Abstract:
A machine for testing and training jumping and reaching ability for use by athlete or by other people for recreation is disclosed having the following attributes: centrally balanced, light weight and portable, usable indoors or outdoors, resets to starting position after each use, signals contact by flashing light or sound, and has means of measuring the height reached by the extended hand.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
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     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
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     DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX 
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     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to the field of athletic equipment and more specifically to a machine for testing and training jumping and reaching ability. 
     Reaching, the standing jump and the running jump are attributes of an athlete, particularly for volleyball, basketball, tennis, and football, to name a few sports. By testing jumping ability can be measured and compared over time for the same individual or compared to other players. With training jumping ability can be improved. 
     A commonly used jump tester is the Wall-Mounted Vertical Jump Board which comes in two forms, one uses Velcro and the other one uses magnetism for attaching marking indicators. A board with a linear scale is attached to a wall. The subject jumps and attaches a hand held adhesive or magnetic marker to the wall board. Disadvantages of these boards are (1) the inability to use for a running jump, (2) the hand held marker requires flexing the fingers away from the vertical which does not allow a full reach measurement, (3) the need to retrieving the adhesive or magnetic marker from the board, and (4) a stationary wall is required to attach the board. 
     The tester used by large organizations is the Vertec jump testing device (U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,903). It consists of adjustable movable color-coded multiple movable vanes to measure vertical reach. The device weighs 55 lbs and mounts to a steel base that is secured with 10 lbs weights or bolted to a wall with a metal plate. Disadvantages are (1) a designated area is required because it is heavy, large, and has many parts, (2) requires manual resetting the vanes after each use, and (3) is costly. 
     Time elapse measurement is another method of measuring the vertical jumping height. Vertical jump measuring device (U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,647) describes using switches (transducers) to measure the time from the beginning to the end of a jump. The square of the in-air time is multiplied by a constant to derive vertical jump height and the height is displayed. Disadvantage of this method is (1) the flexing position of the legs and body in not taken into account and this can influence the time/height relationship, (2) to determine the vertical jump reach, one must also measure the standing height of the jumper and add this to the jump height measured, and (3) electronic components that require calibration measurements. 
     None of the current jump testers and trainers fulfills all of the following attributes of an ideal jump tester and trainer: (1) the ability to measure standing and jumping reach, (2) readily portable, (3) useable indoors and outdoors, (4) requiring no designated space or wall support, (5) requires no resetting or adjustments after each use, and (6) requires no calibration. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a jumping and training device comprising a contact arm set at an altitude for the athlete to attempt to reach and make contact. The contact arm is supported by a vertical shaft and a stand. Because the contact arm is centrally balanced, the vertical shaft and stand can be of light weight construction and this makes the device easily portable and mountable to a floor stand, to a spike driven to the terrain, to a gym floor receptacle, and to the antenna of volleyball net. The height of the contact arm is measured by a linear scale marked on the telescoping vertical shaft, a retractable tape, or by an electronic ruler. Successful jumping and reaching is signaled by movement of the contact arm and/or activation of an electronic motion sensor with the emission of light or sound. 
     Embodiments having different means of movement after being struck by a force are described and including flexing contact arm, flexing hinge contact arm, rotating hinge contact arm, revolving contact arm, and revolving contact arm with rotation governed by magnetic force or mechanical stops. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings constitute a part of the specifications and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention. 
         FIG. 1 . Shows prior art of wall-mounted Vertical Jump Board. 
         FIG. 2 . Shows the Vertec Jumper. 
         FIG. 3 . Shows in frontal view the centrally balanced contact arm, the vertical shaft, and the base. 
         FIG. 4 . Shows in frontal view the contact arms with flexing hinges, the linear height scale, the adjustable shaft, and the bolt for floor mounting. 
         FIG. 5A . Shows in frontal view the contact arms with flexing hinges, the electronic ruler, and the floor stand. 
