Abstract:
An on-field vision training system is disclosed that provides a visual identifier near the athlete during game play and training exercises and other visual identifier positioned away from the athlete, but so as to still be seen by the athlete during game play and training exercises. The athlete uses the visual identifiers during game play and training exercises to improve vision, focus, and concentration. An American football having unique visual identifiers for use as an in-flight visual training tool is also disclosed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/030,845, filed on Feb. 13, 2008, and it claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/901,198, filed on Feb. 13, 2007. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a vision training system for use primarily on-field by athletes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In order for most athletes to perform at peak efficiency, they must effectively view their surroundings and circumstances and they typically must quickly and precisely react accordingly. Athletes usually spend hours, days, and months training so as to increase their athletic performance, but they often neglect taking steps to improve their vision and reaction time accordingly. 
     Known vision improving exercises and methods are typically performed off-field, and usually not during game play. As a result, when athletes are involved in game play and the like, they tend to forget or not use their vision improving techniques, thereby rendering them useless at improving an athlete&#39;s performance when it counts most, during the sporting event. 
     Similarly, many vision training drills and exercises to not use traditional equipment used by an athlete while playing their particular sport. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, despite the available athlete vision training systems and devices, there remains a need for an on-field vision training system that has been proven to improve sports visual performance during game play, and that readily reminds the athlete to following the vision training lessons during game play. In addition to the other benefits disclosed herein, the present invention fulfills these needs. 
    
    
     
       FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is an exemplar on-field vision training system with a visual display configured for use on a baseball bat in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged visual display of the on-field vision training system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exemplar on-field mounted visual display of the on-field vision training system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is the exemplar on-field vision training system of  FIG. 1  configured for use in basketball in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an exemplar on-field vision training system with a visual display configured for use on an article of footwear in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is the exemplar on-field vision training system of  FIG. 1  configured for use in American football in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an exemplar on-field vision training system with a visual display configured for use on a glove in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is the exemplar on-field vision training system of  FIG. 1  configured for use in soccer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9A  is a front, isometric view of an exemplar on-field vision training system configured for use on an American football in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9B  is a side view of the football of  FIG. 9A . 
         FIG. 10  is an exemplar visual display pattern for use on a first end of the football of  FIG. 9A . 
         FIG. 11  is an exemplar visual display pattern for use on a second end of the football of  FIG. 9A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An on-field vision training system  10  is disclosed in  FIGS. 1-11  and discussed herein. 
     In general, the training system  10  has a visual display  12  that is preferably a sequence of images aligned in a row  14  ( FIG. 2 ). Each image of the sequence of images preferably represents a symbol that the athlete has pre-associated as a reminder to perform a particular task or event during game play. A first visual display  12   a  is preferably positioned somewhere near or on the athlete, and at least a second visual display  12   b  with preferably the same sequence of images is posited at one or more locations throughout the sports field so that the second visual display  12   b  is visible by the athlete during game play. During game play, the athlete uses the visual displays  12   a ,  12   b  primarily as a vision training and concentration tool. 
     The on-field vision training system  10  is allows athletes to complete a series of sport-specific vision exercises to improve visual skills on the field and thereby improve the athlete&#39;s performance on the field of play. The system is designed to work the athlete&#39;s visual, neural and cognitive systems through a specific sequence of exercises which have been proven to improve sports visual performance. The order and sequence of exercises is preferably very specific and organized specifically to enhance the performance of the eyes for a particular sport activity. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-8 , the visual display  12  of the on-field vision training system  10  preferably has five symbols which are affixed, preferably by being detachably secured with adhesive tape or the like, or incorporated into the actual design of various articles of on-field equipment, including bats  16  ( FIG. 1 ), sports gloves  18  ( FIG. 7 ) and articles of footwear  20  ( FIG. 5 ) are used in combination with similar symbols which are affixed at various points on the field of play as shown in  FIGS. 1-8 . The player then uses this system of symbols to perform various exercises which condition the eyes, neurons and cognitive system to work together in an optimal manner to maximize the athlete&#39;s visual performance on the field of play. The system  10  allows training and conditioning of an athlete&#39;s visual skills in the context of the field of play, with all of the attendant variables, distractions and other factors that affect performance in actual sporting