GB2307646A

GB2307646A - Equipment for use in a ball game

Info

Publication number: GB2307646A
Application number: GB9624704A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lawrence Andrew Dance
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-11-28
Filing date: 1996-11-27
Publication date: 1997-06-04
Also published as: GB9524277D0; GB9624704D0

Abstract

The device comprises a wall (W) having a curved surface (1) which is an arc of a circle. The wall is pivoted to the wall of a building (B) by hinges or may be supported by a frame. The wall (W) is inclined. The inclination is adjustable by means of stays (3) which space the base of the wall (W) from the wall of the building (B). The tangent to the lowermost edge is nearly vertical. The wall allows various football (soccer) skills to be practised. By virtue of the inclined curvature a football can be easily lofted by bouncing it against the wall. This allows skills such as volleying and chest control to be practiced. The wall may be used in other games.

Description

EOUIPMENT FOR USE IN A BALL GAME The present invention relates to sports equipment and, in particular, equipment for use in a ball game. The equipment may be used in training players of the game but the invention is not limited to such use.

For ease of explanation the invention and its background will be described in relation to football as played with a spherical ball, but the invention is not limited in its application solely to football.

It is well known for a player practising football alone to kick the ball against a wall. This allows the player to practice only a limited range of kicking skills.

Football however involves many other skills including heading and controlling the ball with the chest. Kicking a ball against a wall does not provide a satisfactory practice of these other skills.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for use in a ball game, the device comprising a wall against which a ball is bounced in use of the device, the wall having a curved surface.

The present inventor discovered that a curved wall provides a much greater range of returns from the wall allowing a greater range of skills to be practised.

In a one embodiment of the invention the curved surface of the wall is rectilinear horizontally, forms a circular arc in vertical cross-section and the chord of the arc is inclined to the vertical.

In another embodiment of the invention the surface of the wall is curved in the horizontal direction as well as the vertical direction. The radius of curvature horizontally may be greater than the vertical radius of curvature.

A ball kicked generally horizontally towards the wall is lofted by the inclined curved surface. This allows practice of skills such as heading skills and especially volleying and chest-control skills.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for use in a ball game, the device comprising a wall having a curved surface against which the ball is bounced in use of the device, the wall being supported by a support frame.

The support frame allows the wall to be used in for example an open space and moved around as necessary. Alternatively the frame may be fixed.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for use in a ball game, the device comprising a wall having a curved surface against which the ball is bounced in use of the device, and means for pivotally supporting the wall on a support structure. The wall of the device may be pivotally connected to the wall of a building. The pivotal connection allows the device wall to be pivoted away from the building wall so as to be inclined for use and to be laid flat against the building wall for storage when not in use.

Although the invention is particularly suitable for football training, it will be appreciated that the invention may be applied to a variety of ball games other than football, and may even provide the means for playing new games. It may be used for volley ball for example as well as for other known games.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical side view of one embodiment of a device according to the invention in a portion for use (Figure 1B); Figure 2 is a vertical side view of the device of Figure 1 in a stowed position; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the device; Figure 5 shows yet another embod-iment of the device; and Figure 6 is a top, sectional view of a modification of the device of any one of Figures 1 to 5.

Referring to Figure 1, the device shown is a training wall intended for training in football skills. A player kicks a football to the device, where the ball bounces back to the player. The device has an inclined curved, convex, surface 1. The ball bounces back to the player via a trajectory 2 which varies depending on where the ball hits the surface. This allows a variety of skills including heading, chest control, volleying and other skills to be practised.

The device shown in Figure 1 comprises a smooth, curved surface 1, which is convex, formed of for example fibre glass supported by a strengthening framework 3. The framework may be of 18mm (3/4inch) plywood struts arranged in a rectangular lattice. The lattice may have diagonal struts for extra strength. The surface 1 and framework 3 are designed to withstand repeated impact from a football of speeds of up to 250kmph (150mph).

The device is pivotally supported via hinges 4 to the wall 5 of a building. The hinges are attached to the framework 3 at or near the top edge of the device. Stays 6 pivotally connected to the framework 3 below the hinges maintain the inclination of the curved surface 1. The length of the stays 6 may be adjustable to adjust the inclination.

The curved surface is rectilinear in a horizontal direction and, in vertical cross-section, is an arc of a circle.

The chord of the arc is inclined in use of the device as apparent from Figure 1. The radius of curvature of the curved surface 1 is greater than the length of the chord.

