U.S. patent application number 16/541441 was filed with the patent office on 2021-02-18 for sports training aid.
The applicant listed for this patent is Implus Footcare, LLC. Invention is credited to Daniel C. FUCHS, Richard R. HUTH, III, Randall A. YARBOROUGH.
Application Number | 20210046369 16/541441 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004289394 |
Filed Date | 2021-02-18 |
![](/patent/app/20210046369/US20210046369A1-20210218-D00000.png)
![](/patent/app/20210046369/US20210046369A1-20210218-D00001.png)
![](/patent/app/20210046369/US20210046369A1-20210218-D00002.png)
![](/patent/app/20210046369/US20210046369A1-20210218-D00003.png)
![](/patent/app/20210046369/US20210046369A1-20210218-D00004.png)
![](/patent/app/20210046369/US20210046369A1-20210218-D00005.png)
![](/patent/app/20210046369/US20210046369A1-20210218-D00006.png)
![](/patent/app/20210046369/US20210046369A1-20210218-D00007.png)
United States Patent
Application |
20210046369 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
FUCHS; Daniel C. ; et
al. |
February 18, 2021 |
SPORTS TRAINING AID
Abstract
A sports training aid having a base member, a center pole
secured to the base member, at least one body panel rotatably
secured to the center pole, and a plurality of elastic legs
connected between the at least one body panel and the base member.
The at least one body panel is configured to rotate in a first
direction about the center pole when impacted by an object, the at
least one body panel rotating from an original position to a
deflected position. The elastic legs are configured to cause the at
least one body panel to rotate in a second direction, opposite to
the first direction, when a force from the impact subsides, thereby
returning the at least one body panel to the original position.
Inventors: |
FUCHS; Daniel C.; (Carlsbad,
CA) ; HUTH, III; Richard R.; (Encinitas, CA) ;
YARBOROUGH; Randall A.; (Studio City, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Implus Footcare, LLC |
Durham |
NC |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004289394 |
Appl. No.: |
16/541441 |
Filed: |
August 15, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 69/34 20130101;
A63B 69/002 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63B 69/34 20060101
A63B069/34; A63B 69/00 20060101 A63B069/00 |
Claims
1. A sports training aid comprising: a base member; a center pole
secured to the base member; at least one body panel rotatably
secured to the center pole; and a plurality of elastic legs
connected between the at least one body panel and the base member,
wherein the at least one body panel is configured to rotate in a
first direction about the center pole when impacted by an object,
the at least one body panel rotating from an original position to a
deflected position, and wherein the elastic legs are configured to
cause the at least one body panel to rotate in a second direction,
opposite to the first direction, when a force from the impact
subsides, thereby returning the at least one body panel to the
original position.
2. The sports training aid according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one body panel includes a first body panel and a second body
panel.
3. The sports training aid according to claim 2, further comprising
a plurality of clamps configured to secure the first body panel
together with the second body panel, the plurality of clamps
including a through opening for the center pole extending
therethrough.
4. The sports training aid according to claim 3, wherein the first
body panel and the second body panel each include at least one
connecting flange.
5. The sports training aid according to claim 4, wherein the
plurality of clamps include a slot on each opposing end, the slot
on one end of the clamp configured to receive a corresponding one
of the connecting flanges on the first body panel and the slot on
the other end of the clamp configured to receive a corresponding
one of the connecting flanges on the second body panel, whereby the
plurality of clamps secure together the first body panel and the
second body panel.
6. The sports training aid according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one body panel is configured to have a shape resembling a
human torso and a human head.
7. The sports training aid according to claim 1, wherein the
plurality of elastic legs rotate and twist around the center pole
in the first direction when the at least one body panel is impacted
by the object.
8. The sports training aid according to claim 7, wherein the
plurality of elastic legs rotate and untwist around the center pole
in the second direction, opposite to the first direction, when the
force from the impact subsides.
9. The sports training aid according to claim 1, wherein the center
pole comprises a plurality of telescoping poles such that an
overall height of the sports training aid can be reduced when the
plurality of telescoping poles are collapsed.
10. The sports training aid according to claim 9, wherein the
center pole includes a detent button to secure the plurality of
telescoping poles in an extended configuration, said detent button
being released to collapse the plurality of telescoping poles into
a collapsed configuration.
