Abstract:
Embodiments of a portable vibration device are disclosed, along with their use in enhancing performance for athletic and other processes requiring precise body control. A small portable housing is removably attachable to an athletic implement such as the shaft of a golf club. A battery-operated vibration mechanism within the housing operates at a frequency suitable for enhancing muscle performance through stimulation. A frequency control circuit operable by the user enables adjustment of the frequency for various circumstances. A removable pad attaches to the vibration mechanism and defines features adapted to match a particular intended implement, and a removable cam attached via an axle to a motor can be replaced by a cam adapted for use with that same type of implement.

Description:
FIELD 
     The present invention relates to games using a tangible projectile. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device for developing or enhancing consistent motor movements, such as a club stroke for golfing or batting swing in baseball. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a training device in one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an external schematic view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the external case of a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a charging dock used with the embodiment of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIGS. 5-8  are perspective views of pad and cam kits for use with the embodiment of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIGS. 9A-9Q  are a series of perspective views of various embodiments with various swingable items described herein. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended; any alterations and further modifications of the described or illustrated embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
     One form of the present device is a training device that is removably attachable to the shaft of a swingable implement, such as a golf club or baseball bat, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-2 . The device  100  includes a small, brushless motor  140  attached to a cam  150  that is approximately the height of the motor. Cam  150  is designed with its weight off-center so it produces vibration when it is rotated by motor. In one embodiment, shown in  FIG. 1 , the motor  140  is a Traxxas model 3975 Titan® 550 motor with a custom fabricated and welded eccentric cam  150 . Power for this embodiment is provided by a 9-volt cell  110  placed within housing  120 , though other attached or detached power systems are used in other embodiments. 
     Motor  140  is placed within the main portion of plastic tube  130  and wired in series with 9-volt cell  110  and switch  160 . The battery housing  120  is secured to the main portion  130  of the housing screws through holes  180  or other attachment methods as will occur to those skilled in the art. Turning to  FIG. 2 , vent holes  170  through the plastic tube  130  allow ventilation for motor  140  and passive cooling of the device  100 . Plastic cap  195  seals the end of plastic tube  130  opposite housing  120 , while rubber gasket  105  seals the juncture between the housing components  120  and  130 . Gasket  105  also extends radially beyond the diameter of plastic tubing  130  to provide additional friction and inhibit slippage when the device is attached to something. Fastener straps  125  are preferably made from a hook-and-loop material such as Velcro® and affixed permanently in at least one location to plastic tube  130  or battery housing  120 . 
     When the device is in use, the fastener straps  125  are wrapped around something that a person holds or moves during an activity. For example, in one mode of use the device is attached to a golf club on or near the handle. The device is switched on and vibrates the golf club during a rest break, practice or exercise. The vibration induces improved muscle control and muscle memory and, therefore, accuracy by improving positioning and motion of the club during the user&#39;s swing. 
     Another application of the device is for batting practice. The device is strapped to a baseball bat using fastener straps  125 , then is turned on using switch  160  during training and practice swings. 
     Yet another application of the device is for relaxation or to decrease discomfort. Vibration imparted by the device is perceived by the skin and joints. The device is attached directly to an implement held in the hands or applied to the muscles targeted for relaxation. For instance, a tennis player feeling tight or tense because of pain or nervousness attaches the device to the racquet handle. The player relaxes, holds the racquet lightly, and the device is turned on imparting a gentle massage to the hands. A runner uses the device in a similar fashion by attaching the device to her feet or legs. A soccer player preparing to take a penalty kick attaches the device to the surface of his soccer boot to help aid in relaxation, while a basketball player applies the device to her hands during a time out immediately prior to shooting free throws. A golfer suffering from discomfort secondary to arthritis in his hands applies the device to his golf club, turns it on and swings his club while waiting to tee off to relieve discomfort. A gymnast attaches the device to a pole or cane and turns the device on while performing a stretching program to enhance muscle and joint flexibility and mobility. This also applies to many other activities and settings. 
