FR2575076A1 - DEVICE FOR DRIVING FLEXIBLE BALL GAMES, IN PARTICULAR TENNIS - Google Patents

Abstract

THE DEVICE ALLOWS ONE OR MORE PLAYERS TO PRACTICE TO HIT SOFT BALLS WHICH ARE RETURNED BY BOUNCE OR BY ONE OR MORE AUTOMATIC MECHANICAL MEANS. THE DEVICE INCLUDES: -A RIGID REBOUNDING "WALL" OR IN FABRIC OR SYNTHETIC NET, LITTLE OR NOT EXTENDABLE11; -A KINETIC "ENERGY ABSORPTION WALL" IN SUSPENDED FABRIC OR SYNTHETIC NETWORK13; BALLS, WITH ONE OR MORE RAMPS FOR GUIDING THE BALLS TOWARDS ONE OR MORE DEVICES17 BALL THROWERS, INTEGRATED OR NOT IN THE DEVICE.

Description

The present invention relates to a training device for games of

  soft balls, especially tennis.

  This device is for beginners or advanced players.

  It can be used on any flat and horizontal surface, natural or artificial. With additive equipment, it is the basis and support of a new board game and address allowing competition between players,

  with or without challenge, and the creation of challenges.

  This device allows, finally, the progressive rehabilitation of disabled people

physical.

  To date, training materials are characterized by the fact that they offer only two unmatched solutions: or return balls to the player by bouncing on a vertical plane, inclined or concave. These materials are made of masonry

or prefabricated.

  or throw balls towards the player by means of more or less elaborate mechanical apparatus. In this case, the player returns the balls which, at the end of the trajectory, stop on the ground without foreseeable situation

  and that it will therefore pick up one by one.

  In the first case, only the bouncing balls are used which

  limits the performance and possibilities of the system.

  In the second case, these devices are often not used by the clubs or communities that own them because some disadvantages remain: large number of balls needed simultaneously if one wants to maintain a good rate of stroke because each ball is hit only one time

  and returned in a dispersed manner.

  significant time lost because the collection of balls is long, tedious and expensive for the player because each time slot of use of the surface of evolution and / or equipment is most often rented

(clubs, communities, etc ...).

  large area of evolution required because

  have been used must be used on representative surfaces,

  most often, the actual playing conditions.

  In some cases, a hopper system receives the bullets after their

  impact on a net and allows the return of these balls by a mechanical device.

  Picnic. The hopper is neither adjustable nor adaptable. The thrower is

  integrated in the device and placed exclusively in the center. Finally, the bouncing

naturally is not possible.

  The present device, according to the invention, makes it possible to remedy these inconveniences.

  and offers greater possibilities: by the combination of two principles presented by the same material:

  - natural rebound "passive" balls-

  or - automatic mechanical bale return.

  and this depending on the availability of devices to launch.

  At the possible combination of two launching devices that determine cross paths simulating an "opponent" who moves this

  which causes diversified situations for the player.

  10. by using existing or future launching devices on the

  market and not "imposed" by the device.

  through the definition of a new board game and address using

  an optional "motivation target".

  the possibility of sheltering the playing area with a blanket

  of which the device according to the invention forms an integral part, this

  which allows the use "all weather".

  the possibility of using the same principles to define a

  positive of smaller dimension and transformable in order to make it

easily transportable.

  The device according to the invention can be used by clubs, associations,

  communities wishing to allow their members or associates to

  physical activity in order to acquire or improve technical

  so much to progress in the practice of a sport.

  it increases the training and warm-up possibilities especially when the usual surfaces of the game are rented next

  precise schedules and therefore little or not available.

  it allows a teacher who teaches a ball sport to partially free himself while watching his or her students in their gestural attitudes. 30. it allows according to the number of balls used simultaneously, to make

  vary proportionally the pace of play.

  it can be made profitable by a device "coin mechanism" triggering or

  stopping the operation of the launchers.

  The device according to the invention can also be used for

  who wish to devote their leisure time to training and who do not have

  specialized space in their homes, nor sufficiently available partners.

  They avoid investing in the construction of a specialized surface or multiplying the rent of time slots in a club to perform

repetitive gestures.

  In this case, players can use the device in its different

  variants of execution, one or two throwing devices that can be

purchased or rented temporarily.

  These players can also compete against their friends after setting up an additive gear called "motivation target", which determines a

  new board game and address.

