Speed and/or agility training devices and systems and methods of use thereof

Abstract

Disclosed herein are training devices useful for improving the agility and/or speed of a trainee, systems comprising same, and methods of improving a trainee's agility and/or speed. In one embodiment a training device comprises a first sensor operatively associated with a control mechanism, wherein the control mechanism is optionally configured to enable the device to move (a) randomly, (b) in a predetermined movement pattern, or (c) in relation to a second sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A training device comprising:
 a housing comprising an opening, wherein said housing is operatively associated with at least one moving agency,   a shut-off unit removably mated with the opening,   a control mechanism operatively associated with the shut-off unit and a drive device said control mechanism enabling the drive device to cause the at least one moving agency to propel the training device when the shut-off unit is mated with the opening and   a first sensor operatively associated with the control mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism is configured to enable the drive device to cause the at least one moving agency to propel the training device in a direction associated with a second sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism is configured to enable the drive device to cause the at least one moving agency to stop propelling the training device when a distance between the first sensor and a second sensor falls below a predetermined minimum distance value. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism is configured to enable the drive device to cause the at least one moving agency to propel the training device towards a second sensor when a distance between the first sensor and the second sensor exceeds a predetermined separation value. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a motion-control device configured to cause the device to move in a random movement pattern. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the shut-off unit comprises a visual enhancement. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the visual enhancement is a flag, a two-dimensional graphic or a three-dimensional graphic. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the visual enhancement is a three-dimensional graphic that resembles a rabbit. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising a motion-control device configured to cause the training device to move in a movement pattern that mimics a movement pattern of a rabbit. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the visual enhancement is a flag and wherein the height of the flag is adjustable. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a memory unit operatively associated with the drive device, wherein the memory unit is configured to store movement data associated with the device. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a movement selector operatively associated with the drive device. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12  further comprising a memory unit operatively associated with the drive device and the movement selector, wherein the memory unit is configured to store movement data associated with the device and the movement selector is configured to allow a user to select a movement pattern stored in the memory unit. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to allow a user to select from a plurality of difficulty settings. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is configured to detect a stationary or slow-moving object in its current path and wherein the drive device is configured to cause the at least one moving agency to stop or change direction upon said detection. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the device is configured such that movement data is capable of being transferred from the memory unit to a computer. 
     
     
         17 . A training device comprising:
 a housing comprising an on/off switch, wherein said housing is operatively associated with at least one moving agency;   a first sensor associated with the housing;   a drive device operatively associated with the at least one moving agency; and   a control mechanism operatively associated with the first sensor and the drive device said control mechanism configured to enable the drive device to cause the at least one moving agency to propel the training device towards or away from a second sensor when the on/off switch is set to an “on” position.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the control mechanism is configured to stop propelling the device when the distance between the first and second sensors (a) falls below a predetermined separation value, or (b) exceeds a predetermined separation value. 
     
     
         19 . A training device comprising:
 a housing comprising an opening and operatively associated with at least one moving agency;   a first sensor associated with the housing;   a drive device operatively associated with the at least one moving agency;   a control mechanism operatively associated with the first sensor, and the drive device, and a   a visual enhancement removably associated with the opening and comprising a motion-control device configured to cause the device to change directions in one or more preselected movement patterns and/or propel the device at one or more predetermined speeds and such that when the visual enhancement is removably mated with the opening the control mechanism is configured to enable the drive device to cause the at least one moving agency to propel the training device in a direction away from a second sensor when a distance value between the first and second sensors is below a predetermined separation value.