Patent Publication Number: US-2022233919-A1

Title: Hand eye coordination development apparatus and method

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to ocular and muscular coordination improvement, more specifically but not by way of limitation, an apparatus and a method that is operable to provide improved hand-eye coordination for those individuals whom have suffered a loss thereof. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Hand-eye coordination, or eye-hand coordination, is the ability to do activities that require the simultaneous use of our hands and eyes, like an activity that uses the information our eyes perceive referred to as visual spatial perception in order to guide our hands to carry out a desired movement. Our eyes to direct attention to a stimulus and help the brain understand where the body is located in space self-perception and subsequently where our hands need to move towards in order to execute a desired activity such as but not limited to catching a ball. Eye-hand coordination is a complex cognitive ability, as it calls for uniting our visual and motor skills, allowing for the hand to be guided by the visual stimulation our eyes receive, Hand-eye coordination is an important skill that adults use in countless activities on a daily basis, Most activities that you do in your day-to-day life use some degree of eye-hand coordination, which is why it&#39;s important to ensure that it is as developed as possible. Some examples of eye-hand coordination are writing, typing and driving. Additionally, almost every sport requires the use of hand-eye coordination to coordinate what you see with your eyes with the movement if your body. 
     Problems and disorders relating to brain injuries or other maladies can create a decrease in hand-eye coordination, which often results in an inability to perform some of the aforementioned tasks successfully. Any alteration to the visual or motor systems can significantly affect hand-eye coordination, like visual or muscular problems like strabismus, amblyopia, muscle hypotonia, balance problems, or crossed laterality. Brain damage to the motor areas (or areas related to motor areas), as well as perceptive areas may cause eye-hand coordination problems, Poor hand-eye coordination can affect many different activities, which may lead to developmental disorders, learning disorders. Academically those with poor hand-eye coordination can make mistakes when they take notes from poor hand-writing. Professionals in the workplace can lose their ability to proficiently type or assemble objects if working in a manufacturing environment. Lastly, even daily activities such as eating can become difficult depending on the severity of the loss of hand-eye coordination. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus and a method that is operable to provide improvement of hand-eye coordination as a result of utilizing the apparatus and method of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method operable to provide improvement in the hand-eye coordination of a user wherein the present invention includes a throwing member. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus configured to provide improvement in the eye-hand coordination of the user so as to rehabilitate the user wherein the throwing member is manufactured from a resilient material such as but not limited to rubber. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method operable to provide improvement in the hand-eye coordination of a user wherein the throwing member includes a body having a shape that provides a return trajectory that is different than that of a projected trajectory when thrown against a vertical surface such as but not limited to a wall. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus configured to provide improvement in the eye-hand coordination of the user so as to rehabilitate the user wherein the throwing member in a preferred embodiment of the present invention is elliptical in shape. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method operable to provide improvement in the hand-eye coordination of a user wherein the method of the present invention includes using one hand or both hands. 
     Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus configured to provide improvement in the eye-hand coordination of the user so as to rehabilitate the user wherein the method of the present invention incorporates repetitive motions. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method operable to provide improvement in the hand-eye coordination of a user wherein the body shape of the throwing member further provides alternate speed of return. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a view of the throw member of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is an exemplary use of the throwing member of the present invention being thrown against a wall; and 
         FIG. 3  is flowchart of the preferred method of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings submitted herewith, wherein various elements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale and wherein through the views and figures like elements are referenced with identical reference numerals, there is illustrated a muscular and ocular development apparatus  100  constructed according to the principles of the present invention. 
     An embodiment of the present invention is discussed herein with reference to the figures submitted herewith. Those skilled in the art will understand that the detailed description herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes and that it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that alternative embodiments are plausible. By way of example but not by way of limitation, those having skill in the art in light of the present teachings of the present invention will recognize a plurality of alternate and suitable approaches dependent upon the needs of the particular application to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond that of the particular implementation choices in the embodiment described herein. Various modifications and embodiments are within the scope of the present invention. 
     It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials, uses and applications described herein, as these may vary. Furthermore, it is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “exemplary embodiments”, and the like may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure or characteristic. 
     Referring in particular to  FIG. 1  submitted herewith, the muscular and ocular development apparatus  100  includes a throw member  10 . The throw member  10  includes a body  15  wherein the body  15  is manufactured from a durable resilient material such as but not limited to rubber. The throw member  10  is intended to be grasped by a user and thrown towards a vertical surface such as but not limited to a wall as is illustrated herein in  FIG. 2 . The throw member  10  is elliptical in shape. The elliptical shape of the throw member  10  is important to the delivering of the method of the present invention. The elliptical shape of the throw member  10  ensures that the return trajectory of the throw member  10  will be different than the projection trajectory. The different trajectories of the throw member  10  require that a user must make the necessary physical adjustments with their hands in order to catch the throw member  10  while traveling on the return trajectory. This requires a hand-eye coordination to successfully implement a catch of the throw member  10  on the return trajectory and as such repetitive execution of throwing the throw member  10  will assist in the improved development of the hand-eye coordination of the user of the throw member  10 . 
     While the throw member  10  is illustrated herein in a preferred embodiment as being elliptical in shape, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the throw member  10  could be formed in alternate shapes so as to achieve the desired objective of generating a return trajectory that is different than that of the thrown projected trajectory. Furthermore, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the throw member  10  could be provided in alternate sizes and colors. Lastly, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the throw member  10  could be provided in varying weights. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the method of the muscular and ocular development apparatus  100  is diagrammed therein. In step  301 , a throw member  10  will be provided to a user that needs or is desiring to improve their hand-eye coordination. Step  303 , the user will position themselves adjacent to a wall or a suitable vertical surface. It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the vertical surface could be a any type of wall or board that has been set up for use with the muscular and ocular development apparatus  100 . Additionally, it should be understood within the scope of the present invention that an additional horizontal support surface could be positioned adjacent the vertical surface wherein the horizontal support surface is higher than that of the support surface on which the user is standing. In step  305 , the user will grasp the throw member  10  in a desired hand. 
     Step  307 , the user will project the throw member  10  towards the vertical surface. In step  309 , as the throw member  10  travels on both the projected trajectory and the return trajectory the user will track the position of the throw member  10  with their eyes. Step  311 , as the throw member  10  becomes more proximate the user during its return trajectory the user will position the desired hand in a location so as to successfully intervene along the return trajectory. In step  313 , the user will catch the throw member  10  with the positioned hand. It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the aforementioned sequence is repeated at least twenty times during an execution of the muscular and ocular development apparatus  100  in order to initiate and continue development of improved hand-eye coordination. 
     In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.