EP0561070A1

EP0561070A1 - Tennis trainer apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP0561070A1
Application number: EP92302378A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ernst Walter Hellriegel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-03-19
Filing date: 1992-03-19
Publication date: 1993-09-22

Abstract

An apparatus (200) for use in the training of an overhead service in tennis comprises a circular indicating means (201) for a target base area (202), feet placement positioning means (204) and an elongate connecting member (206). The positioning means (204) comprises two base plates (220,222) interconnected by a strip (224). The first base plate (220) comprises one indication (226) for the left foot and the second base plate (222) a plurality of indications (228) for the right foot. The distance (249) taken along the connecting member (206) is adjustable. An elastic cord (256) joins a tennis ball (258) to the first plate (220). In everyday use the player will place his feet on the two baseplates (220,222) and will toss the ball high, and then to hit it with the rackett at mid air point called "target point". The target point will be normally located inside an ideal vertical cylinder having for base the "target base" (202).

Description

This invention relates to a tennis training apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus for use in the training of the overhead service in tennis.
Those acquainted with the game will appreciate that the service in tennis is of the utmost importance, firstly for a casual player who intends having an enjoyable game of tennis and secondly, more importantly, for a more serious player who intends wining. Tossing the tennis ball and feet placement are essential for a good service. As the toss is the most important part of the service, it follows that if a player can obtain and maintain consistency in the toss, a higher percentage of first services will go into the service court.
The starting point of this invention is that an optimum toss height and position exists. For a right handed player this height and position can be visualized as contained in an imaginary cylinder of space out to his right in front. Furthermore this optimum height and position define the ideal point where a racket, on the stroke during serving, should connect the tennis ball. This ideal point will be called the target, while the target base area is the base of the imaginary cylinder, this base necessarily being on the ground. Consistency in the toss implies that a tennis ball should each time be tossed to the target. Should the tennis ball be allowed to drop from the target it will land in the target base. Mainly three aspects are of relevance to the service, namely, the player's grip of the racket, his shoulders and the toss. Any deviation from the target will cause the player to compensate for the bad toss. When the right handed player, for example, tosses the ball too far to his left, his shoulders open too soon resulting in an incorrect angle. Consequently, a continental serving grip, which is considered as the correct serving grip, becomes a semi-western grip in order to get the tennis ball in the service court. Such a toss impairs the serving power due to the shoulders and body weight pulling away instead of going through the target. As for the toss, optimum feet placement is essential, said placement giving a good indication of the flight path of the tennis ball having been served. A need thus exists for an apparatus designed to give a better understanding of the toss and feet placement.
The applicant is not aware of prior art which attempts to solve the problems involved with tossing of the tennis ball and feet placement when an initial stance is taken.
The solution of these problems in accordance with the present invention is to provide an apparatus for use in the training of a tennis service, characterized in that it comprises:-

