WO2009106786A1

WO2009106786A1 - Apparatus for ball training

Info

Publication number: WO2009106786A1
Application number: PCT/GB2008/002953
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tony Young
Original assignee: Buzzgames Limited
Priority date: 2008-02-25
Filing date: 2008-09-01
Publication date: 2009-09-03
Also published as: GB2447732A; GB0803405D0; GB2447732B

Abstract

An apparatus for use as a ball trainer comprises a bracket (2) and an arm (3). The bracket (2) has a first part (4), which, in use, engages a ground plane so as to be supported in a substantially upright position and a second part (5) that is rotatably mounted in the first part (4). The arm (3) has a first end having a striker member (12) provided thereon, and the arm (3) is pivotally connected to the second part (5) of the bracket (2) at a point spaced from said first end so as to be pivotally movable about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said second bracket part (5) about the first bracket part (4). The striker member (12) comprises a resiliency deformable member mounted to a hub (11), the hub (11) being rotatably connected to the arm (3) for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the arm (3).

Description

APPARATUS FOR BALL TRAINING

The present invention relates to an apparatus for use as a ball trainer, in particular to an apparatus for use as a football trainer.

Ball training devices such as tennis swingballs already exist. These typically comprise a ground-mountable upright member, a chord and a ball, wherein one end of the chord is rotatably mounted to an upper part of the upright member and the other end is attached to the ball such that said ball hangs free from the ground can be struck around the upright member.

Football training devices also exist that comprise a net for holding a football captive, the net being attached to an elasticated string with a handle such that a user can kick the ball within the net whilst retaining it within a fixed radius by holding on to the elasticated string via the handle. However, such known football training devices suffer from the disadvantage that the user has to maintain a grip on the handle to keep control of the ball and that the net around the ball adversely effects its movement.

US Patent 4,561,661 describes a hands-free football-training device aimed at replicating the behaviour of an untethered ball when struck with either the foot or the head. When an untethered ball is struck eccentrically the ball will rotate about its centre of mass. In order to imitate this motion with the training apparatus, the ball is attached to a rod such that it is able to revolve about the axis of the rod.

This apparatus suffers from the disadvantage of a relatively small area located substantially on the periphery of the ball connecting the ball to the rod. This may present difficulties during manufacture when attaching the ball to the rod securely. Also, the high forces experienced by the ball and rod during use could compromise the integrity of this connection. This vulnerability is overcome in the invention hereto described by ensuring the connection between ball and rod is an integral element of the centre of the ball.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for use as a ball trainer comprising a bracket member and an arm member, the bracket member having a first part which, in use, engages a ground plane so as to be supported in a substantially upright position and a second part that is rotatably mounted in the first part, the arm having a first end having a striking member provided thereon, said arm being pivotally connected to the second part of the bracket member at a point spaced from said first end so as to be pivotally movable about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said second bracket part about the first bracket part, said striking member comprising a resiliently deformable member including an annular member mounted to a hub, the hub being rotatably connected to the arm for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the arm.

In a first preferred embodiment the annular member may take the form of a foam material. Alternatively, the annular member may take the form of an inflatable any combination of the two.

Preferably, the annulus is non-rotatably mounted to the hub. This has the advantage that imparting an eccentric force on the annulus will cause the annulus and hub to rotate about the arm in a realistic manner. Preferably, a cover surrounds a majority of the annulus. This has the advantage of contributing to the look and feel of a football mounted to the arm member, whilst protecting against wear and tear experienced by the annulus during use of the apparatus.

Advantageously, the hub is shaped to receive and securely mount the annulus therearound. Accordingly, the hub is preferably formed with a concave annular groove cut into its circumference for receiving the annulus.

Preferably, the resiliently deformable member further includes padding means located on either side of the hub. In the first preferred embodiment first padding means is non-rotatably mounted to the hub face ultimate from the bracket member. Preferably this is achieved with adhesive or other suitable means. This has the advantage that any rotation of the hub will cause the first padding means to also rotate. Preferably, second padding means is located adjacent to the hub face proximate to the bracket member. Desirably, the second padding means is non-rotatably mounted to the arm and separate from the hub face proximate to the bracket member. Accordingly, any rotation of the hub will not cause the second padding means to rotate. Preferably, the outer shape of the first and second padding means is substantially spherical so as to form the shape of a substantially spherical striking member, with preferably a substantial part of the second padding means extending along the length of the arm to help prevent possible injury to a user striking said striking member.

