Abstract:
A method of assembling a sports training ball includes locating at least one force sensor in the sports training ball for measuring an elevated force applied to the sports training ball. The sports training ball includes an outer surface that surrounds an inner core. An indicator is located in the sports training ball. The indicator is in electrical communication with at least one force sensor and is configured to receive a change in an electrical signal when the elevated force measured by at least one force sensor decreases below a predetermined elevated threshold. The indicator is configured to indicate to a user when the indicator receives the change in the electrical signal with a change in at least one of an audio signal or a visual signal.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/277,318 filed May 14, 2014 which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/110,039 filed on May 18, 2011, which is now issued U.S. Pat. No. 8,758,172 granted Jun. 24, 2014. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    This disclosure generally relates to a sports training device. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a training device which measure forces applied to a ball. 
         [0003]    Many athletes want to gain a competitive edge over their competition. Many various devices are available to measure an athlete&#39;s performance. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In one exemplary embodiment, a method of assembling a sports training ball includes locating at least one force sensor in the sports training ball for measuring an elevated force applied to the sports training ball. The sports training ball includes an outer surface that surrounds an inner core. An indicator is located in the sports training ball. The indicator is in electrical communication with at least one force sensor and is configured to receive a change in an electrical signal when the elevated force measured by at least one force sensor decreases below a predetermined elevated threshold. The indicator is configured to indicate to a user when the indicator receives the change in the electrical signal with a change in feedback. 
         [0005]    In another exemplary embodiment, a sports training device includes a training ball that includes an outer layer that surrounds an inner core. At least one force sensor is located in the sports training ball and is in contact with at least one of the outer layer or the inner core. At least one force sensor is configured to measure an elevated force applied to the sports training ball. An indicator is in contact with at least one of the outer layer and the inner core. The indicator is in electrical communication with the at least one force sensor and is configured to receive a change in an electrical signal when the elevated force measured by at least one force sensor decreases below a predetermined elevated threshold. The indicator is configured to indicate to a user when the indicator receives the change in the electrical signal with a change in feedback. 
         [0006]    In another exemplary embodiment, a sports training device includes a training ball that has an outer surface that surrounds an inner core. At least one force sensor is configured to measure an elevated force applied to the training ball. At least one force sensor is in contact with at least one of the outer surface or the inner core. A controller is configured to determine when the elevated force measured by at least one force sensor decreases below a predetermined threshold. At least one indicator is in communication with the controller and is configured to indicate when the elevated force measured by at least one force sensor decreases below the predetermined threshold. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a first side of view of one non-limiting embodiment training device. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates a second side view of the training device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates an interior view of panels of the training device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-section view of the training device of  FIG. 1  taken along line A-A of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates a schematic view of the training device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  illustrates another non-limiting embodiment of an external training device. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of the external training device of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  illustrates a side view of the external training device of  FIG. 6  having a connecting member. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  illustrates a side view of the external training device of  FIG. 6  attached to a ball. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  illustrates a schematic view of the external training device of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  illustrates another non-limiting embodiment of an external training device. 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  illustrates another non-limiting embodiment of a training device. 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  illustrates a cross-section view of the training device of  FIG. 12  taken along line B-B of  FIG. 12 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  illustrates a schematic view of the training device of  FIG. 12 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 15  illustrates an example method of operating a training device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0023]      FIG. 1  illustrates one non-limiting embodiment of a training device  10 . The training device  10  generally includes a ball  11 , such as a football, a soccer ball, a volleyball, a rugby ball, a basketball, or other device which may not necessarily be a ball. The ball  11  may also be made of a solid foam or rubber. The ball  11  may have a first panel  12 , a second panel  14 , a third panel  32  ( FIG. 2 ), a fourth panel  34  ( FIG. 2 ), and a control module  16  integrally attached with the first panel  12 . The panels  12 ,  14 ,  32 , and  34  allow for the ball  11  to be more easily manufactured. The control module  16  includes a display  18 , a controller  20 , such as a microprocessor, a power supply  22 , memory  24 , an I/O port  26 , a power control  28 , and adjustment controls  30 . The training device  10  provides a user with feedback regarding an amount of force being applied to the training device  10 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  illustrates a second side view of the training device  10  with the third panel  32  and the fourth panel  34 . An indicator  36 , such as a speaker, a light, or another device capable of communicating with a user, is located in the fourth panel  34  opposite the control module  16  to balance the weight of the ball  11 . The controller  20  sends a control signal to the indicator  36  when a force applied to the training device  10  falls below a predetermined threshold. The control signal may correspond to a light, a beep, or an audible voice. The adjustment controls  30  vary the predetermined threshold force level. The power control  28  activates or deactivates the training device  10  and may select different modes of operation, such as delaying the controller  20  from sending the control signal to the indicator  36 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  illustrates an interior view of the first panel  12 , the second panel  14 , the third panel  32 , and the fourth panel  34 . Sensors  38 , such as stress-strain gauges, restrictive flex sensors, or another similar type of sensor, are located on an interior surface of the panels  12 ,  14 ,  32 , and  34  and are connected by an electrical connection  40  to the control module  16  for measuring deflection and/or forces applied to the panels  12 ,  14 ,  32 , or  34 . The controller  20  receives signals from the sensors  38 , which can be displayed on the display  18  and/or stored in the memory  24 . The controller  20  may also store the maximum and minimum forces applied to the training device. 
