CA2373866A1

CA2373866A1 - Goaltender training device

Info

Publication number: CA2373866A1
Application number: CA002373866A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Bart Tompsett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-02-28
Filing date: 2002-02-28
Publication date: 2003-08-28

Abstract

A training device for goaltenders is provided having a frame positioned a predetermined distance in front of a goal net. The frame has a base to maintain it in an upright position and plurality of elastic members extending across the frame providing sections. The device additionally has a ramp to direct pucks through the frame.

Description

GO I.TENDER TRAINING DEVICE
Field Of The Invention The present invention relates to training devices for hockey, in particular such devices used by goalies.
Goaltenders are required to have exceptional hand eye coordination and reflexes in order to face the challenges of deflected shots that they are constantly faced with. In addition, the player shooting the puck is often shielded from the goalie either purposely by players of his own team or inadvertently by players trying to protect the goal. Thus, the goalie must learn to react very quickly to a shot which may change direction en route to the goal. Goalie training usually involves several players passing the puck and taking shots at the net. This requires that the shooting players are capable of varying the types of shots directed at the goalie. A further disadvantage of the traditional way of training a goalie is that the blacking or screening player may be hit by the puck and injured.
Various types of hockey training devices have been developed. United States Patent No. 5,246,229 is directed to a hockey goal, which can be used either for street hockey or ice hockey, that has a net and a silhouette of a goalie mounted in the opening. A floor panel is mounted on the bottom of the frame to help return the ball or puck. This device is geared more towards training the shooters as opposed to the goalie.
United States Patent No. 5,634,640 is directed to a sports target, particularly a target of hockey practice which comprises a resiliently stretchable cord on which can be hung a flexible target. Typically, the cord is stretched between the side of a hockey net and a player tries to shoot at the target.
Canadian patent application 2,024,294 to Young discloses a goalie screened shot training device. The device comprises a support frame and a screen that is adjustable on the frame to vary the distance of the screen from the ice.
The device is only useful to for training a goaltender to stop screened shots.
European Patent Application No. 0 985 432 is directed to a device for use in a goal, particularly a soccer goal. The device functions to occlude certain areas of the goal while leaving those areas which are more difficult for a goalkeeper to reach unoccluded. The purpose is to train players to shoot into the unoccluded areas.
Canadian Patent No. 2,189,707 is directed to a goalie training apparatus especially designed to exercise the leg muscles and practise angles important for goal-tending is formed with a slide board having an upper glide surface.
The slide board allows the goalie to practice side-to-side or front-to-back motions as well as coming out and cutting down angles.
It is desirable to have a device that is effective for training a goaltender to stop deflected shots. It is also desirable to have a goaltender training device that has multiple uses to reduce the amount of equipment that must be purchased and stored.
It is therefore an object of an aspect of the present invention to provide a novel goaltender training device to obviate or mitigate the above disadvantages.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a training device for goaltenders comprising a frame positioned a predetermined distance in front of a goal net. The frame has a base to maintain it in an upright position and a plurality of elastic members extending across the frame providing sections.
Preferably, the elastic members of the training device exert a deflecting force on a puck that impacts one of said elastic members The present invention provides advantages in that one device can be used to train a goaltender to stop deflected shots and screened shots.
Additionally, the configuration of the elastic cord can be changed to offer a wide variety of deflected shots.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a training aid device in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a front elevational view of a part of the training aid device of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the training aid device of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a schematic of a front view of another embodiment of a training aid in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 5 is a schematic of a front view of yet another embodiment of a training aid in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 6 is a front elevational view of still another embodiment of a 1 S training aid in accordance with the present invention.
Referring now to Figure 1, a training aid device is generally shown at 10. The training device 10 is positioned in front of a goaltender and pucks (not shown) are fired through the training device 10 at a standard goal net 8. The training device 10 is typically positioned a few feet in front of the goal net however this distance may be adjusted depending on the skill or experience of the goaltender.
The training device 10 comprises a deflection assembly 12 and a ramp 14. The deflection assembly 12 includes a frame 16 that is mounted on a base 18.
The frame 16 is constructed of any suitable material, such as metal bars welded at the four corners. Alternatively, the frame 16 can be constructed of wood. The frame 16 is approximately the same size as a goal net (not shown) however, it can be smaller or larger.
The base 18 comprises two feet 21 that are located at the lower corners of the frame 16 and are secured to the frame by bolts 19. The feet 21 are oriented generally perpendicular to the frame 16 so that impact from pucks (not shown) does not cause the frame to fall over. In one embodiment, the feet 21 are angled to deflect pucks that are shot along the ice.
The frame has a plurality of hooks 22 that are mounted on the inner surface of the frame 16 at regular intervals. Each hook 22 is used for connecting an end of an elastic cord 20 to the frame 16.
The frame 16 is divided into a several sections by a plurality of elastic cords 20 having ends that are adapted for mounting on hooks 22. Bungee cords are preferred. The elastic cords 20 are stretched between the hooks 22 to create a grid-type configuration as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The elastic cords 20 are easily removed from the hooks 22 so that alternative embodiments of sections can be provided. Examples of alternate embodiments are shown in Figures 4 and 5.
The elastic cords 20 are stretched so that there is no slack in the cords and a deflecting force is applied to pucks that impact the cords 20.
Therefore, pucks that pass through the frame 16 without hitting the elastic cords 20 continue 15 along their initial trajectory and pucks that hit the elastic cords 20 are deflected.
The ramp 14 is placed in front of the deflection assembly 12 so that the deflection assembly is between the goal net 8 and the ramp 14. The ramp 14 causes pucks that are travelling along the ice to be deflected upwards and thus pass through the deflection assembly 12.
20 In a preferred embodiment, the training device 10 includes a cover 24 that is made of an opaque material, such as canvas. In this embodiment, the ramp 14 is removed and the cover 24 is draped over the deflection assembly 12. The cover 24 provides a screen for the goaltender so that shots on the goal net can not be seen until the puck has passed underneath the cover 24. It is possible to partially drape the cover 24 over the frame 16 so that the amount of screen can be adjusted.
In use, a puck is fired at the goal net from a position on the opposite side of the training device 10 from the goal tender. The shots are generally directed towards the training device 10. Some shots pass between the elastic cords 20 and others hit the elastic cords 20 or the frame 16. The shots that hit the elastic cords 20 or the frame 16 are deflected so that the goaltender must react to the change in trajectory of the puck in a very short time.

Shots that hit the ramp 14 are deflected upwards and similarly hit the elastic cords 20 or the frame 16 and are deflected or pass between the elastic cords 20.
Additionally, pucks that hit the feet 21 are also deflected.
To use the training device in a screening mode, the cover is draped over the frame 16 and the ramp is removed. Pucks are shot along the ice and because of cover 24 can not seen by the goaltender until the pucks have passed the training device 10, thus training the goaltender to react quickly to screened shots.
Although the training aid device has been described in relation to ice hockey it will be appreciated that the device can be used on any relatively smooth surface and is not restricted to being used on ice.
Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described, those of skill in the art will appreciate that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A training device for goaltenders comprising:
a frame having a base to maintain said frame in an upright position;
a plurality of elastic members extending across said frame providing sections.

2. The training device of claim 1 wherein said elastic members exert a deflecting force on a puck that impacts one of said elastic members.

3. The training device of claim 1 wherein the location of said elastic members is adjustable in order to provide alternate sections.

4. The training device of claim 1 further comprising a ramp directed upward toward said frame.

5. The training device of claim 1 further comprising a cover for placing over said frame.