SPORT TRAINING

THIS INVENTION relates to sport training. It relates in particular to a sporting kit assembly suitable for use in the training and/or protection of players of contact sport, such as various forms of football, including rugby football, Australian rule football, American football, and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The inventor is aware of equipment used for contact sport training. However, such equipment is sometimes bulky to transport, set up and store. The inventor believes that his invention may alleviate this problem and allow for more cost effective training/ protective equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a sporting kit assembly which includes a shielding cushion having securing means for securing it in a shielding position around a post, the cushion defining at least one seat to accommodate removably at least one training accessory.

The cushion may be of elongate cylindrical form of any desired cross-section, and may be split longitudinally. Preferably, the cushion is of a generally square cross- section, and has an open cylindrical cavity to accommodate the post.

The cushion may have a plurality of seats to accommodate a plurality of training/protective accessories.

A training accessory may include one or more hitting pads and a plurality of field markers for marking a training path, such as a zigzag path for a player on a playing field.

The accessories and the shielding cushion may be provided with interacting

Velcro™-type fittings to ensure that they may be retained removably in their seats in the cushion.

The invention extends accordingly to a sporting kit assembly which includes a shielding cushion having securing means for securing it in a shielding position around a post, the cushion defining a plurality of seats, the kit further including a plurality of training accessories seated removably in the seats.

The seats provided by the cushion may include cavities defined in the cushion. The training accessories may have pulling tabs which may be gripped with fingers to remove the training accessories from the seats in the cushion. In another embodiment, the cushion may be provided with recessed finger tabs adjacent the cavities in which the training accessories are to be seated.

The shielding cushion/post padding may be shaped, dimensioned and weighted to be usable also as a tackling bag.

In particular, the cushion for the post padding/ tackling bag may have a length of 1 - 2.5 metres or more, and may have a side of about 0.2 - 1.5 metres.

The hitting pads may be generally rectangular in shape, having a length of 0.3 - 1.5 metres or more, a width of 0.2 - 1.5 metres, and/or a thickness of 0.05 - 0.6 metres. The field markers will generally have a circular diameter ranging from 0.1 - 0.3 metres, with a height/ thickness of 0.05 - 0.15 metres.

In one embodiment the shielding cushion may include one or more inflatable chamber. Similarly, the accessory, which may be in the form of a hitting pad, a field marker, or the like, may include an inflatable chamber. The inventor believes that this

construction will provide the further advantage of providing a light and easily transportable sporting kit assembly.

It is envisaged that the kit will be provided in a range of sizes to satisfy the requirements for junior players as well as for senior players.

It is to be appreciated that, depending on the sport for which the sporting kit assembly is to be used, a range of sizes and configurations can be envisaged. Although the inventor believes that these configurations will fall within the ranges provided for in this specification. In particular, the placement of the hitting pads and the field markers is not critical to the invention and other configurations than those disclosed in the specification can be envisaged.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a sport shielding cushion having securing means for securing it in a shielding position around a post, the cushion having at least one inflatable chamber.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the follow diagrammatic drawings.

DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a sporting kit assembly in accordance with the invention in front elevation in position around a post;

Figure 2 shows the assembly in side elevation in the direction of arrow M-Il in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows the assembly of Figure 1 in rear elevation; Figure 4 shows the assembly of Figure 1 in plan view; Figure 5 shows a back view of a hitting pad for the embodiment of Figure 1 ;

Figure 6 shows a section of the hitting pad of Figure 7 as shown at Vl-Vl; Figure 7 shows a side view of the pad of Figure 5 as seen at VII-VII in Figure 5;

Figure 8 shows another embodiment of a sporting kit assembly in accordance with the invention in side elevation in position around a post;

Figure 9 shows the embodiment of Figure 8 in rear elevation as seen at IX-IX in Figure 8; Figure 10 shows a rear view of an alternative hitting pad for the embodiment of Figure 8;

Figure 11 shows a section of the hitting pad of Figure 12 as shown at Xl-Xl; Figure 12 shows a side view as at XII-XII of the hitting pad of Figure 10. Figures 13 to 18 show another embodiment of the invention; and Figures 19 to 24 show yet another embodiment of the invention.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Figure 1 , 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 refers generally to a shielding cushion of elongate cylindrical form of a generally square cross- section. The cushion 10 has a central open-ended cylindrical cavity 12 to accommodate a post 14 (such as a rugby goal post) therein. The shield 10 has a longitudinal slit 16 in a rear face 10.1 providing access for the post 14 to the cavity 12. The slit 16 is covered over by a strip of Velcro™ holding material 18.

In its side faces 10.2, the cushion is provided with opposed seats 20 to accommodate hitting pads 22 which are removable. It also has seats 24 to accommodate removably a plurality of field markers 26.