contests. Exemplar visual symbols and sequences are shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , an exemplar on-field vision training system configured for use during a baseball game is shown. The visual display  12   a  is affixed to a baseball bat  16  while a larger visual display  12   b  having the same sequence of characters is affixed along the outfield fence  20  or the like. During game play the athlete uses both visual displays  12   a ,  12   b  to focus on the batting event and improve visual cue sensing. For example, when stepping up to the plate for his or her turn a bat, the athlete may initially focus on the third character down on the visual display  12   a , and then look to the outfield to find that same character on the outfield visual display  12   b . He or she may then initiate other pre-determined sequences of viewing these and other symbols, thereby forcing the athlete to focus on these events and become less distracted by other events, such as cheering or hostile spectators, arising during game play. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 &amp; 5 , an exemplar on-field vision training system configured for use in basketball is shown. The visual display  12  is affixed to an article of footwear  20  worn by the athlete, and another visual display  12   c  is affixed to or near the backboard  32  of the basket. During a free throw, an athlete uses both visual displays  12   a ,  12   c  to focus on the free throw event, follow and remember established free-throw procedures, and reduce undue distractions from interfering with making the shot. For example, when stepping up to free throw line  30 , the athlete may initially focus one or more of the characters of the shoe mounted visual display  12   a , and then look for the same characters on the near backboard mounted visual display  12   c . He or she may then initiate other pre-determined sequences of viewing these and other symbols, thereby forcing the athlete to focus in preparation for taking the free throw. A third visual display  12   b  may also be provided and used, such as at the free throw line  30  or the like. Referring to  FIG. 6 , an exemplar on-field vision training system configured for use in American football is shown. The visual display  12   a  is preferably affixed to a glove  18  ( FIG. 7 ) worn by the athlete, the football  50  ( FIGS. 9A &amp; 9B ) used during game play or practice, and one or more other visual displays  12   b ,  12   c  are preferably positioned around the football field as shown. A similar arrangement is also shown in a soccer configuration in  FIG. 8 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9A-11 , a preferred visual display pattern for use on a football  50  is shown. Preferably, the pattern includes a series of concentric, different colored circles/rings  66 ,  68 ,  70  extending from the respective ends  62 ,  64  of the football  50  as best shown in  FIG. 9A . The center circle  62  is preferably different colors on each end  62 ,  64  of the football, with a first concentric ring  68  extending there-around in a different color from the color of the adjacent center circle  62 . A second concentric ring  70  is preferably aligned around the first concentric ring  68 , and it is preferably a different color from the adjacent center ring  62  and first concentric ring  68 . Preferably, the second concentric ring is yellow. 
     A preferred exemplar color pattern is to have a red center circle  66 , blue first concentric ring  68 , and yellow second concentric ring  70  on one side  62  ( FIG. 11 ) of the football  50 , and a blue center circle  66 , red first concentric ring  68 , and yellow second concentric ring  60  ( FIG. 10 ) on the opposite side  66  of the football  50 . Accordingly, one drill using these color patterns is for the thrower of the football  50  to position one of the two sides  62 ,  66  toward the athlete, and throw the football  50  toward the athlete. The athlete then calls out the color (red or blue) of the center circle  66  directed toward them while the football  50  is in-flight. 
     The size of the center circle  62  and rings  68  and  70  can also be optimized for maximum visual training. For example, one end  62  ( FIG. 11 ) of the football  50  may have a smaller sized center circle  62  and rings  68  and  70 , than those items found on the opposite side  66  ( FIG. 10 ). Accordingly, as an athlete&#39;s vision training improves using the side having the larger visual pattern, he or she may select the more difficult visual pattern found on the opposite side to further improve his or her vision training. 
     In addition, a pair of small brightly colored circles  56  (which are preferably yellow) are preferably positioned on the visual display. These small brightly colored circles  56  are preferably positioned opposite each other so as to straddle the ends  62 ,  66  as shown. 
     More preferably, a plurality of elongate, concentrically aligned, spaced apart lines  54  are provided along the “catch zone” of the football as best shown in  FIGS. 9A &amp; 9B . These lines offer a visual indicator to the athlete as to where he or she should seek to catch the ball. 
     In addition, one or more numbers  58  and/or letter  60  are provided on the football. These numbers  58  and letters  60  allow for vision training exercises such as number/letter call-out drills to be performed with an in-flight football. 
     With a football marked as described, it can be appreciated that an athlete uses the visual cues to assist with focus and concentration. The visual displays are preferably incorporated into a wide variety of in-flight ball, route, passing and hand-eye coordination drills. 
     Having described and illustrated the principles of our invention with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be apparent that the invention can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. For example, the sporting events shown and the symbols displayed are exemplarily only. In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles may be put, it should be recognized that the detailed embodiments are illustrative only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of our invention. Accordingly, we claim as our invention all such modifications as may come within the scope and spirit of the following claims and equivalents thereto.