BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to hockey equipment, more particularly, to a dummy for practicing hockey.

The Prior Art

In hockey, the goaltender is very often screened by other players, both opposing players and those on his team.

Currently, the only way to practice stopping shots while screened is to put live players in screening positions. This can be dangerous to the screening players if they are not aware of when a shot is made. Shooters have the same problem when looking for a sight line for a shot.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The hockey screening dummy of the present invention is a life size hockey player for use in training by any level of hockey. The screening dummy has a lower body and an upper body. The lower body has a pair of legs composed of a rigid material such as wood or metal. Each leg is curved forwardly to simulate a bent knee.

The legs are inserted into modified hockey skates, wherein the blade and blade holder are removed and a slot is cut through the sole to the interior. A blade has a blade portion that contacts the ice and a tab portion that is inserted through the skate slot and into a slot in the leg. The length of the blade portion depends on the weight and lean of the dummy. Alternatively, the skate is custom formed for the present invention to include the skate blade. The skate/blade assembly is bolted to the leg at the ankle, heel, and toe. The ankle bolt allows for adjustment of the angle of the leg in the skate .

A long threaded rod extends through the legs at the knee. Nuts on both ends that straddle each leg permit adjustment of the distance between the legs. The top end of each leg is attached to a hip section. The base of the hip section is a rigid plate that is

approximately oval. A rigid block that is 6 to 10 inches in height is attached to the top of the plate. A post for attaching the upper body is mounted to the top of the block.

The upper body is a premade torso/head combination with a vertical hole in the bottom that fits onto the post. Gravity maintains the torso on the post.

A threaded rod extends through the torso at the

shoulders. A short pipe is bolted to each end of the rod to form a movable shoulder. A plate with a hole drilled in it is attached to the pipe at an approximately 45 degree downward angle to form a joint for attaching the arm.

In one configuration, the upper arm and forearm of are each a long rigid sheet. In another configuration, the upper arm and forearm are each constructed of a rod with a plate attached to each end. The upper arm and forearm each has a hole in each end. The upper arm is bolted to the shoulder plate and the forearm is bolted to the upper arm.

The hand is short pipe with a hole in it for attaching to the end of the forearm. The finished arms have approximately the same movement and range as human arms giving the

screening dummy a life like element.

The lower body is outfitted with shin pads, hockey socks, and hockey pants. The upper body is outfitted with hockey eguipment, shoulder pads, elbow pads, helmet, gloves and a hockey jersey. The palms of the gloves and the top of a hockey stick are covered with hook and loop fasteners so that the position of the stick can be adjusted.

Objects of the present invention will become apparent in light of the following drawings and detailed description of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front, partial phantom view of the screening dummy of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional front view of the lower body; FIG. 3 is a top view of the hip plate;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the lower body; FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the skate;

FIG. 6 is an exploded side view of the skate;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the upper body detached from the lower body;

FIG. 8 is a detailed front view of the shoulder joint; FIG. 9 is a detailed front view of the right arm;

FIG. 10 is a detailed side view of the right arm; and FIG. 11 is a detailed side view of an alternate design of the right arm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The hockey screening dummy 10 of the present invention is a life size hockey player for use by any level of hockey, from peewee to professional, for the purpose of training. One use is to screen a goaltender so that he/she can practice making stops while being screened. Another use is to provide the shooters with sight lines during shooting practice.

The screening dummy 10 has a lower body 12 and an upper body 14.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the lower body 12 has a pair of legs 20 composed of a relatively rigid material. For example, the material can be wood, metal placed in a mold and foam formed, or molded plastic or composite material. Molded legs can include human features and/or hockey eguipment shapes, such as shin pads. Each leg 20 is curved forwardly, as at 28 in FIG. 4, to simulate a bent knee. The lower ends 30 of the legs 20 are inserted into modified hockey skates 22. Optionally, the lower ends 30 are shaped, as at 39, somewhat as a foot. The skate modification takes the form of removing the blade and, optionally, the blade holder and cutting a slot 26 through the bottom of the skate 22 into the skate interior, as in FIG. 5. An extra- long blade 24 made of 1/2 inch plastic or other rigid material has a blade portion 34 that contacts the ice and a tab portion 36 that is inserted into the slot 26 in the skate 22 and into a slot 38 in the leg end 30. The length of the blade portion 34 depends on the weight and lean of the screening dummy 10. The farther the center of gravity is off center, the longer the blade portion 34 needs to be to keep the screening dummy 10 from falling.