an indicating means for indicating a target base area; and
a positioning means for feet placement.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a connecting member for inter-connecting the indicating and positioning means.
Preferably, the toss target base area indicating means are ring shaped. In this context, it will be appreciated that any suitable circular means will suffice to indicate the target base area. Conveniently, the target base area has a diameter of approximately 355 mm (14 inches); the diameter may lie between 150 mm and 500 mm. Preferably,the target base area indicating means are provided with anchoring means for anchoring the indicating means to the ground. Conveniently, these anchoring means comprise one or more protrusions, e.g. like a spike and/or a peg.
In a preferred embodiment the positioning means preferably comprise an elongate member and means for feet placement connectable to one side of the elongate member at suitable angles thereto. Preferably, the means for feet placement comprise one or more pairs of foot members. Preferably, the elongate member comprises holes for connecting the elongate member and the means for feet placement. Conveniently, the members of a pair of foot members are in use spaced apart along the elongate member so that a foot may be placed in between the two foot members of the pair. Still more conveniently, the pairs of foot members are spaced apart along the elongate member. The pairs so spaced will allow a tennis player to take a suitable stance while the service is trained. As the foot members are connectable to the elongate member, said stance may be varied to the liking of the tennis player. As an alternative to the one or more pairs of foot members, a suitable base plate or base plates, being a platform(s) on to which a foot or the feet may be placed, may be employed.
Preferably, the elongate member comprises means for weighing it down to the ground. Preferably, the elongate member is fillable with sand or water to weigh it down to the ground.
The elongate member may be provided with anchoring means for anchoring it to the ground. These anchoring means may comprise one or more protrusions such as a spike and/or a peg. The applicant has found that an elongate member having a length of approximately 787 mm (31 inches) will suffice. Members between 500 mm and 1000 mm will be convenient.
In an alternative embodiment the positioning means comprise a base plate including an indication for the one foot and a plurality of indications for the other foot.
In a further alternative embodiment, the positioning means comprise two base plates for feet placement a first base plate including an indication for the one foot and a second base plate including a plurality of indications for the other foot.
The base plate of the positioning means of the alternative embodiment or the first base plate and/or the second base plate of the positioning means of the further alternative embodiment may comprise connecting member indicating means for placement of the connecting member.
Preferably, the base plates of the alternative embodiment and the further alternative embodiment each comprises an obverse side and a reverse side each of these sides including an indication for feet placement.
The obverse side may include the indications for feet placement for a right-handed service and the reverse side may include the indications for feet placement for a left-handed service.
In an embodiment of each of the alternative and further alternative embodiments the indications on the obverse side may be for feet placement for a service into a right service court and the indications on the reverse side may be for feet placement for a service into a left service court for ambidextrous players.
In another embodiment of each of the alternative embodiments the indications on the obverse side may be for feet placement for a service into a left service court and the indications on the reverse side for feet placement for a service into a right service court.
Preferably, the indications are printed on to the base plates. Still more preferably, the indications are printed on to the base plates by means of silk-screen printing. Alternatively, the indications may be painted or pasted on to or etched into the base plates.
The base plates may be made by an injection moulding process.
Preferably, the base plates are made of a plastics material. Still more preferably, the base plates are made of polypropylene.
Preferably, the distance taken along the connecting member between the indicating means and the positioning means can be adjusted. Still more preferably, any one or both of the indicating means and the positioning means is/are slidably connected to the connecting member.
Preferably, the connecting member is pivotally connected to any one or both of the indicating means and the positioning means. These connections allow the indicating and positioning means to be movable relatively to each other, thus allowing adjustment of the indicating means to both sides of the positioning means to accommodate both left handed and right handed players.
The connecting member and the indicating means may be clippable to each other. Further, the connecting member and the positioning means may be clippable to each other.
Preferably, the connection connecting the positioning means to the connecting member is provided with fastening means to prevent the connecting member from moving around during serving.
The apparatus may further comprise joining means for joining a tennis ball to any one of the indicating means, the connecting member and the positioning means.
Preferably, the joining means are an elastic cord. In one embodiment of the invention, this cord is adjustable to the optimum toss height. Should the tennis ball be tossed too high it will merely return towards the ground through the target, thus allowing the tennis player to strike the ball when at the target. In another embodiment of the invention, the cord is adjustable in such a way to allow the tennis ball to be served into the service court and to return the ball to the player.
The apparatus may comprise a net for stopping the tennis ball served into it.
The indicating means may be removably connected to the connecting member. Preferably, the connection means when engaged are flush with or below the top surface of the indicating means.
The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a tennis training apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;
Figure 1A shows a plan view of an alternative positioning means of the apparatus as shown in Figure 1;
Figure 2 shows a plan view of the tennis training apparatus shown in Figure 1, and a tennis court, the apparatus being in a recommendable position for a right hand tennis player.
Figure 3 shows a plan view of an alternative tennis training apparatus in accordance with the invention;
Figure 4 shows a plan view of a further alternative tennis training apparatus in accordance with the invention;
Figure 5 shows a partial view of the positioning means of the tennis training apparatus shown in Figure 4;
Figure 6 shows a view of a first plate of the positioning means as shown in Figure 5 as well as an connecting member;
Figure 7 shows a section taken along line VII - VII in Figure 6;
Figure 8 shows a plan view of one half of an indicating means which forms part of the further alternative embodiment, and the one end of the connecting member shown in Figure 6; and
Figure 9 shows a side view of the indicating means shown in Figure 8.

