| Baseball device with sound -> Monitor Keywords |
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Baseball device with soundRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Playing Field Or Court Game; Game Element Or Accessory Therefor Other Than Projector Or Projectile, Per Se, Practice Or Training Device, For Game In Which Play Involves Base Running (e.g., For Baseball, Cricket, Etc.)Baseball device with sound description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060089214, Baseball device with sound. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Applications Ser. No. 60/621,206 filed Oct. 23, 2004 and Ser No. 60/627,414 filed Nov. 12, 2004. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to a sport motivation and promotion device and, more particularly, to a modified baseball or glove or baseball bat which engages the user in the sport by providing baseball-related audio segments, and optionally audible positive feedback to the user if the baseball or softball is successfully caught or struck. The motivation and promotion device is particularly useful for a novice or young player. [0003] Appreciation of the rich and colorful tradition and history of baseball, the American national sport, is important in attracting young players to involvement in the sport, and opportunities to absorb this tradition and history are limited. The unique power and convenience of audio media in entertainment and information, particularly for young people, and the technological advances now available, demonstrate the need for attractive baseball-related audio devices to present this tradition and history in an engaging format. The attraction of sports celebrities and heroes provides the opportunity to further enhance involvement in the sport, by incorporation of a logo of a recognized ball club, the signature of a recognized baseball player or a similar visual memento. [0004] Mementos of sporting activities and events are of great interest to spectators and fans, to young players and to professional and amateur players and coaches. Mementos related to baseball, as the "national sport", are of particular interest. Advances in technology have been applied to a variety of sports-related collectable, novelty and toy articles. U.S. Patent Application No. US 2004/0157527 A1 discloses a method for making a sports-related collectable article using computer image visualization and manipulation methodology. A talking football, designed to interest young children in that game, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,069, and a talking ball is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,375. [0005] Devices have not been described that provide baseball-related audio segments from a collectable baseball glove. There is thus a need for a modified baseball glove that evokes the experience of a baseball game, by utilizing audio-chip technology to provide baseball-related audio segments, optionally in combination with visual mementos, for example baseball team logos and signatures of recognized players. [0006] Immediate feedback as to whether a thrown baseball or softball is caught in the pocket of a ball glove, or successfully struck by a bat, is of great value to amateur players and particularly to young players. Immediate positive feedback is of particular value to novice or young players, in development of self confidence and continuation of involvement in the sport. Audible positive feedback, specifically a vocal phrase (for example, "Good catch!") may be provided by a coach or other mentor. However, a coach or mentor is not always present, and direct feedback from a sports training device has an immediate impact, and gives the user a sense of control. [0007] Direct feedback is provided to players by various devices, by standard and toy footballs that provide vocal feedback upon impact, by baseballs that display pitching speed on impact and other devices. However, ball gloves or bats that provide positive voice feedback on successful ball catches have not been described. [0008] Advances in the design and production of solid state audio-chip technology provide capabilities for the use of smaller and less expensive devices (U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,758; U.S. Pat. No. 4,312,245; U.S. Pat. No. 3,792,833). [0009] Known prior art devices do not take advantage of the capabilities of solid state control and audio generation technology or other advances that provide baseball-related experiences in combination with a baseball-related object, specifically a baseball glove or baseball bat. [0010] The use of vocal feedback in sports training devices has been described in footballs, soccer shoes and other devices, (U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,375; U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,069; U.S. Patent Application No. US 2003/0082414 A1), but not in baseball gloves or bats, for the purpose of training in the proper technique and skills needed in the catching or hitting of thrown baseballs or softballs. [0011] Advances in voice generation technology provide capabilities for the storage and generation of multiple vocal phrases, in many languages, and non-vocal audio segments, in predetermined or random sequences, on inexpensive and durable solid state units. The solid state units may be replaceable and may also provide capabilities for recording new vocal phrases, and non-vocal segments, allowing the device to be readily updated. [0012] Known prior art devices do not take advantage of the full capabilities of current voice generation devices and related solid state elements, or of current impact detection and measurement devices. [0013] Thus there is a need for a modified ball glove and ball bat, incorporating solid state audio and control technology to provide the interest and excitement of baseball-related audio segments in a convenient and flexible manner. Additionally, there is need for impact detection devices and voice generation devices to provide immediate positive vocal feedback to users who successfully catch or hit thrown baseballs or softballs. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0014] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the control and audio unit is incorporated into a modified baseball glove. The glove can be of any size suitable for display, if the optional impact sensor is not present. The modified baseball glove has a solid state control and audio unit, and a loudspeaker or electromechanical transducer, through which baseball-related audio segments are broadcast. The device includes an electrical power source, preferably a battery power supply. The modified baseball glove also may include an area for display of a visual baseball memento, for example a team logo or signature of a recognized baseball player. The audio element of the control and audio unit stores in digital form baseball-related audio segments, which may include music, for example "Take Me Out To The Ball Game"; voice segments, for example "Play Ball!"; baseball-related noises, for example stadium crowd noise and historical audio segments, for example broadcast recordings of historic baseball plays. The audio element may also store and broadcast promotional audio segments. The control element of the control and audio unit provides the capability to initiate generation of audio segments by the audio element, and to select audio segments to be broadcast. [0015] It is an object of the invention to provide a motivational and promotional baseball glove having an audio-chip technology which provides a baseball-related audio signal to a loudspeaker, in response to the user activating the control switch, and to further provide an area in which a baseball-related visual memento may be displayed. [0016] It is another object of the invention to provide a collectable baseball glove having a solid-state control and audio unit that is replaceable, so that different combinations of baseball-related audio segments can be utilized in the device. [0017] It is still another object of the invention to provide a collectable baseball glove having a solid-state control and audio unit in which the audio segments may be recorded, so that new baseball-related audio segments can be added to the device, or can replace existing audio segments. [0018] It is still another object of the invention to provide a collectable baseball glove having a solid-state control and audio unit in which various categories of audio segments can be stored, and chosen for broadcast, such categories including for example music, voice, game-related noise and recordings of memorable broadcast baseball plays. [0019] It is an object of the invention to provide a sports device in the form of a modified ball glove incorporating solid state impact detection devices and voice generation devices to provide, directly to users, immediate positive vocal feedback in the training to catch thrown baseballs or softballs. [0020] In response to the needs described I have invented a sports motivation and promotion device in the form of a modified ball glove and a modified baseball bat, having a convenient and flexible audio capability, and optionally having an impact sensor, which provides a ball impact signal to a control unit, which in turn provides an audio signal to a loudspeaker, in the form of a positive vocal sentence or phrase, when a thrown ball is caught. [0021] Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of this invention. [0022] In use of the device, the user presses the on/off switch to activate the device and play the first audio segment. The user may hold down the switch to play a series of audio segments, in a predetermined sequence. The user may press the switch briefly to turn the device off. The device may optionally turn itself off after a predetermined period of non-use. Continue reading about Baseball device with sound... Full patent description for Baseball device with sound Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Baseball device with sound patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Baseball device with sound or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Ball control training device Next Patent Application: Hockey stick blade and a method of making thereof Industry Class: Games using tangible projectile ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Baseball device with sound patent info. 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