Alternatively, the skate 22 is custom formed for the present invention to include the skate blade 24.

As shown in FIG. 6, the skate/blade assembly 22, 24 is secured to the leg 20. A bolt 40 is inserted through a hole 41 at the top of the front of the skate 22, as at 41, through a bore 42 in the ankle of the leg 20, and through a hole 43 the back of the top of the skate 22. A nut 44 between the leg 20 and the skate 22 stabilizes the bolt 40 at the back of the leg 20. A pair of adjusting nuts 45 on either side of the back of the skate 22 allow for adjustment of the angle of the leg 20 in the skate 22.

A heel bolt 46 extends through the side of the skate 22, through a bore 47 in the leg 20, through a bore 48 in the blade tab 36, and through the other side of the skate 22, and is secured by a heel nut 48. A toe bolt 50 extends through the side of the skate 22, through a bore 51 in the blade tab 36, and through the other side of the skate 22, and is secured by a toe nut 52. These two nuts 48, 52 are tightened after the leg/skate angle is adjusted as desired using the adjusting nuts 45. Optionally, screws are used to hold the skate to the leg at the lace holes 54.

Alternatively, the heel and toe through bolt/nut

combinations are be replaced by lag bolts or other wood screws, where nuts are not needed.

A long threaded rod 56 extends through a bore 57 in the pair of legs 20 at approximately the knee location 28. Nuts 58 on both ends that straddle each leg 20 permit adjustment of the distance between the legs 20 and for stability. The rod 56 also provides a puck deflector for goaltender

training .

The top end 32 of each leg 20 is attached to a hip section 60. In the present configuration, the base of the hip section 60 is a rigid plate 62 that is approximately 1/4 inch thick. The rigid material can be metal, wood, or plastic. The plate 62 is approximately oval, such as an elongated hexagon or elongated octagon, as in FIG. 3. The legs 20 are attached using any practical method. One method is to use screws 64 through the plate 62 and into the leg 20, as in FIGS. 2 and 4. Another method is to use an adhesive between the leg 20 and plate 62.

The hip section 60 has a rigid block 66 attached to the top of the plate 62. The rigid material can be metal, wood, or plastic. The block 66 is generally cylindrical with approximately oval cross-section, such as an elongated hexagon or elongated octagon. The block 66 will typically have the same cross-sectional shape as the plate 62. The block 66 is between approximately 6 and 10 inches in height. The block 66 is attached using any practical method. One method is to use screws 68 through the plate 62 and into the block 66, as in FIGS. 2 and 4. Another method is to use an adhesive between the block 68 and plate 62.

The hip section 60 has a post 70 mounted to the top of the block 66 for attaching the upper body 14. In the present configuration, the post 70 has a mounting plate 71. The post/plate is attached to the block 66 by whatever means is practical including, for example, screws 76, as in FIGS. 4 and 7, and an adhesive.

The plate 62, block 66, and/or post 70 can be a single unit if they are the same material.

The upper body 14 is a premade torso/head combination 72 which provides life-like features, proportion, and

appearance. The lower body post 70 fits into a vertical hole 74 in the bottom of the torso 72. Gravity maintains the torso 72 on the post 70.

The shoulders 82 includes a threaded rod 80 extending through a bore 81 in the torso 72 at the shoulders, as in FIG. 7. The rod 80 is approximately 5/8 inch in diameter.

