Angle-Changing, Adjustable, Movable, Sports Practice, Performance Enhancing, Teaching, and Targeting Device.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sports practice device and, more particularly, to an angle-adjusting, movable sports practice, performance-enhancing, teaching, and targeting device designed to improve accuracy and focus during various sports disciplines. One embodiment of the invention comprises of a large target area that is illuminated to enhance the user's focus during practice sessions.

The target area is adjustable in both position and angle, allowing it to simulate a wide range of scenarios that an athlete may encounter during actual gameplay. According to the embodiment of the invention, it enhances the user's performance by providing a larger and more visible target to improve accuracy, thereby serving as both a practice tool and a teaching aid.

The device's versatility crosses multiple sports, including, but not limited to basketball, soccer, baseball, football, golf and tennis, where precision and targeting are essential to success. By enabling athletes to practice under varying conditions, the device helps to develop and refine skills in a controlled environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of sports targeting and training devices, specifically those designed to enhance accuracy and focus during practice sessions across various sports.

Prior Art and Existing Solutions

Existing sports practice devices, as exemplified by patents such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,290, (Barry), U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,381 (Hackett), and U.S. Pat. No. 7,661,679, (Wing Mah) aim to improve accuracy by focusing the athlete's attention on the goal and are not versatile to multiple sports, this aids in the existing solutions significant limitations. Due to their design, the current devices often do not direct focus in the most effective manner.

Problems or Gaps in Current Solutions

The primary issue with current sports training devices is they often lack the ability to effectively engage the user's focus in today's sports where positive results are in high demand. This leads to suboptimal practice sessions, consequently, less improvement in performance. The existing methods and devices do not adequately meet the needs of athletes because they either do not provide a sufficiently visible target or are not versatile enough to be used across different sports training scenarios.

Purpose or Need for the Invention

This invention over comes the shortcomings of existing sports training devices by introducing a versatile, large, dazzling, illuminated target made of energy absorbing materials. These properties along with its bright optic colorful schemes have a day-glow effect which aids in the device's high visibility allowing it to be easily seen, day or night. Additionally, when it comes to targets, size does matter. The device size, bright color combinations, and movable placement ability provides a clear point of focus. Together these allow the device to be easily seen at distances as far away as One Hundred feet, giving the athletes a greater range during practice sessions and game play. The device's enhanced visibility and crossover ability helps practitioners broaden their range of focus, leading to greater productivity during practice sessions which improves performance during actual games.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a dazzling, illuminated colorfully lighted, highly visible, performance enhancing, adaptable, training and targeting device that can be easily attached or mounted at various angles and heights using a common twist off household broom or mop handle. The device is constructed of high-density neoprene, making it capable of withstanding high impact in sports such as, but not limited to fast pitch baseball and softball as well as the impact of a hockey puck. This invention is a crossover device; it can be used in a wide range of sports, making it suitable for athletes of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to professionals. The device's purpose is to aid practitioners regardless of their skill level in leveling the playing field. This is done by aiding them in improving their efficiency so they can meet the high demands required of them by parents, coaches and managers in today's sports world, the bar is high. The device is also cost-effective, making it accessible to all families regardless of their income level.

Manufacturing Process

The primary material used in manufacturing is neoprene rubber due to its durability, cost-effectiveness, and lightweight properties. Neoprene rubber is particularly suited for this need due to its high-impact ability to absorb shock.

• • Neoprene rubber itself does not naturally glow in the dark. However, it can be made to glow in the dark by incorporating phosphorescent or luminescent materials into the neoprene during the manufacturing process. Phosphorescent or luminescent materials: Zinc Sulfide, which is safe and affordable which makes it great for mixing with rubber to make the device.
  • Strontium aluminate is more expensive, but it has a longer persistence, which means it emits visible light more slowly and glows in the dark longer after being energized.
  • The manufacturer can make glow in the dark colors by adding different pigment to the plastic because the absorption of light makes the device (photoluminescent) glow in the dark.
  • Two by two methods:

1. Phosphorescent Additives:

• • Phosphorescent pigments can be mixed with neoprene rubber resin during the production process. These pigments absorb light, slowly releasing it over time, creating a glowing effect in the dark.

2. Luminescent Coatings:

• • Another option is to apply a glow-in-the-dark coating or paint to the surface of neoprene rubber. This method allows for a specific area or image of the neoprene to glow without altering the entire material.

1. Stamp Molding: Suitable for Neoprene Rubber.

2. Waterjet or Laser Cutting: Ideal for creating intricate shapes and designs from thin materials like plastic and rubber.
3. Extrusion: Melted materials are forced through a two-dimensional die opening to mold the product into the desired shape.
4. Injection Molding: Melted materials are injected into a die mold forming the shape of the product. This method is less favored due to its high error correction costs.
5. Making the Device: A computer aided laser is used to make the tools and dies which are then attached to the machine. The pigments (zinc sulfide or strontium aluminate) are added to the melted neoprene resin to give the melted resin its glow in the dark (photoluminescent) properties. Now that the desired color and brightness is achieved the melted resin is then extruded into the dies forcing the neoprene into the shape of the device. The finished products are placed on a cooling rack. After the cooling process is done, the products are taken to the paint area. First the chosen beveled shallow image is hot stamped onto the front of the device leaving a shallow trench of the image. A stencil die is placed over the device leaving the slightly shallow trench area exposed. At this point a paint sprayer fills in the shallow trench of the image with the chosen color of paint. Now that the product has a shallow coating of long-lasting paint, the finished product is moved to an area to dry. Once the drying process is done the product is packaged with instructions and straps for the slits and is ready for shipping.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a sports targeting device according to an embodiment of the previous invention.

FIG. 2 is a Side View of the Sports Targeting Device of FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a section view of the sports targeting device of FIG. 1 viewed along the section line in FIG. 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. 100 depicts a section of the sports targeting device and 105 depicts a section of the mounting hole.

FIG. 4 is an elevation of the targeting device according to the further embodiment of the invention. While 126 depicts the area of the illuminated target while 127 depicts the hooks for adjusting the device.

FIG. 5 is a section view of the targeting device according to further embodiment of the invention, 140 depicts a view of the device's hole for mounting and adjusting to various positions, 130 depicts the depth of the slits for straps, 5A and 5 B, depicts the hooks, and 135 depicts the depth of the target area.

FIG. 6 is a section view of 145 the bottom of the sports targeting device depicting 150 the built in hole for mounting according to another embodiment of the invention.