         [0026]    The training device  10  may be activated by applying a force, which is received by the sensors  38 , to the training device  10 . The power supply  22 , such as a battery, powers the control panel  16 , the indicator  36 , and the sensors  38 . Although the power supply  22  is shown within the control panel  16 , the power supply can be located remote from the control panel  16 . The I/O port  26  is in electrical communication with the DC bus  39  for transferring the data stored on the memory  24  to another memory device, such as a USB drive. 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-section view of the training device  10  taken along line A-A of  FIG. 2 . The sensors  38  are located between the panels  12 ,  14 ,  32 , and  34  and an inner bladder  42 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  illustrates a schematic view of the training device  10  having a DC bus  39 . The memory  24 , the power supply  22 , the I/O port  26 , the display  18 , and the indicator  36  are in communication with the controller  20  over the DC bus  39 . The sensors  38 , the power control  28 , and the adjustment controls  30  are in direct electrical communication with the controller  20 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  illustrates another non-limiting embodiment of an external training device  110  having a body portion  112  including a control module  116 , a first indicator  136   a  and a second indicator  136   b.  The body portion  112  is made of rubber, foam, or another similar soft and resilient material that matches the texture and feel of a ball  100  ( FIG. 8 ). The first indicator  136   a  and the second indicator  136   b  may include a speaker, a light, or another device capable of communicating to a user. The control module  116  includes a display  118 , a controller  120 , such as a microprocessor, a power supply  122 , memory  124 , an I/O port  126 , a power control  128 , a pressure sensor  129 , and adjustment controls  130 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of the external training device  110  including a first attachment member  138  having a first engagement portion  140  and a second attachment member  142  having a second engagement portion  144 . The first and second engagement portions  142  and  144  may include a button, snap, hook and loop closure, or another similar type of engagement. A pressure engagement member  134 , such a pressure needle, extends from a lower contoured surface  132  of the body portion  112  and is in fluid communication with the pressure sensor  129 .  FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of the external training device  110  with a connecting attachment member  146  extending between the first and second attachment members  138  and  142 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 9  illustrates a side view of the external training device  110  located on the ball  100 , such as a football, a soccer ball, a volley ball, or another similar type of ball, having the contoured surface  132  located adjacent the ball  100 . The pressure engagement member  134  extends into a pressure receptacle  148  located on the ball  100  to place the pressure sensor  129  in fluid communication with an internal cavity of the ball  100 . The controller  120  receives pressure signals from the pressure sensor  129 . The pressure signals can be displayed on the display  118  and/or stored in the memory  124 . Additionally, the training device  110  can be activated by applying a force, which is received by the pressure sensor  129 , to the training device  110 . The power supply  122 , such as a battery, powers the control panel  116 , the indicators  136   a  and  136 b, and the pressure sensor  129 . Although the power supply  122  is shown within the control module  116 , the power supply  122  can be located remotely from the control module  116 . The I/O port  126  is in electrical communication with the DC bus  139  for transferring data stored on the memory  124  to another memory device, such as a USB drive. 
