U.S. patent application number 10/274349 was filed with the patent office on 2004-04-22 for racket orientation indicator device and associated method of operation.
Invention is credited to Choi, In.
Application Number | 20040077438 10/274349 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32093034 |
Filed Date | 2004-04-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040077438 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Choi, In |
April 22, 2004 |
Racket orientation indicator device and associated method of
operation
Abstract
A device and method for determining whether or not the string
face of a racket is held in a vertical plane as the racket is
swung. At least one sensor is attached to a racket. The sensors
detect when the string face of the racket is in a vertical plane
and when the string face deviates from that vertical plane. An
indicator is also attached to the racket, wherein the indicator
produces a perceivable indication to the user of the racket wher
activated. A logic circuit is used to connect the sensors to the
indicator. When the sensors detect that the string face of the
racket has wandered from the vertical plane, the indicator is
activated and the player holding the racket is informed of the
lapse in form. By repeatedly swinging the racket and trying to
avoid activating the indicator, a player can train to have a proper
level swing.
Inventors: |
Choi, In; (Plymouth Meeting,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Eric A. LaMorte
LaMorte & Associates, P.C.
P.O. Box 434
Yardley
PA
19067
US
|
Family ID: |
32093034 |
Appl. No.: |
10/274349 |
Filed: |
October 21, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/553 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 69/38 20130101;
A63B 49/03 20151001; A63B 2071/0627 20130101; A63B 69/3614
20130101; A63B 60/46 20151001; A63B 49/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/553 |
International
Class: |
A63B 049/00; A63B
059/00; A63B 059/04 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A racket assembly comprising: a handle; a racket head supported
by said handle; a string face strung across said racket head,
wherein said string face extends in a common plane; at least one
sensor for detecting when said common plane of said string face
deviates from a vertical plane; an indicator for providing a
perceivable indication when said common plane of said string face
is detected deviating from said vertical plane.
2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said perceivable
indication is an audible indication.
3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one
senor detects multiple degrees of deviation of said string face
from said vertical plane.
4. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein said indicator
provides a different indication for each of said multiple degrees
of deviation detected.
5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one
sensor and said indicator are contained in an electronic
subassembly.
6. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein said electronic
subassembly is selectively detachable from said racket
assembly.
7. The assembly according to claim 5, further including a neck
region between said handle and said enlarged head, wherein said
electronic assembly is disposed in said neck region.
8. The assembly according to claim 1, further including an impact
sensor for detecting when said string face of said racket has
contacted a ball.
9. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein said indicator is
enabled only when said impact sensor senses said string face has
impacted a ball.
10. The assembly according to claim 1 further including a disabling
sensor that detects when said handle is held in a generally
vertical orientation.
11. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein said indicator is
deactivated when said disabling sensor detects that said handle is
being held in a generally vertical orientation.
12. A method of indicating when the string face of a racket is not
being held in a vertical plane, said method comprising the steps
of: providing at least one sensor to a racket that detects when the
string face of the racket is oriented outside of a vertical plane;
providing an indicator on said racket that is capable of producing
a perceivable indication when activated; and activating said
indicator when said sensors detect that the string face of the
racket is oriented outside the vertical plane.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said perceivable
indication produced by said indicator is an audible indication.
14. The method according to claim 12, wherein said at least one
sensor detects degrees of deviation of said string face from the
vertical plane.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said indicator
provides a different perceivable indication for each of said
degrees of deviation detected.
16. The method according to claim 12, further including the step of
detecting when the string face of the racket has contacted a
ball.
17. The method according to claim 16, further including the step of
enabling said indicator only after it has been detected that the
string face of the racket has contacted a ball.
18. A tennis training assembly that attaches to a tennis racket
having a string face, said assembly including: at least one sensor
for detecting when said string face deviates from a vertical plane;
and an indicator for providing a perceivable indication when said
string face is detected deviating from said vertical plane.