         FIG. 5B . Shows in side view the retractable measuring tape connecting between the base and the reflection plate of the contact arm. 
         FIG. 6 . Shows in frontal view our invention mounted over the antenna of a volleyball net using a hollow shaft. 
         FIG. 7 . Shows in cross-sectional view the contact arm of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 8 . Shows in cross-sectional view the contact arm with flexing hinges of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 9 . Shows in cross-sectional view the contact arm with flexing hinges of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 10 . Shows in cross-sectional view the contact arm with flexing hinges of  FIG. 5  stretched by force. 
         FIG. 11 . Shows in frontal view ports housing lights and/or speaker for signaling movement of the contact arm triggered by a motion sensor. 
         FIG. 12 . Shows  FIG. 11  in cross-sectional view. 
         FIG. 13 . Show in frontal view the contact arms having a top and bottom plate and rotatable hinges. 
         FIG. 14 . Shows in cross-sectional view the contact arms of  FIG. 13  having a single elastic spring connecting between the proximal ends two contact arms. 
         FIG. 15A . Shows in cross-sectional view the contact arms of  FIG. 14  with elastic spring stretched by the movement of one contact arm from the starting position. 
         FIG. 15B . Shows in cross-sectional view the contact arms having rotatable hinges with a separate spring connecting to the proximal end of each contact arms. 
         FIG. 16A . Shows in frontal view the preferred embodiment having side supports and rotatable hinges. 
         FIG. 16B . Shows in frontal view the preferred embodiment with the serpentine adjustable tension cord. 
         FIG. 16C . Shows the rotating contact arm in cross-sectional view and the course of the serpentine adjustable tension cord. 
         FIG. 17 . Shows the revolving contact arms in perspective view from above. 
         FIG. 18 . Shows in side view the revolving contact arms. 
         FIG. 19 . Shows in a frontal perspective view the revolving contact arms. 
         FIG. 20 . Shows  FIG. 18  in cross-sectional view with the alignment of the magnetic rotational governance magnets in the preparatory position for hitting. 
         FIG. 21 . Shows  FIG. 20  in the cross-sectional view with the contact arms rotated by 90 degrees and the magnets in alignment for maximum attraction, the position that occurs when rotation stops. 
         FIG. 22 . Shows  FIG. 18  in cross-sectional view with the alignment of the rotational governance roller balls in the preparatory position for hitting. 
         FIG. 23 . Shows  FIG. 22  in cross-sectional view with the contact arms rotated by 90 degrees and the roller balls in alignment with the deep recessions, the position that occurs when rotation stops. 
         FIG. 24 . Shows two stacked revolving contact arms in perspective view. 
         FIG. 25  Shows in perspective view revolving contact arms and the non-rotatable platform. 
         FIG. 26 . Shows  FIG. 25  in an expanded forward tilting perspective view illustrating the positions of the magnets. 
         FIG. 27 . Shows  FIG. 25  in an expanded backward tilting perspective view illustrating the positions of the magnets. 
         FIG. 28 . Shows  FIG. 25  in an expanded forward tilting perspective view illustrating the positions of the spring roller balls. 
         FIG. 29 . Shows  FIG. 25  in expanded backward tilting perspective view illustrating the positions of the spring roller balls. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed within are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detained system, structure or manner.  FIGS. 1 and 2  are prior art illustrating currently available equipment for testing and training the jumping reach. Wall-mounted Vertical Jump Board  1  in  FIG. 1  requires wall  2  for mounting and the subject must attach Marker  3  to Vertical Jump Board  1  to document the height reached by the subject. Depending upon design, marker  3  attaches by Velcro® adhesion or by magnetism. The device is not favorable for running jumps due to the close proximity of the jumping subject to wall  2 .  FIG. 2  depicts the Vertec Jumper  7  which is bulky due to the heavy gauge of support stand  5  and counter weights  6  needed to stabilize and balance numerous off-centered vanes  4 . Vanes  4  require manual repositioning after use. Due to the size, weight and configuration of Vertec Jumper  7 , a designated space is generally required since it cannot be readily disassembled and reassembled. 
