Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B69/00—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports
  • A63B69/0097—Ball rebound walls
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B69/00—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports
  • A63B69/0053—Apparatus generating random stimulus signals for reaction-time training involving a substantial physical effort

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a teaching aid for players of ball games such as tennis and cricket. More particularly the invention relates to a striking surface against which balls may be thrown and retrieved.
• a ballsport training aid comprising a frame and a deflection surface, supported by said frame, against which surface a ball is projected, said surface characterized by a plurality of outwardly extending projections which in use cause non uniform deflections of said ball.
• a ballsport training aid comprising a frame and a deflection surface, supported by said frame, against which surface a ball is projected, said surface characterized by a plurality of substantially planar panels, at least some of which have varying respective orientations.
• a panel for use in the fabrication of a ballsport deflection surface characterized in that the panel has an
• OMPI upper surface and/or a lower surface including outwardly extending projections.
• the invention is also desirable for the invention to be adapted for ready change to provide a multitude of selections of striking surfaces.
• the deflection surface being at least in part comprised of movable panels.
• movable panels Preferably such panels would be removable and have an outward or inward profile.
• Clearly such a panel may take any shape as long as it can be fixed on the surface.
• the deflection surface may comprise a central striking section composed of the aforesaid removable panels and side panels.
• the side panels should be designed to enable a wide angled shot against the surface to be returnable. Typically angled tiles or generally angled surfaces are used.
• the central striking section is supported by a generally rectangular framework and the panels are removably attached to that framework, e.g. by bolts.
• the fixing points may be regularly arranged to enable a panel to be fixed in two alternate attitudes. This has been found particularly the case when the removable panel has a rectangular base.
• Such construction may be affixed with its longitudinal base edges running either horizontally or vertically.
• the removable panels may be of any shape thus allowing the teaching aid to be used with easy reacting panels for beginners, e.g. squat tetrahedrons, and hard reacting panels for proficient players, e.g. tall tetrahedrons. Accordingly the teaching aid would be most useful to clubs as it provides ready adaptability to use by a cross-section of players.
• the stiking surface may be tiltable about a generally horizontal axis. Therefore, in the case of a beginner, the surface is tilted to assist the upward deflection of the ball. As the player becomes more proficient the surface is returned to a vertical attitude.
• a practice aid comprising at least one longitudinal member and a plurality of striking surface support means, at least one of the support means attached to and extending transversely of the member in a first direction and at least one of said support means attached to and extending transversely of the member in a second direction.
• the support means transversely attached to the longitudinal member can rotate about the member.
• the longitudinal member includes at least one elongate member which is disposed to rotate about its longitudinal axis.
• the support means may be fixedly attached to the elongate member (e.g. by welding) thereby permitting the support means to be rotated normally to the member.
• the appar ⁇ atus comprises a base longitudinal member including two elongate tubular sleeves which are disposed generally parallel. A pair of striking surface support means are provided on each side of the base member and are respect ⁇ ively fixedly attached to the elongate tubular sleeves.
• the support means may be of any shape which will facilitate the ultimate presentation of the desired striking surface. Nevertheless it has been found that an arcuate shape is particularly desirable.
• the apparatus in the position desired for batting practice, the apparatus is placed upon the ground adjacent the batting crease.
• the support means are raised so that a concave striking surface is adopted longitudinally of the pitch.
• the bowler then merely needs to bowl a ball so that it strikes the surface, which will give a random deflection thereto, thus presenting unpredictable ball attitudes to the batsman.
• the support means are lowered by rotation of the arms about the longitudinal base and if necessary the base may be raised.
• the base may be raised.
• a pair of opposite concave surfaces can be presented.
• Players are positioned about the apparatus and the ball is thrown at one of the surfaces. Again the possible deflection of the ball is random, for example, it may fly upwardly to an opposite player.
• FIG. 1 is a front view of a deflection surface made according to the invention
• Fig. 2 is a plan view of the striking surface of Fig. 1: -6- Fig. 3 is a front view of an alternate striking surface made according to the invention;
• Fig. 4 is a plan view of the striking surface of Fig. 3; 5 Fig. 5 is a partial view of a side panel portion of a striking surface;
• Fig. 6 is a front view of a further alternate striking surface made according to the invention.
• Fig. 7 is a plan view of the striking surface ° of Fig. 6;
• Fig. 8 is a front view of the striking surface of Fig. 7 incorporated into a larger striking surface
• Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a striking surface component
• Fig. 12 is the underneath perspective view of 0 the component of Fig. 11;
• Fig. 13 is a perspective view of an assembly of components of Fig. 11;
• Fig. 14 is a front view of a striking surface from soccer
• Fig. 15 is a side view of the striking surface of Fig. 14;
• Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a first deflection component
• Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view of second deflection component
• Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional assembly view of a third deflection component
• Fig. 19 is a perspective view of a cricket practice and support in the batting position
• Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the practice aid support of Fig. 19 in the fielding position;
