EP0318408B1 - Net for practising acurate goal shots - Google Patents

Abstract

Training equipment for players practising sports involving the dispatch of a ball or the like into a chosen target, characterised in that it essentially comprises: - at least one target (5, 6), at least partially embodied and comprising on its outer periphery means (14) for anchoring to a fixed frame, preferably consisting of the opening of a conventional goal (1-3), - and at least one return net (11, 12), attached along one or more of its ends to the inner periphery of the said target (5, 6). <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to new equipment intended to facilitate the training of players in all sports, comprising the sending of a ball or the like to a chosen target.

For convenience, reference will be made hereinafter to football, by way of example of such a sport, but it is understood that the invention finds its application in all analogous sports including for example handball, polos, (water polo, polo on grass), and in general all sports using goals of rather large dimensions.

In this context, the invention essentially relates to a means of initiation, improvement and training of footballers in shots on goal.

Until now and traditionally, footballers could only work on the accuracy of their shots on a real target that is to say separately and in the presence of a goalkeeper, which therefore represents a mobilization of means, expensive and restrictive with regard to the possibilities offered to young and / or less fortunate players and even to the clubs to which they belong.

In other sports, however, devices have already been used to facilitate the training of players. This is for example the case in ice hockey, as evidenced by patent CA-A-1227818, which describes a device partially masking the opening of the goal: this device comprises zones cut out at the four corners, even in the center, and allows to exercise the precision of the shooting. It therefore consists of a piece of cross fabric, which can be elastic, and it is attached to the goal posts by straps or belts that it is also possible to provide elastic. However, such a device proves unsuitable for a football goal, insofar as the dimensions of the two types of goal are incommensurate, and that a large piece of synthetic fabric would be inappropriate to return a soccer ball type projectile. In addition, if we practiced other cutouts serving as a target, the device would be difficult to fix on a frame of such dimensions, and would probably lose its qualities, in particular as regards the return of the balls.

This is why, we are led to continue working with a goalkeeper, with the problems mentioned that this induces.

The equipment according to the invention overcomes these drawbacks; it is easy to use and transport, adaptable to an already existing goal or can even be autonomous, that is to say deployable and installable on a playground to be used as needed by several players at the same time.

This equipment is characterized, according to the invention in that it consists of one or more targets comprising on an inner periphery elastic hooking means to one or more return threads, the outer periphery of said targets comprising, in addition, means of attachment to a fixed frame.

As will be seen below, said net itself plays an essential role in the invention, providing a return function for the balloons having missed the targets.

It must therefore either be endowed with elastic properties, or be moored to the fixed frame by means supplementing or supplementing this elasticity.

In the case of a small net, the previous set may be sufficient for the double objective sought.

In the case of a large net, maintaining its tension is no longer possible on a single piece, and the combination according to the invention then comprises a third element, namely,
- A central frame of adjustable width and height, hung at its upper part on the horizontal bar of the goal, and along its vertical sides at the other end of said net. The most important function of this adjustable frame is to allow, by its adjustment, to ensure a sufficient tensioning of the net. A subsidiary function is to facilitate the passage of the player from one side to the other of the net.

In practice, the material according to the invention comprises targets of geometric shape, for example square or rectangular, the dimensions of which can be adjusted according to the needs of the players. These targets are preferably hollow, constituting windows in which the players endeavor to place the balls, which are then recovered in the goal net. They can each be in one piece, vertical or subdivided into several floors. A fraction of the perimeter of a target can be made up of a certain length of the hanging frame.

According to a variant, particularly of interest in the case where the equipment according to the invention is autonomous, that is to say must be installed on a play area which does not itself include goals, these targets can be full and equipped with an electrical contact system, the hit to the goal being signaled by indicator lights and / or sound.

Whether the mooring of these targets is done on the window of a traditional goal, or on an autonomous frame, this mooring is ensured preferably by hooks or hooks of vertical attachment, provided with sleeves or buffers elastomers of cushioning, and by horizontal attachment straps, contributing to both the strength and flexibility of the mooring.

In the case of an elastic net, it is constituted by one or more extendable horizontal bands, which can be kept under tension thanks to the adjustable central frame as indicated below. These bands are attached at their horizontal ends to the vertical sides of the aforementioned targets and possibly to the vertical sides of the central adjustment frame, by means of elastic elements, such as springs, rubber cords, such as those designated by "bungees". and the like.

In the case of a net formed of non-elastic and even rigid threads, these hooking means become essential to ensure the essential elasticity of the return system.

It is clear that, in this construction, the more the surfaces of the targets are reduced, the more the surface of the central frame must possibly be increased so that the stretch bands are always in the tension position for returning the balloons who will have struck them, and conversely the more the target surfaces are increased, the more we can decrease the surface of the central frame, possibly to the point of eliminating it, so that the stretch bands are always in the tension position for returning the balloons that hit them. In this regard, said net fulfills the role of guardian.

Finally, the central frame, when there is one, preferably consists of two halves, each adjustable in height, and fitting horizontally so as to be also adjustable in width as has just been said.

In a first practical embodiment, the equipment according to the invention therefore consists of this central frame, to which are hung on each side the extensible deflection nets and the targets, the assembly therefore being deployable so as to moor on a already existing goal, whose net is used to recover the balls on goal.

According to a second variant, the same material can be fixed to a transportable frame, used for autonomous use which does not require the existence of a goal. In this case, it will be advantageous to provide the anchoring in the ground of the vertical uprights of the central frame. However, this additional frame can be used for hanging on to the goal frame.