         [0032]    The controller  120  sends a control signal to the indicators  136   a  and  136   b  when a force applied to the training device  110  falls below a predetermined threshold as determined by a change in pressure in the ball  100  measured by the pressure sensor  129 . The control signal corresponds to a light, a beep, or an audible voice. The adjustment controls  130  vary the predetermined threshold level. The power control  128  can activate or deactivate the training device  110  and may select different modes of operation, such as delaying the controller  120  sending the control signal to the indicators  136   a  and  136   b.    
         [0033]      FIG. 10  illustrates a schematic view of the training device  110  having a DC bus  139 . The memory  124 , the power supply  122 , the I/O port  126 , the display  118 , and the indicators  136   a  and  136   b  are in communication with the controller  120  over the DC bus  139 . The pressure sensor  129 , the power control  128 , and the adjustment controls  130  are in direct electrical communication with the controller  120 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 11  illustrates another non-limiting embodiment of an external training device  210 . The external training device  210  is similar to the external training device  110  except where shown in the drawings or described below. The external training device  210  includes a first attachment member  238  having a first engagement portion  240  and sensors  229 , a second attachment member  242  having a second engagement portion  244  and sensors  229 , and a third attachment member  250  having a third engagement portion  252  and sensors  229 . The sensors  229  may include stress-strain gauges, restrictive flex sensors, or another similar type of sensor. 
         [0035]      FIG. 12  illustrates another non-limiting embodiment of a training device  310 . A user module  314  is integrally attached to an exterior portion  312  and includes a display  318 , an I/O port  326 , a power control  328 , and adjustment controls  330 . The exterior portion  312  is made of a foam or rubber material. 
         [0036]      FIG. 13  illustrates a cross-section view of the training device  310  taken along line B-B of  FIG. 12  showing the exterior portion  312  and an interior portion  313  made of foam or rubber. An indicator  336  is located on an opposite side of the training device  310  as the user module  314  to balance the weight of the training device  310 . A control module  316  including a controller  320 , a power supply  322 , and a memory  324  is located in the center of the interior portion  313  for balancing the weight of the training device  310 . Sensors  338  are located between the interior portion  313  and exterior portion  312  for measuring deflection and/or forces applied to the training device  310 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 14  illustrates a schematic view of the training device  310  having a DC bus  339 . The memory  324 , the power supply  322 , the I/O port  326 , the display  318 , and the indicator  336  are in communication with the controller  320  over the DC bus  339 . The sensors  338 , the power control  328 , and the adjustment controls  330  are in direct electrical communication with the controller  320 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 15  illustrates an example method  400  of operating the training device  10 ,  110 ,  210 , or  310 . The method  300  includes activating the training device  10 ,  110 ,  210 , or  310 . (Step  410 ). The training device  10 ,  110 ,  210 , or  310  may be activated by engaging the power control  28 ,  128 ,  228 , or  328 . Alternatively, the training device  10 ,  110 ,  210 , or  310  could be activated by applying a force to the training device  10 ,  110 ,  210 , or  310 . 
         [0039]    The method further includes the step of measuring a force, such as a compressive force, applied to the training device  10 ,  110 ,  210 , or  310 . (Step  420 ). The training devices  10 ,  210 , and  310  utilize sensors  38 ,  238 , and  338  to measure an applied force. The training device  110  utilizes the pressure sensor  129  to measure an applied force. 
         [0040]    The method further includes the step of determining if the force applied to the training device  10 ,  110 ,  210 , or  310  falls below a predetermined threshold based on changes from a steady state pressure of training device  10 ,  110 ,  210 , and  310 . (Step  430 ). The training device  10 ,  110 ,  210 , or  310  includes adjustment controls  30 ,  130 ,  230  or  330 , respectively, for adjusting the predetermined threshold. The training device  10 ,  110 ,  210 , or  310  measures the force applied with sensors  38 ,  129 ,  248 , or  338 , respectively. 
         [0041]    The method further includes the step of indicating when the force applied to the training device  10 ,  110 ,  210 , or  310  falls below the predetermined threshold. (Step  440 ). The controller  20 ,  120 ,  220 , or  320  sends control signals to the indicators  36 ,  136   a  and  136 b,  236   a  and  236   b,  or  336 , respectively to indicate when the force applied to the training device  10 ,  110 ,  210 , or  310  falls below the predetermined threshold. 
         [0042]    Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.