  This device, with its variants of construction, finally allows a progressive physical activity of rehabilitation for disabled people

  and can not, most often, access traditional playing surfaces.

  The object of the present invention is to provide a device for training softball games, making it possible to simultaneously use all the means useful to a player, beginner or advanced, to train alone or

with partners.

  The device, according to the invention, is mobile, adjustable, removable, and consists of two distinct parts: a vertical rigid inclinable frame comprising rigid planes or an inextensible or slightly extensible fabric or net constituting a plane of

bouncing balls.

  This frame has at its upper part and over its entire length a horizontal plate for receiving: a fabric or vertical net, suspended without tension, intended to cancel,

  by absorption, the kinetic energy of the balls sent by the player.

  a horizontal lighting system and protected from the trajectories of the balls. - A horizontal rigid hopper receiving bales having completed their trajectory in the fabric or suspended vertical net. This hopper is removable and adjustable in height to adapt to the dimensions of the

or launchers used.

  The role of the vertical frame is fourfold: 30. determine a vertical or inclined rebound plane according to the adjustment of the jacks fixed on the rear legs and allowing the balls to bounce towards the player without intervention of mechanical means. This plane consists of a rigid material. According to a preferred embodiment, it can be used a flexible material such as fabric

  or net that will be stretched between the framework frame by known means.

  support, by the horizontal top plate and at a distance from the bouncing plane, a fabric or net hanging and subject to gravity alone. This fabric or net is intended to absorb energy

  the kinetics of the bullets which strike it, which, by gravity alone,

  bend along the fabric or net to the ground. support a horizontal lighting system allowing the player

  to evolve even in a semi-obscure atmosphere.

  at a height adjustable from the ground, the horizontal hopper

zonal bullets.

  According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the frame can be optionally equipped with a rigid and removable device, telescopic in height and width, making it possible to increase, in considerable proportions, the surface of the

  cloth or net suspended by the placing of a cloth or net additive sus-

  hung above and on both sides of the basic device. In that case,

  two side additive ramps make it possible to extend the hopper and to re-

  group the balls whose impact is on the lateral tissues or threads.

  According to a variant of the invention, the rigid vertical frame can constitute

  kill one of the two portals supporting a light cover, partially or totally removable, translucent or not, to shelter the

  device according to the invention and the player or players. By extension, this provision

  cover provides a sheltered volume that can be used for any

  sports activity or not and in all weather.

  According to an alternative embodiment, the vertical frame can define 2 or 4 non-aligned rebound planes and whose reaction powers are differentiated by the tension of the fabric or net which is not the same on the 2 or 4 planes, which varies the twists and therefore allows the player to have to adapt instantly to balls whose trajectory and power

will be different.

  According to a preferred embodiment variant, the vertical frame can support rigid planes or graphically representative fabrics or nets.

  a target frame intended to develop a "motivation". This target represents

  will visually display a graduation of difficulties to overcome according to the surfaces of the areas delimited by this frame (that the player must touch with aballe) and the position of the latter in order to count points mentally or through any system impact recording

  and score display (depending on the location of the impact).

  The role of the hopper is threefold: to allow the reception and the grouping of the balls which, after impact

  on the fabric or hanging net, fall back to the ground only by

santeur.

  5. absorb the kinetic energy of these bullets when they fall in annul-

  lant all or part of their rebound.

  directing these bales by means of inclined or tilting ramps towards a placed orifice, either at one end of the hopper: either two or in the center of this hopper, so that each bale is "swallowed by

  a mechanical device that will restart it to the player.

  The launching device (s) are placed on the ground or suspended

  under the hopper according to one of the known systems.

  The height adjustment of this hopper, by sliding the 2 or 3 sup-

  ports along the vertical uprights of the frame (and the vertical central support), according to a known system allows the use of any mechanical device to launch soft balls whose function will become, by this device according to

  the invention, to restart the balls that the player has sent, in a first

first time, towards the device.

  According to a variant of the invention, the launcher apparatus fixed by a system

  known at one end of the hopper is uncoupled from that-cio After return-

  of the latter, it is then placed under the hopper and will have a -

  symmetrical position to obtain another "origin" of the trajectories,

  away from the first of the value of a hopper length.