In a second preferred embodiment a cover surrounds the striking member, the cover having an opening suitably positioned so as to allow the first part of the arm member to extend axially outward from the hub of the striking member. Preferably, the hub is shaped such that the annulus and second padding means can be non-rotatably mounted therearound. Similarly, it is preferable that the first padding means is non- rotatably mounted to the hub face ultimate from the bracket member, as in the first embodiment, and accordingly, the first and second padding means have a substantially spherical outer surface. It is preferable that the cover of the striking member is substantially spherical. Accordingly, the padding means mounted to the hub fills the space between the hub and the cover on either side of the hub so as to maintain the cover in a substantially spherical shape. This has the advantage of contributing to the look and feel of a football mounted to the arm member.

In either embodiment of the invention, the padding means may take the form of foam. Alternatively the padding means may take the form of an inflatable bladder or bladders, or any combination of foam and bladder.

The advantage of the apparatus according to the invention is that, in use, the striking member attached to the arm can be struck in such a way that it can return to the striker.

Preferably, the pivotal scope and length of the arm member is such that the tip of its remote end is moveable across the ground plane. The advantage of such an apparatus is that, in use, the striking member attached to the arm can be struck in a variety of ways, either from the ground or in mid air.

Preferably, the apparatus includes a counterbalancing means, which balances the weight of the arm and the consequential moment developed thereby about the bracket.

As a result, the dynamics of the system, in particular the vertical movement, is governed substantially by the weight of the striking member only and hence substantially mimics that of a standard, free-standing ball of similar dimensions. This has the advantage that, in use, striking of the striking member attached to the arm will feel more realistic to the user. The counterbalancing means may take the form of at least one spring that acts to apply a pivotal force on the arm member, which counteracts that which is applied by the weight of the remote end thereof. Preferably, a second end of the arm member extends beyond the bracket member and thus overhangs it, desirably being more proximate thereto than the first end. The or each spring then extends between an anchoring point on the bracket member and the overhanging second end of the arm. This has the advantage of providing a simple solution for counterbalancing the arm. Alternatively, of course, the counterbalancing force could be provided by a mass mounted on said overhanging second end of the arm.

The first part of the bracket member advantageously includes a securing means at its base for mounting it in a substantially upright position from the ground plane. The securing means may be a hollow tube section that can be driven into a suitable ground surface such as grass. Alternatively, of course, it could simply comprise a weight suitable for stabilizing the apparatus. Furthermore, the apparatus could alternatively be suspendible from a ceiling or wall-mountable. The second part of the bracket member is preferably mounted on suitable bearing means arranged on the lower part and comprises bearing means for pivotally mounting the arm member. In particular, the second part advantageously splits into a fork arrangement comprising two substantially parallel prongs, the arm extending between the prongs and being pivotally fastened thereto, for example by means of a shaft which extends between the prongs and through the arm. The bearing means, preferably a pair of roller bearings, may then be co-operatively arranged on each prong such that the arm member can easily be pivotally mounted therebetween.

Preferably, the arm member of the first preferred embodiment has a protective sheath mounted therearound to avoid the possibility of injury to a user, whereas in the second preferred embodiment the protective sheath is formed by a substantial part of the second padding means extending along the length of the arm. Furthermore, in either embodiment, the arm member is desirably substantially rigid and is advantageously telescopic such that it can be stored in a compact fashion.

The assembly may be formed in a variety of sizes depending on the intended area of use - a larger scale with a longer arm would be appropriate for an outdoor application whereas a smaller scale with a much shorter arm would be used indoors. The smaller scale apparatus could be table mounted so as to be struck with a hand, bat or the like.

In order that the invention may be well understood, there will now be described an embodiment thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention with a cross-sectional view of the hub;

Figure 2 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the hub shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view of the apparatus of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention with a cross-sectional view of the hub; and

Figure 5 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the hub shown in Figure 4.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a first preferred embodiment of an apparatus 1 for use as a football trainer, comprising a mounting bracket 2 and an arm 3 extending radially therefrom. The mounting bracket 2 comprises a tubular section 4 at its lower end and fork-shaped bracket 5 at its upper end. The tubular section 4 extends longitudinally and has a hollowed out section at its base such that it can be driven into a suitable ground surface and thereby secure itself in a substantially upright position. At its upper end, the tubular section 4 has a set of bearings 6 arranged thereon for rotatably mounting the fork-shaped bracket 5 about its longitudinal axis.

