GB2465889A

GB2465889A - Cricket practice apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2465889A
Application number: GB0921138A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Antony Pickersgill
Original assignee: HALLAM INNOVATIONS Ltd
Current assignee: HALLAM INNOVATIONS Ltd
Priority date: 2008-12-02
Filing date: 2009-12-02
Publication date: 2010-06-09
Also published as: GB0921138D0; GB0821967D0

Abstract

An apparatus 101 for use in cricket practice, comprising a base 102, and one or more stumps 103 attached to and movable relative to the base 102 between an initial position and a plurality of tilted positions, wherein the apparatus 101 is configured such that the stump 103 is maintained in a tilted position until an operation is performed to return the stump 103 to the initial position. Preferably each stump is movable relative to the base between an initial position and a plurality of tilted positions and include a substantially spherical portion located within a separate socket in the base. Optionally the base includes a magnet for each stump and each stump includes a magnetic material and the apparatus is configured such that the initial position is maintained by magnetic attraction.

Description

Sports Practice Apparatus

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application represents the first application for a patent directed toward the invention and the subject matter.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to apparatus for, and a method of, sports practice. In particular, the present invention relates to apparatus for, and a method of, cricket practice.

Brief Summary of the Invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for use in cricket practice, comprising a base and one or more stumps attached to and movable relative to the base between an initial position and a plurality of tilted positions, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the stump is maintained in a tilted position until an operation is performed to return the stump to the initial position. In a preferred embodiment, the base comprises a magnet for each stump present, each *:::: stump includes a magnetic material, and the apparatus is configured such that the initial position of each of the stumps is maintained by magnetic attraction between the magnet and the stump.

* S 5555 * According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of cricket practice, comprising the steps of receiving the apparatus, and observing a tilted position of the stump.

Brief Description of the Several Views of the Drawings Figure 1 shows apparatus 101 emboding the invention; Figure 2 shows the configuration of the stump 103 identified in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows stump joint 301 for attaching stump 103 to the apparatus identified in Figure 1; Figure 4 is one cross-sectional view of the apparatus 101; Figure 5 is another cross-sectional view of the apparatus 101; and Figure 6 shows apparatus 101 in use.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Figure 1 Figure 1 shows an apparatus 101 for use in cricket practice, such as may be performed with the aim of improving bowling and/or batting performance. The apparatus 101 comprises a base 102 and a stump 103.

Stump 103 is movable relative to the base between an initial position and a plurality of tilted positions. The apparatus 101 is configured such that the stump 103 is maintained in a tilted position until an operation is performed to return the stump to the initial position.

The apparatus shown in Figure 1 comprises a plurality of stumps, each stump being movable relative to the base between an initial position and a plurality of tilted positions. In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of stumps *:*. consists of three stumps only.

*:* Figure2 *:*. Figure 2 shows a stump arrangement 201, comprising stump 103, a stump cap 202 and a stump adaptor 203. Stump cap 202 defines the free end of the stump 103 whilst stump.adaptor 203 is configured to adapt the stump 103 to facilitate mounting relative to a base as described with reference to Figure 1. In a preferred embodiment, mounting means compnse a threaded hole 204.

Figure 3 Figure 3 shows a stump joint 301. The stump joint 301 comprises a location element 302 and a mounting element 303. Location element 302 is configured to co-operate with a stump adaptor 203 as described with reference to Figure 2 in order to connect a stump to mounting portion 303. In a preferred embodiment, location element 302 includes threads to allow the securing of stump arrangement 201 to stump joint 301, although alternative means of securing mounting portion 303 to the stump arrangement 201 are possible.

In accordance with the shown embodiment, mounting portion 303 comprises a substantially spherical portion that has a flat bottom 304. The base 102 includes sockets configured to receive the spherical portion of the mounting portion 303, which is shown in detail in Figure 4.

