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  Sports practice video training system and methodUSPTO Application #: 20070072159Title: Sports practice video training system and method Abstract: A sports practice video training system and method for use by players practicing activities that have a visual target area upon which the practicing player focuses during his practice activity provides one or more video cameras positioned at selected positions relative to a practicing player and a monitor screen positioned immediately adjacent the visual target area upon which the practicing player focuses during practice, the video image transmitted to the monitor being selectively inverted horizontally to provide a mirror image, real-time view of the practicing player during his practice activity. (end of abstract) Agent: Olson And Olson - Portland, OR, US Inventor: Jerald J. Olson USPTO Applicaton #: 20070072159 - Class: 434252000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Education And Demonstration, Physical Education, Golf The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070072159. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of the prior filing of U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 60/720,844, filed Sep. 27, 2005. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to video training apparatus and methods for assisting a person improve proper form, style and motion in practicing a sports activity and more particularly to a method and apparatus for providing a practicing person real-time video images of himself on a monitor positioned in the visual target area of the player's sight during his practice activity. [0003] It has long been known that it can be helpful to players of various sports to photograph and video record a practicing player during his practice activity and then afterward review or play back the photos and video so that the player may observe himself for proper form, style and movements, etc., in order to correct and improve his playing performance. Frequently the practicing player's instructor or coach will watch the video playback with the player and critique and instruct the player on points observed during the video playback. [0004] This type of training method is often employed by golf instructors in working with practicing golfers, particularly since proper form, stance, style and motion are so critical to the golfing activity. When watching the playback together after the practicing golfer has completed a series of swings, etc., the instructor will typically point out errors and discuss changes that the player should endeavor to work on in subsequent practice activities. [0005] While this after-the-fact observation of his earlier golf swing practicing has been shown to be a helpful and valuable instruction tool for assisting the player identify areas needing improvement or correction in stance, style and motion, such assistance is provided only at a point in time after his practice activity has been completed, and then obviously only from viewing his earlier practice from the standpoint of an observer effectively facing himself, as are the images provided on a monitor screen from a video camera. [0006] It has however, been discovered through extensive experimentation that, in practicing sports activities that have a fixed visual target area upon which the practicing player focuses his sight during his practice activity, if a video monitor screen is positioned in the visual target area so that while the practicing player is focusing on the visual target area of his practice activity he is able to view real-time video image of himself practicing, the player can effectively observe himself during his practice activity as it is happening without impairing his practice. It has been discovered that by electronically inverting the video image shown on the monitor screen in the practicing player's view, and thereby effectively providing a mirror image view to the practicing player as he focuses on his target area, his brain is able to absorb the image without disruption of his focus on the target of his activity, in very similar manner to a person standing in front of a mirror and combing his hair. This corrected, real-time mirror-image observation of himself as he practices his activity provides the practicing player an immediate view of his stance, form and motion as it occurs, and thereby provides an enhanced, improved, and effective practice experience. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] In its basic concept this invention provides a sports practice video training system and method for golf and other sports which have a visual target area upon which the practicing player visually focuses during practice activity, the system and method arranged to capture video images of the player with at least one video camera and transmit the images to a video monitor screen positioned in the visual target area of the practicing player during his practice activity and selectively invert the image sent to the monitor screen, whereby the practicing player may view himself in real time from his own perspective during his actual practicing activity in order to observe, adjust and correct himself for proper stance, form, motion and other aspects important to his practice and improvement in his sport. [0008] It is by virtue of the foregoing basic concept that the principal objective of this invention is achieved; namely, the provision of a system and method for improving the results of practice, training and instruction for sports having a visual target area upon which the practicing player focuses during his practice activity, and to overcome the limitations and disadvantages of video playback training systems of the prior art which provide only for subsequent, after-the-fact player review as an observer after each practice activity has been completed. [0009] Another object and advantage of this invention is the provision of a sports practice video training system and method of the class described which may utilize a plurality of video cameras positioned at selected positions relative to the practicing player, and switching means connects the cameras and the monitor screen to selectively send images, in either inverted or non-inverted form as needed, to the monitor screen positioned adjacent the target area of visual focus of the practicing player. [0010] Another object and advantage of this invention is the provision of a sports practice video training system and method of the class described which may also include a second monitor screen positioned for viewing by an instructor or trainer and which image may as desired be inverted or not inverted independently of the image on the monitor viewed by the practicing player. [0011] Another object and advantage of this invention is the provision of a sports practice video training system and method of the class described which may also include a video recorder and playback unit arranged to record video images captured for subsequent playback, selectively in inverted or non-inverted form as may be desired, for subsequent review by the practicing player at a later time. [0012] A further object and advantage of this invention is the provision of a sports practice video training system and method of the class described which may be provided specifically as a golf swing training system and method arranged to position the video monitor screen in an underlying base structure arranged to support a practicing golfer, the monitor screen being positioned adjacent the location for a golf ball positioned on the base to be hit. [0013] A further object and advantage of this invention is the provision of a sports practice video training system and method of the class described which may be adapted for use in connection with many various, different types of visual target type sport activities. [0014] A still further object and advantage of this invention is the provision of a sports practice video training system and method of the class described which improves and enhances the practice experience by permitting the practicing player's real-time viewing of himself from selected video camera angles during his practice activity. [0015] The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of preferred and illustrative embodiments. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a first embodiment of the present invention showing a practice tee area and the components of a golf club swing training system. [0017] FIG. 2 is a vertical elevational view as viewed along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1 and showing the address position of a golfer during practice. [0018] FIG. 3 is a lateral cross sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1. [0019] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, foreshortened side elevational view of a second embodiment of the system and method of this invention arranged for use in connection with a basketball player practicing shooting free throws. [0020] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, foreshortened side elevational view of a third embodiment of the system and method of this invention arranged for use in connection with a practicing bowler. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Continue reading... 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