GB2337205A

GB2337205A - Practice apparatus for ball sports

Info

Publication number: GB2337205A
Application number: GB9911160A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Guy Charles Butcher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-05-14
Filing date: 1999-05-14
Publication date: 1999-11-17
Also published as: GB9911160D0; GB9810217D0

Abstract

A target receptacle has an open mouth 15 (facing towards a player who is possibly practising accurate passing and shooting for the game of soccer and who is positioned towards the right in Figure 3) and a back wall 7, preferably of netting and curving downwards and away from the mouth, co-operating with a bottom wall 11, which conveys balls B under gravity to a collecting channel or gully 12 from where they are projected back towards the player by a powered striking device, preferably comprising a rotating paddle member 26, launching the ball up an inclined guide ramp 30, Fig 4.

Description

1 1. 1- ' 1 2337205 1 Guy Charles Butcher PRACTICE APPARATUS FOR BALL

SPORTS

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to apparatus for use in training players in the skills of soccer and similar ball sports.

BACKGROUND

The game of soccer remains an extremely popular sport which requires skill on the part of players. Apart from skills in kicking and dribbling a ball, a player must be able to intercept a ball in mid air using almost any part of the body except the hands, and then accurately manoeuvre the ball to a suitable position for it to be dribbled, passed to another player or kicked in a goal shot. This remains one of the most difficult skills, requiring constant practice in order to achieve and maintain a high standard of achievement.

WO 81 03 432 discloses a machine for projecting soccer balls through the air to a player. A supply of balls is maintained in a hopper, from which the balls are automatically removed to be projected by a pair of spinning wheels.

The present invention seeks to provide a new and inventive form of practice 1 2 apparatus for use in soccer and similar ball sports.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention proposes The back wall is preferably formed of netting, which is ideally non-taut in order to be most effective at stopping balls without causing them to rebound. The back wall preferably slopes generally rearwards in a downward direction so that, on contact with the back wall, the balls are deflected downwardly towards the bottom wall. The lower region of the back wall may be connected to the rear edge of the bottom wall. Preferably, the bottom wall slopes downwardly towards a collecting channel. The bottom wall is preferably also formed of netting to kill the momentum of any ball which strikes it. In a preferred arrangement the channel slopes downwardly towards the projection means.

The apparatus can be used indefinitely by a single player, even if only one or two balls are available, so that the player makes maximum use of his practice time.

The powered drive means preferably has an adjustable drive speed, and will generally comprise an electric motor.

The striker is preferably driven to rotate, preferably about a substantially horizontal axis. The striker may conveniently comprise a paddle which is disposed radially relative to the axis of rotation. The paddle is preferably 3 radially mounted on a rotatable drum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of soccer practice apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus; Figure 4 is sectional detail A-A of Fig. 1, showing the projection means incorporated in the apparatus; and Figure 5 is a plan view of a modified form of the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The apparatus may be installed outdoors, or indoors in a sports hall for example.

Referring firstly to Fig.s 1 to 3, a receptacle 1 is formed from netting 2 which is supported from four posts 3-6 which, by way of example, may be about i 4 4 metres high. The netting includes a rear panel 7, of which the top edge 8 is held between the tops of the two front posts 3 and 6, while, as best seen in Fig. 3, the bottom edge 9 is secured about 0.9 metres above ground level between the two rear posts 4 and 5. The panel 7 is not taut between the top and bottom edges 8 and 9 so that it curves rearwardly and downwardly, again best seen in Fig. 3. The receptacle further includes a bottom wall 10 which comprises a further area of netting 11, which is joined along the bottom edge 9 of the rear panel 7. The netting 11 slopes downwardly in a forward direction to join one edge of a V-shaped channel 12, formed of a vinyl-coated fabric. The channel is suspended about 0.4 metres above ground by the netting 11 and by a narrow strip of netting 13 of which the front edge 14 is held taut between the front posts 3 and 6 so that the strip 13 extends upwardly in a forward direction. The channel 12 also slopes downwardly towards the left as viewed in Fig. 1, leading to an outlet 16.

The receptacle includes side walls 32 and 33 (Fig. 2), which are also suspended from the posts 3-6.

The gap between the front edges 8 and 14 forms an open mouth 15 for receiving soccer balls B from a players position approximately 10 metres in front of the receptacle 1. Upon entering the receptacle the balls hit the rear panel 7, which kills the momentum of the balls causing them to fall onto the bottom wall 10 without rebounding. The balls roll onto the channel 12 and then roll towards the outlet 16 under gravity. The vinyl coating of the channel makes the balls roll easily so that only a slight slope is required. Upon reaching the lower end of the channel 12 the balls travel a short distance, again under gravity, along an enclosed chute 17 to a projection device 18.