Figure 4 Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing stump joint 301 mounted relative to base 102. In this embodiment, mounting portion 303 is fabricated from a magnetic material, preferably steel, and is located in a socket in base 102 above a magnet 401. Magnet 401 presents a flat surface 402 that complements the flat bottom 304 of mounting portion 303. Magnet 401 is located within a nylon insert 403 of substantially U-shaped cross-section. The magnet 401 is configured to slide vertically within the insert 403. The magnetic *"* 25 attraction between mounting portion 303, and in turn stump joint 301, and magnet 401 serves to maintain the stump joint 301, and in turn a connected stump, in an initial position.

According to the illustrated an-angement of apparatus, the initial position is substantially upright when the base 102 is located upon a substantially horizontal support surface. The apparatus provides a collar 404 that extends around stump joint 301 to allow the stump joint 301, and in turn a connected stump, to be tilted frDm the initial position into a tilted position. The magnet 401 therefore moves vertically within nylon insert 403. The apparatus allows a stump to effectively pivot about tilt axis 405.

Figure 5 Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing stump joint 301 in a tilted position relative to base 102. It can be seen that, in a tilted position, the bottom 304 of mounting portion 303 is now only in partial contact with the magnet 401, which, in turn, has been displaced in a downward direction. Apparatus 101 is configured such that stump joint 301 is maintained in a tilted position until an operation is performed to return the stump joint to the initial position. Thus, in turn, a stump is movable from the initial position into a tilted position and then is maintained in that tilted position until actively returned to the initial position.

In an embodiment, the apparatus is configured to allow a manual operation to be performed directly upon a stump in a tilted position to return the tilted stump to the initial position. Such a manual operation would typically include gripping the stump with a single hand and moving the hand to drag the stump back to the initial position.

In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a manually operable * S...

* mechanism configured to perform an operation to move a stump from a tilted 25 operation to an initial position in response to manual activation. In an example, the manually operable mechanism comprises a foot pedal. In embodiments in which the apparatus presents a plurality of stumps, a manually operable mechanism may be configured to act on a plurality of stumps in response to activation.

Figure 6 Figure 6 illustrates a typical application of apparatus 101. Cricket ball 601 travels towards stump 103, in the direction indicated by arrow 602. Upon impact of cricket ball 601 upon stump 103, stump 103 is moved from the initial position, in the direction of arrow 603, into a tilted position, indicated in dotted lines at 604. As previously stated, once in a tilted position, the apparatus maintains the stump in that tilted position until actively returned back to the initial position. Thus, the invention provides for a method of cricket practice that comprising the steps of receiving apparatus 101 and observing a tilted position of a stump.

By maintaining a tilted stump in its tilted position, an analysis may be made regarding the action of a ball upon a stump. Such observation usefully provides a player seeking to improve his game with feedback regarding ball action and stump reaction. Once examination of a tilted stump is complete, the apparatus may be reset as described. * * * * S... * . a. S * *. * *.

**.... * S S. S * * . * S. S. S a * * ..

Claims

Claims 1. An apparatus for use in cricket practice, comprising: a base, and one or more stumps attached to and movable relative to said base between an initial position and a plurality of tilted positions; wherein said apparatus is configured such that said stump is maintained in a tilted position until an operation is performed to return said stump to said initial position.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, consisting of three stumps only, wherein each stump is movable relative to said base between an initial position and a plurality of tilted positions.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said stumps include a substantially spherical portion located within a separate socket in said base.
4. An apparatus according to any of claims I to 3, wherein: said base comprises a magnet for each stump present, and each stump includes a magnetic material; and .. said apparatus is configured such that said initial position of each of �.said stumps is maintained by magnetic attraction between said magnet and said stump. * *
5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is *:*. configured to allow said operation to be a manual operation performed directly upon said stump.
6. An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a manually operable mechanism configured to perform said operation in response to manual activation.
7. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said manually operable mechanism comprises a foot pedal.
8. A method of cricket practice, said method comprising the steps of: receiving an apparatus according to claim 1, and observing a tilted position of said stump.
9. An apparatus for use in cricket practice, comprising substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying Figures.
10. A method of cricket practice substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying Figures. * * . S. S *. * . S... * SS * a.* ..*. * * S. S * . . * ,. S* * S S * * SS