Apparatus and Method for Vertical Jump Training

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/655,833 titled “Apparatus and Method for Vertical Jump Training” filed on 4 Jun. 2024, which disclosure is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The present disclosure relates to athletic training and more specifically to apparatuses and methods for vertical jump training.

Competitive athletics have fueled massive industries in training services and equipment. Specialized equipment and training methods may help athletes improve particular athletic skills such as speed, agility, strength, and so forth. Additionally, developments in both education and sports sciences have helped businesses more effectively train athletes. One athletic skill common to many sports is jumping, particularly the vertical jump. Athletes with a higher vertical jump have advantages over their competitors. Some products and techniques have been developed to help athletes improve their vertical jump performance. However, there is still room for improvement.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatus for vertical jump training. The apparatus may include a weighted base, a pole attached to the weighted base, an arm extending from the pole, and targets hanging down from the arm. The weighted base defining a reference plane. The pole may be attached at a first end of the pole to the weighted base. The pole may extend from the weighted base along a first axis that is perpendicular to the reference plane. The first axis may be approximately vertical. The arm may be attached to a second end of the pole opposite the first end of the pole. The arm may extend from the pole along a second axis that intersects with the first axis. The second axis may be approximately horizontal. One or more targets may be attached to the arm and may extend from the arm along a third axis that intersects with the second axis. The third axis may be approximately vertical. A weight and alignment of the weighted base may be such that a center of gravity of the apparatus is horizontally aligned on a side of the pole opposite the arm.

In some aspects, the weighted base may be made of steel. The pole may be made of aluminum or plastic. The arm may be made of aluminum or plastic. The one or more targets may be made of a molded plastic foam.

In some aspects, the weighted base may include one or more vertical pegs. The vertical pegs may be configured for attachment to the weighted base of one or more additional weights. The weighted base may include a transverse member, a first lateral member coupled to the transverse member, and a second lateral member coupled to the transverse member. The pole may be attached to a first end of the transverse member. The first lateral member may be proximal to the first end of the transverse member, and the second lateral member may be distal from the first end of the transverse member. The second lateral member may be coupled to the transverse member at a second end of the transverse member opposite the first end of the transverse member.

In some aspects, the pole may be a telescoping pole. The pole may include one or more measurement markings along a body of the pole. The measurement markings may indicate a height of a bottom edge of at least one of the one or more targets. The height may correspond to a linear distance from a plane parallel to and coplanar with a bottom surface of the weighted base.

In some aspects, the one or more targets may be pivotally coupled to the arm. At least one of the one or more targets may be pivotally coupled to the arm. The one or more targets may include a bell. The bell may be coupled to the arm by a spring. At least one of the one or more targets includes a surf ace that changes color in response to being struck. The at least one of the one or more targets may, for example, be made of or include a mechanochromic polymer. As another example, the at least one of the one or more targets may include a gel pouch having a clear outer surface, an opaque gel, and a colored background surface. A strike on the clear outer surface displaces the opaque gel such that the colored background surface is visible through the clear outer surface.

In some aspects, the apparatus may include a first target and a second target. The first target may be a closest target to the pole. A spacing of the first target from the pole along the arm may be at least 12 inches, at least 15 inches, at least 18 inches, at least 21 inches, or at least 24 inches. In some aspects, the first target may have a first length and the second target may have a second length. The first length may be longer than the second length. A height of a bottom edge of the first target from the plane parallel to and coplanar with the bottom surf ace of the weighted base may be less than a height of a bottom edge of the second target from the plane. The pole may include one or more measurement markings that correspond to the height of the bottom edge of the first target from the reference plane.

In some aspects, the apparatus may include a leveling mechanism. The leveling mechanism may include an arm support attached to the pole below and adjacent to the arm, a vertical threaded bolt hole in the arm support, and a threaded bolt in the threaded bolt hole in the arm support. The upper end of the threaded bolt engages the arm such that rotating the threaded bolt raises or lowers the arm.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method of vertical jump training. The method may include providing a vertical jump training apparatus. The vertical jump training apparatus may include a weighted base, a pole attached to the weighted base, an arm extending from the pole, and targets hanging down from the arm, such as described above. The method may include setting the vertical jump training apparatus to a target height. The target height may correspond to a height of a bottom edge of the target from the reference plane.