• ― la figure 1 est une vue de face d'un premier mode de réalisation d'un matériel selon l'invention, sans cadre additionnel, amarré à un but déjà existant,
• ― les figures 1a et 1b sont des demi-vues analogues, les cibles ayant une constitution différente dans laquelle une fraction seulement de leur périmètre est matérialisée,
• ― la figure 2 est une vue de côté du même accessoire, mais comportant un cadre additionnel,
• ― la figure 3 représente la constitution d'une cible réglable et,
• ― la figure 4 représente une cible multiple non réglable

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of a material according to the invention, without additional frame, moored to an already existing purpose,
• FIGS. 1a and 1b are similar half-views, the targets having a different constitution in which only a fraction of their perimeter is materialized,
• FIG. 2 is a side view of the same accessory, but comprising an additional frame,
• FIG. 3 represents the constitution of an adjustable target and,
• - Figure 4 shows a non-adjustable multiple target

If we refer first to Figure 1 we see that, in this embodiment, the equipment according to the invention consists on the one hand, of a symmetrical pair of lateral targets 5 and 6, which , in the case presented, each consist of a set of three superimposed targets 7-8-9, as best seen in Figure 4. These targets are made of aluminum tube of steel or the like or of material plastic; on the other hand, an adjustable central rectangle 10, used for hanging a first end of elastic horizontal bands 11a, 11b, 11c, and 12a, 12b, 12c, the other ends of the same bands being hooked to the sides internal verticals of targets 5 and 6. The strips 11 and 12 can be in one piece and cut according to the forms targets. This attachment can be done, on each side of the strips 11 and 13, on the targets and the central frame, by means of hooks 13, preferably elastic. The targets 5 and 6 are themselves equipped, on their outer periphery, with hooks 14 and 14 ′, intended for mooring all the equipment on the sides, horizontal 2, and vertical 3 and 4 with a goal 1.

Removable cords 15 serve to connect the horizontal bands 11 and 12 together.

In the enlarged side view of FIG. 2, the targets 7-8-9 are hooked by the sticks 14-14 ′, no longer directly on the sides 2 and 3 of goal 1, but on an additional frame designated by 30. - even moored by straps 31 to the uprights 3 of goal 1.

To allow more sophisticated use of the system, the targets 5 and 6 can be adjustable in width for example, FIG. 3 shows a target such as 7, adjustable in width. To this end, it consists of two tubular half-frames 19-20, sliding one inside the other, and which can be locked in one or the other of four positions by pins passing through corresponding holes 21 of the half frames. The elasticity of the net strips 11 and 12 ensures that in all re-alignments, the ball having not reached its target will be returned to the playing area.

Similarly, the elements of the central frame 10 are adjustable in width, to ensure the tension of the entire system. They can also be adjustable in the same way in height, in particular in the case where the lower ends of the vertical uprights of said frame must be sunk into the ground.

To ensure both the solidity of the anchoring by the hooks 14 and the absorption of the impacts of the bullets on the sides of straps, said hooks 14 can be tightened by means of straps, and said hooks as well as said sides can comprise damping elements made of elastomeric material.

Finally, Figures 1a and 1b allow us to understand how a portion of the perimeter of the targets can be formed by the attachment frame itself.

In FIG. 1a, the small net is delimited on its left vertical side 30 by a vertical tubular upright 31, hooked to the horizontal crosspiece 2 by a stick 32 and to the vertical upright 3 by adjustable straps 33.

We can therefore consider that in this case, the target is materialized by the rectangle 2-3-31-sol. This materialization can moreover be modulated by a different form, illustrated by the broken line 34, of the tubular upright 31.

In FIG. 1b, the right vertical side of the net is broken down into two zones 30a and 30a ′ coming to hang on tubular uprights 31a and 31a ′ and a zone 30b coming to hang directly on the vertical upright 4 of the goal. The upright 31a is hooked by a stick 32 to the cross member 2. The upright 31a ′ stops above the ground like the upright 31. At the opposite ends, the vertical uprights 31a and 31a ′ stops above the ground like the upright 31. At the opposite ends, the vertical uprights 31a and 31a ′ are fixed to hooking brackets 33a and 33a ′ of adjustable lengths playing the same role as the straps 33.

In this version, the targets are therefore materialized respectively by the rectangle 2-4-33a-31a and by the rectangle 31a′-33a′-4-sol.

Note that in these last two versions, the top of the net is located in front of the horizontal crosspiece 2 of the goal. This also applies to the version of Figure 1.

In the case of autonomous equipment, the entire system is directly attached to a frame similar to 30, preferably adjustable, having the same dimensions as goal 1, and intended to be fixed to the ground by any suitable means.

Claims (7)

1. Practising material for players active in sports, including throwing or shooting a ball into a target placed in front of a conventional goal, characterized in that it is composed of one or a plurality of targets (5-9) comprising on their inner circumference elastic appending means (13) for one or several returning nets (11, 12) which may be linked to a central frame (10), the outer circumference of said targets additionally comprising appending means (14) for a fixed frame.

2. The practising material according to claim 1, characterized in that the central frame (10) is adjustable in width and in height, and in that it can be appended at its upper region to the horizontal beam (2) of a goal.

3. The practising material according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the dimensions and/or the shape of the targets (5-9) are equally adjustable.

4. The paractising material according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the various elements of the combination are interhooked by rigid components and by elastic components (13), such as elastic cords or adjustable belts.

5. The practising material according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arrangment is attached to the frame by rigid components, such as cross arms.

6. The practising material according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at its circumference it is appended to an additional frame which itself is optionally adjustable and serves either for appending the arrangement to an existing goal or for being independently placed or anchored on the ground.

7. The practising material according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that over part of their circumference the targets are confined by portions, cross arms and supports of the goal in front of which the net is placed.

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