| WO/2005/118084 | HEIGHT ADJUSTING STRUCTURE OF HITTING PLATE FOR USE IN GYMNASIUM |
| JP2759008 | APPARATUS FOR TETHERBALL GAME |
| WO/2001/019466 | FLYING AND WIND-OPERATED GAME |
PARKINSON, Tom (115 Rundle Street, Kent Town, S.A. 5067, AU)
| CLAIMS
1. A sports training device including a captive ball, at least a pair of tethers adapted to attach to the captive ball, a first and second upright, the uprights having a plurality of eyelets positioned along the length of each upright, each upright adapted to be removably secured to a flat surface, such that each upright is supported in a substantially vertical position, such that when in use the first and second tethers pass through at least a first eyelet on the first and second uprights respectively and then is removably secured to a second eyelet on the first and second upright respectively.
2. The sports training device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second uprights have a supporting plate positioned on a lower end to increase stability of the uprights.
, 3. The sports training device of claim 2, wherein the supporting plates have a plurality of holes thereon within which to receive fastening stakes there through to secure the supported plate and the upright to the ground.
4. The sports training device of any one of claims 1 - 3, wherein each of the uprights are constructed from a plurality of upright members adapted to interconnect with one another. 5. The sports training device of any one of claims 1 - 4, wherein each of the uprights further includes connections positioned at the uppermost end for receiving fastening members.
6. The sports training device of claim 5, wherein the connections are eyelets. 7. The sports training device of claim 6, wherein a net is attached to the connections positioned at the uppermost end.
8. The sports training device of claim 7, wherein the uppermost end is adapted to receive a net supporting member so as to provide support to the net such that is held away from a vertical plane formed between the first and second uprights.
9. A sports training device including a captive ball, at least a pair of tethers adapted to attach to the captive ball, a first and second securely removable fastening member, each securely removable fastening member having at least one eyelet, each securely removable fastening member adapted to be removably secured to a substantially vertical upright member, the first and second securely removable fastening members being secured to separate vertical upright members and a third and forth securely removable fastening member positioned on the below the first and second securely removable fastening members respectively, such that when in use, a first tether is passed through the eyelet on the first securely removable fastening member and attached to the eyelet on the securely removable fastening member immediately below, then a second tether is passed through the eyelet on the second securely removable fastening member and attached to the securely removable fastening member immediately below.
10. The sports training device of claim 9, wherein each securely removable fastening member has a hook and loop fastener.
11. The sports training device of claim 10, wherein the eyelet is integrated with the securely removable fastening members.
12. The sports training device of claim 11 , wherein the eyelets are constructed from a plastics material.
13. The sports training device of claim 13, wherein the distance between the upper and lower securely removable fastening members can be adjusted by releasing and resecuring the securely removable fastening members so as to adjust the tension of the tether.
14. A sports training device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. |
COMBINATION SPORTS TRAINING DEVICE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sports training device that can be used as an aid to increase a persons ability to strike a ball. In particular the invention relates to a sports training device in which a ball is tethered to allow a user to repeatedly strike the ball such that the ball will then return to the user.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Ball sports are very popular and in most instances it is a requirement that there is more than one player such that when a ball is struck by a first player then the second player can return the ball to the first player. Many of the skills required to play ball sports are repetitive skills such as throwing, kicking or hitting.
For example, in the sport of soccer a player's ability to effectively strike the ball with the foot is paramount so as to accurately pass the ball to another player, shoot for goal or block the ball in a defensive manner. Many of the striking motions carried out by the foot are repetitive utilising various positions around the foot
Various ball practice systems are known in the art such as providing a net jacket within which a soccer ball can be placed and an elastic cord is attached to the outer jacket and then this cord is attached to the user.
In this manner a user of such a device can kick the soccer ball in the net jacket and have it returned to them, however, such systems only allow for the striking of the ball when the ball is placed upon the ground and does not take into consideration instances where the soccer ball may be at any other height, e.g. waist level, where a player may intercept a ball in flight or at head level where a player may be wanting to play the ball with their head.
