U.S. patent application number 11/527642 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-27 for soccer ball and training method.
Invention is credited to Abe Torres.
Application Number | 20080076610 11/527642 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39225724 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080076610 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Torres; Abe |
March 27, 2008 |
Soccer ball and training method
Abstract
A soccer training ball having a plurality of graphic
illustrations on its surface, a first graphic substantially
concentric to the perimeter of said ball when a first indexing
target is placed at top dead center position, and at least one
second graphic placed substantially opposite said first graphic,
said graphics having targets included therein such that said
graphics suggest the optimum striking area on said ball to achieve
a desired ball direction and trajectory.
Inventors: |
Torres; Abe; (Napa,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Law Offices of Gerald L. Robertson & Assoc.
1110 Castle Oaks Drive
Napa
CA
94558-1576
US
|
Family ID: |
39225724 |
Appl. No.: |
11/527642 |
Filed: |
September 25, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/598 ; 40/327;
473/604 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 69/002 20130101;
A63B 43/008 20130101; A63B 41/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/598 ;
473/604; 40/327 |
International
Class: |
A63B 39/08 20060101
A63B039/08 |
Claims
1. An improved soccer ball comprising: at first graphic
illustration on the surface of said ball thereby defining a first
side of said ball, said first side substantially comprising one
half the surface of said ball; said graphic illustration positioned
substantially central thereon; at least on indexing target, said
indexing target positioned on said surface such that when said
indexing target is positioned at substantially top dead center,
said graphic illustration is substantially centered on said first
side as said ball rests on a playing surface; at least one second
graphic placed substantially opposite said first graphic on the
second side of said ball, each of said graphic illustrations having
positioned substantially centrally thereon striking targets, said
striking targets indicating optimum striking areas on said ball to
achieve desired ball direction and trajectory when struck.
2. An improved soccer ball comprising: a first graphic illustration
on the surface of said ball, and defining a first side thereof; at
least one indexing target, said indexing target positioned on said
surface such that when said indexing target is positioned at
substantially top dead center, said first graphic illustration is
substantially vertically centered on said first side as said ball
rests on a playing surface; a pair of graphic illustrations
positioned substantially centrally on said other or second side of
said ball, said pair of graphic illustrations positioned
substantially left and right of each other; each of said graphic
illustrations having positioned substantially centrally thereon
striking targets, said striking targets indicating optimum striking
areas on said ball to achieve predetermined general ball direction
and trajectory when struck.
3. The improved soccer ball of claim 1 further comprising: a second
indexing target located on said surface substantially opposite said
other or first indexing target.
4. The improved soccer ball of claim 2 further comprising: a second
indexing target located on said surface substantially opposite said
other or first indexing target.
5. The improved soccer ball of claim 2 wherein: said pair of said
graphic illustrations being shaped to represent the effect of
compression on said ball if struck in the location of each of said
graphic illustrations.
6. The improved soccer ball of claim 4 wherein: said pair of said
graphic illustrations being shaded to represent the effect of
compression on said ball if struck in the location of each of said
graphic illustrations.
7. A method of training soccer players comprising: an improved
soccer ball having a first graphic illustration on the surface of
said ball thereby defining a first side of said ball, said first
side substantially comprising one half the surface of said ball;
said first graphic illustration positioned substantially central
thereon; at least one indexing target, said indexing target
positioned on said surface such that when said indexing target is
positioned at substantially top dead center, said graphic
illustration is substantially centered on said first side as said
ball rests on a playing surface; a pair of graphic illustrations
positioned substantially centrally on said other or second side of
said ball, said pair of graphic illustrations positioned
substantially left and right of each other; each of said pair of
graphic illustrations having positioned substantially centrally
thereon striking targets, said striking targets indicating optimum
striking areas on said ball to achieve predetermined general ball
direction and trajectory when struck; training aids in the form of
at least one from the group of printed, audio and visual materials
explaining the physical principles governing the striking,
direction and trajectory of a soccer ball, said training aids
referring specifically to said graphic illustrations on said ball,
said training aids further explaining the use and conceptual basis
of said striking and indexing targets such that said soccer players
may use said soccer ball as an additional training aid in learning
how to kick a soccer ball.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to the sport of
soccer, namely soccer balls, and in particular, soccer balls which
may be used in a game and/or as a training aid.
STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENTAL ASSISTANCE
[0002] Applicant hereby represents that no part of the subject
invention or application has come about with the assistance of
government funds or by virtue of a government program.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Soccer (as it is known in the United States) or football, as
it is known internationally, is perhaps the most widely popular and
widely played sport in the world. Soccer is played in nearly every
country, and has, in its professional ranks, many skilled players.
