US3873089A

US3873089A - Athletic training apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3873089A
Application number: US424187A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald G Krug
Original assignee: KRUG BLOCKER Inc
Current assignee: KRUG BLOCKER Inc
Priority date: 1973-12-12
Filing date: 1973-12-12
Publication date: 1975-03-25
Anticipated expiration: 1992-03-25

Abstract

The modular constructed apparatus includes an elongated rod with impact members on each end and a spring means to bias the rod medially of its length. An indicator is provided for determining the greater exertion of force being applied by trainees on respective impact members. Also, the impact members may be positioned either horizontally or vertically.

Description

United States Patent [191 Krug [4 1 Mar. 25, 1975 ATHLETIC TRAINING APPARATUS 3,427,021 2/1969 Donate 273/55 R 3,514,105 5/1970 Pillard 273/55 R A 5 lnvemor- Krug Jacksonvllle, 3,578,324 4/1971 Alvey 273/55 R Assignee: Inc Jacksonvill Sheets i R Fla. Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham [22] Flled: 1973 Assistant Examiner-T. Brown 2 App] 424 1 7 Attorney, Agent, 0r Firm--Arthur G. Yeager; George H. Baldwin [52] US. Cl 273/55 R [51] Int. Cl A63b 67/00 [57] ABSTRACT [58] em of Search 273/55 R 55 272/79 The modular constructed apparatus includes an elon- 272/82 83 gated rod with impact members on each end and a spring means to bias the rod medially of its length. An [56] References Cited indicator is provided for determining the greater exertion of force being applied by trainees on respective UNITED STATES PATENTS impact members. Also, the impact members may be gages 273/55 R positioned either horizontally or vertically. aineye a..... 3,329,428 7/1967 Moran 273/55 R 10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures 1 ATHLETIC TRAINING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to athletic training apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for teaching, training and developing players in football tactics and tech niques.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART' There have been many prior art football training sleds and the like apparatus, exemplary of which are those illustrated in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,558,081; 2,653,816; 2,967,709; 3,062,547; 3,216,724; 3,329,428; 3,365,947; 3,427,021; 3,514,105; and 3,578,324. None ofthese patents either alone or in any appropriate combination anticipate the invention disclosed herein or render same unpatentable, nor are the results produced by the instant invention accomplished by the prior art, as hereinafter made apparent to those skilled in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The athletic training apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a support means and an elongated rod having opposite end portions and a medial portion slidingly attached to the support means. A pair of impact members are provided on respective rod end portions for contact with parts of the body of one or more trainees. Associated with the rod is resilient means for biasing the rod generally centrally of the support means with the end portions protruding substan tially the same distance outwardly from the support means.

Other. aspects are included in which each impact member has an elongated base and selective means for securing each base alternatively in an upright position and a horizontal position, thus providing the apparatus with increased flexibility of use. The resilient means in one embodiment includes a pair of springs located between the support means and respective impact members, while in another embodiment, includes a spring attachedto the rod generally medial ofthe rod with the ends of the spring being secured to the support means. In the one embodiment a sleeve is surroundingly disposed about and slidingly supports the rod, with the sleeve being affixed to andsupported by the support means. A pair of shoulders in the form of flanges are disposed adjacent respective impact members, and the pair of springs are located between the support means and respective shoulders or flanges. The rod includes a pair of mutually perpendicular openings which cooperate with an elongated slot in the sleeve, and a guiding pin is positioned in the slot and disposed in selected openings to rotatively position and maintain the impact members.

Another aspect of the invention is described in which the support means includes a pair of spaced upstanding posts with the resilient means being attached to and extending therebetween. Connecting means are employed to attach'the rod to the resilient means to bias the rod generally medially between the posts. The resilient means may be an elongated coiled spring affixed at each end to the posts, and the connecting means may include an element connected to and extending laterally of the rod. A pin is attached between the posts and an end portion of the element is slidingly disposed on the pin. A pair of slidable rings are mounted on the pin on respective sides of the element end portion for visually indicating the greater exertion of forces applied to one of the impact members.

In yet another aspect the support means is seen to include a generally horizontal sled and a pair of spaced posts upstanding therefrom with the coiled spring surrounding the rod. The rod has a non-circular crosssection extending at least along its medial length which slides through the posts and each post has an opening accommodating such rod of complemental shape to inhibit rotation of the rod. In this regard the impact members amy be removed and reattached to either of two mutually perpendicular positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the first embodiment of the athletic training apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, showing the alternate positions of the impact members in broken lines;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a crosssectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the second embodiment of the athletic training apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

' FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG. 7; v

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 7; and

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now more particularly to the drawings of FIGS. 1 5, the athletic training apparatus, in accord with the first embodiment of the invention, is generally designated by reference numeral 10 and includes a support means 11, such support means 11 comprising a generally horizontal, ground engaging sled l2 and a pair of spaced posts 13 and I4 rigidly connected to and upstanding therefrom.

