| Bat speed sensing device and methods -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Bat speed sensing device and methodsRelated 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.), Bat Swing Analyzer Or GuideBat speed sensing device and methods description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060211523, Bat speed sensing device and methods. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE [0001] This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/663,660, filed Mar. 21, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to a device and method for determining the velocity of a bat swing, either when hitting a ball or practicing. More particularly, this invention relates to a method and apparatus for sensing the velocity of a baseball bat when, wherein the apparatus and method provide for selective usage in association with a batting glove. [0003] It is known that the flight of a struck baseball and its ultimate traveling distance is determined in part by the velocity of the baseball bat at the time of impact with the ball. Other factors that will influence the speed of the ball include the individual characteristics of the bat and the ball, the incoming or pitch speed in the case of a pitched ball, the orientation of the bat when it hits the ball, the point of contact at which the bat hits the ball, and environmental factors, such as wind resistance, that operate on the ball while it is in flight. Of these factors, there are four that are within the batter's control--the bat's characteristics, which is determined by the type of bat the batter selects, the bat's velocity, the bat's orientation, and the point of impact. Upon selection of an appropriate bat and stance for a particular swing, the batter's success in executing the hit is primarily reduced to controlling the bat's position and velocity at impact. [0004] Others have employed a variety of means in seeking to either directly measure the speed of a baseball that was hit by a bat, or measuring a baseball bat's velocity, and thereby indirectly inferring the baseball's potential speed. These concepts generally relate to swing-practice instructional devices that may be used for comparative purposes, and for the batter to better recognize, present swing characteristics. [0005] With respect to measuring the implement's velocity, some have developed fixed systems, such as those associated with a batting tee, which, of course, is unsuited to making measurements during ordinary play. Others have developed devices that measure bat speed and swing tempo using light beams and/or radar pointed at the device either from the ground directly below or near the batter, or from a significant distance away from the bat. Others have developed relatively small systems but which still require attachment to the bat, which is not conducive to use in ordinary play. Still others have developed systems in which the baseball bat itself is instrumented, which is expensive, and which will likely undesirably alter the characteristics of the bat or be subject to damage if used to hit a ball. [0006] Further limitations and disadvantages of traditional or proposed devices that purport to measure the speed or velocity of sports swing impactors will become apparent to one skilled in the art through comparison of such systems with the present invention, as set forth in the remainder of this application. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] There is a need for baseball bat velocity sensing apparatus and method, which avoids the drawbacks of prior art systems. This need is met in the present invention, which employs at least one sensor that may be selectively attached to a batting glove. To facilitate use of the system and avoid interference with the batters swing, swinging or hitting characteristics of the bat, the apparatus of the present invention is selectively positioned in association with the batter's hands during his/her swing. The apparatus provides an output that is responsive to swing movement, and measures the velocity of the swing and bat speed for display to a user. The method and apparatus of the present invention may be employed with any type of bat and regular bats may be used without any required modification or attachments. Thus, for example, bat velocity may be determined in the ordinary course of a baseball game. The invention is easily and conveniently used without materially altering or interfering with the batter's ordinary swings. Accordingly, the bat speed measuring apparatus of the present invention embodied as a separate, small, lightweight, self-contained device, or integrated into a batting glove for use. Such a device is selectively secured in association with a batter's hands above the wrist, to accurately monitor swing velocity, such as via selective attachment to a batting glove or integration into the glove. [0008] The invention uses at least one or more sensor from which bat barrel velocity is determined, the at least one sensor disposed in a substantially fixed relationship to the bat during a swing to be monitored. A sensor may be disposed to measure the centripetal acceleration along the shaft of the bat, and/or to measure acceleration in one or more planes that are generally perpendicular to the bat's shaft. Using two or more sensors, the bat face orientation and/or direction of motion at impact with a ball may be determined. [0009] The invention also provides the batter with a convenient, light weight chronometer or timepiece which does not restrict or adversely affect the user's sporting activities. In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the same circuitry which provides motion information may be used to provide a watch function. Thus it will be possible to omit one's regular watch during baseball play or a practice session. The invention may also provide for comparing a swing with one or more prior swings, or may provide an indication whether and by how much the bat speed is increasing or decreasing from swing to swing or over a number of swings. The device also may store a number of the fastest bat speeds from a predetermined number of the batter's previous swings. It is also capable of either automatically or manually switching between its clock, velocity, speed ratio modes or other modes. The device can also be reset to erase the previous swing memories. Although the device is lightweight, it is rugged, and is configured with a shape and design, which allows positioning in association with a glove adjacent to and above the wrist of the user without affecting the users normal swing. Other objects and features of the invention will be understood with reference to the specification, claims and drawings. [0010] These and other advantages and novel features of the present invention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings. The description should not be literally construed as a limitation of the invention. Rather, the invention should be interpreted within the broad scope of the further appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] One can better understand the present invention when one refers to the accompanying drawings, wherein identical parts are identified with identical alphanumeric reference characters, and wherein: [0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective of an embodiment of the apparatus, selectively attached to a batting glove. [0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, showing function buttons and display mode. [0014] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of functional operation of a device according to the present invention. [0015] FIG. 4 is a schematic flow diagram showing the various mode and select options and typical or potential event sequences within the underlying operational functions of the present invention. [0016] FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating a potential accelerometer sensor output during a potential or typical non-impact swing of a swing impactor such as a baseball bat. [0017] FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating a potential accelerometer sensor output after impact, associated with a swing in which the bat hits the ball. [0018] FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the main functional components of a processor that may be used in the invention. [0019] FIG. 8 is a perspective of an embodiment of the apparatus, selectively integrated into a batting glove. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Continue reading about Bat speed sensing device and methods... Full patent description for Bat speed sensing device and methods Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Bat speed sensing device and methods 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 Bat speed sensing device and methods or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Color coded teaching system Next Patent Application: Pitching practice apparatus Industry Class: Games using tangible projectile ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Bat speed sensing device and methods patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.16489 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
