GB2496038A

GB2496038A - A reinforced sports rebound panel

Info

Publication number: GB2496038A
Application number: GB1219002.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Luke Leonard Martin Porter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-10-25
Filing date: 2012-10-23
Publication date: 2013-05-01
Also published as: GB201219002D0; GB201118438D0

Abstract

A sports training device for rebounding or deflecting a ball, particularly a football. The device comprising a support frame 12, at least one rebound panel 14 coupled to the frame, the panel comprising a plurality of spaced apart elongate members; and at least one positionable reinforcing member 16 attached to the panel and operable to provide resilient support to the elongate members 14a during deformation of the panel, wherein, in use, the surfaces of the elongate members are operable to flex the surface of an incident ball inwards towards its centre to thereby cause a rebound or deflection of the ball. Optionally the elongate members comprise at least one of rods, bars or slats forming elongate ribs or ridges. Preferably the support frame is foldable. The elongate members can be equally or differently spaced from one another and the cusps of each elongate member may be spaced between 1 and 8cm apart.

Description

AN IMPROVED SPORTS TRAINING DEVICE

The present invention relates to physical activity and particularly relates to a sports training device for rebounding or deflecting a ball (e.g. football etc.) Many people will have played a ball game whereby a football is kicked against a wall and the "rcbound"(or deflection) of the ball is then received and played (e.g. kicking it repeatedly against the wall with one or two touches). This game can be played by a single player or by more than one player, for example taking it in turns to kick the ball. The game helps to develop both ball control skills and allows the user to practice estimating the timing of running to meet a ball etc. Unfortunately, there is not always a suitable wall with which to practice.

Moreover, some walls are associated with homes or offices and therefore have windows etc. Some wall surfaces arc covered by advertisements and many walls may not be located in safe environments in which to kick a ball (e.g. near roads etc.).

An object of this invention is to provide a sports training device, particularly a football training device, that allows a user or player to practice their ball skills, by way of a portable device, which can be conveniently moved and positioned in whatever desired location.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is a provided a sports training device for rebounding or deflecting a ball, comprising: a support frame; a rebound panel coupled to the frame, the panel comprising a plurality of spaced apart elongate members; and at least one positionablc reinforcing member attached to the panel and operable to provide resilient support to the elongate members during deformation of the panel, wherein, in use, the surfaces of the elongate members are operable to flex the surface of an incident ball inwards towards its centre to thereby cause a rebound or deflection of the ball.

Embodiments of the present invention enable users and players to practice ball control in a number of different situations without a wall type surface being available. Some embodiments of the invention are designed to be able to be assembled from flat pack and dissembled such that the device may be used anywhere. For example one typical constraint of a player using a walled area, in say a garden, is that the wall is normally fixed.

This can result in a grassed area getting repeatedly used and worn, which causes excessive wear in some areas e.g. muddy areas. The portability of the present device means that it can be moved to different locations thereby reducing the excessive wear in certain areas.

01 additional benefit is the ability to use one or a number of devices in training drills with one or a number ol people participating. The design ol device is such that the surfaces of the box may be flat or any number of different surface shapes. This variety of shapes gives the participants increased enjoyment and challenge in accommodating the path of the ball having rebounded from the device or been deflected by a surface of the device. The portability of the device means that it can be used on, say football training grounds, in a way that a fixed wall would not have the convenience to provide. Thus the present invention provides the participants with significant flexibility in the number of ways in which the device may be used for training drills or for fun.

The provision of a sports training device for rcbounding or deflecting a ball having a support frame, a rebound panel and at least one posilionable reinforcing member atlaehed to the panel is found to be particularly advantageous over training devices which do not have a reinforcing member. The reinforcing member is preferably pivotally attached to the panel and may be angled to provide a support to the mid-section of the panel, which provides improved resilient support for the elongate members. As a result, it is found that upon deflection of the elongate members during a ball impact event (e.g. when a ball is kicked against the surface of the panel), the reinforcing member pushes back on the elongate members, facilitating effectively increasing the resilience of the members which thercby enhances the rebound or deflection of the ball.