An elongated rod 20 having a circular cross-sectional configuration is attached by means, in the form of cylindrical casing or sleeve 21 and aligned

openings

22 and 23 in respective

upper end portions

24 and 25 of posts 13. and 14, such latter means providing sliding attachment of the medial portion 26 of the rod 20 disposed therein to

theposts

13 and 14 with the outer or

opposite ends

27 and 28 respectively protruding outwardly from

post

13 and 14.

A pair of

impact members

29 and 30 are respectively mounted to the

opposite end portions

31 and 32 of rod 20 for contact with partsof the body of one or more trainees. Impact member 30, as seen in FIG. 4, includes a generally rectangular metal back plate 33 securely affixed to rod end portion 32, as by welding or the like, and a covered cushion 34 releasably fastened to back plate 33 in any conventional manner. Reinforcing ribs 35 and 35' are welded along the back plate 33 for rigidfying same, and a short sleeve or tube section 36 is also welded at end portion 37 to back .plate 33. The opposite end 38 of section 36 terminates-in an outwardly extending shoulder or flange against which an end 39 of a resilient means, in the form of a compression spring 40, is disposed. The opposite end 41 of the compression spring is in engagement with the shoulder portion 42 of upright post 14 which generallyv surrounds opening 23. Preferably, the end 41 of spring 40 is looped through the opening 23 or through a distinct other opening in post 14 to inhibit disengagement of thespring 40 from the post 14 due to a force being exerted onto impact member 29.

The resilient means, including

springs

40 and 52, surround rod 20 and bias the rod 20 generally centrally thereof with the

end portions

27 and 28 protruding substantially the same distance outwardly from

respective posts

13 and 14.

Sleeve 21 includes an elongated slot 43 through which a pin 44 extends and rides upon movement of rod 20. The rod 20 is provided with a pair of mutually

perpendicular passageways

45 and 46 and the pin 44 is selectively positioned in either of such'passageways depending on whether the

impact members

29 and 30 are to be in the generally horizontal position shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, or in the vertical position shown by brokenlines 50 of FIG. 2. This selective positioning of the

impact members

29 and 30 is readily accomplished by mere withdrawal of pin 44 from passageway 45, rotating rod 20 by 90, and then reinserting pin 44 through slot 43 and into passageway 46.

A trainee may engage one of the

impact members

29 or 30 or a pair of trainees may engage

respective impact members

29 and 30. Thus, when trainees are engaging

respective impact members

29 and 30, the trainees are participating in man to man competition and the coach or trainer can determine which trainee is hitting the impact member the hardest and which trainee is quicker to respond to the command to hit the impact member or to respond to seeing the ball hiked. With

impact members

29 and 30 in the horizontalposition, two trainees may engage each such impact member, i.e., tow trainees against two other trainees.

While the athletic training apparatus as shown in FIGS. 15, includes another sled 60 and corresponding other components identical to the components mounted on sled 12, it is to be understood that additional sleds may be added thereto or subtracted therefrom by adding or subtracting cross bars, for example,

bars

61 and 62, from such sleds. Thus, a two, four, six, eight or-ten impact members may be provided on the modular constructed training apparatus in accord with this invention.

The second embodiment of the training apparatus in accord with this invention is depicted in FIGS. 6 to 10 and is generally designated by reference numeral 70, apparatus 70 comprising a sled 71 and'a pair of upstanding posts72 and 73 slidingly supporting elongated 4 rod 74 within a pair of aligned openings, including opening 75, in

respective posts

72 and 73. The rod' 74 is preferably of a non-circular or rectangular crosssecctional configuration at least sufficiently along its medial length 76 which slides through the openings, including opening 75, of complemental shape to accommodate the non-circular cross-section of the rod 74 to prevent rotation thereof within such post openings.

The impact member 78 includes a cushion assembly 79 rigidly and removably attached to rectangular metal plate 80 by a plurality of spaced nutand bolts 8]. Extending rearwardly from and rigidly secured to each plate 80 is a socket member 82 of a complemental shaped opening 83 for the reception thereinto of the end portion 84 of rod 74, rod end portion 84 being provided with mutually

perpendicular passageway

85 and 86 through which a spring loaded locking pin 87 extends. Such an arrangement permits the alternate positioning of the impact members 78 in either the horizontal or vertical positions, but, without rotatingthe entire rod, such as is shown in the first embodiment of the invention of FIGS. 1 5.

A resilient means, in the form of an elongated coiled spring 90, is suitably affixed at its ends to the

posts

72 and 73 by U-shaped clamp 91. Spring 90 surrounds rod 74 and provides essentially the same spring action to the rod 74 as the two

coil springs

40 and 52 of the first embodiment. Means are provided for connecting rod 74 to the coil spring 90 and is seen to include an elongated pin 92 attached between

posts

72 and 73 and generally parallel with and spaced above rod 74 and spring 90 and a late-rally extending element 93 slidingly disposed on pin 92. Element 93 is rigidly affixed to and extends laterally outwardly of rod 74 generally medially thereof and extends through a turn of the coiled spring 90, as clearly shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. Thus, when one trainee is engaging the right impact member 78, the trainee would be compressing the left end .portion 94 of spring 90 while tensioning the right end portion 94 thereof. A pair of

slidable rings

96 and 97 are frictionally and slidingly disposed on pin 92 on either side of element 93 so that the trainer may suitably determine the greater exertion of force being applied to one of the impact members 79 attached to rod 74 by oppositely pushing or hitting trainees engaging such impact members, i.e., when ring 96 assumes a position further away from the element 93 after forces are applied to the impact members 79, then the right impact member 79 was hit harder than the left impact member 79, as would be visually perceived by the trainer as well as the trainees.

The sled 71 is suitably connected to another sled 100 by cross bars 101 removably attached by nuts and bolts 102 to box member 103 welded along sled 71. In this second embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, a two, four, six, eight or ten impact member training apparatus may be constructed as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art. I

While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the mventlon.

What is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an athletic training apparatus the combination comprising a support means, an elongated rod having opposite end portions and a medial portion, means for slidingly attaching said medial portion to-said support means with said opposite end portions protruding outwardly therefrom, a pair of impact members mounted on respective said rod end portions for contact with parts of the body of one or more trainees, resilient means associated with said rod for biasing said rod generally centrally of said support means with said end portions protruding substantially the same distance outwardly from said support means.

2. In the apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said impact members includes an elongated base, selective means for securing each said base alternatively in an upright position and a horizontal position.

3. In the apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said resilient means includes a pair of springs located between said support means and respective said impact members.

4. In the apparatus as defined in claim 3 further com prising a pair of sleeves surrounding said rod and located adjacent respective said impact members, each said sleeve having a shoulder extending laterally outwardly of said rod, said springs being disposed between said support means and respective said shoulders.

5. In the apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said support means includes an elongated sleeve having an elongated slot therealong, said rod including a pair of mutually perpendicular passageways therethrough, said apparatus further comprising a pin guidable in said slot and disposable in either of said passageways whereby the rotative position of said impact members may be selected.

6. In the apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said support means includes a pair of spaced upstanding posts, said resilient means being attached to and extend between said posts, means for connecting said rod to said resilient means.

7. In the apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said resilient means includes an elongated coiled spring affixed at each end to respective said posts, said means for connecting including an element connected to and extending laterally of said rod generally medially thereof, said resilient means being located between and contacted by said element and each of said posts.

8. In the apparatus as defined in claim 6 further comprising a pin attached between said posts, said element having an end portion slidingly disposed on said pin, and a pair of slidable rings disposed on said pin on respective sides of said element end portion whereby the greater exertion of force applied to one of said impact members is transmitted by said rod to said element and thence to said ring remote from said one impact member to visually indicate such greater exertion of force.

9. In the apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said support means includes a generally horizontal sled and a pair of spaced posts upstanding therefrom.

10. In the apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said resilient means includes an elongated coiled spring surrounding said rod and connected to and between said spaced posts, an element attached to said rod generally medially thereof and extending laterally outwardly therefrom and between a pair of turns of said spring, said rod having a non-circular cross-section extending at least sufficiently along its memdial length which slides through said posts, each said post having an opening generally of complemental shape to accommodate the non'circular cross-section of said rod to inhibit rotation of said rod.

Claims

1. In an athletic training apparatus the combination comprising a support means, an elongated rod having opposite end portions and a medial portion, means for slidingly attaching said medial portion to said support means with said opposite end portions protruding outwardly therefrom, a pair of impact members mounted on respective said rod end portions for contact with parts of the body of one or more trainees, resilient means associated with said rod for biasing said rod generally centrally of said support means with said end portions protruding substantially the same distance outwardly from said support means.

4. In the apparatus as defined in claim 3 further comprising a pair of sleeves surrounding said rod and located adjacent respective said impact members, each said sleeve having a shoulder extending laterally outwardly of said rod, said springs being disposed between said support means and respective said shoulders.

10. In the apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said resilient means includes an elongated coiled spring surrounding said rod and connected to and between said spaced posts, an element attached to said rod generally medially thereof and extending laterally outwardly therefrom and between a pair of turns of said spring, said rod having a non-circular cross-section extending at least sufficiently along its memdial length which slides through said posts, each said post having an opening generally of complemental shape to accommodate the non-circular cross-section of said rod to inhibit rotation of said rod.