WO2007141407A1

WO2007141407A1 - Shock absorber and returner of balls and bowls

Info

Publication number: WO2007141407A1
Application number: PCT/FR2007/000882
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-François VINCENT
Original assignee: Vincent Jean-Francois
Priority date: 2006-06-08
Filing date: 2007-05-25
Publication date: 2007-12-13
Also published as: FR2902021A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device allowing a player to throw or shoot balls and bowls of all normal sizes and then retrieve them without having to collect them from a long distance. The device consists of one or more hollow volumes which may be closed or open and which comprise one or more more or less inclined straight or curved flexible panels (FIG 69 - 87), with flanges (91), a filling hole (92), electronic sensors (93), fixing and connecting points (94), graphics or illustrations (95), depressions or reliefs (97), a projection (98), attachment points (99) connecting a bowl (102), a gate (108) connecting a skittle (110), and an arch (114). The principle of the device is that it stops the projectile thrown or shot at the “vertical” panel (FIG 1 - 51) which drops it onto the panel beneath (55) which, being sloped, returns it to the shooter or thrower. The device thus saves the player the trouble of going a long distance to collect the thrown ball or bowl and thus develops his interest in the essential and rewarding techniques of his play or of his sport so that he makes faster progress.

Description

The present invention relates to a device whose purpose is to damp a ball, a ball, a ball or a ball thrown by a player, and to return these projectiles to the thrower. Currently a lone footballer is shooting a ball that goes, either in the goal box or next to it. In any case, he will have to look for his ball, either in the net of the goal cage, or in the distance, before he can play again.

In this search for the ball, the player loses time without learning anything. He prefers to use this lost time to execute several more shots if the ball is returned to him after each shot. In addition, this referral increases his interest in the game and allows him to progress faster in the essential gestures of his sport, such as shooting on goal.

In order to overcome the drawbacks of this sterile search for a ball, a balloon, the invention consists in joining in a single volume, preferably hollow and closed, two flexible panels, made for example with a synthetic material such as polyethylene, by the Rotational molding process, thermoforming, blowing, injection ....

For the flexibility of the panels, one plays on their dimensions or the thickness of the material and also, for example on the density of the polyethylene used. Furthermore the synthetic material will preferably be resistant to U.V., food grade, colored by pigments in its mass and recyclable. Finally this material can also be a canvas, a metal sheet or a wood chipboard.

FIG. 1 illustrates this device. The hollow volume of said device with rounded edges and edges, so as not to injure, comprises a first panel 51, almost vertical, surmounting a second panel 55, slightly inclined, with openings 59 to fix it to the ground or connect it to other similar elements, with flanges 63 on the sides of the base inclined plane 55, a filling orifice 66 for introducing a liquid or a divided solid into the volume to better stabilize it by its weight, engravings or illustrations 67, sensors 69 which can give indications on the accuracy of the shot or the throw, its power, its speed etc .... and display them on a suitable screen nearby. In addition this volume can be overcome by a net 70 that can be fixing, for example by embedding its armature, in sleeves 71 provided for this purpose in said volume, and whose bottom base 55 may also have depressions 73 to facilitate the interlocking of a pallet carrier for transport.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The shooter sends the balloon on the flexible "vertical" panel 51 or on the net 70, which, by their flexibility, sinks slightly under the shock, which cancels its dynamics. The balloon then falls on the flexible panel 55, underneath without bouncing for the same reason as that mentioned above, and the inclination and the edges 63 of said panel return it to the shooter.

By clumsiness, a pitcher or shooter can miss the FIG 1 volume.

Also, it may be wise to juxtapose many of these elements, either in a straight line or in a concentric broken line for a more precise reference to the player. In this case the base supporting the inclined panel 55 is preferably trapezoidal FIG 2.

The juxtaposition of the hollow volumes can be realized with different modes of assembly: embedding, tenon and mortise, screwing, clipping, etc ... If one has a vertical support, wall or wall, one can compared to the device original dissociate the "vertical" panel 51 of FIG 1 of the inclined panel 55.

Thus FIG 3, the vertical panel 76 is fixed to the wall 77 by screwing 78 for example, by distancing it by a flange 80 of the wall, to keep it all its flexibility.

These edges may occupy all or part of the perimetry of the panel.

Located below, we find the base inclined plane 85 defined in FIG 1- 55, independent of the panel 76. Several ^ aneaux_7_6_juxtaposed ertil all senses can upholster a whole wall.

On these panels, as on the panels 51, illustrations may be engraved or colored, specific to each sport, such a horizontal line to indicate the upper edge of the net of a tennis court, such as vertical and horizontal lines to illustrate a goal cage (football, hockey, handball ...), the same for rugby poles, such as one or more lines or points that can illustrate a keel, a baseball bat, a target, a ball, a ball, a golf hole pennant, etc.

Under these panels 76, there are inclined panels 85, with flanges, filling orifice, fastening holes ... already described before.

The volumes illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, may be suitable for games or sports such as football, baseball, hockey, cricket, rugby, tennis,

10 handball, golf ...

Adaptations of the device can respond even more precisely to these sports.

Thus for golf, the inclined plane FIG 4 may include, for the "putting" a hole 86, the "drive" using a priori the upper panels. Similarly, the inclined planes of the device FIG 5, instead of being surmounted by flexible panels, can also be directly surmounted by threads 87, embedded in sleeves 88 incorporated in said inclined base planes 89 for example.

These threads 87 may also be replaced by metal, synthetic, cloth or wood cloths or plates, maintained by a suitable structure.

These nets or webs may also carry markings and features on the top edge of the tennis net or the limits of goal cages for example.

On the other hand, for balls, balls, bowling pins and other sports and games such as croquet, cricket, baseball, billiards, ball games, the device must preferably provide continuity FIG 6 between the horizontal plane. and the vertical plane by replacing these two planes said flat forming an angle between them, a plane curve 90 flexible ranging from horizontal to vertical, _3D_ composé_soit_dlun_jnatérJau synthetic ^, _de_bois, _. de_métaJ ₁ -_soit_deJissu_et having flanges 91, a filling orifice 92, electronic sensors 93, fixing points 94 on the ground and also engravings or illustrations 95, depressions or reliefs 97 for depositing or fixing balls and balls or the like, a projection 98 in the upper part to avoid the Overflow balls, attachment and anchoring points 99 to be able to connect for example a ball, a ball or a ball 102 to the curved surface by a flexible link 105, elastic or not, or gantries 108, constituted by a wire metal for example, embedded in the flanges 91 supporting one or more pins 110, or balls, or balls, via a flexible link 113, with built-in sensors, or one or more hoops 114 for example.

This combination, ball, ball, ball, keel, gantries or hoops, and "hooked or anchored", allows the shooter, to target these objects using for example another ball or ball, without having to replace them after a successful shot, because the affected objects are replaced by simple gravity, and while enjoying the return of the ball or ball thrown.

Moreover, all the closed hollow volumes described above may comprise one or two recessed faces FIG 7, opposite to the flexible panels, to facilitate the transport and storage of these volumes by stacking or casing. Under the casing, an attachment system 115 makes it possible to fix a weight in suspension for greater stability of the device, in addition to the fastening points 116 by screwing for example.

In addition a simple flexible plate so damping chipboard of wood, metal, fabric or synthetic material, serving as aforementioned panels flat or curved, framed by a suitable structure, can replace the volumes described above.

Similarly, in some cases, it may be necessary to amortize the shot or throw of the player, without having to use the reference, to circumscribe the boundaries of a sports field for example.

In these cases, a closed hollow volume FIG 8, with rounded edges and edges, where the basic inclined plane described above FIG. 1-55, in the device is eliminated. Only one or the planes remain on each side "vertical" 117, with filling orifice 119 which can be confused with an assembly of ~ type-tenon-420 ^ t4nortaise-1J9-for example, -and, -with all the other elements already mentioned (engravings, illustrations, fixings, assembly device between them, anchoring nets in the upper part). In addition, in order to prevent any tilting, the base of the sand or water module is loaded, for example, and its lower envelope is provided thicker, which is obtained by a more intense heating during rotomolding for example, unlike the upper part of the finer envelope. Thus we obtain a heavy module so stable in the lower part, and flexible especially in the upper where the shocks can be hurtful. To facilitate transportation, a depression 122 allows the basting by a pallet door of the element.

Similarly, a simpler device than the aforementioned may have only two flexible faces "vertical" attached to the ground by piercing and screwing on their internal drawdowns, or external to hide the fasteners and also allow stacking or nesting of elements the on each other: FIG 9.

In addition, some sports, such as basketball, require for its basket and its rear panel an adaptation of the device mentioned previously.

