Patent Application
20250032878
This disclosure relates to the field of sports training systems.
Practicing shooting in basketball requires that a basketball be passed to an athlete who is training. Currently, there are two common options. The first is a manual option, whereby a second person retrieves and then passes the ball to the athlete who is training. The second option consists of one of several commercially available machines which operate at one physical location-under the hoop. This allows for capturing previously shot basketballs so that they can be passed back to the athlete. These machines are limited in passing ability since they must pass from a fixed location. They may use variable force, and may rotate to pass in different directions, however they are still relegated to a single position under the hoop.
Other machines have small caster wheels and can be rolled around manually, requiring additional attention and labor from an assistant, and requiring storage. Many of these machines utilize some manner of “punching” or “catapulting” in order to “launch” the ball to a location. There is no spin applied to such passes, which are often delivered with a wobbly trajectory as a result. Additionally, current solutions have manual passing-force adjustments via a spring under tension, requiring the athlete to be in a narrow range of positions to catch the passed ball. These passing machines often sit low to the ground, delivering the ball with an arc-shaped trajectory which attempts to simulate a “chest pass” typically used in the game of basketball, but the result can be unnatural. Programming and software associated with current passing machines remain limited, offering only minimal and basic repositioning schemes. As a further matter, basketballs come in two or more sizes based on player type, varying based on age and gender groups. Current passing machines are unable to distinguish between the balls, or to recognize any other elements on the court-including the athletes. When balls of varying size are required, players typically must take turns depending on which ball has been loaded into the passing machine.
There is a need in the art for systems and mechanisms that allow an athlete to seamlessly and efficiently explore different positions on the court while receiving a steady supply of new balls for shot-taking. Moreover, there is a need to advance the art with modern technologies which can integrate with standard courts to help make training more efficient and fun.
A ball return system is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the ball return system is integrated with a playing surface upon which a player trains, wherein the ball return system comprises a ball return mechanism having a ball storage mechanism with one or more ball transport mechanisms configured to receive balls and move them through the storage mechanism, one or more ball sorting mechanisms configured to selectively discharge the balls within the storage mechanism, one or more ball storage groups, and a ball release mechanism, wherein the balls are firstly received by the one or more transport mechanisms, secondly organized by the one or more sorting mechanisms into the one or more storage groups, and thirdly expelled from the storage mechanism by the release mechanism. The ball return mechanism also includes a ball passing device configured to accept the expelled balls from the release mechanism and to pivot via panning and tilting. The ball return mechanism also includes a track structure having both lateral and vertical motion mechanisms, wherein the vertical motion mechanism comprising two parallel vertical rails, each rail extending perpendicularly away from the playing surface, the lateral motion mechanism comprising a lateral rail running orthogonally to and being slidably engaged with the vertical rails, the passing device being slidably mounted to the lateral motion mechanism, wherein the vertical motion mechanism is configured to raise and lower the lateral motion mechanism with passing device, while both the lateral motion mechanism and passing device are mutually configured to provide linear motion of the passing device along the lateral rail, wherein the passing device simultaneously projects the balls onto the playing surface while pivoting and moving vertically, laterally, and diagonally relative to the playing surface via said motion mechanisms. The ball return system further comprises optical sensors and a system controller, the system controller receiving data from the optical sensors, the system controller further being in two-way communication with sub-controllers, including a passing controller, a lateral motion controller, a vertical motion controller, and the ball release mechanism, wherein the optical sensors capture visual data from player characteristics, location, and movements, wherein the system controller automatically translates this data into sub-controller commands in real-time during training to affect one or more of the following: the vertical and lateral positions of the passing device, the pivoting of the passing device, and the releasing of balls into the passing device, wherein the above plurality of varied vertical, lateral, and pivoted positions of the passing device provide chest passes, bounce passes, and lob passes directed at the player based on the visual data, and wherein the system controller optionally executes the sub-controller commands based on system presets, manual controls, or external processing of the visual data.
