Patent Document

CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    The following application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/140,358, filed Dec. 23, 2008, the complete contents of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates generally to athletic training devices and more particularly to an erratically and rapidly moving device configured such that in order to be captured an athlete must exhibit a required level of speed and agility. 
         [0004]    2. Background 
         [0005]    Speed and agility are critical in numerous sports and other activities. However, motion in predictable patterns and/or on agility courses can be seen in advance and can be quickly learned by athletes. Existing training systems include stationary courses such as ladder drills, running through tires, or basketball “suicide” drills. Further systems exist, such as targeted chasing systems wherein an athlete moves as rapidly as possible towards a selected one of a set of illuminable lights. However, the selectively illuminable lights are stationary and thus the athlete can quickly adapt and/or anticipate the illumination sequence and/or memorize the locations of the fixed number of illuminable lights. In actual play, however, the motion may be unpredictable, and athletes must be able to still move quickly. 
         [0006]    What is needed is a system that provides unpredictable speed and agility training for athletes. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of the exterior of an embodiment of the present device. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1   a  depicts a bottom view of the exterior of an embodiment of the present device. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1   b  depicts a top view of the interior of an embodiment of the present device. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  depicts a detail perspective view of an embodiment of a shut-off device in the present device. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  depicts another embodiment of the present device further comprising a remote-control unit. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  depicts a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the present device. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  depicts a bottom view of another embodiment of the present device that can operate in an aquatic environment. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  depicts a side view of an alternative embodiment of the present device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]      FIGS. 1-1B  depict various views of embodiments of the present device.  FIG. 1  depicts a perspective exterior view of one embodiment of the present device. In some embodiments, a housing  102  can comprise a plurality of sections  104 , which can be coupled together and substantially vertically arranged. In such embodiments, sections  104  can move independently of each other, or in coordinated movements with each other. However, in other embodiments, a housing  102  can comprise a single hollow member. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a housing  102  can be substantially circular in shape, but in other embodiments can have any other known and/or convenient geometry. In some embodiments, a housing  102  can be made of a resilient plastic, polymer, polycarbonate, metal, alloy, or any other known and/or convenient material. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a housing  102  can be coupled with a time mechanism  120 , such as but not limited to, a timer, stopwatch, clock, and/or any other known and/or convenient mechanism for timing a user and/or displaying time. 
         [0016]    As shown in  FIG. 1   a , a plurality of moving agencies  106  can be coupled with a housing  102 . Moving agencies  106  can be wheels, casters, bearings, or any other known and/or convenient device. In some embodiments, moving agencies  106  can have a rotational range of motion of 360 degrees, or any other known and/or convenient range. As shown in  FIG. 1   a , moving agencies  106  can be coupled with a housing  102  at points on the underside of and, in some embodiments, substantially proximal to the periphery of a housing  102 . However, in other embodiments, moving agencies  106  can be coupled with a housing  102  in any known and/or convenient locations. 
         [0017]    In some embodiments, one of the moving agencies  106  can be configured to drive a housing  102  in any desired direction. In some embodiments, the moving agencies  106  can be configured to randomly drive a housing  102  in any direction. In alternate embodiments, more than one of the moving agencies  106  can be configured to drive the housing  102  either separately and/or simultaneously. 
         [0018]    In some embodiments, a switch  108  can be located on the top surface of a housing  102 , but in other embodiments can be located on a side or underside surface. An on-off switch  108  can be adapted to selectively control the operation of the moving agencies  106 , drive system  114 , and/or power the device on and off. 
         [0019]    In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , a housing  102  can include an opening  110  adapted to receive a shut-off unit  112 . In some embodiments, an opening  110  can be substantially circular, but in other embodiments can have any other known and/or convenient geometry. In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , a shut-off unit  112  can be selectively and operatively mated with an opening  110  such that a device will not be propelled when a shut-off unit  112  is not mated with an opening  110 . A shut-off unit  112  can have a substantially cylindrical shape, as shown in  FIG. 1 , but in other embodiments can have any other known and/or convenient geometry. In some embodiments a shut-off unit  112  can be magnetized in a desired configuration and an opening  110  can include a magnetic reader such that the pattern and/or random sequence can be defined by the magnetic configuration of a shut-off unit  112  and/or the speed of insertion of a shut-off unit  112  into an opening  110 . 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIG. 1   a , a drive device  114  can be coupled to a drive agency  116  and coupled to a power supply  118 . In some embodiments, a power supply  118  can be a battery, but in other embodiments can be a solar cell or any other known and/or convenient device. In some embodiments, a drive device  114  can be a motor, but in other embodiments can be any other known and/or convenient mechanism. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1   a , a drive agency  116  can be at least one wheel, but in other embodiments can be a caster, bearing, or any other known and/or convenient device. 
         [0021]    In alternate embodiments, a drive device  114  can further comprise a pump and/or turbine system. In such embodiments, a drive agency  116  can be a nozzle, propeller, or any other known and/or convenient device to produce thrust. In such embodiments, moving agencies  106  can be fins or any other known and/or convenient device. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  depicts a detail view of one embodiment of a shut-off device  112 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , a shut-off device  112  can further comprise a visual enhancement device  202  that can be a flag, two-dimensional or three-dimensional graphic, or any other known and/or convenient device. A shut-off unit  112  can further comprise a control mechanism  204  that can control stop-and-go motion of the device. In some embodiments, a control mechanism  204  can comprise an electrical coupling  206  that when disrupted causes the device to cease motion. In some embodiments, an electrical coupling  206  can further comprise magnetic components. However, in other embodiments, any other known and/or convenient control mechanism can be used. 