Thus, FIG 10, the "vertical" panel 123 is fixed at a distance from the wall 124 by a recess 125, to remain flexible, and the flexible "inclined" panel 128 returns the ball in the only direction of the launcher, because its lower opening 131 is oriented in this direction, the basket may include openings 133 for more transparency, and illustrations 134.

The panels 123 and the basketball net itself can also be separate and independent elements.

Finally, some sports such as football may, for training with free kicks, for example, require the establishment of a "wall" formed by the players who block the direct trajectory of the ball towards the goal.

This "wall" according to the aforementioned device is then composed of FIG 11 mannequins, of the same constitution as the elements of the device - described above = -figure- 1, -2 ₁ J3 -, _J that we! We_p_uLjuxtaposer_à_v_olonté ^ 3.our constitute said "Wall", and, which return the balloons that touch the dummies.

Likewise, elements with double faces, FIG 12, and with the same qualities as previously described, can allow the device to to separate players practicing the same sport or different sports according to their category of age, aptitude, level etc

In conclusion this shock absorber device and return ball, ball, ball, ball etc .... offers the following benefits for sports and games concerned:

- silence because it dampens the impact

- less wear of projectiles

- Accelerator of progress for the players - time saving, so of interest for the players less weariness thus more perseverance for the players

- attractive by privileging the essential gesture of the players

- promotes the technique and skill of the players - forces the player to a greater continuity in his effort

- burns more calories from players

- fight the obesity of the players

- less effort for a better result of the players

- robust, rustic if synthetic material - non corrodable

- non-degradable

- 100% recyclable

- protects walls, windows

- the sensors allow to know everything - food quality

- zero maintenance and total mobility

- instant installation without tools

- total mobility

Claims

R E V E N D I C A T IO N S

1) Device for damping and returning balls, balloons,. balls or balls thrown by a player, characterized in that it is composed of a damping assembly comprising in the low position a slightly inclined portion, itself surmounted by a high inclined high part, whose inclinations face the player so that the object fired or thrown by the player, once cushioned by the flexibility of the strongly inclined part, falls back to amortize again on the lower soft slightly inclined part which returns it by gravity towards the player.

2) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the damping assembly can form a hollow volume, closed, with rounded edges and edges, made of a synthetic material, such as polyethylene for example, by the rotational molding process, the thermoforming, extrusion blow molding or injection, and, that it comprises FIG 1-51 a very inclined upper part, a lower portion 55 slightly inclined, penetrations 59 or other ground fastening systems, flanges 63 on the sides, a filler orifice 66, engravings or illustrations 67, sensors 69 giving indications on the accuracy of the firing or throwing, its power, its speed by a suitable display, and all on the one hand to be surmounted by a thread 70 fixed by the embedding of its frame in sleeves 71 provided for this purpose, and secondly, may have depressions 73 located under the volume, so that the fork of a pallet carrier can l e transport.

3) Device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the juxtaposition of the damping hollow volumes and return can be achieved with different modes of assembly FIG 2: embedding, tenon, jnortaise, -vissage, _clipsage.-

4) Device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the upper part of the sloping whole of the damping assembly can be fixed FIG 3-76, by screwing 77, for example, to a wall via an edge 80 away from him said wall for greater damping flexibility.

5) Device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the damping assembly can be composed for its upper part strongly inclined by a thread FIG 5-87 maintained by a suitable structure embedded in sleeves 88 incorporated in the part lower slightly inclined 89.

6) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the damping assembly FIG 6 has flanges 91 along the entire curve length of the sides of the damping surfaces, a filling orifice 92, electronic sensors 93, points fixing 94 on the ground, engravings and illustrations 95, reliefs or depressions 97 for fixing or depositing objects, a projection 98 in the upper part to prevent any overflow of the balls for example, points of attachment or anchoring 99 for connecting a ball or ball 102 to the curved damping surface by a flexible link 105, gantries 108, constituted by a wire or the like, embedded in the flanges 91 carrying the damping surface and being able to support a keel 110, or balls or balls via a flexible link 113, without forgetting the possibility of a rollbar

1 14.

7) Device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the damping assembly may in part be open and therefore have, outside the damping surfaces, the "rear" faces or its base, for example, recesses FIG 7.

8) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the damping assembly FIG 8-117 has its filling orifice which can be confused with the mortise assembly, made with the pin 120, panels between them. 9) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in-ee-l ^ together-damping-open ^ Gomporte-FIG-10 an envelope, which encircles part of the damping surfaces strongly 123 and weakly 128 inclined said envelope may itself comprise openings 131, piercings 133 and engravings 134.