Abstract:
A sports training system having at least two target stations, each target station having a target support structure configured to support a target in a stationary position above a playing field, at least one light attached to the target in a vicinity of a periphery of the target, a target control module functionally connected to the target light, an activation control module located remotely from the target stations and in wireless communication with the target control module. The activation control module and the target control modules are configured and programmed so that activating a button on the activation control module results in activating a randomly selected target light on a randomly selected target station.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/504,892, filed Jul. 6, 2011, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a sports training apparatus, and more particularly, to a sports training apparatus providing target practice. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    One of the most effective and dangerous offensive weapons a football team can have is a quarterback that can pass quickly and accurately. A quarterback must be able to survey the field and make a quick computation to determine his best course of action. Any given passing play has several different receivers designated as options, and with opposing pass rushers flying through the line in a matter of seconds, the quarterback needs to quickly but thoroughly scan the field and read the defense, decide where to throw or run, and then execute his decision. Other sports also require speed and accuracy in getting a ball to a certain position on a field. It is therefore desirable to have a sports training apparatus to help athletes develop and hone such skills. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The invention is a sports training system having at least two target stations, each target station comprising a target support structure configured to support a target in a stationary position above a playing field, at least one light fixedly attached to said target in a vicinity of a periphery of the target, a target control module functionally connected to said target light, an activation control module located remotely from said target stations and in wireless communication with said target control module, and wherein said activation control module and said target control modules are configured and programmed such that activating a button on the activation control module results in activating a randomly selected target light on a randomly selected target station. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  shows an example of an embodiment of the present invention in use. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  shows a front view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  shows a side view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5A  shows a top-down view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5B  shows a front view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  shows a block diagram of an electronics module in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is an activation control module in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a sports training apparatus  100  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Sports training apparatus  100  comprises a base  102  which supports vertical members  104 A and  104 B. In between vertical member  104 A and vertical member  104 B is lower spar  106  and upper spar  110 . Together, vertical members  104 A and  104 B, and lower spar  106  and upper spar  110  comprise a target support structure to which net  108  is attached. Affixed to each vertical member (referred to generally as  104 ) are two lights ( 112 A- 112 D). Mounted on upper spar  110  is target control module  114  which may comprise a target sensor interface, a controller, and a communications transceiver. Sports training apparatus  100  may also be referred to as a “target station.” 
         [0014]      FIG. 2  shows an example of an embodiment of the present invention in use. Multiple sports training apparatuses  100  are placed at various locations within a practice area (such as a football field). An athlete  202  can then practice getting a ball  207  into the net of the various sports training apparatuses  100  at various times. For example, athlete  202  may be a football quarterback, in which case, the athlete  202  attempts to throw a football into the sports training apparatuses  100  at various times. The lights  112 A- 112 D illuminate to prompt the athlete  202  to throw the football into the target. In one embodiment, a coach  204  may remotely control the plurality of sports training apparatuses  100  via a remote control. In this way, the coach  204  can control when each sports training apparatus (STA) illuminates its lights  112 A- 112 D. During a training exercise, an illuminated STA  100  is representative of an open receiver. The athlete practices by reviewing the practice area in an attempt to quickly identify an open receiver and then quickly get the football into the target. Thus, the quarterback&#39;s observational skills, throwing speed, and throwing accuracy can be assessed and improved using embodiments of the present invention. Note that while the previous example pertained to a football quarterback, other sports may also be practiced with embodiments of the present invention. For example, athlete  202  may be a soccer player, such as a fullback or midfielder that practices kicking a ball into the STA  100 . Alternatively, athlete  202  may be a soccer goalkeeper, in which case he practices throwing a soccer ball into the STA  100 . Most any sport that involves a ball may be used with an embodiment of the present invention, including, but not limited to, baseball, basketball, rugby, and lacrosse. 
         [0015]      FIG. 3  shows a front view of STA  100 . In this view, four lights  112 A- 112 D are visible. Other embodiments may have more or fewer lights. Also shown in  FIG. 3  are base  102 , vertical members  104 A and  104 B, lower spar  106 , upper spar  110 , net  108 , and target control module  114 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 4  shows a side view of STA  100 . In this view, net rail  118  is visible at the top of the net  108 . Net rail  118  helps net  108  retain its shape, such that a ball thrown into net  108  will have a better chance of remaining in the net  108 . Also shown in  FIG. 4  are base  102 , vertical member  104 B, lights  112 B and  112 D, and target control module  114 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 5A  shows a top-down view of STA  100 . In this view, net rail  118  is visible, and is of a semicircular shape. Also shown in  FIG. 5A  are base  102 , upper spar  110 , net  108 , lights  112 A and  112 B, and target control module  114 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 5B  shows a front view of an alternative embodiment of an STA  200 . In this embodiment, an aural indicator  240 , such as a speaker or buzzer is present. Aural indicator  240  may be configured to sound when a ball lands in net  108 . Alternatively, aural indicator may be configured to generate a sound to indicate that the ball is to be thrown to that particular STA. In one embodiment, aural indicator may play audio samples that simulate speech utterances such as phrases heard during a real game. For example an audio sample might comprise the phrase “I&#39;m open!” or “Over here!” to help develop an athlete&#39;s sense of directional sound as well as developing skills of scanning a playing field and developing throwing accuracy. 
