U.S. patent application number 13/136077 was filed with the patent office on 2012-02-16 for athletic training and practice system.
Invention is credited to Jon Cameron, Randall Edmiston.
Application Number | 20120040781 13/136077 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45565239 |
Filed Date | 2012-02-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120040781 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Edmiston; Randall ; et
al. |
February 16, 2012 |
Athletic training and practice system
Abstract
An athletic training apparatus is disclosed with a low-ball
deflection panel (130) used to keep the balls (140) in play. When
combined with a ball machine (110), a dampening backdrop (100) and
a collection trough (120), the apparatus improves the quantity of
practice balls (140) available to the player.
Inventors: |
Edmiston; Randall; (Dallas,
TX) ; Cameron; Jon; (Dallas, TX) |
Family ID: |
45565239 |
Appl. No.: |
13/136077 |
Filed: |
July 22, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61372810 |
Aug 11, 2010 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/422 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 47/02 20130101;
A63B 2069/0008 20130101; A63B 69/0002 20130101; A63B 71/022
20130101; A63B 69/38 20130101; A63B 69/0097 20130101; A63B 69/40
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/422 |
International
Class: |
A63B 69/40 20060101
A63B069/40 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for training athletes, comprising a. a low-ball
deflection panel angled away from the athlete whereby low balls are
directed away from the athlete, and b. a dampening backdrop to stop
said low ball's projection away from the athlete, and c. a
collection trough attached near the top of said low-ball deflection
panel whereby said collection trough collects the spent balls from
said dampening backdrop and dispenses said spent balls downward,
and d. a ball machine placed above the playing field to collect
said spent balls from the trough and then projects the balls toward
the athlete for the athlete to return to the system, and e. a hole
in said low-ball deflection panel that allows the balls to be
projected by said ball machine to the athlete.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said low-ball deflection panel
is comprised of a rigid material.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said low-ball deflection panel
is comprised of a taut flexible material.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said dampening backdrop is
comprised of foam.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said dampening backdrop is
comprised of netting.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said dampening backdrop is
angled toward the player whereby a surface behind the backdrop is
not able to interfere with the operation of the backdrop.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ball machine is a
low-profile ball machine.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] A claim of priority is made in this application based on
Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/372,810 filed on Aug. 11, 2010,
and entitled "Tennis Training and Practice System" the disclosure
of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The present invention is an athletic training device, more
specifically involving a low-ball deflection panel and an
innovative ball collection system using the low-ball deflection
panel.
[0004] 2. Background of the Invention
[0005] The present invention is a low-ball deflection panel that
keeps low balls in play during practice. Using the panel with the
described ball collection system, a single player can focus on
practicing the mechanics of their swing while the balls are
collected and delivered back to the student. The basic objectives
in tennis are to hit the ball over the net and within the lines. By
reducing the emphasis on the first objective during training, this
invention provides increased opportunity for trainee to practice
their swing. The system allows the student to hit more balls in a
given period of time. The "Athletic Training and Practice System"
gives students the opportunity to learn successful strokes in the
early stages of development not often achieved on a traditional
court.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An invention, which meets the needs stated above, is an
apparatus that assists the player in keeping the ball in play
therefore creating the long-felt need to keep a continuous practice
session without having to stop and collect balls.
[0007] Hitting the ball into the net is considered the worst of
three basic tennis errors. If the player hits the ball wide or
long, there is still the opportunity for the ball to stay in play
since the opposing player may still return the ball. When the
tennis ball goes into the net, the point is over with no chance of
recovery. By eliminating this potential failure during training,
the frustration and the associated distraction are eliminated.
[0008] The "Athletic Training and Practice System" was developed on
the premise that there is a more effective approach to learning
many aspects of tennis than on a traditionally outfitted court.
[0009] There are inherent problems with learning tennis stroking
techniques on the traditional tennis court:
[0010] 1. Focus on the Net. The effectiveness of the training is
minimized on a traditional court because the student is faced with
the challenge of getting the ball over the net at the same time
keeping the ball within the boundaries of the court (especially the
baseline). The student becomes inherently focused on the goal of
getting the ball over the net which makes it more difficult for the
student to properly focus on the details of developing the correct
swinging motion.
[0011] 2. Loss of Focus. There are many distractions on the tennis
court such as wind, the net, the lines, irregular bounces and the
anxiety produced from the expectation of hitting the back to the
practicing partner. The student is less able to concentrate and
focus on the details of stroke production with the presence of more
distractions on the tennis court. This loss of focus is key
obstacle for coaches.
[0012] 3. Poor Repetitions. It is difficult for students to keep
the ball in play. On a traditional tennis court, this limits the
number of repetitions a student can achieve in a given period of
time. Repetition is the key to muscle memory so the ability to
increase the number of repetitions will improve the student's
stroke.