The method may include determining a raised-arm height of a jump trainee and providing one or more instructions to a trainee that instruct the jump trainee to jump and strike the target. The method may include determining whether the target has been struck by the jump trainee. In response to determining the target has been struck by the jump trainee, the method may include subtracting the raised-arm height of the jump trainee from the height of the target to determine a jump height of the trainee. In response to determining the target has not been struck by the jump trainee, the method may include instructing the jump trainee to attempt to strike the target again or lowering the height of the target.

In some aspects, the target may be pivotally coupled to the arm. Determining the target has been struck may be based on a pivotal motion of the target. In some aspects, a color of the target changes in response to being struck. Determining the target has been struck may be based on observing a color change of the target.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method of vertical jump training. The method may include providing a vertical jump training apparatus. The vertical jump training apparatus may include: a weighted base defining a reference plane; a pole attached at a first end of the pole to the weighted base, wherein the pole extends from the weighted base along a first axis that is perpendicular to the reference plane; an arm attached to a second end of the pole opposite the first end of the pole, wherein the arm extends from the pole along a second axis that intersects with the first axis; a first target attached to the arm and extending from the arm along a third axis that intersects with the second axis, wherein a length of the first target extends along the third axis; and a second target attached to the arm and extending from the arm along a fourth axis parallel to the third axis, wherein a length of the second target extends along the fourth axis, the length of the second target being shorter than the length of the first target, wherein a weight and alignment of the weighted base is such that a center of gravity of the apparatus is horizontally aligned on a side of the pole opposite the arm.

The method may include setting the vertical jump training apparatus to a first target height. The first target height may correspond to a height of a bottom edge of the first target from the plane parallel to and coplanar with the bottom surface of the weighted base. The method may include determining a raised-arm height of a jump trainee. The method may include providing one or more instructions to a trainee that instruct the trainee to jump and strike the first target. The method may include determining the first target has been struck. The method may include determining a first jump height of the trainee by subtracting the raised-arm height of the jump trainee from the first target height. In response to determining the first target has been struck, the method may include providing one or more instructions to the trainee that instruct the trainee to jump and strike the second target. The method may include determining the second target has been struck and/or determining an increased jump height of the trainee based on a difference between the length of the first target and the length of the second target.

In some aspects, a length of the pole is adjustable. The method may further include, in response to determining the second target has been struck, increasing the length of the pole. In some aspects, the length of the pole may be increased by an amount approximately equal to the difference between the length of the first target and the length of the second target.

Further aspects and embodiments are provided in the foregoing drawings, detailed description, and claims.

The following description recites various aspects and embodiments of the inventions disclosed herein. No particular embodiment is intended to define the scope of the invention. Rather, the embodiments provide non-limiting examples of various compositions, and methods that are included within the scope of the claimed inventions. The description is to be read from the perspective of one of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, information that is well known to the ordinarily skilled artisan is not necessarily included.

The following terms and phrases have the meanings indicated below, unless otherwise provided herein. This disclosure may employ other terms and phrases not expressly defined herein. Such other terms and phrases shall have the meanings that they would possess within the context of this disclosure to those of ordinary skill in the art. In some instances, a term or phrase may be defined in the singular or plural. In such instances, it is understood that any term in the singular may include its plural counterpart and vice versa, unless expressly indicated to the contrary.

As used herein, “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, reference to “a substituent” encompasses a single substituent as well as two or more substituents, and the like.

As used herein, “for example,” “for instance,” “such as,” or “including” are meant to introduce examples that further clarify more general subject matter. Unless otherwise expressly indicated, such examples are provided only as an aid for understanding embodiments illustrated in the present disclosure and are not meant to be limiting in any fashion. Nor do these phrases indicate any kind of preference for the disclosed embodiment.

