U.S. patent application number 12/004967 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-26 for method and apparatus for ball kicking practice.
Invention is credited to Harrison M. Flores, Matthew F. Flores.
Application Number | 20080153632 12/004967 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39543660 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080153632 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Flores; Matthew F. ; et
al. |
June 26, 2008 |
Method and apparatus for ball kicking practice
Abstract
A ball kicking practice device having target indica located in
at least one position on the exterior of the ball. Feedback indica
circumferentially located on the ball extending through the target
changes in appearance in form or color subsequent to a proper
strike of the ball with the foot. Shoe contact indica provides
contact points on a shoe for practicing contact with the targets on
the exterior of the ball and to allow the user to practice keeping
their eyes trained on the ball through contact by the user's foot
and thereafter received feedback of a proper or improper strike
from the change in appearance of the feedback indica.
Inventors: |
Flores; Matthew F.;
(Temecula, CA) ; Flores; Harrison M.;
(US) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DONN K. HARMS;PATENT & TRADEMARK LAW CENTER
SUITE 100, 12702 VIA CORTINA
DEL MAR
CA
92014
US
|
Family ID: |
39543660 |
Appl. No.: |
12/004967 |
Filed: |
December 20, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60871004 |
Dec 20, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/446 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 5/02 20130101; A43B
5/025 20130101; A43B 1/0027 20130101; A63B 43/008 20130101; A63B
69/002 20130101; A63B 2209/10 20130101; A43B 5/18 20130101; A63B
2208/12 20130101; A43B 3/0078 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/446 |
International
Class: |
A63B 69/00 20060101
A63B069/00 |
Claims
1. A ball kicking practice apparatus comprising: a ball having an
exterior surface; target indica located on at least one point of
said exterior surface designating a target for a point of contact
for the foot of a user in a strike of the ball; feedback indica
located on said exterior surface, said feedback indica having a
first appearance when said ball is stationary and having a second
appearance on said ball when propelled subsequent to said strike of
said ball; and said second appearance of said indica providing
visual means for said user to ascertain said strike has propelled
said ball on a proper trajectory.
2. The ball kicking practice apparatus of claim 1 additionally
comprising: said first appearance of said indicia being a dotted
line extending circumferentially in opposite directions from said
target indicia; and said second appearance being a solid line.
3. The ball kicking practice apparatus of claim 1 additionally
comprising: said first appearance of said indicia being a stripe
extending circumferentially in opposite directions from said target
indicia; and said second appearance being said stripe having a
different color from said stripe in said first appearance.
4. The ball kicking practice apparatus of claim 3 additionally
comprising: said stipe formed of indica consisting of at least two
different colors; and said second appearance being a third color
comprised of an optical mixing of said of said two different colors
by rotation of said ball.
5. The ball kicking practice apparatus of claim 1 additionally
comprising said target indica providing means for said user to
practice maintaining an eye contact with said ball until said
strike occurs.
6. The ball kicking practice apparatus of claim 2 additionally
comprising: said target indica providing means for said user to
practice maintaining an eye contact with said ball until said
strike occurs.
7. The ball kicking practice apparatus of claim 3 additionally
comprising: said target indica providing means for said user to
practice maintaining an eye contact with said ball until said
strike occurs.
8. The ball kicking practice apparatus of claim 4 additionally
comprising: said target indica providing means for said user to
practice maintaining an eye contact with said ball until said
strike occurs.
9. The ball kicking practice apparatus of claim 1 additionally
comprising: a shoe worn by said user for said strike of said ball;
said shoe having indica thereon designating at least one contact
point for said shoe with said target indica during said strike of
said ball; said contact point providing means to practice striking
said ball from a position on said shoe wherein said contact point
is located, and said second appearance of said indica providing
visual means for said user to ascertain said strike with said
contact point on said target indica has propelled said ball on a
proper trajectory.
10. The ball kicking practice apparatus of claim 1 additionally
comprising: a shoe worn by said user for said strike of said ball;
said shoe having indica thereon designating at least one contact
point for said shoe with said target indica during said strike of
said ball; said contact point providing means to practice striking
said ball from a position on said shoe wherein said contact point
is located, and said second appearance of said indica providing
visual means for said user to ascertain said strike with said
contact point on said target indica has propelled said ball on a
proper trajectory.
