SPORTS RACKET TRAINING DEVICE

Abstract

Electronic, sensing device, applied to a racket is used to determine when the sweet spot sensor is hit during play with a ball, as well as the percentage of times the sweet spot sensor is hit while using the racket.

Description

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/754,530, filed on Feb. 5, 2025.

BACKGROUND

In many racket sports, including tennis, racquetball and squash, it is advisable to hit the ball on the “sweet spot” of the racket to obtain the most power from the racket. The sweet spot is typically located at the center of the racket. Hitting the sweet spot not only provides the most power, but the most control of the ball as well.

There have been numerous devices for training a player to hit the sweet spot of a racket, including a device that resembles a spoon, a racket with a small head and head covers with an opening corresponding to the size and position of the sweet spot. There also been electronic devices, which have three axis accelerometers contained in the bottom of the handle of the racket that use algorithms to provide information on the ball hitting the racket. None of these devices provide a true feedback on the hitting of the sweet spot.

There have also been vibration sensors placed on a racket for counting the number of times that the racket is hit by a ball, displaying this information on a screen associated with the racket. U.S. Patent Application No. 2013/0217520; U.S. Pat. No. 10,058,754.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention consists of a sensor in the form of a generally flat circular disc that is attached to the strings of the racket corresponding to the size and position of the sweet spot of the racket. In the preferred embodiment, there is a sensor on each side of the racket so that the sensor responds to the ball hitting the sweet spot, regardless of which side of the racket is hit. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sensor consists of two circular members of conductive material which are normally separated from one another by a non-conductive material around their circumferences. Wires connect each layer of the sweet spot sensor to the circuit in the housing. When the sweet spot sensor is hit by the ball it causes the two conductive members to come into contact with one another closing a circuit. The circuit includes sound and light indicators and a counting mechanism, such as a CPU. The information from the counting mechanism can be displayed on a TFT screen. The circuitry is powered by a rechargeable battery. Accordingly, when the sensors are hit by a ball the two layers come into contact with each other, closing a circuit and the user is then notified by a sound, and/or light that the sweet spot was hit. A CPU controls the operation of the circuitry and includes a counting mechanism that causes the display to indicate that the sensor was hit.

In addition to the sweet spot sensor, a vibration sensor is also mounted on the frame of the racket or in the yoke of the handle or on the strings of the racket. The vibration sensor is connected by wires to the circuitry in the housing. The vibration sensor is connected to the strings bin a suitable manner, such as the manner in which the sweet spot sensor is attached to the strings. When the ball makes contact with any part of the racket or strings, whether it's in the sweet spot or not, the vibration sensor transmits a signal to the CPU, indicating that some part of the racket was hit by the ball. The CPU program keeps track of the number of times that both the sweet spot is hit by the ball and number of tines the vibration sensor is activated. The CPU causes the display screen to display the percentage of times that the sweet spot is hit by comparing the number of times both the sweet spot and the vibration sensor are hit at the same time, compared to the number of times that only the vibration sensor is activated. The CPU can also calculate and cause the display screen to display the number of hits of the racket and the number of hits of the sweet spot sensor. In addition, a different sound and/or light could be activated when the racket is hit, but the sweet spot sensor is not hit at the same time, from when the sweet spot sensor is hit.

The circuit, containing the sound mechanism, the light, the power supply in the form of a rechargeable battery, the CPU and the screen display are contained in a housing which is attached to ether the strings at the bottom of the string portion of the racket, or within the yoke of the handle. The housing is reinforced and has protective foam to protect the components in the housing in the event that the ball should hit the housing.

In racket sports, it is normal for spin to be imparted to the ball by the strings of the racket. It is important that when hitting the sweet spot sensor that the sweet spot sensor simulates the actual feel and response of tennis racket so that it can be used in a game as well as in practice.

The outer surface of the outer member of the sweet spot sensor includes a raised grid pattern, simulating the strings of a tennis racket or other similar string racket. These are typically horizontal and vertical overlapping strings so that there is a raised and depressed pattern corresponding to the space between each row and layer of strings.

In the preferred embodiment, a PVC material, such as ABS, which has long life and is able to withstand numerous hits, is used for the sweet spot sensor. PVC material can be molded on its outer surface with the grid string pattern. The inner facing surfaces of each member of the sweet spot sensor has a conductive layer which can be either a metallic material, such as metal or conductive paint or graphene infused ABS or other plastic. Other conductive materials can be used.

The sweet spot sensor is firmly attached to the strings of the racket over the sweet spot by a releasable mechanism. This could be done in a number of ways, such as passing a wire through openings in the periphery of the sensor, using a bayonet attachment and/or nuts and bolts that fit within openings on the circumference of the sweet spot sensor. An extension member can surround the sweet spot sensor for use in the attachment of the sensor to the strings.