As used herein, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “bottom,” “above,” “upper,” “top,” “front,” “rear,” “left,” “right,” and the like, may be used for ease of description to describe one element's or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Unless otherwise specified, the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the materials in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if materials in the figures are inverted, elements described as “below” or “beneath” or “under” or “on bottom of” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” or “on top of” the other elements or features. Thus, the term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below, depending on the context in which the term is used, which will be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art. The materials may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees, inverted, flipped) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

As used herein, the term “configured” refers to a size, shape, material composition, and arrangement of one or more of at least one structure and at least one apparatus facilitating operation of one or more of the structure and the apparatus in a pre-determined way.

As used herein, the terms “high,” “higher,” “medium,” “low,” and “lower” are relative terms and do not denote a specific dimension or range of dimensions unless otherwise noted.

As used herein, reference to an element as being “on” or “over” another element means and includes the element being directly on top of, adjacent to (e.g., laterally adjacent to, vertically adjacent to), underneath, or in direct contact with the other element. It also includes the element being indirectly on top of, adjacent to (e.g., laterally adjacent to, vertically adjacent to), underneath, or near the other element, with other elements present therebetween. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” or “directly adjacent to” another element, no intervening elements are present.

As used herein, “about” or “approximately” in reference to a numerical value for a particular parameter is inclusive of the numerical value and a degree of variance from the numerical value that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand is within acceptable tolerances for the particular parameter. For example, “about” or “approximately” in reference to a numerical value may include additional numerical values within a range of from 90.0 percent to 110.0 percent of the numerical value, such as within a range of from 95.0 percent to 105.0 percent of the numerical value, within a range of from 97.5 percent to 102.5 percent of the numerical value, within a range of from 99.0 percent to 101.0 percent of the numerical value, within a range of from 99.5 percent to 100.5 percent of the numerical value, or within a range of from 99.9 percent to 100.1 percent of the numerical value.

As used herein, the term “substantially” in reference to a given parameter, property, or condition means and includes to a degree that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the given parameter, property, or condition is met with a degree of variance, such as within acceptable manufacturing tolerances. By way of example, depending on the particular parameter, property, or condition that is substantially met, the parameter, property, or condition may be at least 90.0% met, at least 95.0% met, at least 99.0% met, or even at least 99.9% met.

As used herein, the terms “vertical,” “longitudinal,” “horizontal,” and “lateral” are in reference to a major plane of a structure and are not necessarily defined by Earth's gravitational field. A “horizontal” or “lateral” direction is a direction that is substantially parallel to the major plane of the structure, while a “vertical” or “longitudinal” direction is a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the major plane of the structure. The major plane of the structure is defined by a surface of the structure having a relatively large area compared to other surfaces of the structure.

As used herein “same” means sharing all features and “similar” means sharing a substantial number of features or sharing materially important features even if a substantial number of features are not shared. As used herein “may” should be interpreted in a permissive sense and should not be interpreted in an indefinite sense. Additionally, use of “is” regarding examples, elements, and/or features should be interpreted to be definite only regarding a specific example and should not be interpreted as definite regarding every example. Furthermore, references to “the disclosure” and/or “this disclosure” refer to the entirety of the writings of this document and the entirety of the accompanying illustrations, which extends to all the writings of each subsection of this document, including the Title, Background, Brief description of the Drawings, Detailed Description, Claims, Abstract, and any other document and/or resource incorporated herein by reference.

A vertical jump training apparatus and method as disclosed herein will become better understood through a review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures. The detailed description and figures provide merely examples of the various embodiments of the vertical jump training apparatus and method. Many variations are contemplated for different applications and design considerations; however, for the sake of brevity and clarity, all the contemplated variations may not be individually described in the following detailed description. Those skilled in the art will understand how the disclosed examples may be varied, modified, and altered and not depart in substance from the scope of the examples described herein.

A conventional vertical jump training apparatus may include a set of horizontally oriented strips of plastic set at various heights. A trainee may jump and strike one or more of the strips, which may move or displace in response to being struck. The trainee's vertical jump height may be determined by the highest strip of plastic that is displaced. This process may be used in conjunction with other training methods to help the trainee increase their vertical jump height.

