AU724965B2

AU724965B2 - Ball tether improvement

Info

Publication number: AU724965B2
Application number: AU39306/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Troy James Roberts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-10-02
Filing date: 1997-09-30
Publication date: 2000-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 2017-09-30
Also published as: AU3930697A

Description

46835 HKS:PFB P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

*Name of Applicant: TROY JAMES ROBERTS Name of inventor: TROY JAMES ROBERTS Address for Service: COLLISON CO., 117 King William Street, Adelaide, S.A. 5000 Invention Title: 4 BALL TETHERIMPROVEMENT Details of Assciated Provisional Applications: PO2723 dated 2nd October 1996 and P05517 dated 10th March 1997 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: TROY JAMES

ROBERTS

Name of inventor: TROY JAMES ROBERTS Address for Service: COLLISON CO., 117 King William Street, Adelaide, S.A. 5000 Invention Title: BALL TETHER IMPROVEMENT Details of Associated Provisional Applications: P02723 dated 2nd October 1996 and P05517 dated 10th March 1997 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 This invention relates to ball tethers and has particular application to the use of a tether with a ball.

The use of tethers with balls to assist in playing games or to assist in training is generally known.

Tethers have not hitherto, as far as I am aware, been used with oblong inflated balls of a type which are used in the playing of Australian Rules Football.

I have discovered that it is possible to provide a tether which will hold a ball of this type (which will also hold because it is a less demanding application a 1 0 round ball) so that capture means which hold the ball to the tether will not be readily dislodged even with relatively hard kicking of the ball.

This invention relates to a tether and a method of using a tether that would be useful for even a ball of a type that is used for playing games such as Australian Rules Football.

1 5 A problem has been to provide a practical and economic arrangement by .which such an oblong inflated ball can be tethered in such a way that the ball can be a standard ball as used for playing of the game and yet can be located quickly and easily into a tether arrangement and when tethered that it can be kicked hard and yet not be able to be dislodged from the tether.

20 One of the problems is that a ball of this type being inflated will when kicked hard, distort in response to the hard forces. Any attachment has to allow for the very high distortion and for the very high forces.

This then is the problem.

An advantage of the discovery of this invention is that the invention can be used without modifying an existing standard inflatable football and furthermore, that it can be put in place economically and again that it can be used with a wrist attachment with the wrist of a user so that subsequent to kicking of the football when secured to the tether, the rebounding ball can be appropriately guided howbeit requiring some skill in a trajectory for catching.

3 In one form then the invention can be said to reside in a tether including a fastening means, and a lead including at least a part that is resilient, the lead extending from the fastening means to a ball capture assembly, the ball capture assembly being adapted to capture and hold a ball for kicking, characterised in that the ball capture assembly includes a head member adapted to engage around a distal end of the ball, and at least three elongate members each extending from a connection location on the lead to engage to facilitate tightening against a ball when in use.

In preference there is also provided a tether including a wrist member adapted 1 0 to engage a wrist of the user, and a lead including at least a part that is resilient extending from the wrist member to a ball capture assembly, the ball capture assembly being adapted to capture and hold a ball for kicking.

In a further preferred form there is provided a tether including a fastening means adapted to engage the wrist of a user, and a lead including at least a 1 5 part that is resiliently extendable and extending from the fastening means to a ball capture assembly, the ball capture assembly being adapted to capture and hold an oblong ball for kicking characterised in that the ball capture assembly includes a head member in the form of a loop adapted to extend around a distal end of an oblong ball, and at least three elongate members 2 0 which are cords each extending from a connection location forming a part of the lead to engage with sliding freedom the loop and to return to common connection location in the vicinity of but separated from the connection location to facilitate tightening of the cords against an oblong ball when such oblong ball is kicked while anchored by the lead.

In preference where elongate members are cords, each cord passes through a respective aperture in the loop so that there will be at least three separate apertures, a first aperture of which is located so as to be approximately an equal distance apart from other apertures performing this function in the loop.

In preference there are four cords and there are four apertures which are at 3 0 approximately 900 orientation one to the other around the perimeter of the loop.