Much of the proficiency in the play of soccer comes from footspeed
and agility of the player, as well as a keen awareness of strategy
and anticipation of the player's opponents. However, despite all
the emphasis on the foregoing, suffice it to say that without the
skill to kick a soccer ball accurately and skillfully, a player
becomes extremely limited in his proficiency as well as his value
to his teammates. Therefor, in the development of the skills for
playing soccer, great emphasis is placed on the skillful kicking of
the ball in order to achieve a desired distance, angle and
curvature of the ball flight.
[0004] For decades, much of the training of a soccer player has
come from the educational activities of the soccer coach and from
practicing the game or from drills. Some attempts at providing
training aids have been used in the past, somewhat
inconsequentially. In recent years, some attention has been paid to
creating training balls for use by the developing soccer player.
Pub. Nos. US 2003/0198924 A1 and US 2005/0221919 A1 by EITE
disclose a training ball having differently colored target areas,
each color basically representing a target to kick in order to
achieve a specific flight path. The EITE reference teaches a number
of differently colored or shaded areas to which a variety of flight
paths are associated. EITIE teaches the student or player to strike
the ball with the foot on an area of the ball as called out by the
teacher or coach. This act of striking the ball as directed
requires both coach or teacher and student or player to interact
one with the other to take advantage of the training features of
the claimed soccer ball. As seen in column 1 of EITE, the patent is
directed to resolving the problem of a soccer player following the
verbal instructions of the coach during play. In column two, a
"particularly preferred" embodiment of the ball comprises a central
target area with a left side spin target and a right side spin
target on opposite faces of the ball. Such extreme targets do not
provide the student with the "touch" associated with maneuvering a
ball into its flight path by varying degrees. The difficulty
associated with such a training aid, particularly during play
requires very quick response from the player to verbal commands of
the teacher of coach; sometimes difficult at best during fast
play.
[0005] Design Patent No. US D510,608 S issued Oct. 11, 2005 to
Carbonero discloses a numbered strike zone pattern for a soccer
ball. It is assumed that this design patent discloses the
ornamentation of a soccer ball with an eye toward assisting the
kicker in choosing a ball flight commensurate with the number on
the ball struck by the foot. Since the reference is that of a
design patent, it is difficult to accurately determine how the ball
is to be used. In each of the above cases, there is either a
plurality of bands with arrows as in Eite or a number as in
Carbonara, which gives some indication to the kicker where to hit
the ball. In the Case of Eite, it is important for the coach to
recognize the target of the ball to be struck to achieve a specific
ball flight and then to communicate to the player which target to
aim for.
[0006] What is taught by Eite in summary is a training aid which
requires the interaction of a coach to be effective as intended.
What is needed is a training aid which can be used by a player
without the necessity of a coach. What is needed is a training aid
which can be used by a soccer player in drills on his own without
the aid of a coach.
[0007] As early as 1999, U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,845 issued to Canelas
discloses a pair of soccer shoes and a corresponding ball with
similar colors teaches a method of showing which part of the foot
to apply to the corresponding area of a ball to achieve a desired
result. The weakness of this method stems from the fact that
physically, it is the amount of force applied in a given direction
which directs the flight path of the ball. Most often, such is
mathematically expressed in terms of a vector. While the amount of
surface area of a shoe may provide some sort of enlarged striking
area on the foot, little is to be gained over simply applying the
correct amount of force in the proper direction impacting the
ball.
[0008] The foregoing prior art soccer balls reflect the current
state of the art of which the present inventor is aware. Reference
to, and discussion of, these products is intended to aid in
discharging Applicant's acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing
information that may be relevant to the examination of prospective
claims to the present invention. However, it is respectfully
submitted that none of the above-indicated products disclose,
teach, suggest, show, or otherwise render obvious, either singly or
when considered in combination, the invention described herein.
[0009] Specifically, none of the foregoing soccer balls teach
features substantially similar to those of Applicant's
invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Applicant's invention employs a plurality of graphic
illustrations on the surface of the ball which, by themselves,
indicate a direction in which the ball will fly if struck. It is an
object of applicant's invention to provide a more comprehensive
training aid to the player which, if used according to applicant's
recommendations, can be most useful to the player without the
presence of his or her coach.
[0011] Specifically, the patterns employed in the graphic
illustrations on the surface of the ball, when used in conjunction
with other training materials will assist the student or player in
the development of intuitive skills and muscle memory.