11. The sports training aid according to claim 1, wherein the base
member includes a projecting step member and at least one ground
stake.
12. The sports training aid according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one body panel includes a through opening for receiving at
least one of said plurality of elastic legs such that an upper edge
of the at least one of said plurality of elastic legs is secured to
the at least one body panel.
13. The sports training aid according to claim 1, wherein the base
member includes a holding tab for receiving at least one of said
plurality of elastic legs such that a lower edge of the at least
one of said plurality of elastic legs is secured to the base
member.
14. (canceled)
15. The sports training aid according to claim 1, wherein rotating
the at least one body panel is configured to rotate in the first
direction at least one hundred eighty degrees about the center pole
when impacted by the object.
16. The sports training aid according to claim 15, wherein the at
least one body panel is configured to rotate in the first direction
at least three hundred sixty degrees about the center pole when
impacted by the object.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The disclosure herein generally relates to a sports training
aid, and more particularly, to a sports training aid intended to
imitate an object and allow a player to practice shooting,
dribbling or passing a ball around or over the object.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Soccer is a well-known sport that requires many different
skills to play well. For example, players need ball shooting,
dribbling, and passing skills, and many of these skills cannot be
practiced by a lone player.
[0003] Shooting, dribbling and passing a soccer ball around or over
opposing players are skills that must be practiced. It is for this
reason that many coaches use training devices to help develop
player skills. In particular, there have been developed a number of
training devices that are intended to simulate an opposing player.
Many of these training devices are in the form of a dummy, most of
which however are static during soccer practice. Since the dummy
forms do not move during practice, they are not very realistic and
therefore have limited value. A practice dummy form would be far
more useful if it were more representative of a real player. For
instance, if the dummy form could move in response to the impact of
a soccer ball, it would be a more effective practice tool.
[0004] The need therefore exists for a dummy form capable of
mimicking a soccer player that is self-supporting, yet can be moved
easily and quickly to a desired play field.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] One aspect of the disclosure relates to a sports training
aid having a base member, a center pole secured to the base member,
at least one body panel rotatably secured to the center pole, and a
plurality of elastic legs connected between the at least one body
panel and the base member. The at least one body panel is
configured to rotate in a first direction about the center pole
when impacted by an object, the at least one body panel rotating
from an original position to a deflected position. The elastic legs
are configured to cause the at least one body panel to rotate in a
second direction, opposite to the first direction, when a force
from the impact subsides, thereby returning the at least one body
panel to the original position.
[0006] Another aspect of the disclosure describes a method of using
a sports training aid having a base member, a center pole secured
to the base member, at least one body panel rotatably secured to
the center pole, and a plurality of elastic legs connected between
the at least one body panel and the base member. The method
includes causing the at least one body panel to be impacted by an
object, rotating the at least one body panel in a first direction
about the center pole when impacted by the object, the at least one
body panel rotating from an original position to a deflected
position, rotating and twisting the elastic legs about the center
pole when rotating the at least one body panel about the center
pole, and rotating and untwisting the elastic legs when the impact
force from the object subsides, the elastic legs causing the at
least one body panel to rotate in a second direction, opposite to
the first direction, thereby returning the at least one body panel
to the original position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] These and other features, and advantages of the claimed
invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the
art upon reading the following detailed description, in conjunction
with the appended drawings in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a sports training aid
according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the sports training aid
according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the sports training aid
according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.
[0011] FIGS. 4A-4D are schematic diagrams illustrating the movement
of the sports training aid according to the exemplary embodiment of
the disclosure when impacted by a sports ball.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5
shown in FIG. 2.
[0013] FIG. 5A is cross-sectional view taken along the line 5A-5A
shown in FIG. 2.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6
shown in FIG. 5.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the insertion of
the sports training aid into a ground engaging surface according to
the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the
sports training aid according to an exemplary embodiment of the
disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the sports training aid
according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure in a
collapsed state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a sports training aid according to a
non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the disclosure is shown
generally by reference numeral 10. The sports training aid includes
a base member 12, a body panel 14, and at least one elastic leg 16
extending between the base member 12 and the body panel 14. The
base member 12 includes at least one and more preferably a
plurality of ground stakes 34 which allow the sports training aid
10 to be erected for play on any turf playing field. In a preferred
embodiment, the base member 12 further includes a projecting step
portion 12a to facilitate a user stepping onto the base member 12
and driving the ground stakes 34 into the ground, as illustrated in
FIG. 7. The base member 12 may include a polymeric material, a
metallic material, or other suitable material.