Referring now to Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings, the hitting pad 22 is shown in greater detail. The pad 22 has, on its back face 22.1 , Velcro™ backing 30 and straps 32 and 34. The pad 22 is also provided with pulling tabs 22.2. The pad 122 is provided with pulling tabs 122.2.

In Figure 6, a backing board 124 which may be of a synthetic plastic sheet material is visible. The board 124 is provided with pairs of strap binding slots 124.1 , 124.2, and 124.3.

Referring now to Figure 8 and 9 of the drawings, there is shown an alternative shielding cushion generally indicated by reference numeral 110. It is generally similar in construction to the cushion 10 but has two pairs of hitting pads 222 and 322 seated on opposite faces 110.2 of the cushion 110. The Velcro™ strip 18 similarly closes a slit in the rear face 110.1. In this embodiment however, the seats 24 for the field markers 26 are provided in the rear face 110.1. Pad 222 is similar in construction to the pad 22 and is not described again. The pad 322 also has pulling tabs 222.2. Figure 8 may also consist of hitting pads 322 on both the top (Instead of hitting pad 222) and bottom cavities depending on the unit's primary application in a specific market sector.

Referring now to Figures 10 and 12 of the drawings, the pad 322 is shown in greater detail. It is similar in construction to the pad 22 and has similar fittings, such as pulling tabs 322.2, Velcro™ straps 32 and 34, Velcro™ backing 30, and so on.

In Figure 11 a backing board 324 which may be of a synthetic plastic sheet material is visible. The board 324 is provided with pairs of strap binding slots 324.1 , 324.2, and 324.3.

It is to be appreciated that the hitting pads 22 and 322 may be seated on the outside of their respective shielding cushions, or may be seated in recesses provided in the shielding cushions.

It is to be appreciated that the kit is therefore composed of two or more the following components, which make up a multifunctional training/protective unit: post padding and/or tackling bag, hitting pads, a plurality of field markers or any other additional accessories that will further advance the product's functionality. These components may vary in size, shape, material make-up, colour/s, emblems or other structural/cosmetic alterations depending on the sporting sector or brand marketing/advertising intentions.

Figures 13 to 18 show another embodiment of a sporting kit assembly, generally indicated by reference numeral 400. In this embodiment the shielded cushion

402 also has a central open-ended cylindrical cavity 404 to accommodate a post (not shown). The cushion 402 also includes a longitudinal slit 406.

On the side faces of the cushion 402, there are seats 402.1 to 402.4 which are not in the form of recesses as in the previous embodiments, but rather in the form of flat faces, shaped and dimensioned to receive pads 408 to 414.

As indicated by arrows 408.1 to 414.1 , the pads are removably attachable to the cushion 402.

Furthermore, the cushion 402 is split in top and bottom parts 416 and 418 respectively.

In this embodiment a tackling bag is constructed by attaching the set of pads 412 and 414 to each other as indicated by arrows 420.1 and 420.2 in Figures 17 and 18.

Figures 19 to 24 show another embodiment of a sporting kit assembly, generally indicated by reference numeral 500. This embodiment is very similar to the embodiment shown in Figures 13 to 18. In this embodiment the shielded cushion 502 also has a central open-ended cylindrical cavity 504 to accommodate a post (not shown). The cushion 502 also includes a longitudinal slit 506.

On the side faces of the cushion 502, there are seats 502.1 to 502.4 which are not in the form of recesses as in the previous embodiments, but rather in the form of flat faces, shaped and dimensioned to receive pads 508 to 514.

As indicated by arrows 508.1 to 514.1 , the pads are removably attachable to the cushion 502.

Furthermore, the cushion 502 is split in top and bottom parts 516 and 518 respectively.

A tackling bag is constructed by attaching the set of pads 512 and 514 to each other, as indicated by arrows 520.1 and 520.2 in Figures 23 and 24.

This embodiment however includes inflatable cavities 502.11 and 502.12 in the cushion 502 and inflatable cavities 508.11 and 510.11 in the pads 508, 510, 512 and 514, respectively (cavities in 512 and 514 not being visible).

The advantage of the inflatable cavities is that the sporting kit accessory is lighter and easier transportable.

As can be seen in the examples illustrated herein, the sporting kit may comprise any combination of training accessories. For example the examples illustrated in Figures 13 to 24, depending on the sizes and the configuration of the hitting pads, a sporting kit may comprise two hitting pads and a tackling bag (by combining two cushions), or the kit may comprise four hitting pads, without any tackling bags.

The inventor believes that a sporting kit assembly in accordance with the invention will facilitate the training and protection of players, particularly on tour. The various component parts required for training all fit together neatly in the kit in accordance with the invention. The kit forms a compact package of components which is easily handled, transported or stored. Furthermore, the kit and the various component parts may be made up in the colours or emblems of the team, sponsor/s and/or manufacturer/s to which it belongs. The multifunctional training/protective kit will allow for more cost effective products to be produced, which will benefit players and teams alike, particularly in rural or disadvantaged communities.