19. The assembly according to claim 18, wherein said at least one
senor detects multiple degrees of deviation of said string face
from said vertical plane.
20. The assembly according to claim 18, wherein said indicator
provides a different indication for each of said multiple degrees
of deviation detected.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to rackets that are used in
sports activities such as tennis, squash, badminton and the like.
More particularly, the present invention relates to electronic
devices that are integrated into such rackets, or attachable to
such rackets, that help a person train to properly use those
rackets.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] There are many sports that are played with a racket. One of
the most popular of these sports is tennis. In the game of tennis,
the racket includes an oblong head section supported by a handle. A
string is strung back and forth through the head section of the
racket, thereby producing a mesh structure that is known as the
string face of the racket. The string face of the racket is the
surface of the racket that is used in the game to contact the
ball.
[0005] The string face of the racket extends in a single plane.
During play, it is the orientation of the plane of the string face
that mostly determines the direction of a ball or other projectile
struck by the racket.
[0006] In the game of tennis, players are taught to hold the tennis
racket in their hands so that the plane of the string face extends
vertically. This vertical orientation of the string face should be
maintained as the racket is swung and contacts the tennis ball.
Presently, a determination of whether or not a racket's string face
is held vertically as it contacts a ball can only be determined
from the trajectory of the ball after the ball leaves the string
face. If a ball, having a level trajectory prior to striking the
string face of the racket, has either an ascending or descending
trajectory after impacting the string face, then it can be
determined that the string face was not vertical at the time of
impact. Accordingly, the ability of a person to practice holding a
racket vertically when swinging the racket could formally be done
only by actually striking a ball. Consequently, practice time was
limited to the time a player actually spends on a court striking
balls.
[0007] A need therefore exists for a device that can help a person
determine if they are holding the string face of a racket
vertically during a swing without having to strike a ball. As such,
a person can practice their racket swing in any location and at any
time. This need is met by the present invention as described and
claimed below.
SUMMARY Of THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention is a device and method for determining
whether or not the string face of a racket is held in a vertical
plane as the racket is swung. At least one sensor is attached to a
racket, either retroactively, or at the time of the racket's
manufacture. The sensors detect when the string face of the racket
is in a vertical plane and when the string face deviates from that
vertical plane. An indicator is also attached to the racket,
wherein the indicator produces a perceivable indication to the user
of the racket when activated. A logic circuit is used to connect
the sensors to the indicator. When the sensors detect that the
string face of the racket has wandered from the vertical plane, the
indicator is activated and the player holding the racket is
informed of the lapse in form. By repeatedly swinging the racket
and trying to avoid activating the indicator, a player can train to
have a proper level swing.
[0009] Other sensors may be present that detect when the racket has
contacted a ball or when the racket is being used to serve a ball.
These sensors, either activate or deactivate the normal functioning
of the indicator to prevent the indicator from producing false
error indications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] For a better understanding of the present invention,
reference is made to the following description of exemplary
embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a side view of a first exemplary embodiment of a
tennis racket in accordance with the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the
electronic components of a simple version of the present invention;
and
[0013] FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the
electronic components of a complex version of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] Although the present invention device can be used in
association with any strung racket, such as a racquetball racket, a
squash racket, a badminton racket or the like, the present
invention device is particularly well suited for use as a tennis
racket. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiment of the present
invention will be described as a tennis racket in order to set
forth the best mode contemplated for the invention. However, it
will be understood that any other type of racket can be substituted
for the tennis racket described.
[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, a tennis racket 10 is shown in
accordance with the present invention. The tennis racket 10 has a
handle 12, an enlarged head 14 and a neck region 16 where there is
a transition between the handle 12 and the enlarged head 14. A
string face 20 is strung within the confines of the enlarged head
14, wherein the string face 20 lays in a flat plane.