By "ball" we mean any suitable substantially deformable sports type ball, and particularly, a football.

The positionable reinforcing member preferably has one end attached to the panel and the other is preferably "anchored" or otherwisc "pushed into" the ground or floor of thc training area. Hence, the positionable reinforcing member also serves to stabilisc the device when in use. The use of the a reinforcing member also allows the overall weight of the device to be decreased, allowing the device to be fabricated from lighter materials, which is an advantage given that the device is intended to the be transported by children etc, to their training or play area.

The elongate members may be evenly spaced apart, or in other embodimenls, the elongate members may not all be the same distance from the next adjacent member.

The surface of each clongate mcmber may comprise a cusp (or other form of curved or hemispherical surfacc etc.) for deforming the surface of the ball, upon the ball impacting the member.

The cusps may be spaced between I and 8 cm apart, although it is to be appreciated that any suitable spacing may be used depending on the particular application.

The elongate members are preferably at least partially flexible, in this way, the resilience of the members can then impart a rebound to the ball upon impact with the members.

In preferred embodiments, the elongate members may comprise at least onc of rods, bars or slats. However, any suitable form of elongate structure may be used. The rods, bars or slats preferably form elongate ribs or ridges, which serve as cusps to deform the surface of the incident ball.

The support frame is preferably foldable to enablc the device to be folded for transport and/or storage. The support frame is preferaNy adapted to hold the panel generally upright in use, and wherein the frame may be movable between a position of use in which it extends transversely away from the panel and props it up, to a storage position in which it extends generally parallel to the panel.

The frame may also comprise elongate side supports.

The positionable reinforcing member preferably comprises at least one of a rod, a bar or a slat, wherein the rod, a bar or a slat is preferably adapted for engaging with a ground surface, such as lawn, muddy area or gravel surface etc. Preferably, one end of the reinforcing member is pivotally attached to the panel to permit the member to be angled relative to the ptane of the panel.

The panel may comprise at least one support strut fixed substantially transversely to the plurality of elongate members. The support strut is to increase the stability of rigidity of the panel when in use.

The reinforcing member may be attached to at least one support strut, which in preferred embodiments is located towards the centre of the panel.

In particularly preferred embodiments, the sports training device may further comprise a second rebound panel coupled to the frame. The second rebound panel is preferably disposed on an opposite side of the frame to the first rebound panel.

The second rebound panel is preferably operably connected to the first rebound panel via the reinforcing member. The reinforcing member may be coupled to the first rebound panel and to the second rebound panel at substantially a respective mid-point o! the two panels.

In preferred embodiments, the reinforcing member is pivotally connected to both the first and second rebound panels, and in use is operable to communicate the deformation forces from the first panel to the second panel, such that both panels undergo resilient deformation due to a ball impact event. This is found to be particularly advantageous, as the combined resilience of both first and second panels are found to impart a greater rebound to the ball than would otherwise be possible by way of a single (unconnected) panel.

Thus, in use the reinforcing member is operable to communicate an enhanced resilient restoring force (i.e. irom the second panel to thc first panel) which acts together with the resilient restoring force of the first panel to thereby impart a greater rebound or deflection force to the ball.

In preferred embodiments, when in the storage position, the frame or panel(s) are capable of being positioned to lie disposed generally parallel, for example stacked on top of each other.

In use, the device preferably comprises a triangle or quadrilateral (e.g. square in cross section, or trapezium-shaped in cross section) or other closed shape, bounded on at least three, or four, sides by structural members, at least one of the structural members comprising a rebound panel, and having open sides above and below the plane of the triangle, quadrilateral, or other closed shape defined by the structural members.

The open sides may be disposed one against the ground in use and another, opposed to the one open side, at the top of the device.

The device may be rolled, turned, or otherwise moved to a different orientation relative to the ground so that the same rebound panel can have two different angles of inclination relative to the ground, with the device in two different orientations relative to the ground.