         [0023]    In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 2 , a shut-off unit  112  can further comprise a motion-control device  208 , which can further comprise at least one magnet  210 . In some embodiments, a motion-control device  208  can be a magnetostatic device with said at least one magnet  210  capable of producing an electrical current that can be used to create a seed value for input into a random-pattern generator. A reader  212  can be located in an opening  110  such that a pattern and/or random sequence can be defined by a magnetic configuration of at least one magnet  210  on a shut-off unit  112  and/or the speed of insertion of a shut-off unit into an opening  110 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  depicts another embodiment of the present device, further comprising a remote-control unit  302 . A remote-control unit  302  can operate via a wireless connection or any other known and/or convenient mechanism. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  depicts an electro-mechanical schematic of one embodiment of the present device. A drive-control circuit  402  and a directional-control circuit  404  can both be connected to a central processing unit (CPU)  406 . A CPU  406  can be connected to an input device/receiver  408 , which can be connected to a power supply  410 . A motion-control device  208  can be connected to an input device/receiver  408  via an op-amp circuit  412 . A remote-control  302  can also provide input to an input device/receiver  408  via a wireless connection or any other known and/or convenient method. In some embodiments, a CPU  406  can also be capable of collecting motion information from the device and connecting to an external personal computer to download such information. Further, in some alternate embodiments, a device can include a timing mechanism  120  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) to record and optionally display chronological information regarding motion of the device. 
         [0026]    In a drive-control circuit  402 , a power supply  118  can be connected to a shut-off device  112 , an on-off switch  108 , a drive device  114 , and a resistor  414 , In some embodiments, a drive device  114  can be a motor, but in other embodiments can be any other known and/or convenient device. As shown in  FIG. 2 , a power supply  118  can be a variable power supply, or in other embodiments can be any other known and/or convenient device. 
         [0027]    In a directional-control circuit  404 , a power supply  416  can be connected to a resistor  418  and a drive device  420 . In some embodiments, a drive device  420  can be a motor, but in other embodiments can be any other known and/or convenient device. 
         [0028]    A CPU  406  can be connected to a power supply  118  for a drive circuit  402  via an amplifier  422 , and also to a power supply  416  for a directional-control circuit  404  via and amplifier  242 . In such embodiments, a CPU can, therefore, provide input to control a drive circuit  402  and a directional-control circuit  404 . 
         [0029]    A remote-control unit  302  can provide input concerning direction, speed, on/off status, or any other known and/or desired parameters to an input device/receiver  408 . 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , a motion-control device  208  can, in some embodiments, be incorporated into a shut-off device  112 . A magnet  210  on a shut-off device  112  can, when in motion, produce a current that can be read by a reader  212 . An induced current can vary depending upon the orientation of magnets  210  in relation to readers  212  and the speed of magnets  210  in moving past readers  212 . In embodiments having multiple magnets  210  and readers  212 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , the electrical signals resulting from an induced current can be summed in an op-amp circuit  412  and sent to a CPU  406  via an input device/receiver  408 . A CPU  406  can process these electrical signals to provide control information to a drive-control circuit  402  and a directional-control circuit  404  by using electrical signals to establish a seed value for a random-number generator in a CPU  406 . In some embodiments, a random number generator can translate an electrical signal into numerical values. In such embodiments, a numerical value can be parsed into separate values, each of which can be used to control speed and direction. For example, in some embodiments, a numerical value can have a plurality of digits. One or more digits can correspond to a seed value for speed control, one or more other digits can correspond to a seed value for the control time period, and at least one remaining digit can correspond to a seed value for directional control. 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  depicts another embodiment of the present device that can operate in an aquatic environment. Such embodiments can further comprise a flotation device  502 , which can be located circumferentially around a housing  102 , or in any other known and/or convenient position. In some embodiments, a housing  102  can be comprised of a buoyant material. 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  depicts a side view of another embodiment of the present device. In some embodiments, a housing  102  can include extension arms  602  adapted to reduce the likelihood of overturning the device. Moreover, in some embodiments the shut-off unit  112  can be coupled with an object  604 . In some embodiments, an object  604  can have the shape of a rabbit and/or any desired shape. In some embodiments, a shut-off unit  112  can include a depression  216  that can mate with a protrusion at the base of the opening  110 . In some embodiments, the protrusion can be coupled with a rotational motor  608  such that as the motor rotates, both the drive agency  116  and the object  604  can rotate in unison. In alternate embodiments, the object  604  and drive agency  116  can move and/or rotate independently. 
         [0033]    In use, a user can turn a switch  108  to the “on” position and insert a shut-off unit  112  into an opening  110 . The present device can then begin to move about and be chased by a person, who could have the goal of overtaking the device and removing the shut-off unit  112 , which would cause the device to stop moving. A person can also chase the device without the goal of removing a shut-off unit  112 , but rather to follow a prescribed pattern. In some embodiments, motion of the device can be determined by a magnetostatic device that produces a random movement pattern. In other embodiments, motion can be controlled by a remote user via a remote-control unit  302 . Either way, the erratic movement of the present device can require the person chasing the device to change motion quickly, and, therefore, develop speed and agility. 
         [0034]    Although the method has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the method as described and hereinafter claimed is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

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