Patent Grant
8617007
The invention relates generally to sports-related training equipment and devices, particularly, training devices that enable training for speed, strength and agility, and accessories for same.
It is generally accepted that the better prepared a sports team is, the more successful they will be at the game. While many factors affect a team's preparedness, the training equipment available to a team has traditionally been considered critical. Consequently, training equipment has continued to evolve, as players and teams attempt to gain a competitive advantage over opponents. This evolution has resulted in a closer approximation of “game-like” conditions for the athletes during practices. Simulating game-like conditions has allowed the players to finely tune their skills in ways that directly translate into increased “on-the-court” performance. In sports where speed, strength and agility are key, such as in basketball, it is highly desirable to train athletes using exercises and equipment that simulate play while building strength and agility. Additionally, while a variety of athletic training sleds exist for use in training for football, those sleds would not be appropriate for use on a wood, concrete or asphalt basketball court surface.
Accordingly, a need exists for a training device that provides a trainee with a tool for speed, agility and strength training that can be used on the basketball court. Additionally, there exists a need for an accessory that can be used to convert a football training sled for use on a basketball court.
In an embodiment, a training sled includes a pair of nonlinear runners of tubular construction arranged in parallel relative to a center axis and a plane. A head crossbar of tubular construction may extend between first ends of the runners and may be joined thereto so as to form a continuous tubular U-shaped member with the runners. A weight bearing member may be affixed to and extend between the pair of nonlinear runners near mid-sections thereof. A rear crossbar of tubular construction may extend between and may be disposed above the plane of the runners proximate second ends thereof and may be joined thereto opposite the head crossbar, so as to present a rearward facing surface against which force may be applied. A pair of skis may be configured to removably attach to the training sled.
One or more of the following features may be included. A friction-reducing layer may be disposed on a bottom portion of each of the pair of skis. The friction-reducing layer may be a high density carpet-like material. A ski head crossbar may extend between head ends of the pair of skis. A ski rear crossbar may extend between rear ends of the pair of skis. A left attachment arm may be disposed on an inner portion of a left ski of the pair of skis. A right attachment arm may be disposed on an inner portion of a right ski of the pair of skis. The left attachment arm and the right attachment arm may be configured to removably attach to the weight bearing member. The left attachment arm and the right attachment arm may include a gripping sleeve configured to grip the weight bearing member. A locking pin system may be configured to secure the pair of skis to the training sled. A first pair of rollers may be disposed proximate to the head ends of the pair of skis. A second pair of rollers may be disposed proximate to the rear ends of the pair of skis.
The training sled may include a removable handlebar. A pair of posts may be disposed on the second ends of the runners. The pair of posts may be configured to removably receive the removable handlebar. The handlebar may present a rearward facing surface against which force may be applied in a range from 8 inches to 40 inches above the plane of the runners. The removable handlebar may include an attachment crossbar configured to removably mate with the pair of posts disposed on the second ends of the runners. The removable handlebar may further include an upper grip bar having a pair of substantially L-shaped legs. The pair of substantially L-shaped legs may be operably connected to the attachment crossbar. The removable handlebar may include a left grip bar disposed on an upper left portion of the upper grip bar and a right grip bar disposed on an upper right portion of the upper grip bar.
The removable handlebar may alternatively include an attachment crossbar configured to removably mate with the pair of posts disposed on the second ends of the runners. A pair of L-shaped legs may be operably attached at first ends thereof to the attachment crossbar. A substantially straight grip bar may be operably attached to second ends of the pair of L-shaped legs.
The removable handlebar may alternatively include an attachment crossbar configured to removably mate with the pair of posts disposed on the second ends of the runners. A left-flared grip bar having an L-shaped lower portion may be operably attached to the attachment crossbar. A right-flared grip bar having an L-shaped lower portion may be operably attached to the attachment crossbar. An upper crossbar may extend between and be operably attached to the left-flared grip bar and the right-flared grip bar.