• OMPI Fig. 21 is a collection of views of a desirable striking surface
• Fig. 22 is a perspective view of cricket practice striking surface in the batting position
• Fig. 23 is a perspective view of cricket practice striking surface in the fielding position
• Fig. 24 is a perspective view of cricket practice aid in the fielding position.
• Fig. 25 is a perspective view of cricket practice aid in the batting position.
• a striking surface 1 which is constructed to stand vertically.
• the striking surface comprises two side sections 2 and a central section 3.
• these sections 2 and 3 are mounted upon a framework 4, the side sections 2 being angled away from the plane of central section 3.
• Central section 3 is made up of a plurality of tetrahedral tiles 5 thus presenting to an oncoming ball a variety of possible deflection surfaces.
• Clearly all or any of these tiles 5 may be substituted by tiles of different profile.
• Fig. 3 In contrast to the regular square base of tiles 5 in Fig. 1, in Fig. 3, is illustrated an alternate type of irregular tile.
• the tiles 6 are rectangular based tetrahedrons having a length equal to twice the width.
• side sections 2 as shown illustrate another alternate construction 7 particularly useful in tennis to bring a ball back to the normal hitting position after the player has been forced into a wide angled shot.
• These tiles may be affixed by any means.
• Fig. 3 a regular array of bolting points is shown.
• Fig. 5 another alternative panel 8 for the side panel 2 is shown. This panel 8 facilitates the presentation of a curved surface 9 to an oncoming ball.
• panels 8 may be used as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 to comprise another alternate striking surface 9. This particular shape is thought to be advantageous for basketball and soccer where larger diameter balls are used.
• a complete striking surface comprising a plain deflection surface 10, alternate surfaces 11 and central plain area 12.
• This arrangement incorporates a reward system by reducing the difficulty of ball return if properly directed to the central area 12.
• the actual striking surfaces may be orientated by use of projections 13 behind the tiles 14. Alterna ⁇ tively it is possible as shown in Figures 11, 12 and 13 to assemble a desired surface from component strips 14. Each strip 14 is provided with recesses 15. Thus by using a dowell piece 16 in between adjacent strips 14 it is possible to assemble the entire surface.
• the strip 14 has alternate shapes on respective sides as can be seen by comparing Figures 11 and 12. It is not intended that dowell 13 will securely retain all the strips 14 together.
• strips 14 are provided at their ends with recesses 16 which align and into which a transverse member 17 is placed.
• This member 17 is affixed to the strips 14 by any suitable means, e.g. bolts or nails.
• Member 17 is also provided with apertures 18 by which the entire striking member may be suspended from a fence or the like.
• Figs. 14 and 15 show a striking surface aid which has been designed with soccer in mind.
• the striking surface 19 is supported by legs 20.
• On the surface 19 are a plurality of irregularly shaped deflection members 21.
• the upper edge areas A and central area B are provided with members 21. This is to deliberately indicate the areas at which a soccer play should aim.
• Areas A denote the top areas of a soccer net which are least protected by a goal keeper.
• Figs. 14, 16 and 18 each characterize the 5 construction of the member 21.
• Fig. 14 shows the simplest construction of direct bolting whilst Figs. 16 and 18 depict the use of a spring means 22. It is desirable to incorporate a spring so that the striking surface 19 is not unduly jarred. Further it accentuates 10 the lack of or predicable rebound.
• FIG. 19 an apparatus according to the present invention is depicted which comprises an elongate body member 23 having a plurality of sleeves 24.
• Sleeves 24 are free to rotate about member 23.
• Attached (welded) •15 to sleeves 24 are arms 25 which are movable transversely to the member 23 and sleeves 24.
• Arms 25 are adapted to support a striking surface of the type shown in Figs. 21. 22 and 23.
• a plurality of striking surfaces 26 are used. They may be fixed by bolting or otherwise held in 0 position on arms 25. As such the apparatus is normally placed in front of the batsmen adjacent the crease, with the sleeves 24 generally parallel to the centreline of the pitch.
• Fig. 20 the apparatus of Fig. 19 is shown 5 wherein arms 25 have been rotated. Thus a pair of opposite concave surfaces are presented when the .striking surfaces are attached to arms 25. This is the fielding practice position. The players are randomly spaced about the apparatus and practice begins by one player throwing 0 the ball against one of the concave surfaces. Irregular deflection occurs.
• Figs. 22 and 23 depict another means of fabricating the striking surfaces. Again the same system as disclosed in Fig. 13 is used however the result is 5 a concave or convex surface. Further a joining member 27 is utilized. These surfaces are particularly useful for use with the apparatus of Figs. 19 and 20. Clearly the concave surface would be adapted for use in Fig. 20 whilst the convex surface is used with Fig. 19. As a further alternative these surfaces can be suspended to substantially vertical. In Figs. 24 and 25 an alternative arrangement of the apparatus of Figs. 19 and 20 is given. A framework 28 is provided at each end of the striking surface 29. An intermediate framework 30 is attached to each of the striking surfaces 29.
• FIG. 25 The alternate arrangement of the apparatus is shown in Fig. 25.
• the intermediate framework 29 is lowered and attached to the framework 28. This action causes the outer edges 33 of the striking surfaces 29 to rise thus forming a concave surface.
• This arrangement is particularly useful for cricket batting practice where it is placed or recessed just in front of the batsman.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
• Toys (AREA)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

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Citations (4)

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• 1983
  • 1983-06-29 DE DE8383901889T patent/DE3374661D1/de not_active Expired
  • 1983-06-29 WO PCT/AU1983/000085 patent/WO1984000497A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1983-06-29 EP EP83901889A patent/EP0115490B1/de not_active Expired

Patent Citations (4)

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