[0012] For example, in the preferred embodiment of applicant's
invention, for more or less straight-on shooting, one graphic
illustration on the surface of the ball is substantially round,
indicating a substantially straight ahead direction for striking
the ball. On the other side of the ball are two different graphic
illustrations. In the preferred embodiment, striking targets are
provided in strategic locations to assist in learning proper ball
striking. These side targets even by their shape alone indicate a
direction for the foot to take which will achieve the desired
result. The shape of the graphic illustrations indicate a ball
being compressed in the suggested direction such that as the
student gets more used to kicking the ball according to the
inherent suggestion of the graphic illustrations and their
associated targets, not only intuitive skills are enhanced, but as
well, muscle memory. Thus, if the side illustration is hit to the
extreme side of the target, where compression is expressed the
most, a more dramatic flight will occur. Where the ball is struck
in a more "straight on" area of the side target, less dramatic
flight will result. Such a target design enhances the student's
ability to recognize graduated ball flight in a more refined way.
In the preferred embodiment, applicant also employs shading in the
graphic illustrations to express and delineate areas to be struck
to achieve more or less dramatic results.
[0013] It is a further object of the present invention to provide
instruction in multimedia form which explains the basic physics
being employed when using the soccer ball, such that the player
need not rely solely on the skills and knowledge of the coach, but
can understand spin, trajectory, ball-flight, and further, test the
strategies at his or her own pace either on or off the field, with
or without a coach, thereby providing a self-instruction guide
completely related and integral to the illustrations and physical
aspects of the ball. Through off-field self study, the player can
optimize the use of the ball on the field to then demonstrate
physically the theories and lessons provided in the multimedia
materials typically provided with each ball, even though the ball
contains instructional graphics which to a certain extent, may be
used in combination with said multimedia materials or without.
[0014] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
prescribed method of ball placement which enables the player to
pre-place the ball for a practice kick. Such "indexing" of the ball
enables the player to essentially coach himself, bringing
consistency to at least ball placement so that accuracy can be
learned. In order to achieve this, indexing targets are provided on
the top and the bottom of the ball. In this way, the student by
himself or herself (unlike in the EITE reference), may place the
ball in a set position to train himself or herself without being
told what shape, color or number to kick.
[0015] It is yet another object of applicant's invention to provide
a striking target on either side of the ball to suggest to the
kicker the correct point at which to strike the ball in order to
achieve the desired result. The present invention provides such
striking targets on either side of the ball when properly indexed
and through practice, assists the player in increasing his or her
own intuitiveness as it pertains to ball striking.
[0016] Other novel features which are characteristic of the
invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof,
will be better understood from the following specification, in
which preferred embodiments of the invention are described by way
of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the
examples are for description only and are not intended as a
definition of the limits of the invention. The various features of
novelty that characterize the invention will be identified with
particularity in the claims appended hereto. The invention does not
reside in any one of these features taken alone, but rather in the
particular combination of all of its elements.
[0017] There has thus been broadly outlined the more important
features of the invention in order that the detailed description
thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that
the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
There are, of course, additional features of the invention that
will be described hereinafter and which will form additional
subject matter of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the
art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure
is based readily may be utilized as a basis for the designing of
other compositions, methods, and systems for carrying out the
several purposes of the present invention. It is important,
therefore, that the prospective claims be regarded as including
such equivalent compositions insofar as they do not depart from the
spirit and scope of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a frontal view of applicant's invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a rear view of applicant's invention;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of applicant's invention; and
[0021] FIG. 4 is a top view of applicant's invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] FIG. 1 shows ball 10, applicant's ball in an indexed
position. Ball 10, in the traditional circular shape has a surface
20 comprised of a plurality of sections as defined by seam 30. A
first graphic illustration 40, substantially centered on the ball
when indexed and defining a first side has substantially at the
center thereof, striking target 45. When so indexed, target 45
provides the player an intended target such that when struck in a
direction substantially normal to surface 20 at target 45, said
ball 10 will travel in a substantially straight and level direction
along the ground. When struck slightly above striking target 45,
said ball, subject to the topspin induced by said striking, will
tend to travel along the ground, useful in passing the ball to
another player or when shot "on goal", will travel along the ground
in the direction intended by the player. Further, when struck
slightly above target 45, and not either to the right or left
thereof, said ball 10 will be directed in an upward trajectory,
said trajectory's elevation substantially affected by how far below
target 45 ball 10 is struck, and of course, the force of the
blow.
[0023] The preferred method of placing graphic 40 and its striking
target 45 on said ball 10's surface 20, is by the method of "silk
screening." Several other methods could be used such as placing a
prepared decal or sticker or other means of depositing a graphic.
