WO2007135456A1

WO2007135456A1 - Target

Info

Publication number: WO2007135456A1
Application number: PCT/GB2007/050259
Authority: WO
Inventors: Imtiaz Jamil
Original assignee: Imtiaz Jamil
Priority date: 2006-05-19
Filing date: 2007-05-14
Publication date: 2007-11-29
Also published as: GB0609979D0

Abstract

The invention provides a target training device. It can attach to a goal frame and includes perpendicular and horizontal members along which the target areas can move both horizontally and vertically. Each end of these members can be attached to the goal frame in a secure manner and thus support each other. The target areas can be attached and detached easily and quickly to the vertical and horizontal members and are easily moveable along them.

Description

TARGET

This invention relates to targets, and in particular to targets for the purpose of practising games that involve shooting a ball or the like into a goal, net or basket or other target.

Many targets for the above purpose are known. For example, US4286786 discloses an inclined plate disposed within a goalpost and a net attached thereto, the inclined plate causing a football to be returned to the player after being kicked into the net. However, this arrangement does not facilitate the practising of kicking the ball into predetermined areas of the goal. US 6846253 discloses a rebound plate and a target plate, either of which can be attached to a goalpost. The rebound plate operates in similar manner to the inclined plate of US4286786. The target plate has apertures therein to provide target areas through which a football can pass into the net attached to the goalpost. US4921257 discloses a cruciform shaped plate attached to a frame that is itself attached to a goalpost. The plate defines apertures between itself and the goalpost, such apertures providing target areas at which a soccer ball should be directed. GB2293327 discloses a football net that can be attached to a goalpost, the net having non-elastic tape attached thereto to divide the net into separate areas for target practice. US4826166 discloses a plate attached to a pivotal boom mounted on a frame to which a net is attached. The position of the target plate is movable relative to the frame to provide a variable target location, a ball missing the target being retained in the net. US5628515 discloses a target plate attached to an arm that is pivotally attached to a clamp. The clamp is secured to a goalpost and the plate deflects when struck by a football. In all of these cases, the device is specifically adapted and dimensioned to be secured to a goalpost. Hence, such devices are not suitable for use in other sports. In addition, the devices are rigid and in consequence are not readily transported. US5181725 discloses a sheet having apertures therein through which a ball can pass. The sheet is tied to the crossbar of a goalpost and staked to the ground. Flaps covering the apertures can be opened to provide a choice of target aperture. Although this device does not have the disadvantage of not being readily transportable, nevertheless it is specifically adapted and dimensioned to be secured to a goalpost and is not suitable for use in other sports.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a target device that is readily transportable and can be used in a variety of sports.

The invention provides a target device comprising a disc-like member and at least one flexible attachment member secured thereto. The disc-like member may be a hoop. In this case, the hoop may have a catching/holding net attached thereto. Alternatively, the disc-like member may be a plate providing a rebound surface. In either case, the disc-like member may be circular, rectangular, triangular or star shaped (i.e. any shape), and may be substantially 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional. The disc- like member may be of metal, plastics material, wood, rubber, textile material or any combination thereof.

The attachment member may comprise a strap, which may be of a textile material, chain type metallic material or a plastic material. The attachment member may have a buckle remote from the disc-like member whereby a loop may be formed in the attachment member. Alternatively, the attachment member may have a clamp device attached thereto at the end thereof remote from the disc-like member. The disc-like member may have a plurality of attachment members secured thereto, and the attachment members may extend from the disc-like member in mutually perpendicular directions. The disc-like member may have four attachment members secured thereto.

The target device may comprise a plurality of disc-like members and an attachment member connecting a pair of adjacent disc-like members.

The target device may comprise a support to which at least one disc-like member is attached by means of at least one attachment member. The support may have a rectangular configuration, or a circular or curve shaped configuration. Alternatively, the target device may be hung onto a suitable support surface, e.g. a wall or fence. The disc-like member may be positionally adjustable relative to the support. The positional adjustment may be effected by adjustment of the attachment member, or by movement of the disc-like member along the attachment member. The support may be disposed substantially vertically, or may be inclined thereto, and the inclination may be adjustable.

The target device may have a signal device whereby a signal is generated when a ball impinges on a disc-like member. By impinge is intended to mean pass through in the case of a hoop-shaped disc-like member or strike in the case of a solid disc-like member. The signal device may be adapted to provide an audio and/or a visual signal.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a front view of one embodiment, Fig. 2 is a front view of a second embodiment, Fig. 3 is a front view of a third embodiment, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment.

Referring now to Fig. 1 , there is shown a target device 10 having a disc-like member 1 1 and an attachment member 12. The disc-like member 1 1 may be of any suitable material, such as metal, plastics material, wood, rubber, textile material or any combination of these materials. The disc-like member 11 as shown is a circular hoop, but it may be a disc and may be non- circular, e.g. rectangular, triangular or star shaped (i.e. any shape) and can be substantially 2- dimensional or 3-dimensional. The size of the disc-like member 1 1 is chosen to be suitable for the sport to be practised and the accuracy desired, e.g. having a diameter of the order of 50 cm for football, 20 cm for golf, 30 cm for tennis. The attachment member 12 comprises a strap, which may be of a textile material, chain type metallic material or a plastic material. The attachment member 12 has a buckle 13 remote from the disc-like member 1 1 whereby a loop 14 may be formed in the attachment member 12 to pass around any suitable support 15. Alternatively, the attachment member 12 may have a clamp device attached thereto at the end thereof remote from the disc-like member 1 1 whereby the target device 10 may be clamped to the support 15. The support 15 may be a frame that is provided as a part of the target device 10, or may be a goalpost or other suitable support structure, e.g. a wall or fence. In the case of a frame 15 that is part of the target device 10, the frame 15 may be adapted to be collapsed or dismantled for transportation. By adjustment of the length of the attachment member 12, the position of the disc-like member 1 1 may be adjusted vertically relative to the frame 15, and the attachment member 12 may be slid along the frame 15 for relative horizontal adjustment. By this means, the target disc-like member 11 may be placed in any desired position.

An infra-red sensor and signal device 16 is mounted on the attachment member 12, or on the disc-like member 1 1 if preferred, to sense a ball impinging on the disc-like member 1 1 , i.e. in this case the passage of a ball through the hoop-shaped disc-like member 1 1. The sensor and signal device 16 may give an audible and/or visual signal in such circumstances.

Referring now to Fig. 2, there is shown a disc-like member 21 in the form of a circular disc having four attachment members 12 attached thereto. The attachment members 12 are disposed to extend from the disc-like member 1 1 in mutually perpendicular directions. The three uppermost attachment members 12 may be attached to a frame or other support (not shown) as described above, whilst the lowermost attachment member 12 may be secured to the ground, e.g. by means of a peg or the like anchorage device, or to a base of the frame or support, or by the means of another member disposed across the bottom of the supporting frame. Referring now to Fig. 3, there is shown a target device 30 comprising a plurality of disc-like members 1 1. Although generally all of such disc-like members 1 1 would be identical in construction, size and shape, this is not necessarily the case. In the Figure, the top left-hand disc-like member 1 1 is shown having a net 31 attached to the rear thereof to capture a ball when it passes through the hoop-shaped disc-like member 1 1. In addition, the bottom right- hand disc-like member 11 is shown as rectangular. In practice, the construction size and shape of each disc-like member 1 1 may be chosen as desired. The upwardly and laterally extending outer attachment members 12o are attached to the support frame 15 as described above. As an alternative, the bottom right-hand attachment member 12o is shown with a clamp device 32 at the end remote from the disc-like member 1 1 , clamped to the frame 15. Each inner attachment member 12i is attached to an attachment member 12i of an adjacent disc-like member 1 1. The lowermost attachment members 12L are secured to the ground 33 by means of a peg or stake 34. Alternatively, the lowermost attachment members 12L may be attached to a lower member, if fitted, of the framel 5, as with a free-standing frame 15.

In the above described embodiments, the support 15 is disposed substantially vertically. However, particularly for practising a game such as golf, the support 15 may be inclined to the vertical as shown in the target device 40 of Fig. 4. The inclination of the support 15 may be adjustable, by increasing or decreasing the bending of the frame 15 between the upright and base parts or by means of hinges thereat. A second net 41 is provided at the rear of the frame 15 to retain balls that miss the target disc-like members 1 1 and nets 31.

Other embodiments of target device in accordance with the invention will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art. For example, in the case of a disc-like member 1 1 in the form of a solid disc, the sensor and signal device 16 may be a movement sensor to generate a signal when a ball strikes the disc 1 1. The size of the disc-like members 1 1 of target device 30 may be different at different locations in accordance with the desirability of targeting certain locations in preference to other locations. As an alternative to the use of a buckle 13 for positional adjustment of the disc-like members 1 1 , the disc-like members 1 1 may be movable along the attachment members 12. In such a case, the movement may be effected by hand. As a further alternative the attachment members 12 may be strings attached to the disc-like members 1 1 and passing over pulleys mounted on the frame 15, to be moved mechanically by means of one or more driving motors.

By means of the invention, a target device is provided that may be readily dismantled and is thereby conveniently transportable. In addition, the target device can readily be adapted for use in a variety of sports.

Claims

1 CLAIMS

1. A target device comprising a disc-like member and at least one flexible attachment member secured thereto.

2. A target device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the disc-like member is a hoop.

3. A target device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hoop has a net attached thereto.

4. A target device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the disc-like member is a plate.

5. A target device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the disc-like member is circular.

6. A target device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the disc-like member is rectangular.

7. A target device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the disc-like member is of metal.

8. A target device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the disc-like member is of a plastics material.

9. A target device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the disc-like member is of wood.

10. A target device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the disc-like member is of rubber.

1 1. A target device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the disc-like member is of a textile material.

12. A target device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 1 1 , wherein the attachment member is a strap.

13. A target device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the strap is of a textile material. 2

14. A target device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the strap is of a chain type metallic material.

15. A target device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the strap is of a plastics material.

16. A target device as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the attachment member has a buckle remote from the disc-like member whereby a loop may be formed in the attachment member.

17. A target device as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the attachment member has a clamp device attached thereto at the end thereof remote from the disc-like member.

18. A target device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the disc-like member has a plurality of attachment members secured thereto.

19. A target device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the attachment members extend from the disc-like member in mutually perpendicular directions.

20. A target device as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the disc-like member has four attachment members secured thereto.

21. A target device as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein the target device comprises a plurality of disc-like members and an attachment member connecting a pair of adjacent disc-like members.

22. A target device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21 , wherein the target device comprises a support to which at least one disc-like member is attached by means of at least one attachment member.

23. A target device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the support has a rectangular configuration.

24. A target device as claimed in claim 22 or claim 23, wherein the disc-like member is positionally adjustable relative to the support. 3

25. A target device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21 , wherein the target device is positionally adjustable relative to a support on which it is hung.

26. A target device as claimed in claim 24 or claim 25, wherein the positional adjustment is effected by adjustment of the attachment member.

27. A target device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the positional adjustment is effected by movement of the disc-like member along the attachment member.

28. A target device as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 27, wherein the support is disposed substantially vertically.

29. A target device as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 27, wherein the support is inclined relative to the vertical.

30. A target device as claimed in claim 29, wherein the inclination is adjustable.

31. A target device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 30, having a signal device whereby a signal is generated when a ball impinges on a disc-like member.

32. A target device as claimed in claim 31 , wherein the signal device is adapted to provide an audio signal.

33. A target device as claimed in claim 31 or claim 32, wherein the signal device is adapted to provide a visual signal.

34. A target device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 1 , Fig. 2, Fig. 3 or Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.