STATEMENT OF CORRESPONDING APPLICATIONS

The present invention relates to a sports training apparatus. More specifically it relates to an easily dismantled, portable ball sports training apparatus for enhancing a user's cricket batting technique. The present invention is based on the provisional specification filed in relation to New Zealand Patent Application No. 601206, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a sports training apparatus. More specifically it relates to an easily dismantled, portable ball sports training apparatus for enhancing a user's cricket batting technique.

BACKGROUND ART

Known apparatuses for enhancing a user's technique at ball sports comprise a net attached to a support frame for stopping or rebounding a driven ball from the surface of the net.

One disadvantage with these apparatus is that they do not enable long continuous periods of repetitive shot play of the ball sport to provide a more intensive training session to train, strengthen and refine the playing technique of the user.

In addition, the use of these known apparatus does not allow a user to practice on their own by using a range of playing motions (such as attacking or defending shots) which accurately simulate real playing technique.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a sports training apparatus that addresses the problems of the prior art, such as those discussed above.

Alternatively, it is an object of the invention to at least provide the public with a useful choice for sports training apparatus. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a sports training apparatus which comprises:

• a frame comprising at least two front spaced legs and at least one rear spaced leg; · a flexible net attached to the frame and extending across the space formed between each of the front spaced legs and the rear spaced leg to form two converging net panels; and

• a ball suspended on a line, the line attached to the frame at a line attachment point substantially equally spaced between the front spaced legs wherein

• the two converging net panels are reinforced along each edge of the two net panels and horizontally along a vertical plane of convergence of the two net panels from a top edge of the net to a bottom edge of the net to facilitate rebound of the ball when driven into the net; and

· the line attachment point comprises a swivel configured to facilitate rotation of the line about the line attachment point.

Preferably, the converging net panels form a V-shape.

Preferably, the net is attached to the frame via ties.

Preferably, the net comprises a diamond mesh. Preferably, the angle of convergence between the two converging net panels is substantially 60°.

Preferably, the frame comprises two front spaced legs and a rear spaced leg forms a tripod.

More preferably, the length of the rear spaced leg is longer than the two front spaced legs.

Preferably, the angle between the two front spaced legs is substantially 60°. Preferably, the angle between the rear spaced leg and each of the two front spaced legs is substantially 60°.

Preferably, the ball is a cricket ball.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit of parts configured for assembly into a sports training apparatus which comprises: · a frame comprising at least two front spaced legs and at least one rear spaced leg; a flexible net attached to the frame and extending across the space formed between each of the front spaced legs and the rear spaced leg to form two converging net panels; and

a ball suspended on a line, the line attached to the frame at a line attachment point substantially equally spaced between the front spaced legs in the two converging net panels are reinforced along each edge of the two net panels and horizontally along a vertical plane of convergence of the two net panels from a top edge of the net to a bottom edge of the net to facilitate rebound of the ball when driven into the net; and

the line attachment point comprises a swivel configured to facilitate rotation of the line about the line attachment point.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 : shows a front view of one embodiment of the present invention in the form of a sports training apparatus;

Figure 2: shows a side view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 3: shows a perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 4a: shows a front close-up view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 showing the swivel arrangement to which the line suspending the ball is attached; and

Figure 4b: shows a side close-up view of the embodiment shown in Figure 4a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the problems identified in the prior art above by enabling long continuous periods of repetitive shot play of a ball sport in the form of cricket. In addition, the present invention allows a user to practice on their own by using a range of playing motions (such as attacking or defending shots) which accurately simulate real playing technique. In a preferred form of the invention, and with reference to Figures 1 to 3, a sports training apparatus is generally indicated by arrow 1 in the form of a cricket batting technique enhancing apparatus.

Apparatus (1) comprises a frame (2) in the form of a tripod comprising three galvanized steel legs in the form of a pair of front spaced legs (2a) and one rear spaced leg (2b). The rear spaced leg (2b) is longer at 3.54m than the front spaced legs at 2.65m. The legs (2a, 2b) are made of galvanized round section steel pipe 22mm in diameter with 1.2mm wall thickness. The angle between the front spaced legs (2a) is 60°, as is the angle between each of the front spaced legs (2a) and the rear spaced leg (2b). This arrangement provides an overall frame height of 2.36m which allows for clearance and use inside a standard 2.4m stud height building. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the dimensions of the frame (2) may be varied without departing from the scope of the present invention; for example a smaller dimensioned frame could be used for use by children.