The training sled may include an attachment mechanism operably attached to the head crossbar configured for securing one of ropes, cables and straps to the training sled. The weight bearing member may have a substantially flat rectangular profile and may further include a cylindrical horn extending normal thereto on which weights may be removably mounted.
In another embodiment, a ski accessory for an athletic training sled includes a pair of nonlinear skis arranged in parallel relative to a center axis and a plane. A friction-reducing layer may be disposed on a bottom portion of each of the pair of skis. A ski head crossbar may extend between head ends of the pair of skis. A ski rear crossbar may extend between rear ends of the pair of skis. A left attachment arm may be disposed on an inner portion of a left ski of the pair of skis. A right attachment arm may be disposed on an inner portion of a right ski of the pair of skis. The left attachment arm and the right attachment arm may be configured to removably attach to an athletic training sled.
One or more of the following features may be included. The friction-reducing layer may be a high density carpet-like material. The ski accessory for an athletic training sled may include a locking pin system configured to secure the pair of skis to the athletic training sled. A first pair of rollers may be disposed proximate to the head ends of the pair of skis. A second pair of rollers may be disposed proximate to the rear ends of the pair of skis. The left attachment arm and the right attachment arm may include a gripping sleeve configured to grip a portion of the athletic training sled.
The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings and the claims.
Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.
A training sled according to various embodiments described herein enables a trainee to develop power, speed and agility. The elevated handlebars allow a trainee to drive and pull the training sled in postures that realistically simulate game conditions, thereby helping the trainee to develop strength and power in the knees, ankles and hips. The training sled can be driven from either the lower rear crossbar level or from a higher level through use of a removable handlebar. Weight sleds and accessories embodying various aspects of the training sled and ski and handlebar accessories described herein are commercially available as the Crab Sled, King Crab Sled and Ski Runners from Marty Gilman, Inc., Gilman, Conn.
As seen in
A weight bearing member 20 may be affixed to and extend between the pair of nonlinear runners 12 and 14 near mid-sections thereof. The weight bearing member 20 may be implemented with a substantially flat rectangular plate also formed of a rigid material such as aluminum or steel and may extend between the runners 12 and 14 approximately adjacent the respective bent sections thereof, as shown in
A rear crossbar 24 of tubular construction may extend between and may be disposed above the plane of the runners 12 and 14 proximate second ends thereof and may be joined to the runners 12 and 14 opposite from the head crossbar 16, so as to present a rearward facing surface against which force may be applied. The rear crossbar 24 may extend between the respective straight sections of the runners 12 and 14 and may be implemented with aluminum tubing similar to the runners 12 and 14. The rear crossbar 24 may also be mechanically joined by welding or other techniques to the runners 12 and 14 so as to form a unitary body therewith. The rear crossbar 24 may present a rearward facing surface against which a trainee may apply force during a training exercise. The height of the rear crossbar 24 relative to the ground or other surface on which the training sled 10 rests may be chosen to allow the sled 10 to be driven at the bear crawl level, approximately 8 to 12 inches off the ground.
A pair of nonlinear skis 26 and 28 may be configured to removably attach to the training sled 10. The skis 26 and 28 may be arranged in parallel relative to a center axis and a plane. The skis 26 and 28 may be of substantially flat construction and may be formed of a rigid material, such as aluminum or steel. The skis 26 and 28 may have a substantially straight section and a section that is bent at an upward angle relative to the straight section, such that the skis 26 and 28 are formed to follow the contours of the runners 12 and 14.
