Patent Application
20220176218
The present invention is generally related to a mobile, free standing field sport shooting target device for use in such sports as lacrosse. The mobile, free standing field sport shooting target device can be used on all surfaces. Furthermore, the mobile, free standing field sport shooting target device is counter-weighted but is still able to teeter in order to allow the end user (player) to properly develop his/her shooting skills. The object of the mobile, free standing field sport shooting target device is to allow the player to try to knock a ball (such as a lacrosse ball) off of the mobile, free standing field sport shooting target device by using the force of a ball being propelled from a sporting implement such as a lacrosse stick that contacts the mobile, free standing field sport shooting target device. This requires the player to attempt to shoot down towards the pole (goalpole) holding the ball or shoot directly at the ball on the mobile, free standing field sport shooting target device in order to allow the end user (player) to properly develop his/her shooting skills. The mobile, free standing field sport shooting target device eliminates the need for a goalie to try and block the shots so that the player can safely practice and develop his/her shooting skills.
Prior to the present invention, as set forth in general terms above and more specifically below, it is known, to employ various types of training devices to improve the shooting skills of an athlete such as a lacrosse player. It is known to use a goalie during the practicing of shooting skills such that the goalie may be placed in front of the goal to assist the player in improving the player's shooting skills. However, if the goalie is not that experienced in blocking shots and/or the player is not that experienced in shooting the ball at a goalie, the goalie may get inadvertently injured. While these and other various training devices used to improve the shooting skills of an athlete may have been generally satisfactory, there is nevertheless a need for a new and improved mobile, free standing field sport shooting target device for use in such sports as lacrosse.
It is a purpose of this invention to fulfill these and other needs in the art of training devices to improve the shooting skills of an athlete such as a lacrosse player in a manner more apparent to the skilled artisan once given the following disclosure.
The preferred mobile, free standing field sport shooting target device for use in such sports, as lacrosse, according to various embodiments of the present invention, offers the following advantages: ease of use; reduced cost; portability; lightness in weight; durability; compactness of the device; improved safety; improved shooting skills training characteristics; the ability to hear when the ball contacts the device; the ability to provide different heights of the device; the ability to allow the device to teeter; the ability to be free standing; provides a three-dimensional, functional bounce shooting target; provides a training tool for small sided lacrosse games; ease of packing the device; and ease of carrying the device. In fact, in many of the preferred embodiments, these advantages are optimized to an extent that is considerably higher than heretofore achieved in prior, known training devices used to improve the shooting skills of an athlete such as a lacrosse player.
The above-mentioned features and steps of the invention and the manner of attaining them will become apparent, and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters represent like parts throughout the several views and in which:
Referring now to
As shown in
With respect to counter weight plate 4, counter weight plate 4 is used to retain mobile, free standing field sport shooting target device 2 in an upright position so that mobile, free standing field sport shooting target device 2 is not easily knocked over, as will be discussed in greater detail later. Preferably, counterweight plate 4 can be constructed of any suitable, durable, rigid, UV resistant, and high strength material. It is to be understood that counterweight plate 4 should have enough mass so that mobile, free standing field sport shooting target device 2 is retained in an upright position and is not easily knocked over, but can still move back and forth (teeter). Preferably, the counter weight plate 4 weighs from 5-10 pounds and has a diameter range of 12-16 inches. It is to be further understood that the counter weight plate 4 should also be able to be easily connected to the end cap 8 and the poles 12, 12a in order for use and for transport of mobile, free standing field sport shooting target device 2, as will be discussed in greater detail later.
A unique aspect of the present invention are openings 16 and 18 in counter weight plate 4. As will be discussed in greater detail later, in order to pack up and transport mobile, free standing field sport shooting target device 2, poles 12, 12a are removed from openings 6 in counter weight plate 4. Preferably, there will be four (4) longer poles 12 having a length range of 2.5-3.5 feet and two (2) shorter poles 12a having a length range of 1.25-1.75 feet (
Regarding end cap 8, end cap 8 is placed over one end of pole 12 (and pole 12a) in order to allow pole 12 (and pole 12a) to teeter within the counter weight plate 4, as will be discussed in greater detail later. Preferably, end cap 8 can be constructed of any suitable, durable, flexible, UV resistant, and high strength material. It is to be understood that end cap 8 includes a conventional opening (not shown) at one end so that end cap 8 can be placed over one end of pole 12 (and pole 12a) and that the other end of end cap 8 includes a flared end 10. It is to be understood that the diameter of end cap 8 and flared end 10 should be large enough such that when end cap 8 is attached to pole 12 (and pole 12a), end 8 will properly retain pole 12 (and pole 12a) within opening 6, allow pole 12 (and pole 12a) to teeter within opening 6, and not allow pole 12 (and pole 12a) to easily move up and down within opening 6.