     The basic elements of our invention can be viewed in  FIG. 3  and consists of contact arm  8  for signaling hand contact of a successful jumping reach, vertical shaft  11  positioned perpendicularly to and supporting contact arm  8  at an altitude, and a base to maintain vertical shaft  11  erect, such as, spike  12  with optional stabilizing plate  13 . Contact arm  8  may be rotatable or non-rotatable as will be disclosed by our various embodiments. A key feature of the invention is the central balance design which eliminates the need for heavy and bulky support weights to maintain a stable upright position. Because the invention is centrally balanced, minimal support is required and vertical shaft  11  can be hollow and anchored in the earth by stake  12 , by a gym floor receptacle with treaded bolt  14  as shown in  FIG. 4 , by floor stand  15  as shown in  FIG. 5 , or slide over volleyball net antenna  16  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Adjustable shaft  17  in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 A,  5 B, and  6  provides for easy adjustment of the height of contact arms  8 ,  9 , and  10 . Height measurement is achieved by linear scale  18  marked on adjustable shaft  17  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , by commercially available electronic ruler  20  utilizing light or sound waves as illustrated in  FIG. 5A , or retractable tape  37   a  in  FIG. 5B . To determine altitude  26  of contact arm  10 , distance  24  and  25  are measured with electronic ruler  20  and summated. Distance  24  is measured by aligning the measuring beam of electronic ruler  20  with reflection plate  21 . Distance  25  is measured by rotating electronic ruler  20  by 180 degrees around pivot bolt  22  and measuring the distance to floor stand  15 . When our invention is mounted over the antenna of volleyball net  35  as seen in  FIG. 6 , electronic ruler  20  is placed on the terrain surface and a measurement is taken to plate  21 , the altitude of contact arm  8 . In  FIG. 5B  is tape measure housing  37   a  attached to stand  15  with recoiling tape  37   b  extended and attached to plate  21 . Recoiling tape  37   b  extends or recoils as adjustable shaft  17  is lengthened or shortened. 
     Contact arm  9  in  FIGS. 4 and 8  is non-rotatable and made of a material that bends easily when hit and readily straightens to reposition to the starting position. The strength and flexibility of contact arm  9  can be varied by the choice of material, the dimensions of the material and the application of hinges. Hinges located close to or adjacent to adjustable shaft  17  further increase the flexibility of contact arm  9  by thinning the material with grooves as illustrated by hinge  27  of contact arm  9  in  FIGS. 4 and 8 , by adding perforation  31  as illustrated by hinge  28  of contact arm  9  in  FIG. 4 , by bridging a cleavage with a more flexible material as illustrated with contact arm  10  by hinge  29  and hinge  30  as shown in  FIGS. 5A ,  9  and  10  where material  32  bridges externally in hinge  29  and internally with a tongue and groove configuration in hinge  30 . Material  32  may be plastic, elastic, rubber, or another flexible substance. 
     Observing motion of contact arm  8 - 10  is one method of signaling a successful jumping reach. To better signal a successful jumping reach, motion sensor  33  as illustrated in  FIG. 12  is incorporated into contact arm  8   b  and connected to light  34  and/or speaker  35 . With motion of contact arm  8   b  by a successful hit, motion sensor  33  generates an electrical impulse that passes through circuit  36  to illuminate light  34  and sound speaker  35 . Flasher  39  illustrated in  FIGS. 14 ,  15 A- 16 C has lights, sensor and battery integrated is a single unit. 