The sports training device may comprise one or more feet adapted to engage the ground or floor. In addition, the sports training device may further comprise one or more anchors to fix the frame to the ground or floor, which prevents the device from moving during use.

The present invention also provides for a kit for assembly into a sports training device for rebounding or deflecting a ball, the kit comprising: a support frame; a rebound panel attachable to the irame, the panel comprising a plurality of spaced apart elongate members; and at least one reinforcing membcr attachable to the panel and operable to provide resilient support to the elongate members during deformation of the panel, wherein, hcn assembled and in usc, the surfaces of the elongate members are operable to flex the surface of the incident ball inwards towards its centre, to thereby cause a rcbound or deflection of the ball.

The kit may also include instructions on how to assemble the device to its operational condition.

In addition, the present invention also provides for a method of sports training comprising transporting a sports training device of a type as described in any of the preceding embodiment, to a training location; assembling the device to its operational condition in situ at the training location; bouncing or deflecting a ball off one or more rebound panels and responding to the rebound or deflection.

It is to be appreciated that none of the preceding embodiments arc intended to be mutually exclusive, and therefore any of the described features may be used in combination, additionally or alternatively, in any of the preceding embodiments.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 -shows a side view of a sports training device according to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 -shows a front view of the sports training device of Figure 1; Figure 3 -shows a reverse view of the sports training device of Figure 1; Figure 4 -shows a sports training device according to another particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention having two rebound panels.

Figure 5 -shows a side view of the sports training device of Figure 4; Figure 6 -shows a top view of the sports training device of Figure 4.

Figure 7 -shows a top view of the sports training device of Figure 4 in a different orientation to that of Figure 4; Referring to Figures 1 to 3, there is a shown a particularly preferred embodiment of a sports training device 10 according to the present invention. The device 10 comprises a support frame 12, a rebound panel 14 coupled to the frame 12 and a positionable reinforcing member 16.

The panel 14 comprises a plurality of spaced apart elongate members 14a, which may be made from steel, mild steel or aluminium etc, and can be coated in plastic or rubber etc. The reinforcing member 16 is pivotally attached to the panel 14 by way of a support strut 18 (which forms part of the frame 12). The reinforcing member 16 is operable to provide resilient support to the elongate members 14a during deformation of the panel 14, as occurs during a ball impact event (i.e. when a ball is kicked against it). The reinforcing may also be thought of as a cross beam support.

In the example of Figure 1, the elongate members 14a are evenly spaced apart. But, in other embodiments, the elongate members may not all be the same distance from the next adjacent member.

It is found that upon deflection of the elongate members 14a during a ball impact event, the reinforcing member 16 pushes back on the elongate members, effectively increasing the resilience of the members which thereby enhances the rebound or deflection of the ball.

The reinforcing member 16 ideally has its unattached end "anchored" or otherwise "pushed into" the ground of floor of the training area. Hence, the positionable reinforcing member 16 also serves to stabilise the device when in use. The use of the reinforcing member 16 also allows the overall weight of the device to be decreased, allowing the device 10 to be fabricated from lighter materials, which is an advantage given that the device is intended to the be transported by children etc, to their training or play area.

The surface of each elongate member 14a comprises a cusp (e.g. a curved or hemispherical surface etc.) for deforming the surface of the ball, upon the ball impacting the member 14a.

The cusps are ideally spaced between 1 and 8 cm apart, although it is to be appreciated that any suitable spacing may be used depending on the particular application.

The support frame 12 is loldablc to enable the device to be folded for transport and/or storage. The support frame 12 is adapted to hold the panel 14 generally upright in use, and wherein the frame is movable between a position of use in which it extends transversely away from the panel and props it up, to a storage position in which it extends generally parallel to the panel.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, it can be seen that the frame 12 also comprises elongate side supports 12.

As shown in the example of Figures 4 to 7, the sports training device 10 may further comprise a second rebound panel 20 coupled to the frame 12. The second rebound panel 20 is disposed on an opposite side of the irame to the first rebound panel 14.