Similarly, the vibration sensor and wires connecting the sweet spot sensor and vibration sensor to the housing should also be able to be easily removed.

Further, the sweet spot sensor members can be made of conductive ABS, so that conductive paint is not needed. The ABS could also include graphene, which not only is conductive, but increases the durability of the sweet spot sensors.

In a preferred embodiment, the outer layer of the sweet spot sensor is slightly concave to assist in the outer layer returning to its normal position, opening the circuit, reducing the possibility that over time the outer layer of the sweet spot sensor becomes deformed and remains in contact with the inner layer, requiring the replacement of the sweet spot sensor.

The housing may also contain a wireless Bluetooth transmitter and associated circuitry for transmitting the signals from the sweet spot sensor and vibration element to an application on a cell phone. The cell phone would display the number of hits and the percentage of hits on the sweet spot sensor on the screen of the cell phone. The cell phone app could do the calculations performed by the CPU. It is possible for the housing on the racket to have the CPU and display, as well as having the Bluetooth transmitter for display on an app on the cellphone. This would avoid the user from having to look at the cell phone to see the information. Also, children, who may not have a cellphone, would be able to see the information on the display on the racket.

In an alternative embodiment, the sweet spot sensor consists of a pressure sensitive material that changes resistance when compressed. In this embodiment, the circuit would the open when the pressure sensitive material was not contacted by the ball. When the ball hit the pressure sensitive material, the resistance of the pressure sensitive material changes and the circuit, with the different resistance, would now be closed. This pressure sensitive material would also have a grid pattern to impart spin on the ball.

In another embodiment of the present invention two mesh discs made of a conductive material, such as copper, separated around their perimeters by a nonconductive material, could be used. The outer facing surface of the conductive material would have a grid pattern to impart spin.

In an alternative embodiment, when the sweet spot sensor is contacted by the ball it causes the closing of the circuit that activates a sound mechanism or a light mechanism powered by a rechargeable battery. The electronic components are contained, preferably in housing, fitted between the two sweet spot sensors and the strings on the racket. When hitting a ball with the racket with a sweet spot sensor on the racket, the user get immediate feedback as to whether or not the sweet spot was hit this embodiment is simpler, and less expensive the environment that includes the vibration sensor and information contained on the display screen. Also, the vibration sensor can be contained in the housing, rather than attached to the strings, depending on the sensitivity of the vibration sensor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of tennis racket showing the sweet spot sensor and vibration sensor with the sweet spot sensor mounted within the yoke of the racket.

FIG. 1A is a front view of tennis racket showing the sweet spot sensor and vibration sensor with the sweet spot sensor mounted on the bottom of the strings of the racket.

FIG. 2 is a front top perspective view of the housing of the electronics for mounting in the yoke.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the housing of FIG. 2

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of the elements of the present invention

FIG. 5 is a front view of the upper element of the sweet spot sensor.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the nonconductive member separating the upper and lower conductive members of the sweet spot sensor.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of the elements of the sweet spot sensor taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is the lower member of the sweet spot sensor.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved tennis training device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved tennis training device that is simple to use.

It is another object of the present invention to provide training device that can be easily attached and removed from a racket.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved tennis training device that is more reliable.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved racket training device that is inexpensive.

These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 7, a tennis racket 10 having a head 12, a handle 14 and a cloth covered grip 16 is shown. The head 12 has a frame 17 and horizontal and vertical strings 20 and 22 covered by a protective plastic sheath. The sweet spot sensor 18 is shown attached to the strings 20 and 22 proximate the location of the sweet spot of the racket by suitable means, such as wires or nuts and bolts. Wires 21 connect the sweet spot sensor 18 to the electronics in housing 100 mounted in the yoke 30 at the top of the handle 14 of the tennis racket 10. A vibration sensor 32 is also mounted on the strings 20 and 22 which is connected by wires covered by a protective plastic material 23 to the electronics shown in FIG. 4 contained in housing 100.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 the electronic housing 100 is shown. Referring to FIG. 3 the housing 100 has openings 127, 127 a, 135, and 135a for receiving the wires 26, 26a connected to the sweet spot sensor 18 and, 34, and 34a connected to the vibration sensor.

In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 4 the housing 100 contains the audible alarm 102, the power supply 106, an on/off switch 107, a light 104, a CPU 108, a display screen 110 and Bluetooth transmitter 120. Brackets 112 and 112a are used to attach the housing 100 in the yoke at the top of the handle 14.

Referring to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 the sweet spot sensor 18 is shown. The sweet spot sensor 18 consists of, three generally circular members 30, 32 and 34. Member 32 has a central opening 33 and is made of a nonconductive material, such as rubber. The upper and lower members 30 and 34 are thin. The lower member is approximately 1 mm thick and the outer member is approximately 1.25 mm thick. The grid member extends approximately 1.25 mm from the outer surface of the upper member, and is separated from one another by the width of the strings, forming openings of approximately 10 mm each direction. The center of the curved upper member is approximately 5 mm high from the flat lower member.

