US 5,372,365 AGranted

Methods and apparatus for sports training

AssigneeSportSense, Inc.

InventorsMichael H. McTeigue, Art Zias

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A method and apparatus for training a user to move in a desired movement pattern, especially for training a golfer to swing a golf club. One or more sensors are placed adjacent the user, for example pressure sensors under the user's feet and/or between the user's hands and a golf club. The sensors generate signals corresponding to the user's movement. A comparator and signal generator are used to compare a function of the user signals and a reference value, and to generate training signals which are communicated to the user, e.g. by radio frequency signals received by a headset worn by the user. In this way, the user senses, during the actual movement, training signals which represent a relationship between the actual movement pattern and a desired movement pattern. Preferably, the comparator determines whether a function of the user signals is above or below a preselected and adjustable reference value, and the training signals undergo a distinct change when the function of the user signals crosses the reference value.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A method of training a user to move in a desired movement pattern which results in an object being thrown or kicked by the user or being struck by a piece of sports equipment which the user grips and swings, which method comprises

(1) placing a sensor at a preselected location adjacent to the user, which sensor, when the user moves in an actual movement pattern similar to the desired movement pattern, can, continuously throughout the movement pattern, (i) sense changes in a user factor which are characteristic of the actual movement pattern and (ii) generate user signals corresponding to said changes;
(2) placing a comparator at a location where a function of the user signals generated by the sensor can be communicated to the comparator, which comparator, when the user moves in an actual movement pattern, can, continuously throughout the movement pattern, determine whether a function of the user signal is above or below a preselected and adjustable reference value;
(3) placing a signal generator at a location where
(i) results of the comparison made by the comparator can be communicated to the signal generator, continuously throughout the movement pattern, and
(ii) audible signals generated by the signal generator can be communicated to the user;
(4) causing the user to move in an actual movement pattern similar to the desired movement pattern;
(5) continuously throughout the movement pattern, causing the sensor to generate user signals which correspond to changes in the user factor sensed by the sensor;
(6) continuously throughout the movement pattern, communicating a function of the user signals to the comparator;
(7) continuously throughout the movement pattern, causing the comparator to determine whether a function of the user signals is above or below the reference value;
(8) continuously throughout the movement pattern, communicating the results of the determination made by the comparator to the signal generator;
(9) causing the signal generator to generate audible training signals which undergo a distinct change when said function of the user signals crosses the reference value;
and
(10) communicating the audible training signals to the user;
steps (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9) and (10) being carried out substantially simultaneously, so that the user senses, during the actual movement pattern, training signals which represent a relationship between the actual movement pattern and the desired movement pattern.

11 more elements

A method of training a user to move in a desired movement pattern, which method comprises

(1) placing a sensor at a preselected location adjacent to the user, which sensor, when the user moves in an actual movement pattern similar to the desired movement pattern, can, continuously throughout the movement pattern, (i) sense changes in a user factor which are characteristic of the actual movement pattern and (ii) generate user signals corresponding to said changes;
(2) placing a comparator at a location where a function of the user signals generated by the sensor can be communicated to the comparator, which comparator, when the user moves in an actual movement pattern, can, continuously throughout the movement pattern, determine whether a function of the user signals is above or below a preselected and adjustable reference value;
(3) placing a signal generator at a location where
(i) results of the comparison made by the comparator can be communicated to the signal generator, continuously throughout the movement pattern, and
(ii) audible signals generated by the signal generator can be communicated to the user;
(4) causing the user to move in an actual movement pattern similar to the desired movement pattern;
(5) continuously throughout the movement pattern, causing the sensor to generate user signals which correspond to changes in the user factor sensed by the sensor;
(6) continuously throughout the movement pattern, communicating a function of the user signals to the comparator;
(7) continuously throughout the movement pattern, causing the comparator to determine whether a function of the user signals is above or below the reference value;
(8) continuously throughout the movement pattern, communicating the results of the determination made by the comparator to the signal generator;
(9) causing the signal generator to generate audible training signals which undergo a distinct change when said function of the user signals crosses the reference value;
and
(10) communicating the audible training signals to the user;
steps (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9) and (10) being carried out substantially simultaneously, so that the user senses, during the actual movement pattern, training signals which represent a relationship between the actual movement pattern and the desired movement pattern;
and the method having at least one of the following characteristics (A) to (J)
(A) the method comprises the steps of:
causing the user to adopt a desired starting position prior to step (4),
causing the signal generator to generate a starting signal after the user has adopted the desired starting position, and
ensuring that the signal generator does not generate training signals before expiry of a preselected delay period after the starting signal;
(B) (i) the method makes use of two spaced-apart sensors, each of which generates distinct user signals,
(ii) the comparator compares a function of each of the distinct user signals with a respective reference value,
(iii) the signal generator generates distinct training signals which represent the results of the respective comparisons, and
(iv) the distinct training signals are communicated separately to the user;
(C) (i) the method makes use of two spaced-apart sensors, each of which generates distinct user signals, and
(ii) the comparator makes a comparison between a function of one of the distinct user signals and a reference value which is a function of the other distinct user signals;
(D) the reference value is a function of the user signals at an earlier time during the actual movement;
(E) (i) the method makes use of a single sensor which is placed under one of the user's feet and senses the force applied to said single sensor by the user's weight, and
(ii) the training signal represents the results of comparing a function of the user signals generated by said single sensor and a reference value;
(F) (i) the method makes use of two spaced-apart sensors,
(ii) one of the sensors is placed under a first part of one of the user's feet and senses the force applied to said sensor by the first part of the user's foot, and
(iii) the other sensor is placed under a second part of the same one of the user's feet and senses the force applied to said other sensor by the second part of the user's foot;
(G) (i) the sensor is placed between a substrate and at least one of user's hands, and senses the grip pressure applied by the user to the substrate, and
(ii) the user signals change continuously in response to changes in the grip pressure;
(H) (i) the sensor is placed between a substrate and at least one of the user's hands, and senses the grip pressure applied by the user to the substrate, and
(ii) the reference value is a function of the maximum grip pressure which the use can apply to the substrate;
(I) (i) the sensor is one which can be calibrated relative to a fixed point, direction or plane and which, after being so calibrated, can generate user signals which represent the relationship between the sensor and the fixed point, direction or plane;
and
(ii) the sensor is calibrated relative to a fixed point, direction or plane before steps (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9) and (10);
and
(J) the sensor, the comparator and the signal generator, and any other equipment needed to carry out the method, are carried by the user during the actual movement pattern.

37 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/974,563Filed 12 Nov 1992 · continuation in part
Priority: 22 Jan 1991
Granted: 13 Dec 1994
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification29 codes

A63B 71/0622
Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills: visual, audio or…
A63B 24/0003
Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training…
A63B 24/0006
Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis: computerised…
A63B 69/3608
For golf: attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining