WO2016007030A2

WO2016007030A2 - Training means comprising training object throwing means, and method for operating the same

Info

Publication number: WO2016007030A2
Application number: PCT/PT2015/000033
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rui José DE FIGUEIREDO FELGUEIRA COSTA SANTOS; Paulo Alexandre RODRIGUES CHAVES FERREIRA; Fernando Manuel DE JESUS PIEDADE; António GOMES LEAL
Original assignee: Isensexpert, Lda
Priority date: 2014-07-09
Filing date: 2015-07-08
Publication date: 2016-01-14
Also published as: WO2016007030A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a training system (1) for developing the ability of a player practicing at least one type of sport with a training object (6), for example a ball, disk or the like. In particular, the present invention discloses at least one training system (1) comprising at least one training surface next to a training field (A), providing object throwing means (7) suitable for automatically throwing training objects (6), and an arrangement for automatically collecting said training objects (6) thrown against said training surface. The present invention further relates to a method for operating a training system (1), which method comprises object throwing means (7) suitable for automatically throwing training objects (6).

Description

TRAINING SYSTEM INCLUDING MEANS OF TRAINING OBJECTS AND OPERATION PROCESS

TRAINING SYSTEM

DESCRIPTION

Field of technique

The present invention relates to the field of training systems adapted for the performance development of ball players or similar sports, and was particularly including automatic means for launching and collecting training objects.

The present invention further relates to a process of operating said training system.

Prior art

Several prior art solutions are known for training systems of the type of the present invention, in particular including training surfaces which will visually display training references, including targets, and which automatically provide training objects to a player in a respective training field. so that it tries to hit those training references by automatically retracting the training objects after they interact with the training surface. Training systems of the type of the present invention are further known, featuring training object launching means capable of trajectory adjustment and projection speed to provide different demands at different locations on the training field. Training systems are further known in which said training field is optionally defined by a plurality of surfaces to increase the spatial dimension of possible training reference displays in the player's field of view. Particularly relevant to the present invention are training systems in which there is necessarily an interaction, in particular an impact, of the training objects with a training surface, so that it is necessary to determine said interaction position.

WO 99/07447 and US 6,709,351 B2 disclose training systems of the type described above, in particular with a plurality of training surfaces arranged to surround a respective training area.

DE 29617403 01 and US 6,776,732 B2 disclose training systems of the type described above and including object launching means adapted for automatically launching a training object. In particular, DE 29617403 Ul discloses a training surface having a ball launching means disposed in the center of a respective training surface. This relative arrangement minimizes the spatial variation options for the initial launch of the ball and the surprise effect as to where it comes from. In other words, considering that a player will tend to consider a training surface as the main reference of his field of view and attention, this solution constrains the training variability in the sense that the player always learns that the ball always comes from the same place. . The same principle applies in the case of a single training surface and a plurality of training surfaces, as the field of view will tend to include fewer locations for possible ball throwing.

WO 2010/063270 A1 discloses a training system having similar visual display arrangements comprising a plurality of quadratic shaped targets configured as open ball receptors and substantially larger than that of a training ball such that it can be introduced through those, and arranged on four surfaces that confine a training area. The object launching means are provided evenly in the center of each of the four training surfaces, one above the other, extending over their entire height, thereby occupying a substantial part of the training surface. As noted above, the position of the ball throwing means statically at the center of each training surface has disadvantages. Furthermore, the use of two vertically disposed ball projecting means substantially increases the complexity of the training object delivery and collection means. The document does not disclose how the ball is retracted after interacting with a training surface, in particular if it does not pass through a respective ball receiver, that is reflected by it into the training area.

EP 1926535 B1 discloses a training system having a training surface and a ball throwing means disposed at the center thereof and at the level of a respective training field. In particular, the system comprises a curtain of tapes adapted to cushion the impact of a ball. Further, said ball projection means may be controlled to vary its direction by a vertical angle and according to a horizontal angle. In another aspect, the disclosed training system comprises a visual indicator that is operable so that it can indicate the location in the training area where a ball will be projected next.

There is therefore a need for a training system that improves the effectiveness of the automatic training object launching means by minimizing the proportion of training surface required by them and optimizing the relative position of the object launching means relative to the field of view. of the player. Furthermore, none of the prior art documents disclose a sled system that optimizes effective distribution of training objects to the object launching means.

General Description of the Invention

A first object of the present invention is to provide automatically controlled means of launching training objects that occupy a minimum fraction of a training surface, thereby enabling the presentation of larger and more centrally located training references in a respective training surface.

In addition, the present invention is intended to disclose launching means that may optionally occupy various positions in a player's field of view, thereby providing a plurality of game requests, including different training object launching paths and speeds to different locations of the including in particular for certain training zones therein.

This objective is solved according to claim 1. According to a preferred embodiment, said training system has a plurality of training surfaces arranged so as to substantially uninterruptedly surround a training field over at least one extension in height, each training surface being preferably has a width between 9 m and 15 m, preferably between 11 m and 13 m, and a height between 2 m and 4 m, and said training field preferably has a width between 7 and 15 m. 20 m, preferably between 10 and 15 m, and a length between 7 and 20 m, preferably between 10 and 15 m.

An associated object of the present invention is to provide a training system featuring means for automatically collecting training objects which provide impact damping of such training objects as a training surface, as well as more efficient automatic collection and distribution of said training objects. training objects up to a projection medium and which have reduced space requirements and constructive complexity.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide automatic collection means that provide centralized distribution of training objects to a plurality of associated object projection means according to their needs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a process for operating a training system including automatically controlled launching of training objects to a respective training field. This objective is resolved accordingly.

claim 13.

Picture List »

The present invention will now be described in more detail based on preferred embodiments and the accompanying figures showing schematic representations thereof.

The Figures show:

Figure 1: Side perspective view of one embodiment of a training system (1) according to the present invention adapted to a respective training field (A);

Figure 2 is a side sectional view of an embodiment of a training surface (B) of a training system (1) according to the invention;

Figure 3? plan view of a first embodiment of a training system (1) according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a training system (1) according to the invention;

Figure 5; plan view of a third embodiment of a training system (1) according to the invention adapted to surround a respective training field (A) by four training surfaces (B);

Figure 6i is a front elevational view of an embodiment of a training surface (B) of a training system (1) according to the invention;

Figure 7: Detail front elevational view of a training surface (B) of a training system (1) according to the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Figure 1 is a side perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the training system (1) according to the present invention showing structural means (2) disposed along one direction next to a training field (Ã). and presenting visual display means (3) extensively arranged on a surface along a respective training surface (B). In this embodiment the training system (1) has a training surface (B) and in an alternative embodiment has several, in particular four training surfaces (B) provided with a substantially quadratic arrangement, i.e. visual display means (3) arranged along four alignments surrounding a respective training field (A), so that a player can interact with four surrounding training surfaces (B).

Each of said training surfaces (B) has visual display means (3) oriented to the training field (A) and adapted for presentation. of training references (4), including targets and others, by pixel type compositions. Advantageously, the training system (1) according to the present invention therefore provides the possibility to display shapes and / or symbols provided as targets to be hit by the player with, and obstacles or other references associated with said targets. . Said training references (4) further include irregularly shaped shapes of varying shape and size, as well as alphanumeric symbols and codes.

The training system (1) further comprises position determining means (5) provided in the form of a pair of linear chambers disposed in proximity, on each side, in front of and above the visual display means (2) and oriented in angle to collect the linear image of the entire training surface (B) together.

The training system (1) further comprises object launching means (7) adapted for automatically controlled projection of respective training objects (6), including balls, discs or the like.

The training system (1) further comprises an automatic data processing device (8) provided in functional connection with said visual display (3), positioning determination (5) and object launching (7) means.

Said visual display means (3) is provided on at least one training surface (B) having a width of between 9 m and 15 m, preferably between 11 m and 13 m, and a height of between 2 m and 4 m. preferably on four training surfaces (B) arranged to surround a respective training field (A). The system of The training apparatus (1) according to the present invention therefore has relatively large training surfaces (B), the relative spatial arrangement of the object launching means (7) having relevance in the field of view and thus of required attention of a player, either by the fraction of the training surface (B) they may occupy, or by the number of means of throwing objects (7) within a player's said field of view.

Figure 2 shows a side sectional view of part of a preferred embodiment of a training system (1) according to the present invention, comprising a training surface (B) disposed in the vicinity of a training field (A ).

As can be seen, the training system (1) has structural means (2) which suspends visual display means (3) oriented to the training field (A). Between the visual display means (3) and the training field (A) are provided position determining means (5) comprising said pair of cameras (51) and detection plane (C).

Said sensing plane (C) is provided by a plurality of sensing plane devices (52) arranged to provide a light plane of high luminous intensity and oriented opposite the two chambers (51) so that they are spaced apart. are overshadowed by said detection plane (C). As can also be observed, a training object (6) propelled by a player on the training field (A) towards a training reference (4) is detected by the chambers (51) as it passes through said plane of action. detection (C). According to a preferred embodiment, there is further provided a collecting arrangement comprising a first collecting zone (11) _/ provided inclined with respect to the plane of the training field (A), particularly downwardly from the plane of the training field (A), such that a forward projecting object (6 ') after interaction with the visual presentation means (3) - time and position plotted and referenced with (6) and (6 ') initially falls on said first collection zone (11) and then ends with gravity on a second training object collection zone (12) (6 ").

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said second collection zone

(12) has a displacement means (13) adapted for displacement of training objects (6), in particular provided as a one-way closed-circuit travel mat at least along the length of a respective training surface. (B) .

Figure 3 shows a plan view of an embodiment of the training system (1) according to the present invention, comprising only a training surface (B) next to a training field (A) and only a means of throwing objects (7).

In particular, the training system (1) has a collection arrangement including a first collection zone (11) and a second collection zone (12) extending along the training surface (B) and basically corresponding to the arrangement. In addition, the means of moving objects

(13) is provided as a single band offset mat, so that after interacting with the training surface (B), any training object (6) is directed to the single storage device (72).

In fact, as can be seen, said object launching means (7) includes an object projecting device (71) provided so that it can be moved along the extension of the respective training surface (B), and a object storage device (72) provided at one end of said training surface (B). According to an inventive aspect, said object launching means (7) is therefore not provided stationary in a central area of the respective training surface (B).

According to one embodiment, said launching device (71) is provided in the second collection zone (12) and such that between two successive projections of a training object (6) it can be moved to the device. (72) to collect said training object (6) for the following projection. Furthermore, said launching device (71) is advantageously provided such that it can be rotated about a substantially horizontal axis, i.e. in a vertical plane, so as to vary the respective projection range accordingly. .

According to another preferred embodiment, the training ground (A) has six reference training zones (A1, ..., A6) arranged in matrix form. Advantageously, the training system (1) has zone signaling means (not shown) which visually indicate to a player which training zone to place in a next training cycle, or where to go. training object (6) be designed next. Figure 4 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of the training system (1) according to the present invention, further comprising only one training surface (B), in which case the displacement means (13) It is provided as a closed loop that extends through two storage devices (72) arranged at opposite ends of said training surface (B).

As can be seen, in this case two object launching means (7) are provided stationary disposed at the end zones of the respective training surface (B), and thus advantageously releasing the entire training surface (B). . Said object projecting means include object projecting devices (71) adapted so that they can be rotated at least about a vertical axis along a horizontal plane.

This collection arrangement further advantageously allows all collected training objects (6) to be first directed to an object storage device (71) - left in the drawing - and under certain predefined conditions, for example in the case of if it has a number of training objects (6) greater than a predefined number, continue to be guided to a second object storage device (72) - to the right in the drawing.

Figure 5 shows another preferred embodiment of the training system (1) according to the present invention comprising four training surfaces (B) arranged in a substantially quadratic arrangement around a training field (A) so as to what A player may interact in all directions with said training surfaces (B).

According to a preferred embodiment, the training system (1) has object launching means (7) adapted for the controlled projection of training objects (6), for example a ball, or a disc, for a zone. previously defined from the training field (A). In the case of the embodiment shown, said object launching means (7) are provided at each end of a training surface (B) and comprise a projection device (71) adapted for projecting training objects (7). 6) and a storage device (72) adapted for storing a plurality of training objects (6) until they are provided to a respective projection device (71).

Furthermore, according to an embodiment mentioned above, the collecting arrangement is adapted such that a training object (6) carried by a displacement means (13) is only discharged to a first storage device (72). ) if a previously defined condition is met, for example if space is available for this purpose. Otherwise, it will continue to be transported to a next storage device (72).

In the embodiment shown, five training zones (A1, ..., A5) are provided so that there is a central training zone (A3) and four peripheral training zones (A1, A2, A4, A5) arranged. around. From one of these peripheral training zones it is thus possible to use the full width of the training field (A) to train exercises over greater distances, with training references (4) displayed on an opposite training surface (B). Figure 6 shows a front view of a part of a training reference surface (B). According to a preferred embodiment, the structural means (2) are provided in the form of a plurality of substantially similar modules and a width of at most 2 m, preferably at most 1.5 m, such that their manipulation and successive installation of a plurality of modular elements along an alignment becomes easier.

According to a preferred embodiment, the training reference (4) may be displayed for a predefined period of time in successive positions along at least one training surface (B), optionally along at least two surfaces. {B} adjacent and developing in one direction or two different directions.

According to another preferred embodiment, the training reference (4) may be presented with a variation of at least one visual display parameter, including shape, size, color and light intensity. There is thus provided the possibility of game precision training with respect to a moving target, and game reflex training with respect to a target that is visible but only to be attained when changing state, for example color or light intensity.

