GB2525401A

GB2525401A - Ball game practice device

Info

Publication number: GB2525401A
Application number: GB1407125.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard John Albert Gordon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-04-23
Filing date: 2014-04-23
Publication date: 2015-10-28
Anticipated expiration: 2034-04-23
Also published as: GB201407125D0; GB2525401B

Abstract

A ball game practice device 10 comprises a base portion, a ball 47 attached to an upper end of a rod 44, the lower end of the rod being mounted for rotary motion relative to the base portion on an axis extending transverse to the length of the rod, the device further comprising an elastic cord 33 for effecting return of the rod after the ball has been struck, one end of the chord (32, figure 4) being anchored to move in synchronism with the rod and the other end 35 being anchored to the base portion, and a catch 34 for engagement with the cord whereby further return movement of the rod is restrained. The lower end of the rod is preferably attached to a carrier mounted for rotary motion. The carrier may comprise an arcuate surface, with the cord being deployed in contact with the surface. The carrier is most preferably a wheel 29.

Description

Ball Game Practice Device This invention relates to a ball game practice device.

In US 6,659,891 there is disclosed a ball game practice device including a base portion, a rod, one end portion of which has attached thereto a ball and a remote end portion of which is mounted for rotary motion relative to the base portion on an axis extending transverse to a central longitudinal axis of the rod, and an elastic cord for effecting return of the rod after the ball has been struck.

The cord is in the form of an endless loop which extends in two elastic strips parallel and on either side of the axis of rotation of the rod. When the ball is struck with sufficient power such as to pivot the rod away from the player and move downwardly forcefully to strike one of the strips, it bounces back, due to the resilient characteristics of the cord, as a result of which the ball is raised to a position such that it can be re-hit by subsequent strike action on the part of the player.

A disadvantage of such a device is that, in operation, the ball is not under any control during a return movement. The ball needs to be struck with some force if the rod is to bounce back up off either of the elastic strips and the problem is that the rod is likely to bounce with such force that it swings back against the other of the strips and then rebounds from that. This process can continue for some time before the player can intervene to strike the ball.

it is desirable, therefore, to provide a ball game practice device in which the bail is under control during a return movement.

According to the present invention, there is provided a ball game practice device including a base portion, a rod, one end portion of which has attached thereto a ball and a remote end portion of which is mounted for rotary motion relative to the base portion on an axis extending transverse to a central longitudinal axis of the rod, and an elastic cord for effecting return of the rod after the ball has been struck wherein one end portion of the cord is anchored so as to move in synchronism with movement of the rod and a remote end portion is anchored to the base portion and there is provided a catch for engagement with the cord as the rod returns whereby further return movement of the rod is restrained and the ball is held at a predetermined height from a surface supporting the base portion.

Following is a description, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of one method of carrying the invention into effect.

In the drawings:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a ball game practice device in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a front elevation, Figure 3 is a rear elevation, Figure 4 is a side view in the direction of arrow "A" of Figure 2, Figure 5 is a side view in the direction of arrow "B" of Figure 2, Figure 6 is a plan view from above, and Figure 7 is a view from below.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a ball game practice device, generally designated 10, comprising a base portion 11, a wheel unit 12 and a ball arm 13.

The base portion 11 is formed of an elongate metal plate having an upper surface 14, an upstanding rear wall 15 and right and left-hand upstanding side walls 16, 17, as viewed in Figure 2.

A lower surface is covered with rubber pin matting 18. The rear wall 15 is provided with central upper and lower apertures (not shown) and the right-hand side wall 16 is provided with an aperture (not shown) through which extends the shank of a hook bolt 19, this being secured in place relative to the side wall 16 by means of a cap nut 20.

The wheel unit 12 comprises a metal tube 21 of rectangular transverse cross section having an end cap 22 and front and rear walls of the tube 21 are provided with pairs of apertures (not shown) located adjacent an end remote from the end cap 22 and spaced one from another longitudinally of the tube 21 a distance corresponding to the distance separating the central upper and lower apertures of the rear wall 15 of the base portion 11. Front and rear walls of the tube 21 are also each provided with a threaded aperture (not shown), the apertures being in register one with the other and being located intermediate the end cap 22 and the pairs of apertures remote from the end cap 22, for receiving the threaded end portion of the shank of a bolt 23, the shank having a plain portion intermediate the threaded end portion and the head thereof. The bolt 23 extends through a bore (not shown) of a central column 24 of a wheel 25, through an inner washer 26 and an outer washer 27, the washers 26,27 being located facing the front and rear surfaces of the tube 21, and is secured relative to the tube 21 by means of a cap nut 28. An inlet of the central column 24 is stepped to provide a recessed shoulder (not shown) against which the head of the bolt 23 abuts and the arrangement is such that the wheel 25 is located between the head of the bolt 23 and the inner washer 26 and is free-running on the plain portion of the bolt 23.

The wheel 25 is formed of plastics material in two parts, a first part including a rear disc portion 29 integral with the central column 24 and a circumferential rim 30 and a second part comprising an annular front disc 31. An internal circumferential surface of the rim 30 and an external circumferential surface of the front disc 31 are provided with complimentary screw threads so that front disc 31 can be screwed into engagement with the rim 30. The rim 30 is provided with a first aperture 32 for receiving one end portion of an elastic cord 33, the end of the cord being knotted inside of the rim 3Oso as to anchor the cord 33 relative to the rim 30, and a pair of apertures (not shown) for receiving respective end portions of a U bolt 34, this being secured relative to the rim by means of nuts (not shown). A remote end portion of the cord 33 is threaded through the hoop formed by the U bolt 34 and is formed in a loop 35 and secured to itself by means of a crimp 36.

An outer surface of the front disc 31 of the wheel 25 has secured thereto by means of screws 37, 38 and 39, 40 upper and lower "eye" guides 41 and 42 located at opposite ends of a diameter of the front disc 31, the upper guide 41 being provided with a thumb screw 43 having a screw-threaded shank arranged such that, when the screw 43 is turned relative to the guide 41, the shank moves across the "eye" aperture of the guide 41.

The ball arm 13 comprises an aluminium rod 44 of rectangular transverse cross section, an upper end portion 45 of which is formed such that the central longitudinal axis of that end portion 45 extends at an angle to the central longitudinal axis of the remaining portion of the rod 44. The free end of the upper end portion 45 is provided with a screw thread (not shown) and the upper end portion 45 has secured thereto, at a location spaced inwardly of the screw thread, an aluminium washer 46. The upper end portion 45 of the rod 44 has located thereon a baIl 47 formed of high density foam material, the ball 47 being provided with a bore (not shown) for receiving the upper end portion 45 of the rod 44. The ball 47 is held in place by means of a screw cap 48 which is screwed onto the threaded end portion of the rod 44 such that the ball 47 is squeezed between the washer 46 and the cap 48. The ball 47 is thus held in position on the rod 44.

The wheel unit 12 is assembled with the base portion 11 by placing a lower rear surface of the tube 21 of the wheel unit 12 against the front surface of the rear wall 15 of the base portion 11, aligning the central upper and lower apertures of the rear wall 15 of the base portion 11 with the respective pairs of apertures remote from the end cap 22 of the tube 21, inserting the shanks of bolts 49, 50 through the respective aligned apertures and screwing wing nuts 51, 52 onto the shanks of the bolts 48, 49 so as, thereby, to secure the components 11 and 12 one to another. The loop 35 of the cord 33 is then hooked onto the hook bolt 19, thereby tensioning the cord 33.

The assembly is then placed in an upright position with the pin-matting surface 18 in contact with a ground surface and the lower end of the rod 44 is fed successively through the "eyes" of the guides 41,42 such that a lower surface of the rectangular cross-sectional rod 44 extends through an acute angle, relative to the ground, in transition from the main portion of the rod 44 to the upper end portion 45. The rod 44 is adjusted in a longitudinal direction of the rod until the ball 47 is at a height from the ground suitable for the person who will use the device 10. The thumb screw 43 is then turned so that the shank thereof engages the rod 44 and secures the rod relative to the wheel 25. On release of the rod 44, the cord 33 further tensions, due to the effect of gravity acting on the ball 47 causing turning of the wheel 25 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, relative to the central longitudinal axis of the bolt 23 but such turning movement is restrained due to the U bolt 34 engaging with, or "catching", the cord 33. The ball 47 thus held in tension at a "rest" position and is maintained at a height from the ground that is predetermined at the moment when the height adjustment was made.

The device 10 is now ready for use. This is achieved by striking the ball 47 with a racquet in a direction from right to left when viewed in Figure 2. The force applied to the ball 47 causes the wheel 25 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the bolt 23, thereby extending the cord 33 through the hoop formed by the U bolt 34 and applying increased tension in the cord 33. When the energy imparted to the ball 47 has dissipated, tension in the cord 33 is released and the cord retracts, turning the wheel 25 in a clockwise direction, whereby the rod 44 returns to the rest position with the baIl 47 at the predetermined height from the ground surface.

The situation whereby the ball 47 is maintained at a predetermined height from a ground surface is advantageous for novice players because they do not need to be concerned about dropping a ball so that it bounces to a height at which it can be successfully struck; instead, they can concentrate on ensuring that, as the racquet meets the ball, the plane containing the strings of the racquet is transverse to the direction of strike through the ball 47.

It has been found that the best results are achieved if, at the rest position, the rod 44 is arranged so that the central longitudinal axis of the main part of the rod extends at an angle of approximately 30 degrees to the right, when viewed in Figure 2, of a central longitudinal axis of the tube 21 and the central longitudinal axis of the upper end portion 45 of the rod 44 extends at an angle of approximately 60 degrees to the central longitudinal axis of the tube 21.

The arrangement whereby the upper end portion 45 of the rod 44 extends at an angle to the main part of the rod provides for avoidance of the racquet of a player engaging the main part of the rod 44 in the event that the player does not make perfect contact with the ball 47 when stroking the ball with the racquet.

Preferably, the length of the rod 44 is greater than the diameter of the wheel 25 by a factor of 2.5.

Such dimensions provide for a compact package when the components 11, 12 and 13 are separate from one another and this provides for ease of transportation.

Claims

Claims 1. A ball game practice device including a base portion, a rod one end portion of which has attached thereto a ball and a remote end portion of which is mounted for rotary motion relative to the base portion on an axis extending transverse to a central longitudinal axis of the rod, and an elastic cord for effecting return of the rod after the ball has been struck, wherein one end portion of the cord is anchored so as to move in synchronism with movement of the rod and a remote end portion of which is anchored to the base portion and there is provided a catch for engagement with the cord as the rod returns whereby further return movement of the rod is restrained and the ball is held at a predetermined height from a surface supporting the base portion.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said remote end portion of the rod is attached to a carrier which is mounted for rotary motion relative to the base portion on the said axis.
3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the carrier is provided with an arcuate surface and the cord is deployed in contact with the surface.
4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the carrier is a wheel.
5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the length of the rod is greater than the diameter of the wheel by a factor of at least 2.5.
6. A device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the rod is adjustable relative to the carrier in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the rod.
7. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the catch comprises a U bolt which provides a guide for the cord.
8. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the rod is of rectangular transverse cross-section.
9. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the end portion of the rod that is attached to the ball is threaded, is provided inwardly of the thread with a disc secured thereto and is provided with a screw-threaded knob screwed onto the thread of the rod so that the ball, which is provided with a diametrically extending bore, is received on the rod, extending through the bore, and is locateJ between the disc and the knob.
10. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the central longitudinal axis of an end portion of the rod which carries the ball extends at an angle to the central longitudinal axis of the remaining portion of the rod.
11. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein, at a rest position, the central longitudinal axis of the remaining portion of the rod extends at an angle of 30 degrees in a plane of rotation of the rod from a plane at right angles to the rotational plane and towards the position where the remote end portion of the cord Is anthored.12. A device as claimed in claim 11 wherein, at the rest position, the central longitudinal axis of the end portion of the rod extends at an angle of 60 degrees in the plane of rotation of the rod from the plane at right angles to the rotational plane and towards the position where the remote end portion of the cord is anchored.10. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the central longitudinal axis of an end portion of the rod which carries the ball extends at an angle to the central longitudinal axis of the remaining portion of the rod.11. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein, at a rest position, the central longitudinal axis of the remaining portion of the rod extends at an angle of 30 degrees in a plane of rotation of the rod from a plane at right angles to the rotational plane and towards the position where the remote end portion of the cord is anchored.
12. A device as claimed in claim 11 wherein, at the rest position, the central longitudinal axis of the end portion of the rod extends at an angle of 60 degrees in the plane of rotation of the rod from the plane at right angles to the rotational plane and towards the position where the remote end portion of the cord is anchored.