In the drawings reference numeral 10 generally indicates a tennis training apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The tennis training apparatus 10 comprises an indicating means 12 for indicating a target base area 14, a positioning means 16 for correct feet placement, a connecting member 18 for inter-connecting the indicating means 12 and the positioning means 16 and joining means 20.1; 20.2 for joining a tennis ball 22.1; 22.2 to the indicating means 12.
The indicating means 12 for indicating the target base area 14, is ring shaped, the ring 12 having a diameter of 355 mm (14 inches). The ring 12 is manufactured from a pipe with its ends 24 welded to each other. Spikes (not shown) are provided on the ring's surface which faces the surface of the tennis court 26. In this way the ring 12 is anchored to the surface of the tennis court 26. It will be appreciated that the configuration of these spikes may vary due to the type of surface on to which the apparatus 10 is to be placed.
The positioning means 16 comprises feet placement means 27 including an elongate member 28 and two pairs of foot members 30; 32. The foot members 30.1; 30.2; 32.1; 32.2 are connected to the elongate member 28 by snugly fitting each of these foot members 30.1; 30.2; 32.1; 32.2 into holes 34.1; 34.2; 34.3; 34.4 respectively which are drilled into one side of the elongate member 28. The holes 34.3; 34.4 are drilled at angles so that the foot members 32.1; 32.2; when fitted into the holes are substantially parallel to a base line 36 of the tennis court 26 when the apparatus 10 is in use. The corresponding holes (shown in dotted lines) are drilled into the opposite side of the elongate member 28, when the apparatus 10 is used by a left hand player. The foot members 30.1; 30.2; of the pair 30 are spaced apart at a distance 38 along the elongate member 28 as are the foot members 32.1; 32.2 of the pair 32 so that a foot may be placed in the space 40. To provide a suitable stance while training the service, the pairs of foot members 30, 32 are spaced apart at a distance 42 along the elongate member 28.
As an alternative to the foot members 30; 32 base plates 43.1; 43.2 as shown in Figure 1A may be employed.
The elongate member 28 is a pipe filled with sand (not shown) to weigh it down to the surface of the tennis court 26.
The connecting member 18 inter-connecting the ring 12 and the elongate member 28 is connected thereto with pivots 44, 46. The ring 12 and elongate member 28 are thus movable relatively to each other. Adjustment of the ring 12 to both sides of the elongate member 28 is thus possible. The pivot 46 which connects the ring 12 and connecting member 18 is removable thus allowing the ring 12 to be disconnected from the connecting member 18 and to be moved towards or away from the elongate member 28. Having selected the distance 48 between the elongate member 28 and the ring 12, the ring 12 is reconnected to the connecting member 18 by inserting the pivot 46 into a hole 50 drilled into the connecting member 18. The pivot 44 is provided with a fly nut 52 which fastens the connecting member 18 to the elongate member 18.
The tennis ball 22.1 is connected to an elastic cord 20.1 which is connected to a metal strip 54 located in the target area 14. The ends 56 of this metal strip 54 are welded to the ring 12. The cord 20.1 is adjustable to the optimum toss height.
Another cord 20.2 is provided which connects a second tennis ball 22.2 to the metal strip 54. This cord is adjustable in such a way to allow the tennis ball to be served into the service court and to return the ball to the tennis player.
From the above description it will be appreciated that the adjustability of the tennis training apparatus 10 allows it to be used by either right or left handed players even if such a player is quite young.
In use, the tennis training apparatus 10 is placed on to the surface of the tennis court 26 with the ring 12 in front of the base line 36 and the elongate member 28 against or just behind the base line 36. The elongate member 28 is directed towards the centre of the service court 57 and the pair of foot members 32 substantially parallel to the base line 36. The end of the elongate member 28 which is provided with the fly nut 52 may be placed against the base line 36.
Subsequently, the distance 42 between the foot members 30.2 and 32.1 of the two pairs of foot members 30; 32 is set for an initial stance. The distance 38 between the members 30.1; 30.2 of the pair 30 and the distance 38 between the members 32.1; 32.2 of the pair 32 are also set to accommodate the tennis player's feet. Subsequently the distance 48 along the connecting member 18 is set by removing the pivot 46, moving the ring 12 towards or away from the elongate member 28 and inserting the pivot 46 into the required hole 50. The applicant has found an initial distance of 254 mm (12 inches) appropriate. The distance 58 between the end of the elongate member 28 which is provided with the fly nut 52 and a line projected from the point 60 to which the elastic cord 20.1; 20.2 is connected, is set by unfastening the fly nut 52 and then adjusting the connecting member 18 and ring 12 in the required direction as indicated by the arrows A - A. The fly nut 52 is then fastened. The applicant has found this distance 58 to vary from 203 to 304 mm (8 to 12 inches). The tennis player, having taken his initial stance and trained a few services, may adjust the tennis training apparatus 10 as required.
Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the tennis training apparatus which is generally indicated by the reference numeral 100. The tennis training apparatus 100 comprises an indicating means 102 for indicating a target base area 104, a positioning means 106 for correct feet placement, a connecting member 108 for inter-connecting the indicating means 102 and the positioning means 106 and joining means 110 for joining a tennis ball 112 to the indicating means 102.
The indicating means 102 is circular and is removably and slidably connected to the connecting member 108 via a connection means 114 and a slot 115 in the indicating means 102. This arrangement allows the indicating means 102 to be adjustable towards and away from the positioning means 106. Accordingly, the distance 116 between the indicating means 102 and the positioning means 106 can be adjusted as required. When engaged, the connection means 114 are flush with the top surface of the indicating means 102 to prevent odd bounces by the tennis ball 112 when it strikes the target base area 104.
The positioning means 106 comprise a rectangular base plate 118 on which a tennis player can stand. The base plate 118 comprises indications 120 for feet placement. More particularly, the base plate 118 comprises an indication 122 for the one foot and a plurality of indications 124 for the other foot. The indications 120 are silk-screen printed on to or etched into the base plate 118.
The connecting member 108 is elongate and pivotally connected via a pivot 125 to one corner 123 of the base plate 118 as shown in figure 3. That corner 123 is provided with connecting member indicating means 125a for placement of the connecting member 108. The connecting member indicating means 124 allow the tennis player to be trained a specific tennis service. To train a standard flat service the connecting member 108 is pivoted such that its one end 125b fits within the outline 126 provided on the base plate 118. To train a spin service, outline 128 is employed. For a slice service, the outline 130 is employed. In order to train a kick service, the connecting member 108 is connected via a pivot 131 to the base plate 118 at the corner 132 such that the end 125b fits within the outline 134.