In preference, the ball capture assembly includes a cap, adapted to receive with nesting fit, a near end of an oblong ball and each of the cords pass through a respective aperture in the cap.

In an alternative preferred embodiment, the fastening means include at least two straps which are securable one with respect to the other by hook and loop type engaging surfaces to engage with gripping fit the wrist of a user.

In preference, the loop comprises a material which is pliable but substantially non-extendable.

In a further preferred form, the tether has a swivel between the fastening means and the ball capture assembly.

There is provided accordingly an arrangement so that any forces occurring 1 0 during kicking or otherwise are used to keep a ball capture assembly aligned and in place on the ball.

This is achieved by having a head arrangement in the manner of a loop or yoke located at a further end of the ball so that as the ball pulls on the tether the yoke will tighten around the tapered shape of the front of the ball and therefore keep aligned with the ball.

In a further preferred form then the invention can be said to reside in a tether including a wrist member adapted to engage a wrist of a user, and a lead S°including at least a part that is resiliently extendable and extending from the wrist member to a ball capture assembly, the ball capture assembly being adapted to capture and hold an oblong ball for kicking by having a head S:arrangement in the manner of a yoke located at a further end of the ball so that as the ball pulls on the tether the yoke will tighten around the tapered shape of the front of the ball and therefore keep aligned with the ball.

In preference there is a tether including a fastening means, and a lead 25 including at least a part that is resilient, the lead extending from the fastening means to a ball capture assembly, the ball capture assembly being adapted to capture and hold an oblong ball for tethering through a tethered kicking procedure characterised in that the ball capture assembly includes a yoke adapted to engage a distal end of an oblong ball, and at least two elongate 3 0 members each extending from a connection location on the lead to the yoke.

In preference there is a tether including a fastening means, and a lead including at least a part that is resiliently extendable, the lead extending from the fastening means to a ball capture assembly, the ball capture assembly being adapted to capture and hold an oblong ball for tethering through a tethered kicking procedure characterised in that the ball capture assembly includes a head arrangement adapted to engage a distal end of an oblong ball, and at least three elongate members each extending from a connection location on the lead to the head member at least one of which is adjustable in length separate from the connection location to facilitate tightening of the 1 0 cords against a ball when in use.

In a further preferred form there is provided a tether characterised in that the ball capture assembly includes a head arrangement in the form of a yoke or loop adapted to extend around a distal end of an oblong ball, and at least three elongate members which are each cords or straps each extending from 1 5 the loop or yoke to a common connection location at a closer end of any oblong ball.

In preference each of the elongate members are located so as to be approximately equally spaced apart from each of the other adjacent apertures .in the loop.

2 0 In preference there are four elongate members so as to be spaced at approximately 900 around the loop.

In a further preferred form of the invention there is provided a tether with the ball capture assembly including a first head member in the form of a pliable but substantially non extendible loop adapted to extend around a distal end of 25 an oblong ball, a second head member in the form of a pliable but substantially non extendible loop or yoke adapted to extend around a closer end of an oblong ball and four straps spaced at approximately 900 quadrant positions around an axis of a ball to be held, each extending from the said first head member to the said second head member and where at least one of the 3 0 straps is comprised of two parts which are adjustably securable on with respect to the other so that the length of the strap can be changed.

In a further form there is provided a tether including a fastening means including a strap or straps which are securable to engage with gripping fit the wrist of a user, and a lead including a resiliently extendable cord extending for at least some of the length of the lead from the fastening means to a ball capture assembly, the ball capture assembly including a first head member in the form of a pliable loop comprised of strapping adapted to extend around a further away end of an oblong ball, a second head member in the form of a pliable loop comprised of strapping adapted to extend around a closer end of an oblong ball and four straps spaced at each of approximately 900 offset quadrants around an axis of the ball each attached to and extending from the said first head member an attachment with the said second head member and 1 0 where at least one of the straps in anyone or more of the loops or the connecting straps between the loops is comprised of two parts which are adjustably securable one with respect to the other so that the length of the strap can be changed to allow for in one case the fitting of the ball to within the ball capture assembly and in another case the tightening of the assembly with 1 5 respect to the ball.