     An alternative to flexing hinges are rotating hinges as illustrated in  FIGS. 13-16C . As seen in  FIG. 13 , rotatable hinge  42  consists of first contact arm  41   a  and second contact arm  41   b  positioned on opposite sides of adjustable shaft  17 . Rotatable contact arms  41   a  and  41   b  pivot around hinge bolts  49   a  and  49   b , respectively. Loosely fitting hinge bolts  49   a  and  49   b  and spacer  51   a ,  51   b ,  51   c  and  51   d  provide for free rotation of contact arms  41   a  and  41   b . Shoulder bolts  47   a  and  47   b  are seen in  FIG. 14  securely fastens top plate  43  to bottom plate  44 . Elastic band  52  seen in  FIGS. 14 and 15A  spanning between the proximal ends of first contact arms  41   a  and second contact arm  41   b  is secured to first contact arm  41   a  and second contact arm  41   b  by bolts  53   a  and  53   b , respectively. As illustrated in  FIG. 15A , when contact arm  41   a  or  41   b  is moved from the resting position by force, elastic band  52  is stretched. The potential energy in stretched elastic band  52  returns contact arms  41   a  and  41   b  back to the starting position. Rather than using single elastic band  52 , recoiling springs can be attached to contact arms  41   a  and  41   b  as shown in  FIG. 15B  by spring  55   a  and  55   b.    
     In  FIGS. 16A-16C  is our preferred embodiment showing central support  128  that mounts over adjustable shaft  17  with side support arms  121   a  and  121   b  attaching to central support  128 . Side support  121   a  and contact arm  120   a  are attached by pin  125   a  to form hinge  130  and side support  121   b  and contact arm  120   b  are attached by pin  125   b  to form hinge  131 . Retaining leash  149  secures pin  125   b  to hole  150 . A recoiling element, such as, elastic cord  122  passes through holes  123   b  and  124   b  to bridge between side support  121   b  and contact arm  120   b . Elastic cord  122  when stretched by a hit generates a force that returns contact arm  120   b  to the starting position. Contact arms  120   a  and  120   b  may contain flashing motion sensors to signal a successful hit, such as, flashing sensor  126  and may have perforations such as perforation  127  that reduce the mass of the arm and lowers air resistance to promote ease of contact arm movement. In  FIGS. 16B and 16C  is illustrated serpentine cord  140  which is elastic and serves to return contact arms  120   a  and  120   b  to the starting position following a hit. By sliding cord  140  through channel  144  as seen in  FIG. 16C , the tension of cord  140  can be adjusted. The acute angle between the surface of contact arm  120   a  and channel  144  prevents cord  140  from slipping when cord  140  is taut and this maintains the desired tension of cord  140 . The course of cord  140  can be better visualizing by viewing  FIGS. 16B and 16C . Starting at knot  148  in  FIG. 16B , cord  140  passes through holes  151  and  123   a  in contact arm  120   a , through hole  124   a , back through hole  123   a , through ring  143 , and through channel  144 . By pulling on ring  143 , cord  140  can be loosened in order to firmly grasp and pull cord  140  to adjust the tension. For portability, pin  125   a  and  125   b  can be removed to separate contact arms  120   a  and  120   b  from side supports  121   a  and  121   b .  FIG. 16B  illustrates cord  140  tethering contact arm  120   b  when pin  125   b  is removed. 
     Another embodiment of our invention having a revolving mechanism is illustrated in  FIGS. 17-29 . In  FIGS. 17-23 , rotary head  60  with attached contact arms  61   a  and  61   b  revolves around the vertical supporting shaft  62 . Retaining ring  64  in  FIG. 19  maintains rotary head  60  at an altitude. The possibility of piercing injury while performing the jumping reach is prevented by optional blunt ends  63   a  and  63   b  of contact arms  61   a  and  61   b , respectively. Rotary head  60  may revolve freely around shaft  62  or governing mechanism may be deployed as illustrated in  FIGS. 20-23  to dampen and stop rotation of contact arms  61   a  and  61   b  at a specified position. Illustrated in  FIGS. 20 and 21  is a magnetic mechanism for dampening and stopping rotation of rotary head  60  around shaft  62 . In  FIG. 20  magnets  70   a  and  70   b  are embedded in stationary shaft  62  and magnets  71   a  and  71   b  are embedded in rotary head  60  with magnets  70   a  and  70   b  oriented to attract magnets  71   a  and  71   b . Rotation is dampened by magnetic attraction and rotation ceases when the magnets are aligned and magnetic forces are maximal as illustrated in  FIG. 21 . In preparation for hitting and easy rotation, rotary head  60  is positioned with magnets maligned by 90 degrees for minimal magnetic attraction forces as shown in  FIG. 20 . Optionally, the subject may hit contact arm  61   a  or  61   b  when in position depicted in  FIG. 21 , which requires no repositioning of the contact arms  61  and  61   b  between hits, but more force is required to rotate rotary head  60 . 