Another unique aspect of the present invention is the addition of flared end 10 on end cap 8. As will be discussed in greater detail later, when end cap 8 is placed over one end of pole 12 (and pole 12a) and the end of pole 12 (and pole 12a) containing end cap 8 is placed in counter weight plate 4, flared end 10 will allow pole 12 (and pole 12a) to teeter or rock back and forth so that when pole 12 (and pole 12a) is contacted by a ball that has been thrown at pole 12 (and pole 12a), a ball located on the top of pole 12 (and pole 12a) in opening 14 (opening 14a) (
With respect to poles 12 and 12a, poles 12 and 12a are used to hold the ball in opening 14 and 14a, respectively, at a desired distance off of the practice surface so that the player can practice shooting at the ball and at the poles 12 and 12a, as will be discussed in greater detail later. Preferably, poles 12 and 12a can be constructed of any suitable, durable, rigid, UV resistant, and high strength material that is capable of creating a sound when contacted by an object, as will be discussed in greater detail later. As will be discussed in greater detail later, poles 12 and 12a can be constructed of a variety of lengths with the preferable lengths being 2.5-3.5 feet for poles 12 and 1.25-1.75 feet for poles 12a. Also, it is to be understood that the diameter of poles 12 and 12a should be large enough to properly retain a ball such as a lacrosse ball in opening 14 and 14a, respectively. It is to be further understood that the length of the shorter poles 12a should be one-half of the length of the longer poles 12 so that the poles 12 and 12a can be easily stored and transported, as will be discussed in greater detail later. Preferably, the diameter of poles 12 and 12a is between 1-1.5 inches. Finally, it is to be understood that poles 12 and 12a should be constructed so that when a ball contacts poles 12 and 12a, an audible sound will be created that can be easily heard by the player using the mobile, free standing field sport shooting target device 2, as will be discussed in greater detail later,
With reference now to
Regarding
Another unique aspect of the present invention is mobile, free standing field sport shooting target system 100, as shown in
In order to set up mobile, free standing field sport shooting target system 100, attention is directed to
In order to properly utilize the setup of the mobile, free standing field sport shooting target systems 100, the player's objective is to knock the ball 102 off of the poles 12 and/or 12a by shooting a ball or other similar object (not shown) from a playing implement such as a lacrosse stick towards the poles 12 and/or 12a. It is to be understood that if the ball contacts the poles 12 and/or 12a with the proper amount of force, the poles 12 and/or 12a should teeter along the direction of arrows A-A (
Another unique aspect of the present invention is related to the teetering of poles 12 and 12a. In particular, in the sport of lacrosse, one of the main objects of the game is to shoot a ball (not shown) into the opponent's goal. There are many ways that the ball can be shot towards the opponent's goal including a direct shot at the goal, bouncing the ball towards the goal (the bounce shot) and/or skipping/sliding the ball towards the opponent's goal (the bounce shot). A skilled lacrosse player needs to be able to master all of these types of shots. The present invention provides the lacrosse player with the opportunity to practice a variety of such shots because the present invention allows the player to practice direct shots at the ball 102 placed on top of poles 12 and 12a. The present invention also allows the player to practice shooting down on the mobile, free standing field sport shooting target devices 2 and 2a. Finally, the shooting down on the mobile, free standing field sport shooting target devices 2 and 2a provides the player with the opportunity to practice bouncing and/or skipping/sliding the ball.
A further unique aspect of the present invention is that the present invention highlights the three-dimensional skill development of the bounce shot. The prior known two-dimensional targets that hang in goals do not provide this functional and fundamental skill set of shooting for the lower corners.