Further explanation and assistance in understanding the invention will now be gained when an embodiment is described with the assistance of drawings wherein FIG 1 is a tether in accord with the embodiment, S2 0 FIG 2 is a view of the ball capture part of the embodiment as shown in FIG 1 including some parts in cross section to illustrate these more clearly, FIG 3 is a view to illustrate for one cord, the path taken by the cord which is of course replicated four times in the embodiment as shown in FIGS 1 and 2, FIG 4 is a person using the tether and about to kick the football, FIG 5 is a view of the football having just been kicked and being held by the tether, FIG 6 is a perspective view of the tether according to a further embodiment, FIG 7 is a perspective view of the tether as in FIG 6 except that one of the 3 0 straps is opened to allow for location therein of a football, 7 FIG 8 is a view of a ball capture assembly according to a further embodiment, FIG 9 is a perspective view of a ball capture assembly in accord with a further embodiment, FIG 10 illustrates the manner of use to which the tether according to the embodiment as in FIG 6 can be put to, FIG 11 is a progressive view from FIG 10 showing the way in which the tether is to be used namely to include a strap adapted to engage the wrist of a user and a force with which it is expected the tether will be used in actual practice, FIG 12 is a perspective view of a ball capture assembly according to a third embodiment, when in a released arrangement, FIG 13 is a view of the same ball capture assembly according to the third embodiment as shown in FIG 12 in its tightened arrangement, and FIG 14 is a perspective view of a further embodiment.

Referring in detail to the drawings and in particular FIG 1 through 5 a tether 1 includes fastening means 2, a resilient cord 3 connecting to the fastening means 2 and to a ball capture assembly 4.

First dealing with the fastening means 2, this comprises two straps 5 and 6 which are secured together at one end 7 and by reason of having a hole 8 therethrough adapted to be secured to the resilient cord 3.

The other ends of the straps 5 and 6 are adapted to be secured to each other by having on respective faces, velcro type surfaces so that on one, there is a hook type arrangement and on the other a loop type arrangement so that these two straps can be secured together and tightened to any degree felt appropriate. In this case, it is most appropriate to have this of a size so that it will be appropriate to fit on the wrist of a user.

The resilient cord 3 is chosen to be of an appropriate length and to have the 8 appropriate resilient extendability to facilitate the purpose required.

In trials so far, a cotton covered rubber cord which is therefore elastic and of in diameter and of one metre in length has been found to be appropriate.

Each end is formed into the shape of a loop as shown at 9 and 10 so as to appropriately connect to the fastening means 2 and to the ball capture assembly 4.

I now deal with the ball capture assembly 4.

There are four cords which are secured to the loop 10 the cords being 11, 12, 13 and 14 which are secured to the lead but then extend through an aperture 15 in a cap 16 and thereafter extend from the near end of the position of an appropriate oblong inflatable football, to the distal or far end of this at which there is located a loop or yoke 17 which is comprised of a strap forming a circle the diameter of which is such that this will grip onto the end of the football and is chosen to have a size such that the yoke or loop will capture 1 5 tightly the distal end of the ball. Further, because this strap for the loop or yoke is chosen to be substantially nonextendable the yoke will compress the inflatable ball. In this way with any kicking that otherwise may dislodge the capture assembly nonetheless will tighten the grip of the loop or yoke around the ball. Each cord 11, 12, 13 and 14 then extends through a respective 2 0 aperture as shown at respectively 18, 19, 20 and 21 and such that the cord will pass freely therethrough and then return to an outside of the cap 16 through respective apertures at 22, 23, 24 and The cords then return through aperture 15 and are secured to member 26.

The embodiment as described is a tether adapted to be secured firstly to an 2 5 inflated football of standard type used in the playing of Australian Rules ~Football. The principle however can be applied to other balls both oblong and round except that the problem specifically solved by this tether system which is to keep the ball capture assembly appropriately orientated with respect to an oblong ball during kicking, is not so much a difficulty with simply round balls.

Also, round balls are not conventionally to be kicked to then be caught in the arms as an Australian Rules Football. Accordingly, the principle applies also to round balls but the major problem has been with oblong balls that are likely to dislodge or skew when being kicked.