In one aspect, the passing device is configured to vary the level of spin and force on the projected ball, and wherein changes to these parameters are executed by the passing controller based on the visual data. In another embodiment, one or more of the transport mechanisms further comprise an entry point through which the balls are received, wherein the received balls include those from missed shot attempts made by the player, wherein one or more of the ball sorting mechanisms organize the balls by size, and wherein the release mechanism includes a conduit providing a ball pathway to the passing device. In another aspect, one or more of the entry points are positioned at the level of the playing surface, and wherein a first storage group holds a first size of ball and a second storage group holds a second size of ball.
In another aspect, the conduit is flexible, and wherein both the vertical and lateral motion mechanisms are configured to provide infinite repositioning of the passing device along the track structure. In another aspect, the system presets can be global or player-specific. In another aspect, the visual data includes hand gestures and shot attempts by the player, including missed or made shots, wherein the hand gestures can initiate passes, and wherein variations of hand gestures are associated with different types of passes. In another aspect, the player-specific system presets can be age-based. In one aspect, the external processing is cloud-based, wherein one or more of the transport mechanisms further comprise an entry point through which the balls are received, wherein the received balls include those from missed shot attempts made by the player, and wherein one or more of the ball sorting mechanisms organize the balls by size. In another aspect, the track structure is configured to provide linear motion of the passing device in an additional direction running orthogonally to both the vertical and lateral motion.
In another embodiment, a ball return mechanism for passing balls to a player positioned on a playing surface includes a lateral motion mechanism surrounding the playing surface, and a passing device slidably mounted to the lateral motion mechanism, wherein the passing device is configured to move parallel to imaginary first and second axes, the two axes running orthogonally to each other, and wherein the passing device is further configured to provide chest passes, bounce passes, and lob passes with variable force and spin toward the player while simultaneously varying its position along the lateral motion mechanism as the player varies their position on the playing surface. In one aspect, the passing device is configured to pivot via panning and tilting, wherein the lateral motion mechanism includes a track structure having a first, second, and third rail, the rails being straight and coplanar, wherein the first rail corresponds to the first imaginary axis, while the second and third rails correspond to the second imaginary axis. In another aspect the second and third rails connect to the first rail via terminal curvatures, the ball passing device being configured to travel between the three rails via the curvatures. In one aspect the ball return mechanism includes a ball storage mechanism configured to receive the balls, sort the balls according to size, and release the balls to the passing device. In another aspect the ball return mechanism is remotely programmable and operable via a system controller in two-way communication with the ball return mechanism, wherein a plurality of cameras capture real-time visual data from the player, the system controller configured to receive and process this data, and wherein the system controller automatically converts the data into commands which alter the type of pass, and which also direct the pass to the player positioned on the playing surface.
In another embodiment, a ball return system for passing balls to a player positioned on a playing surface includes a ball return mechanism having a ball storage mechanism, a ball passing device, and a track structure. The ball return system also includes one or more optical sensors configured to capture visual data from the player and communicate said data to a system controller that controls the operation of the ball return mechanism, wherein the ball return mechanism is configured to transfer balls from the storage mechanism to the passing device, wherein the passing device is slidably mounted to the track structure, wherein the passing device is configured to move laterally, vertically, and diagonally upon the track structure, and wherein the passing device is further configured to automatically project the balls toward the player positioned upon the playing surface, based on the visual data. In one aspect, the passing device is further configured to provide chest passes, bounce passes, and lob passes directed at the player based on the visual data, wherein the visual data includes player characteristics, location, and movements, and wherein the player movements include hand gestures. In another aspect, the passing device is further configured to vary the level of spin and force on the projected ball. In another aspect, the storage mechanism receives the balls from missed shot attempts made by the player, wherein the storage mechanism is configured to organize the balls by size, wherein the player movements include shot attempts, and wherein the system is configured to recognize which player is on the playing surface. In another aspect, the ball return mechanism is remotely operable and programmable via system presets, and wherein the system presets can be global or player-specific.
In the following discussion, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed subject matter. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present disclosed subject matter may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known elements, processes or techniques have been briefly mentioned and not elaborated on in order not to obscure the disclosed subject matter in unnecessary detail and description. Moreover, specific details and the like may have been omitted inasmuch as such details are not deemed necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the disclosed subject matter, and are considered to be within the understanding of persons having ordinary skill in the relevant art.
