GB2293772A

GB2293772A - Exercise apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2293772A
Application number: GB9520258A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Oliver
Original assignee: YOUNG BENJAMIN MINSHALL
Current assignee: YOUNG BENJAMIN MINSHALL
Priority date: 1994-10-04
Filing date: 1995-10-04
Publication date: 1996-04-10
Anticipated expiration: 2015-10-04
Also published as: GB2293772B; GB9520258D0; GB9419981D0

Abstract

An exercise apparatus, particularly, but not exclusively for use in ball sports, comprises a target carrying surface (1) such as to form a wall, and a target generating means (10), such as an image projector that generates a moving target (3) upon the wall. In use, one or more participants can hit a projectile (21) against the wall, trying to hit the target. The apparatus further comprises a target impact monitoring means (20) and a target impact indicating means (9), so that in use a score can be kept indicating the number of strikes on target by each player. The apparatus may be easily configured to allow several different games to be played. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO EXERCISE APPARATUS This invention concerns improvements in and relating to exercise apparatus, particularly, but not exclusively ball sports monitoring apparatus.

A large number of racquet and ball sports are known, as are a large number of target sports involving projectiles released by the participant. In many sports the accurate control of a ball, or equivalent such as shuttlecock, is essential to success, whether in passing or shooting for football or as in hitting certain parts of the court, such as in squash or tennis. Monitoring success at such events particularly during practice is a difficult task.

The present invention aims to provide an attractive and enjoyable pursuit which also enables participants to practice the type of coordination, control and skill necessary for other sports repetitively, but in a challenging environment with accurately monitored results.

According to a first aspect of the invention we provide exercise apparatus comprising: a) a target carrying surface, b) target generating means, c) target impact monitoring means and, d) target impact indicating means, wherein in use the target generating means produces one or more targets on the target carrying surface and impacts with the target are monitored, an impact with the target causing a signal to be sent to the impact indicating means.

In this way easily observable results for the participant hitting the target are produced. Accurate monitoring of success during participation is thus provided for.

The target carrying surface preferably comprises one or more substantially vertical walls. Most preferably the target carrying surface comprises a substantially vertical wall connected to two side walls. A structure of this type encourages a projectile hitting the target surface to return to the participant after impact and maintains the projectile in the vicinity of the participant increasing active use. A back wall may also be provided, to define a squash court like structure, to this same end.

By providing two such structures with a removable dividing wall and mutually opposing target carrying surfaces a larger court can be provided by converting two smaller courts. Such an arrangement provides for a more versatile assembly.

The target generating means may comprise means remote from the target carrying surface, means in the target carrying surface or means on the target carrying surface, such as paint or other markings.

Remote target generating means may comprise image projectors. Projectors may be mounted above or behind the target carrying surface.

Target generating means in the target carrying surface may include light sources, such as bulb or LED arrays.

The target or targets may comprise an illuminated or otherwise distinguished area of the target carrying surface.

The target impact monitoring means may detect the physical impact of the projectile, for instance by completing an electrical circuit in the or near the surface of the target.

Alternatively the target impact monitoring means may monitor the projectiles track as it approaches the target carrying surface, and predict the impact location, for instance by visual means.

The monitoring means may be a video camera, the camera may be mounted in conjunction with the target generating means.

Alternatively the target impact monitoring means may monitor the projectiles position at all times and predict the impact location, for instance by radar or a radio transmitter in the projectile.

The monitoring means may be a number of radio receivers mounted at fixed positions relative to the target carrying surface.

The target impact indicating means may comprise an audible and/or visual signal. A continuous count of performance may be maintained of such signals.

The apparatus may provide for two or more participants. Distinctive targets and/or signals may be provided for different participants.

The target areas and/or their duration of appearance may be greater or less for different players relative to each other. Thus hitting the target may be made more difficult for some players over others, handicapping is thus provided for.

Different embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, in which: Figure 1 shows a typical apparatus assembly; Figure 2 shows a video target producing system; Figure 3 shows an optical target producing system; Figure 4 shows a video tracking system; Figure 5 shows a radio tracking system; Figure 6 shows a combined court structure; and Figure 7 shows a feature of another court.

The invention comprises apparatus for exercising and practising coordination control and tactics around a concept based on hitting a target.

