# US 9,039,012 B2 · Training device

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- Number: US 9,039,012 B2
- Document ID: US9039012B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/067,247
- Filed: 2006-09-14
- Published: 2008-10-09
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2005-09-19
- Applicants: John Joe O'Sullivan
- Inventors: John Joe O'Sullivan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039012B2

## CPC

- A63B 63/004: {Goals of the type used for football, handball, hockey or the like}
- 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 47/025: {Installations continuously collecting balls from the playing areas, e.g. by gravity, with conveyor belts}
- A63B 63/00: Targets or goals for ball games (golf cups A63B57/40)
- A63B 69/0053: {Apparatus generating random stimulus signals for reaction-time training involving a substantial physical effort}
- 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 69/002: {for football (American-football dummies A63B69/34)}
- A63B 71/0622: {Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user}
- A63B 2024/0034: {during flight}
- A63B 2024/004: {Multiple detectors or sensors each defining a different zone}
- A63B 2024/0043: {Systems for locating the point of impact on a specific surface}
- A63B 2063/001: {Targets or goals with ball-returning means}
- A63B 2071/063: {Spoken or verbal instructions}
- A63B 2220/18: Inclination, slope or curvature
- A63B 2220/56: Pressure
- A63B 2220/76: Wind conditions
- 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 2225/74: with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
- A63B 2243/0025: Football
- A63B 2243/0033: Handball
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)

## Abstract

A training device for installation in a practice area is provided, the training device providing an indication to a user as to where on a first surface of the training device a football should be aimed. The first surface is configured to allow the ball to pass through the first surface, where it is collected and returned to the user. The training device is also configured to indicate to the user approximately where in the practice area the football will be returned to, so as to allow the user to position themselves accordingly.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A training device for installation in a practice area comprising:
a main body,
a first surface supported by said main body, having a target face exposed to a user of said training device,
a ball firing mechanism, and
a visual return indicator operatively connected to the ball firing mechanism,
wherein said training device is operable to display a delivery target at a location on said first surface where it is desired that a user propel a ball, and said visual return indicator is operable to display a firing target indicating a particular location within the practice area that the ball firing mechanism will fire a ball towards;
wherein said first surface comprises a resilient plastic material and
wherein said resilient plastic material comprises at least one strip extending freely from said main body, wherein said at least one strip acts to retard the momentum of said ball, while allowing said ball to pass.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The training device of claim 1, wherein said training device comprises a target projector, the target projector operable to project a delivery target at a location on said first surface where it is desired that a user propel a ball.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The training device of claim 2, wherein said first surface comprises a translucent sheet.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The training device of claim 3, wherein said target projector is supported by said main body and is juxtaposed a surface of said translucent sheet opposite said target face.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The training device of claim 2, wherein said training device comprises a target controller coupled to said target projector, said controller being operable to vary said location on said first surface where it is desired that said user propel said ball.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The training device of claim 1, wherein said first surface comprises a cushioned surface.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The training device of claim 1, wherein said ball firing mechanism comprises an adjustable barrel and a ball propulsion mechanism for propelling a ball through said barrel.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The training device of claim 7, wherein said barrel is adjustable to direct the delivery of said ball to said user.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The training device of claim 8, wherein said barrel is tiltable along its vertical axis, by a vertical tilt angle.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The training device of claim 8, wherein said barrel is tiltable along its horizontal axis, by a horizontal tilt angle.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The training device of claim 7, wherein said ball propulsion mechanism is arranged to propel said ball at variable speeds.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9, 10)

The training device of claims 9, 10, or 11, wherein said training device comprises a ball return controller, the ball return controller being coupled to said visual return indicator, the ball return controller operable to predict a target location where a ball fired by said ball propulsion mechanism will initially land, wherein said prediction is based on a function of any one of the force imparted by said impelling mechanism, the vertical tilt angle, the horizontal tilt angle, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The training device of claim 12, wherein said visual return indicator comprises a moveable light source.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The training device of claim 13, wherein said visual return indicator is supported by said main body and is juxtaposed a surface of said translucent sheet opposite said target face.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The training device of claim 12, wherein said visual return indicator is operable to project a firing target on said first surface.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The training device of claim 12, wherein said visual return indicator is operable to project a firing target on the surface of said practice area.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The training device of claim 1, wherein said particular location can include a sector of the practice area, or a line along which the ball will be returned.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The training device of claim 1, wherein said training device comprises a sensor element, operable to detect a location on said first surface where said ball hits said first surface.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The training device of claim 18, wherein said training device comprises a plurality of sensor elements disposed around said first surface.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The training device of claim 19, wherein said sensor elements comprise sensors selected from a group including optical, inertia and pressure sensors.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The training device of claim 1, wherein said training device comprises a processor, operable to provide a comparison between said location on said first surface where it is desired that a user propel said ball and said location on said first surface where said ball hits said first surface.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21, 24)

The training device of one of claim 21 or claim 24, wherein said training device comprises data storage means adapted to store at least one of said comparison or said duration, or both.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The training device of claim 21, wherein said processor is coupled to said target controller and to said ball return controller, the processor operable to vary the operation of the target controller and the ball return controller.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The training device of claim 23, wherein the processor is coupled to a removable mobile device, said device allowing the training device to be controlled by an operator of the mobile device.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The training device of claim 24, wherein the mobile device is one of a laptop computer, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a mobile phone handset.

### Claim 26 (depends on 1)

The training device of claim 1, wherein said training device comprises a timer operable to measure a duration between the time of display of said target at a location on said first surface where it is desired that said user propel a ball, and the time when a ball is detected hitting said first surface.

### Claim 27 (depends on 1)

The training device of claim 1, wherein said training device includes a reservoir to store a plurality of balls.

### Claim 28 (depends on 1)

The training device of claim 1, wherein said training device includes a ball collector to collect a ball propelled at the training device.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The training device of claim 28, wherein said ball collector comprises a chute.

### Claim 30 (depends on 1)

The training device of claim 1, wherein the training device further comprises image recording means and image storage means, the image recording means being operable to record a video feed of a user of the training device when the training device is in use, and the storage means being operable to store the video feed.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The training device of claim 30, wherein the training device further comprises secondary display means, the secondary display means being coupled to the image recording means and the image storage means, the secondary display means being operable to display the stored video feed.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The training device of claim 31, wherein the secondary display means comprises a display screen, the display screen being mounted on the training device.