         [0019]    Also shown in  FIG. 5B  are base  102 , vertical members  104 A and  104 B, lower spar  106 , upper spar  110 , lights  112 A- 112 D, and target control module  114 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 6  shows a block diagram of a target control module  114  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Target control module  114  comprises controller  202 , which may be a microprocessor or microcontroller. Non-transitory storage  204  may be implemented via machine-readable read only memory (ROM). Non-transitory storage  204  contains machine instructions, that when executed by controller  202 , perform various functions of the sports training apparatus. Such functions may include interfacing with visual interface  212 , which contains circuitry configured to activate lights  112 A- 112 D (see  FIG. 3 ). Optionally, aural interface  210  may be used to activate an aural indicator (see  240  of  FIG. 5A ). Sensor  208  may be used to detect the arrival of a ball in net  108  (see  FIG. 1 ). This may be a motion sensor, an optical sensor, a vibration sensor, or other suitable sensor for detecting the arrival of a ball. Sensor  208  may also be referred to as a “detection module.” In one embodiment, the STA indicates that the athlete is to throw the ball by illuminating all the lights  112 A- 112 D for a duration ranging from 3 to 5 seconds. Then, once the ball is thrown into the net of the STA and detected by sensor  208 , the lights  112 A- 112 B will blink for positive reinforcement. In this way, the STA serves as a cognitive recognition apparatus. 
         [0021]    Communications transceiver  206  may be used to allow a coach ( 204  of  FIG. 2 ) to remotely control the STA device. In this way, the coach can activate a particular STA (see  FIG. 2 ) to illuminate lights  112 A - 112 D to signal the athlete  202  ( FIG. 2 ) to throw the ball  207  into the illuminated STA. Communications transceiver  206  may communicate information though wires or is preferably a wireless transmitter utilizing radio frequency (RF) or infrared signaling. Storage  204  may also store audio samples for the purpose described for STA  200  shown in  FIG. 5B . 
         [0022]    In an alternative embodiment, controller  202  may also be configured to operated in a free-running mode, in which case controller  202  illuminates lights  112 A- 112 D at a random interval. In this way, multiple STA  100  can be operated by an athlete alone, without the need for an additional operator such as coach  204 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is an activation control module  700  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Activation control module  700  is preferably a wireless module that communicates with the plurality of STA  100  in use during a training session. In one embodiment, each STA  100  uses a different, predefined radio frequency. In another embodiment, each STA  100  is uniquely addressable via a unique identifier, such as a MAC address. Activation control module  700  comprises button  702  which activates a first STA, button  704  for activating a second STA, and button  706  for activating a third STA. Other embodiments of activation control module  700  may provide buttons for more than three STA. Random button  708  activates a random STA. Settings button  710  allows the user to edit and change various settings. Up button  712  and down button  714  allow navigation of menus and entering of options. Display  716  shows menu options. In one embodiment the user can enter a predetermined delay time via the settings. When a coach presses one of the target buttons, the corresponding STA is activated after the predetermined delay time elapses. In another embodiment, the STA communicates back to the activation control module  700  the time when the ball reached the target. In this way, the activation control module may display a “TIME TO TARGET” information field. The time-to-target value represents the time between when the STA was activated, and when the ball arrived at that target. Thus, performance statistics can be collected at each practice session to gauge improvement in the athlete. In one embodiment, the activation control module is implemented with software executing on a general purpose mobile computing device, such as a laptop computer or smart phone. 
         [0024]    The device may also include a statistics tracker. The statistics tracker would include features that could recognize the length of time it took for the user (person throwing a ball) to recognize that a target is activated (in the preferred embodiment, the target lights up when activated) and track that statistic. It could also track how long it takes the user to hit the target from either the time the target is activated or the time the user recognizes the target or both, and how fast the ball is moving, typically measured in miles per hour. Additionally, the statistics tracker could track how many of the user&#39;s throws are successful in hitting the target. These data could then be stored and used as described above. 
         [0025]    As can now be appreciated, embodiments of the present invention provide an improved system for training athletes such as football quarterbacks to prepare for real game play. Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain preferred embodiment or embodiments, certain equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described components (assemblies, devices, circuits, etc.) the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any component which performs the specified function of the described component (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more features of the other embodiments as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.