  In the case where no launcher is used, the role of the hopper

  is null and this one is removed from its supports. Only the bouncing plan

  is used after having tilted the hanging fabric or net, without the

  pick up, towards the back of the frame, over the top horizontal plate.

  The height of the frame-hopper varies depending on its length-so

  the ramp (s) are sufficiently inclined to allow guidance

  balls to the hole leading them into the launcher.

  According to one embodiment of the invention, the ramps are made of rigid materials coated with flexible materials such as synthetic foam fabrics, nets, in order to damp the kinetic energy developed by the balls

falling in the hopper.

  According to a variant of the invention, these ramps can be manufactured

  also in soft materials to achieve the same result.

6 2575076

  According to one embodiment of the invention, the ramps can be

  articulated at their junction point to allow their symmetrical inclination

  upward in relation to the articulation tax and can be maintained in this new position by an eclipsable pin. This device makes it possible to align two ramps in the same inclined plane so as not to use

  only one launcher located under the lower part of this ramp.

  According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, an orifice may be practically

  on the bottom of the hopper at the center and at each end to allow

  bales fall into a launcher placed or attached under the hopper instead of being placed outside and in the axis of the hopper. In this case, a known device will obscure the vertical openings at the end of the hopper,

  this device is therefore eclipsable.

  In one embodiment, and in the previous case, an inclined ramp primer will be attached to each end of the hopper to prevent bales from falling directly into a portion of the hopper out of the guide ramps.

of the hopper.

  According to an alternative embodiment, the front of the hopper allows the balls to bounce towards the player. This device consists of a fabric or net

  not extensible or little extensible stretched by a known system on the frame-

the hopper.

  According to a variant of the invention, and in particular in the case of a device

  tif long, a hopper can be used with two or three launchers. In this case, a double set of articulated tilting ramps

  direct the bales to the two or three holes in the bottom of the hopper.

  According to another variant of the invention, several hoppers are juxtaposed to increase the width of use of the device that can be used,

  in this case by several players simultaneously or alternately.

  The accompanying drawings, provided as non-limiting examples, will provide a better understanding of the features of the invention:

  - fig. 1 is an overall perspective view of a device for

  trailing according to the invention in the case of use

"without launching device".

  - fig. 2 is an overall perspective view of the same device with use of a single launching apparatus - FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of the same device

  with use of two launching devices.

  - fig. 4 illustrates a construction variant of the rigid frame.

  - fig. 5 is a view showing the principle of the hopper with aligned articulated ramps and a launcher placed on the ground under

the hopper and left.

  - fig. 6 shows an alternative embodiment with an inclined ramp and

  a launcher suspended under the hopper on the right.

  - fig. 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the hopper with a single inclined fixed ramp and a launcher located on the left and

in the extension of the hopper.

  - fig. 8 illustrates the symmetrical variant with respect to FIG.

  - fig. 9 is a view showing the principle of the hopper with two symmetrical articulated ramps and two launchers placed on the ground

  to the right and to the left of the hopper.

  - fig. 10 illustrates the shape of the left foot of the device according to the invention.

  vention and height adjustment of the hopper supports.

  - fig. It shows in perspective the optional embodiment variant "extension" of the fabric or hanging net adapted to the vertical frame. - fig. 12 illustrates another variant of hopper principle with two fixed ramps and a launcher placed on the ground in the center and under the hopper. - fig. 13 shows a construction detail of the top plate

fixed on the vertical frame.

  - fig. 14 a, b, c, represents a folding and locking system

  a horizontal amount of the rigid frame.

  - fig. 15 shows a system of articulation of the reclining hopper ramps. - fig. 16 shows a tilting ramp locking system in

the locked up position.

  - fig. 17 represents a concealment system of the hopper end

  when a launcher is under the hopper.

  - fig. 18 illustrates a variant of attachment of a suspended launcher

under the hopper.

  - fig. 19 represents a mounting detail of a vertical amount on

a foot of the device.

  - fig. 20 represents a construction variant of the vertical frame

  comprising two planes of bouncing.

  - fig. 21 shows another variant of this frame comprising four

- bouncing plans.

  - fig. 22: illustrates a variant of the invention by using a

  single hopper, which allows the inclinable articulated ramps

  lees, to direct the balls according to their position towards one,

  two or three launchers placed under the hopper.