Additionally, the devices known in the prior art also suffer from the users lack of ability to control the elongation or stretching of the tethers that return the ball back to the user. The tether systems of the prior art are simple elastic cords that apart from being replaced entirely by a cord or tether of differing resistance provide no other way of fine tuning the return of the ball.
The ability to fine tune the tension of the tether is important, as the amount of elongation of the tether is preferably different when the ball is being struck at ground level compared to when the ball is being struck at either waist level or head level. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a sports training device that is capable of providing varying return force to the ball attached thereto.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a ball training device that provides a user a way of training with a ball at varying heights. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sports training device that is easy to set up and use- It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least substantially ameliorate, the disadvantages and shortcomings of the prior art.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taking in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, although this should not be seen as limiting the invention in any way, there is provided a sports training device including a captive ball, at least a pair of tethers adapted to attach to the captive ball, a first and second upright, the uprights having a plurality of eyelets positioned along the length of each upright, each upright adapted to
be removably secured to a fiat surface, such that each upright is supported in a substantially vertical position, such that when in use the first and second tethers pass through at least a first eyelet on the first and second uprights respectively and then is removably secured to a second eyelet on the first and second upright respectively.
In this manner then it is possible for the user to select the height of the captive ball relative to the ground and furthermore select the amount of tension on the first and second tethers by adjusting the point of secure attachment to the appropriate eyelet. In preference, the first and second uprights have a supporting plate positioned on a lower end to increase stability of the uprights.
In preference, the supporting plates have a plurality of holes thereon within which to receive fastening stakes there through to secure the supported plate and the upright to the ground. In preference, each of the uprights are constructed from a plurality of upright members adapted to interconnect with one another.
In preference, each of. the uprights further includes connections positioned at the uppermost end for receiving fastening members.
In preference, the connections are eyelets. In preference, a net is attached to the connections positioned at the uppermost end.
In preference, the uppermost end is adapted to receive a net supporting member so as to provide support to the net such that is held away from a vertical plane formed between the first and second uprights. In a further form of the invention there is provided a sports training device including a captive ball, at least a pair of tethers adapted to attach to the captive ball, a πrst and second securely removable fastening member, each securely removable fastening member having at least one eyelet, each
securely removable fastening member adapted to be removably secured to a substantially vertical upright member, the first and second securely removable fastening members being secured to separate vertical upright members and a third and forth securely removable fastening member positioned on the below the first and second securely removable fastening members respectively, such that when in use, a first tether is passed through the eyelet on the first securely removable fastening member and attached to the eyelet on the securely removable fastening member immediately below, then a second tether is passed through the eyelet on the second securely removable fastening member and attached to the securely removable fastening member immediately below.
In preference, each securely removable fastening member has a hook and loop fastener.
In preference, the eyelet is integrated with the securely removable fastening members.
In preference, the eyelets are constructed from a plastics material.
In preference, the distance between the upper and lower securely removable fastening members can be adjusted by releasing and resecuring the securely removable fastening members so as to adjust the tension of the tether. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
By way of example, an employment of the invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig 1 is a view of an embodiment of the current invention. Fig 2 is further embodiment of the current invention.
Fig 3 is a plan view of the sleeve of Fig 2 in an open position. Fig 4 is a plan view of the eyelet of Fig 2 and 3. Fig 5 shows the embodiment of Fig 2 as attached to a soccer goal.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The sports training device 5 has a first and second upright, 7 and 9 respectively, each of the uprights has a plurality of eyelets 11 positioned along the longitudinal length of each. As shown in Figure 1, the eyelets 11 of the sports training device 5 are positioned vertically along the uprights in a side by side manner, however, it is also possible for each of the eyelets 11 to be positioned substantially horizontal along the length of the uprights. In either case the functioning of the sports training device 5 would be similar and this would be appreciated by those skilled in this particular field.