[0016] The tennis racket 10 has an imaginary centerline 22 that
extends down the center of the racket 10. The handle 12 of the
racket 10, the enlarged head 14 of the racket 10 and its string
face 20 are all symmetrically disposed around the centerline
22.
[0017] In the game of tennis, it is desirable to keep the string
face 20 of the racket 10 in a vertical plane during many types of
swings. It is especially important to hold the string face 20 of
the racket 10 vertically during a swing at the point of contact
with a tennis ball. Using the imaginary centerline 22 of the tennis
racket 10 as a reference, it can be seen that when the string face
20 of the racket 10 is vertical, the string face 20 extends
vertically both above and below the centerline 22. However, when
the string face 20 of the racket 10 is not vertical, it means that
the racket 10 has been turned about the centerline 22 in one of the
directions of rotation arrows 24. As such, the string face 20 of
the racket 10 extends above and below the centerline 22 at
complementary angles.
[0018] An electronic assembly 30 is affixed to the racket 10 in the
neck region 16 of the racket 10. The electronic assembly 30
contains at least one sensor that detects when the string face 20
of the racket 10 is in a vertical plane and when it is not. If the
string face 20 of the tennis racket 10 is sensed to be not
vertical, the electronic assembly 30 produces an audible tone that
can be heard by the player holding the racket 10. As such, by
listening to the audible signal, a player can tell if the string
face 20 of the racket 10 is being held vertically during a swing.
By adjusting the racket 10 in response to the audible signals, a
player can correct his/her swing so that the swing keeps the string
face 20 of the racket 10 vertical.
[0019] Furthermore, the audible signals generated by the racket 10
can be produced during any swing, whether or not the swing produces
contact with a ball. Consequently, a person can practice swinging
the racket 10 without having to strike a ball and the racket 10
will provide an indication as to whether or not the racket string
face 20 was held vertically throughout the swing. A tennis swing
can therefore be practiced at any time, in a confined space,
without need of a ball.
[0020] From the embodiment of FIG. 1, it can be seen that the
electronic assembly 30 is preferably positioned in the neck section
16 of the racket 10, in between the handle 12 and the enlarged head
14. The electronic assembly 30 can be manufactured as part of the
racket 10, or can be retroactively added to the racket 10. On the
exterior of the electronic assembly 30 is a speaker port 32 and an
on/off switch 34. Optional adjustment controls 36 can be present
depending upon the embodiment of the present invention used.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 2, a schematic for a simple embodiment of
the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, audible tones
are broadcast aloud by a speaker 40. A tone generator 42 produces
the tones broadcast by the speaker 40. The tone generator 42 is
capable of producing a plurality of distinct tones that are readily
discernable by a person holding the tennis racket. A volume control
44 is provided, so that a player can adjust the volume of the tones
according to the needs of the tennis player in light of the
surrounding ambient noise.
[0022] Within the electronic assembly 30 are sensors 46. The
sensors 46 are oriented with respect to the tennis racket so that
the sensors 46 detect when the string face 20 (FIG. 1) of the
racket is tilted out of a vertical plane. In the embodiment of FIG.
2, multiple sensors 46 are used. Each sensor 46 has a different
degree of sensitivity. Accordingly, if the string face of the
racket is tilted only slightly out of the vertical, only one of the
sensors 46 will detect the deviation. However, as the degree of
deviation from the vertical increases, subsequent sensors 46 will
detect the increasing deviation.
[0023] The sensors are coupled to a logic circuit 48. The logic
circuit 48 directs the tone generator 42, thereby instructing the
tone generator 42 to produce a tone. Depending upon the degree of
deviation from vertical and the number of sensors 46 activated, the
logic circuit 48 instructs the tone generator 42 to produce
different tones. For example, if the string face 20 (FIG. 1) is
titled only a few degrees from vertical, only one highly sensitive
sensor may detect the deviation. The sensor signal is read by the
logic circuit 48 and activates the tone generator 42 to produce a
first tone. If the angle of deviation from vertical increases, a
medium sensitivity sensor detects the angle and the logic circuit
48 activates the tone generator 42 to produce a second tone. In the
same manner, the tone generated is changed as the string face
experiences different angles of inclination and different
combinations of the sensors 46 are activated.