Referring particularly to Fig.s 1 and 2, the projection device 18 is contained within a housing 19, and includes an electric motor 20. A petrol or diesel motor could be used, but electrical powerwill generally be more convenient. The motor is linked by a drive belt 22 or reduction gear arrangement to drive a substantially horizontal shaft 23 upon which a drum 24 is mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis. The motor could or course be located in any suitable position. The drum is positioned above the lower end of the chute 17 and carries a single flat, radially disposed paddle 26. The drum is counte r- balanced by means of a counter weight 27 so that it rotates smoothly with minimum drive power. When the drum rotates at a suitable speed the paddle 26 strikes a ball arriving at the bottom of the chute 14 and propels it along an upwardly inclined guide ramp 30 (Fig. 3) which is disposed transversely to the chute 17, directed towards the playing position. The ramp will either have side walls (not shown) or may comprise a pair of parallel support rails so that the ball is accurately guided towards the playing position. At the end of the ramp the balls are launched into the air towards the player, who can use his/her skill to intercept the ball and return it to the receptacle by kicking or heading the ball for example.

One or more balls can be used with the apparatus.

The apparatus is suitable for use by a single player, who can concentrate on playing the ball without having to interrupt his/her practice in order to retrieve the balls. The motor has an adjustable drive speed so that the speed and trajectory of the ball can be adjusted to that required by an individual player.

The apparatus is inexpensive to install and cheap to run.

6 In a commercial installation the motor 20 can be operated from a timer which is, in turn, under the control of a magnetic card reader. When a player pays for a practice period he/she is given a swipe card which can be used in the card reader. The reader deducts an appropriate number of credits from the card before returning it to the player, and triggers the timer to start the motor running for a predetermined practice period. At the end of the period the motor stops so that the apparatus can no longer be used since the balls are retained in the chute 14 without being returned to the player.

A modified form of the apparatus is illustrated in Fig. 5, which again comprises four corner supports 3-6 with side panels 32 and 33, a downwardly curved rear panel 7 for intercepting the balls, and a bottom wall 11, all formed of netting. In this case however the chute 12 is replaced by a concrete gully 40 running along the front of the bottom wall 11 and inclined downwardly towards ramp 42. At the bottom of the ramp there is a housing 19 containing a projection device as described above. The ramp serves to conduct the balls to the projection device and also to launch and guide the balls back to the playing position. The housing 19, ramp 42 and the adjacent structures may be formed by a glass fibre moulding which is joined to the bottom net 11 and shaped to ensure that any misdirected balls are returned to the projection device. This form of the apparatus operates as described but provides a more compact permanent installation which is neatly contained within the confines of the corner supports 3-6.

It will be appreciated that the features disclosed herein may be present in any feasible combination. Whilst the above description lays emphasis on those areas which, in combination, are believed to be new, protection is

7 claimed for any inventive combination of the features disclosed herein.

8

Claims

Practice apparatus for ball sports comprising:

a receptacle having a back wall, side walls and a bottom wall which is arranged to convey balls under gravity to a collecting position, the receptacle having a forwardly directed mouth for receiving soccer balls from a players position; - projection means arranged to receive balls from the collecting position, the projection means including:

- powered drive means, and - a striker which is driven by said drive means to strike balls received from the outlet; and - guide means which slopes upwardly from the region of the striker to guide and project balls into the air towards the players position.
2. Practice apparatus according to Claim 1, in which the backwall is formed of netting.
3. Practice apparatus according to Claim 2, in which the back wall is suspended in a downwardly and rearwardly curved configuration.
4. Practice apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the lower region of the back wall is connected to the rear edge of the bottom wall.
5.

Practice apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which 9 the bottom wall slopes downwardly towards a ball-receiving channel.
6. Practice apparatus according to Claim 5, in which the channel slopes downwardly towards the collecting position.

Practice apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the powered drive means has an adjustable speed.
7.

Practice apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the powered drive means comprises an electric motor.
8.
9. Practice apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the striker is driven to rotate.
10. Practice apparatus according to Claim 9, in which the striker rotates about a substantially horizontal axis.
11. Practice apparatus according to Claim 10, in which the striker comprises a paddle which is disposed radially relative to the axis of rotation.
12. Practice apparatus according to Claim 11, in which the paddle is radially mounted on a rotatable drum.
13. Practice apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the projection means is located alongside the receptacle.

Practice apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 12, in which the projection means is located within the receptacle.
14.
15. Practice apparatus for ball sports substantially as described with reference to the drawings.

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