Chasing training device

An athletic training device to develop speed and agility. A robot can be programmed or remote controlled to move in an erratic manner so that it can be chased by an athlete. An on-board shut-off unit stops the device when it is removed by the athlete chasing the device.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to athletic training devices and more particularly to an erratically and rapidly moving device configured such that in order to be captured an athlete must exhibit a required level of speed and agility.

Speed and agility are critical in numerous sports and other activities. However, motion in predictable patterns and/or on agility courses can be seen in advance and can be quickly learned by athletes. Existing training systems include stationary courses such as ladder drills, running through tires, or basketball “suicide” drills. Further systems exist, such as targeted chasing systems wherein an athlete moves as rapidly as possible towards a selected one of a set of illuminable lights. However, the selectively illuminable lights are stationary and thus the athlete can quickly adapt and/or anticipate the illumination sequence and/or memorize the locations of the fixed number of illuminable lights. In actual play, however, the motion may be unpredictable, and athletes must be able to still move quickly.

What is needed is a system that provides unpredictable speed and agility training for athletes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-1Bdepict various views of embodiments of the present device.FIG. 1depicts a perspective exterior view of one embodiment of the present device. In some embodiments, a housing102can comprise a plurality of sections104, which can be coupled together and substantially vertically arranged. In such embodiments, sections104can move independently of each other, or in coordinated movements with each other. However, in other embodiments, a housing102can comprise a single hollow member. As shown inFIG. 1, a housing102can be substantially circular in shape, but in other embodiments can have any other known and/or convenient geometry. In some embodiments, a housing102can be made of a resilient plastic, polymer, polycarbonate, metal, alloy, or any other known and/or convenient material. As shown inFIG. 1, a housing102can be coupled with a time mechanism120, such as but not limited to, a timer, stopwatch, clock, and/or any other known and/or convenient mechanism for timing a user and/or displaying time.

As shown inFIG. 1a, a plurality of moving agencies106can be coupled with a housing102. Moving agencies106can be wheels, casters, bearings, or any other known and/or convenient device. In some embodiments, moving agencies106can have a rotational range of motion of 360 degrees, or any other known and/or convenient range. As shown inFIG. 1a, moving agencies106can be coupled with a housing102at points on the underside of and, in some embodiments, substantially proximal to the periphery of a housing102. However, in other embodiments, moving agencies106can be coupled with a housing102in any known and/or convenient locations.

In some embodiments, one of the moving agencies106can be configured to drive a housing102in any desired direction. In some embodiments, the moving agencies106can be configured to randomly drive a housing102in any direction. In alternate embodiments, more than one of the moving agencies106can be configured to drive the housing102either separately and/or simultaneously.

In some embodiments, a switch108can be located on the top surface of a housing102, but in other embodiments can be located on a side or underside surface. An on-off switch108can be adapted to selectively control the operation of the moving agencies106, drive system114, and/or power the device on and off.

In the embodiment depicted inFIG. 1, a housing102can include an opening110adapted to receive a shut-off unit112. In some embodiments, an opening110can be substantially circular, but in other embodiments can have any other known and/or convenient geometry. In the embodiment depicted inFIG. 1, a shut-off unit112can be selectively and operatively mated with an opening110such that a device will not be propelled when a shut-off unit112is not mated with an opening110. A shut-off unit112can have a substantially cylindrical shape, as shown inFIG. 1, but in other embodiments can have any other known and/or convenient geometry. In some embodiments a shut-off unit112can be magnetized in a desired configuration and an opening110can include a magnetic reader such that the pattern and/or random sequence can be defined by the magnetic configuration of a shut-off unit112and/or the speed of insertion of a shut-off unit112into an opening110.

As shown inFIG. 1a, a drive device114can be coupled to a drive agency116and coupled to a power supply118. In some embodiments, a power supply118can be a battery, but in other embodiments can be a solar cell or any other known and/or convenient device. In some embodiments, a drive device114can be a motor, but in other embodiments can be any other known and/or convenient mechanism. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 1a, a drive agency116can be at least one wheel, but in other embodiments can be a caster, bearing, or any other known and/or convenient device.

In alternate embodiments, a drive device114can further comprise a pump and/or turbine system. In such embodiments, a drive agency116can be a nozzle, propeller, or any other known and/or convenient device to produce thrust. In such embodiments, moving agencies106can be fins or any other known and/or convenient device.