11. The ball kicking practice apparatus of claim 2 additionally
comprising: a shoe worn by said user for said strike of said ball;
said shoe having indica thereon designating at least one contact
point for said shoe with said target indica during said strike of
said ball; said contact point providing means to practice striking
said ball from a position on said shoe wherein said contact point
is located, and said second appearance of said indica providing
visual means for said user to ascertain said strike with said
contact point on said target indica has propelled said ball on a
proper trajectory.
12. The ball kicking practice apparatus of claim 4 additionally
comprising: a shoe worn by said user for said strike of said ball;
said shoe having indica thereon designating at least one contact
point for said shoe with said target indica during said strike of
said ball; said contact point providing means to practice striking
said ball from a position on said shoe wherein said contact point
is located, and said second appearance of said indica providing
visual means for said user to ascertain said strike with said
contact point on said target indica has propelled said ball on a
proper trajectory.
13. The ball kicking practice apparatus of claim 6 additionally
comprising: a shoe worn by said user for said strike of said ball;
said shoe having indica thereon designating at least one contact
point for said shoe with said target indica during said strike of
said ball; said contact point providing means to practice striking
said ball from a position on said shoe wherein said contact point
is located, and said second appearance of said indica providing
visual means for said user to ascertain said strike with said
contact point on said target indica has propelled said ball on a
proper trajectory.
14. The ball kicking practice apparatus of claim 2 additionally
comprising: said dotted line extending in opposite directions from
said target indicia on said surface of said ball to form a complete
circle on said surface; and said proper trajectory being a rolling
of said ball on said surface of said ball along said dotted line
with a plane formed by said dotted line through said ball
substantially perpendicular to the ground, whereby said line will
appear to said user as said solid line as said ball continues in
said rolling.
15. The ball kicking practice apparatus of claim 4 additionally
comprising: said indica being half tones consisting of said at
least two different colors; said second appearance being said third
color; and said proper trajectory being a rolling of said ball on
said surface of said ball along said stripe with a plane formed by
said stripe through said ball substantially perpendicular to the
ground, whereby said stripe will appear to said user in said third
color as said ball continues in said rolling.
16. The ball kicking practice apparatus of claim 11 additionally
comprising: said dotted line extending in opposite directions from
said target indicia on said surface of said ball to form a complete
circle on said surface; and said proper trajectory being a rolling
of said ball on said surface of said ball along said dotted line
with a plane formed by said dotted line through said ball
substantially perpendicular to the ground, whereby said line will
appear to said user as said solid line as said ball continues in
said rolling.
17. The ball kicking practice apparatus of claim 12 additionally
comprising: said indica being half tones consisting of said at
least two different colors; said second appearance being said third
color; and said proper trajectory being a rolling of said ball on
said surface of said ball along said stripe with a plane formed by
said stripe through said ball substantially perpendicular to the
ground, whereby said stripe will appear to said user in said third
color as said ball continues in said rolling.
18. The ball kicking practice apparatus of claim 1 additionally
comprising: a ball having an exterior surface; said target indica
located at a plurality of points on said exterior surface
designating a plurality of said targets for a point of contact for
the foot of a user in a strike of the ball; and feedback indica
located on said exterior surface, said feedback indica having a
first appearance when said ball is stationary and having a second
appearance on said ball when propelled subsequent to said strike of
said ball; and said second appearance of said indica providing
visual means for said user to ascertain said strike at any of said
plurality of target points has propelled said ball on a proper
trajectory.
19. The ball kicking practice apparatus of claim 10 additionally
comprising: a ball having an exterior surface; said target indica
located at a plurality of points on said exterior surface
designating a plurality of said targets for a point of contact for
the foot of a user in a strike of the ball; feedback indica located
on said exterior surface, said feedback indica having a first
appearance when said ball is stationary and having a second
appearance on said ball when propelled subsequent to said strike of
said ball; and said second appearance of said indica providing
visual means for said user to ascertain said strike at any of said
plurality of target points has propelled said ball on a proper
trajectory.
