Patent Application
20060030434
This invention relates to a training aid and, more particularly, to a device which kicks a football or soccer ball, and which assists in teaching a player to correctly block or otherwise defend against a kicked football or soccer ball, or to respond to a kicked ball.
The effective defense against a kicked football or soccer ball is not always readily learned. Balls kicked by players vary in trajectory and force, introducing an undesirable variability into the training experience. Further, repeated kicks by a player tire the player, decrease the precision of the ball's trajectory and speed, and increase the opportunity for injuries. The specialization of football players and teams increases the importance of defensive and offensive lines and backs being trained separately in specific techniques, and in kickers being trained separately in their specific skills.
The effective evaluation of players by coaches also requires observation of players' responses to repeated, realistic but controlled situations.
Thus, the correct training for effective defensive and offensive techniques regarding a kicked football or soccer ball, and the evaluation of personnel, would be enhanced by the availability of a device which reproducibly projected a football or soccer ball in the trajectory and with the force corresponding to a kicked ball. Further, there is a need for such a device that is portable, and does not require power from a fixed source.
Accordingly, it is desirable to present a device which kicks a football or soccer ball in a trajectory and with a force corresponding to a ball as kicked by a player.
Known prior art devices have not addressed the above problems. Various patents disclose devices and complex apparatus designed to hold footballs or soccer balls for kicking, or to project footballs in a trajectory corresponding to a thrown football, in a flat trajectory from shoulder height. Such devices and apparatus are aimed at training of kickers or of pass receivers and defenders, not of the players defending against, or responding to, a kicked football or soccer ball. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,077; U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,043; U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,880; U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,973; U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,572; U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,217).
In response to the needs described I have invented a training aid in the form of a device which supports a standard football, or optionally a standard soccer ball, at a height and position approximating the height and position of a football or soccer ball as it is kicked in standard play. A spring-powered swing arm and a kicking shoe propel the ball in a trajectory and with a force corresponding to a normally kicked ball. The spring which powers the swing arm can be readily wound by the user, to a desired force, and a trigger release mechanism allows the user to actuate the kicking action at the desired time. The device is readily portable and may optionally be provided with wheels. A safety lock for the swing arm and safety guards for the moving parts provide safety for the users. One or more players being trained to defend against kicked balls, or to react to kicked balls as offensive players, can be positioned and prepared as desired, and the kicking action actuated reproducibly, as often and as many times as desired.
Components that are optionally removable and replaceable, to provide for differing functional characteristics of the device, include the swing arm, the kicking shoe, the ball holder (“T”-plate) and the torsion spring.
It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide a training aid in the form of a device which projects a football or a soccer ball from a height and with a trajectory and force corresponding to a ball kicked by a player.
A further object of this invention is to provide a training aid, as aforesaid, which projects a football, or optionally a soccer ball, as often and as many times as desired for training, without the involvement of a player as kicker.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a training aid, as aforesaid, which projects a football, or optionally a soccer ball, in a reproducible trajectory and with reproducible force.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a training aid, as aforesaid, which projects a football, or optionally a soccer ball, with reproducible force, which force can be varied by the user by the use of replaceable components.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a training aid, as aforesaid, which is readily portable and readily operated, and which does not require an external power source other than the user.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of this invention.
Turning more particularly to the drawings,
The trigger release handle 40 may be a modified bicycle brake control device, or similar commercially available device modified to provide flexible cable control.
An optional safety lock for the swing arm and optional safety guards for the moving parts would provide increased safety for the users.
The kicking shoe 5 is optionally replaceable, having a strong pin and collar, or similar, construction. Alternate replaceable kicking shoes may vary in the angle of contact with the ball, or in other features affecting the ball trajectory.
The swing arm 4 optionally is comprised of two parts, which can be readily separated, so that the distal part can be removed and replaced with an alternate distal part, so that the distance and angle of the kicking shoe with regard to the swing arm shaft may be varied. The two parts of the swing arm are joined by a strong pin and collar, or similar, construction.
The ball support (“T”-plate) 10 is optionally removable and replaceable with an alternate ball support, so that support pins may be varied in height and placement to provide varied ball positions for footballs or soccer balls.
The torsion spring 14 is optionally removeable and replaceable with an alternate torsion spring of different spring strength, so that the kicking force and trajectory may be varied.
The loading and release of the torsion spring 14 is accomplished by the user as a single cocking action followed by a single trigger action, having a single force.
The material of the device is preferably steel, except as otherwise described.
The torsion spring 14, centering springs, cable return springs, and ball release return spring are preferably of spring steel.
The bumping pad 13 is preferably of rubber or any resilient elastomeric material.
The optional safety guards may be of steel mesh, Nylon (R) mesh or other elastomeric polymer material.
The base frame 2 may optionally have two or four attached wheels, by which the device may be moved when tipped, but which do not contact the ground when the device is upright.
The frame components, 2 and 3, and optional wheels may be of high-impact elastomeric polymer or composite material.
It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.
In operation the device is positioned by the user at a desired location; the loading crank is rotated by the user to fully cock the swing arm; the safety catch is engaged; the desired football or soccer ball is placed in the desired position on the ball support; the players are positioned and prepared as desired; the desired signal is given to the players by the user and the kicking action is initiated by the user with the release mechanism, which may be by squeezing a cable release lever or directly pulling a push/pull release handle.
The trigger release handle, which may be used with the first or third release mechanisms, provides convenience, accurate control of timing and choice of position of the user with respect to the players, due to the variable length of the flexible cable.