     Yet another application of the device is for acute/transient muscle stimulation. The user engages in a short bout (2-10 minutes) of training immediately prior to participating in activity. This preparation may enhance muscle fiber activity during and after submaximal isometric and dynamic contractions. The device may be attached to almost any sporting device to facilitate increased performance. For example, a baseball player who is “on deck” waiting for his turn to bat may attach the device to his bat. The batter then may perform static and/or dynamic movements with the bat while the device is turned on. A static movement may consist of simply holding the bat at impact position or at full backswing. A dynamic movement may be gently swinging the bat as the baseball player would normally swing when he is at the plate. When it is his turn to bat, the player removes the device from his bat. This mode of use could be applied to many sports (cricket, golf, etc.). In addition, a sprinter could apply the device (in its present form in a suitably modified case, such as an arm or leg wrap housing that might double as an ice pack housing) to his calves prior to sprinting, a discus thrower to the disc, a javelin thrower to the javelin, a golfer to the golf club, a rock climber to their ice pick or training board, etc. A golfer may attach the device (in some form or modified casing, such as a specialized housing belt) to his back, thus stimulating muscles involved in stabilization of the trunk or generation of speed via rotation utilizing the muscles of the back and trunk. 
     Still another use of this device is to help decrease the risk of certain sports injuries via stimulation of muscles. One use in this setting is to decrease the likelihood of suffering an ankle inversion sprain by stimulating the muscles on the outside of the lower leg (peroneus longus and brevis). For example, a football player who suffers from chronic inversion ankle sprains may have the device applied to the outside of his lower leg during rest periods. In addition to a physical stimulation of the muscles, this use may provide a reminder to the user to utilize proper form and thus avoid injury. Another use in this vein is to enhance stretching and/or warm-up exercise. For example, a pair of devices could be placed on the user&#39;s arms using arm bands while the user does push-ups or stretches. This application is believed to enhance joint and muscle flexibility. 
     Once a muscle group becomes fatigued (and thus theoretically more susceptible to injury), it may be possible to overcome this fatigue to some degree with application of a vibratory stimulus. If a tennis athlete, for example, suffering from sensations of forearm fatigue, is sitting on the side of the court during a change of sides in a tennis match, the athlete may be able to apply the vibration by holding the racquet and thus re-invigorate the fatigued forearm muscles. When rehabilitating from an injury, the device may be utilized in a sport-specific manner to regain strength and neuromuscular coordination. A tennis player recovering from tennis elbow or lateral epicondylalgia may perform upper extremity exercises using the tennis racquet with the device attached. A soccer player who is rehabilitating from an inversion sprain may train by attaching the device to his foot or lower leg and performing ankle exercises. The device might be used by individuals undergoing bed rest in a hospital. The individual might practice moving their limbs with the vibration device either attached to the limb or to an instrument held in the hand or foot. By performing these actions, the expected decline in muscle output may be diminished. 
     Usage of this device may also be incorporated into regularly scheduled training multiple times per week to enhance strength. A golfer may attach the device to the handle of her golf club, and after turning the device on, may practice bringing the club into the impact position and holding it there for 30 seconds followed by 30-second holds in the full backswing and follow-through positions. She may then decide to perform four repetitions of this pattern and conclude the vibration portion of her exercise session with two minutes of full swings with the device turned on. She may then continue with her usual exercise routine whether it includes weight training, cardiovascular conditioning, stretching, and the like. Likewise, a bicyclist may use vibrating pedals to improve performance in cycling and with stationary bikes or elliptical trainers. A waterproof version is suitable for swimmers in arm band form or for surfers, either as an ankle band or incorporated into surfboards, while another version works within a ski boot, within a snowboard, or with ski poles. 
     Use of this device may also be a pain-free way for individuals suffering from bone loss to exercise in a way that is low-impact and therefore less likely to cause injury due to bone fracture. These individuals may strap the device to a cane or other implement and practice various exercises with their extremities. 
     In another application, the device may induce positive adaptations in peripheral blood circulation. Use of the device by placement either directly on or attached to implements held by the hands or feet could result in increased activation of muscles of those extremities. This leads to increased perfusion of those muscles and, therefore, increased circulation to the extremities. Use in this manner may be of benefit for those suffering from peripheral circulatory derangement such as Type II diabetes mellitus. 