According to another preferred embodiment, the visual display means (3) are fixed to a second collection zone (12) disposed in a plane less than that of the training field (A) by means of fastening elements (14). ) adapted to providing effective damping of the training objects (6) by the visual display means (3).

Figure 7 schematically represents a detail of the visual display means (3) in a training system (1) according to the present invention.

As can be seen, according to a first inventive aspect, said visual display means (3) are provided in a mesh-like arrangement having a substantially square meshed cell (31), with at least most of them being preferably each cell node has a visual display device (32) configured as a point of light and individually referenced, so that each training reference (4) is presented in pixel region type form by a plurality of visual display devices {32} provided on adjacent cell nodes of the visual display means (3).

Lisbon, July 7, 2015

Claims

1. Training system (1) for developing a player's ability to practice at least one type of sport and comprising:

- structural means (2) arranged along at least one direction near a training ground (A),

visual display means (3) provided along a training surface (B) extending along at least one direction adjacent said training field (A) and adapted to display at least one training reference (4),

- position determining means (5) provided in proximity to said display means (3) and adapted to determine the relative position of interaction of a training object (6) with respect to said training surface (B),

- object launching means (7) provided at least one end of said training field (A) and adapted for automatically controlled projection of at least one training object (6), such as a ball and the like,

- at least one functionally connected automatic data processing device (8) with said visual display means (3), position determining means (5) and object launching means (7), said said means for object launchers (7) comprise object launching devices (71) and object storage devices (72) - a collection arrangement having a first and a second collection zone (11, 12) and adapted for collecting training objects (6) and extending along and between a respective training surface (B) and said training ground (A),

featured

said object launching means (7) is provided in at least one of the side end regions of each said training surface (B), or adapted such that they may be displaced between said side end regions of each said training surface (B),

Training system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said object launching means (7) are provided in a stationary position at both lateral ends of each said training surface (B).

Training system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said object launching means (7) are provided such that they can be displaced along at least part of the extension of a respective training surface. training (B).

Training system (1) according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said object launching means (7) are adapted such that at least said object launching devices (71) can be moved to forward and backward in a straight direction and along at least part of a respective training surface (B).

Training system (!) According to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said object launching devices (71) are adapted such that the launching angle can vary at least about a vertical axis and according to each other. a horizontal plane.

Training system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said object storage devices (72) are provided such that they can store a plurality of objects, including according to a type arrangement. so that they can feed the training objects (6) successively to a respective object launching device (72).

Training system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said object storage devices (72) are adapted so that they can collect objects from an object displacement means ( 13).

Training system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said collecting arrangement extends over the entire perimeter extension surrounding said training field (A).

Training system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said collection arrangement has a first collection zone (11) disposed adjacent and inclined with respect to the training field (A) and a second collection zone (12) disposed adjacent said first collecting zone (11) and developing in a lower plane relative to the training field (A).

Training system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said first collecting zone (11) is provided inclined so that its surface has a slope that rises towards said field. This slope has a height that corresponds at least to the characteristic size of the training objects (6).

Training system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said second collection zone (12) has an inclined portion adjacent to the training surface (B), provided downwardly in the direction. this one.

Training system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said second collection zone (12) comprises means for moving conveyor belt-like objects (13) adapted to displace at least one type of training objects (6), preferably provided in closed loop and circulating in a single direction of movement.

13. Method for operating a training system (1) having visual display means (3) adapted for displaying training references (4) by means of pixel-type compositions, in particular of a training system (1) of claim 1, comprising executing a set of instructions previously defined in a automatic data processing device (8), preferably including a plurality of training cycles with each training cycle including the following steps:

presenting at least one training reference (4) on a training surface (B) by means of visual display means (3) provided in a pixel type operation during a respective presentation period;

- designing a training object (6) with a given velocity and trajectory through a respective object launching means (7) including an object launching device (71) and an object storage device (72);

recording the position of a training object (6) at least with respect to the position of at least one of said training references (4) on said training surface (B);

collecting said training object (6) by means of a collection arrangement upon its interaction with said visual display means (3);

featured

said training object (6) is projected based on the position coordinates of said object launching device (71) and / or based on the projection instructions communicated by said automatic data processing device (8), being said projection instructions include at least one launch angle and one launch speed.

Method according to Claim 13, characterized in that said position coordinates include a position of said measuring device. throwing objects (71) between the ends of a respective training surface (B), including at least one of a component in a horizontal direction and a component in a vertical direction.

Process according to either of the preceding claims 13 or 14, further comprising the steps of:

- Correlation through said automatic data processing device (8) of said position coordinates and launching instructions with a set of pre-defined reference positions on the training area (A), and

feeding the object storage device (72) from the object launching device (71) with a training object (6).

Lisbon, July 7, 2015