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A ski rear crossbar 36 may extend between rear ends of the pair of skis 26 and 28. The ski rear crossbar 36 may be implemented with a substantially flat rectangular bar formed of a rigid material such as aluminum or steel and may extend between straight sections of the skis 26 and 28 approximately adjacent the respective rear ends thereof. The ski rear crossbar 36 may be mechanically joined to the skis 26 and 28 by welding or other techniques known in the arts so as to form a unitary body therewith. Placement of the ski rear crossbar 36 on the skis may vary depending upon whether the skis are designed for a sled with a removable handlebar (see, e.g.,
A left attachment arm 38 may be disposed on an inner portion of the left ski 26 of the pair of skis 26 and 28. Similarly, a right attachment arm 40 may be disposed on an inner portion of the right ski 28 of the pair of skis 26 and 28. The left and right attachment arms 38 and 40 may be formed of a rigid material such as aluminum or steel. The left and right attachment arms 38 and 40 may be configured such that a leg portion (for example, leg portion 42) of each attachment arm 38 and 40 is mechanically joined to respective inner portions of the skis 26 and 28, such as by welding or other techniques known in the arts. A lip portion 44 and 46 of each attachment arm 38 and 40 may be mechanically joined to the leg portion 42 of each of the left and right attachment arms 38 and 40, or, alternatively, the lip and leg portions may be formed from a single piece of aluminum or steel, so that the attachment arms 38 and 40 are a unitary body.
The left attachment arm 38 and the right attachment arm 40 may be configured to removably attach to the weight bearing member 20. For example, the lip portions 44 and 46 may be configured to attach to and/or grip at least a portion of the training sled 10, such as the weight bearing member 20. The left and right attachment arms 38 and 40 may be disposed on the skis 26 and 28 such that, when the skis 26 and 28 are slid into place under the training sled 10, the lip portions 44 and 46 extend over the weight bearing member 20 toward the rear ends of the skis 26 and 28, and the weight bearing member may rest or press against the leg portions, thereby removably holding or gripping the skis 26 and 28 in place on the sled 10 as the sled 10 is driven or pulled forward.
The left attachment arm 38 and the right attachment arm 40 may each include a gripping sleeve 48 and 50 configured to grip the weight bearing member 20. The gripping sleeves 48 and 50 may be formed of rubber or other material capable of gripping or removably attaching to and holding at least a portion of the training sled 10, such as the weight bearing member 20. The gripping sleeves 48 and 50 may be operably attached to the left and right attachment arms 38 and 40 by conventional means, such as by glue or other adhesive. Alternatively, the gripping sleeves 48 and 50 may be mechanically attached to the left and right attachment arms 38 and 40 by any number of techniques known in the art. For example, the left and right attachment arms 38 and 40 may include a projection (not shown) over which an aperture (not shown) in the gripping sleeves 48 and 50 may be disposed, such that each gripping sleeve may be held in place by attachment to a projection.
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The removable handlebar 82 may include a generally U-shaped attachment crossbar 84 and a generally U-shaped upper grip bar 86 joined together to form a unitary body that may be selectively attachable/detachable to/from training sled 10. In alternative embodiments, the attachment crossbar 84 and grip bar 86 may be parabolic, arch-shaped, curved or of other similar shape configured to enable a user to grip the removable handlebar 82 at a variety of heights and apply force to the sled 10. The upper portions of the legs of the upper grip bar 86 may be parallel and spaced more narrowly, for example, 13 inches apart, than the distance between the runners 12 and 14. The upper grip bar 86 may present a range of vertical heights at which a trainee may grab the legs with a thumbs-up grip. As shown in
The pair of substantially L-shaped legs of the upper grip bar 86 may be operably connected to the attachment crossbar 84. For example, the legs of the upper grip bar 86 may be mechanically joined by welding or other techniques to the attachment crossbar 84 so as to form a unitary body therewith. The attachment crossbar 84, in turn, may be removably mounted to the sled 10 near the second ends of runners 12 and 14, rearward of the rear crossbar 24. The L-shaped side profile of the upper grip bar 86 may enable the force applied to upper grip bar 86 to be transferred to the sled 10 at a point which is more proximate the center of gravity of the sled 10.
As shown in
The removable handlebar 82 may present a rearward facing surface against which a trainee may apply force during a training exercise. The height of the removable handlebar 82 relative to the ground or other surface on which the sled 10 rests may be chosen to allow the sled to be driven from a range of levels from a lower bear crawl to a higher two-point stance and takeoffs. In an embodiment, when attached to the sled 10, the upper grip bar 86 of the removable handlebar 82 may have a height of approximately 8 to 40 inches from the plane of the runners 12 and 14. As such, the removable handlebar 82 may allow a trainee to drive the sled in a range of postures that enable strength, speed and agility training.