[0024] Accordingly, when the string face 20 (FIG. 1) of the tennis
racket is vertical, no audible indication is produced. However, as
the string face of the racket is tilted out of the vertical, an
audible tone is produced that varies with the angle of inclination
experienced by the string face. Accordingly, as a tennis player
swings the tennis racket, the player will be able to hear when the
string face of the racket moves out of the vertical plane. By the
tone generated, the tennis player will also be able to hear a
signal that tells the player how far from the vertical the string
face was moved. Furthermore, by listening to the generated tones
and adjusting the racket during the swing, a player can practice
perfecting their swing so that there is little deviation of the
string face during the swing.
[0025] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, a plurality of different
sensors 46 are used to detect various degrees of deviation of the
string face from the vertical plane. The use of multiple sensors 46
is merely exemplary and it should be understood that only a single
sensor need be used. Single tilt sensors do exist that produce an
analog output that is dependent upon the angle of inclination
experienced. Any such sensor can be used. Similarly, a simple tilt
senor that produces only one signal when tilted beyond a threshold
angle of inclination can also be used in an inexpensive, simple
embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] In the game of tennis, there are times when the string face
of the racket is purposely moved out of the vertical plane, for
example, during an overhead lob or an overhead serve. Also, due to
differences in the ability and size of people who play tennis, not
everyone does have, or should have, a perfectly level swing
throughout their entire swing. Rather, they have swings that hold
the string face level primarily just before, during and immediately
after contact with the ball.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 3, a schematic of a more complex
embodiment of the present invention is shown. Since the schematic
of FIG. 3 shares many components with the schematic of FIG. 2, like
parts share the same reference numbers in order to reduce
confusion. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, there is at least one
sensor 46 that detects when the string face of the racket is turned
out of a vertical plane. The sensors 46 are read by a logic circuit
48, that directs a tone generator 42 to create tones. This method
of operation is the same as was previously described with regard to
the embodiment of FIG. 2. What differs about the embodiment of FIG.
3, is the addition of two more sensors. One sensor is a handle
orientation sensor 52. The handle orientation sensor 52 detects
when the handle 12 (FIG. 1) of the racket is held vertically up, as
during the height of a serve, or vertically down, as during a lob
shot. In such orientations, the handle orientation sensor 52
produces a signal that instructs the logic circuit 48 to not
activate the tone generator 42 regardless of the angle of
inclination of the racket's string face. Accordingly, a tennis
player will not have to be distracted with tones during a
serve.
[0028] In the embodiment of FIG. 3, an impact sensor 50 is also
present. The impact sensor 50 is an accelerometer that can sense
the impact of when the string face of the racket comes in contact
with a ball. The logic circuit 48 can be configured so that it is
capable of activating the tone generator 42 only during and
immediately following the impact sensor 50 detecting contact with
the ball. Accordingly, the tone generator 42 will only generate a
tone as the string face of the racket contacts a ball. If the
string face of the racket is vertical at the time of impact, then
no tone is generated. If the string face of the racket is not
vertical at the time of impact, taken a tone is generated that
informs the player of the error. This method of operation enables
the present invention to help tennis players who do not have a
level swing and are not inclined to change their swing.
[0029] It will be understood that the embodiments of the present
invention described and illustrated are merely exemplary and that a
person skilled in the art can make numerous modifications and
variations to the shown embodiments. For example, the electronic
assembly can be contained within the handle of the racket, rather
than in the neck region of the racket. The electronic assembly can
be either manufactured as part of the racket or selectively
attached to an existing racket. All such alternate embodiments are
intended to be included in the present invention as claimed
below.
* * * * *