The second rebound panel 20 is operably connected to the first rebound panel 14 via the reinforcing member 16. The reinforcing member 16 is coupled to the first rebound panel 20 and to the second rebound panel 14 at substantially a respective mid-point of the two panels, as shown in Figure 4.

The reinforcing member 16 is pivotally connected to both the first and second rebound panels 14, 20, and in use is operable to communicate the deformation forces from the first panel to the second panel, such that both panels undergo resilient deformation due to a ball impact event. This is found to be particularly advantageous, as the combined resilience of both first and second panels are found to impart a greater rebound to the ball than would otherwise be possible by way of a single (unconnected) panel.

Thus, in use the reinforcing member 16 is opcrablc to communicate an enhanced resilient restoring force (i.e. from the second panel 20 to the iirst panel 14) which acts together with the resilient restoring force of the first panel 14 to thereby impart a greater rebound or deflection force to the ball.

When in the storage position, the frame 12 or panels 14, 20 are capable of being positioned to lie disposed generally parallel, for example stacked on top of each other.

As shown in Figures 5 to 7, when, in use, the device may comprise a triangle or quadrilateral (e.g. square in cross section, or trapezium-shaped in cross section) or other closed shape, bounded on at least three, or four, sides by structural members, at least one of the structural members comprising a rebound panel, and having open sides above and below the plane of the triangle, quadrilateral, or other closed shape defined by the structural members.

The open sides may be disposed one against the ground in usc and another, opposed to the one open side, at the top of the device.

The device 10 may be rolled, turned, or otherwise moved to a different orientation relative to the ground so that the same rebound panel can have two different angles of inclination relative to the ground, with the device in two different orientations relative to the ground (ci Figures 4 and 7).

The sports training device 10 may comprise one or more feet (not shown) adapted to engage the ground or floor. In addition, the sports training device may further comprise one or more anchors (not shown) to fix the frame 12 to the ground or floor, which prevents the device 10 from moving during use.

Although the sports training device of the present invention is ideally suited for football training sessions and/or honing ball control skills, it will be recognised that one or more of the principles of the invention may extend to other training apparatus and ball game applications, whereby a portable device can be selectively erected by a user or player for use with rebounding or deflecting a ball as part of their training activity etc. The above embodiments are described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the invention.