20. The ball kicking practice apparatus of claim 19 additionally
comprising: said indicia designating said contact point being
located on a planar band; and said band engageable around said
shoe. said shoe having indica thereon designating at least one
contact point for said shoe with said target indica during said
strike of said ball; said contact point providing means to practice
striking said ball from a position on said shoe wherein said
contact point is located, and said second appearance of said indica
providing visual means for said user to ascertain said strike with
said contact point on said target indica has propelled said ball on
a proper trajectory.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/871,004 filed Dec. 20, 2006, and
incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The disclosed device relates to ball kicking practice for
players of games such as soccer. More particularly, the disclosed
device and method of employment thereof relate to placement of
indica on a ball which will change in appearance in reaction to an
accurate or correct kick by the user and targeting devices on the
ball and shoe to encourage continuous eye contact by the user with
the intended target of their foot.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Soccer is a game played throughout the world by adults and
children and takes a particularly high degree of foot and eye
coordination for the player to accurately kick or strike the ball.
Much like other sports where a ball must be accurately struck to
propel it toward the intended target, players must develop the
ability to maintain their eye on the ball in order to pass the ball
to other players or to attempt to propel the ball into a goal.
Kicking the ball with the wrong portion of the foot will impart an
unintended trajectory to the ball causing missed passes and goal
attempts and is detrimental to good team play.
[0004] As is well known to experienced soccer players, it is
advantageous to master the skill of striking a soccer ball in
different areas to cause the ball to travel along a desired flight
path. While experienced soccer players after years of practice
become adept at controlling the flight of a soccer ball for passing
or scoring during games through striking the soccer ball in a
particular area, newer players lack this essential skill.
[0005] Additionally, varying game situations call for different
ball trajectories that can only be imparted by accurate foot and
ball contact to different areas of both the ball and foot. During a
game in a defending situation where the player is just trying to
clear the ball from his team's goal, the player may simply kick the
soccer ball as far as possible. Alternatively, in an offensive
situation with multiple players attacking the opposing goal,
accuracy and good control of the soccer ball flight trajectory is
imperative for team play and scoring goals.
[0006] While just about any type of player can kick a ball with
their foot, it is a much rarer player who possess the agility and
foot to ball coordination to accurately control the flight of the
soccer ball in these differing situations.
[0007] Conventionally, training young and even older players
generally involves providing a ball to strike with the foot with
the visual review of a coach and subsequent oral communication of
the player's form from the coach. For younger players this is a
problem since coaches are not always available to help them in
their quest of becoming proficient at kicking the ball accurately,
and they are provided no visual reference to ascertain exactly what
type of foot to ball contact constitutes proper form.
[0008] As a consequence, practice of kicking for accurate foot
placement on the ball and maintaining eye contact to do so is
inhibited. Further, even when they do strike the ball, if a coach
is not present to review the performance, they have no feedback
from which to ascertain if their contact with the ball was true to
desired form, and if they maintained their eyes on the ball during
the strike.
[0009] As such there is an unmet need for a device and method that
provides soccer players seeking improvement in their ball striking
ability with a manner to train themselves for continuous eye
contact with the ball. Such a device and method should provide
players with a foot contact point of reference where contact with
the ball is preferable for each type of kick. Further, such a
device should provide players with a ball point of contact
reference which is ideal for placement of the foot contact point of
reference during the kick. Combined these two points of contact
reference also provide the player with a means to practice the art
of maintaining eye contact on the ball throughout the strike of
their foot. Failure to keep their eye on the ball is a constant
complaint regarding player's performance by coaches.
[0010] Finally, and particularly important, such a device should
provide some means of visual feedback to the player, verifying that
their contact with the ball was at the proper point on both the
ball and foot to yield the intended trajectory of the ball. The
visual reference should allow even very young users to ascertain
they have struck the ball correctly. Such a means of feedback will
allow players to practice by themselves, without a coach, and
ascertain by themselves that they have hit the ball correctly with
their foot, and whether or not they are employing the point of
contact references on the ball and foot correctly. This will allow
for practice by players of any age and without special equipment to
ascertain correct form.