A still further unique aspect of the present invention is that the mobile, free standing field sport shooting target devices 2 and 2a can also provide an audible sound that provides feedback to the end user/player to notify the end user/player that the ball (not shown) thrown by the end user/player actually did contact the mobile, free standing field sport shooting target device 2 and/or 2a. In particular, as discussed above, when a ball or other similar object (not shown) is propelled from a playing implement such as a lacrosse stick towards the poles 12 and/or 12a, if the ball contacts the poles 12 and/or 12a with the proper amount of force, the contact of the ball against the poles 12 and/or 12a should create an audible sound that the player can easily hear at a distance from the mobile, free standing field sport shooting target devices 2 and/or 2a. In this manner, the player can see that the ball 102 fell off of the mobile, free standing field sport shooting target devices 2 and/or 2a and can hear that the ball contacted the mobile, free standing field sport shooting target devices 2 and/or 2a in order to cause the ball 102 to fall off of the mobile, free standing field sport shooting target devices 2 and/or 2a.
With respect to
A further unique aspect of the present invention is the packing up and transporting of mobile, free standing field sport shooting target system 100. As shown in
A still further unique aspect of the present invention is that the present invention provides a three-dimensional, functional bounce shooting target and training tool for small sided lacrosse games.
With respect to
With respect to
Regarding
A unique aspect of the present invention is the use of shaft collar 202 and set screw 204. As shown in
During the operation of mobile, free standing field sport shooting target device 200, as discussed above, it is to be understood that if the ball contacts the poles 12 and/or 12a with the proper amount of force, the poles 12 and/or 12a should teeter along the direction of arrows A-A (
Regarding
A unique aspect of the present invention is the use of shaft collar 252 and cam lock 254. As shown in
During the operation of mobile, free standing field sport shooting target device 250, as discussed above, it is to be understood that if the ball contacts the poles 12 and/or 12a with the proper amount of force, the poles 12 and/or 12a should teeter along the direction of arrows A-A (
Regarding
A unique aspect of the present invention is the use of shaft collar 302. As shown in
During the operation of mobile, free standing field sport shooting target device 300, as discussed above, it is to be understood that if the ball contacts the poles 12 and/or 12a with the proper amount of force, the poles 12 and/or 12a should teeter along the direction of arrows A-A (
Regarding
A unique aspect of the present invention is the use of foot mount 352, threaded leg 354, and foot 356. The user locates the foot mount 352 over the end of pole (goalpole) 12,12a and conventionally attaches foot mount 352 to a portion of the end of pole (goalpole) 12,12a so that foot mount 352 is connected to a portion of the end of pole (goalpole) 12,12a in order to securely retain foot mount 352 on pole (goalpole) 12,12a. It is to be understood that foot mount 352 can be attached to the end of pole (goalpole) 12,12a by conventional techniques such as adhesives, fasteners, or the like. It is to be further understood that counter weight plate 4 rests on top of foot mount 352 and is retained in place by the retention of foot mount 352 on pole (goalpole) 12,12a. The threaded leg 354 is then conventionally threaded at one end into the opening 358 (
As shown in
During the operation of mobile, free standing field sport shooting target device 350, as discussed above, it is to be understood that if the ball contacts the poles 12 and/or 12a with the proper amount of force, the poles 12 and/or 12a should teeter along the direction of arrows A-A (
Regarding
A unique aspect of the present invention is the use of foot mount 352, threaded leg 354, and foot 402. The user locates the foot mount 352 over the end of pole (goalpole) 12,12a and conventionally attaches foot mount 352 to a portion of the end of pole (goalpole) 12,12a so that foot mount 352 is connected to a portion of the end of pole (goalpole) 12,12a in order to securely retain foot mount 352 on pole (goalpole) 12,12a. It is to be understood that foot mount 352 can be attached to the end of pole (goalpole) 12,12a by conventional techniques such as adhesives, fasteners, or the like. It is to be further understood that counter weight plate 4 rests on top of foot mount 352 and is retained in place by the retention of foot mount 352 on pole (goalpole) 12,12a. The threaded leg 354 is then conventionally threaded at one end into the opening 358 (
As shown in
During the operation of mobile, free standing field sport shooting target device 400, as discussed above, it is to be understood that if the ball contacts the poles 12 and/or 12a with the proper amount of force, the poles 12 and/or 12a should teeter along the direction of arrows A-A (
Regarding
A unique aspect of the present invention is the use of shaft collar 452 and threaded extension 456. The user threads the shaft collar 452 over the end of pole (goalpole) 12,12a and conventionally attaches shaft collar 452 to a threaded portion 454 located on the outside of the end of pole (goalpole) 12,12a so that shaft collar 452 is connected to a portion of the end of pole (goalpole) 12,12a in order to securely retain shaft collar 452 on pole (goalpole) 12,12a. It is to be understood that the end of pole (goalpole) 12,12a is conventionally constructed with the threaded portion 454 on the outside of the end of pole (goalpole) 12,12a and shaft collar 452 is conventionally constructed with a threaded portion 453 on the inside of shaft collar 452 so that shaft collar 452 can be attached to the outside of the end of pole (goalpole) 12,12a through the interaction of threaded portions 453 and 454. Furthermore, the end of pole (goalpole) 12,12a is also conventionally constructed with a threaded portion 455 on the inside of the end of pole (goalpole) 12,12a so that threaded extension 456 can be attached to the inside of the end of pole (goalpole) 12,12a. It is to be further understood that counter weight plate 4 rests on top of shaft collar 452 and is retained in place by the retention of shaft collar 452 on pole (goalpole) 12,12a. The threaded extension 456 is then conventionally threaded at one end into the end of pole (goalpole) 12,12a so that threaded extension 456 interacts with threaded portion 455 on the inside of the end of pole (goalpole) 12,12a.
