Apparatus and Method for Vertical Jump Training

Abstract

A vertical jump training apparatus may include a weighted base, a pole attached to the weighted base at a first end of the pole, and an arm attached to the pole at a second end of the pole. One or more targets may be attached to the arm and may hang down vertically from the arm. The pole may extend vertically from the base, the arm may extend horizontally from the pole, and the targets may hang vertically from the arm. The targets may have a variety of lengths that correspond to different jump heights. The apparatus may be used to train an athlete to increase their vertical jump height.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for vertical jump training, comprising:
 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 is perpendicular to the first axis and intersects with the first axis; and   a target attached to the arm extending from the arm along a third axis that intersects with the second axis;   wherein a weight and alignment of the weighted base is such that a center of gravity of the apparatus is horizontally aligned above the weighted base.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the weighted base comprises steel, the pole comprises aluminum or plastic, the arm comprises aluminum or plastic, and the one or more targets comprise a molded plastic foam. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the weighted base comprising a transverse member, a first lateral member coupled to the transverse member, and a second lateral member coupled to the transverse member, wherein the pole is attached to a first end of the transverse member, wherein the first lateral member is proximal to the first end of the transverse member, and wherein the second lateral member is distal from the first end of the transverse member or is coupled to the transverse member at a second end of the transverse member opposite the first end of the transverse member. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pole is a telescoping pole. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pole comprises one or more measurement markings along a body of the pole that indicate a height of a bottom edge of at least one of the one or more targets, the height corresponding to a linear distance from a plane parallel to and coplanar with a bottom surface of the weighted base. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more targets are pivotally coupled to the arm and hang vertically from the arm. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more targets comprises a bell, wherein the bell is coupled to the arm by a first spring or wherein a clapper inside the bell is coupled to a second spring positioned between an inside surface of the bell and the clapper. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more targets comprises a surface that changes color in response to being struck. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one of the one or more targets comprises a mechanochromic polymer. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one of the one or more targets comprises a gel pouch having a clear outer surface, an opaque gel, and a colored background surface, wherein a strike on the clear outer surface displaces the opaque gel such that the colored background surface is visible through the clear outer surface. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a spacing of a first target of the one or more targets from the pole along the arm is at least 12 inches, at least 15 inches, at least 18 inches, at least 21 inches, or at least 24 inches, wherein the first target is closest to the pole of the one or more targets. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more targets comprises a first target having a first length and a second target having a second length, the first length longer than the second length, and wherein a height of a bottom edge of the first target from the reference plane is less than a height of a bottom edge of the second target from the reference plane. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the pole comprises one or more measurement markings that correspond to a height of a bottom edge of the first target from the reference plane. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a leveling mechanism, comprising:
 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 wherein an upper end of the threaded bolt engage the arm such that rotating the threaded bolt raises or lowers the arm.   
     
     
         15 . A method of vertical jump training, comprising:
 providing a vertical jump training apparatus, comprising:
 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 is perpendicular to the first axis and that intersects with the first axis; and 
 a target attached to the arm and extending from the arm along a third axis that intersects with the second axis, 
 wherein a weight and alignment of the weighted base is such that a center of gravity of the apparatus is horizontally aligned above the weighted base; 
   setting the vertical jump training apparatus to a target height, wherein the target height corresponds to a height of a bottom edge of the target from the reference plane;   determining a raised-arm height of a jump trainee;   providing one or more instructions to the jump trainee that instructs the jump trainee to jump and strike the target;   determining whether the target has been struck by the jump trainee;   in response to determining the target has been struck by the jump trainee, subtracting the raised-arm height of the jump trainee from the height of the target to determine a jump height of the trainee; and   in response to determining the target has not been struck by the jump trainee:
 instructing the jump trainee to attempt to strike the target again; or 
 lowering the height of the target. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the target is pivotally coupled to the arm, and wherein determining the target has been struck is based on a pivotal motion of the target. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a color of the target changes in response to being struck, and wherein determining the target has been struck is based on observing a color change of the target. 
     
     
         18 . A method of vertical jump training, comprising:
 providing a vertical jump training apparatus, comprising:
 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 is perpendicular to the first axis and 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 suspended from 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 above the weighted base; 
   setting the vertical jump training apparatus to a first target height, wherein the first target height corresponds to a height of a bottom edge of the first target from the reference plane;   determining a raised-arm height of a jump trainee;   providing one or more instructions to the jump trainee that instructs the trainee to jump and strike the first target;   determining the first target has been struck;   subtracting the raised-arm height of the jump trainee from the first target height to determine a first jump height of the trainee;   in response to determining the first target has been struck, providing one or more instructions to the trainee that instruct the trainee to jump and strike the second target;   determining the second target has been struck; and   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.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein a length of the pole is adjustable, the method further comprising, in response to determining the second target has been struck, increasing the length of the pole. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the length of the pole is increased by an amount approximately equal to the difference between the length of the first target and the length of the second target.