[0011] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment
of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited in its application to the details of
construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in
the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The
invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced
and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that
the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such,
those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon
which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis
for designing other vertical-axis wind turbines and methods and
systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present
invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded
as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not
depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
[0012] An object of this invention is the provision a soccer
practice device that provides visual references to the player of
proper points of contact on both the foot and the ball to allow for
practice with or without a coach present.
[0013] A further object of this invention is to provide such a ball
kicking practice device that encourages the continuous viewing of
the ball throughout the strike to train the player to keep their
eyes on the ball during a kick.
[0014] An additional object of this invention in the most preferred
mode is the provision of a kicking practice device that provides
visual feedback to the user as to whether their foot and ball
contact was sufficiently accurate to correctly project the ball
without the need for a goal or target.
[0015] A further object of this invention is the provision of such
a device for ball kicking practice which even very young players
who cannot read may use and receive visual feedback of correct
kicking form to allow them to practice without a coach.
[0016] These together with other objects and advantages which will
become subsequently apparent reside in the details of the
construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and
claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a
part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts
throughout.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The device and method of operation herein described and
disclosed provides visual references to the player practicing
kicking to aid the player in obtaining foot to eye coordination
during the kicking of a ball such as a soccer ball to obtain the
correct subsequent trajectory for the struck ball. Various
components used singularly or in combination will allow players to
practice their kicking form and to also practice and learn the
delicate art of maintaining eye contact with the ball and foot,
such that muscle and mental memories are formed resulting in better
form throughout the kick which result in better overall play.
[0018] The device features a foot targeting system that allows the
player to ascertain the proper point of contact of a ball with
their foot to yield the desired trajectory of the ball.
Additionally provided is a ball targeting system for the ball which
the user employs to practice the proper point of contact with the
foot targeting system in order to yield the best form and
subsequent kick. Combined, the foot targeting system and the ball
targeting system provide a means for the player to practice
maintaining eye contact with the ball before, during, and after the
strike by their foot. This is a major skill that must be developed
by soccer players to become better at playing the game.
[0019] In younger players who may not have the verbal skills to
ascertain what a coach is telling them and who may not posses the
physical skills to properly strike the ball, the system has been
found to be especially useful. Frequently, such younger players
have no idea where on their foot is the proper point of contact
with a soccer ball to yield the correct or desired resulting
trajectory. Some players have carryover habits from sports such as
kick ball, where they have been trained to hit the ball on the top
of their foot rather than the side. Thus by providing foot targets
and ball targets the contact of which being the object of the
exercise, young players and even older players are taught proper
form and contact points between ball and foot.
[0020] In continuously trying to place the foot target in contact
with the ball target, not only is muscle memory formed to aid the
player in repeating the skill, it has been found that eye to foot
maintenance during the kick is significantly improved. A majority
of players lack this essential skill and frequently look away too
early from the strike of their foot on the ball and never develop a
good eye to foot coordination, nor the ability to maintain eye
contact throughout the strike. Using the disclosed foot and ball
targeting system, the essential skill of maintenance of eye contact
is significantly improved.
[0021] Still further, in addition to the ball targeting system, the
device and method herein provides a means for visual feedback that
is especially valuable to players. This visual feedback is
accomplished by placing indica on the ball in the proper positions
relative to the targeting component on the ball and thereafter
provides the user with immediate visual feedback as to whether
their foot contact with the ball was correct for the shot
intended.
[0022] Such a visual feedback system is a most important function
since players have either had to have a coach watch and comment on
their style and results, or, employ some sort of target to attempt
to drive the ball toward. Since coaches or parents are not always
available, feedback after each practice kick is inhibited.
Attempting to drive the ball toward a target to ascertain correct
contact will actually encourage the player to take their eye off
the ball. Consequently, conventional practice systems and methods
inhibit the acquisition of the skill of maintaining eye contact
with the ball and foot throughout the strike since the player tends
to look at the target too soon or throughout the strike rather than
at the ball up to the contact by the foot.