The fork-shaped bracket 5, by means of which the arm 3 is attached to the mounting bracket 2, comprises a tubular base section, which locates in the set of bearings 6 so as to rotatably mount the fork-shaped bracket member 5 therein, and a pair of longitudinally extending, parallel prongs or forks 7 that extend from the top thereof. The fork-shaped bracket 5 further includes a pair of ball bearings 17 - one mounted at the upper end of each prong 7, which co-operate to rotatably mount a shaft 18 that extends therebetween and through the arm 3 so as to pivotally mount it.

The shaft 18 engages through a hole which is found in the arm 3 spaced apart from the one end of the arm 3 so that a main first section 8 of the arm 3 extends longitudinally away from the mounting bracket 2 in a first direction whilst a second, much shorter section 9 extends longitudinally from the mounting bracket 2 in the opposite direction so as to overhang from the bracket 2 by a small distance. The first section 8, the pivotal scope and length of which is sufficient for it to reach the ground, has a set of bearings 10 mounted proximately to its tip on which a nylon hub 11 is mounted such that it is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the arm 3.

The hub 11 forms part of a striking member 12, which is substantially spherically shaped so as to have the appearance of a football. The striking member 12 is formed by an inflatable annulus 12a securely mounted around said hub 11, and a plurality of foam cushioning members positioned on either axial side of the hub 11. The inflatable annulus 12a is surrounded by a substantially spherical cover 12b and locates in a concave groove 1 Ia cut into the radial circumference of the hub 1 1. A friction-tight fit is formed between the inflatable annulus 12a and said concave groove 1 1a by virtue of their mutual shape and the tight fit of the annulus 12a on the hub 11. Similarly, the axially outward and axially inward facing ends l ib, l ie, of the hub 11 are concavely shaped so as to aid location of the foam cushioning members against said ends. A first foam cushioning member 12c is non-rotatably mounted to the hub face ultimate from the bracket member 5, whilst a second foam cushioning member 12d is non-rotatably mounted to the first section 8 of the arm member 3. Additionally, the foam cushioning members 12c, 12d are shaped so as to define a generally spherical outer surface, with the second foam cushioning member 12d positioned on the first section 8 of the arm member 3 so as to form a substantially spherical outer surface with the inflatable annulus 12a and first cushioning member 12c. Finally, the second foam cushioning member 12d extends axially outward from the striking member 12 substantially along the length of the first section 8 of the arm member 3, forming a cannular protective cover therearound. This helps to prevent possible injury to a user striking the striking member 12.

The substantially spherical shape of the cover 12b in combination with the inflatable annulus 12a non-rotatably mounted to the hub 1 1, and suitably shaped cushioning members 12c, 12d, forms the striking member 12, which, in use, is struck by the user. The hub 1 1 of the striking member 12 is rotatably mounted to the arm 3 such that an eccentric force imparted to the annulus 12a or first cushioning member 12c will cause the annulus 12a and first cushioning member 12c to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the arm 3, whilst the resiliently deformable nature of the striking member 12 mimics the feel of a football.

The second section 9 of the arm 3 has a pair of projections 14 extending radially from opposite sides thereof part way along its length. A pair of springs 15 are connected between the bracket 2 and the arm 3, one on each side of the arm 3 - one end of each spring 15 hooking onto an associated one of the projections 14 and the other end of each spring 15 being anchored on a bar 16 that extends between the prongs 7.

In use, the tubular section 4 of the mounting bracket 2 is secured in the ground, for example by being driven into a soft surface such as grass, such that it stands substantially upright. One or more players can then strike the football in a variety of ways, either from the ground or in mid air, such that, by virtue of the arm 3 being rotatably mounted, it can return to the striker. The downward force on the ball is, in use, adjusted by the action of the springs 15, which are arranged to apply a pivotal force to the second section 9 of the arm 3 which counterbalance that which is applied by the weight of the first section 8. In this way, despite the additional weight of the first section 8, the striking member 12 is given a similar downward force to that of a free-standing football of the same type and hence feels realistic to strike. Additionally, the hub 11 of the striking member 12 enables it to rotate about the first section 8 of the arm 3 such that, in use, it rolls and bounces in a realistic manner.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5 a second, alternate preferred embodiment of the apparatus 1 of the invention is shown, similarly comprising the components of the first embodiment. In this second embodiment the hub 1 1 again forms part of a substantially spherical striking member 12. However, in this embodiment the hub 1 1 extends axially toward the fork shaped bracket 5 such that the second cushioning member 12d can be non-rotatably mounted therearound, the substantially spherical outer surface of said second cushioning member 12d defining a substantially spherical striking member 12 in conjunction with the inflatable annulus 12a and first cushioning member 12c.

