Football training aid and method

Abstract

A training aid is attached to the rear region of a user's helmet and alerts the player with an audible beep when the player's head drops into a downward unsafe or improper position. A printed circuit board containing a horn, battery and tilt switch is located within a protective housing attached by an adhesive to the rear region of the player's helmet. An external switch enables the player to manually turn the circuit ON or OFF.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 423,731, filed Dec. 16, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Technical Field[0003]The invention relates to a training aid primarily for football players. More particularly, the invention relates to a signaling device mounted on or in the helmet of the player to signal the player with an audible sound that his head is in an improper contact position.[0004]2. Background Information[0005]Extreme contact occurs constantly in football and is an integral part of the sport. Although the players are well protected by various protective clothing and gear which helps substantially to avoid serious injury, one area which is difficult to protect is the cervical area and in particular the spine. Many of these injuries occur during tackling and blocking caused by the player dropping his head just prior to contac...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]The present invention provides an improved training device and method of use primarily by athletes and in particular by football players to train and condition the player to keep his head in an upright safe position at all times, and especially just prior to impact with another player when blocking or tackling occurs.

[0010]The training device of the present invention achieves the objectives and advantages by providing a signaling device contained in a small protective housing which is removably mounted on the rear region of a player's helmet, preferably by a pressure sensitive adhesive, which device is intended to be used by the player primarily during training and practice sessions, which will provide an audible alarm or beep to the player upon the player's head dropping below the safe position. By repeated warnings to the player each time such an unsafe or improper condition occurs it will help to condition the player to keep his head in a more upright safe position at all times during a game, especially just prior and during contact with another player.

[0011]Another feature of the present invention is to provide a simple printed circuit board contained within the protective housing which contains a tilt switch or similar sensor, which upon excessive tilting of the player's head in a downward position will close actuating an audible alarm powered by a small battery on the printed circuit board. Preferably, the tilted switch or sensor acts as a gate preventing the circuit from being completed until a preset angle of the tilt switch occurs as a result of the downward movement of the player's head and protective headgear. A further feature of the present invention is to enable the training aid to be easily removed and replaced on the user's helmet, enabling it to be used only during training and practice sessions and not during actual game conditions where such an external device may be forbidden by game rules.

[0012]A further feature of the present invention is to provide the training aid with an MEMS tilt switch incorporated into the control circuit wherein the training aid is incorporated into the interior of the helmet protected by the padding inside of the back of the helmet to provide increased accuracy, reliability and rapid signals to the player.

[0013]Another feature is to enable the battery used in the circuit with the tilt switch to be replaceable enabling the training device to be used throughout the season. The relatively low cost of the device also enables the training aid to be disposed of at the end of a season if desired, without incurring considerable expense to a football team.

Problems solved by technology

Although the players are well protected by various protective clothing and gear which helps substantially to avoid serious injury, one area which is difficult to protect is the cervical area and in particular the spine.

If the player lowers his head beyond a safe distance, the force is exerted incorrectly on the player's neck, often resulting in serious injury to the spine, such as temporarily or occasionally full paralysis.

It is difficult to train a player to keep his head in an upright position, that is, in a “safe” position upon blocking and especially upon making a tackle on a moving player.

The natural reflex is to drop the head which results in the contact force on the player's helmet being transferred to the neck, which is then in an improper position.

Players who consistently block, tackle and run with their heads down have a limited field of vision.

Also, when a player limits his field of view, blocks and tackles are missed and a player is easily controlled by his opponent.

Also, when a ball carrier runs head down, openings and opportunities are also missed.

Although these and similar devices have proved satisfactory for preventing some injuries to the cervical area of the player, they may unduly restrict the movement of the player's head resulting in most players not wishing to use such devices.

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