[0023] A number of indicia types are included in the current
preferred mode of the device which may be employed in combination
with the foot and ball targets, or without them as the case may be,
yet still provide valuable feedback immediately after the kick of a
proper or improper kick. In the simplest mode of the indica
providing visual means for feedback, a dotted line is employed
which is placed circumferentially on the exterior of the ball. The
dotted line or lines are positioned inline with one or more targets
which are positioned on the ball for the ball targeting system at
which the user contacts with a foot. The line appears dotted when
the ball is stationary, and blurs if the ball is struck incorrectly
by the foot on the target. However, if the player hits the ball on
the contact point target of the ball with the correct spot on their
foot, when the ball rolls straight and inline with the ball target,
the dotted line will assume a solid look to the player. This
simplest form of indica thereby yields immediate feedback as to
proper contact with the ball to produce a proper trajectory.
[0024] In another mode of indicia placement, the dotted line can be
formed of half tones or dots or lines of alternating colors which
when combined will yield a third color. This may be done by either
placing the indica in small dots or half tones of the alternating
colors in a width of the ultimate stripe, or by making the dotted
line in alternating colors which combine to display a third
color.
[0025] If the ball is correctly hit by the player, and the half
tones or alternating colors making up the stripe are for instance
blue and yellow, when the ball spins away from the contact with the
player's foot, the colors will combine and appear to the eye of the
user to show a green stripe. This is immediate visual feedback
which even a small child, unable to read, can easily understand.
If, however, the ball is struck on the ball target poorly, or with
the wrong point on the foot, no stripe will appear as the ball
moves away at an angle to the axis of the line and will appear as a
blur of the dots or dotted line moving in the wrong spin and
trajectory.
[0026] Secondary indica may also be placed on the ball in the form
of stripes or halftones or other color patterns in stipes that are
at varying angles to the first stripe running through the target on
the ball. These secondary stripes can be employed for the player to
practice putting "English" or a spin on the ball as it concurrently
rolls on the ground in its trajectory. A horizontally spinning ball
which is concurrently rolling away from the player can yield a
visually delectable form of indica of a horizontal line along the
line of the spin to show that the player has achieved the desired
spin to curve the ball as it rolls on the field.
[0027] Indica forming the shoe or foot targeting system may be
imparted directly upon the shoe surface or using an elastic planar
ring of material that fits around the shoe along a line generally
from the arch over the top of the laces to the outside edge of the
shoe. Indica formed on the ball surface may likewise be imparted to
the ball using silkscreen or other means of direct printing on the
ball, or might be done with stickers for the targets and elongated
film strips having indica for the stripes which only appear
correctly with a correct hit on the target by the foot.
[0028] Of course those skilled in the art will realize that other
means for imparting indica to the shoe and the ball can be employed
and any such imparting of targeting indica to the ball or shoe and
feedback indica in the form of lines or stripes or similar indica
for feedback are anticipated in the scope of this invention.
[0029] With respect to the above description then, it is to be
realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts
of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape,
form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are
deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and
all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings
and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed
by the present invention. Therefore, the foregoing description and
following detailed description are considered as illustrative only
of the principles of the invention. Further, because of the
disclosure herein, numerous modifications and changes will readily
occur to those skilled in the art. It is not desired to limit the
invention to the exact construction and operation shown and
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and
equivalents which may occur to those skilled in the art are
considered to fall within the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] FIG. 1 depicts a view of the disclosed device employed in
the method for ball kicking practice showing the shoe having at
least one and preferably a plurality of shoe targets impacting a
ball with appropriately positioned ball targeting positions.
[0031] FIG. 2 is a top view of a shoe showing indicia positioned at
a plurality of targeting positions for contact with a ball.
[0032] FIG. 3 depicts another mode of the shoe wherein a band is
engaged around the shoe to place targeting positions on the
exterior of the shoe.
[0033] FIG. 4 depicts a side view of the shoe showing the inside
surface and top surface with shoe targets thereon.
[0034] FIG. 5 depicts a side view of a ball having a ball targeting
position thereon and broken line hemispherically aligned with the
target.
[0035] FIG. 6 depicts a visual change occurring with a properly
struck ball of FIG. 5.
[0036] FIG. 7 shows a plurality of ball targeting positions
designated by indicia on the exterior surface of the ball and lines
latitudinally and longitudinally thereon.
