Head-wearable Training Tool and Method

Abstract

A head-wearable training tool used for functional neck musculature training to help lower the risk and reduce the number of sport-related concussions. The head-wearable training tool is weighted in a manner to have a substantially identical weight to that of and identified sport (e.g., football) helmet. An associated method involves off-season training using the head-wearable training tool.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

The instant application claims priority to U.S. provisional Application Ser. No. 61/761,943 filed Feb. 7, 2013, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

N/A.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to the field of athletic conditioning and, more particularly to a head-wearable apparatus for functional neck musculature training and strengthening and related method.

BACKGROUND

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), which term is used interchangeably with the term; concussion,’ as a complex pathophysiologic process affecting the brain induced by traumatic biomechanical forces secondary to direct or indirect forces to the head. A concussion or MTBI can be caused by a blow or a jolt to the head or body that disrupts the function of the brain. More particularly, an acute traumatic event such as a concussion causes axonal shearing in the central nervous system by the sudden rotational forces to the skull and brain. A concussion generally occurs when the brain hits the inside of the skull and the neck musculature is not strong enough to slow the head down and decrease the forces involved. Since the head (skull and brain) sits on the neck, functional training of the neck musculature may be the only way to slow down and reduce axonal shearing. Disturbances of the body position or head position causes a disturbance in balance and the body's awareness of where it is in space (proprioception). Training the neck muscles in a functional manner trains proprioception and balance mechanisms which may help in keeping the head stable during a change in position

The neck musculature is conventionally trained using traditional weight lifting exercises including manual resistance, and weighted exercises moving the neck through planes of range (e.g., flexion, extension, rotations and side flexion). The traditional way of neck strengthening does not provide proprioceptive neuromuscular feedback and strengthening. The neck musculature is not trained in a functional manner, i.e., while e.g., running, cutting, changing directions, while performing agility drills, sport and position specific drills, conditioning drills, etc.—sport and position specific movements involved in all ground-based sports (football, ice hockey, lacrosse, etc.).

Moreover, many collegiate athletes complain of headaches from wearing a football helmet for the first time since spring football practice and in many cases, since the end of the previous fall season. Also, some athletes do not easily become acclimated to heat/head temperatures while training during the summer months. Younger participants may find a required sport helmet to be awkward and uncomfortable, and it may affect their playing ability, simply because they are unaccustomed to wearing such an apparatus.

Contact sports including but not limited to football, ice hockey, lacrosse, rugby, boxing, etc., provide enhanced situations for participants to suffer a concussion.

It is important to note that, for many sports (especially at the collegiate level) during the ‘off-season,’ athlete participants are allowed to only participate in strength and conditioning activities and sport specific skill instruction without their respective sport equipment until the ‘official equipment’ is issued on the ‘official’ sport ‘in-season’ start date, usually in August for, e.g., collegiate football. Thus, providing official equipment for off-season training could pose a liability issue for the institution.

In view of the foregoing, the inventor has recognized that there is a multi-faceted need for products and practices that help to lower the risk and reduce the number of sport-related concussions, as well as addressing equipment adaptability for players, and liability issues for institutions. The recognition of these needs has facilitated solutions in the forms of the embodied head-wearable training tool and method disclosed and claimed herein.

The following disclosure of exemplary embodiments and aspects of the invention will refer specifically to the sport or activity of football as known and played in the US, to clarify the concept of the invention to the reader; however, it will be apparent that the embodied invention can be easily designed and/or modified to make it particularly suited for use pertaining to other sports or activities that parallel the aforementioned issues associated with football, and the solutions provided by the embodied invention as applied to football.

The objects, benefits, and advantages provided by the solutions enabled by the embodied invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying figures and as set forth in the appended claims.

SUMMARY

Definitions

The term ‘functional training’ or ‘functional movement’ or ‘functional activities’ of a designated sport as may be used herein (and in the claims) means a sport-specific drill, exercise, motion, etc. that is similar to a respective specific-sport movement or action, while the athlete is training in an off-season period of the sport to strengthen and/or train the musculature of the neck to react to sudden changes associated with the specific-sport movement or action.

The term ‘cap’ or ‘training tool cap’ or ‘training cap’ as may be used herein (and in the claims) means a head-wearable apparel in the form of a hat, a helmet, a headband, or other form of head-wearable apparel having weight and weight distribution characteristics suitable for the intended purpose, function, and objects of the embodied invention as set forth herein.

The term ‘in-season’ as may be used herein (and in the claims) means the official or formally sanctioned period of time during which a particular sport is played and may include what is commonly understood as ‘post-season’ (e.g., playoffs) and ‘pre-season’ (e.g., exhibition) but not ‘off-season’ (e.g., training). Similarly, the term ‘off-season’ as may be used herein (and in the claims) means that period of time during which a particular sport is not officially played but is commonly used or institutionally designated as the designated sport's training period or strength and conditioning training and sport specific skill development period.