The first cushioning member 12c and annulus 12a are positioned as in the first embodiment, with the substantially spherical cover 12b enclosing both first and second cushioning members 12c, 12d and the annulus 12a. As with the inflatable annulus 12a, a friction-tight fit is formed between the second cushioning member 12d and the hub 11.

Additionally, the foam cushioning members 12c, 12d are shaped so as to define a generally spherical outer surface used to support the cover 12b surrounding this assembly. Finally, said cover 12b has an opening suitably positioned so as to allow the first section 8 of the arm member 3 to extend axially outward from the hub 11 of the striking member 12.

The substantially spherical shape of the cover 12b in combination with the inflatable annulus 12a non-rotatably mounted to the hub 11, and suitably shaped cushioning members 12c, 12d forms the striking member 12, which, in use, is struck by the user. The hub 1 1 of the striking member 12 is rotatably mounted to the arm 3 such that an eccentric force imparted to the striking member 12 will cause it to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the arm 3, whilst the resiliently deformable nature of the striking member 12 mimics the feel of a football.

Furthermore, the first section 8 of the arm 3 has a protective sheath 13 wrapped around the end proximate to the striking member 12. This helps to prevent possible injury to a user striking the striking member 12.

It would be appreciated that in both the first and second preferred embodiments many different variations of the members forming the striking member 12 are possible. The striking member 12 could comprise a combination of foam and or other resiliently deformable cushioning means. An inflatable tube arrangement could form the annulus 12a. Similarly, inflatable bladders could be used as cushioning members 12c, 12d. An inner tube in conjunction with or without inflatable bladders may more realistically mimic the feel of a standard football, and may also simplify the assembly of the striking member 12. Also, the integrity of the friction fit between the resiliency deformable annulus 12a and the concave annular groove 11a and between the second cushioning member 12d and the hub 11 could be enhanced with suitable adhesive.

Finally, it would also be appreciated that many different variations of the apparatus as a whole are possible. For example, at least the first section 8 of the arm member 3 could be telescopic and different sizes and shapes of striking member 12 could be attached to provide training for sports other than football.

Claims

1. An apparatus (1) for use as a ball trainer comprising a bracket (2) and an arm (3), the bracket (2) having a first part which, in use, engages a ground plane so as to be supported in a substantially upright position and a second part that is rotatably mounted in the first part, the arm (3) having a first end having a striking member (12) provided thereon, said arm (3) being pivotally connected to the second part of the bracket (2) at a point spaced from said first end so as to be pivotally movable about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said second bracket part about the first bracket part, said striking member (12) comprising a resiliently deformable member including an annular member mounted to a hub (1 1), the hub (11) being rotatably connected to the arm (3) for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the arm (3).

2. An apparatus (1) according to Claim 1, wherein the striking member (12) includes a cover (12b).

3. An apparatus (1) according to Claim 2, wherein the cover (12b) forms a substantially spherical outer surface for the striking member (12).

4. An apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the annular member is formed of a foam material.

5. An apparatus (1) according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the annular member is inflatable.

6. An apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the annular member is non-rotatably mounted to the hub (1 1). '

7. An apparatus (1) according to Claim 6, wherein the hub (11) is shaped to receive and securely mount the annular member therearound.

8. An apparatus (1) according to Claim 6, wherein the hub (11) is formed with a concave annular groove cut into its circumference for receiving the annular member.

9. An apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the resiliently deformable member further includes first and second padding means.

10. An apparatus (1) according to Claim 9, wherein the first padding means is mounted to the hub face (1 Ib) ultimate from the bracket member and the second padding means is located adjacent to the hub face (1 Ic) proximate to the bracket member.

11. An apparatus (1) according to Claim 10, wherein the second padding means is non-rotatably mounted to the first section of the arm (3).

12. An apparatus (1) according to Claim 9, wherein the first and second padding means are mounted to the hub (11).

13. An apparatus (1) according to Claim 12, wherein the annular member and first and second padding means are enclosed by the cover (12b).

14. An apparatus (1) according to Claim 13, wherein the padding means fills the space between the hub (1 1) and the cover (12b) so as to maintain the cover (12b) in a substantially spherical shape.

15. An apparatus (1) according to Claim 9, wherein the padding means are made of foam.

16. An apparatus (1) according to Claim 9, wherein the padding means are inflatable bladders.

17. An apparatus (1) according to Claim 9, wherein the hub (11) is formed with concave faces for receiving the padding means.