[0037] FIG. 8 depicts an embodiment of the ball herein wherein the
line or stripe is formed of colored indica adapted to change color
when correctly driven by a strike to the ball targeting
position.
[0038] FIG. 9 depicts an enlarged section of the stripe of FIG. 8
in one mode of providing a color change for feedback to the user
when the ball is correctly struck.
[0039] FIG. 10 depicts the ball of FIG. 8 wherein the stripe has
changed color during movement along a proper trajectory.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0040] Referring now to the drawings depicting the device 10 in
FIGS. 1-10, wherein similar parts are identified by like reference
numerals, FIG. 1 depicts a view of the device 10 for ball kicking
practice disclosed herein showing the shoe 11 having at least one
and preferably a plurality of shoe targets 12 positioned thereon
moving toward impact with a ball 14 having at least one ball
targeting position 16. As noted above, in use for practicing the
kicking of the ball 14 along a particular trajectory, and to
provide visual means to practice keeping the user's eye on the ball
14 and foot, one or a plurality of shoe targets 12 are positioned
on the shoe 11 and at least one ball targeting position 16 is
placed on the ball 14.
[0041] In practicing for certain types of kicks, the appropriate
shoe target 12 is aligned for contact with the ball 14 during each
strike or kick. The player during each kick maintains eye contact
with the shoe target 12 of choice, to its contact with the ball
targeting position 16 of choice continuously, until impact with the
ball 14 occurs. If kicked correctly to yield the correct trajectory
of the ball 14, indica on the ball 14 in the form of a stripe 18
will provide a visual means for verification of a correct kick of
the ball 14. The ball 14 is placed in a position on the ground
wherein the indica will be visibly changed during the subsequent
roll of the ball 14 which as shown in FIG. 1, in one especially
preferred mode, places the indica in the form of a stipe 18
hemispherically located on the ball perpendicular to the
ground.
[0042] The shoe targets shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, may be
silkscreened or appliqued or glued or otherwise engaged directly to
the exterior of the ball 14. In a particularly preferred mode of
the device 10, the shoe targets 12 may be provided with adhesive on
the rear side or hook and loop fabric or other means for the user
to position the shoe targets 12 on their own shoes in the positions
desired for their practice. Or the shoe targets 12 may be applied
to the shoes in a permanent fashion at manufacture or afterwards
using ink or paint or similar medium. Or, in another particularly
preferred mode of the device 10 the shoe targets 12 may be
positioned upon a band 20 which engages around the shoe 11. The
band 20 is preferably elastic such that it will expand over the
circumference of the shoe and then retract to compressibly engage
over the shoe positioning the shoe targets in the appropriate
positions. This mode using the band 20 would allow for easy on and
off of the shoe targets 12 and easy changing of their positions on
the shoe 11 and would allow for some easy customization of the
targets 12 themselves for instance using some type of team colors
or logo. The elastic band 20 also helps keep the laces tied on the
shoe 11 and provides a more planar even surface of contact with the
ball than does the laces alone.
[0043] The shoe targets 12 while pictured as bulls eyes, can be any
target indica that the user considers easy to follow with the eye
and as such, any design for the target that would occur to those
skilled in the art is anticipated. Ideally, the shoe targets 12
should be easy to see in any light and preferably should match the
size or be slightly smaller than the ball target positions 16.
[0044] The positions for the shoe targets 12 as shown in FIG. 2,
FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 can vary depending on the type of kick that is to
be practiced and whether the foot is to impact the ball 14 with the
inside 22 of the shoe or the outside 24 of the shoe or the top
surface 26 of the shoe 11. At least one shoe target 12 is required
when used in combination with the ball 14 with the ball targeting
position 16 to practice eye contact with the ball 14 and shoe 11
during a strike by the user. However, the ball 14 by itself and
without the shoe targets 12 may be employed if practice of eye
contact is not desired but feedback of a proper strike is desired
since the stripe 18 or other indica will provide validation or
feedback of a proper kick trajectory and therefor proper
contact.
[0045] When used in combination, the shoe targets 12 and ball
targeting position 16 are employed and the user follows the chosen
shoe target 12 throughout the kicking motion until it strikes the
ball 14 on the chosen ball targeting position 16. This action is
depicted in FIG. 4.
