Visual Barrier Training Target for Shooting Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current sports training aids for shooters, particularly in hockey, fail to provide a comprehensive visual target around the goaltender, leading to inaccurate shots during practice and games, as they are either not compatible with live action or do not offer psychological reinforcement during actual games.

Innovation Solution

A shooting target device with a visual barrier that can be attached to a sports goal, featuring brightly colored or fluorescent panels to create a memory effect, providing a complete visual target around the goaltender, and optionally incorporating vibration sensors for sound reinforcement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If traditional practice targets with holes are used to mark scoring regions, then shooters can identify corner and between-leg areas, but the target does not provide comprehensive visual coverage around the goaltender and is obscured during actual games

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual target coverageVSAvoidcompatibility with live action
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies fluorescent or brightly colored panels attached to the goal frame that emit or reflect light to create high-visibility visual targets. These colored panels are positioned around the entire goal perimeter including corners, sides, and between-leg areas, providing comprehensive visual coverage that traditional black-and-white targets with holes cannot achieve. The color change principle transforms ordinary goal structures into highly visible training aids that maintain effectiveness during both practice and actual games.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

2Measurement precision

If practice aids are designed to provide comprehensive visual targets, then shooting accuracy can be improved during practice, but the aids are not compatible with live action during real games

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshooting accuracyVSAvoidcompatibility with live action
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the goal structure into multiple independent fluorescent panels positioned at specific locations (corners, sides, between-leg areas). Each panel can be independently attached to or removed from the goal frame, allowing the system to provide comprehensive visual targets during practice while being easily removable or adjustable for actual games. This segmentation enables the practice aid to adapt between different usage scenarios without compromising shooting accuracy training.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If visual barriers are used to create memory effects, then psychological focus and shooting accuracy are enhanced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepsychological reinforcementVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses fluorescent panels that replicate or copy the visual appearance of actual goal openings and scoring areas. These panels create simplified visual representations (copies) of the real goal structure that shooters can use to develop muscle memory and psychological focus. The copying principle allows complex psychological training effects to be achieved through relatively simple visual replicas rather than requiring complex mechanical or electronic systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS9199148B2Apparatus for improving the accuracy of shots on goal
Publication Date: 2015.12.01 KROHL ROBERT
  • US9199148B2 patent drawing
  • US9199148B2 patent drawing
  • US9199148B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A sports goal target uses a visual barrier to train and develop a psychological mind set to improve shooting accuracy during practice and subsequent games. The barrier has an upper edge corresponding to the length of the upper member of the goal and two side edges having a length corresponding to the length of the side members of the goal. The inner edge is spaced apart from the outer edge to define a width, and a plurality of fasteners for attaching the barrier just inside the goal. The barrier may be composed of a flexible material or rigid or semi-rigid panels. The barrier is colored with a bright or fluorescent color intended for players to remember after the barrier is removed for practice without the barrier or a real game. The barrier may be sized for various games, with the dimensions being varied to suit the particular sport.