FIG. 2depicts a detail view of one embodiment of a shut-off device112. As shown inFIG. 2, a shut-off device112can further comprise a visual enhancement device202that can be a flag, two-dimensional or three-dimensional graphic, or any other known and/or convenient device. A shut-off unit112can further comprise a control mechanism204that can control stop-and-go motion of the device. In some embodiments, a control mechanism204can comprise an electrical coupling206that when disrupted causes the device to cease motion. In some embodiments, an electrical coupling206can further comprise magnetic components. However, in other embodiments, any other known and/or convenient control mechanism can be used.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG. 2, a shut-off unit112can further comprise a motion-control device208, which can further comprise at least one magnet210. In some embodiments, a motion-control device208can be a magnetostatic device with said at least one magnet210capable of producing an electrical current that can be used to create a seed value for input into a random-pattern generator. A reader212can be located in an opening110such that a pattern and/or random sequence can be defined by a magnetic configuration of at least one magnet210on a shut-off unit112and/or the speed of insertion of a shut-off unit into an opening110.

FIG. 3depicts another embodiment of the present device, further comprising a remote-control unit302. A remote-control unit302can operate via a wireless connection or any other known and/or convenient mechanism.

FIG. 4depicts an electro-mechanical schematic of one embodiment of the present device. A drive-control circuit402and a directional-control circuit404can both be connected to a central processing unit (CPU)406. A CPU406can be connected to an input device/receiver408, which can be connected to a power supply410. A motion-control device208can be connected to an input device/receiver408via an op-amp circuit412. A remote-control302can also provide input to an input device/receiver408via a wireless connection or any other known and/or convenient method. In some embodiments, a CPU406can also be capable of collecting motion information from the device and connecting to an external personal computer to download such information. Further, in some alternate embodiments, a device can include a timing mechanism120(as shown inFIG. 1) to record and optionally display chronological information regarding motion of the device.

In a drive-control circuit402, a power supply118can be connected to a shut-off device112, an on-off switch108, a drive device114, and a resistor414, In some embodiments, a drive device114can be a motor, but in other embodiments can be any other known and/or convenient device. As shown inFIG. 2, a power supply118can be a variable power supply, or in other embodiments can be any other known and/or convenient device.

In a directional-control circuit404, a power supply416can be connected to a resistor418and a drive device420. In some embodiments, a drive device420can be a motor, but in other embodiments can be any other known and/or convenient device.

A CPU406can be connected to a power supply118for a drive circuit402via an amplifier422, and also to a power supply416for a directional-control circuit404via and amplifier242. In such embodiments, a CPU can, therefore, provide input to control a drive circuit402and a directional-control circuit404.

A remote-control unit302can provide input concerning direction, speed, on/off status, or any other known and/or desired parameters to an input device/receiver408.

As shown inFIG. 4, a motion-control device208can, in some embodiments, be incorporated into a shut-off device112. A magnet210on a shut-off device112can, when in motion, produce a current that can be read by a reader212. An induced current can vary depending upon the orientation of magnets210in relation to readers212and the speed of magnets210in moving past readers212. In embodiments having multiple magnets210and readers212, as shown inFIG. 4, the electrical signals resulting from an induced current can be summed in an op-amp circuit412and sent to a CPU406via an input device/receiver408. A CPU406can process these electrical signals to provide control information to a drive-control circuit402and a directional-control circuit404by using electrical signals to establish a seed value for a random-number generator in a CPU406. In some embodiments, a random number generator can translate an electrical signal into numerical values. In such embodiments, a numerical value can be parsed into separate values, each of which can be used to control speed and direction. For example, in some embodiments, a numerical value can have a plurality of digits. One or more digits can correspond to a seed value for speed control, one or more other digits can correspond to a seed value for the control time period, and at least one remaining digit can correspond to a seed value for directional control.

FIG. 5depicts another embodiment of the present device that can operate in an aquatic environment. Such embodiments can further comprise a flotation device502, which can be located circumferentially around a housing102, or in any other known and/or convenient position. In some embodiments, a housing102can be comprised of a buoyant material.

FIG. 6depicts a side view of another embodiment of the present device. In some embodiments, a housing102can include extension arms602adapted to reduce the likelihood of overturning the device. Moreover, in some embodiments the shut-off unit112can be coupled with an object604. In some embodiments, an object604can have the shape of a rabbit and/or any desired shape. In some embodiments, a shut-off unit112can include a depression216that can mate with a protrusion at the base of the opening110. In some embodiments, the protrusion can be coupled with a rotational motor608such that as the motor rotates, both the drive agency116and the object604can rotate in unison. In alternate embodiments, the object604and drive agency116can move and/or rotate independently.

In use, a user can turn a switch108to the “on” position and insert a shut-off unit112into an opening110. The present device can then begin to move about and be chased by a person, who could have the goal of overtaking the device and removing the shut-off unit112, which would cause the device to stop moving. A person can also chase the device without the goal of removing a shut-off unit112, but rather to follow a prescribed pattern. In some embodiments, motion of the device can be determined by a magnetostatic device that produces a random movement pattern. In other embodiments, motion can be controlled by a remote user via a remote-control unit302. Either way, the erratic movement of the present device can require the person chasing the device to change motion quickly, and, therefore, develop speed and agility.