However, current vertical jump training solutions have several drawbacks. For example, the equipment is bulky and difficult to move. Because the strips are horizontally-oriented, extra equipment, such as a stick, is required to reset the strips after every jump. The equipment tends to be expensive, putting it out of reach for most athletes and trainers. The height of the strips tends to be fixed or too high, which makes the equipment unsuitable for younger athletes. And, there is no training program associated with the equipment, meaning an athlete has to spend additional money on hiring a trainer.

Implementations of the vertical jump training apparatus and method described herein address these issues. For example, the targets may hang vertically and, thus, reposition themselves after being struck. This makes the apparatus easier to use because the targets do not have to be manually reset after every strike. The apparatus is made of lighter materials with a low center of gravity, thus making it safer to use and less expensive to manufacture. In some implementations, the apparatus is collapsible—the pole telescopes down and folds onto the base, and the arm folds down to the pole—making it easier to transport. Because the height of the targets is adjustable, it can be used for athletes of a variety of ages and skill levels. Calculating jump height may be as simple as standing the athlete next to the pole before they jump and doing simple addition and subtraction, making it quicker and easier to determine the athlete's performance and progress. Some implementations include features that are psychologically appealing, such as color-changing targets or a bell. In general, the apparatus and method described herein represents a significant improvement over conventional vertical jump training.

illustrate various views of a vertical jump training apparatus, according to an implementation.is an isometric view;is a side view;is a front view; andis a top view.is a view with additional weights on the base. The vertical jump training apparatusmay include a weighted base, a poleattached to the weighted base, an armextending from the pole, and targetshanging down from the arm. The weighted base defines a reference plane that corresponds generally to the surface on which the base is situated.

The polemay be attached at a first endof the poleto the weighted base. The polemay extend from the weighted basealong a first axisthat intersects with a planethat is parallel to and coplanar with a bottom surfaceof the weighted base. When the vertical jump training apparatusis set up for use, the first axismay be approximately vertical. For example, the weighted basemay sit on the ground, and the polemay extend from the weighted baseinto the air above the weighted base.

The armmay be attached to a second endof the poleopposite the first endof the pole. The armmay extend from the pole along a second axisthat intersects with the first axis. The second axismay be approximately horizontal. In some implementations, the second axismay intersect with the first axisand the plane. For example, the armmay extend from the poleat a non-right angle.

One or more targetsmay be attached to the arm. The targetsmay extend from the armalong a third axisthat intersects with the second axis. In some implementations, the third axismay be parallel to the first axis. In some implementations, the third axismay intersect with the first axis. As an example, the third axismay be approximately vertical. The targetsmay hang vertically from the arm. The targetsmay hang below the armdue to gravity.

A weight and alignment of the weighted basemay be such that a center of gravityof the vertical jump training apparatusis horizontally aligned on a side of the poleopposite the armand/or above the weighted base. The center of gravitymay be closer to the weighted basethan the arm. The center of gravitymay change vertically as the polechanges length, such as when the poletelescopes in or out. In order to ensure a low center of gravity, the weighted basemay be made of a denser material, or may weigh more than, the pole, the arm, and/or the targets. For example, in one implementation, the weighted basemay be made of steel, the polemay be made of aluminum or plastic, the armmay be made of aluminum or plastic, and the targetsmay be made of a molded plastic foam. A combined weight of the pole, the arm, and the targetsmay be less than a weight of the weighted base.

In some implementations, the weighted base, the pole, and the armmay be made of the same or similar material, such as aluminum, plastic, or steel. The weighted basemay include one or more pegs. The pegsmay be configured for attachment to the weighted baseof one or more additional weights, e.g., as depicted in. In some implementations, the one or more pegsmay be vertically-oriented and may be on a top surfaceof the weighted base.

The weighted basemay include a transverse member, a first lateral member, and a second lateral member. The first lateral memberand/or the second lateral membermay be coupled to the transverse member. For example, the first lateral membermay be coupled to the transverse memberat a first end of the transverse member, and the second lateral membermay be coupled to the transverse memberat a second end of the transverse memberopposite the first end of the transverse member. The first lateral membermay be proximal to the first end of the transverse member, and the second lateral membermay be distal from the first end of the transverse member. The polemay be attached to the first end of the transverse member. The one or more pegsmay be positioned on or attached to the second lateral member. In a specific implementation, the weighted baseincludes two pegs, one positioned at each end of the second lateral member. In some implementations, the one or more pegsmay be positioned on the first lateral member

In some aspects, the polemay be a telescoping pole. For example, the polemay include two telescoping segments, three telescoping segments, four telescoping segments, and so forth. One or more clamps at the end of each segment may releasably secure the telescoping segments in a particular position, i.e., in a particular overall length of the pole.