As shown in FIG. 8, a short (approximately 2-1/2 inch) shoulder pipe 84 is bolted to each end of the rod 80 to form a rotatable shoulder. The shoulder pipe 84 will typically be metal, but any rigid material is contemplated. The rod 80 extends through a washer 86 between the torso 72 and shoulder pipe 84 and through a hole 85 the shoulder pipe 84. A nut 88 secures the attachment.

An approximately 2 inch x 3-1/2 inch x 1/4 inch rigid shoulder plate 92 with an approximately 3/8 inch hole 94 in it is attached to the shoulder pipe at an approximately 45 degree downward angle, as at 96, to form a joint for

attaching the arm 98. The shoulder plate 92 will typically be metal, but any rigid material is contemplated. The form of the attachment depends on the materials. Metals can be welded and plastics can be attached with adhesives.

The arm 98 includes an upper arm 100 and a forearm 102. In one configuration, shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the upper arm 100 and forearm 102 are each an elongated rigid plate approximately 13 inches long x 2 inches wide x 1/4 inch thick. The upper arm 100 and forearm 102 will typically be metal, but any rigid material is contemplated. The upper arm 100 and forearm 102 each has a 3/8 inch hole 112, 113, 114, 115 in each end.

In another configuration, shown in FIG. 11, the upper arm 100 and forearm 102 are each constructed of a 1/4 inch rigid rod 103 approximately 9 inches long with a 2 inch x 3 inch x 1/4 inch rigid plate 104, 106 attached to each end, as at 108. Each plate 104, 106 has a 3/8 inch hole 112, 113, 114, 115 in it. The rod 103 and plates 104, 106 will typically be metal, but any rigid material is contemplated. The

attachments between the rod 103 and plates 104, 106 depend on the materials .

In another configuration, the upper arm 100 and forearm 102 are molded as three-dimensional components with

approximate human features. The holes 112, 113, 114, 115 are in tabs that extend from either end of the upper arm 100 and forearm 102.

The upper end of the upper arm 100 is bolted to the shoulder plate 92 with a 3/8 inch bolt 118 and locking nut 120 using the appropriate holes 94, 112. Two wave washers 122 are placed between the shoulder plate 92 and upper arm 100 to facilitate motion and the ability to maintain the position it is put in. The upper end of the forearm 102 is bolted to the lower end of the upper arm 100 in the same manner via holes 113, 114.

The hand 126 is composed of a short (approximately 2-1/2 inch) hand pipe 128 with a 3/8 inch hole 130 in it. The hand pipe 84 will typically be metal, but any rigid material is contemplated. The hand pipe 128 is attached to the forearm 102 in the same way that the upper arm 100 is attached to the shoulder 82, via holes 115, 130, to provide wrist motion and the ability to maintain the position it is put in. The finished arms have approximately the same motion as human arms, giving the screening dummy 10 a life like element.

The lower body 12 is outfitted with shin pads, hockey socks, and hockey pants. The upper body 14 is outfitted with hockey equipment, shoulder pads, elbow pads, helmet, gloves and a hockey jersey. The palms of the gloves and the top of a hockey stick are covered with hook and loop fasteners.

This allows the screening dummy 10 to grip the stick at the top allowing the bottom hand to slide freely up and down the stick. This gives coaches and trainers various stick positions for different drills.

The lower body 12 weighs approximately 40 to 60 pounds and the upper body 14 weighs approximately 20 to 30 pounds. Additional weight can be added if necessary for the

particular level of hockey in which it is being used.

The foregoing description is a custom-made screening dummy. The present invention contemplates that the various components can be modified in ways known in the art. For example, bolts can be different sizes, pipes can have different diameters, components can be molded with human features and/or with hockey equipment, etc. A mass produced screening dummy may be made of different materials, such as metal and foam molds and size, weight, and moving parts will be similar. The screening dummy is constructed of materials that are robust enough to withstand the constant punishment of thousands of hockey pucks hitting it.

Thus it has been shown and described a hockey screening dummy. Since certain changes may be made in the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the present invention, it is intended that all matter described in the foregoing specification and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense .