WO1996023553A1

WO1996023553A1 - Apparatus for ball games

Info

Publication number: WO1996023553A1
Application number: PCT/GB1996/000225
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lee John Gater; Graham Albert Leach
Original assignee: Lee John Gater; Graham Albert Leach
Priority date: 1995-02-04
Filing date: 1996-02-05
Publication date: 1996-08-08
Also published as: AU4628096A; GB9502220D0

Abstract

The invention relates to apparatus for improving the passing, shooting and striking skills of a sports person comprising a member (10), an aperture (14) extending through the member through which a sporting device can pass and means (15) for limiting the motion of a sporting device after it has passed through said aperture.

Description

APPARATUS FOR BALL GAMES

This invention relates to apparatus for ball games. In particular the

invention relates to apparatus for improving the passing, shooting and striking skills of a sportsperson, specifically in those sports where such skills

are required. In certain ball games it is advantageous if a player has the ability to accurately kick, head, hit or throw a ball in a desired direction. In particular, in the game of soccer the goal keeper can often be beaten by a well directed shot on goal. Indeed, the ability to kick or head the ball accurately in a given direction is one of the basic skills of soccer. It is therefore in a soccer

player's interest to improve these skills.

Furthermore, sports such as rugby league, rugby union, hockey and

so on, accurate striking of the sporting device, usually a ball, is an essential skill required by the sportsperson.

An object of the present invention is to provide apparatus which can be used to improve a sportsperson's passing, shooting and striking

accuracy.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for use

in practising passing, shooting and striking skills comprising a member, an aperture extending through the member through which a sporting device can pass, and means for limiting the motion of a sporting device after it has passed through said aperture, said motion limiting means being adapted to

release the sporting device after its motion has been limited, and said

aperture being in an upright plane. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention said member comprises a board having a front face and a back face with said aperture extending from the front face to the back face.

Preferably said aperture has a maximum span less than three times the diameter of a soccer ball. More preferably the maximum span is less than two times the diameter of a soccer ball, and more preferably still it is less than 1.5 times the diameter of a soccer ball.

Preferably said aperture is circular and in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention has a diameter of 1.4 times the diameter of a football. Therefore since a standard football has a diameter of approximately 25 cm (10 inches) the aperture has a diameter of approximately 35 cm (14 inches) in this case.

Preferably said motion limiting means is provided by a net on the back face of the board around said aperture. The net limits the motion of a sporting device after the ball has passed through the aperture via the front face of the board. The net has an opening through which the sporting device is released after the motion of the device has been limited.

With this arrangement a sportsperson can practise his/her passing and

shooting accuracy by trying to kick, head or strike a sporting device through the aperture via the front face of the board into the net of the apparatus. The apparatus can be used for improving skills for many sports and ball games. It may also be used as a game to provide fun and entertainment as opposed to serious training.

Preferably the apparatus can be releasably connected by a suitable means, to the cross bar and/or the goal post of a soccer goal. In this way the apparatus can be positioned near the top or bottom corners of the goal

for example, enabling a sportsperson such as a soccer player to practise shooting into the areas of the goal which are generally the most difficult for a goal keeper to cover. This also enables a sportsperson to practice accurate striking of any

sporting device at various heights and positions.

Alternatively the apparatus may be connected to any suitable object

such as a pole held upright by a base or by virtue of part of the pole penetrating into the ground.

The apparatus may be made from plastic, wood, metal or any synthetic material or any combination of these as appropriate.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :-

Fig. 1 is a front view of apparatus according to the invention

connected to an upright pole;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the apparatus shown in Fig.1 ;

Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment of the invention (front view)

connected to a soccer goal;

Fig. 4 is a front view of a soccer goal showing four pieces of

apparatus according to the invention;

Fig. 5 is a front view of a soccer goal showing three pieces of

apparatus according to the invention; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of Fig. 5. Referring to the drawings, the apparatus 10 comprises a board 11 having a front face 12 and a back face 13 and an aperture 14 therethrough. A net 15 is connected to the back face 13 of the board 11 around the aperture 14.

The net 15 is shaped rather like a wind sock so that it is tubular with an opening 16 at the opposite end from the end where it is connected to the board 1 1. This opening 16 allows a ball to fall out of the net after the ball has passed through the aperture 14 and along the tubular portion of the net

15.

The tubular portion of the net is collapsed since the net hangs down from its point of connection with the board 11. After a soccer ball has passed through the aperture 14 it separates the collapsed net as it passes therethrough. This limits the motion of the ball after passing through the aperture 14 and before being released by the opening 16.

The size and shape of the aperture 14 is such that it will easily accept the ball intended to pass therethrough.

In Figs. 1 and 2 one embodiment of the apparatus 10 is connected to an upright pole 17 held by a base 18. The base may be of the type that is

filled with water and often used for supporting a sun umbrella for example. The upright pole 17 may have a spring portion 24 so that the apparatus is less likely to be damaged by a particularly strong strike. The apparatus is releasabiy connected to the pole 17 by connection means 19 which may take the form of split ring cradles which can be secured around the pole. Alternatively any suitable connection means may be used. The apparatus may be connected to the pole at any suitable height.

To use this arrangement for practising soccer skills the player's object is to kick or head a football through the aperture 14 in the front face 12 of the board from a certain distance away from the apparatus. After passing through the aperture 14 the football enters the net 15 and falls to the ground

via the opening 16 in the bottom of the net. To vary the level of difficulty

in kicking or heading the ball through the aperture the player can kick or head the ball from various distances away from the apparatus. Alternatively more than one piece of apparatus may be provided at a fixed distance, each having an aperture with a different size.

In Fig. 3 a second embodiment of the apparatus 10 is connected to a soccer goal 20 in the vicinity of one of the top corners. The apparatus 10 is releasabiy connected to the cross bar 21 and one of the goal posts 22 and can be alternated between each top corner.

With this arrangement a soccer player can practise his/her shooting ability by aiming to kick or head a football through the aperture 14 which is

located near the top corner of the goal, one of the hardest areas of the goal for a goalkeeper to cover.

In Fig. 4 four apparatuses 10 are connected to a soccer goal 20 at

various positions along the cross bar 21. An additional bar 23 is shown to which each apparatus is connected for improved rigidity.

With this arrangement the aperture 14 of each apparatus 10 lies just

below the cross bar 21 of the goal and so a soccer player can practice shooting into these areas of the goal. Alternatively one or more apparatuses may be provided on the goal posts 22 for practising shooting into the corner of the goal.

In Fig. 5 three apparatus 10 are releasabiy connected to two bars 26 and 27. The bars 26 and 27 are releasabiy connected at one end to a soccer goal 20 at positions 24 and 25 along the cross bar 21. With this arrangement the apertures 14 of each apparatus 10 lie below each other at

varying heights in the goal 20 and so a soccer player can practice shooting into these areas of the goal.

In Fig. 6 one of the bars 24 to which the apparatus 10 are connected is seen to be releasabiy connected to cross bar 21 by means of a curved

portion 28 which allows the two bars 24 and 25 to hook onto cross bar 21.

There is a corresponding curved portion at the upper end of bar 25 which cannot be seen.

In Figs. 3, 4 and 5 the goal needn't necessarily be a soccer goal. The figures may similarly apply to a hockey goal where a hockey player may practise striking a hockey puck with a hockey stick into the goal. The apparatus is not limited to any one particular sport and the apparatus may be used for practising a player's skills in other games and sports.

Of course as well as practising striking skills for improving a player's

accuracy to direct a sporting device in a desired direction, the apparatus of

the invention may also be used for fun or entertainment.

It should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the above description and many variations and modifications are possible.

Claims

b CLAIMS

1. An apparatus for use in practising passing, shooting and striking skills comprising a member, an aperture extending through the member through which a sporting device can pass, and means for limiting the motion of a sporting device after it has passed through said aperture. 0 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said motion limiting

means is adapted to release the sporting device after its motion has been limited.

3. An apparatus as defined in claims 1 or 2, wherein said aperture is in an upright plane. 5

4. An apparatus as defined in any preceding claim, wherein said member comprises a board having a front face and a back face with said aperture extending from the front face to the back face.

5. An apparatus as defined in any proceeding claim, where said motion limiting means is provided by a net on the back face of the board around

0 said aperture.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said net has an opening through which the sporting device is released after the motion of the device

has been limited.

7. An apparatus as defined in any preceding claim, wherein the 5 apparatus can be releasabiy connected by a suitable means, to the cross bar

and/or the goal post of a goal.

8. An apparatus as defined in any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus may be connected to a pole held upright by a base. b

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the said pole is held upright by virtue of part of the pole penetrating into the ground.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 or 9, wherein the upright pole is characterised by a spring portion so that the apparatus is less likely to be damaged by a particularly strong strike. 0

11. An apparatus as defined in any of claims 8 to I0, wherein the apparatus is releasabiy connected to the pole by connection means such as split ring cradles, which are secured around the pole.

12. An apparatus as defined in any preceding claim wherein said aperture is circular.

5 13. An apparatus as defined in any preceding claim wherein said aperture has a maximum span less than three times the diameter of a soccer ball.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said aperture has a maximum span less than 1.5 times the diameter of a soccer ball.