The term ‘suitable’ as may be used herein (and in the claims) means having the qualities that are correct, needed, or appropriate for something, especially as a person skilled in the art would understand.

The term ‘about’ as may be used herein (and in the claims) means the amount of the specified quantity plus/minus a fractional amount thereof that a person skilled in the art would recognize as typical and reasonable for that particular quantity or measurement.

The term ‘substantially’ as may be used herein (and in the claims) means as close to or similar to the specified term being modified as a person skilled in the art would recognize as typical and reasonable; for e.g., within typical manufacturing and/or assembly tolerances, as opposed to being intentionally different by design and implementation.

Embodiments of the invention are an apparatus and method for functional neck musculature training and strengthening, particularly as a means for, but not limited to, helping to lower the risk and reduce the number of sport-related concussions.

An embodiment of the invention is head-wearable training tool (‘cap’). The head-wearable training cap can particularly be for a designated sport that requires an official associated headgear worn by a participant during an in-season participation in said designated sport, said associated headgear having a weight in a designated range, comprising a weighted region that at least partially encircles a wearer's head, wherein said weighted region is characterized by a weight that is substantially the same as the weight of the official associated headgear worn by the participant during the in-season participation in said designated sport. The embodied training cap may further be characterized by the following illustrative, exemplary, non-limiting aspects, features, or limitations:

wherein the designated sport is football and the weighted region has a weight of between about two to five pounds;

• • wherein the weighted region has a weight of between 4.1 and 4.5 pounds;

wherein the weighted region is adapted to provide substantially full coverage of the wearer's head;

comprising a second region connected to the weighted region, wherein the designated sport is football and the weighted region has a weight of between about two to five pounds;

• • wherein the training cap has a weight of between 4.1 and 4.5 pounds;
  • wherein the second region comprises a mesh construction;
  • wherein the second region comprises a plurality of crossed strap regions;

wherein the weighted region is adapted to substantially cover the wearer's ears;

wherein the weighted region comprises a pocket into which a selected weight can be removeably disposed.

The head-wearable training cap need not be tied to any designated sport, per se, that requires an official associated headgear worn by a participant during an in-season participation in said designated sport, said associated headgear having a weight in a designated range. Rather, the head-wearable training cap could be associated with a sport that does not require a designated or official in-season headgear, but has a history of concussions, for example, men's and women's soccer, which have a fairly high concussion rate.

An embodiment of the invention is a method for athletic conditioning. The method involves the steps of selecting a designated sport that requires an official associated headgear worn by a participant during an in-season participation in said designated sport, wherein said associated headgear has a weight in a designated range; providing a training cap comprising a weighted region that at least partially encircles a wearer's head, wherein said weighted region is characterized by a weight that is substantially the same as the weight of the official associated headgear worn by the participant during the in-season participation in said designated sport; wearing the training cap during at least part of a designated off-season training period of the designated sport while performing a functional movement associated with the designated sport. The embodied training method may further be characterized by the following illustrative, exemplary, non-limiting aspects, features, or steps:

wearing the training cap 2-3 days/week;

wherein the designated sport involves a rule that does not allow the official associated headgear to be used during the designated off-season training period of the designated sport.

A method for athletic conditioning as described above and herein below need not be tied to any designated sport, per se, that requires an official associated headgear worn by a participant during an in-season participation in said designated sport. Rather, the athletic conditioning method could be used for participants in a sport that does not require a designated or official in-season headgear, but has a history of concussions, for example, men's and women's soccer, which have a fairly high concussion rate. The embodied method would help these participants in the off-season also (e.g., during soccer drills and strength and conditioning).

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description to follow, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the invention as described herein, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary of the invention, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1a is an illustrative front perspective view of a training cap, and FIG. 1b is a rear view. In this aspect, the cap provides essentially full coverage over the user's head. The radially extending lines on the cap define sections of the cap, at least some of which form open and/or closed pockets on the interior of the cap in which a weighted material can inserted or removeably insertable to provide both the proper weight for the cap and a selectable distribution of the weight for specific training purposes, according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2a is an illustrative front perspective view of a training cap, and FIG. 2b is a rear view. In this aspect, the cap has a weighted headband region and an unweighted mesh skull cap region. The headband region has weighted or weightable pockets similar to those described in regard to the aspect illustrated in FIG. 1. The mesh skull cap portion can be made of a material to allow or controllably allow ventilation and the escape of heat from the wearer's head, according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3a is an illustrative front perspective view of a training cap, and FIG. 3b is a rear view. In this aspect, the cap only has a headband portion similar to the aspect illustrated in FIG. 2, according to an illustrative aspect of the invention;

FIG. 4a is an illustrative front perspective view of a training cap, and FIG. 4b is a rear view. In this aspect, the cap has a headband portion similar to the aspect illustrated in FIG. 2, and strapping (front/back, side/side) to assist in wearer comfort and cap stability, according to an illustrative aspect of the invention; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a training cap having one or more pockets for holding a weighted material, which can be reversibly sealed shut by an adhesive closure such as hooks and loops, according to an illustrative aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF NON-LIMITING, EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention are a training cap and a method for athletic conditioning using the training cap. Embodiments of the invention are intended to be utilized to help lower the risk and reduce the number of sport-related concussions, address equipment adaptability for players, lessen the risk of, or eliminate, rule-based liability issues for institutions, all of which may themselves be considered aspects of the invention.

