first training drill, a method of performing the first training drill, scoring or timing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The goal apparatus of claim 13, wherein the speaker is configured to provide alerts pertaining to a beginning of the first training drill, an end of the first training drill, or instructions for performing the first training drill and play music. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The goal apparatus of claim 8, wherein the logic being executable by the one or more processors to perform further operations including: determining that a maintenance threshold of the goal has been met or exceeded; and providing an alert indicating the maintenance threshold of the goal has been met or exceeded. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The goal apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a first set of one or more lights, wherein the first zone is indicated by the first set of one or more lights being in a first state. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The goal apparatus of claim 16, further comprising: a second set of one or more lights, wherein a second zone is indicated by a second set of one or more lights being in a second state. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The goal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensor pair includes the first sensor coupled to the first side post and the second sensor coupled to the second side post. ### Claim 19 A goal apparatus comprising: one or more posts, wherein the one or more posts form a goal plane; and a plurality of sensor pairs coupled to the one or more posts, wherein the plurality of sensor pairs includes a first sensor pair and a second sensor pair, wherein the first sensor pair and the second sensor pair are configured to establish a first zone according to a first training drill via receipt of a first software instruction, and subsequently, one or more of the first sensor pair and the second sensor pair are reconfigured to establish a second zone according to a second training drill via receipt of a second software instruction, the first zone being a first portion of the goal plane and the second zone each being a first second portion of the goal plane, wherein the first portion is different than the second portion.