However, in applicant's best mode, silk screening is the process
used to deposit all graphic illustrations on said ball 10.
[0024] FIG. 2 shows what is defined as the second side of ball 10
again in indexed position. As so indexed, ball 10 has on its
surface 20, a pair of graphic illustrations, graphic illustration
50 on the right side of said back and graphic illustration 50' on
the left side of said second side of ball 10. Striking targets 55
and 55' are also placed substantially central to each of said
graphic illustrations 50 and 50'.
[0025] Similar to the graphic illustration 40 on the front of said
ball (not shown in FIG. 2), each graphic illustration provides the
player or student a striking target for use in achieving a desired
direction and trajectory of the ball. When indexed in the fashion
shown in FIG. 2, and the player or student approaches the ball
straight on, if the player strikes said ball 10 with the right foot
substantially on striking target 55, said ball 10 will move in a
direction substantially left of the player's approach. Likewise, if
the player approaches ball 10 similarly, and uses the left foot to
strike ball 10 substantially on striking target 55', said ball 10
will move in a direction substantially right of the player's
approach. Of course, the angle at which the ball is struck and the
force imparted to the ball will also effect the magnitude of the
resulting direction, such training serving to help increase the
intuitiveness of the player or student through practice.
[0026] Additionally, similar to graphic 45 in FIG. 1, when the
player strikes ball 10 directly on striking targets 55 or 55', said
ball 10 will obtain a trajectory substantially related to the
direction of the path of the foot when struck, but substantially
straight if the strike is made in a direction substantially in
parallel with the playing surface. Similarly, if struck above
striking targets 55 and 55', the ball should demonstrate a certain
amount of topspin, allowing the ball to move along the playing
surface. And again, if ball 10 is struck somewhat below said
targets 55 and 55', ball 10 will be directed in a trajectory mainly
in proportion to how far below said target 55 or 55' is struck as
well as to the amount of force applied, in each case however,
rising in an arcuate direction above said playing surface.
[0027] FIG. 3, being a top view of ball 10, shows a first indexing
target 60 substantially on the top of the ball. When ball 10 is
indexed by positioning said ball with said first indexing target 60
at substantially top dead center ("TDC"), said graphics 40, 50 and
50', and thereby said striking targets 45, 55 and 55' are located
in the preferred position for instruction and practice.
[0028] FIG. 4 shows a second indexing target 60' located on the
bottom of ball 20, directly opposite the position of first indexing
target 60 shown in FIG. 3. Either indexing target 60 or 60' may be
placed at TDC when positioning the ball, each resulting in the
graphics 45, 55 and 55' being in substantially the correct position
for instruction and practice. When indexing target 60' is
positioned at top dead center, graphic illustrations 50 and 50' are
more or less upside down, but may still be used in a way to help
the player or student learn, but in the preferred embodiment of
applicant's invention, said first indexing target 60 should be
placed at top dead center to achieve optimum results. Each of said
indexing targets 60 and 60' may be in the form of a target as shown
or may simply be any object, either symmetrical or asymmetrical,
but positioned as shown to achieve the desired indexing of the
ball. For example, said indexing targets could be simply a colored
circle, a star, an "X" or other symbol. The important factor as far
as said indexing targets is concerned is their placement as
previously stated.
[0029] As further shown in FIG. 2, shading is employed in graphic
illustrations 50 and 50' to suggest compression of said
illustrations as a ball might be compressed when kicked. The
shading provides a somewhat suggested direction for striking the
ball to achieve extreme results, and to increase the students' or
player's intuitive skills as they pertain to ball striking.
[0030] In Applicant's training method, multimedia materials in the
various forms of audio and video instruction, visuals in the form
of a booklet, and other means are employed to teach the player or
student about the physics involved in striking a soccer ball. The
fundamental laws of both static and dynamic physics are used in the
context of vector dynamics as well as aerodynamics with respect to
spin and flight, to impart to the student an appreciation of how to
further use the graphic illustrations on the ball to increase
memory and intuitiveness to be used
[0031] The above disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary
skill in the art to practice the invention, and provides the best
mode of practicing the invention presently contemplated by the
inventor. While there is provided herein a full and complete
disclosure of the preferred embodiments of this invention, it is
not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction,
dimensional relationships, and operation shown and described.
Various modifications, alternative constructions, changes and
equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art and may
be employed, as suitable, without departing from the true spirit
and scope of the invention. Such changes might involve alternative
materials, components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes,
forms, functions, operational features or the like.
* * * * *