The present invention is optimized for use in sports and activities that require the use of a ball, especially basketball. It includes one or more systems and mechanisms which can be integrated with a training space in order to enhance training and play for an athlete, or player. A ball return system is provided which includes a ball return mechanism having a movable passing device. The system can further be integrated with optical sensors such as cameras, and controllers gathering data from the cameras. In one example, the system processes data captured by the optical sensors in real-time during a training session in order to physically and automatically manipulate the ball return mechanism and its passing device via the controllers. The gathered data is largely derived from player characteristics and movements, including location and position changes within the training space and upon a playing surface, as well as hand gestures. The system includes programmable features and presets which can also be implemented to operate the passing device, but also offers manual controls. Presets may be global or player-specific. Operation of the ball return mechanism and its passing device alters the nature of the pass, giving the player access to a plurality of pass types, including bounce passes, direct or chest passes, high or lob passes, spin passes, hard passes, and soft passes.
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An exemplary ball storage mechanism 110 includes one or more ball transport mechanisms 115 further comprising an entry point 116 through which the balls 164 are received, and a vertical conveyor belt to move the balls from the entry point to the sorting mechanism 120 lying in its path. The received balls 164 include those from missed shot attempts made by the player 163 (see
The passing device 105 is mounted upon a track structure 130, the track structure comprising a straight lateral motion mechanism 135 and a straight vertical motion mechanism 140. The vertical motion mechanism 140 further comprises two parallel vertical rails, each rail extending perpendicularly away from the playing surface 162, while the lateral motion mechanism 135 further comprises a lateral rail running orthogonally to and being slidably engaged with the vertical rails of the vertical motion mechanism. The ball passing device 105 is slidably mounted to the lateral rail of the lateral motion mechanism 135, and can travel along a substantial portion of the full length of the rail. The vertical motion mechanism 140 raises and lowers the lateral motion mechanism 135, while both the lateral motion mechanism and passing device 105 are mutually equipped to provide linear motion of the passing device along the lateral rail. In one example, the passing device 105 is motorized. The passing device 105 simultaneously projects the balls 164 while pivoting (via panning/tilting) and moving vertically, laterally, and diagonally relative to the playing surface 162 via the above motion mechanisms. Orthogonal first and second axes (being orthogonal relative to each other), or the X-Y axes, respectively, shown in the corner of the drawing are referentially associated with the vertical/lateral motion of elements within the track structure 130. In an exemplary training space 160, the X axis runs parallel to the playing surface 162, while the Y axis runs perpendicular to it. Vertical motion arrows 192 indicate up/down linear motion of the lateral motion mechanism 135 (and thus the mounted passing device 105), parallel with the Y axis. Lateral motion arrows 190 indicate lateral or side-to-side linear motion of the passing device 105 along the rail of the lateral motion mechanism 135, parallel with the X axis. In an exemplary embodiment, both the vertical motion mechanism 140 and the lateral motion mechanism 135 provide infinite repositioning of the passing device 105 along the track structure 130. In another embodiment, the track structure 130 is configured to provide linear motion of the passing device 105 in an additional direction running orthogonally to both the vertical and lateral motion.
The system controller 150 receives data from the optical sensors 154, and is in two-way communication with a number of sub-controllers, as indicated by two-way communication paths 156. In an exemplary embodiment, the sub-controllers are communicatively associated with the ball release mechanism 125, the vertical motion mechanism 140, the lateral motion mechanism 135, and the passing device 105. The system controller 150 generally serves as the master controller operating the aforementioned main functions of the above mechanisms. The optical sensors 154 capture visual data from the characteristics, location, and movements of the player 163. In one example, the optical sensors 154 are specialized cameras that allow the system 100 to recognize which player 163 is on the playing surface 162. The system controller 150 automatically translates the acquired visual data into sub-controller commands in real-time during training to affect the following: the vertical and lateral positions of the passing device 105, the releasing of balls 164 into the passing device 105, and the pivoting of the passing device 105. The above plurality of varied vertical, lateral, and pivoted positions of the passing device 105 provide chest passes, bounce passes, and lob passes directed at the player 163 based on player characteristics, location, and movements. The system controller 150 optionally executes the sub-controller commands based on system presets, manual controls, or external processing. In one example, the external processing is executed via an on-site or remote database. In another example, the external processing is executed via cloud-computing. The above elements thus provide for a ball return mechanism 101 that is remotely operable and programmable via system presets.
