GB2107995A - Sport implement for practising soccer - Google Patents

Abstract

The sport implement comprises a headgear (1) having a pair of projections (10) located on the sides of the user's head, with each projection there being associable a string (20) having its free lower end tied to a ball (30). At the projections (10), a shock absorbing through slot (50) is provided which is effective to dampen the shocks resulting from kicking the ball (30). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sport implement particularly for soccer playing This invention relates to a sport implement particularly for soccer playing.

Currently known are various types of implements for soccer training, which have proved relatively ineffective because they not always can ensure a correct position of the body in kicking the ball, and do not allow the user to train himself/herself for all the situations likely to be encountered in practicing soccer.

Another deficiency of prior implements is that they are inconvenient for their users in that they transfer directly to the user the shock effects of the impulses dealt to the ball, so that already after a short period of use said implements may cause a definite feeling of discomfort.

This invention sets Out to eliminate such prior deficiencies by providing a sport implement specially intended for soccer playing, which enables a user to train him/herself for all the situations likely to be encountered in the practice of soccer, such as inside kicks, outside kicks, high kicks, spinning, touch-and-go kicks, driving with both feet scooping on a fast run, as well as head hitting.

Within the above general aim, it can be arranged that the sport implement according to the present invention has an extremely simplified construction, can be readily and firmly fitted on the user's head to stably retain its position even when hitting the ball with the head.

It can be further arranged that the sport implement of this invention, by virtue of its peculiar construction features, can be regarded as highly reliable and safe in operation.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sport implement particularly for soccer playing, characterised in that it comprises a headgear member associable with a user's head and having a pair of projections arranged on either.sides of the user's head, with each of said projections there being associable a string having its free lower end tied to and supporting a bali, and in that located at said projections shock absorbing means are provided to effectively dampen the shocks transmitted from kicking said ball.

Further features and advantages will be more apparent from the following description of a preferred, but not limitative, embodiment of this sport implement particularly for soccer playing, as illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, where: Figure 1 is a perspective view of this sport implement; Figure 2 is a detail view of the headgear member as fitted to a user's head; Figures 3 illustrates the general appearance of this sport implement when donned by its user; Figure 4 shows two balls being kicked on the run; Figure 5 illustrates a dribbling situation with a single ball; Figure 6 shows a dribbling situation with two balls; and Figures 7, 8 and 9 are sequence views illustrating a head hitting situation.

With reference to the cited drawing figures, the sport implement particularly for soccer playing, according to the invention, comprises a headgear member, generally indicated at 1, which is formed preferably from an elastic material, such as a rubber, plastics, or the like.

The headgear 1 includes a band element 2, which embraces in practice the head of the user and can be tightened against the user's head by means of a string length engageable in holes 4 arranged at the free ends of the band element.

The headgear is completed with a top cross band 5 which is secured with its ends to the band element 2 and arranged to engage with the user's head rear, thereby to prevent, in a most effective manner, the headgear from sliding off in the event of forwardly directed hits.

More specifically, the top cross-band 5 is tilted backwards with respect to the band element (Figure 2), so that it can appropriately resist any forces applied to the headgear which happen to have a forwardly directed slip off component.

At the ends of the top cross-band 5, projections or horns 10 are provided which are formed with a plurality of throughgoing holes 11 and are located on either side portions of the headgear member with the headgear fitted to the user's head.

To each projection 10, a string 20 can be connected which can be passed through one of the throughgoing holes 11 and secured by means of a small locking plate 21, formed with two holes for adjusting the useful length of the string 20.

To the lower end of the string 20 is tied a ball 30, having an eye 31 for connection to the string 20. Moreover, at a location close to the lower end of the string 20, a protective cup 40 is provided which covers said eye 31 to prevent the eye from striking the user on the head while practicing head ball hitting techniques, as will be explained herein below.

Furthermore, the equator band region of each ball 30 is provided with markings, generally indicated at 33, which mark the areas where the ball is to be hit.

A peculiar feature of the invention resides in that the cited projections 10 are provided with shock absorbing means to effectively dampen the shocks transmitted by the ball with the implement in operation.

