SPORTING APPARATUS TECHNICALFIELD This invention relates to a ball game apparatus or training apparatus that enables a person to self-train in a ball game or can simply be used as a source of amusement. Training one person to catch or throw a ball generally requires another person to catch and throw or kick the ball back to the first person. The throwing or kicking of a ball without another person to receive and return it will generally require effort to retrieve the ball. The apparatus of the present invention eliminates the need for a second person to throw or catch the ball.

BACKGROUND ART In the past, ball holding, hitting or throwing devices have been used for self-training in ball games such as cricket and tennis.

Such prior art devices consisted of a ball attached to one end of a tether. One disadvantage was that the device could not be readily

adapted to different ball games. A further disadvantage was that the use of a specially adapted ball added to the cost of manufacture of the device.

Further, because in many cases the tether had to be held by the user this inhibited the user's ability to catch the ball.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION The present invention consists in a sporting apparatus comprising a ball retaining means, an attachment means attachable to the limb of a person in use, an elongated coupling means coupling the ball retaining means and the attachment means, at least part of the elongated coupling means being a resilient tendon, the construction and arrangement being such that in use a ball is held by the ball retaining means and the ball and ball retaining means can be propelled by a person away from an inner position close to the body to an outer position away from the body thus stretching the resilient tendon which then causes the ball and ball retaining means to be drawn back to, or near to, said inner position.

The elongated coupling means may be attached to the ball retaining means by way of a swivel in a manner allowing relative rotation.

The attachment means may comprise a strap to be looped around a limb in use and first, second and third fasteners, the first fastener engaging the strap in two places in use to provide means for adjustment of the strap loop size, the second fastener engaging the strap and a region at, or adjacent an inner end of the elongated coupling means; the third fastener engaging the strap and engaging the elongated coupling means in a manner such that it is adjustable along the elongated coupling means to lie in any of a number of chosen intermediate positions, the construction and arrangement being such that the chosen intermediate position becomes the effective inner end of the elongated coupling means.

The third fastener may be comprised of at least two disengagable strap and coupling components, the strap component engaging the strap and the coupling component engaging the elongated coupling means in a manner such that it is adjustable along the elongated coupling means to lie in any of a number of chosen intermediate positions, the construction and arrangement being such that when the two components are engaged the chosen intermediate position becomes the effective inner end of the elongated coupling means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Preferred forms of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic side elevation of the preferred form of the sporting apparatus. The breaks shown in Figure 1 are intended to represent variation in the lengths of the relevant components.

Figure 2 shows the three buckles and strap used in a preferred form of the attachment means of the sporting apparatus.

Figure 3 shows a plan view of another form of attachment means.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the preferred form of the invention as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the sporting apparatus is comprised of a ball retaining means, an attachment means and an elongated coupling means.

The ball retaining means (1) is comprised of a net (2) in the form of a bag into which a ball can be inserted, and has a drawstring (3) around the mouth of the net which when drawn tight closes the mouth of the net preventing the ball from falling out and tightens the net around the ball. The net bag will preferably

encompass the ball sufficiently tightly to prevent the netting surrounding the ball from excessively interfering with the handling of the ball in use. The drawstring (3) is attached to the elongated coupling means (5) via a swivel (6). The swivel (6) provides a rotatable connection between the ball and net and the elongated coupling means (5) and helps stop entanglement and overwinding of the coupling means (5) and of the drawstring (3) and net (2) that may otherwise result from rotation of the ball and ball retaining means relative to the elongated coupling means (5) when the ball is thrown or kicked.

The swivel (6) is covered by a swivel guard (7) to protect the user from possible injury arising from contact with the swivel particularly when the ball and ball containing means returns to the user after being thrown or kicked.

The elongated coupling means is comprised at least partially of a resilient tendon. In the preferred form of the invention as shown in Figure 1, it is comprised primarily of a braided elastic ribbon (10) composed of a multitude of rubber threads integrated with a loose weave textile. In other forms of the invention other materials can be used but braided ribbon elastic is particularly suitable in that it is strong and resilient and is soft enough so as not to cause injury to the user on recoil and yet is sufficiently elastic to allow the ball and ball containing means to recoil with

sufficient force to enable the ball to return to the user. Use of elastic ribbon also aids in attaching the elongated coupling means (5) to the preferred form of attachment means (11) and facilitates adjustment of the elongated coupling means (5) by way of the system of buckles used in the preferred form. A reinforcing material (4) may need to be attached to the end of the elastic ribbon (10) to help secure the ribbon (10) to the swivel (6).

The attachment means attaches to the user generally by wrapping around the user's wrist or lower arm. In the preferred form of the invention the attachment means is adjustable to fit the user and provides a convenient means for attaching and adjusting the elongated coupling means. In the preferred form of the invention as shown in Figures 1 and 2 the attachment means comprises a strap (15) onto which three buckles (16,17,18) are threaded and/or sewn.

In the preferred form as shown in Figure 1 one end of the strap (15) is wound around a bar (26) of a cam type buckle (16) and sewn back upon itself to prevent detachment. The other end of the strap is, in use, fed through the locking mechanism (36) of the cam type buckle (16) so that when the cam type buckle is open that end of the strap can be fed through the buckle and adjusted to the size of the limb-encompassing loop of the strap (15) until it is adjusted to fit the user whereupon the cam-type buckle (16)

can be locked closed so that the loop remains fitted to the user's arm.