The angle of inclination of the chord in use and the radius of curvature for the intended use of the device are easily determined by simple experimentation.

Currently preferred values are: angle of inclination:- in the range 20 to 30 preferably about 23 from the vertical; radius of curvature: in the range 4 to 8 metres.

As shown in Figure 1, the surface 1 in use is preferably arranged so that the tangent to the lowest portion is at least slightly inclined to vertical. The inclined curve allows various lofted trajectories 2B, 2C to be used the trajectory depending on the height and angle at which the ball hits the surface 1. The lofted trajectories allow practice of heading volleying and chest control. To achieve the appropriate trajectories a delicate touch on the ball is required which is rewarded by the opportunity to volley etc. It has been found in practice the ball tends to dip inwards and downwards onto the surface as indicated.

Other inclinations are possible by virtue of the adjustable stays 6.

As shown in Figure 2, the stays 6 may be pivoted down allowing the device to be placed flat against the wall 5. It is currently intended the position shown in Figure 2 is taken up when the device is not in use. However it could be used in that position.

Referring to Figure 3, the device of Figure 2 is shown in perspective. The lateral width or horizontal dimension of the device is denoted H. The transverse height or vertical dimension is denoted V. The device is shown inclined in Figure 3: V is the length of the chord of the arc.

H and V may have various values as follows: V = 1m H = 1.5m for a small device for home use V = 1. sum H = 3m for a device for use in a school gymnasium V = 3m H = 8m for a large device for use in an open space, 3m x 8m being approximately the size of a football goal.

Clearly any other values for V and H may be chosen to suit particular purposes of the device.

A currently preferred embodiment of the device is inclined at about 250 to the vertical, has a radius of curvature of about 4 metres, is about 3 metres wide and about 1.6 metres high.

Figure 4 shows another version of the device. In Figure 4 the curved surface 1, and its framework 3 (not shown) if provided, are supported by a free-standing support structure 8 instead of being pivoted to the wall of a building. In the device of Figure 4, the curved surface has a fixed inclination. However means for adjusting the inclination may be provided. For example, the framework 3 could be hinged to the structure 8 by hinges 4 and adjustable stays 6 provided as in Figure 1.

Various modifications may be made to the device.

The curved surface 1 may be material other than glass fibre. The framework 3 may be of material other than ply wood.

Instead of a surface 1 and a framework 3, other structures may be used provided they are sufficiently strong. For example referring to Figure 4 the surface 1 could be a curved steel sheet without a framework 3 although such a sheet would be very heavy and probably useful only for a fixed structure in an open space.

The curved surface 1 and any framework 3 supporting it may be free standing supported by simple props 50 as shown in schematic form in Figure 5. The inclination of the surface 1 may be adjustable by adjustment of the props 50.

Referring to Figure 6, the device may be curved in the horizontal direction with a concave curve. The radius of curvature is in the range 15 to 40m, preferably about 25m.

The device may be used for games other than football. The uses of the device are limited only by the imagination of its users. However it is envisaged it may be used for volleyball and possibly games such as tennis or table tennis.

Claims

1. A device for use in a ball game, the device comprising a wall against which a ball is bounced in use of the device, the wall having a curved surface.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the surface is an arc of a circle in vertical cross-section.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the surface is an arc of a circle in horizontal cross-section.

4. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the curved surface is rectilinear in a horizontal direction.

5. A device according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the curved surface has a lateral dimension in the range 1 'A to 9 metres and a transverse dimension in the range 1 to 3 metres.

6. A device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the wall is generally inclined to the vertical so as to loft a ball bounced against the wall.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the inclination is adjustable.

8. A device for use in a ball game, the device comprising a wall having a curved surface against which the ball is bounced in use of the device, the wall being supported by a support frame.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the wall is supported by the frame inclined so as to loft balls bounced against the wall.

10. A device according to claim 9, comprising means for adjusting the inclination of the wall.

11. A device for use in a ball game, the device comprising a wall having a curved surface against which the ball is bounced in use of the device, and means for pivotally supporting the wall on a support structure.

12. A device according to claim 11, comprising means for maintaining the wall inclined in use so as to loft balls bounced against the wall.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the maintaining means provide adjustment of the inclination.

14. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or to Figure 4 or Figure 5, any one of Figures 1 to 5 optionally being modified as shown in Figure 6, of the accompanying drawings.