FIG. 1a is an illustrative front perspective view of a training cap 100-1, and FIG. 1b is a rear view. In this aspect, the cap provides essentially full coverage over the user's head comprising a weighted region 25. The radially extending lines 12 shown on the cap define sections 14 of the cap, at least some of which may form open, closable, and/or closed internal pockets 16 in the cap in which a weighted material 18 resides or is removeably insertable to provide both the suitable weight for the cap and a selected distribution of the weight for specific sport training purposes, as illustrated in FIG. 5. In an alternative aspect, a single open, closable or closed internal pocket that is weighted or is weightable may be provided. Weight may be provided by metal, gel, sand, beads, clay, and other suitable materials. Referring to the exemplary cap 100-1 illustrated in FIG. 1, weights of the appropriate amount might be disposed in the front and the rear of the cap to strengthen the musculature specifically associated with forward and backward head movement or weights of the appropriate amount might be disposed in the right and left sides of the cap to strengthen the musculature specifically associated with sideways head movement or weights of the appropriate amount might be disposed evenly around the cap to strengthen the musculature associated with generalized head movement.

The suitable weight of the cap referred to above is a weight that is substantially the same as that of a respective ‘in-season’ headgear (e.g., helmet) of a designated sport (e.g., football). An adult (gridiron) football helmet typically weighs between about four to five pounds according to various gridiron helmet manufacturers. Therefore, it would be particularly advantageous to have the weighted region of the cap (and therefore essentially the entire cap) weigh between 4.1 and 4.5 pounds.

Table 1 lists football helmet weights for a variety of size ‘large’ helmets from a commercial manufacturer. In an aspect, the training cap may resemble a football helmet in surface-area covered and shape but with no face mask. All aspects of the training cap may be made of one or more materials including a pliant, breathable, soft material (e.g., leather, nylon, foam (rubber), etc.; a rigid or hard material (e.g., plastic, fiberglass, foam, etc.), a rigid or hard material outer shell with a pliable or soft inner liner. Certain materials may be selected to provide the wearer with the same feel and wearer experience that would be provided by wearing an official headgear of the designated sport.

FIG. 2a is an illustrative front perspective view of an alternative aspect of a training cap 100-2, and FIG. 2b is a rear view. In this aspect, the cap has a weighted/weightable headband region 25 and a mesh (unweighted) skull cap region 27. The headband region 25 has weighted or weightable pockets similar to those described in regard to the cap 100-1 illustrated in FIG. 1. The mesh skull cap portion can be made of a material to allow or controllably allow ventilation and the escape of heat from the wearer's head. As illustrated, the rear of the headband region includes a closure 33 (e.g., Velcro, snaps, etc.) that provides for an adjustable fit. The base perimeter of the cap may be of a fixed dimension/size or be elasticized, as illustrated in FIG. 1, or have other fitting arrangements as known in the art.

FIG. 3a is an illustrative front perspective view of an aspect of a training cap 100-3, and FIG. 3b is a rear view. In this aspect, the cap only has a weighted/weightable, headband portion similar to the aspect 100-2 illustrated in FIG. 2 but without the mesh skull cap region.

FIG. 4a is an illustrative front perspective view of an aspect of a training cap 100-4, and FIG. 4b is a rear view. In this aspect, the cap has a weighted/weightable headband portion 25 similar to the aspect 100-2 illustrated in FIG. 2, and strapping 44 (front/back, side/side) to assist in wearer comfort and cap stability.

It is to be appreciated that materials, closure mechanisms, and other features of the training cap are applicable to all aspects thereof.

An embodiment of the invention is a method for athletic conditioning that utilizes the embodied training cap. The method involves the steps of selecting a designated sport (e.g., collegiate football) that requires an official associated headgear (e.g., regulation football helmet) worn by a participant during an in-season participation in the designated sport, wherein the official associated headgear has a weight in a designated range (e.g., 2-5 lbs for a football helmet). The method then requires providing a suitable embodied training cap and wearing (or having the athletic participant wear) the training cap during at least part of the off-season training period of the designated sport while performing the functional movements associated with the designated sport. These functional movements may include, but are not limited to, agility drills, position specific drills and conditioning, cutting, and so on. For example, approximately 4-6 weeks before the designated sport season begins, the athlete would wear the training cap for agility drills and position specific drills and conditioning, approximately 2-3 days/week. The weight and weight distribution of the training cap combined with the functional movements of the body and head would provide neuromuscular strengthening and proprioception feedback to the neck musculature that would transfer to the playing field during in-season play and help to reduce or prevent concussions. This would allow acclimation to the weight of the helmet used in its respective sport, as well as help train the neck musculature to accommodate the movements involved with wearing the official headgear of the designated sport.