[0013] 4. Advanced Skill Training. Particularly, when learning the
technique of "topspin" repetition is greatly impaired because the
student tends to hit the ball into the net a high percentage of the
time while learning. This issue is problematic because students
judge themselves by how often they hit the ball over the net and in
court. For this reason, "topspin" is not often taught to students
during early training. To prevent this frustration, tennis
instructors prefer to teach a flat to slight upward swing to get
the ball over the net. This creates a number of undesirable
results. To keep the ball in the court, instructors tend to teach
students to shorten their swing which produces a "poking" type
motion. Swinging with power while using a flat stroke, often
results in hitting the ball beyond the baseline. Also, hitting with
a flat racquet face makes a player susceptible to miss-hits that
force the racquet face open. If the ball is hit off-center in the
upper section of the racquet face, a torquing force is put on the
racquet that forces the face to open at the point at where the
student is applying force to the ball. As the racquet face torques
open and force is applied in a forward motion, the ball is prone to
sail upward. Striking the ball with an unexpected open racquet face
typically results in hitting the ball long and conditions a player
to swing with less force for fear of hitting the ball out of the
court. So the training resulting from keep the ball out of the net
requires an additional series of training courses to avoid the
errors of hitting with a flat racket and later properly teaching
"topspin." Clearly these efforts to avoid hitting into the net
during training produce poor stroking technique and increase the
length of time required to properly train a student. Yet this
"topspin" technique is key to playing advanced tennis. By delaying
the introduction of the "topspin" technique, the instructor
invariably reduces the effectiveness of the training sessions.
DRAWING FIGURES
[0014] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the present invention and together with the description, serve to
explain the principles of this invention. In the figures;
[0015] FIG. 1A.--Drawing showing the elements of the present
invention and demonstrating the apparatus' affect on the ball
during tennis practice.
[0016] FIG. 1B.--Drawing depicting the apparatus being used in a
batting cage or pavilion.
[0017] FIG. 2.--Drawing of a collapsible version of the low-ball
deflection panel used with a ball collection system.
REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS
[0018] 100 Dampening Backdrop, Backdrop [0019] 110 Tennis Ball
Machine, Low-profile Tennis Ball Machine, Ball Machine [0020] 120
Gravity-Fed Collection Trough, Collection Trough, Trough [0021] 130
Low-Ball Deflection Panel with Launch Opening, Low-Ball Deflection
Panel, Low-Ball Panel [0022] 140 Ball [0023] 150 Hole [0024] 160
Cage, Batting Cage, Enclosure, Pavilion
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals represent
like elements,
FIG. 1A
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 1A, a preferred embodiment of the
present invention is constructed of a low-ball deflector panel with
a launch opening 130 adjacent to a gravity-fed collection trough
120 attached to the top edge of the low-ball deflection panel with
launch opening 130. The collection trough 120 is additionally
adjacent to the dampening backdrop 100 and centered over a ball
machine 110.
[0027] A collection trough 120 with an angled low-ball deflection
panel 130 is the most unique part of this invention. In a preferred
embodiment, the collection trough 120 is roughly 10 inches deep and
extends the width of the low-ball deflector panel 130 and is
positioned 10 inches above the ball machine 110. The floor of the
collection trough 120 is angled downward from the outer edges of
the collection trough 120 frame and slopes to the center of the
collection trough 120.
[0028] In the center of the collection trough 120 floor is a cut
out that allows balls 140 to drop into the ball machine 110 hopper.
In a preferred embodiment, the cutout also includes a rubber flange
that extends below the floor of the collection trough 120 to fill
the space between the top of the ball machine 110 hopper and the
floor of the collection trough 120. The flange accurately direct
spent balls 140 from the collection trough 120 to the ball machine
110 hopper and keeps them from falling into the space under the
trough 120. Spent balls 140 dampened by the dampening backdrop 100
drop into the collection trough 120 and roll down the collection
trough 120 floor to the center of the unit and drop into the ball
machine 110 hopper.
[0029] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
low-ball deflection panel 130 extends the full width of the
collection trough 120 and extends downward from the top front edge
of the collection trough 120 to the floor at an approximately 40
degree angle. Balls 140 hitting below the top of the collection 120
strike the low-ball deflection panel 130 and careen off the
low-ball panel 130 striking the dampening backdrop 100. At the
point that the ball 140 strikes the dampening backdrop 100, the
forward and upward momentum of the ball 140 is arrested, and the
ball 140 drops down to the collection trough 120. There is an oval
hole 150 cut in the deflection panel that allows balls 140
projected from the ball machine 110 to pass through the deflection
panel into the hitting zone. It should be appreciated that without
this low-ball deflection panel 130, balls 140 landing below the
height of the ball machine 110 and trough 120 would have to be
manually collected and placed in the trough 120.