With oblong balls and particularly in the playing of Australian Rules Football, the orientation of the ball during the kick and the techniques for kicking, are relatively difficult and require practice and training.

This tether has the substantial advantage of allowing anyone from beginner to experienced player, to practise kicking and afterwards catching the ball on their own without another person.

1 0 Further, those who simply enjoy kicking such a football and catching this simply for its own sake, can now use the tether and in trials conducted so far, the tether can be used even safely indoors.

The tightening cord system apart from the yoke or loop also has the effect that when the ball is kicked and pulling away from the tether, the pressure is 1 5 greatest to keep the cords tightest. This further assists in this embodiment in o.O* resisting potential pressures to dislodge the ball from appropriate alignment o* with the football.

FIGS 4 and 5 illustrate one technique for using the tether and furthermore illustrate the combination of the tether with a person having the fastening means strapped around the wrist shown at 26. The football 27 when kicked can be guided by control of the position of the wrist 26 and in practice will therefore rise and be returned to a position to be appropriate to be marked between the arms and the chest or simply by the hands of the player.

A number of alterations can be envisaged which will not depart from the spirit of the invention but can be incorporated in various embodiments.

For instance, the lead can incorporate a swivel.

Further, a number of cords while being shown at 4, can be variously 3 or with appropriate modifications to the spacement of apertures.

One of the features of the embodiment is that the cords can be chosen to have a diameter that still allows the cord to have adequate strength but to be of a size that will appropriately fit within an elongate seam traditionally existing along the length of an Australian Rules type football.

There are four of these seams and in the embodiment, when fitted to a football, it is preferred that the cords that is the cord running to the loop and returning shall both fit within a gutter defined by the seam.

This has the advantage that there is minimal protrusion to interfere with the kicking of the football which is to say that the foot will only impact against the smooth wall of the football without having any protrusion unnecessarily 1 0 interfering with this contact.

The cord chosen is also pliable and generally non extensible as is also the material from which the loop or yoke is made.

An alternative arrangement for the loop can including non extensible cord with individual loops providing the function of the apertures in the loop.

1 5 Further, each cord can be directed to a first aperture then be fed to a second aperture and returned to the near end of the football from the second aperture.

Finally, the value of the cap shown at 16 is that this provides the aperture through which all of the cords pass and this assists in keeping the cords tight by reason the cap is made from a resilient material such as rubber and by pulling the common connection of the cords relative to the cap, the cords can be pulled tight around the football.

Further, these will more or less stay in position because of the tight grip that exists.

From the description it will now be seen that the invention can apply both to a 25 tether, and to the assembly including a tether attached to a ball, and also to the method of effecting a training with an oblong ball which comprises joining the ball through a tether of the type described to the wrist of a player in the manner described.

We now describe further embodiments.

11 Referring in detail to the drawings and in particular FIGS 6 through 12 a tether 101 includes a wrist strap 102 having overlapping parts 103 which have on one face one part of a hook and loop type connecting material such as that which is known under the Registered Trade Mark "Velcro" and such that a soft liner 104 is therefore held under releasable pressure by the "Velcro" strap 103.

Attached to the "Velcro" strap 103 is a strap 105 providing a loop 106 which is inter connected to loop 107 which is comprised of elastic cord 108 the length and thickness of which are selected to provide firstly a sufficient strength and elastic qualities to enable a ball hurled by the ball capture assembly 9 to be returned to a player appropriately to be caught by the player.

The length and diameter of the cord are also selected firstly to provide for this appropriate characteristic and further, the thickness of the elastic cord is chosen so as to resist being subject to being twisted during use and not being 1 5 able to very quickly unwind without individual participation of the user.

It has been found that of a sufficient thickness such as thickness of 0.5 cm is used, then this facilitates resistance against this unwanted twisting.

The end of the elastic cord 108 is attached through a non extendable connection at 110 to the ball capture assembly 109.

The ball capture assembly in this case is comprised of straps which are joined together by sewing and which are shaped and positioned so as to be able to encompass tightly an inflatable oblong ball as shown in dotted outline at 111.