All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening.

The recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.

All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not impose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed.

No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. There is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

TABLE 1
Football Helmet Weights
(All weight values are for size ‘large’ helmets. Other sizes will
vary slightly in weight.)
	Weight (lbs/oz)
		Total w/	Total w/
		Carbon	Stainless	Total w/
	Helmet	Steel	Steel	Titanium
Helmet	Alone	Facemask	Facemask	Facemask
Schutt ION4D Adult	3 lbs,	4 lbs, 8 oz	—	4 lbs, 1 oz
	6 oz
Schutt Vengeance	3 lbs,	4 lbs, 10 oz	—	4 lbs, 1 oz
	8 oz
Schutt AiR XP Adult	2 lbs,	3 lbs, 15 oz	3 lbs, 13 oz	3 lbs, 5 oz
	13 oz
Schutt DNA Pro +	3 lbs,	4 lbs, 6 oz	—	3 lbs,
Adult	2 oz			12 oz
Schutt AiR XP Elite	3 lbs,	4 lbs, 4 oz	4 lbs, 2 oz	3 lbs,
	2 oz			10 oz
Schutt DNA Pro +	3 lbs,	4 lbs, 9 oz	4 lbs, 10 oz	3 lbs,
Elite	5 oz			15 oz
Schutt DNA Pro + w/	3 lbs,	—	—	3 lbs, 8 oz
Titanium Facemask	8 oz
Schutt AiR Varsity	3 lbs,	4 lbs, 11 oz	—	—
Commander	6 oz
Schutt ION4D Youth	3 lbs,	4 lbs, 8 oz	—	4 lbs, 1 oz
	6 oz
Schutt AiR XP Youth	2 lbs,	3 lbs, 13 oz	3 lbs, 11 oz	3 lbs, 3 oz
	11 oz
Schutt DNA Pro +	2 lbs,	4 lbs, 1 oz	—	—
Youth	15 oz
Schutt Recruit Hybrid	2 lbs,	3 lbs, 10 oz	—	—
	11 oz
Schutt Recruit	2 lbs,	3 lbs, 10 oz	—	—
Hybrid+	11 oz
Schutt XP Hybrid	2 lbs,	3 lbs, 7 oz	—	—
	8 oz
Schutt XP Hybrid+	2 lbs,	3 lbs, 7 oz	—	—
	8 oz
Schutt Air Standard II	3 lbs,	—	—	—
	10 oz
AiR Youth	2 lbs,	3 lbs, 1 oz	—	—
	9 oz

Claims

1. A training cap for a designated sport that requires an official associated headgear worn by a participant during an in-season participation in said designated sport, said associated headgear having a weight in a designated range, comprising:

a weighted region that at least partially encircles a wearer's head, wherein said weighted region is characterized by a weight that is substantially the same as the weight of the associated headgear worn by the participant during the in-season participation in said designated sport.

2. The training cap of claim 1, wherein the designated sport is football and the weighted region has a weight of between about two to five pounds.

3. The training cap of claim 2, wherein the weighted region has a weight of between 4.1 and 4.5 pounds.

4. The training cap of claim 1, wherein the weighted region is adapted to provide substantially full coverage of the wearer's head.

5. The training cap of claim 1, comprising a second region connected to the weighted region, wherein the designated sport is football and the weighted region has a weight of between about two to five pounds.

6. The training cap of claim 5, wherein the training cap has a weight of between 4.1 and 4.5 pounds.

7. The training cap of claim 5, wherein the second region comprises a mesh construction.

8. The training cap of claim 5, wherein the second region comprises a plurality of crossed strap regions.

9. The training cap of claim 1, wherein the weighted region is adapted to substantially cover the wearer's ears.

10. The training cap of claim 1, wherein the weighted region comprises a pocket into which a selected weight can be removeably disposed.

11. A method for athletic conditioning, comprising:

selecting a designated sport that requires an official associated headgear worn by a participant during an in-season participation in said designated sport, wherein said associated headgear has a weight in a designated range;

providing a training cap as set forth in claim 1;

wearing the training cap during at least part of a designated off-season training period of the designated sport while performing a functional movement associated with the designated sport.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising wearing the training cap 2-3 days/week.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the designated sport involves a rule that does not allow the official associated headgear to be used during the designated off-season training period of the designated sport.