  - fig. 23: represents a variant of the invention by using two juxtaposed hoppers allowing the use of a,

  two or three launchers depending on the setting of the

  abutments. - fig. 24: represents the two positions of a suspended launcher, which can also be placed on the ground, after complete reversal of the removable hopper allowing to obtain two origins

  different from the trajectories of balls.

  - fig. 25: shows in perspective the complete system of removable cover adjustable in length, allowing the game or the training

  with the device according to the invention and in all weather.

  - fig. 26: (a and b) represent two examples of presentation of the

  motivation, support for a new game of skill based on the

tennis game.

  - fig. 27: (a and b) represent two other examples of presentation of

  this target, without reference to the game of tennis.

  - fig. 28: is an overview in perspective of a demon-

  table and easily transportable presenting the same

Main Features.

  FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show a training device which is

  the invention in three use cases: without launcher, with a launcher,

with two throwers.

  This device comprises a rigid vertical frame (10) on which is stretched a bouncing wall (11) fabric or net little or no extensible. This frame

  (10) is stabilized on the ground by two feet adjustable by the cylinders (12).

  The fabric or thread (13) is suspended on the plate (14) integral with the upper part of the frame (10). This fabric or net (13) obscures the fabric or net (11) and dampens the balls thrown by the player and which fall into a hopper (15) which groups these balls to guide them by the ramps (19) (20) or ( 24) (25) to a launcher (17), if these ramps are aligned or to the launchers (16) and (17), if they are inclined symmetrically with respect to the axis of the launcher (17).

hopper (15).

  These ramps (19) and (20), hinged by the web (52) around the axis (53) integral with the hopper (15), maintained if necessary in the upper position by the eclipsable pin (54) and extended by the fixed ramp primers (21),

  guide the bales to the pitchers on the ground under the hopper (Figure 15).

  The fixed ramp (22) guides the bales to the launcher (23)

  suspended by a known system under and at the end of the hopper (15) (Figure 6).

  The ramps (24) and (25) hinged about the axis (53) guide the bales to the pitchers or launcher placed on the ground in the extension of the hopper according to Figures 7, 8 and 9. This hopper (15) is adjustable in height by the supports (26) secured to the sleeves (28) which slide on the vertical uprights of the frame (10) (Figure 10). It can be equipped with two fixed ramps guiding the balls

  to a launcher (16) placed on the ground, under the hopper and in its axis (Figure 12).

  The plate (14) reinforced by the gussets (42) and the profile (43) houses

  the lighting device (44) (FIG. 13).

  The device according to the invention is extended by two vertical uprights (45) and (46), telescopic on the uprights of the frame (10) and integral with a horizontal beam (31) in which two bars (32) and ( 33). To these parts (31) (32) and (33) are suspended the fabrics or threads (34) (35) and (36) above and on either side of the frame (10) to cushion the balls and grouping them in the hopper (15), extended by one or two inclined and removable ramps (37) and (38) whose lower end is fixed to the hopper by a known device and the other end is clipped to the tissues or

  side threads (34) and (36) (FIG.

  Oven to facilitate transportation, horizontal rails and vertical uprights

  frame wedges (10) are foldable by hinges (47) and locked in the position of use by sloped cams (48) embedded in the supports (49), said cams will be retained by the chains (51) (Figure 14 : at,

b, c).

  Plates (57) obscure the end faces of the hopper (15), if the one or more launchers are placed under it to keep the bales in the hopper and are fixed in position "or -green" by the stud (58) and the bolt

  (62) otherwise (Figure 17).

  The launcher (23) is fixed under the hopper (15) by sliding on two supports (63) of the width of the hopper and immobilized by clamping studs

  resilient (64) vibration absorbing (Fig. 18).

  The upper uprights of the frame (10) are fixed by the bolts

  (65) in the sleeves (66) secured to the feet (27) and their bridging-

(29) (Figure 19).

  The "rebound wall" (11) is composed of two misaligned planes (67) and (68) determined by the frame (10) and the spar (70) and whose fabrics or nets are tensioned differently. The same principle is used for the planes (71) (72) (73) and (74) determined by the frame (10) and the longitudinal members (69) and (70), the planes (71) and (72), aligned between them are misaligned with respect to

  plans (73) and (74) (FIGS. 20 and 21).

  The hopper (70) is equipped with two devices each consisting of ramps (19) and (20) hinged about the axes (53) and guide the bales to one, two or three launchers (16) located under the hopper (70). In another form

  of the invention, two hoppers (15) are juxtaposed on their supports.

  ports (26) and guide the balls to one, two or three throwers (16) by

  through the ramps (19 and (20) (Figure 22 and 23).