Members 30 and 34 are made of a conductive material such as metal, conductive ABS or other conductive material. A conductive wire 20 is connected to member 30 and a conductive wire 21 is connected to member 34. Wires 20 and 21are connected to the circuit containing the CPU 108# in the housing 100. Since member 32 is made of a non-conductive material, the circuit # is normally open.

Referring to FIGS. 5, 6 and, the configuration of the sweet spot sensor is shown. FIG. 7 shows a side sectional view of the sweet spot sensor 18 consisting of the two conductive members 30 and 34 and the insulating member 32with the central opening 33 in member 32.

The outer surface of the sensor of the present invention includes a grid pattern, simulating the strings of a tennis racket or other similar string racket. These are typically horizontal and vertical overlapping strings so that there is a raised and depressed pattern corresponding to the space between each row and layer of strings.

In the preferred embodiment, a PVC material, such as ABS, which has long life and is able to withstand numerous hits, is used for the sensor. PVC material can be molded on its outer surface with the grid string pattern. The inner surface of each layer has a conductive layer of the sensor can be either a metallic or other conductive material or conductive paint.

In addition to the sweet spot sensor, a vibration sensor is also mounted on the frame of the racket, in the yoke of the handle, or on the strings of the racket. When the ball makes contact with any part of the racket or strings, whether it's in the sweet spot or not, the vibration sensor transmits a signal to the CPU, indicating that some part of the racket was hit by the ball. The CPU program keeps track of the number of times that both the sweet spot is hit by the ball and number of tines the vibration sensor is activated. The CPU causes the display screen to display the percentage of times that the sweet spot is hit by comparing the number of times both the sweet spot and the vibration sensor are hit at the same time, compared to the number of times that only the vibration sensor is activated. The CPU can also cause the display screen to display the number of hits of the racket and the number of hits on the sweet spot sensor. In addition, a different sound and/or light could be activated when the racket is hit, but the sweet spot is not hit at the same time, from the light and/or display when the sweet spot sensor is hit.

The operation of the device will now be explained. As noted above, the circuit is normally open. Upon a tennis ball hitting the upper member 30 it is deformed in the direction of lower member 34. When the upper member 30 comes into contact with the lower member 34 the circuit is closed, causing the alarm 38 and/or light to be activated. The circuit is closed only momentarily because upon the ball hitting the pressure sensitive pad, the ball is sprung away by the action of the spring effect of the strings, and the conductive pad 30 returns to its normal position, and the circuit is broken. The alarm 38 can have appropriate circuitry for maintaining the alarm on for a predetermined amount of time once it is activated, for example, upon the circuit being closed, the alarm would activate for one or two seconds.

Referring to FIG. 7, two sweet spot sensors 18 and 19 are shown, one on each side of the strings on the tennis racket 10. Pressure sensor the pad 18 is applied to one side of the strings 16 of the tennis racket and pressure pad 19 is applied to the other side of the strings 16 of the tennis racket 10 so that both sides of the tennis racket have a pressure sensitive pad.

While the invention described in association of the preferred embodiment for a tennis racket, the sweet spot sensors may also be applied to other rackets, in which case the dimensions of the sweet spot sensor would be modified to reflect the size of the sweet spot of such a racket. For example, a badminton racket would have a smaller sweet spot than a tennis racket. For use with the standard tennis racket, the sweet spot sensor is circular and has a diameter from 3 inches to 4 inches. The smaller the diameter, the more precise the player has be in hitting the sweet spot sensor 18. For a beginner, the sweet spot sensor could be larger than the sweet spot of the racket. As the player advanced, the sweet spot sensor would be replaced with a smaller diameter sweet spot sensor.

Also, while the pressure sensor pad is shown at the center of the racket, the location of the sweet spot, it is possible that it may be desirable to have the pad at different locations on the racket, such as more to the top sign of the head of the racket, in the case of wanting to train, serving the ball, which the player may want to hit above the center of the head of the racket.

Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be limited by the examples presented herein, but is envisioned as encompassing the scope described in the appended claims and the full range of equivalents of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A sensor for a sports racket, comprising a member for attaching to the strings of the racket and an electrical circuit responsive to said member being contacted by an object, including a ball.

2. The sensor for a sports racket of claim 1 including a CPU for recording the number of times said member is contacted by an object and a display for displaying the number of times the member is contacted.

3. The sensor of claim 2 including a vibration sensing member said CPU recording the number of times said vibration sensing member is activated by an object.

4. The sensor member of claim 3 in which said CPU calculates the percentage of times that both the censor member and the vibration sensing member are activated at the same time.