Said shock absorbing means include a throughgolng slot 50 provided at the base of the projections, whereby the projections, upon transmission of a shock, can rock slightly without transferring to the user's head the full force of the shock.

Said slot 50 is formed between a lower strap 51 which is partly in contact with the user's head, and the bases of the projection 10, such as to form a cushioning action between the projections 10 and the user's head.

The strap 51 is secured e.g. by welding, glueing or rivetting with its one end (left end in Fig. 1) to the band 5 and with its other end (right end in Fig. 1) both to the adjacent portion of band 5 and band 2. In this way, in addition to the cushioning action, the shock is absorbed and dampened alternatively by band 5 or band 2 or both depending on the direction of the shock, the shock engendering a tensioning counter-action in such bands 5 or 2 which is evenly distributed over the large surface thereof in contact with the head.

Advantageously the bands 5 and 2 and the projection 10 may be made of elastic material such as rubber thereby further dampening the shock action. The holes 11 render the projections or lugs 10 more flexible thereby contributing to the shock absorbing action.

It should be further noted that the band element 2 is formed with cutouts 8 located at the region of the user's ears, thus enabling a tight fit of the headgear member.

The inventive device is extremely simple to use.

The user, after donning the headgear and adjusting the lengths of the strings 20 to suit his/her own height, can start kicking the two balls with the left and right feet, to thus achieve perfect synchronisation in striking the ball.

Moreover, the user is forced, by the implement itself, to keep his/her body perfectly balanced and in a correct position, with a correct flexing of his supporting leg.

The user is also compelled to alternately strike either balls with his/her two feet, and in order not to go out of synchronisation, to strike the ball at the right place with the right amount of force.

By mounting both balls, the user is enabled to practice ball kicking on the run, or dribbling (Figure 6) on the spot, knocking either balls alternately.

The sport implement also permit dribbling on the spot with a single ball, thus enabling its user to learn how to correctly strike the ball.

Another important advantage of the invention is that with this sport implement the user can practice head hitting; in fact, by mounting a single ball, he/she can perform in succession the movements shown in Figures 7 to 9. In this utilisation mode, of great importance is the position of the top cross band 5, which cannot slip off the user's head even when subjected to a forward pull, such as would occur in head hitting, since with the top cross band in engagement with the rear portion of the user's head, it can easily absorb any forwardly directed force applied thereto, thus keeping the headgear at all times perfectly in position.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the invention achieves its objects, and in particular that by providing the cited throughgoing slots at the bases of the projections 10, the shock transmitted through the string from the kicked ball are prevented from being transferred to the user's head and create inconvenience, and are instead dampened and absorbed by the elastic rocking feature of the projections.

The invention as described is susceptible to many modifications and variations without departing from the scope of the instant inventive concept.

Moreover, all of the details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In practicing the invention, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any selected ones to suit individual requirements.

Claims (9)

1. A sport implement particularly for soccer playing, characterised in that it comprises a headgear member associable with a user's head and having a pair of projections arranged on either sides of the user's head, with each of said projections there being associable a string having its free lower end tied to and supporting a ball, and in that located at said projections shock absorbing means are provided to effectively dampen the shocks transmitted from kicking said ball.

2. A sport implement according to Claim 1, characterised in that said headgear member includes a band element encircling the user's head and being provided with a top cross-band, sloping rearwardly with respect to said band element to engage with the upper rear portion of the user's head.

3. A sport implement according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said projections are provided at the ends of said top cross-band.

4. A sport implement according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said projections have a plurality of spaced apart throughgoing holes, said string engaging one of said throughgoing holes.

5. A sport implement according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said shock absorbing means comprise through slots provided at the bases of said projections.

6. A sport implement according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said through slots are located between the base of said projections and an inside strap contacting the user's head.

7, A sport implement according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said band element is formed along its lower edge with cutouts located at the region of the user's ears.

8. A sport implement according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said band element is formed, at its free ends, with holes with which a securing string can be engaged for connection to the user's head,

9. A sport implement particularly for soccer playing as herein described and illustrated.