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Referring to FIGS. 4 and 11-13, in another embodiment, a ski accessory 112 for an athletic training sled (for example, sled 10) includes a pair of nonlinear skis 26 and 28 arranged in parallel relative to a center axis and a plane. As shown in
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A ski rear crossbar 36 may extend between rear ends of the pair of skis 26 and 28. The ski rear crossbar 36 may be implemented with a substantially flat rectangular bar formed of a rigid material such as aluminum or steel and may extend between straight sections of the skis 26 and 28 approximately adjacent the respective rear ends thereof. The ski rear crossbar 36 may be mechanically joined to the skis 26 and 28 by welding or other techniques known in the arts so as to form a unitary body therewith. Placement of the ski rear crossbar 36 on the skis may vary depending upon whether the skis are designed for a sled with a removable handlebar (see, e.g.,
A left attachment arm 38 may be disposed on an inner portion of the left ski 26 of the pair of skis 26 and 28. Similarly, a right attachment arm 40 may be disposed on an inner portion of the right ski 28 of the pair of skis 26 and 28. The left and right attachment arms 38 and 40 may be formed of a rigid material such as aluminum or steel. The left and right attachment arms 38 and 40 may be configured such that a leg portion (for example, leg portion 42 shown in
The left attachment arm 38 and the right attachment arm 40 may be configured to removably attach to an athletic training sled, for example training sled 10. For example, the lip portions 44 and 46 may be configured to attach to and/or grip at least a portion of a weight bearing member or other crossbar that may be disposed on the sled. The left and right attachment arms 38 and 40 may be disposed on the skis 26 and 28 such that, when the skis 26 and 28 are slid into place under a training sled, the lip portions 44 and 46 extend over the weight bearing member or other crossbar toward the rear ends of the skis 26 and 28, and the weight bearing member or crossbar may rest or press against the leg portions, thereby removably holding the skis 26 and 28 in place on the sled as the sled is driven or pulled forward.
The left attachment arm 38 and the right attachment arm 40 may each include a gripping sleeve 48 and 50 configured to grip weight bearing member or other crossbar on a training sled. The gripping sleeves 48 and 50 may be formed of rubber or other material capable of gripping or removably adhering to at least a portion of the training sled, such as the weight bearing member or other crossbar. The gripping sleeves 48 and 50 may be operably attached to the left and right attachment arms 38 and 40 by conventional means, such as by glue or other adhesive. Alternatively, the gripping sleeves 48 and 50 may be mechanically attached to the left and right attachment arms 38 and 40 by any number of techniques known in the art. For example, the left and right attachment arms 38 and 40 may include a projection (not shown) over which an aperture (not shown) in the gripping sleeves 48 and 50 may be disposed, such that each gripping sleeve is held in place by attachment to a projection.
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It is to be understood that the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. For example, all or portions of the training sled 10 and ski accessory 112 may be painted or powder coated for protection against the elements. While some components of the training sled 10 are described as “generally U-shaped,” such as the attachment crossbar 84, the upper grip bar 86 and the U-shaped chassis formed by the runners 12 and 14 and the head crossbar 16, in alternative embodiments, the attachment crossbar, grip bar and chassis may be parabolic, arch-shaped, curved or of other similar shape appropriate to the purpose of the component. In still other alternative embodiments, the training sled 10 described herein may be configured to be sold with or without a removable handlebar 82. Similarly, the training sled 10 described herein may be configured to be sold with or without an attachment mechanism 110 for a removable device, such as harnesses, straps or ropes, etc.
Having described herein exemplary embodiments of the training sled with handlebar and ski accessories, persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate various other features and advantages of the invention apart from those specifically described above. It should therefore be understood that the foregoing is only illustrative of the principles of the invention, and that various modifications and additions can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the appended claims shall not be limited by the particular features which have been shown and described, but shall be construed also to cover any obvious modifications and equivalents thereof.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20120172155 A1 | Jul 2012 | US |