The problem however is that it has been extremely difficult to find an arrangement such that when kicked, the ball which will not during the kicking stage be tightly held with respect to the tether cord 108 is therefore very liable to reorientate itself within the ball capture assembly 109.

The solution has been to provide that even if there is some dislodgment in relative position of the ball 111 with respect to straps of the ball capture assembly 109, nonetheless, as it approaches the end of the tether position, by 3 0 reason that the ball capture assembly 109 is held at one end, and the ball is pushing forward and against this tethered position, then by providing an encircling yoke at 112 and having connecting straps between this encircling 12 yolk 112 and the tether location at 110, causes the ball to relocate itself and align itself within the ball capture assembly 109.

In other words, the forces which would normally be impossible to resist, are used themselves to realign the ball and therefore the end result meets the objectives and can be achieved very effectively and economically.

The ball capture assembly 109 in relation to the embodiment shown in FIGS 6, 7, 10 and 11.

In order to assist in keeping the straps shown in relation to the embodiment at 113, 114, 115 and 116 there is provided a yoke 117 to which each of the straps 113, 114, 115 and 116 are secured by being sewn thereto and being kept in a spaced apart relationship and at an angular relationship relative to the longest axis of the football 111 of 900.

Further, at least one of these straps and in this embodiment the one strap 116 is able to be separated and brought together and caused to be tightened.

1 5 This is achieved by having this strap comprised of two parts 117 and 118 these being joined again by having overlapping parts having "Velcro" type fixing means secured thereto at 119.

By having such an openable strap, this allows for the whole ball capture assembly 109 to be opened out and fitted around the football, and then with the strap 116 tightened, the whole ball capture assembly 109 will be fitting relatively tightly around the oblong football 111.

Two of these straps and in this case 114 and 115 extend and are looped across with a hole there through at 120 to provide for an appropriate securement for the tether through the cord 108. Alternatively cord 108 may be secured to the assembly 109 though the loop defined at the ends of the straps and does not require the eyelet 120.

The straps such as those providing the yoke at 112 and 117 and the straps providing the elongate straps at 113, 114, 115 and 116 are in each case comprised of a material which provides for a strong holding together, and the joins are joined by being sewn together and in this embodiment the tape is looped around the yoke as is shown perhaps most clearly at 121 to assist in 13 providing an even stronger join.

At the furthermost yoke from the tether the straps may also be adapted to be joined to the yoke by means of "Velcro" fastening instead of being sewn to the yoke to allow for the ball to be tightly captured within the assembly.

The width of the strap is selected so as to provide for sufficient strength and yet not provide an excessive thickness which would interfere with any kicking of the football.

The width in this embodiment is 2.5 cm.

A significant advantage of the arrangement described is that all of the parts 1 0 are relatively soft so that if the ball rebounds and hits the face of the player or even the eye, there is less chance of substantial injury to the player.

What alternatives are there in this arrangement.

Referring to FIG 8 which is described as a fourth embodiment then, it is seen that again there are two yokes at 122 and 123 to which however there are 15 attached only three straps 124, 125 and 126.

*Q

SoStrap 126 is adjustable by being comprised of two parts 127 and 128 which are able to be brought and held together by a "Velcro" type fitting on respective faces at 129.

In this case then, the three straps are joined together at 130 to provide a 20 holding point for the tether at 131.

In a further embodiment as shown in FIG 9, there are only two straps shown at 132 and 133 with the strap at 133 being comprised at two parts 134 and 135 which are joined together by "Velcro".

This again as an embodiment providing a ball capture assembly provides a distal yoke at 136 and a much closer yoke at 137 and the two straps 132 and 133 being secured to both yokes by sewing that is yokes 136 and 137 also pass though to provide a securement point at 138.

Now referring to the embodiment shown in FIGS 12 and 13.

14 This illustrates a further ball capture arrangement 140 where the difference from the first embodiment is simply that the closer yoke at 141 is able to be separated and to be joined together with a tightening action by reason of 'Velcro" faces shown at 142 and 143 on respective ends of the strap forming the yoke 141. If such an action is achieved that is to have this tightening, then when this is tightened around an oblong ball, the distal yoke at 144 will also be pulled in tighter and this in turn will keep the respective straps at 145, 146, 147 and 148 relatively taut.