[0030] The low-ball deflection panel with launch opening 130 is
particularly novel and its function is not found on any prior art.
Prior art illustrates a flat section angled away from the player at
various angles and for various purposes. In the market, the most
common is a "rebound" system requiring the player to launch a ball
140 into a rebounder causing the rebounder to immediately return
the ball into the direction from which it was launched. The player
continues to repeat the action either with the same ball 140, or
with a new ball 140. This rebound system is common in sports like
tennis and soccer and has a large number of manufacturers such as
Ultimagoal. These inventions failed to recognize the need to
"deflect" the ball away from the player and into a ball collection
system.
[0031] The second class of these flat sheets is a "ramp" which can
be found is many prior art references including U.S. Pat. No.
4,288,074 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,280,376. The ramp acts a bridge
between the floor of the playing surface and a collection trough.
This design is specifically fashioned to collect rolling balls 140.
In this fashion, slow moving balls 140, or balls 140 traveling
along the floor of the playing surface can travel up the ramp and
load into a collection area. This is particularly useful for
collecting balls that are scattered on the court. The players can
avoid leaning over and thrusting the balls toward the ramp with a
sports implement. These inventions failed to recognize the need to
"deflect" the balls toward the backdrop 100 for high-velocity balls
140 traveling above the ground.
[0032] The tennis ball machine 110 is manufactured by a third party
but can be modified to fit the needs of the present invention. The
preferred embodiment is the use of a low-profile tennis ball
machine 110 that allows for the appropriate height of 36' for the
low-ball deflection panel 130. Modifications include the addition
of an on/off warning light that signals the presence of ball 140
projectiles fired form the ball machine 110 as a safety measure.
Another modification includes a rubber flange that extends from the
top of the ball machine 110 perimeter to the bottom of the
collection trough 120. The flange is attached to the top three
inches of the ball machine 110 and extends to the bottom of the
collection trough 120. This modification contains and directs balls
140 to the ball machine 110 hopper after exiting the collection
trough 120.
[0033] In a preferred embodiment, a low-profile ball machine 110
sits on a ball machine positioning system just inside the backdrop
100 centered between the sides of the trough 120. The ball machine
positioning system allows the ball machine 110 to be moved in small
increments from front-to-back and right-to-left. By attaching a log
handle to the positioning system and extending the handle thru the
front and bottom of the low-ball deflection panel 130, the ball
machine 110 can be pivoted from side to side making the hitting
zone customizable. This capability to move the ball machine 110
allows the user to establish hitting zones in different locations
to simulate various tennis playing situations.
[0034] The dampening backdrop 100 acts as a momentum reduction
surface for balls 140 hit by the player from the hitting zone and
effectively eliminates any rebound effect that allows the ball 140
to drop straight down into the collection trough 120. The dampening
backdrop 100 could be made of a lightweight, loosely woven plastic
fabric windbreaker fabric purchased off-the-shelf) foam, or
commercial netting.
[0035] Whenever the word "tennis" is used in this document, it
should be read to also mean other types of sports such baseball,
rugby, soccer and so on.
FIG. 1B
[0036] FIG. 1B depicts the use of the apparatus inside a batting
cage 160 or pavilion 160 environment.
[0037] The enclosure 160 can be created by building a
pavilion-style structure with legs and gable style roof members
made of metal, wood, or composite material. The pavilion 160 can be
enclosed with sports netting or enclosed with rigid wire panels to
promote balls 140 that happen to hit the walls or ceiling after
being struck by the player to careen off the rigid wire more
readily and aggressively promoting flight to the dampening backdrop
110 thus increasing the number of balls 140 that are re-deposited
into the collection trough 120 and directed back to the ball
machine 110 for re-delivery to the hitting zone. The enclosure 160
can also be made entirely of sports netting supported by cables to
create a hitting alley on an outdoor/indoor court or, on any indoor
or outdoor space where cables can be secured and suspended between
two points. The enclosure 160 can also be constructed as an
inflatable unit.
[0038] In a preferred embodiment the enclosure 160 is composed of
three vertical surfaces. Each surface conforms to the profile of
the enclosure 160 and extends from the ceiling or roof gable down
to the playing surface and the entire width of the enclosure 160.
The netting or walls of the enclosure 160 are fastened to the edges
of the collection trough 120 with cable ties or a piece of wood ox
composite trim. The trim acts to close the gap between the
collection trough 120 and the enclosure 160 walls, eliminating a
situation where balls 140 fall over the edges of the collection
trough 120 on both sides and the rear of the trough 120.
[0039] As possible embodiment, the collection trough 120 can be
made out of PVC or composite material or constructed as an
inflatable unit.
FIG. 2
[0040] Finally, turning to FIG. 2, the diagram depicts a commercial
unit installed on a tennis court. As known to those skilled in the
art, practice areas are often constructed against the fencing of a
tennis court. These practice areas consist of a rigid material,
such as wood, painted with a simulated net line. The objective of
the student is to collect a series of balls 140 and strike them
against the rigid material above the simulated net line. During the
practice the spent balls 140 are scattered across the court and
then are later retrieved by the player. This ubiquitous design
failed to recognize the long-felt need to collect the balls 140
automatically and provide the player a rhythmic consistent stream
of balls 140. This prior art did not allow for the incorporation of
a tennis ball machine 110 or a system to collect the balls 140 for
distribution to the tennis machine 110.
[0041] In commercial construct of FIG. 2, the low-ball deflection
panel 130, the collection trough 120 and the backdrop 100 fold
against the court's fence for storage. As a result, the present
invention can replace conventional board designs on any tennis
court at similarly low cost. This invention is able to collapse
providing the same footprint as conventional board systems. The
trough 120 is constructed of plastic soft material with a hole that
allows the ball 140 to be fed to the tennis ball machine 110. The
trough's 120 incline is generally calculated as 1 inch for each 1
foot of trough 120 surface area. The backdrop 100 in this
embodiment of the invention is angled away from the court's fence
to prevent the fence's interference in the function of the backdrop
100.
[0042] Moreover, those skilled in the art would appreciate that
this design could also be incorporated off the traditional tennis
court and placed in a separate area. Unlike the traditional board
design found on tennis courts, the invention does not require the
use of a permanent fence.
[0043] By simply adding a portable tennis ball machine 110, the
player is ready for practice in minutes. The practice time then
becomes more efficient as the player is fed a continuous series of
balls 140 and spends much less time collecting spent balls 140.
[0044] Based on the foregoing, those skilled in the art would
appreciate the various embodiments of the invention include a
system that assists students and instructors by providing the
opportunity to continuously keep the ball in play when it is swung
below the net line. The above specifications provide a complete
description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the
invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the
invention resides in the appended claims.
Advantages
[0045] From the description above, a number of advantages become
evident for the Athletic Training and Practice System:
[0046] Reduces the need to collect practice balls. In sports like
baseball and tennis, machines are used to deliver a quantity of
balls to the student. After this quantity of balls is spent, the
student and instructor collect the balls and return them to the
machine. With this present invention, this requirement is greatly
reduced.
[0047] Improve safety on the playing field. In typical rebound
systems the balls are projected back to the practice area and the
student. This process litters the practice area with foot hazards
and causes the balls to strike the student. The present invention
keeps the balls clear of the practice area and systematically
delivers balls to the student for practice.
[0048] Collapsible. This invention is able to collapse providing
the same footprint as conventional board systems. This eliminates
the unit as a hazard in any required playing situation.
[0049] Smaller assembled footprint. The "Athletic Training and
Practice System" uses a smaller footprint than a traditional court
and therefore can be placed on surfaces outside of the traditional
court. A lower-cost cage can be assembled that frees up the court
for matches. The system can also be assembled over various playing
surfaces to allow practice on surfaces not available to every
practice arena. For instance, a smaller clay practice court can be
assembled at a much lower cost with the present invention.
[0050] Removes focus on the net- The net-level deflection panel
keeps the balls in play. Training is more effective because the
student is not faced with the challenge of placing the ball over
the net. Without this impediment, the student can properly focus on
the details of developing the correct swinging motion. This "never
miss" approach to training reduces distraction, reduces emotional
swings, and improves body mechanics.
[0051] Improves muscle memory. The present invention increases the
number of practice balls played during a practice session and
therefore enhances repetition. Repetition is central to muscle
memory and improved technique.
[0052] Allows early introduction of advanced training skills. In
tennis, instructors initially teach students the use of striking
techniques that purposely reduces the number of net balls. Once the
student gains confidence, the instructors must un-train this
technique and introduce proper techniques such as "top spin." By
eliminating the failure and frustration associated with striking
into the net zone, the instructors can introduce "top spin"
techniques early in the lessons. This dramatically decreases the
training time until a student is considered to have advanced
skills.
[0053] Assembled above the playing field. The low-ball deflection
panel allows the "Athletic Training and Practice System" to be
assembled on the floor of the playing field that eliminates the
need to place the collection trough below the surface.
* * * * *