Claims

<claim-text>CLAIMS1. A sports training device for rebounding or deflecting a ball, comprising: a support frame; a rebound panel coupled to the frame, the panel comprising a plurality of spaced apart elongate members; and at least one posilionable reinforcing member attached to the panel and operable to provide resilient support to the elongate members during deformation of the panel, wherein, in use, the surfaces of the elongate members are operable to flex the surface of an incident ball inwards towards its centre to thereby cause a rebound or deflection of the ball.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. The sports training device of Claim 1, wherein the elongate members are evenly spaced apart.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. The sports training device of Claim 1, wherein the elongate members are not all the same distance from the next adjacent member.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. The sports training device of any preceding claim, wherein the surface of each elongate member comprises a cusp for deforming the surface of the ball.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. The sports training device of Claim 4, wherein the cusps are spaced between 1 and 8 em apart.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. The sports training device of any preceding claim, wherein the elongate members are at least partially flexible.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. The sports training device of any preceding claim, wherein the elongate members comprise at least onc of rods, bars or slats.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. The sports training device of Claim 7, wherein the rods, bars or slats form elongate ribs or ridges.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. The sports training device of any preceding claim, wherein the support frame is foldable.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. The sports training device of any preceding claim, wherein the support frame is adapted to hold the panel generally upright in use, and wherein the frame is movable between a position of use in which it extends transversely away from the panet and props it up, to a storage position in which it extends generally parallel to the panel.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. The sports training device of any preceding claim, wherein the frame comprises elongate side supports.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. The sports training device of any preceding claim, wherein the positionable rein forcing member comprises at least one of a rod, a bar or a slat.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. The sports training device of Claim 12, wherein the rod, a bar or a slat is adapted for engaging with a ground surface.</claim-text> <claim-text>14. The sports training device of any preceding claim, wherein one end of the reinforcing member is pivotally attached to the panel.</claim-text> <claim-text>15. The sports training device of any preceding claim, wherein the panel comprises at least one support strut fixed substantially transversely to the plurality of elongate members.</claim-text> <claim-text>16. The sports training device of Claim 15, wherein the reinforcing member is attached to at least one support strut.</claim-text> <claim-text>17. The sports training device of any preceding claim, further comprising a second rebound panel coupled to the frame.</claim-text> <claim-text>18. The sports training device of Claim 17, wherein the second rebound panel is disposed on an opposite side of the frame to the first rebound panel.</claim-text> <claim-text>19. The sports training device of Claim 17 or Claim 18, wherein the second rebound panel is operably connected to the first rebound panel via the reinforcing member.</claim-text> <claim-text>20. The sports training device of Claim 19, wherein the reinforcing member is coupled to the first rebound panel and to the second rebound panel at substantially a respective mid-point of the two panels.</claim-text> <claim-text>21. The sports training device of Claim 19 or Claim 20, wherein the reinforcing member is pivotally connected to both the first and second rebound panels.</claim-text> <claim-text>22. The sports training device of any of Claims 19 to 21, wherein in use the reinforcing member is operable to communicate the deformation forces from the first panel to the second panel, such that both panels undergo resilient deformation due to a ball impact event.</claim-text> <claim-text>23. The sports training device of any of Claims 19 to 21, wherein in use the reinforcing member is operable to communicate a resilient restoring force from the second panel to the first panel to thereby impart a rebound or deliection force to the ball.</claim-text> <claim-text>24. The sports training device of any preceding claim, wherein the storage position, the frame or panel(s) are capable of being positioned to lie disposed generally parallel, for example stacked on top of each other.</claim-text> <claim-text>25. The sports training device of any preceding claim, wherein the in use the device comprises a triangle or quadrilateral (e.g. square in cross section, or trapezium-shaped in cross section) or other closed shape, bounded on at least three, or four, sides by structural members, at least one of the structural members compr[sing a rebound panel, and having open sides above and below the plane of the triangle, quadrilateral, or other closed shape defined by the structural members.</claim-text> <claim-text>26. The sports training device of any preceding claim, wherein the open sides are disposed one against the ground in use and another, opposed to the one open side, at the top of the device.</claim-text> <claim-text>27. The sports training device of any preceding claim, wherein the device can be rolled, turned, or otherwise moved to a different orientation relative to the ground so that the same rebound panel can have two different angles of inclination relative to the ground, with the device in two different orientations relative to the ground.</claim-text> <claim-text>28. The sports training device of any preceding claim, further comprising one or more feet adapted to engage the ground or floor.</claim-text> <claim-text>29. The sports training device of any preceding claim, further comprising one or more anchors to fix the frame to the ground or floor.</claim-text> <claim-text>30. The sports training device of any preceding claim, wherein thedevice is portable.</claim-text> <claim-text>31. A kit for assembly into a sports training device for rebounding or deflecting a ball, the kit comprising: a support frame; a rebound panel attachable to the frame, the panel comprising a plurality of spaced apart elongate members; and at least one reinforcing member attachable to the panel and operable to provide resilient support to the elongate members during deformation of the panel, wherein, when assembled and in use, the surfaces of the elongate members are operable to flex the surface of the incident ball inwards towards its centre, to thereby cause a rebound or deflection of the ball.</claim-text> <claim-text>32. The kit according to Claim 31, which also includes instructions on how to assemble the device to its operational condition.33. A method of sports training comprising transporting a sports training device of a type as claimed in any C'aims 1 to 30 to a training location; assembling the device to its operational condition in situ at the training location; bouncing or deflecting a ball off one or more rebound panels and responding to the rebound or deflection.33. A sports training device as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.</claim-text>