The other features are the same as previously described in relation to the 1 0 other embodiments.

How is this tether then to be used.

We refer to FIG 10 and FIG 11 in which the tether with the 4 straps as shown in the embodiment as shown in FIGS 11 and 12 is secured to a football.

The method of use then is to have the wrist strap 102 secured to the wrist of a player 150 and the player then holds the football 151 in an entirely conventional manner for kicking the football.

The length of the cord at 108 is such as to allow for the ball to be both held and to be kicked without the cord interfering with this action or being caused to be extended, so that it is only after the kick has occurred and the ball is 20 starting to speed away from the player that the ball will stretch the cord 108.

The game of Australian Rules Football is uniquely appropriate for then holding and in fact guiding the departing ball by location of the wrist 152 of the player 150.

As the ball 151 reaches the end of its outward travel, it is found in practice it is then possible for the player to hold the wrist at selected positions which cause the ball to return so that the ball can be comfortably marked or otherwise S•caught. It is found in practice that for the first time ever, it is possible to practice the technically demanding skills of both kicking a football and catching a football without the need for other players to be involved.

3 0 Further, these skills can be learned in a very small and enclosed environment and in one example, it was found that the skills could be learned and practiced within a conventional domestic sitting room.

FIG 14 illustrates a further embodiment which is possibly of the simplest construction of any thus far described. The tether 153 has the same elements as previous embodiments such as a fastening means 154, a resiliently extendible cord 155 and a ball capture assembly 156.

The change is that the ball capture assembly 156 has at a distal end a yoke 157 but straps 158 attached to this simply extend to a near end 159, one of the straps forming a loop 160 for attachment of the cord 155 and this is attached to the other strap be simply being sewn together. One of the straps 161 is 1 0 separable by being comprised of two parts joinable together by a hook and loop joining system.

The invention provides significant advantage to those wishing to practise ball games and particularly those involving kicking and hitting and catching balls.

While reference has been made to use of the tether by attachment to the wrist 1 5 of a user, there can in some instances be value for the user to also attach the tether to other parts of the body or to other members so that other training procedures can be practised.

o a e of a.eo~ o• a.

•ag a a *6 46

Claims

1. A tether including a wrist member adapted to engage a wrist of a user, and a lead including at least a part that is resilient extending from the wrist member to a ball capture assembly, the ball capture assembly being adapted to capture and hold a ball for kicking by having a head arrangement in the manner of a yoke located at a further end of the ball so that as the ball pulls on the tether the yoke will tighten around the tapered shape of the front of the ball and therefore keep aligned with the ball.

2. A tether including a fastening means, and a lead including at least a 1 0 part that is resilient, the lead extending from the fastening means to a ball capture assembly, the ball capture assembly being adapted to capture and hold a ball for tethering through a tethered kicking procedure characterised in that the ball capture assembly includes a head arrangement adapted to engage a distal end of a ball, and at least two elongate members each extending from a connection location on the lead to the head member at least one of which is adjustable in length separate from the connection location to S facilitate tightening of the cords against a ball when in use. 004g

3. A tether including a fastening means, and a lead including at least a 0* Se part that is resilient, the lead extending from the fastening means to a ball 20 capture assembly, the ball capture assembly being adapted to capture and 9°. hold an oblong ball for tethering through a tethered kicking procedure V606 characterised in that the ball capture assembly includes a head arrangement 0°0° :adapted to engage a distal end of a ball, and at least three elongate members each extending from a connection location on the lead to the head member at least one of which is adjustable in length separate from the connection location to facilitate tightening of the cords against a ball when in use. 000

4. A tether including a fastening means adapted to engage the wrist of a user, and a lead including at least a part of its length that is resilient, the lead extending from the fastening means to a ball capture assembly, the ball 3 0 capture assembly being adapted to capture and hold an oblong ball for kicking characterised in that the ball capture assembly includes a head arrangement in the form of a loop adapted to extend around a distal end of a ball, and at least three elongate members which are each cords or straps 17 each extending from the loop to return a common connection location at a closer end of the oblong ball.