As illustrated in Figure 1 the apparatus has a target wall 1 and a playing surface 2 around that wall 1 for use by the players 4. Targets 3, being equal to or less in area than the wall are provided on the wall 1 and may be moved over time. Monitoring of the players 4 capacity to hit these targets 3 provides the relative scoring feature to establish a persons score.

Many variations in the means for presenting targets 3, for monitoring the "hitting" of those targets 3, playing the game and the court structure are possible. These are each discussed in more detail below.

Target Presenting Means In its simplest format targets comprising fixed areas 3 on the playing wall 1 may be provided.

Different coloured, shaped or otherwise distinguished areas may equate to different scores or other requirements.

In more complex and varied forms it is desirable to present variable targets, both in terms of position and or area.

In any of these formats the targets may be indicated by a number of means such as:1. Lights behind a translucent screen In this arrangement a translucent screen 5 of a perspex type material is provided with lights 6 behind the screen 5. Lights of various colours 7, 8 are mounted in either a grid or another pattern, as shown in Figure 2. Lights may be illuminated individually or in blocks of various configurations.

This type of screen 5 is easily achievable using standard coloured light bulbs switched under computer control. Maintenance would be required to change the bulbs periodically, and the computer could automatically detect when bulbs 5 have blown.

2. Projection of a computer television picture on the back wall This format provides an enhanced more sophisticated technique by using projection television 10. A projection television 10 could easily be mounted on the ceiling 11 above the back wall 1, permitting a standard, white wall to be used, and therefore making it possible to adapt existing squash courts.

Using projection television for displaying targets 3 on the back wall has some significant advantages: * The projected targets 3 can move around the wall.

* The targets 3 can be of varying size and speed depending on the skill level of each player 4.

* The targets 3 need not be a single colour, but a picture or moving animation or video clip.

* The entire back wall 1 can be used to display a picture background of complex computer graphics, animation or video.

* The projection can be used with sound to provide a "multi-media" computer game.

The technology of computer projection television is now well established.

The drawback of front projection is that the players could obstruct the picture if allowed to get too close to the end wall. If this is considered to be a major limitation back projection could be considered.

By suitable programming of the controlling computer for the display means the targets 3 can be switched on and off, moved, expanded, contracted, altered in shape or various combinating thereof.

Handicapping Two Golfers meeting for the first time within seconds of establishing their mutual interest in the game divulge their handicaps. It is likely that one of the great attractions of golf is the constant struggle to better your handicap, as it is a universal yardstick to oneself and ones peers. This concept is also applicable to the present invention, as well as nurturing balanced competition the handicapping system should also improve the game.

The controlling computer could be programmed to project the games at different skill levels, say on a scale of 1 to 10. Therefore two players could decide to play the game at the same skill level, or more importantly, the game could be projected to each player at a different skill level. For example an experienced player who has invited a novice along for a game could set the computer to project the game at skill level 5, but skill level 1 for his friend. In this way the computer will handicap the experienced player, so that the game is more even and exciting.

The actual handicapping could incorporate various elements e.g. size of targets projected, length of time allowed to return the ball. Once this has been incorporated into the programme, it opens up another area of ideas.

The Skill level a person has risen to could be encrypted onto a smart card which would be read at the onset of a game by an interface of the computer. During each game, the computer would evaluate an individuals performance and, by referring to a preprogrammed criteria, may suggest that a player advances to the next skill level and adjust his smartcard accordingly.

It would also be possible to have a "computer dating" service in order that regular players could arrange matches between themselves via the computer.

If, for example, a player of skill level 7 was on nights shifts, he could request a game with a player of a similar skill level on a Monday afternoon. This booking facility would also be able to take in clubs from different areas. This service could be accessed from each club, or by phone on a premium rate number service. The possibility of linking this service to a central voice mail facility should also be explored.

The registering of skill levels onto a regional and national database could form the basis of an ongoing competition where the top player from each club was invited to a regional final and then a national final. This could be run on at regular intervals, say every quarter, with good prizes offered to the winners.

Tarqet Monitoring Establishing whether the targets are hit or missed is an important aspect of the concept. A large number of ways of monitoring such events are possible.