In use, the tennis training apparatus 100 is placed on to the surface of the tennis court 26 with the indicating means 102 in front of the base line 36. The corner 122 is placed against or just behind the base line 36 with the edge 136 of the base plate 118 directed towards the centre of the service court 57.
Subsequently, depending on which tennis service is to be trained, the end 125b of the connecting member 108 is fitted within the appropriate outline 126, 128, 130, 134.
Then the tennis player places his one foot, e.g. his left foot, on to the indication 122 and his other foot, i.e. his right foot, onto any one of the indications 124. Having taken this initial stance and trained one or more services, he may adjust the position of his right foot as required, as well as the distance 116 between the indicating means 102 and the base plate 118.
Figures 4 to 9 show views of components of a tennis training apparatus 200 of a further alternative embodiment. The tennis training apparatus 200 of this embodiment comprises an indicating means 201 for indicating a target base area 202, a positioning means 204 for correct feet placement and an elongate connecting member 206 for inter-connecting the indicating means 201 and the positioning means 204.
The indicating means 201 comprises two moulded circular plates, i.e. a top plate 201.1 and a bottom plate 201.2. The two plates 201.1,201.2 are glued to each other. Each of the top plate 201.1 and the bottom plate 201.2 has a groove 208 which forms a central passage 210 inside the indicating means 201 when the two plates 201.1,201.2 are glued together. The passage 210 is in communication with the environment via an opening 212. Further, a metal spring 214 is provided adjacent the periphery 216 and on the inside of the indicating means 201 with a curved portion 218 of the spring 212 extending into the passage 210.
The positioning means 204 comprise two base plates for feet placement, i.e. a first base plate 220 for the one foot and a second base plate 222 for the other foot. The first base plate 220 and second base plate 222 are inter-connected by a strip 224. The first base plate 220 comprises an indication 226, for the placing of the one foot and the second base plate 222 comprises a plurality of indications 228 for the placing of the other foot. The indications 226,228 are silk-screen printed on to or etched into the first and second base plates 220,222. As shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6 a corner 230 of the first base plate 220 comprises connection means 232 for connecting the connecting member 206 to the first base plate 220. The connection means 232 has a passage 234 which extends from the indication 226 to the corner 230 where the passage 234 is in communication with the environment via an opening 236. The top wall 238 and bottom wall 240 as shown in Figure 7 of the passage 234 each comprises a plurality of linearly spaced apart protrusions 242. Figure 6 further shows that the passage 234 is in communication with the environment via the apertures 244 in the top wall 238.
The indicating means 201 and the first base plate 220 are inter-connected by the connecting member 206 of which a first end 246 and a second end 248 are slidingly clippable into the indicating means 201 and the first base plate 220 respectively. It will thus be appreciated that the distance 249 between the indicating means 201 and the first base plate 220 can be varied as required. Figure 6 shows that the second end 248 comprises a plurality of linearly spaced apart dimples 250 at least one of which, in use, co-acts with at least one of the protrusions 242 inside the passage 234 of the connection means 232. Figure 6 further shows that the first end 246 has a plurality of curved recesses 252 in and along one edge 254 of the connecting member 206. The curved portion 218 of the spring 214, in use, co-acts with one of the recesses 252.
Figure 4 shows that the apparatus 200 also comprises joining means 256 for joining a tennis ball 258 to the first base plate 220.
In use, the indicating means 201 and the first base plate 220 are inter-connected by clipping the first end 246 of the connecting member 206 into the passage 210 of the indicating means 200 via the opening 212 and by clipping the second end 248 of the connecting member 206 via the opening 236 into the passage 234 of the connection means 232 of the first base plate 220. This arrangement will then constitute the tennis training apparatus 200 of the further alternative embodiment. This apparatus 200 is then placed on to the surface of the tennis court 26 with the indicating means 201 in front of the base line 36. The corner 230 is placed against or just behind the base line 36 with the edges 254 of the first base plate 220 and the second base plate 222 directed towards the centre of the service court 57.
Subsequently, the tennis player places his one foot, e.g. his left foot, on to the indication 226 of the first base plate 220 and his other foot, i.e. his right foot, onto any one of the indications 228 of the second base plate 222. Having taken this initial stance and trained one or more services, he may adjust the position of his right foot as required, as well as the distance 249 between the indicating means 201 and the first base plate 220.
For the alternative embodiment 100 the base plate 118 and for the further alternative embodiment 200 the first base plate 220 and the second base plate 222, are constructed such that each of the plates 118,220,222 may be used with its obverse side 258 or flipped over to be used with its reverse side. For example, the obverse side 258 may include the indications for feet placement for a right-handed service and the reverse side may include the indications for feet placement for a left-handed service.
In an embodiment of each of the alternative and further alternative embodiments the indications on the obverse side 258 may be for feet placement for a service into a right service court and the indications on the reverse side may be for feet placement for a service into a left service court for ambidextrous players.
In another embodiment of each of the alternative embodiments the indications on the obverse side 258 may be for feet placement for a service into a left service court and the indications on the reverse side for feet placement for a service into a right service court.
With any of the embodiments described above a net 260 may be employed, the size of which may vary depending on the skill of the tennis player and the distance the net 260 is to be placed from the tennis player. Tennis balls served can be stopped by the net 260 and the net 260 may be used for tennis ball retrieval and in preventing a tennis ball connected by an elastic card from returning too rapidly to the tennis player.
It will be appreciated that the joining means 110; 256 of both of the alternative embodiment 100 and the further alternative embodiment 200 as described above may comprise elastic cords similar to the cords 20.1,20.2 of the preferred embodiment.

