GB2526276A

GB2526276A - Sports mannequin

Info

Publication number: GB2526276A
Application number: GB1408811.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steve Peterkin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-05-19
Filing date: 2014-05-19
Publication date: 2015-11-25
Also published as: EP3145603A1; GB201408811D0; EP3145603B1; WO2015177494A1

Abstract

A sports mannequin 1 or sports dummy comprises: an inflatable chamber 5 located within an outer casing 3; a valve (10, fig 2) passes through the outer casing to allow inflation of the chamber 5 from the exterior; the sports mannequin may include a space 7 to receive a weighting member (13, fig 3) the weighting member (13) may be a hollow container which receives a ballast material; the weighting member 13 is preferably dome shaped so that the mannequin is self righting; carrying straps (11, fig 3) may be provided on the outer casing 3. An inflatable sports mannequin including a chamber for a weighting member and a sports mannequin including a removable weight member are also disclosed.

Description

Sports Mannequin

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sports mannequin.

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Background of the Invention

Sports mannequins are commonly used for training. For example, in football (soccer) players will often practise free-kicks with one or mannequins set up between them and a target to simulate a wall of players, as will be the case in a real-life match. Mannequins may also be used for other play scenarios, for example for dribbling practice.

Other sports, including rugby and basketball, also employ mannequins for similar training purposes.

Conventional mannequins usually comprise a relatively rigid or inflatable body-shaped member that can be secured to the ground, e.g. using spikes or studs, or which is weighted to secure the mannequin in position. The body-shaped member is generally elongate with a head-shaped part at the top so as to resemble the profile of a sports player.

In the case of inflatable mannequins, which are convenient for portability and storage conventional ones comprise a sino-le-skin body with a valve to enable c h inflation and deflation. At the base is often provided a weighted disk fixed within the skin, having a flat bottom so that the mannequin when inflated stands upright on flat ground. Such mannequins tend to have a limited life due to the skin being eventually damaged and punctured following repeated use. Ihe fixed base within the skin, at its upper surface where it abuts the wa1, can over time a'so result in weakness around that area. The base a'so limits the extent to which the mannequin can be flattened for storage.

Summary of the Invention

S A first aspect of the invention provides a sports mannequin comprising: an inflatable chamber located within a flexible outer casing with an inlet valve to the inflatable chamber passing through the outer casing so that, in use, the inflatable chamber can be inflated from a position to the exterior.

The flexible outer casing may be provided with at least one exterior arm strap to enable carrying of the mannequin. A pair of arm straps may be provided, for example, so that the mannequin can be transported when inflated and deflated in the manner of a ruck sack.

The mannequin may further comprise a weighting member for location at or near one end of the outer casing. Ihe weighting member may comprise a hollow unit which in use can be filled with weighting material. Ihe weighting member may comprise a base container with a removable lid to allow the weighting material to be introduced. Ihe weighting member may be shaped so as to be self-righting so that, in use, the sports mannequin when inflated is maintained in a substantially upright orientation and will return to said orientation when struck. The weighting member may comprise a substantially dome-shaped base. The weiglTdng member may have a separate lid. The lid may have one or more holes. The weighting member may be removable from the outer casing by means of accessing its interior using a slide-fastener provided in the outer casing wall. Ihe fastener may be a zip, fin example.

Ihe weighting member may in use be positioned between the inflatable chamber and one end of the outer casing so that when the chamber is inflated the weighting member is substantially secured in position. The weighting n-ien-iber may be secured in posrtl()n within the outer casing by means of a strap or similar fastener.

S The inflatable chamber and outer casing may be formed of such a shape that, when the chamber is inflated, the mannequin assumes a li)ngltudinal form to mimic the approximate shape of a sports person.

A further aspect of the invention provides a sports mannequin comprising an outer flexible casing, an inner inflatable chamber and a weighting member that in use locates between the chamber, when inflated, and one end of the outer casing's interior surface.

A ifirther aspect provides an inflatable sports mannequin comprising a removable weighting member. The weighting member may be self-righting.

A further aspect provides an inflatable sports mannequin comprising a outer casing, an inflatable chamber located within the outer casing and which has an inflating valve accessible from the exterior of the casing, and a removable, self-righting, weight member that in use is positioned below the inflatable chamber.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example \Vith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a sports mannequin according to the invention, when deflated; Figure 2 is a reverse plan view of the Figure 1 mannequin; Figure 3 is a reverse plan view of the Figure 1 mannequin, with a lower part shown open, 11Th) which a removable weighdng part can be inserted; Figure 4 shows views of a base section of the weighting part; Figure 5 shows views of a lid seedon of the weighting part; and S Figure 6 is a plan view of the sports mannequin of Figure 1, when inflated.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment(s)

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, which show front and reverse sides respectively, an inflatable sports mannequin 1 is shown when deflated. It comprises an outer casing 3 formed of flexible material which has a shape similar to a human torso. Within the interior space of the outer casing 3 is situated an inflatable bladder 5. The inflatable bladder 5 is connected to the outer casing 3 by an air valve 10 which is located on the head part of the casing. The upper part of the bladder 5 may be adhered to the casing 3 also, e.g. using glue, although this is not essential.

In this form, the mannequin can be easily stored, e.g. by folding or rolling up.

Ihe bladder 5 in its deflated form resembles an elongate rectangle and when inflated will expand to substantially fill the available interior space within the casing 3, resulting in a three-dimensional inflated mannequin resembling a sports player.

The lower part of the outer casing 3 has a space 7 within which a weighting member (not shown) is arranged to be removably located. A slide fastener, in this case a zip fastener 9, enables user access to the space 7 to insert and remove the weighting member. Ihe weighting member provides ballast to the inflated mannequin i so that, in use, it will not be easily blown over or away by the wind, and/or by a ball or person striking it. Straps (not shown)

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may be provided both above and below the zip fastener 9 which join, e.g. using Velcro, over the zip.

A pair of arm straps 11 is provided on the rear side of the outer casing 3. This S permits the mannequin 1, when inflated and deflated, to be easily moved by carrying it in the manner of a nick-sack. One such strap 11 is sufficient, but here a pair are provided.

Referring to Figure 3, the mannequin 1 is shown from the rear side with the zip fastener 9 open to reveal the inside 19 of the lower space 7. The weighting member 13 referred to above is shown when removed from the mannequin 1; it comprises a base 15 and a lid 17 which detachably locates on the upper (open) part of the base. Ihe interior of the base 15 is hollow to allow ballast material, e.g. sand, to be inserted and removed. In use, the weighting member 13 is easily inserted through the zip fastener 13 into the space 7 where it is situated against the inner base wail of the outer casing 3. \Vhen in position, the zip fastener 13 is closed.

In another embodiment, internal straps or similar fastening means may be provided to secure the weighting member 13 in position inside the outer casing 3.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, close-up views of the weighting member 13 are shown. The base 15 is shown in Figure 4a, where it will be seen that it is substantially hemispherical with an upper lip 21 over which the lid 17 locates in use. Referring to I igure 4b, projecting from the lowermost point of the base's inner surface is an upright and hollow tube 23 for receiving a peg of the lid 1 7, to secure both parts together.

Figures Saand 5b show the lid 17. The lid 17 comprises a substantia'ly circular plate having a peripheral lip 33 which in use locates over the upper lip 21 of the base 15. A central peg 29 in use kcates within the ho'low tube 23 of the base 15, as already mendoned. One or more holes 30 are provided in the lid 17.

Ballast material can be introduced into the base 15 when the lid 17 is removed from the base; alternatively, or additionally, ballast can be inserted, or topped-up, through the or each hole 30, which also provide a way of visually gauging how much ballast material is inside.

Figure 6 shows the mannequin 1 when the above-mentioned weighting member 13 is located within the outer casing 3, and the bladder 5 then inflated. This inflating of the bladder 5 causes (by virtue of its shape and dimensions) the bladder's expansion against the upper surface (the lid 17) of the weighting member 13; this secures the weighting member 13 between the bladder 5 and the base section of the outer casing 3 which assumes a shape similar to that of the base 15, i.e. dome-shaped or hemispherical. In this way, the inflated mannequin I is self-righting, as well as weighted-down. Wind or contact by a ball or player will not only keep the mannequin 1 stable, but also upright.

To summarise, the inflatable mannequin I described herein comprises a double-skin structure, made up of an outer skin or casing 3 and an internal, inflatable bladder. Therefore, the mannequin 1 is more durable and will not deflate if the outer casing 3 is punctured. Ihe outer casing 3 will be made of a more durable material than the bladder 5, whether in terms of the material quality or thickness. If one of the skins becomes damaged, the other one can be replaced, without the user having to purchase or replace the entire product.

Further, the mannequin I is easily flattened and stored when not required for use; the mannequin can be ro&d-up, for exampk. The removable weighting member 13 can be removed and stored elsewhere, or used with another S mannequin.

It will be appreciated that the above described embodiments are purely illustrative and are not limiting on the scope of the invention. Other variations and modificathons will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reading the present application.

Moreover, the disclosure of the present application should be understood to include any novel features or any novel combination of features either explicitly or implicitly disclosed herein or any generalization thereof and during the prosecution of the present application or of any application derived therefrom, ne\v claims may be formulated to cover any such features and/or combination of such features.

Claims

Claims 1. A sports mannequin comprising: an inflatable chamber located within S a flexible outer casing with an inlet valve to the inflatable chamber passing through the outer casing so that, in use, the inflatable chamber can be inflated from a position to the exterior.
2. Ihe mannequin of claim 1, herein the flexible outer casing is provided with at least one exterior arm strap to enable carrying of the mannequin.
3. Ihe mannequin of claim I or claim 2, further comprising a weighting member for location at or near one end of the outer casinQ hS
4. The mannequin of daim 3, wherein the weighting member comprises a hollow unit which in use can be filled with weighting material.
5. The mannequin of claim 4, wherein the weighting member comprises a base container with a removable lid to allow the weighting material to be introduced.
6. lhe mannequin of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the weighting member is shaped so as to be self-righting so that, in use, the sports mannequin when inflated is maintained in a substantially upright orientation and will return to said orientation when struck.
7. The mannequin of claim 6, wherein the weiglTdng member comprises a substantially dome-shaped base.
8. The mannequ n of any of claims 3 to 7, wherein the weighting member is removable from the outer casing by means of accessing its interior using a slide-fastener provided in the outer casing wall.

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9. The mannequin of any of claims 3 to 7, wherein the weighting member is in use positioned between the inflatable chamber and one end of the outer casing so that when the chamber is inflated the weighting member is substantially secured in position.
10. The mannequin according to claim 8 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the weighting member may be secured in position within the outer casing by means of a strap or similar fastener.
11. The mannequin of any preceding claim, wherein the inflatable chamber and outer casing are formed of such a shape that, when the chamber is inflated, the mannequin assumes a longitudinal form to mimic the approximate shape of a sports person.
12. A sports mannequin comprising an outer flexible casing, an inner inflatable chamber and a weighting member that in use locates between the chamber, when inflated, and one end of the outer casing's interior surface.
13. An inflatable sports mannequin comprising a removable weighting member.
14. Ihe inflatable sports mannequin of claim 13, wherein the weighting member is self-righting.
15. An inflatable sports mannequin comprising a outer casing, an inflataHe chamber located within the outer casing and which has an inflating valve accessibk from the exterior of the casing, and a removaNe, seW-righting, weight member that in use is positioned below the inflatable chamber.S