The provision of pressure sensitive walls which detect the location of impacts being an example of such a wall, the wall having a compliant facing material which moves locally on impact. The movement may cause a circuit in a grid to be closed giving X and Y coordinates for the impact location which can then be compared with the active target's position.

Similar grids of light beams, radar beams, or the like can be positioned parallel to and very close to the wall. Breaking of the beams thus occurs very close to impact giving the appropriate location.

Two preferred techniques are 1. Video camera processing.

2. Radio triangulation.

each of which track the motion of the ball.

1. Video Camera Processing This uses a video camera 20 to "watch" the ball's 21 position on the back wall 1. The video picture from the camera is fed to a computer that determines the actual position of the ball to decide when and whether the target 3 has been hit. In Figure 4 it has not been hit. The video camera may be mounted on the ceiling 11 of the playing area.

Computer technology for image processing is now well established, and computer systems capable of delivering the high speed processing necessary for tracking the ball are available. Video equipment is capable of resolving moving objects of small size.

Standard video cameras have resolutions in the order of 640 x 480 pixels.

2. Radio Triangulation This uses a technique of radio triangulation for monitoring ball 21 travel. This method has one main advantage over the video camera method; the ball's 21 position is known at all times and at any point in the court. Four radio transmitter/receivers 22 mounted in the court as shown in Figure 5, monitor the ball's 3 position by identifying the distance of an aerial fitting inside the ball 3 from each receiver 22.

Playinq The Game Within the basic concept of the invention there is the possibility for a vast number of activities and variations to be played. A number of these are presented to exemplify the manner in which the technology can be employed.

SPOT ON This game is played by either 2 players against each other or 2 teams of 2 players. The target area could be either the whole of one wall of the court or it could be an area within it, say the size of goalposts.

The players each have a colour assigned to them, say red and blue. For the first player, if the colour is red, the computer would project a red target on the wall and the player would kick the ball trying to hit this target. As the ball rebounds the computer would then project a blue target which the next player had to hit. This sequence would continue with the lit squares appearing at random anywhere in the target area. The players would have to return the ball on the volley, that is without bouncing, or if they let it come to rest they would only be allowed one touch of the ball.

There would also be a limit on the time they had to return the ball, determined and monitored by the computer.

The computer would score the game with a point awarded for every target hit, the relative scores being displayed 9. Individual games would be won by reaching a pre-set score, say 11 points, and the winner of the match would be the one to win the most games in a pre-determined time.

ATTACK This format is specially devised to accommodate teams rather than individuals. This format is best suited to teams of 3 or 4 players.

In this game there would be a target area at either end of the court. The size of the court would be larger than the one used for the standard game, hopefully a court twice the size would accommodate this game.

Attack will be very similar to a game of 5 a side football with the two teams facing each other attacking a target area behind their opponent. The object of the game will be to hit the target squares, as they are presented, to score points.

As the targets will be moving and as they will be relatively small there would be no need for a goalkeeper. For this game it would probably be intriguing to have the targets presented in a predictable pattern. In this way anticipating where the target is going to be and placing yourself in a position to hit it would be part of the tactics and skill.

For example if the lit target started in the bottom left hand side and moved to the right a square at a time until the bottom right hand corner was lit, and then it moved up a line and back to left in the same manner.

Alternatively a target area could be lit and the next area which was to be lit started to flash before becoming constant.

Again the scoring of this game could be in a similar format to Spot On but there would be a maximum time allowed in order to help with court management, which would be essential during busy periods.

Other Formats As stated previously, once the technology has been developed for these games, it could be adapted with ease to accommodate other formats.

THUNDERBALL: this game would be very similar to SPOT-ON, except that it would involve throwing and catching. This format would be very fast and therefore would probably appeal to players whose primary concern was fitness.

RACKET: again this format would be as SPOT-ON, but would involve the use of a racquet and therefore would be similar to squash itself.

BOUNCE: this game would be played as is basketball and could be played on the same courts as ATTACK.

Instead of trying to place the ball in a basket, target areas would have to be hit. To give a degree of difficulty to the game, players would not be allowed to throw the ball directly at a target, they would have to bounce the ball off the floor onto the lit target.