A tether as in claim 4 further characterised in that each of the elongate members are located so as to be approximately equally spaced apart from each of the other adjacent apertures in the loop.

6. A tether as in any one of the preceding claims 4 or 5 further characterised in that there are four elongate members so as to be spaced at approximately 900 around the loop.

7. A tether as in any one of the preceding claims where the ball is an oblong ball.

8. A tether including a fastening means including two straps which are securable one with respect to the other by velcro type cooperative surfaces to engage with gripping fit the wrist of a user, and a lead including a resilient cord extending from the fastening means to a ball capture assembly, the ball 1 5 capture assembly including a first head member in the form of a pliable but S.substantially non extendible loop adapted to extend around a further away end of an oblong ball, a second head member in the form of a pliable but substantially non extendible loop adapted to extend around a closer end of an oblong ball and four straps spaced at approximately 900 intervals around an axis of the ball each extending from the said first head member to the said second head member and where at least one of the straps is comprised of two parts which are adjustably securable on with respect to the other so that the length of the strap can be changed.

9. A tether including a fastening means including two straps which are securable one with respect to the other by velcro type cooperative surfaces to engage with gripping fit the wrist of a user, and a lead including a resilient cord extending from the fastening means to a ball capture assembly, the ball capture assembly including a first head member in the form of a pliable loop comprised of strapping adapted to extend around a further away end of an 3 0 oblong ball, a second head member in the form of a pliable loop comprised of strapping adapted to extend around a closer end of an oblong ball and four straps spaced at approximately 900 intervals around an axis of the ball each attached to and extending from the said first head member an attachment with 18 the said second head member and where at least one of the straps is comprised of two parts which are adjustably securable one with respect to the other so that the length of the strap can be changed to allow for in one case the fitting of the ball to within the ball capture assembly and in another case the tightening of the assembly with respect to the ball.

A tether including a fastening means including a strap or straps which are securable to engage with gripping fit the wrist of a user, and a lead including a resilient cord extending for at least some of the length of the lead from the fastening means to a ball capture assembly, the ball capture 1 0 assembly including a first head member in the form of a pliable loop comprised of strapping adapted to extend around a further away end of an oblong ball, a second head member in the form of a pliable loop comprised of strapping adapted to extend around a closer end of an oblong ball and four straps spaced at approximately 900 intervals around an axis of the ball each 1 5 attached to and extending from the said first head member an attachment with the said second head member and where at least one of the straps in anyone or more of the loops or the connecting straps between the loops is comprised of two parts which are adjustably securable one with respect to the other so that the length of the strap can be changed to allow for in one case the fitting of the ball to within the ball capture assembly and in another case the tightening of the assembly with respect to the ball.

11. A tether including a fastening means, and a lead including at least a part that is resilient, the lead extending from the fastening means to a ball capture assembly, the ball capture assembly being adapted to capture and 2 5 hold a ball for kicking, characterised in that the ball capture assembly includes a head member adapted to engage around a distal end of the ball, and at least three elongate members each extending from a connection location on the lead to engage to facilitate tightening against a ball when in use.

12. A tether as in the immediately preceding claim further characterised 3 0 by including a wrist member adapted to engage a wrist of the user, and a lead including at least a part that is resilient extending from the wrist member to a ball capture assembly, the ball capture assembly being adapted to capture and hold a ball for kicking.

A tether including a fastening means adapted to engage the wrist of 19 a user, and a lead including at least a part that is resilient and extending from the fastening means to a ball capture assembly, the ball capture assembly being adapted to capture and hold an oblong ball for kicking characterised in that the ball capture assembly includes a head member in the form of a loop adapted to extend around a distal end of an oblong ball, and at least three elongate members which are straps each extending from a connection location forming a part of the lead to engage the loop to facilitate tightening of the cords against an oblong ball when such oblong ball is kicked while anchored by the lead. 1 0

14. A tether including a wrist member adapted to engage a wrist of a user, and a lead including at least a part that is resilient extending from the wrist member to a ball capture assembly, the ball capture assembly being adapted to capture and hold an oblong ball for kicking by having a head arrangement in the manner of a yoke located.at a further end of the ball so that as the ball pulls on the tether the yoke will tighten around the tapered shape of the front of the ball and therefore keep aligned with the ball.