As shown in
During the operation of mobile, free standing field sport shooting target device 450, as discussed above, it is to be understood that if the ball contacts the poles 12 and/or 12a with the proper amount of force, the poles 12 and/or 12a should teeter along the direction of arrows A-A (
The preceding merely illustrates the principles of the invention. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements which, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples and conditional language recited herein are principally intended expressly to be only for pedagogical purposes and to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventors to furthering the art and are o be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents and equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.
This description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the figures of the accompanying drawing, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description, relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected,” refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise.
All patents, publications, scientific articles, web sites, and other documents and materials referenced or mentioned herein are indicative of the levels of skill of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, and each such referenced document and material is hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if it had been incorporated by reference in its entirety individually or set forth herein in its entirety.
The applicant reserves the right to physically incorporate into this specification any and all materials and information from any such patents, publications, scientific articles, web sites, electronically available information, and other referenced materials or documents to the extent such incorporated materials and information are not inconsistent with the description herein.
All of the features disclosed in this specification may be combined in any combination. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is only an example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
The specific methods and compositions described herein are representative of preferred embodiments and are exemplary and not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Other objects, aspects, and embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of this specification and are encompassed within the spirit of the invention. It will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that varying substitutions and modifications may be made to the invention disclosed herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The invention illustratively described herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element or elements, or limitation or limitations, which is not specifically disclosed herein as essential. Thus, for example, in each instance herein, in embodiments or examples of the present invention, the terms “comprising”, “including”, “containing”, etc. are to be read expansively and without limitation. The methods and processes illustratively described herein suitably may be practiced in differing orders of steps, and that they are not necessarily restricted to the orders of steps indicated herein.
The terms and expressions that have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intent in the use of such terms and expressions to exclude any equivalent of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. Thus, it will be understood that although the present invention has been specifically disclosed by various embodiments and/or preferred embodiments and optional features, any and all modifications and variations of the concepts herein disclosed that may be resorted to by those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of this invention.
The invention has been described broadly and generically herein. Each of the narrower species and sub-generic groupings falling within the generic disclosure also form part of the invention. This includes the generic description of the invention with a proviso or negative limitation removing any subject matter from the genus, regardless of whether or not the excised material is specifically recited herein.
Other modifications and implementations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the description hereinabove is not intended to limit the invention.
Therefore, provided herein is a new and improved mobile, free standing field sport shooting target device for use in such sports as lacrosse. The preferred mobile, free standing field sport shooting target device, according to various embodiments of the present invention, offers the following advantages: ease of use; reduced cost: portability; lightness in weight; durability: compactness of the device; improved safety; improved shooting training characteristics; the ability to hear when the ball contacts the device; the ability to provide different heights of the device; the ability to allow the device to teeter; the ability to be free standing; provides a three-dimensional, functional bounce shooting target; provides a training tool for small sided lacrosse games; ease of packing the device; and ease of carrying the device.
In fact, in many of the preferred embodiments, these advantages of ease of use, reduced cost, portability, lightness in weight, durability, compactness of the device, improved safety, improved shooting training characteristics, the ability to hear when the ball contacts the device, the ability to provide different heights of the device, the ability to allow the device to teeter, the ability to be free standing, provides a three-dimensional, functional bounce shooting target, provides a training tool for small sided lacrosse games, ease of packing the device, and ease of carrying the device are optimized to an extent that is considerably higher than heretofore achieved in prior, known training devices to improve the shooting skills of an athlete.