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, in an exemplary embodiment, two
elastic legs 16 are provided in order to more realistically imitate
a human defender and the elastic legs 16 are preferably formed from
a flexible fabric material, though other suitable materials
including a flexible polymeric material may be used. As shown in
FIG. 5A, a lower edge of each elastic leg 16 includes a lower loop
16a passing through an upper holding tab 12b to thereby secure the
lower edge of the elastic leg to the upper surface of the base
member 12. The upper edge of each elastic leg 16 similarly includes
an upper loop 16b which passes through a through-opening 38 in an
edge of body panel 14a, 14b, thereby securing the upper edge of the
elastic leg 16 to the lower surface of the body panels 14a, 14b. In
some aspects, the upper loop 16b and/or the lower loop 16a may
comprise the same material as the elastic leg 16 or may comprise a
different material. The elastic legs 16 are thus held in an
outstretched manner when the sports training aid 10 is in an
upright position for use, as explained further below.
[0020] The body panel 14 according to the exemplary embodiment
includes a first body panel 14a and a second body panel 14b which,
when secured together, define a torso portion 26 and a head portion
28 configured to resemble the shape of a human defender The body
panel 14 may be a rigid material, a semi-rigid material, or a
flexible material. For example, in some embodiments the body panel
14 may include a fabric material, a polymeric material, a metal
material, and/or other material that is suitable for defining a
torso portion 26 and a head portion 28. In some aspects, the torso
portion 26 and the head portion 28 may be manufactured from
different materials. A plurality of clamps 20 are provided to
secure together the first and second panels 14a, 14b of the body
panel. According to the exemplary embodiment, and as best shown in
FIG. 8, the clamps 20 include opposing slots 30 on each side
thereof for receiving connecting flanges 32 formed on the first and
second panels 14a, 14b. Fastening means 22 such as bolts or the
like are used to tighten the clamps 20. The connecting flanges 32
are thus fixed within the slots 30 and the first and second panels
14a, 14b are thereby secured together.
[0021] As shown for example in the embodiment depicted in FIGS.
1-5, the sports training aid 10 further includes a center pole 18
extending from the base member 12 to the head portion 28 of the
body panel 14, and secured to the base member 12 by a screw 40 or
other fastening mechanism. The clamps 20 include a through hole 24
which allows the center pole 18 to extend there through. In the
exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the center pole 18
includes a plurality of telescopic poles 18a, 18b which allows the
soccer training aid 10 to collapse to a smaller overall height for
ease of transport and storage when the telescopic poles 18a, 18b
are nested one within the other. The center pole 18 may be formed
of a polymeric material, a metallic material, or other suitable
material. A locking detent button 36 (see FIG. 5), or other similar
mechanism, may be provided on the center pole 18 such that the
center pole 18 can be secured in the extended upright position
during use, and then released into the collapsed position for
transport or storage.
[0022] With reference to FIGS. 4A-4B, the body panel 14 is able to
deflect and rotate around the center pole 18 when impacted by a
ball B, such as a soccer ball, due to the rigidity of the body
panel 14 and the elastic nature of the elastic legs 16. The panel
14 can rotate/spin multiple times completely around the center pole
18 when impacted by the ball B, whereby the elastic legs 16 are
twisted several times over (not shown). This is not a concern
however because, due to the elastic legs 16, body panel 14 will
return to its original position by rotating in the opposite
direction once the force that caused the deflection has subsided or
otherwise been removed, as schematically shown in FIGS. 4C-4D.
Thus, the ability of the sports training aid 10 to move and deflect
in response to the impact from a ball B, such as a soccer ball,
better imitates a human defender during practice.
[0023] Although certain exemplary embodiments of the disclosure
have been shown and described in detail, it should be understood
that various changes and modifications may be made therein without
departing from the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *