GB2518362A

GB2518362A - New UK Patent Application in the name of Paul J Gainford "Ball Curler"

Info

Publication number: GB2518362A
Application number: GB1316538.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul John Gainford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-09-18
Filing date: 2013-09-18
Publication date: 2015-03-25
Also published as: GB201316538D0

Abstract

A sports apparatus comprising a ball holder 12 and a motor 16 arranged to rotate the holder, wherein the apparatus is positioned on a surface 20 to allow a user to strike the ball from the holder. Preferably the apparatus has adjustable feet (24, fig.2) for levelling the apparatus on the surface, such as the ground. Optionally the apparatus may be secured to the surface or include ballast for improving stability. The apparatus can include a control system for controlling the speed of the motor in either direction and rotate the holder at from 0-700rpm with a soft start.

Description

Sports Apparatus

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to sports apparatus and in particular, but not exclusively to, sports apparatus for practicing football kicking skills.

Background of the Invention

The game of Association football (soccer), referred to herein as football, is played in many countries throughout the world and at many different standards. There are a number of kicking skills associated with football that range from the basics of passing and shooting a football to advanced skills such as curling a ball (also commonly referred to as bending or swerving a football).

Curling a ball may be considered to be one of the most exciting kicking skills in football and is commonly used in set plays, where a highly skilled player curls a ball around andlor over a defensive wall to take a shot at goal. This skill may also be used when taking corner kicks, crossing a ball into the penalty box, passing the ball around an opponent or shooting at goal.

To curl a football the ball should be kicked off-centre with the inside or outside of the foot depending on which direction the ball is to be curled, and struck in such a way so as to cause the ball to rotate as it travels through the air.

The rotation of the ball creates pressure differences around the ball due to drag which in turn causes the ball to experience a force perpendicular to the direction of travel of the ball. The drag on the side of the ball turning into the air (in the direction the ball is travelling) slows the airflow, whereas on the other side of the ball the drag speeds up the airflow. Greater pressure on the side where the airflow is slowed down forces the ball in the direction of the low-pressure region on the opposite side, where a relative increase in airflow occurs. This phenomenon is known as the Magnus effect.

The skill of curling a ball requires a great deal of practice and may be frustrating when first practising this skill, with possibly many hours spent without successfully curling the ball.

US patent no. 5,261,851 discloses a ball spinner, which is a hand-held motorised amusement device comprising a battery powered motor that can be easily concealed in the palm of one hand. This document does not disclose a sports apparatus that can be used for curling a football.

Known sports apparatus for practising and developing the skill of curling a ball include a football on which a number of indicia representing different strike zones are marked, as disclosed for example in GB patent no. 2 405 103.

Each strike zone indicates the part of the football that should be struck in order for the ball to follow a specific trajectory. A further development to this sports apparatus is the combination of a marked football with a marked football boot.

The marks on the football boot indicate the part of the boot that should be used to strike a specific zone marked on the football, as disclosed for example in GB patent no. 2 372 710.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved sports apparatus for curling a ball.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a sports apparatus comprising: a ball holder; and a motor arranged to rotate said ball holder, wherein said sports apparatus is arranged to contact a given supporting surface to position the ball holder for a user to strike a ball being held and rotated by the ball holder.

The sports apparatus of the present invention provides the advantage of assisting a user with curling a ball. This is achieved by rotating a ball held by the ball holder, which imparts side-spin on the ball when the ball is struck by the user from the sports apparatus. Therefore, for the example of kicking a football, the sports apparatus can be used to impart some or all of the required rotational movement, i.e. side-spin, needed to curl a football. This makes curling a ball much easier and potentially more enjoyable for a user, as almost any user, including those with little to no skill at curling a football, will be able to curl a ball consistently. It is envisaged that in certain embodiments of the present invention the sports apparatus may be used as a toy, for example by children in a park who wish to have flin curling a ball. It may also be used as a training aid for goalkeepers, as the person kicking a ball at a goal that the goalkeeper is defending does not have to be proficient at curling a ball. It may also be used by footballcr players of all levels to understand and develop the technique required to curl a ball.

The sports apparatus may be arranged such that the ball holder has an elevation relative to thc given supporting surface suitablc for a user to kick a ball on the ball holder. This enables the sports apparatus to be used to practice curling a football.

The supporting surface on which the sports apparatus comes into contact may be the ground. The ground may be an irregular surface and may be, for example, the surface of a football pitch or playing field. Alternatively, the sports apparatus may be placed on any supporting surface such as, for example, a platform elevated above the ground, or a surface in a recess below a level on which the user is standing. Placing the sports apparatus in a recess brings the ball holder and a ball placed on the ball holder closer to the level at which the user is standing. The sports apparatus may be arranged to be used at various locations around a playing field. For example, the sports apparatus may be arranged to be placed in contact with the surface of a playing field or pitch and could, for cxamplc, bc placcd on a football pitch just outside thc 18 yard box for practicing curling a ball when taking a free kick.

The sports apparatus may comprise a base for contacting said given supporting surface to position the ball holder for a user to strike a ball. The sports apparatus may be arranged to be mounted to a corner flag or other structure that may be positioned where the corner flag is to be located, thereby allowing a user to practice curling a ball when taking a corner kick.

Alternatively, the base may be used to stand the apparatus on the ground. In certain embodiments the sports apparatus may be free standing, meaning the sports apparatus is arranged to stand, for example upright, on the base in an operable position without the need for any other means of support. The base may therefore be arranged to provide a stable base on which the sports apparatus may stand, thus supporting the ball holder for use.

The sports apparatus may comprise adjustable feet for levelling and/or stabilising the sports apparatus on the given supporting surface.

Alternatively, or in addition, the adjustable feet may be arranged for adjusting the orientation of the axis of rotation of a ball being held and rotated by the ball holder. This may, for example, allow the sports apparatus to be placed on a sloping field or pitch and the adjustable feet manipulated so that the ball holder is level, thus enabling a ball resting thereon to rotate about a central vertical rotational axis of the ball holdcr. It will be appreciated that the adjustable feet may also be used to angle the ball holder so that the axis of rotation of a ball placed on the ball holder is about a non-vertical axis. With the ball holder tilted in this way, the sports apparatus may therefore be used, for example, to impart both side spin and top spin to the ball causing the flight of the ball to both curl and dip.

The sports apparatus may be arranged to engage the given supporting surface and may, for example, be provided with a spike that can pierce the ground, Astroturf or other such surface on which the sports apparatus is placed.

In an alternative embodiment a portion of the apparatus may be arranged to be pushed or driven into the ground. This is advantageous as the sports apparatus may bc secured to the ground to prevent the sports apparatus from moving when a ball is struck from the rotating ball holder, or if the user accidently strikes the sports apparatus instead of the ball.

Advantageously the sports apparatus may be arranged such that the elevation of the ball holder is 40 millimetres or less, for example 30 millimetres, millimetres, or 10 millimetres, from a level on which a user is standing, which may be, for example, the ground. Having the ball holder at this elevation means that a ball placed on the ball holder is not significantly higher than if the ball was to be placed at the same level on which the user is standing. This means that any curling skills developed using the sports apparatus should be easily replicated when the ball is placed directly on the ground.

The sports apparatus may be arranged to be releasably attached to the given supporting surface. For example, the sports apparatus may be arranged to receive pegs that can secure the sports apparatus to the ground to help prevent movement of the sports apparatus when placed on the given supporting surface.

The sports apparatus may be arranged to receive ballast for increasing the stability of the apparatus relative to said given supporting surface. For example, the sports apparatus may be arranged to be filled with sand, water or the like to increase the weight of the apparatus, lower its centre of gravity and thereby increase its stability when placed on the given supporting surface. It will be appreciated that batteries used for powering the sports apparatus may also provide additional ballast.

The sports apparatus may comprise a control system for controlling the motor. This is advantageous as it enables the speed andior direction of the motor to be controlled. Preferably, the control system is arranged to control the motor to rotate the ball holder in opposite directions. The ability of the changing the direction of rotation, i.e. from dockwise to anticlockwise, or vice versa, permits the sports apparatus to be used to curl a ball to the right or to the left, depending on the direction of rotation, when the ball is struck from the sports apparatus.

The control system may be arranged to control the speed of rotation of the motor. Advantageously, the control system may be arranged to rotate the motor at 700 rpm. It is known that the trajectory of a ball travelling through the air and rotating at approximately 600 revolutions per minute (rpm), or above, can be greatly influenced by the Magnus effect, thereby causing the ball to curl.

Therefore, providing an apparatus that rotates a ball at 600 rpm or more, preferably at 700 rpm, enables a ball struck from the rotating ball holder to be provided with enough side-spin to cause the ball to follow an arcuate trajectory.

Rotating the ball at a suitaNe speed means that striking the bafl almost anywhere on the ball will cause the ball to follow an arcuate trajectory as it travels through the air after being struck. Striking the rotating ball with the side of the foot will also provide an indication, by way of touch, to a user, of the speed at which the ball should be kicked, as the user's foot may be pulled by the rotating ball as it makcs contact with the ball.

The control system may include a soft start for the motor. Providing a soft start will allow the motor to build up to speed gradually, rather than instantaneously rotating at thc desired speed which may causc thc ball to bc unseated or displaced from the ball holder.

Preferably, the control system is arranged to set the rotation of the motor to any value in thc rangc of 100 rpm to 700 rpm. Thc range 100 rpm to 700 rpm includes any rpm value taken between the values of 100 rpm and 700 rpm, for example 101 rpm, 101.5 rpm. Providing a control systcm that can adjust thc speed of rotation of the motor enables a user to rotate a ball placed on the ball holder at different speeds. This allows the user to curl a ball with the sports apparatus rotating at frill speed, for example 700 rpm, so that the sports apparatus provides all the side-spin required to make the ball curl. The user can then, at his or her discretion, decrease the speed of rotation and thereby gradually learn how to impart sufficient additional side-spin to the ball so that it follows the same trajectory as when the ball is struck from the ball holder when it is rotated at frill speed. This has the advantage of allowing a user to learn progressively how to apply side-spin to a ball to make a ball curl. Changing the speed of rotation can of course be used to change the trajectory of the ball if so desired.

The control system may be arranged to change the speed of the motor in discrete increments of 100 rpm, for example changing the speed between values of 100 rpm, 200 rpm, 300 rpm, 400 rpm, 500rpm, 600 rpm and 700 rpm values.

Preferably, the ball holder is arranged to hold a football. The ball holder may be arranged for gripping a ball to hold and rotate the ball for a user to strike the ball from the ball holder. This allows the rotating ball holder to hold the ball firmly prior to the ball being kicked. The ball holder may nonetheless be arranged to release the ball when the ball is struck by the user.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only, which is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a sports apparatus in accordancc with a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows the sports apparatus of Figure 1 including adjustable feet; Figure 3 shows a sports apparatus in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 shows a sports apparatus in accordance with a yet further embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 5 shows the sports apparatus of Figure 1, located in a recess.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a sports apparatus 10 for assisting a user in curling a football in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The sports apparatus 10 has a ball holder 12, on which a football 14 can be placed, and a motor 16 coupled to the ball holder 12. The motor 16 is arranged to rotate the ball holder 12 and thereby the football 14 resting on the ball holder 12. The sports apparatus 10 is provided with a base 18 which is arranged to contact a supporting surface 20, for example the ground, and position the ball holder 12 at an elevation relative to the supporting surface 20 that is suitable for a user to strike the football 14 with their foot. The height of the ball holder 12 with respect to the ground 20 may be arranged to be as small as possible and preferably below 40mm so that any motor skills and muscle memory developed by the user when training on the sports apparatus 10 can be easily transferred to a football that is placed on the same level that the user is standing on, for example the surface of a football pitch. Thus, the sports apparatus is arranged to position the ball holder, and preferably to support the ball holder, suitably for a user to strike a ball being held and rotated by the ball holder.

S

The surface of the ball holder 12 that comes into contact with the football 14 may be arranged to have a texture that can grip the surface of the football 14 and thereby prevent the football 14 from moving whilst it is being rotated by the ball holder 12. The ball holder 12 may be made of a material that can grip the surface of the football 14, for example rubber, silicone or the like.

Alternatively, the surface of the ball holder 12 that comes into contact with the football 14 may be covered with a material that will grip the surface of the football 14. The shape of the ball holder 12 may be designed so that whilst the ball holder 12 grips a surface of the ball when it is being rotated, it does not inhibit or hinder the flight of the football 14 once it has been struck by the user.

In one embodiment the ball holder may, for example, be cup shaped or dished.

The ball holder 12 may be directly coupled to the motor 16 by a coupling connecting a shaft of the motor to a shaft provided on the ball holder 12. The motor 16 used in the sports apparatus should be able to be rotated at a speed of at least 600, preferably 700, revolutions per minute (rpm). It is known that a ball travelling through the air and spinning at 600 rpm will be affected by the Magnus effect and will cause the ball to follow an arcuate trajectory. Therefore, a motor that can rotate at 700 rpm should be able provide sufficient rotational movement to account for any loss in rotation of the football 14 that may occur when the football is struck from the sports apparatus 10, so that the rotational speed of the football when it leaves the ball holder 12 is at or above 600 rpm.

The motor 16 is controlled by a control system (not shown) that is arranged to adjust the speed and direction of rotation of the motor by a user from a user interface. The control system may be arranged to adjust, for example, the power supplied to the motor from a power supply and may be an electronic circuit. The power supply may be batteries (not shown) fitted within the sports apparatus 10. In one embodiment of the present invention the user interface may be a slidable switch 22 having a central off position indicated by "0", referring to 0 rpm of the ball holder. Referring to Figure 1, movement of the switch 22 to the right hand side of the central off position will cause the motor 16 to rotate in one direction and movement of the switch 22 to the left hand side of the central off position will rotate the motor 16 in an opposite direction, for example clockwise and anti-clockwise, respectively. The switch 22 may also be arranged so that the further the switch is moved from the central off position the faster the motor 16 will rotate. The switch 22 may be provided with discrete activation positions which allow the speed of rotation of the motor 16 to be changed in discrete steps of 100 rpm. For example, the switch 22 may be arranged so that the speed of the motor 16 can run at 100 rpm, 200 rpm, 300 rpm, 400 rpm, 500 rpm, 600 rpm and 700 rpm, as indicated in Figure 1 by the markings 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, respectively. The control system may be provided with a soft start for the motor 16, which will gradually bring thc motor up to the desired rotational speed. The use of the soft start can be desirable as a gradual increase of speed, rather than a rapid increase of speed, will stop the ball 14 from being pitched off the ball holder 12 when higher rotational speeds of the ball holder 12 are initially selected. The soft start may be an electronic circuit that gradually ramps up the power sent to the motor 16.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, the sports apparatus 10 is arranged to be freestanding; that is to say the sports apparatus 10 is designed to be able to stand on its base 18 in, for example an upright, operable position without the need for any other means of support. In certain embodiments the base 18 may come in direct contact with the supporting surface 20 and may be arranged to be of a suitable size and!or shape to be able to stabilise the sports apparatus 10 when placed on the supporting surface 20, and therefore support the ball holder for correct operation.

The sports apparatus 10 may be designed to be placed on the ground of a football pitch, a sports field, an indoor sports court or any other supporting surface on which a person may wish to kick a football or practice their football skills.

As will be appreciated the surface ofa football pitch or playing field may be irregular; that is the surface may have dips and mounds that can result in the sports apparatus being unsteady when placed on the surface because the base 18 of the sports apparatus 10 is not sufficiently contacting the supporting surface.

This can result in the sports apparatus 10 rocking on the base 18, which may rcsult in an crratic movement of the football 14 when the sports apparatus 10 is rotating the ball holder 12. To overcome this problem the sports apparatus 10 may be provided with adjustable feet 24 for stabilising the sports apparatus 10 with respect to the support surface 20, as shown in Figure 2. The adjustable feet 24 are preferably arranged so that they are independently extendable from the base 18 allowing the adjustable feet 24 to be individually operated so that each foot can be adjusted to contact the ground 20.

In certain embodiments of the present invention the adjustable feet 24 may be arranged so that they are operable to orientate the ball holder 12 so that it is level i.e., horizontal and the football 14 resting thereon rotates around a vertical axis which may be a central axis. Adjusting the feet so that the football 14 rotates about a central vertical axis may permit the sports apparatus 10 to impart the maximum amount of side spin to the football 14 at a given rotational speed when the football is kicked from the rotating ball holder 12. However, the adjustable feet 24, or in other embodiments another adaptation of the sports apparatus, may also be used to orientate the ball holder 12 so that it is not level i.e., not horizontal, and that the axis of rotation of a football placed on the ball holder 12 is not vertical. If the ball holder 12 is correctly orientated the sports apparatus 10 may be used, for example to impart both side spin and top or back spin to a football 14 struck from the angled spinning ball holder 12.

In one embodiment of the present invention, each of the adjustable feet 24 may be provided with a point 26 designed to pierce and engage a surface of the ground 20 to fix releasably the sports apparatus 10 to the ground 20.

The sports apparatus 10 may be provided with a cavity (not shown) arranged to receive ballast for increasing the weight and lowering the centre of gravity of the sports apparatus 10. The ballast added to the sports apparatus 10 may be in the form of water, sand or a combination of both. It will be appreciated that batteries used for powering the sports apparatus may have the supplementary effect of adding such ballast to the sports apparatus. In addition to any ballast that may be removably added to the sports apparatus 10, the sports apparatus may be designed to have some form of inherent ballast, such as a weight, to provide stability to the sports apparatus 10 when placed on the ground. In preferred embodiments, the sports apparatus is portable, meaning it can easily be transported between different sports training locations, and re-positioned easily during a training session.

Referring to Figure 3, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the sports apparatus 10 may be arranged such that a portion of the base 18 is shaped into a spike 28 that can be driven into the ground 20 to secure the sports apparatus 10 to the ground 20. Alternatively, the sports apparatus 10 may be designed to receive, for example, pegs that can be used to secure the sports apparatus 10 to the ground 20. In one embodiment, the sports apparatus 10 may be provided with apertures through which such pegs may pass. In an alternative embodiment, the sports apparatus 10 may be arranged so that hooks or straps pass over the base 18 to hold the sports apparatus 10 to the ground 20.

Referring to Figure 4, in a yet further embodiment of the present invention, the base 18 of the sports apparatus 10 does not rest on the ground 20.

Instead the sports apparatus 10 may be provided with an arm 30 which can be attached to a structure 32, for example, the pole of a corner flag, so that the entire sports apparatus 10 is supported off the ground 20.

In use, the sports apparatus 10 can be placed directly on a playing field or on a platform on which a user can stand. Altematively, the sports apparatus may be placed in a recess so that the ball holder 12 is at the same level that user is standing on, as shown in Figure 5. The recess may be made in the ground or in a platform that the user is standing on. Thus, a user can kick the ball easily with their foot 32.

The above embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples of the invention. Further embodiments of the invention are envisaged. For example, the sports apparatus may be arranged differently from embodiments described above to position the ball holder, and to support the ball holder, for a user to strike a ball being held and rotated by the ball holder. Further, for example, the switch for controlling the direction and speed of the motor may be different, for example two independent switches. In one embodiment a toggle switch may be used for controlling the direction of rotation of the motor and a rotary switch or a variable slide switch used for controlling the speed of the motor. The ball holder may be arranged to be interchangeable so that different size ball holders can be used to accommodate different size balls, or changed in the event that the ball holder becomes damaged. The coupling between the motor 24 and the ball holder may be a friction drive system, gears or sprocket and drive chain arrangement. The motor may be a DC motor and may be, for example, a stepper motor. The ball holder may have a fluted cdgc on which the ball may rest. The holder may alternatively be arranged so that it has an outer rim and spokes extending from a centre point of the ball holder to the rim. The base of the sports apparatus may have a large footprint and be of a greater size, for example diameter, than the ball holder so that it can provide a stable base on which the sports apparatus may stand. In one embodiment the base may be, for example, circular in shape; in other embodiments the base may include arms forming a cross like shape and which may be arranged to receive a peg or strap for releasably fixing the sports apparatus to the supporting surface. In one embodiment the sports apparatus may be provided with a number of straps, each strap being provided with a spike at either end for engaging with the supporting surface. A strap can be uscd to sccurc thc arm to the supporting surfacc by passing it over an arm of thc basc and driving the spike in each end of thc strap into the supporting surface. The soft start may be an electronic circuit that can be used, for example, to control the duty cycle of the power supplied to the motor. The duty cycle may be controlled by a triac or a chopper circuit.

Further, the sport apparatus is not limited to rotating a football and the sports apparatus and ball holder may be arranged so that any ball may be placed on the ball holder and struck therefrom, for example either directly by a person, or by a person using a striking implement such as a bat or a club.

It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any one embodiment may be used alone, or in combination with other features described, and may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other of the embodiments, or any combination of any other of the embodiments.

Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described above may also be employed without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A sports apparatus comprising: a ball holder; and a motor arranged to rotate said ball holder; wherein said sports apparatus is arranged to contact a given supporting surfice to position the ball holder for a user to strike a ball being held and rotated by the ball holder.
2. A sports apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sports apparatus is arranged such that thc ball holder has an elevation, relative to the given supporting surface, suitable for a user to kick a ball on the ball holder.
3. A sports apparatus according to claim I or claim 2, wherein the given supporting surface is the ground.
4. A sports apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the sports apparatus comprises a base for contacting said given supporting surface to position the ball holder for a user to strike a ball.
5. A sports apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the sports apparatus is arranged for adjusting thc axis of rotation of a ball being held and rotated by the ball holder.
6. A sports apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the sports apparatus comprises adjustable feet for levelling and/or stabilising the sports apparatus on the given supporting surface.
7. A sports apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the adjustable feet are arranged to engage the given supporting surface.
8. A sports apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the sports apparatus is arranged such that elevation of the ball holder is 40 millimetres or less from a level upon which a user is standing.
9. A sports apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the sports apparatus is arranged to be releasably attached to said given supporting surface.
10. A sports apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the sports apparatus is arranged to receive ballast for increasing the stability of the apparatus.
11. A sports apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the ball is a football and said ball holder is arranged to hold said football.
12. A sports apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising a control system for controlling the motor.
13. A sports apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the control system is arranged to control the motor to rotate the ball holder in opposite directions.
14. A sports apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the control system is arranged to control the speed of rotation of the motor.
15. A sports apparatus according to any of claims 12 to 14, wherein the control system is arranged to rotate the motor at 700 rpm.
16. A sports apparatus according to any of claims 12 to 15, wherein the control system includes a soft start for the motor.
17. A sports apparatus according to any of claims 12 to 16, wherein the control system is arranged to change the rotation of the motor from 0 rpm to 700 rpm.
18. A sports apparatus according to any of claims 17, wherein the control system is arranged to change the speed in discrete increments of 100 rpm.
19. A sports apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the ball holder is arranged 1kw gripping a ball to hold and rotate the ball, for a user to strike the ball from the ball holder.