     Another method for governing rotation is mechanical stops, for example, spring roller balls  85  and  86  as seen in  FIGS. 22 and 23 . When spring roller balls  85  and  86  are in alignment with deep recesses  87   a  and  87   b , the revolving of rotary head  60  stops, the position illustrated in  FIG. 23 . When contact arms  61   a  or  61   b  are manually rotated to the starting position as illustrated in  FIG. 22 , positioning is maintained by the drag of balls  85  and  86  pressing into shallow recesses  88   a  and  88   b . Optionally, the subject may hit contact arm  61   a  or  61   b  when in position depicted in  FIG. 23 , which requires no repositioning of the between attempted hits, but more force is required to move rotary head  60 . 
     Two or more rotary heads, rotary head  60  and rotary head  69  with or without rotational governing mechanisms can be stacked on shaft  62  as illustrated in  FIG. 24 . The highest contact arm turned by the subject indicates the reaching height of the subject. Preferably blunt ends  63   a  and  63   b  are distinctive and possibly of different colors so that movement is easily noted. 
     In  FIGS. 25-29  the rotary head  60  is in juxtaposition with stationary platform  92  which is fixed to shaft  62 , with set screw  97 . Between rotary head  60  and platform  92  may reside a motion governing mechanisms to dampen and stop the revolving of rotary head  60  after being set in motion by a force applied to contact arm  61   a  or contact arm  61   b . The motion governing mechanism can be better understood by viewing  FIGS. 26 and 27  where the space between rotary head  60  and platform  92  is expanded for purpose of illustration. In  FIGS. 26 and 27 , magnetic attraction exists between unlike poles of magnets  95  and  97  of platform  92  and magnets  99  and  100  of rotary head  60  and magnetic repellence exists between like poles magnets  96  and  98  of platform  92  and magnets  99  and  100  of rotary head  60 . Because of magnetic attraction, rotary head  60  comes to rest when magnets  99  and  100  on rotary head  60  are aligned unlike poles magnets  95  and  97  of platform  92 . 
     Another motion governing mechanism is illustrated in  FIGS. 28 and 29 . Between rotary head  60  and stationary platform  92  are mechanical stops, for example, spring roller balls  110   a  and  110   b  in  FIG. 29  anchored into rotary head  60  dampens and stops rotation around shaft  62  by the friction generated when roller balls  110   a  and  110   b  ( FIG. 29 ) seat into deep recesses  108  and  109  of stationary platform  92 . Less deep recesses  106  and  107  ( FIG. 28 ) slow  rotation but cannot provide sufficient resistance to stop rotation of rotary head  60 . However, recesses  106  and  107  do offer a foothold for holding rotary head  60  in the starting position in preparation for a reach-jump. When contact arm  61   a  and  61   b  are manually rotated to the starting position, positioning is maintained by the resistance of roller balls  110   a  and  110   b  ( FIG. 29 ) resting in shallower recesses  106  and  107  ( FIG. 28 ). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 28 , motion sensor  33  which is triggered to activate blinking light  34 , can be affixed to rotary head  60  to signal the motion generated by a successful reaching jump of a subject.