15. A tether including a fastening means, and a lead including at least a part that is resilient, the lead extending from the fastening means to a ball capture assembly, the ball capture assembly being adapted to capture and 20 hold an oblong ball for tethering through a tethered kicking procedure characterised in that the ball capture assembly includes a head arrangement adapted to engage a distal end of an oblong ball, and at least two elongate members each extending from a connection location on the lead to the head member at least one of which is adjustable in length separate from the 2 5 connection location to facilitate tightening of the cords against a ball when in Suse.

16. A tether including a fastening means, and a lead including at least a part that is resilient, the lead extending from the fastening means to a ball *capture assembly, the ball capture assembly being adapted to capture and 3 0 hold an oblong ball for tethering through a tethered kicking procedure characterised in that the ball capture assembly includes a head arrangement adapted to engage a distal end of an oblong ball, and at least three elongate members each extending from a connection location on the lead to the head member at least one of which is adjustable in length separate from the 3 5 connection location to facilitate tightening of the cords against a ball when in use.

17. A tether including a fastening means adapted to engage the wrist of a user, and a lead including at least a part of its length that is resilient, the lead extending from the fastening means to a ball capture assembly, the ball capture assembly being adapted to capture and hold an oblong ball for kicking characterised in that the ball capture assembly includes a head arrangement in the form of a loop adapted to extend around a distal end of an oblong ball, and at least three elongate members which are each cords or straps each extending from the loop to return a common connection location 1 0 at a closer end of the oblong ball.

18. A tether including a fastening means including two straps which are securable one with respect to the other by velcro type cooperative surfaces to engage with gripping fit the wrist of a user, and a lead including a resilient cord extending from the fastening means to a ball capture assembly, the ball capture assembly including a first head member in the form of a pliable but substantially non extendible loop adapted to extend around a further away end of an oblong ball, a second head member in the form of a pliable but substantially non extendible loop adapted to extend around a closer end of an oblong ball and four straps spaced at approximately 900 intervals around an S2 0 axis of the ball each extending from the said first head member to the said second head member and where at least one of the straps is comprised of two parts which are adjustably securable on with respect to the other so that the length of the strap can be changed.

19. A tether including a fastening means including two straps which are 2 5 securable one with respect to the other by velcro type cooperative surfaces to engage with gripping fit the wrist of a user, and a lead including a resilient cord extending from the fastening means to a ball capture assembly, the ball capture assembly including a first head member in the form of a pliable loop comprised of strapping adapted to extend around a further away end of an 3 0 oblong ball, a second head member in the form of a pliable loop comprised of strapping adapted to extend around a closer end of an oblong ball and four straps spaced at approximately 900 intervals around an axis of the ball each attached to and extending from the said first head member an attachment with the said second head member and where at least one of the straps is 3 5 comprised of two parts which are adjustably securable one with respect to the 21 other so that the length of the strap can be changed to allow for in one case the fitting of the ball to within the ball capture assembly and in another case the tightening of the assembly with respect to the ball.

A tether including a fastening means including a strap or straps which are securable to engage with gripping fit the wrist of a user, and a lead including a resilient cord extending for at least some of the length of the lead from the fastening means to a ball capture assembly, the ball capture assembly including a first head member in the form of a pliable loop comprised of strapping adapted to extend around a further away end of an 1 0 oblong ball, a second head member in the form of a pliable loop comprised of strapping adapted to extend around a closer end of an oblong ball and four straps spaced at approximately 900 intervals around an axis of the ball each attached to and extending from the said first head member an attachment with the said second head member and where at least one of the straps in anyone 1 5 or more of the loops or the connecting traps between the loops is comprised of two parts which are adjustably securable one with respect to the other so that the length of the strap can be changed to allow for in one case the fitting of the ball to within the ball capture assembly and in another case the tightening of the assembly with respect to the ball. e

21. A tether substantially as described in the specification with reference to and as illustrated by any one or more of the accompanying illustrations Dated this 30th day of September 1997 TROY JAMES ROBERTS 25 By his Patent Attorneys, SCOLLISON CO.