100n.o.: this format would be completely different to anything else and would be designed around the game of cricket. This would be popular to cricket players to improve their skill level. The computer would be used to present targets all round the court, and if video images were used these could simulate fielders. Some form of bowling machine would be needed.

League Games If there were 4 players per team the match could be comprised of each player having 2 games of SPOT-ON and then a game of ATTACK, which if the games of SPOT-ON have resulted evenly, could be the decider for the match. A nice twist to this could be that each game of SPOT-ON has a points value of 1 and the game of ATTACK had a points value of 3, then even if a side was leading 5-3 going into the last game of ATTACK, they would not be assured a win until the game was finished.

The winner would be awarded points in the league but the final score, in this case 8-3 or 5-6, would have some bearing on league placing, as goal difference currently does in league football.

Matches, the same as the league game formats, could be encouraged at any time. In other words 2 teams could book 2 courts for a set time at a reduced rate. In this way groups of players may organise their own regular night out.

It would be possible to use a company's logo as some form of opportunity to win prizes. A company's logo may be projected in the centre of targets during a game, but a special prize winning logo, say a different colour, would be projected periodically. If the target was hit when this was displayed, a prize would be won.

The number of times the potentially winning logo was projected would depend on the cost of the prize, if for instance this idea was used to promote Lucozade sport, then the special logo would be shown virtually every game. If Nintendo decided to promote their Gameboy in this way, there normal logo would be shown a number of times during each game but the actual prizewinning logo would probably be restricted to say 3 per hall per day.

The idea could also be used to promote the hall itself by offering holidays, sports gear, etc.

Court Structure Any number of potential court structures lend themselves to this concept. Of course there is a basic requirement for a target carrying wall 1, but such a wall could be made up of a number of different surfaces. Different angles and sizes of surface could be provided. Furthermore the wall need not be planar; concave, convex or more complicated configurations could be provided.

A most straightforward court would resemble a squash court in configuration with a target wall 1, back wall 30, two side walls 31, a floor 32 and ceiling 11. Such a court would be suitable for "SPOT-ON" as described above.

By providing two symmetrical adjacent courts facing away from one another as shown in Figure 6, the removal of the connecting wall 30 enables the court's size to be doubled by combining courts 35, 36 - to provide for team games such as "ATTACK".

Another game that could be played is "SHOOT-OUT".

Here the wall/screen has a number of targets of different kinds (e.g. 4 red targets and 4 blue targets). One player tries to hit one kind of target and another player a different kind of target. When a target is hit it is removed from the target display (e.g. it is no longer projected). The targets may be stationary, or may move during play, or between shots.

It will be appreciated that one way of playing the game - for the players to take turns shooting at their respective targets and the winner is the first player to clear the wall/screen. The game can be played with a football, or using racquets.

We have also considered some other features for use with the invention and these include: (a) Large screen T.V. as the target. For example, laser beam T.V. is now becoming viable. The T.V.

screen could be the size of the entire target wall, or only a part of it. More than one T.V. screen could be used in the target wall. The screen(s) may be strong enough to withstand being hit by the balls, or a protective transparent wall may be in front of it/them.

(b) We may have a part of, or even all, of the floor sloping. During secret trials occasionally balls would not be hit with sufficient force for them to return to the next participant and therefore the game was held up until the ball had been retrieved and taken back into the playing area. To eliminate this from the game it is proposed to slope an area from the base of the target back into the playing area. This sloping area will become a "no go" area for the players and if a ball is hit lightly the next player will have to wait till the ball runs off the slope back into the playing area before kicking it. Designating this a "no go" area makes it a convenient siting for the projection unit and the detection cameras as they would not be impeded by the players. Figure 7 illustrates this.

(c) The corners at the front target wall could be rounded instead of being right angles. They may be convex. Occasionally it was found that if balls where hit into the corner of the court they would "die" and again have to be retrieved therefore interrupting the flow of the game. This could easily be overcome by slightly rounding the corners, probably in a convex fashion. This might be done to all four corners, but the front two are the most important.

(d) We could use a white ball, and preferably have some light coming from the front target wall direction. We conducted an analysis of the footage of a videocamera trained on the target wall during a game to confirm that this method produced suitable images for high speed computer processing. It was found that this was definitely a method that could be used but that the ball did throw up shadows which hindered the processing. The use of a white ball, especially in an area where fluorescent lights where used, would overcome this as the computer would be told to look for a white object and would therefore ignore the shadows.