In various implementations, one or more of the targetsmay be pivotally coupled to the arm. In various implementations, the targetsmay be fixed to the arm. For example, in some implementations, one or more of the targetsare pivotally secured to the armand a swinging motion of an individual target may indicate the target has been struck. As another example, in some implementations, one or more of the targetsare fixed to the arm. Another indicator, such as a change in color or appearance, may indicate whether a particular target has been struck. In some implementations, at least one of the targetsmay be pivotally coupled to the armand at least one may be fixed to the arm.

In some implementations, the vertical jump training apparatusmay include a first targetand a second target. The vertical jump training apparatusmay include one target, two targets, three targets, four targets, and so forth. In some implementations, the vertical jump training apparatusincludes six foam targets and a bell target. The first targetmay be a closest target to the pole. A spacing of the first targetfrom the pole along the arm may be at least 12 inches, at least 15 inches, at least 18 inches, at least 21 inches, or at least 24 inches.

In some implementations, the first targetmay have a first length and the second targetmay have a second length. The first length may be longer than the second length. A height of a bottom edge of the first target from the planemay be less than a height of a bottom edge of the second targetfrom the plane. The polemay include one or more measurement markings, such as depicted in. The measurement markings may correspond to the height of the bottom edge of the first targetfrom the plane. In general, the vertical jump training apparatusmay include a plurality of targets, each with a different length. In some implementations, the vertical jump training apparatusmay include a plurality of targets, some having the same length as others.

The weighted basemay have a width and/or a length in a range from one foot to four feet. The polemay have a height in a range from four feet to fourteen feet. The polemay have a diameter in a range from one inch to three inches. The arm may have a length in a range from twelve inches to forty-eight inches.

The apparatus may, at times, be used on a surface that is not flat, which may introduce inaccuracies into the jump measurements. By adjusting the level of the arm (i.e., by adjusting the angle of the arm to the pole), the arm may be adjusted to actual horizontal for consistent measurement.show a close-up view of the top of the poleand the connection to the arm. Arm supportextends from the poledirected under the arm. The position of the armrelative to the arm supportis adjustable using leveler. The levelercomprises a threaded bolt inserted into a threaded hole. The top of the levelerengages the armpushing it upward away from the arm support. The position of the armmay be adjusted by rotating the leveler up or down. The arm may also include a level sensor or indicator (e.g., a bubble level).

illustrates a close-up view of the pole. In some implementations, the polemay include measurement markings. The measurement markingsmay be along a body of the pole. The measurement markingsmay indicate a height of a bottom edge of at least one of the one or more targets. The height may correspond to a linear distance from the plane.

illustrates a bellwith a first springand a second spring, which may be used as a target with the vertical jump training apparatus, according to an implementation. The bellmay be attached to the arm by the first spring. The first springmay otherwise be coupled to the bellor the arm and may be positioned between the belland the arm. This may dampen motion of the bellthat may otherwise be transmitted to the bellwhen a trainee strikes a neighboring target or accidentally bumps the pole or another part of the vertical jump training apparatus. In some implementations, a clapperof the bellmay be attached to a second spring, which may dampen motion of the clapperthat may otherwise be transmitted to the clapperwhen a trainee strikes a neighboring target or accidentally bumps the pole or another part of the vertical jump training apparatus. The clappermay be attached to the bellby another mechanism, e.g., a string, and the second springmay be positioned between the clapperand an interior surface of the bell.

In some implementations, the bellis the last and shortest target on the vertical jump training apparatus. This may provide an incentive for a trainee to increase their vertical jump high enough to strike the bell. Striking the bellmay provide the trainee with positive feedback and acknowledgment of their accomplishment.