  The reversal 180 of the hopper (15) on the supports (26), after uncoupling of the launcher (23), allows, by replacing the launcher on the same supports (63), to obtain a symmetrical position relative to the previous

(Figure 24).

  FIG. 25 shows the device according to the invention in its action of "gantry" on which three cables (64) stretched between the rigid frame (10) and the gantry (65) support a flexible and removable cover (66), the together

  the device obtained being fixed by the means (67) and (68) adjustable in tension.

  by the known systems on (69).

  FIGS. 26 and 27 a and good shows the shape of the motivation targets determined on the fabrics or threads (11) (13) (67) (71) and (72) by the zones (73) (74) (75). and (76) different surfaces and separated by the known means (77) (78) (79) and (80). The numbers or numbers displayed in these areas will or will not have a direct relationship with the score system of the sport, tennis by

example (Figure 26: a and b).

  Fig. 28 shows the rigid frame (10) supporting the bouncing plane

  (11) fabric or net little or no stretch and the fabric or net hanging (13) above the hopper (15) which groups the balls guided by the ramps (22) and (37) to the casting device (23) behind the fabric or net

  (81) suspended in front of the hopper (15) and ramps (37).

Claims (8)

  1) A training device for sets of balls comprising a frame (10) consisting of rigid uprights so as to determine a square or a rectangle allowing the establishment of a rigid plane or the tension of a fabric or net ( 11) inside said frame characterized in that it is stabilized by two feet (27) supporting the entire device, adjustable via threaded cylinders (12), and a hopper (15) grouping balls struck on the fabric or net (13), suspended at a distance in front of the cissue or inextensible net (11), said balls being guided   inclined and adjustable ramps towards one or more   automatic throwing means (16) 2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the frame (10) comprises at its upper part a plate (14) receiving a horizontal cloth or net (13) hanging in front of the fabric or net taut ( 11) in the frame (10) and a lighting system (44).   3) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the hopper (15) is provided with means (26) (28) for adjusting the height on the amounts   vertical members of the frame (10) and, optionally, its removal.   4) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that in the vertical frame (10) are determined separate planes of rebound (67) (68)   or (71) (72) (73) (74), the upper planes (71) and (72) being aligned and recog-   cloth or nets of little or no extensible tension of different   two lower planes (73) and (74) being aligned with each other and slightly in-   clinched relative to the planes (71) and (72) and determining an upward bouncing of the bales and receiving a fabric or net with little or no stretchability   the same tension on both planes.   ) Device according to claims 1, 2 and 4 characterized in that the   frame (10) is extended by a telescopic rigid device consisting of a   geron (31) integral with the two uprights (45) and (46) fixed to the frame (10) and two bars (32) and (33) telescopic in the spar (31) for hanging additional fabrics or nets (34). ) (35) and (36) above and on both sides of the frame (10), increasing the area of the receiving area   balls which can be guided in the hopper (15) by one or two ramps (37).   6) Device according to claims 1 and 3 characterized in that the   hopper (15) is provided with tilting and articulated ramps (19) and (20) around a pivot axis (53) via a web (52) and held in a raised position by an eccentric pin ( 54), these ramps being constituted of a flexible material. 1 2   7) Device according to claims I and 2 characterized in that the frame   (10) constitutes one of the ends of a cover device comprising said frame (10), a gantry (65) and cables (64) stretched between (10) and (65) supporting a flexible cover (66) , the entire device being stabilized and fixed by the means (67) (68) (69).   8) Device according to claims 1, 2 and 4 characterized in that ies   fabrics or nets (11) (67) (71) (72) or (13) are provided with means for   to determine a target consisting of zones (73) (74) (75) and (76) of differen-   your surfaces and positioned in order to constitute a "game of skill" motivation to workout   9) Device according to claims 1, 3 and 6 characterized in that the   hopper (15) is equipped with a single ramp (22) and fastening means (26) and (28) for turning it 180 so as to obtain another origin of   trajectories of the balls thrown by the thrower (23).   10) Device according to claims 1, 2 and 4 characterized in that the   rails and uprights constituting the frame (10) are equipped with hinges (47) and locking cams (48) allowing their folding for easy transport.