[0046] In FIGS. 5-10 there is shown the means for visual feedback
of a correctly struck ball 14 which provides the user an immediate
confirmation of a correctly struck ball 14. In the preferred mode
of the device 10 whether used in combination with the shoe targets
12 or without, the means for visual feedback is provided by
locating indica on the ball 14 in positions relative to the ball
targeting position 16 such that visual feedback in the form of a
change of color, or visual change of the indica, if the foot and
ball contact was correct for the shot intended.
[0047] One preferred mode of the indica employs a dotted line 28
forming a stripe 18 which is placed circumferentially on the
exterior of the ball 14 in line with the ball targeting position
16. With the ball 14 stationary and positioned with the stripe 18
perpendicular to the ground as in FIG. 4, the stripe 18 appears
broken. If the ball is struck incorrectly by the foot and moves off
at an angle, the stripe 18 will blur. However, if the player hits
the ball 14 correctly on the ball target position 16, when the ball
rolls, the dotted line 28 forming the stripe 18 will assume a solid
line 29 look to the player. The player thus has immediate feedback
of a correct strike without the need for a third party such as a
coach attending. One or more dotted lines 28 may be employed
placing them to form circumferential stripes 18 at appropriate
positions on the ball to align with ball targeting positions 16.
Or, if the player is especially advanced, the stripe 18 alone in
dotted line 28 might be provided allowing the advance player
practice striking the ball 14 at the exact point the stripe 18
crosses the side or bottom of the ball 14.
[0048] In another preferred mode of the device 10 shown in FIGS.
8-10, the stripe 18 may be formed of graphics of multiple colors
such as half tones 30 shown in FIG. 9. In this mode of the device,
the stripe 18 will change color to a third colored stripe 19 after
a correct strike of the ball to roll it on the proper trajectory.
In the kicking process similar to that shown in FIG. 4, subsequent
to the ball being struck by the player, if properly struck, it will
roll and the half tones 30 or other properly applied multi color
indica will change color. For instance, this color change may be
provided by applying the stripe 18 in a form of small dots such as
the half tones 30 of FIG. 9 where the individual dots are formed of
alternating colors in a width of the ultimate stripe 18. If the
half tones 30 are of a first color 32 and second color 34 and
appropriately positioned in the stripe 18, when correctly hit by
the player, and the half tones 30 making up the stripe 18 move in a
circular fashion, to the player the stripe will change color.
[0049] For instance, if the first color 32 is blue and the second
color 34 is yellow, when the ball 14 spins away from the contact
with the player's foot in a straight line and proper trajectory,
the colors will combine and appear to the eye of the user to show a
green stripe 18. This color change of indicia provides easy-to-view
and immediate feedback of a proper strike of the ball 14 or an
improper strike, since if the stripe 18 rolls off at an angle
instead of circumferentially along the stripe 18, the color will
not change. Of course other half tone styles or more than two
colors of half tones 30 or other strategically placed colored
indica as would occur to those skilled in the art may be employed
to yield a color change on a proper departing ball trajectory. As
such, any color change of indica on the ball 14 after a proper or
improper strike, which provides visual feedback about the strike of
the ball, as would occur to those skilled in the art are
anticipated in the scope of this patent.
[0050] The method and components shown in the drawings and
described in detail herein disclose arrangements of elements of
particular construction, and configuration for illustrating
preferred embodiments of structure of the presently disclosed
device and method for practice of ball kicking. It is to be
understood, however, that elements of different construction and
configuration, and using different steps and process procedures,
and other arrangements thereof, other than those illustrated and
described, may be employed in accordance with the spirit of this
invention.
[0051] As such, while the present invention has been described
herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude
of modifications, various changes and substitutions are intended in
the foregoing disclosure, and will be appreciated that in some
instance some features of the invention could be employed without a
corresponding use of other features, without departing from the
scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. All
such changes, alternations and modifications as would occur to
those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of
this invention as broadly defined in the appended claims.
[0052] Further, the purpose of the provided abstract of the
invention, is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and
the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers, and
practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal
terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory
inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the
invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor
is it intended to be limiting, as to the scope of the invention in
any way.
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