Each upright is then secured to a ground surface, and this can be achieved in a number of ways, such as for example by way of a supporting plate 15 that is attached to the lower portion of the upright 17 and each supporting plate 15 has a plurality of holes 20 through which fastening stakes 22 can pass through into the ground, such as an oval, to secure the upright in a substantially vertical position.
Alternatively, each of the uprights may have a lower portion 17 that is adapted in some other -naπner, such as having apertures directly through the lower portion 17 within which fastening stakes may be passed through or the lower portion 17 may have a conical lower portion with or without a thread pattern such that a ground surface may be engaged by twisting the upright such that it winds its way to engage the ground. These and alternative fastening ground engaging means are contemplated by the invention and again are known to those skilled in the art. Once each of ttie first and second uprights, 7 and 9, are in place a suitable distance apart from one another, a first tether 24 attached to the captive ball 25 can then be passed through a first eyelet 11A then secured to eyelet 11B by a securing means such as a clip at the end 26 of the tether 24.
The second tether 28 of the captive ball 25 then passes through eyelet 11 A of the second upright 9 and then is removably secured by way of a coupling
means such as a clip to eyelet 11B on the second upright 9. In this manner each of the tethers are to some extent prestretched such that the captive ball 25 is held unde r tension at position A so that it does not sag substantially.
The benefit of this is that when a player strikes the ball 25 at position A with their foot, as it is already under some tension then the ball will travel in a more predictable path and thus return to substantially the same position compared to if the captive ball 25 had been in position G 1 with less tension on tethers 24 and 28 which would allow the captive ball once struck, to move in a less predictable manner. Additionally, by varying the point of attachment of each of the tethers 24 and 28 the user then can customize the amount of tension on the captive ball 25 to suit their particular requirements, such as providing less tension when striking the ball forcefully or increasing the tension when practicing less forceful strikes. Due to the positioning of the eyelets 11, it is then also possible for the user to customise the position of their captive ball 25 so as to practice any suitable kicking height and when the captive ball 25 is tethered only to the lower most eyelet 11 D this provides for substantial slack in the tethers 24 and 28 so as to allow the user to forcefully strike the captive ball so that the ball moves sufficiently away from the user thus absorbing more of the energy over a further distance.
The first and second uprights 7 and 9 may be either one piece or alternatively constructed from a number of interconnecting pieces so as to allow for ease of storage and simple set up. Due to the position of the eyelets, other tethered balls may be fasted to the uprights, such as a cricket ball or tennis ball in various different tether set ups so as to provide the user with a multifunctional ball sports training device.
The first and second uprights 7 and 9 may also be adapted to receive a net so as to replicate a goal or receive supports that can hold a net away from the horizontal plane that is formed between the two uprights. In this way a net can be readily constructed from the existing set up to provide additional training.
In a further form of the invention there is a sports training device 200 including securely removable fastening members 210.
Each securely removable fastening members 210 has an eyelet 215 and a flexible sleeve portion 220 that is formed from a rectangular section of resilient material 225 having a hook section 230 and a loop section 235, which from a hook and loop fastening mechanism.
The eyelet 215 has a first aperture 240 through which a tether can be pass through and a sleeve receiving aperture 245 through which 220 can pass through. As would be obvious to those skilled in the art, changes may be made to both the fastening mechanism and the way in which the eyelet 215 is located with the sleeve portion 220 without departing from the general scope of the invention.
The securely removable fastening members 210 are then wrapped around a suitable post that is substantially vertical, such as the upright posts 269 of a traditional soccer goal 271, and tightened by the hook and loop fasteners. Tethers 265 and 268 pass through the first set of eyelets on the upper securely removable fastening members 270 and then attached by clip to the lower securely removable fastening members 271. The height of the tethered ball 260 can then be changed by lowering or raising the upper securely removable fastening members 270. The tension of the tethers 265 and 268 can be varied by adjustment of the lower securely removable fastening members 272.
Accordingly, this now describes a sports training device that is customisable in terms of the varying tension that can be applied to the ball to suit a specific users requirements that until now has not been disclosed.
Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures can be made within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details described herein but it is to be accorded the full scope of the appended claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.
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