Claims

An apparatus (10;100;200) for use in the training of a tennis service characterized in that it comprises:
- an indicating means (12;102;201) for indicating a target base area (14; 104;202); and

- a positioning means (16;106;204) for feet placement.
An apparatus (10; 100;200) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a connecting member (18:108;206) for interconnecting the indicating means (12;102;201) and the positioning means (16;106;204).
An apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the positioning means (16) comprises an elongate member (28) and feet placement means (27) which feet placement means (27) are connectable to one side of the elongate member (28) the feet placement means (27) selected from one of:-
- one or more pairs of foot members (30,32) with the two foot members (30. 1;30;2;32. 1;32.2) of a pair (30,32) in use being spaced apart at a distance (38) along the elongate member (28) so that a foot may be placed in between the two foot members (30.1;30.2;32.1;32.2) of the pair (30;32); and

- one or more base plates 43.1;43.2 on to which a foot or the feet may be placed.
An apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the positioning means (106) comprise a base plate (118) for feet placement including an indication (122) for the one foot and a plurality of indications (124) for the other foot.
An apparatus (200) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the positioning means (204) comprise two base plates for feet placement, a first base plate (220) including an indication (226) for the one foot and a second base plate (222) including a plurality of indications (228) for the other foot.
An apparatus (100;200) as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that the base plates (118;220;222) each comprises an obverse side (258) and a reverse side each of these sides including an indication/plurality of indications (122;124;226;228) for feet placement.
An apparatus (10; 100;200) as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the distance (48;116;249) taken along the connecting member (18;108;206) between the indicating means (12; 102;201) and the positioning means (16; 106;204) can be adjusted.
An apparatus (10; 100;200) as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that any one or both of the indicating means (12;102;201) and the positioning means (16;106;204) is/are slidably connected to the connecting member (18; 108;206).
An apparatus (10;100;200) as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the connecting member (18; 108;206) is pivotally connected to any one or both of the indicating means (12;102;201) and the positioning means (16;106;204).
An apparatus (10;100;200) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it further comprises joining means (20.1 ;20.2; 1 12;258) for joining a tennis ball (22.1;22.2;112;256) to any one of the indicating means (12;102;201), the connecting member (18;108;206) and the positioning means (16;106;204).