Each of the legs (2a) and (2b) are formed by push-fit clip connection of three 940mm lengths of pipe, each with a 55mm diameter swage. Each of the top leg sections clip into a top bracket (3) of the frame (2). The top bracket (3) forms the apex to the frame (2). Each of the bottom leg sections has a 22mm diameter rubber foot (4) to reduce the likelihood of slipping of the legs (2a, 2b). A person skilled in the art would also appreciate that other forms of leg extension could also be used without departing from the scope of the present invention such as telescopic legs. The apparatus (1) also comprises a net (5) which is attached to each of the legs (2a, 2b) of the frame (2) to form a continuous V-shape (as seen in Figure 3) with two converging net panels. The angle of convergence of the two converging net panels overall approximately 60° but varies along the height of the net panels in the range 49° to 77°. The net is made from one piece of flexible 50mm diamond mesh netting. The net (5) measures 1100mm high with a top border 2.8m in length and a bottom border 3.6m in length.

The border of the net (5) is reinforced along each edge by two pieces of elastic border (6) in the form of 50mm black brace woven elastic which is sewn together, thus sandwiching the net (5). In addition, the net (5) is reinforced along its vertical plane of convergence via a braided 50mm fabric centre strap (6a) which is sewn vertically from a top border edge (6b) of the net (5) to a bottom border edge (6c) of the net (5). The strap (6a) forms the leading edge of the V-shape configuration.

The net (5) is attached to the frame (2) at each of its corners via ties (7) in the form of 3mm solid braided nylon cords (best seen in Figure 2). The ties (7) are looped through an eyelet (8) at each corner of the net (5) and two eyelets (8) at the top and bottom of the centre strap (6a). Each end of the ties (7) is attached to a clip (9) in the form of a 20mm plastic pipe clip. The cord (7a) which runs through the eyelet (8) at the centre bottom of the centre strap (6a) is longer in length than the other ties (7) and is attached to the rear spaced leg (2b) near ground level using a 20 mm plastic pipe clip (9a) (as shown in Figure 2). The clip (9a) is attached at a point 1900mm from the ground up the leg (2b). The apparatus (1 ) also comprises a standard 156g cricket ball (10) suspended on a line (11 ) in the form of a 3mm nylon cord from the underside of the top bracket (3) of the frame (2) in a position equidistant between the front spaced legs (2a). The cricket ball (10) is drilled through its centre from seam to seam to make a 3mm hole. The bottom end of the hole is countersunk and cauterised so the knotted line (1 1) sits neatly. The line (11) is attached to the frame (2) at a 15kg snap swivel (12) (best seen in Figures 4a and 4b) attached to a galvanized steel chain link which is cut in half and TIG welded to the underside of the top bracket (3). In this way, the ball (10) and line (1 1 ) is configured to rotate 360° about the swivel (12). The swivel (12) is indirectly connected to the chain link via a fastening clip (13). In turn the line (1 1 ) is indirectly connected to the swivel (12) via a lower loop (15) through which the line is secured. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the net (5) can vary in dimensions without departing from the present invention. In addition, the angle of convergence of the two net panels can vary between 40° and 90° although the inventor has found that a 60° angle of convergence does provide the best rebound of the ball (10) when driven into the net (5) by a user's cricket bat (not shown). The apparatus ( ) is assembled joining together the upper, mid and lower leg portions and attaching them to the top bracket (3). The net (5) is then attached to the frame by attaching the clips (9) to the legs (2a, 2b). The line (11) with the cricket ball (10) attached at one end is then attached at its other end to the swivel (12). The apparatus (1 ) can therefore be provided as a kit of parts which can be assembled and disassembled quickly to provide portability so that it can be used for both indoor and outdoor use, such as on a cricket outfield, decking, patios, rumpus rooms, the beach or the garden.

In use, the batsman stands at the open end of the net (5) and hits towards the converged end of the net panels. The V formation of the net (5) simulates an area of the cricket field into which the batsman plays his batting shots. The configuration of the net (5) described above allows the net (5) to absorb some of the energy of the ball (10) and deflect the ball (10) into the opposite net panel before returning the ball into the strike zone, on a new angle but at a playable speed. This 'absorb-deflect-return' action allows for repetitive shot play, enabling the player to practice intensively on their own for extended periods of time and playing the full range of shots

(including defensive and attacking shots and all the straight shots from cover-point to midwicket). The apparatus (1) has been designed to train, strengthen and refine cricket batting technique in junior through to senior players. A person skilled in the art will also appreciate that the apparatus (1) could be adapted for a different ball sport such as soccer by varying the ball type and the configuration of the converging net panels if required.

The present invention offers notable advantages over the prior art by including: · Improved ease of enhancing a users playing technique of ball sports such as cricket; and

• Improved portability of a sports training apparatus for enhancing a users playing

technique of ball sports.

The entire disclosures of all applications, patents and publications cited above and below, if any, are herein incorporated by reference.

Reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour in any country in the world.

The invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of said parts, elements or features.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents thereof, those integers are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred

embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be included within the present invention.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words "comprise", "comprising" and the like, are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense, that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to".

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.