Alternatively two cameras could be placed at the front, target wall (e.g. in the "no go" area) looking side to side, generally parallel with the front wall.

They could monitor the lines of trajectory thus determining the point of impact. We could have a third transversely directed camera.

Claims

1. Exercise apparatus, especially but not exclusively for use in ball games, comprising a target carrying surface, target generating means, target impact monitoring means and target impact indicating means, in which in use the target generating means produces one or more targets on the target carrying surface and impacts with the or a target are monitored, an impact with the target causing a signal to be sent to the impact indicating means.

2. Exercise apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a projectile wherein in use the projectile can impact upon the target surface.

3. Exercise apparatus, according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which said target carrying surface comprises one or more substantially vertical walls.

4. Exercise apparatus, according to claim 3 in which said target carrying surface comprises two side walls.

5. Exercise apparatus, according to any preceding claim comprising a back wall connected to two side walls to form a squash court like structure.

6. Exercise apparatus, according to any preceding claim comprising two court like structures having a removable dividing wall and mutually opposite target carrying surfaces, removal of said dividing wall allowing the two smaller courts to from a single larger court.

7. Exercise apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the target generating means comprises means remote from the target carrying surface.

8. Exercise apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the target generating means comprises means in the target carrying surface.

9. Exercise apparatus according to claim 1 any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the target generating means comprises means on the target surface.

10. Exercise apparatus according to claim 7 in which the target generating means comprises one or more image projectors.

11. Exercise apparatus according to claim 8 in which the target generating means comprises one or more light sources mounted in the target carrying surface.

12. Exercise apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the target comprises an illuminated or otherwise distinguished area of the target carrying surface.

13. Exercise apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the target impact monitoring means comprises means of detecting the physical impact of the projectile with the target carrying surface.

14. Exercise apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the target impact monitoring means comprises means for monitoring the path of a projectile as it approaches the target carrying surface and for predicting the impact location upon the target carrying surface.

15. Exercise apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the impact monitoring means comprises a video camera.

16. Exercise apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the target impact monitoring means comprises a means of monitoring the position of the projectile at substantially all times and predicts the impact location.

17. An exercise apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the target impact monitoring means comprises radio monitoring means.

18. Exercise apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the target impact monitoring means comprises one or more radio receivers mounted at fixed positions relative to the target carrying surface, and a radio transmitter in the projectile.

19. Exercise apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the target impact indicating means comprises an audible and/or visual signal and/or electrical signal.

20. Exercise apparatus according to any preceding claim comprising two or more distinctive targets so as to provide for two or more participants.

21. Exercise apparatus according to claim 20 in which the target areas of the two or more distinct targets may be greater or less for two or more different participants so as to make hitting the target easier or harder for different participants.

22. Exercise apparatus according to claim 20 or claim 21 in which the target duration of the two or more distinctive targets may be greater or less for two or more different participants so as to make hitting the target easier or simpler for different participants.

23. An exercise apparatus according to any preceding claim in which there is a sloping floor at or adjacent the target carrying surface.

24. Exercise apparatus according to any preceding claim in which control means is provided adapted in use to control the size of a target on the target carrying wall, and/or the length of time a target on the target carrying wall is "in play".

25. Exercise apparatus according to claim 24 in which the control means comprises computer control means.

26. Exercise apparatus according to claim 24 in which the control means is adapted to move the target on the target carrying wall, either whilst a player is aiming at the target or between successive attempts to hit the target.

27. Exercise apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.

28. A kit comprising target generating means and target impact monitoring means, and being adapted to be constructed into the exercise apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 27.

29. A kit according to claim 28 also comprising target impact indicating means and being adapted to be constructed into the exercise apparatus of any of claims 1 to 27.

30. A kit according to claim 28 having control means according to claim 24, and being adapted to be constructed into the exercise apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 27.

31. A method of converting a squash court into apparatus in accordance with claim 1 comprising fitting target generating means, target impact monitoring means and target impact indicating means, in which in use the target generating means produces one or more targets on one or more surfaces of the squash court.