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  Method and apparatus for teaching how to execute a predetermined motionUSPTO Application #: 20060094523Title: Method and apparatus for teaching how to execute a predetermined motion Abstract: A practicing method includes a full-length mirror provided with a series of images of an individual executing a predetermined motion such as a golf swing, with the individual seeking to practice the execution of his or her motion, looking at himself or herself in the mirror, and mimicking the positions of the correct motion as displayed on the mirror while viewing himself or herself as an overlay over the positions portrayed on the mirror. The individual then can correct his or her motion by matching his or her reflected image with the positions portrayed by indicia at the mirror. In one embodiment, the mirror is provided with an LCD layer that is driven with animation reflecting the correct motion to be achieved, such that the images portrayed by the mirror can be made to change in a sequential fashion, in accordance with the correct motion to be achieved. The images may also be provided one at a time so that the individual can match his or her position such as, in the golf embodiment, stance, back swing and follow-through by comparing his or her reflected image with the image on the mirror. In an alternative embodiment, clear plastic overlays are imprinted with an image of an individual executing a correct motion, such that the individual seeking to correct his or her movement can compare what he or she sees as his or her reflection in the mirror with that portrayed by the overlay. (end of abstract)
Agent: Robert K. Tendler - Boston, MA, US Inventor: Carolyn Wallis Hall USPTO Applicaton #: 20060094523 - Class: 473266000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Golf, Body Movement Or Position Indicator (e.g., Stance Aids, Etc.) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060094523. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to a methods of teaching a skill such as golf, and more particularly, to a system by which a student can visually compare his or her motion as viewed in a full-length mirror, with a portrayal of the correct motion on the mirror. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The teaching of golf in general has in the past required the hands-on approach of utilizing a golf pro and having the golf pro teach the student through a trial and error method, in which the golf pro observes the student and corrects the student's head position, stance or swing, based on what the golf pro observes. [0003] This type of teaching is heavily dependent upon what the particular golf pro considers to be the perfect swing and is time consuming and expensive because it requires the individual to go to, for instance, a golf driving range and meet with the golf pro. [0004] In order to improve golfers' swings, various self-help books are available and indeed, a large amount of apparatus has been supplied for home use. The apparatus is usually keyed to a text and the student must interpolate between what is written and depicted on the pages of a text and what he or she must do to improve his or her swing. [0005] These methods of teaching a golf swing, while controlled to the extent that the particular book or system has decided what is the perfect golf swing, nevertheless suffers from the inability of the student to be able to ascertain what he or she is doing wrong. [0006] The result is that only with extreme difficulty can one teach a student the perfect golf swing, either because each individual golf pro has his or her idea of what is perfect, or because there is a lack of immediate feedback to the individual when the individual practices his or her golf swing. [0007] The above applies to any skill requiring an individual to execute a correct motion or series of motions, be it for sport or for use in the workplace. Thus anyone who wishes to increase his or her skill at an activity needs to have a system that can teach the skill or activity in a way that the individual can understand so as to improve. [0008] This includes, for instance, the proper operation of machinery, including how to operate heavy equipment. It can also include the proper movements for repair of a machine. The teaching of any skill requiring movement also applies to dance, marching band moves or any choreographed endeavor involving human movement. Needless to say, teaching of such skills also applies to all sports in which movement is involved. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] Rather than utilizing services of a professional and rather than utilizing programmed text for instruction, in the subject invention, a full-length mirror is provided in which the mirror is supplied with a number of images of an individual such as a golfer executing what is considered to be the perfect or correct motion, here the swing. In the case of golf, the student stands in front of a mirror, golf club in hand, and attempts to mimic that which is depicted on the mirror. He does so by comparing his reflected image with the image that is placed on the front of the mirror, so that stance, head position, [0010] The result is that only with extreme difficulty can one teach a student the perfect golf swing, either because each individual golf pro has his or her idea of what is perfect, or because there is a lack of immediate feedback to the individual when the individual practices his or her golf swing. [0011] The above applies to any skill requiring an individual to execute a correct motion or series of motions, be it for sport or for use in the workplace. Thus anyone who wishes to increase his or her skill at an activity needs to have a system that can teach the skill or activity in a way that the individual can understand so as to improve. [0012] This includes, for instance, the proper operation of machinery, including how to operate heavy equipment. It can also include the proper movements for repair of a machine. The teaching of any skill requiring movement also applies to dance, marching band moves or any choreographed endeavor involving human movement. Needless to say, teaching of such skills also applies to all sports in which movement is involved. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0013] Rather than utilizing services of a professional and rather than utilizing programmed text for instruction, in the subject invention, a full-length mirror is provided in which the mirror is supplied with a number of images of an individual such as a golfer executing what is considered to be the perfect or correct motion, here the swing. In the case of golf, the student stands in front of a mirror, golf club in hand, and attempts to mimic that which is depicted on the mirror. He does so by comparing his reflected image with the image that is placed on the front of the mirror, so that stance, head position, shoulder position, golf club head position and any of the myriad of factors can be compared by the student as the student looks at himself in the mirror. [0014] In this manner, the correction is immediate in terms of feedback to the student because the student, during practice, merely matches what he sees of himself on the mirror with that which is depicted on the mirror. The system is thus applicable to any physical skill or exercise at which one wants to improve. It relates to all manner of sport or to workplace scenarios in which the individual is expected to execute some particular physical activity. This could be such activities as mechanical repair or device fabrication, or in a factory activity, such as running a machine, which requires repetitive physical motion. [0015] In one embodiment, the mirror is provided with an overlaying LCD transparent layer, which is driven sequentially by an animation set representing the correct motion, so that what is depicted by the image on the LCD overlay is an individual executing what is considered to be the perfect motion. [0016] The images portrayed by the sheet in front of the mirror may be viewed as a motion picture, indicating the correct swing to the individual seeking to mimic it, or the images may be stop action images such that the student can match his body position and, in golf, club head position to the stop action image, thus giving the individual more time to be able to match his or her motion with that depicted on the mirror. [0017] Alternatively, the mirror can be overlain manually with various sheets of transparent material with different images on each sheet. In the golf scenario, individuals standing in front of the mirror, with, for instance, a sheet indicating the correct stance will be able to compare his or her stance by viewing his or her reflection with the correct stance as depicted by the overlay sheet on the mirror. [0018] Overlay sheets of sequentially differing positions for the perfect motion may be mounted by the individual on the mirror, with the individual then seeking to match his image with that of the overlain image so as to step the individual through various positions that are required to execute the perfect motion. [0019] In summary, a practicing method includes a full-length mirror provided with a series of images of an individual executing a predetermined motion such as a golf swing, with the individual seeking to practice the execution of his or her motion, looking at himself or herself in the mirror, and mimicking the positions of the correct motion as displayed on the mirror while viewing himself or herself as an overlay over the positions portrayed on the mirror. The individual then can correct his or her motion by matching his or her reflected image with the positions portrayed by indicia at the mirror. In one embodiment, the mirror is provided with an LCD layer that is driven with animation reflecting the correct motion to be achieved, such that the images portrayed by the mirror can be made to change in a sequential fashion, in accordance with the correct motion to be achieved. The images may also be provided one at a time so that the individual can match his or her position such as, in the golf embodiment, stance, back swing and follow-through by comparing his or her reflected image with the image on the mirror. In an alternative embodiment, clear plastic overlays are imprinted with an image of an individual executing a correct motion, such that the individual seeking to correct his or her movement can compare what he or she sees as his or her reflection in the mirror with that portrayed by the overlay. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Continue reading... 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