A spongy material such as Neoprene'"closed cell rubber (25) may be fixed to the inside of the strap (15) to allow the strap to be worn more comfortably.

In the preferred form as shown in Figure 1, the end of the strap that is sewn back upon itself extends far enough for an inner buckle (17) also to be fitted to the strap. The strap is sewn back upon itself on both sides of the inner buckle (17) to hold the buckle in place.

A region at, or adjacent to, the inner end (20) of the braided elastic ribbon (10) is attached to the strap (15) by being wound around the inner buckle (17). After being wound around the inner buckle, the elastic ribbon (10) may be sewn back upon itself to prevent detachment but when wound in a fashion similar to that shown in Figure 1 sewing is generally not necessary. By simply winding the elastic ribbon (10) onto the buckle (17) rather than sewing it on, the apparatus is more versatile in that elastic ribbons may be relatively easily replaced to allow worn ribbons to be exchanged for new ribbons or to install a ribbon of different length.

In the preferred form as shown in Figure 1 the ribbon is also wound through the coupling means component (28) of a plug and socket buckle (18), the strap component (38) of which is attached to the strap (15). By feeding the elastic ribbon (10) through the coupling means component (28), the length of the ribbon between the plug and socket buckle (18) and the swivel (6) can be decreased or increased thus determining the extension length of the apparatus. The useful length of the elastic strip between the plug and socket buckle and the swivel may be adjusted to suit the manner in which the ball needs to be thrown or kicked. The length of the elastic strip may be adjusted to cater for the age and/or ability of the person using the device.

There will be a corresponding increase or decrease in the length of ribbon between the plug and socket buckle (18) and the inner buckle (17). Any slack in the elastic ribbon (10) between plug and socket buckle (18) and the inner buckle (17) may be wound around the user's arm to prevent entanglement or obstruction.

The winding of the elastic ribbon around the user's wrist is more easily undertaken by disengaging the components (28,38) of the plug and socket buckle (18), adjusting the elastic ribbon (10) through the buckle's coupling means component (28), wrapping the slack around the user's arm and re-engaging the plug and socket buckle components.

In other forms of the invention a number of variations are possible. Numerous different forms of ball retaining means may be used. For instance rather than using a drawstring, the mouth of the net or the net itself could be elasticised or some other form of fasteners such as domes or hooks and eyes or zips could be used. Conceivably, the bag and drawstring could be replace with a suction cup or clip capable of sticking or attaching to the ball. Other forms of retaining means may include stretch fabric bags or interlaced strings. In other forms of the invention the coupling means may be attached to parts of the retaining means other than the drawstring (particularly in forms where there is no drawstring). Some of these different arrangements may have disadvantages in so far as they may require the use of customised balls or may involve components that may unduly interfere with the handling and flight of the ball.

The attachment means may also take a variety of forms. For instance, it may be fitted to the user by use of velcro, belt-type buckles [as shown in Figure 3 with belt-type buckle (40), strap (41) and part of the elongated coupling means (42)] or tethers that can be tied together. It may not always be necessary to provide components on the attachment means to aid in the length adjustment of the coupling means. The length of the coupling

means may not be adjustable or it may be adjustable by having a series of fasteners on the elongated coupling means itself or it could simply be knotted to allow it to be shortened or lengthened. Also, the elongated coupling means could be extended to form the limb-encompassing loop of the attachment means. In other forms of the invention the elongated coupling means may be comprised of or include resilient materials other than braided ribbon elastic such as rubber bands, bungy cords, springs etc., however, many of these other materials tend to be less safe to use due to the risk of injury or hurt inflicted to the face or arms of the user particularly during the rebound and catching phase of using the apparatus.

The preferred form of the sporting apparatus as shown in Figure 1 may be used in the following way. A ball is placed in the net and the drawstring is pulled to tighten the net around the ball and to prevent if from spilling out of the net. The strap is placed over the user's limb, generally around their wrist, and tightened to fit.

The throwing/kicking length of the apparatus is adjusted by adjusting the position of engagement between the elastic ribbon and the plug and socket buckle. If appropriate the plug and socket buckle can be unlocked to allow the slack in the elastic to be wrapped around the user's arm before the plug and socket are

re-engaged. The user can then propel the ball (and ball retaining means) away from himself, by throwing or kicking for instance, which causes the elastic ribbon to extend and then stretch until it causes the ball and ball retaining means to rebound and return in the direction of the user. With practice the user can control the return of the ball and ball retaining means (generally by a wrist action) so that they return in a manner which allows the user to catch the ball. It is envisaged that the invention may be used in conjunction with a range of balls. For instance the invention could be used in conjunction with a rugby ball, netball, baseball, cricket ball, or basketball, etc. to practise passing and catching.

Because the invention has an attachment means capable of being fastened to the wrist of a person freeing both hands of that person, it is particularly useful for exercises where the ball, upon return, is to be caught with both hands. The length of the elastic strip may be adjusted at the wrist attachment so as to simulate different aspects of ball games or the apparatus may simply be used as a means of amusement.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY Thus the apparatus may provide users with a training means to assist in improving their ball skills such as throwing, kicking and catching or may simply provide apparatus for an enjoyable leisure activity.