     Attaching the device to the shoe of an older individual and having that individual move their leg through some range of motion with the device turned on may enhance proprioception of the joints of the lower extremity through training of the muscle spindles and joint receptors. This increased awareness of body position in space or kinesthetic awareness may decrease risk of future falls. 
     An alternative design for the device includes a microcontroller programmed to generate a simple square wave, which is supplied as a DC voltage signal to the DC brushed motor at a software-determined frequency (i.e., a software controlled motor speed). A simple cam system is then connected to the shaft of the motor. The frequency of the vibration could then be controlled by the software or ultimately by a user of the device through a microcontroller-sampled user interface device such as an encoder, potentiometer, or buttons. The software could then be customized to accommodate the appropriate range of frequencies desired. Software algorithms to implement these applications will occur to those skilled in this area of technology. 
     Other implementations of this device include embedding the device (electro-mechanical system) or building the device into an athletic implement such as a golf club or baseball bat as opposed to strapping a separate chassis to an existing athletic implement. 
     Another implementation is shown in  FIG. 3  and allows the user to exchange cams ( 150  in  FIG. 1 ) for cams of alternative shape, mass, and/or relative center of mass. This embodiment of device  200  includes enclosure  210  and has a main lower shell  213 , a control shell  216 , and a battery compartment cover  218 . Motor ventilation holes  217  in battery compartment cover  218  enable airflow for cooling of the components internal to enclosure  210 . Control shell  216  includes a depression and defines an opening for power button  220 , defines an opening for frequency selector  222 , and includes an indentation  224  next to the edge of battery compartment cover  218  to facilitate the removal by users of battery cover compartment  218 . 
     On the opposite side of device  200  from control shell  216  and battery cover compartment  218  is pad  230 , which is removably connected to lower shell  213  by pad anchors  232 . Finger pull tab  234  rests in depression  215  in lower shell  213  when device  200  is in use, and facilitates removal of pad  230  from lower shell  213  for replacement by a replacement pad or a pad of a different configuration. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a docking station and battery component of a rechargeable variation  300  of the embodiment in  FIG. 3 . In this variation, battery pack  318  is removed from the remainder of the device and placed in contact with charging station  370  so that mating structures mate. In particular, electrical contacts  360  on battery pack  318  meet with electrical contacts  362  on charging station  370  so that power coming to charging station  370  through cord  345  can be passed into an energy storage device (such as a battery) in battery pack  318 . In some embodiments, cord  345  connects to a wall outlet or DC converter, while in others cord  345  connects to a powered USB port or similar connection to a personal computer, while in still others another source of energy is used. Then, in preparation for use, battery pack  318  rests in lower shell  310  so that electrical contacts  360  of battery pack  318  meet with electrical contacts  364  inside lower shell  310 . 
     A variety of suitable pads  230  and cams  150  are shown in  FIGS. 5-8 .  FIG. 5 , for example, illustrates a kit of replacement parts for device  100  or  200 . Pad  230   a  defines groove  235   a , which is configured to receive the shaft of golf club when pad  230   a  is attached to lower shell  213 , and one of golf cams  250   a  is attached to axle  355  to be driven by motor  340  (see  FIG. 4 ). Likewise, pad  230   b  is configured for use with a baseball bat matching that configuration of groove  235   b , in connection with use of cams  250   b . Pad  230   c  is configured with groove  235   c , which is adapted to receive the handle of a racquet (such as a tennis or racquetball racquet), and cams  250   c  are attachable to axle  355  to be driven by motor  340  to provide a suitable speed, magnitude or range of vibration. Pad  230   d  is configured for use with device  200  as a massager, where surface  235   d  directly contacts the skin of the user, and one of cams  250   d  provides suitable speed, magnitude or range of vibration. Other pad designs and cam configurations will occur to those skilled in the art.  FIGS. 9A-9Q  illustrate various embodiments of the present system, where the swingable item is a golf club, tennis racquet, racquetball racquet, squash racquet, baseball bat, cricket bat, hockey stick, lacrosse stick, jai alai basket, fishing rod, javelin, pole-vaulting pole, runner&#39;s baton, broom, shovel, mitt, and glove, respectively. 
     All publications, prior applications, and other documents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety as if each had been individually incorporated by reference and fully set forth. While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. 
     While the inventions have been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.