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In an exemplary embodiment, the curved lateral motion mechanism 436 provides infinite repositioning of the device 405 via the above three motions of the passing device 405; several examples of these positions are illustrated. Position 476 indicates a panned lateral passing configuration A, position 477 indicates a panned lateral passing configuration B, position 478 indicates a panned lateral passing configuration C, and position 479 indicates a panned lateral passing configuration D, each passing configuration further being associated with a ball trajectory. Ball trajectory 486 results from panned lateral passing configuration A, which places the passing device 405 between the first rail 437 and second rail 438 as it pans to target the player 463 while moving along the track via motion 491. Ball trajectory 487 results from panned lateral passing configuration B, which places the passing device 405 on the first rail 437, frontally and to the right of the player 463 and panning only slightly to target the player. Ball trajectory 488 results from panned lateral passing configuration C, which places the passing device 405 on the third rail 439 as it pans sharply to target the player 463 frontally and further to the right, yet at a more oblique angle. Ball trajectory 489 results from panned lateral passing configuration D, which places the passing device 405 much further forward along the third rail 439 as it pans similarly sharply to target the player 463 from the rear, at yet another highly oblique angle.
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Using the above data received by the optical sensors 554, the system controller 550 sends control commands to a plurality of sub-controllers associated with the ball return mechanism. The sub-controllers include the ball release mechanism 525, the ball passing controller 551, a lateral motion controller 552, and a vertical motion controller 553, and are in two-way communication with the system controller 550, as indicated by two-way communication paths 556. The ball release mechanism 525 is triggered by the system controller 550 to release a ball to the passing device (see the passing device shown in all previous figures, e.g. passing device 105), queueing it up for passing to the player. In one example, the ball release mechanism 525 can likewise provide basic information to the system controller 550 about the presence of a ball inside of it, or lack thereof, incoming balls, or a jam in the mechanism 525. The system controller 550 also integrates location data about the passing device with the athlete's present location data, along with the desired type of pass, processing this data into a command sent to the ball passing controller 551 to initiate a pass with the correct force, azimuth, and elevation needed to target the player. Player hand gestures can optionally initiate the pass. The lateral motion controller 552 receives lateral position data from the system controller 550, and uses this data to move laterally to the desired position. Similarly, the vertical motion controller 553 receives vertical position data from the system controller 550, and uses this data to move vertically to the desired position. In another example, the system controller 550 relays optical data to an external, cloud-based computational engine, or data processor 555 to determine player location, which is then passed back to the system controller 550. Externalizing such processing and data sets can serve to minimize and streamline on-site hardware within a training space, easing setup procedures, and establishing a foundation for travel-friendly setups, as well as simplifying the use of modular setups.
The system controller 550 sends control commands to all sub-controllers to pass the ball to the player based on the following: the desired workout program selected by the player, the physical location of the player on the court based on optical analysis, hand gestures or other visually-determined commands initiated by the player, and external prompts via connection to other systems. The system controller 550 can operate using programmable features and presets which can also be implemented to manipulate the passing device. Presets may be global or player-specific. The player-specific system presets can be age-based, allowing younger players to ease into beginner's training, while more experienced players can opt for more rigorous training.
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Many variations may be made to the embodiments described herein. All variations are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure. The description of the embodiments herein can be practiced in many ways. Any terminology used herein should not be construed as restricting the features or aspects of the disclosed subject matter. The scope should instead be construed in accordance with the appended claims.
There may be many other ways to implement the disclosed embodiments. Various functions and elements described herein may be partitioned differently from those shown without departing from the scope of the disclosed embodiments. Various modifications to these implementations may be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and generic principles defined herein may be applied to other implementations. Thus, many changes and modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiments, by one having ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the scope of the disclosed embodiments. For instance, different numbers of a given element or module may be employed, a different type or types of a given element or module may be employed, a given element or module may be added, or a given element or module may be omitted.
It should be appreciated that all combinations of the foregoing concepts and additional concepts discussed in greater detail below (provided such concepts are not mutually inconsistent) are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. In particular, all combinations of claimed subject matter appearing at the end of this disclosure are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein.
